Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder, 1/3" CMOS Sensor, 10x Optical Zoom, 2.7" LCD, Carl Zeiss Lens

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

We used the product for business reasons; since the camera is small and comfortable we take it everywhere to video tape all activities concerning my job.

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

I bought it for recording surgical procedures and family videos. The best thing is the HD capability and the roomy hard drive.

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

I bought the camera for family activities. I have not used it a lot yet, but my first impression is good. It's great and easy to use camera.
The picture is steady and high detailed.

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

While the other reviews have highlighted a lot of the video praises (of which there are many), only one touched on the audio. In a nutshell, anything louder than a loud shout (like musical performances, etc) will cause the camera to shut down with a "buffer overflow" and "data error". Just Google "SR7 buffer overflow" and see the results.

I have addressed my concern to Sony, and they say that there is no fix other than to record in a less noisy environment. That, plus the lack of any sort of external mic inputs makes this a very expensive paperweight for me (recording musical performances, BMX races, etc).

You can set the recording level to "low" but it seems that in some situations, it just doesn't fly. If Sony attaches an external mic jack to this camera, I'm sure it would make it a complete package.

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

I got my camera just before our trip to Australia and New Zealand. We are interested in the outdoors and got some fantastic pictures and videos. The touch panel is quite simple to operate once you get used to it. The menus are also user-friendly.All and all, I am very happy with the camera. The software was easy to use and I managed to create some good productions with Roxio-9.I will look at getting a separate mike for the camera and possibly eliminate this minor glitch.I would definitely recommend this camera for family use.

Expertise: Beginner

Problems Encountered: Did notice that the audio from time to times picks up a mechanical sound from the zoom-in button. It is random and I could not see why it would do it some times.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Old Sony VH Camcorder

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

After tons of research I decided on this camera to buy. The camera performs suberbly! As for Conscience from Ohio I figured an audio professional should have done better research. We all know free software is not always the best but it does state that the software DOESN'T support 5.1ch surround sound, so all the audio is converted to 2 channel anyway so what is his complaint? If you are only looking for a SD camera why spend the money for an HD? As far as the software is concerned it does have a few nice feature but it is pretty bare. You can record in HD and the software will convert to SD if you want so you can play it on a regular DVD player and later record at HD quality. For a few of us that might have family overseas, it will also record DVD's in both NTSC and PAL. Except for that it will let you clip out frames you don't want and that's about it. It does do a pretty cool job of organizing photo's and video's on a calender based program.As mentioned before the camera is excellent and has lived up to every expectation. The software could use some work but what else do you expect. For the basic video user it serves it's purpose. Allen from Hawaii is right though and once you get into it plan on upgrading the software.Hope this helped...

Problems Encountered: Buttons on the LCD are small, but easy mode makes them bigger. Software is very basic.

Items I Recommend: Extra Battery...the one that comes with is not big enough

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

Everything was going good until I discovered that there is no way to change the default 5.1 surround audio recording mode to regular stereo 2ch audio recording operation. Even when changing it from HD to SD, no 2 ch audio. This makes drag-and-drop of standard definition mpeg files from the camera hard drive to the computer hard drive pointless...... especially, for the vast majority of amateur video editors out there who wish to use this camera in SD with their existing editing software until AVCHD is more fully supported. It is quite an oversight in the design of this product. Shame on Sony.

Expertise: Amateur video / Professional Audio

Problems Encountered: No 2ch audio recording setting for internal microphone.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Sony Hi8

Items I Recommend: Return Policy

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

Great camcorder, but the avchd files are not universal. They do not work with Premiere Elements 3.0, PowerDVD 7,WinDVD 8, Movie Maker (Vista Ultimate), but they work withSony Media Studio 8 Platinum Edition. Then, they are fully editable.The software that comes with the camcorder is awful, and isbloatware.Get Sony Media Studio 8 PE and you'll be happy (download thepatches though)... without it, you'll be lost.

Expertise: Amateur photographer, new to video, but a computer nerd

Problems Encountered: I am really disappointed that they do not include a codecwith their software... also Adobe should support AVCHD.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Everio GZ-555

Items I Recommend: Tripod, external mike, lighting

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

This is the best Sony camera I have had yet. My last one was a DCR-TRV33. The picture quality is great even in digital zoom. The stills are high quality but I would like more control. Video works great in low light. The 60 gb is more than anyone will ever need. Working with the program that came with the camera is easy to use. The size is perfect. Goes in a small case but is still big enough to keep the picture steady at full zoom. It is a bit expensive but if you do a lot of video work it is well worth it.

Problems Encountered: Working the different settings on the LCD can be hard, need to keep one finger nail long. To change the settings will take some getting use to finding them on the different menus. To use the High Def will be hard if you do not have a player or TV.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Sony DCR-TRV33

Items I Recommend: Under water case, more batteries

Comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVC HD 60GB Hard-Disc Handycam Camcorder:

well I got this camera at the store (B&H) this week. The salesman was very helpful, I asked what he thinks about it he told me that I shouldn't take it since its new and don't know much about it, but I took it anyway, went to the amusement park with the kids and I love the picture quality and the sound the clarity is unbelievable works pretty good in low light too, although its my first HD camera and had it nothing to compare it to. I didn't upload anything on the PC yet, I still have to learn how, but the camera itself is very user friendly

Expertise: PRO wannabe

Problems Encountered: Buttons on touch screen is a bit to small for my finger (and i dont have fat fingers)

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon gl2, sony DCR-pc10

Items I Recommend: dont know yet