Have U heard anything about this item?

Question

SONY HANDYCAM HDR CX-7 CAMCORDER?

Is it anygood?

Answer 1

The Sony CX-7 is a flash-memory based camcorder.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stor...

Conceptually, it is a great idea. The flash memory uses less power than what miniDV tape drives, internal hard drive and DVD motors do so the battery pack should last longer. With no motors (except for the zoom) it will also be quieter than other camcorders.

Implementation-wise I would fail it and not recommend this camcorder.

1) It uses AVCHD to compress the video onto the memory sticks. This will be a LOT of compression. In video, when you compress, you LOSE quality. It is a very bad idea to compress so much in the first step of the video process - everything after this is stuck with the poor quality of the compressed video. MiniDV tape continues to provide the best available video quality because DV and HDV compress so much less than the other storage technologies.

2) The proprietary Sony memory sticks are used only in Sony products. If you are a Sony household, I guess that is OK - most folks also have electronic equipment from other vendors that use other memory. You cannot share.

3) Sony is making a big deal about "x.v.Color" technology. Even their own TVs are not yet using this... Neither are other manufacturers.

4) 10x optical zoom is a little on the weak side. The 20x optical zoom does not matter - digital zoom should be disabled and never used. It reduces video quality.

5) "Smooth slow record" has been available in severl of their cameras for a while. Be advised that in this mode, video quality is severely degraded - and it is not in hidef.

6) Memory stick ProDuo memory cards are expensive. MiniDV tape continues to provide an affordable high quality video capture and long shelf life storage media.

7) This camcorder has no mic-in jack. This can be resolved by getting http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stor...

other wise you are stuck with the mediocre Sony proprietary external mics. The Sony miniDV tape based HDR-HC7 and HC9 and Canon HV20 and HV30 have mic in jacks and have manual audio control.

8) This camcorder does not have manual audio control. Loud audio (music) will sound muddy and will not be useable. The camera may have a "Normal" or Low" menu setting to compensate for high-volume recording, but getting to the menu item using the LCD panel is cumbersome.

9) Using the "approved" 4 gig memory stick, you have 30 minutes of high definition, AVCHD compressed, recording time. A 60 minute miniDV tape will provide you 63 minutes of high definition recording time in a much less compressed format (HDV) resulting in better video quality.

10) Not all video editors can handle AVCHD compressed video from all camcorders... for example, Sony Vegas can handle Sony AVCHD camcorders, but not Caon or Panasonic. Adobe video editing titles can do Canon (I think), but not the other two...

There are several more issues, but these are the easy ones to share.

I would NOT recommend this camera to anyone.

My point of reference: I am very happy with my Sony HDR-HC1 miniDV tape based camcorder. I shoot and edit live music videos and behind-the scenes for indie films (among other topics) and non-profit activities in my community.

This camera - and DVD camcorders - and anything that uses AVCHD compression for storing captured video as the first step should be removed from the marketplace... OR the people who buy these camcorders need to understand that the video quality is not very good... If the manufacturers would store the video in DV or HDV format, that would be GREAT! But they don't - so the newer technologies essentially ruin the consumer camcorders... unless you get miniDV based equipment.

Answer 2

never heard of it