Product Description

Sound and vision allows you to capture the full range of life with the DCR-SR200 Handycam hard disk drive camcorder. The ClearVid CMOS Sensor gives you realistic images and 5.1ch surround sound lets you record the sounds as well as the sights. You can leave the tapes at home, thanks to the internal 40GB hard disk drive that stores up to 20 hours of amazingly clear video (LP) with up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution. An industry leading Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens captures incomparable detail while the dual recording feature allows you to capture 2.3 megapixel still images at the same time as you're filming video. And with the included Handycam Station, you can immediately share your footage with the one touch disc burn feature.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3270 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: SR200
• Dimensions: 3.00" h x 5.90" w x 3.10" l, 1.10 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• 40-gigabyte hard drive stores over 25 hours of long-play video or over 8 hours of high-quality video
• 2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor for crystal-clear video and still images
• 10x optical zoom; 80x digital zoom
• 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display
• Handycam Station included

Manufacturer Description
With 5.1-channel surround sound recording and the ability to capture 4-megapixel still images, the DCR-SR200 is the best of both worlds (video and still capture). Its dual record mode even allows you take 2.3-megapixel photos while recording video.

DCR-SR200 Highlights

2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor The 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor with 1990K effective pixels provides stunning detail and clarity for exceptional video (up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance. The Megapixel technology enhances your digital videos and digital still (3980K) photography performance.

10x optical/80x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the digital zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Sonnar T* lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating for increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-tolife color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare.

Dolby Digital 5.1-channel recording The DCR-SR200 will record in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound through the built-in microphone. By recording in 5.1-channel surround sound you can now experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all directions. Enjoy your personal home movies the way you experienced them while recording.

2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Clear Photo LCD Plus The 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 211K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles and sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. Widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier.

One-touch wide-angle shooting Easily switch between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios for shooting, with just the touch of a button.

Smooth slow recording By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 3 seconds allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight. In addition, record an audio track to narrate what is being seen during the video.

Memory Stick Duo media slot Capture still images up to 2304 x 1728 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo Media for easy transfer to PCs and emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick media devices.

Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system An advanced version of Sony's SteadyShot system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems.

On-screen zoom and record buttons For additional control of the camcorder, the DCR-SR200 features zoom and record buttons on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low-angle shots.

USB 2.0 interface USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your DVD Handycam Camcorder to the computer and fast transfer of video and still images for editing. The camcorder can also be used as an external DVD burner, convenient for making copies of your DVDs or burning edited movies.

Handycam Station included Simply placing the camcorder on the supplied Handycam Station provides quick connections to a TV for viewing or a PC for editing and sharing, all while charging the battery so your camcorder is always ready to go.

DVDirect compatibility The DVDirect system allows for easy trasnfer to a stand-alone DVD Burner via USB 2.0. The VRD-VC30 allows for easy transfer of video for DVD burning, while the VRD-MC3 allows fo seamless trasfer of both video and still images for archiving on a DVD.

One-Touch Disc Burn Easily burn a DVD copy of your footage using the supplied software. Simply connect your DCR-SR200 to your PC via the Handycam Station and supplied USB cable and press the Disc Burn button.

HDD Smart Protection A unique Shock Absorber protects the Hard Disk Drive from physical dapmage if the unit is jarred suddenly. When the 3G Sensor detects a drop (loss of gravity in 3 demensions), the power to the Hard Disk Drive is turned off in order to prevent damage, during this time the DCR-SR200 remains on and recording video to the builti-in buffer. Once the unit has recovered from the drop buffer is then recorded to the Hard Disk Drive.

Additional Features

• Active interface shoe
• Easy PC backup
• Super NightShot infrared system
• InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system
• Manual focus
• Scene selection modes
• Picture effects
• Fader effects
• Battery information
• Easy Handycam button

Customer Reviews

DCR-SR200
This is my first HDD camcorder. I owned several MiniDV camcorders in the past. I have owned the camera for 2 weeks, so this review should be considered as initial impression.
PROS:
- Picture quality is very good in good daylight. I had some shots at night in well lit family room, and the video is not as sharp as day time shots, but still very good.
- The Super Nightshot feature is fun to have to take kids video while they are sleeping. As expected, the video is very grainy.
- The quality of still pictures is acceptable.
- Zoom is very smooth
- The touch screen is awsome. Hope the screen won't get scratched in the long run
- Camera is easy to use without having to read too much into the manual
- The menu is sort confusing in some areas, but not too bad
- Lightweight

CONS:
- Pricy, compared to MiniDV models of similar quality
- Battery sticks out too much off the back of the camera making it look sort of ugly
- Allows only 3 still shots during video. I wish I can snapshot still photos from video like most of Panasonic models.
- All connectivities are on charging base. This means one more thing to carry with on vacation
- No separate battery charger. Battery is charged on the charging base or on camera
- Only 10x zoom

Overall, pretty happy with the purchase, and will be a lot of funs making family videos. I did not make a single DVD from my previous MiniDV's. This is a 4.5 stars rating.

This Camcorder is not so great because...
The sirens song of a HD based Camcorder was too much to resist. Based upon hours of research I too finally settled on the DCR-SR200. Not quite as high resolution photos as the SR300 but sported longer battery life and CLEARLY a step above the previous models and other vendors. How could I go wrong - look at all these 4 and 5 star reviews. I can't speak for their experiences but I'm going to tell you mine. So pull up a chair and get comfortable b/c the ride is going to get bumpy...

I've spent the last 6 months using this device and feel compelled to return to where I purchased it and share the good the bad and the ugly news.

The Good News: I'm not going to drill on the obvious benefits of HD based camcorder. If you like not having to replace tapes/DVD in your Walkman; you are surely going to enjoy not having to do this with a camcorder - FINALLY.

Videos: The video it takes is good in full daylight. (Warning see below!)

Photos: Takes nice 2 or 3 MP plain photos in full daylight. (Warning see below!)

Camera Controls: I personally don't mind the touch screen controls. Occasionally I just use the tip of a small finder to invoke the functions more accurately.

Software: Wow! It works with Vista. The software that comes with it does a fantastic job of simplifying copying images and movies from the camcorder to the PC in a organized fashion. Its not saying much - click - copy to new folder with today's date. But its brain dead simple.

The Bad News: I'm not trying to SLAM this camera out of any kind of mean spirited vengeance; my goal here is to level set buyers expectations based upon my 6 months experience actually using this device. I do feel a bit of buyer's remorse b/c this camera is NO WAY a 4 or 5 star device like I was lead to believe by all the other reviews. Not in million years would I say that I got my $700 dollars worth. Had I known this I surely would have gone to a higher priced model to get the quality I was expecting.

Zoom and Lens - No disrespect to Carl Zeiss - This camera has a really crappy lens configuration. I'm no f'stop expert - but what I do know is even when I zoom all the way out - I have to stand really far back to get a group shot b/c the field of view is quite limited. Translate that into lens mm/mm speak if you want; but that's what you get. The optical zoom is so lame. Its like really really lame. My old Minolta SLR, Sharp VL-A10U and Cannon S30 set the benchmark for what I expect in field of view and basic effect of hitting the optical zoom in/out. This thing stinks in comparison. Sure you can turn on digital zoom with about 10 clicks on the touch pad and go like 80x more...but that's the point - I was sold a Carl Zeiss lens. Nothing in software makes up for the fact the field of view is so limited. I think someone slipped a decimal point during the design calculations b/c this is a total total let down. Maybe the Sony engineers took a crumpled up design paper out of Carl's trashcan and unfolded it and used it.

Videos: The video camera ONLY takes "good movies" in broad daylight. The video stabilization feature causes a sort of "heat wave" ripple effect when you pan across scenes. Its kind of annoying b/c the camera apparently can't figure out that its not canceling a "vibration/shake" and its panning and the image should stream horizontally across the viewfinder. Get ready - The minute you are not in full lit daylight - Oh I don't know, say taking a movie of a birthday party indoors of a cake with less than 70 candles on it. You will find the video is, how shall we say, horrible. Absolutely snowy and all faded out as this device completely fails to realistically capture the moment. What a LET DOWN! My 7 yr old $308 tape camera SOARED at moments like this! You do have an option - turn on night mode! OOOH-Yea! Now your guests eyes appear as large black circles effectively you are now filming zombie vampires under a pale green light; effectively recreating a Night Stalker episode. $700 bucks - no indoor birthday parties?

How about taking a few minutes of video of the first few weeks of a newborn child sleeping to send to distant relatives? Well just be sure to turn on all the halogen lights so you can get this shot too. Or you can choose the night shot mode mentioned above. Depending on how soon you do or don't want them to visit...maybe so.

Photos: OK at first you think - Cool! I don't have to bring 2 cameras any more! A camcorder and still photo camera all in one! Mostly WRONG! The still camera has absolutely NO FEAURES - NONE! Did you want sepia mode for a "old time effect" while posing at a national landmark? Did you want landscape mode to capture a vast panoramic scene or portrait mode for close up? Forgetaboutit! None. Not one. It stinks! From the company who makes a decent SLR'esque still cameras couldn't we get 1-2 features accessible from the software touch screen as an upgrade? PLEASE? I don't' count selecting flash/no flash and 3MB or less as camera configuration choices. I'm talking real features here and this thing has ZIP - Cero! Oh yea - and while in movie mode - you can snap pictures too. Of course you don't get flash anymore; and you can only take 3 shots while filming. Not 4 mind you, all scenarios under all conditions only need 3 according to Sony. When you stop the move; it takes a few moments to stream the 3 photos to disk/memory stick. I have both flash stick and HD; you would think we could do both in parallel; they almost accomplish it; but some engineering limit I'm sure made 3 the count. Why is this an issue? Assume you are taping your kids' ballet. And you take 2-3 photos during the movie of child #1. Then you keep the tape rolling to have a full video of the event. Child #2 comes on and you only have 1 photo left in the chamber; and you click it off when they weren't looking just this way...Hmm...where is my $130 7 MB still photo camera again??

Camera Controls: Hello FOCUS FOR *%&$ SAKE FOCUS! I only film in the high resolution mode (i.e. SP mode for VCR aficionados). And nothing annoys me more than 15-30 seconds of out of focus video while the stupid camera tries to figure out that the group of people about 15-20 ft in front of me are actually of interested to me and I would like the camera to somehow find a way to focus if is not too much of an inconvenience right now. This doesn't always happen but it sure does enough to say FIX IT SONY!

Software: I'm running Vista these days and you get free super generic movie making software. So you really don't need much here. Also just b/c the moves are *.mpg format doesn't mean you can just plop on a DVD and go. You still have to go through an "overnight" rendering phase to create a DVD w/ menus etc on any personal computer short of something NASA owns. And the videos don't play on an XBox360 media extender right now!

So there it is, in all its glory - the true story about this Camcorder based upon my past 6 months of real world use and the reasons why I only can be so generous and give it a weak 3 stars.

So there it is, in all its glory - the true story about this Camcorder based upon my past 6 months of real world use and the reasons why I only can be so generous and give it a weak 3 stars. Once again I felt compelled to write this manifesto b/c so many were so gaga over this barely acceptable device.

Movie quality DVD for home video, finally!!
I have been involved with MPEG2 encoding since 1999. I know what are the qualities of a good MPEG2 encoder. I can point very minute artifacts that results from MPEG2 encoder. Being said that, here is my verdict on video quality.
* No visible quantization artifacts (Blocky video)
* No visible edge blurring or edge artifacts
* Very little video noise in low light situation (If you are picky like me!!)
* Little visible interlacing (Window blind effect) for fast moving scenes.

Overall, this MPEG2 beats all the software encoders I have tried in past: TMPEGEnc, Cinemacraft, etc.

This video is as close as you can get with commercial DVD movie for very reasonable price.

I am not going to comment on other aspects of the camcorder. You will find them in other reviews.