Sony HDR-CX100/R 8GB HD Memorystick Camcorder with Smile Shutter Technology, 4 Megapixel, 10x Optical Zoom, 120x Digital Zoom, RED

2009-10-17T20:00:00

I got this camera to fill the void between my Webbie PM1 and my HDR-SR12. The Webbie is a ultra low end HD camcorder and the HDR-SR12 is a high end consumer HDD based HD camcorder. The CX100 isn't as small or light as a Webbie but its a lot better quality then the Webbie. Its a lot smaller and lighter then my HDR-SR12 though it lacks the same features. Good: ========== Its small and light, though it may bulge if placed in the pocket. Its able to take the same batteries as my HD-SR12. It has 1080 resolution video, unfortunately its interlaced and there is no progressive option. It has threading in the front to allow the add on of filters and lenses. Though its hard to find filters and lenses that can work together for this camera. It can record in MPEG4 or AVCHD (MTS) format with 3 levels of quality setting for each format. Bad ======= There is no remote, though there seems to be plenty of room for a small infrared receiver. Hence, one can not take shotes remotely from the camera or take still shots that require the camera to be steady. There is no mic port or shoe. Hence, forget about recording interviews, lectures or concerts. Already more then 50% of the use I intended for this camera is gone. No Mac support. The Mac can recognize and import the media using software such as iMovie, iPhoto etc,,, but Sony does not offer their highly optimized HD video player for the Mac which is required to play the HD files. Without it using Macs video players and 3rd party players like VLC are too inefficient and slow. Its like watching slow motion video. So until someone comes out with a GPU accelerated player using OpenCL or a highly efficient player like Sony's, HD files are not viewable on the Mac. Mac people have to transcode the HD files to standard definition files (automatic on iMovie software). Both the HDMI port and the USB port is located under the LCD screen. I often just want to have access to the memory stick without opening it up and turning on the LCD screen. This takes more room on a table I may be using and causes the battery to drain quickly. Please place the ports outside, where the LCD screen does not have to be open. The USB port being under the LCD screen makes this camera incompatible with Sony's own Grip/Tripod. Because the grip uses the USB port to extend the controls (record/stop) and hence the LCD screen cannt be closed while the grip is installed or worse the USB plub can damage the LCD screen if one accidendly tries to close the LCD while the USB plug is plugged in... What are you thinking Sony? Furthermore, the power bottom is located under the LCD screen.... sigh. Hence there is no way of turning on the unit and leaving it on unless the LCD screen is left open. Very inconvenient if one is using this as a webcam or with a external monitor. The volume switch is a software menu bar, as well as other controls like manual focus and exposure. Extremely unresponsive and clumsy interface. A hardware knob or slider would have been much better. Charging the unit is not possible while the camcorder is turned on. It has to be shut off. Considering the size of the power supply this is silly. The unit can not be powered from a USB port, here I understand if the battery cannot be charged while the unit is on because my USB part is only capable of about 5 watts while the unit requires about 3.5 watts for operating. It would be a tremendous convenience if all I had to do was plug it into my USB port and use it as long as my laptop had power. The way it is now, I have to either bring along a USB memory card reader or find a AC outlet for the camera... there goes the convenience of a compact and light camcorder... sigh. I guess this is Sony's way of saying "buy a wall battery charger". Yet, one more thing to carry with me. It would be nice if Sony sold a lens/filter kit. One that can work with both the lens and filter on the camcorder at the same time. Sold in a convenient to use pouch. Conclusion: Though I cannot use this camera for more then half the stuff I wanted to use it for, I enjoy the size and light weight. Its price however is way above a Webbie and hence, Sony needs to either lower the price or add the missing features listed above and fix the design flaws. I don't expect it to do everything a HDR can do, but basics such as remote and grip compatibility is important. To add insult to injury, Sony's HD cameras are not compatible with their mini and UMPC computers. The graphics cards in their small laptops to mid size laptops use Intel's GMA cards, which cannt play HD videos. Who ever is in charge is out playing golf?

TheObserver

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