The HDR-UX7 ($1,000 MSRP) is Sony’s crème de la crème DVD camcorder, a 1920 x 1080i high definition powerhouse outfitted with an impressive imager and perhaps the best handling of any Sony this year. The body is hefty, despite the serious slim-down from its predecessor, the HDR-UX1. The weight might be worth it. The top model gets all the fixings: a mic jack, headphone jack, big 3.5-inch LCD, and an interesting little knob on the front for tweaking adjustments. Does this feature-laden camcorder merit the $1,000 price tag? Let’s find out.
Architecturally, the HDR-UX7 follows in the footsteps of Sony’s top-of-the-line standard definition camcorder, the DCR-DVD508. Both models are nearly identical up front. It’s important to note that the UX7 is significantly smaller than last year’s monstrous HDR-UX1, both in size and weight.
The first thing you’ll notice about the HDR-UX7 is its 10x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens, with a filter diameter of 37mm for fish-eye or telephoto attachments. You’ll also notice a flash mounted to the left side of the lens, rather than above, as featured on the HDR-UX1. This is generally a good position for a flash. However, throwing an external attachment over the lens will undoubtedly obscure it.
The HDR-UX7’s lens has a focal length of 5.4 – 54mm with the following 35mm equivalents:
- 40 – 400mm (16:9 movie)
- 49 – 490mm (4:3 movie)
- 40 – 400mm (16:9 still images)
- 37 – 370mm (4:3 still image)
There is no external lens cap or manual lens cover switch—the HDR-UX7 dons an automatic lens cap like most higher-end camcorders in its price range. Directly beneath the lens is the remote sensor and infrared NightShot light.
The last item in front is mounted along the bottom right side. Behold Sony’s multifaceted Cam Control dial. Alternately described as a knob or a barrel, the dial features a button embedded within its center that cues a quick menu containing independent focus, exposure, AE Shift (auto exposure), and WB Shift (white balance). Though the Cam Control dial is a step down from the HDR-UX1’s ring around the lens, it provides superior control over the Canon HV2’s tiny Cam Control dials, or any of the other controls on Sonys this year. We’ll expound on this key external control throughout the review.
The right side of any DVD camcorder is usually barren, and the HDR-UX7 is no exception. The disc hatch is identical to most Sony DVD camcorders, yet does not bear the bulk of the HDR-UX1’s massive hatch. We’d love to report a rapid opening time, but users will once again find themselves waiting a significant period of time for the disc hatch to open – sometimes as long as 30 seconds. This is disappointing because it disrupts the flow of the moment. Aren’t DVD camcorders supposed to be all about convenience?
The HDR-UX7 is furnished with the same hand strap found on the DCR-DVD508 and most of Sony’s standard definition DVD camcorder line. It’s thick and wide, yet not as comfortable as the HDR-UX1’s and HDR-HC7’s padded mesh straps. Like any of Sony’s DVD camcorders, the front of the hand strap is anchored via a swiveling grommet so the hand strap can be shifted down to make room for the disc hatch to open. Though this design would seem to make sense, it can be annoying at times.
When stacked up against the HDR-UX1, the HDR-UX7 appears to have gone on the South Beach Diet. The camcorder is approximately 20 percent smaller than its first generation sibling, but the good news is that the HDR-UX7 retained some key features, such as a pivoting viewfinder. How often do you see viewfinders anymore, let alone one that pivots? We would have preferred the viewfinder to telescope out and offer a rubberized eye cup, but one look at the Canon HR10 (Specs, Recent News, $0)’s tiny plastic nub of a viewfinder will leave you bowing down to the Sony design team. The dioptric adjuster is located along the bottom ridge of the eye cup.
The HDR-UX7’s NP-FH70 rechargeable battery pack rests below the viewfinder in a fairly deep chamber. The viewfinder must be pivoted upward in order to reach the battery release button. Beneath the battery is a duo of ports shielded by a hinged plastic door that flips upward. The AV-out terminal and DC-in jack are in a bit of a tight spot, lurking within the shadow of the prominent battery pack. In addition, the plastic door is difficult to access unless you have press-on nails handy.
Along the right side you’ll find more ports, protected by a rugged plastic enclosure. The Remote (LANC) jack and USB terminal are easy to access, thanks to the port cover’s raised tab at the top. Working our way up, we have the oval record start/stop button, flash button, and classic Sony mode dial. All controls are ergonomically placed and within reasonable reach for most thumbs.
The most enthralling part of the HDR-UX7’s left side is the whopping 3.5-inch LCD screen. Finally! Like the HDR-UX1 and DCR-SR1, the HDR-UX7’s massive monitor is far more conducive to touch screen operation than most of Sony’s 2.7-inch screens. A row of flat buttons rests along the bottom of the LCD panel, consisting of record start/stop, zoom out, zoom in, and home. It’s difficult to discern just why Sony placed a home button on the LCD panel when there’s one readily available on the screen. The LCD cavity is relatively bare, just like the DCR-DVD508’s. All you’ll find here is a strip of three buttons (easy, display/battery info, and playback), the playback speaker, and a Memory Stick Duo slot.
Along the bottom is where the rest of the ports are located. Two burly plastic strips guard the mic and headphone jacks and component and HDMI terminals. The main problem with mounting ports along the left side of a camcorder is that wires have a tendency to clutter up the LCD viewing zone. The HDR-SR7 is a prime example of camcorder connectivity, as nearly all of its ports are located on the right side and back, well out of harm’s way.
The HDR-UX7's left side from the outside
... and the LCD cavity.
The top of the HDR-UX7 is almost a carbon copy of the DVD508’s, save the Backlight Compensation (BLC) button near the NightShot light switch. At the head of the ship, the HDR-UX7 features a built-in 5.1-channel Dolby Digital stereo microphone. The size of the camcorder and forward placement of the microphone make it difficult for a finger or two to overshoot while gripping the HDR-UX7. A Sony proprietary Active Interface Shoe (AIS) is next in line, sheltered by a thick plastic square attached to the body via a frail plastic strip. Along the top ridge of the disc hatch you’ll find the open switch, which slides smoothly yet can take up to 30 seconds to pop the hatch open. Along the back is Sony’s flattened zoom toggle and oval photo button
