Sony HDR-SR8 Review:

The Sony HDR-SR8 has everything you need for capturing high-definition video on the built-in 100GB hard drive. Capture clear video with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, and maintain total control over the focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance. Plus, you can take still images and video at the same time. Sony HDR-SR8 Highlights 3.2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor The 1/2.9-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution in HD Mode; 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode) and still image performance (6.1 megapixels). Unlike traditional CCD imagers, CMOS sensors require less power, and provide better battery performance. Switchable HD/SD format recording The HDR-SR7 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on standard 3-inch DVD media.

Superb HD picture quality
The Sony HDR SR8 model uses the AVCHD format to capture HD 1080 images for incredible detail and vibrant colours. The ClearVid CMOS sensor with Enhanced Imaging Processor offers excellent dynamic range and reduced smear compared with conventional CCD sensors. Exceptional sensitivity with a minimum illumination of only 2 lux (Auto Slow Shutter “ON”) allows successful shooting in twilight or dimly-lit interiors. High-quality still images up to 6.1 Megapixel can also be captured. In Dual Rec mode, 4.6 Megapixel still images can be shot without interrupting video shooting.

Life-like colour reproduction
Based on the new xvYCC international standard, x.v.Colour technology assures supremely life-like colour reproduction. Compared to conventional camcorders, x.v.Colour approximately doubles the range of colours that can be reproduced, very close to what human eye can recognise. This ensures vivid, expressive tonal reproduction with greater detailing and clarity when viewed on the growing range of xvYCC compliant televisions and players including Sony Blu-ray player BDP-S1.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens
The Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens features a 10x optical zoom range to bring distant images closer with superb clarity. Super SteadyShot optical image stabilisation ensures sharp, clear images during still shooting, plus improved picture stability when shooting video in slow shutter mode. An on-board microphone allows recording of Dolby Digital 5.1ch surround sound - an essential part of the total HD entertainment experience with a home theatre system.

Sony HDR-SR8 - Connect to Bravia HD television
There’s a growing range of exciting possibilities for enjoying your HD pictures at home. The Sony HDR-SR8 connects directly to any Bravia HD-ready television via a mini-HDMI cable (optional) for fantastic results in your living room. Alternatively, AVCHD discs can be burned using a PC for playback on Playstation 3 or an AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray player.

Scene chapters
Even with up to 38 hours of footage on board, the new Sony HDR-SR8 makes it beautifully simple to find exactly the right scene in moments. ‘Visual Index’ divides all your footage into a series of convenient chapters, corresponding with each press of the Record Start button. Thumbnail images are automatically created for each chapter and displayed on the camcorder’s touch screen for handy reference.

Sony HDR-SR8 camcorder - Fast scene search
It’s complemented by smart new indexing features that make it even quicker to track down your favourite memories after a day’s shooting. ‘Film Roll Index’ automatically creates scene index points at user-selectable intervals from 3 seconds to 5 minutes within each recorded chapter. All that’s required is a single press of the ‘Film Roll’ button on the camcorder’s body. The right scene can then be tracked down quickly on the camcorder’s touch-screen. Film Roll Index searches can also be performed on a PC using supplied Picture Motion Browser software.

Sony HDR-SR8 handycam - Face Detection Technology
For the first time ever on a camcorder, ‘Face Index’ uses new Face Detection Technology to simplify searches for ‘people pictures’ within a scene of continuously shot footage - like your child in a school play. The HDR SR8 automatically identifies scenes from your footage containing faces. Faces appear as thumbnail images, making it fun and easy to browse scenes featuring your child or other people - just make your selection by pressing the touch screen and the clip plays immediately.

Sony HD camcorder - Picture Motion Browser software
Bundled Picture Motion Browser software also permits ‘Highlight’ Searches to track down brightly-lit, colourful scenes with voices. It’s ideal for finding those shots from the beach, poolside or concerts and other special events. For ever greater flexibility, scenes can be searched by shooting date using the ‘Date Index’ function. Despite its superb picture quality and advanced new features, the new AVCHD HDD Handycam is also beautifully simple to use. Clear, simple function navigation on the touchscreen is complemented by direct buttons for playback.

Sony HDR SR8 HD camcorder - Disc Burn & Back-up features
It’s easy to keep all your memories archived to enjoy again and again. Once the camcorder’s hard disk is filled up, there’s a choice of methods for transferring your precious video footage to a PC or onto DVD for safekeeping. The bundled Handycam Station features ‘One Touch Disc Burn’ - just press a button to transfer your shots from Handycam to a connected PC for fuss-free creation of AVCHD format DVDs. Shots can also be stored safely to your computer’s hard drive using ‘Easy PC Back-up’. This intelligently detects and transfers only new files that have not previously been saved for faster back-ups.

Sony HDR-SR8 User Said:

The Sony HDR-SR8 is pretty much the same as the SR7 so you could get some good information on that review page…

The camera fits surprisingly small in my big hand. I turned on the camera and first I had to set the date and time… easy.

Then I pushed record and started filming. I did two short clips, took a few photos, and then hooked the camera up to my PC running Vista 64. The camera must be ON the docking station and you must use the USB cable that comes with the camera. One end of the USB cable is regular the other end is a small plug that goes into the docking station. The cord looks just like the one that connects the wireless game controller to the PS3 for charging.

Anyway, the docking station was plugged into the computer. Then I turned on the camera and the view screen came up with a list of choices. I chose the “computer” choice and then the PC recognized the Sony HDR-SR8 hard drive and I was able to look at the photo and video files. The photos looked fine, and I dragged and dropped a video file over to the PC, however, I was not at first able to view the video on Windows Media Player until I selected the player as the choice for playback, then the video played perfectly. (The video will also play on the PC directly off of the camera.)

I plugged my thumb drive into my PC and created a folder called “video”. I copied the video file from the camera, through the PC, to the new thumb drive folder. I took the thumb drive and plugged it into my PS3. The PS3 recognized the video folder and allowed the video files to play on my 73” HDTV.

The video played full screen and was good, MUCH better than a regular camera’s video, but NOT the quality I had expected. I flipped through the manual and found that I didn’t have the camera set at the highest quality, “xp”. I changed the setting on the camera and shot another clip. I repeated the thumb drive process and watched the video on the HDTV. The quality was bit better, but the video file was about two times the size of the first one.

I was expecting more amazing clarity, but during all my research on the SR7 before purchasing the camera, I did read where a lot of folks said the indoor quality was where the camera was weakest. SO, when I get home from work today I will start with some outdoor video and let you know how that goes…

I did take a few more pictures while filming video, and they were not very good due to the lighting. I also took a few when the video filming was turned off and the flash automatically went off and those pictures were great.

I got a copy of Sony Vegas Pro 8, and will try that for editing on my Vista 64 and see what happens. I have a PC with XP set up on it and will default to that if 64 bit doesn’t work…

I also read in the manual that the charging cord can be plugged directly into the camera, bypassing the docking cradle. I hadn’t read that in my research, although the docking cradle is very low profile.

By Dirk Steel

Sony HDR-SR8 Features

• Record high-definition (AVCHD) video directly to a 100GB HDD
• ClearVid CMOS sensor; Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens
• 2.7-inch widescreen hybrid touch-panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display
• Simultaneously capture video and 4.6-megapixel still images while recording. 6.1 megapixel still images as camera only
• Includes Handy Cam station; one touch AVCHD disc burn with optional accessory

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