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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Tour

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons / Conclusion

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Tour
  • Auto / Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons / Conclusion

Performance

Format

CompressionThe HDR-UX7 employs AVCHD compression, an advanced flavor of MPEG-4 H.264. While AVCHD has a theoretical bit rate ceiling of 24 Mbps, this model tops out at 12Mbps in HQ+ mode, 9Mbps in HQ mode, 7Mbps in SP mode, and in 5Mbps LP mode. IS THIS ACCURATE? These rates are the same as seen on the HDR-UX1. Interestingly, the HDR-SR1 – Sony’s only HD-based AVCHD camcorder currently on the market, has a slightly higher 15Mbps max bit rate. However, we found the images it produced to be nearly identical to the 12Mbps UX1. This illustrates the unresolved issues regarding how good AVCHD can get even at higher bit rates.   MediaAVCHD format camcorders are compatible with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL (Dual Layer) discs. This means that shooters familiar with DVD media should find these new-format camcorders approachable since they have been around in standard definition camcorders for years and are readily available. Dual Layer discs were introduced this past summer with the launch of the UX1 and boast recording times about 40% longer than conventional single layer discs.    EditingThe AVCHD format still has no credible product for editing natively. We – and scads of consumer videographers complained about this when the HDR-UX1 hit the market, and the problem still stands. While major players have signed on to the AVCHD format, the best advice we can give would-be UX7 editors is to wait for broader AVCHD NLE support, or drown your sorrows on the many forums (including our own) that have turned into defacto AVCHD editor support groups. There are, however, several AVCHD players that can read your footage and burn it to Blu-Ray disc, like Corel’s new WinDVD 8.     The HDR-UX7 ships with the same included software as the HDR-UX1: Picture Motion Browser ver. 2.0. It will allow you to import your footage and burn it to DVD, but it is not much more than a stop-gap footage transfer solution.

Tour

  **The Front **The front of the HDR-UX7 is identical to that of the HDR-UX5 and is similar to recent Sony HDD camcorders like the HDR-SR1 and the new HDV camcorders, HDR-HC5 and HDR-HC7. All these camcorders display a relatively large lens barrel on their front ends, with some controls sprinkled around its rims and in its crags. In the case of the HDR-UX7, the camcorder features a nice dial control that is distinctly different and better than those of the HDR-HC7 and HDR-HC5. While we lament the loss of the dial seen on the UX1, this dial nonetheless offers a workable manual control alternative to Sony’s touch screen interface. This dial is located just below and to the right of the lens barrel and sticks out a like a tiny appendage from the camcorder body. The only other feature on the front of the camcorder is its flash. It is a vertical one that curves around the left side of the lens barrel.  

  **The Right Side **The user grips the HDR-UX7 from the right side. The right side also contains the camcorder’s DVD disc drive. A thin, small strap runs the length of the right side. There is nothing else on this side of the camcorder. The DVD drive, enclosed by the right side, is big enough to provide a comfortable grip. It really feels more secure in the hand than a tape-based camcorder, although, I wouldn’t feel comfortable shaking it though).  

  **The Back **The back of the HDR-UX7 holds its battery pack, mode switch, primary record button, viewfinder, and a couple ports. The camcorder’s A/V out and DC in ports are located underneath the camcorder’s battery pack. The most dominant feature is the camcorder’s battery pack that juts out significantly from the back of the machine. This is an unfortunate, though perhaps inevitable, byproduct of the body design since DVD mechanisms are inherently larger than tape transporters. With the HDR-HC7, Sony designed a deeply recessed battery slot that gives the HDV camcorder a more svelte appearance while keeping the battery from bumping against your cheek while using the viewfinder.   The HDR-UX7’s viewfinder cannot be extended, but it does tilt upwards to provide some distance from the protruding battery.   **The Left Side **The left side of the HDR-UX7 is the camcorder’s main control center. It features the camcorder’s primary menu navigational device an LCD screen with Sony’s revamped touch menu. The 3.5" makes the touch screen menu much easier to use than smaller screens of the past, and addresses some of the usability issues we've hit touch screens hard for in our reviews.   Underneath the LCD screen, the user will find the camcorder’s MemoryStick PRO Duo slot along with a series of buttons for Easy mode, Display/Battery Info, and Playback mode The buttons are well-placed since it moves less important buttons under the screen and out of the way.    The strip of ports located beneath the LCD cavity is also well-placed. Along this strip, running left to right, are the camcorder’s microphone input, headphone jack, component out, and HDMI output, Moving toward the front of the camcorder from this port strip, one finds the camcorder’s assignable dial control. This control, while functionally similar to the HDR-HC7 (and other past high-end Sonys), is designed for better control. It also looks prettier and has a more substantial feel than the dial found on its prior brethren.  

  The TopThe top of the HDR-UX7 holds the camcorder’s built-in 5.1 Surround Sound microphone and proprietary AIS (Advanced Accessory Shoe). Rarely used buttons on the top include NightShot and Backlight, as well as the sliding latch used to access the disc drive. The camcorder’s zoom toggle and photo capture button are located behind the latch. Unfortunately for users with large hands, the zoom toggle falls under my middle finger instead of my index finger, a problem I experience on most Sony camcorders this year. I also prefer microphones to be on the front of the camcorder, but it seems that Sony’s built-in surround sound microphones are usually right on top, leading me to suspect that they will pick up more unwanted noise.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control*Automatic Control*All of the manual controls on the Sony HDR-UX7 include automatic options. Automatic functions on Sony camcorders are generally top notch, and while we didn’t have enough time to fully assess the automatic controls on the HDR-UX7, they’re probably stellar as well. Be warned, however, that in exceptional conditions even top-quality automatic controls will have their problems. Automatic focus at high zooms is going to falter, as will automatic exposure in high contrast lighting. Auto white balance will also struggle in mixed lighting. In all these cases, manual image control is your best bet – and thankfully, the UX7 is generally up to the task.   *

Overall Manual Control *The manual controls on the HDR-UX7 are good, compared to the abysmal touch screen only controls found on most HandyCams from Sony. I love the dial control. It offers smoother adjustments as compared to the inferior dial control on HDR-HC7 and is a more viable tool. That said, some may consider it a downgrade from the HDR-UX1’s multifunction ring. What the HDR-HC7 has over the HDR-UX7 is manual shutter speed control and a better zoom toggle. This coupled with the overhauled menu system makes navigating the camcorder’s controls pleasant relative to lower-end Sony’s that only excel in Easy mode.   Users still have to contend with how manual adjustments not tied to the dial will involve going through on-screen buttons – but the presence of ANY kind of external manual image control on a Sony is a huge boon. The menu system for the UX7 has some advantages over the menus seen on HandyCams to date. On the plus side, it groups manual controls thematically in three tabs, labeled with Camera icons 1, 2, and 3, making access to many camcorder functions faster.   *Zoom*The HDR-UX7 features a 10x optical zoom operated by a zoom toggle located on the top of the camcorder and a secondary zoom toggle located on the margin of the LCD screen. The top zoom control overrides the secondary control. This is a fine zoom toggle though I wish that it would protrude further off of the surface of the camcorder body for better sensitivity. Sony was able to do this on this year’s HDR-HC7; why not here? Also, I prefer the primary zoom toggle to be under my index finger rather than my middle – a sizing issue that large-handed users will face. The HDR-UX7 had ergonomic issues related to hand size, though I expect this shouldn’t be an issue for small-handed users. A digital zoom of 20x is available, but can be disabled to preserve image quality.  

The zoom toggle could have been raised a little higher. *  *Focus *Manual focus is available on the HDR-UX7 using either the camcorder’s touch screen menu system or the dial control. In the camcorder’s touch screen menu system, manual focus is located under the "Camera 1" tab, thematically grouped with Telemacro and Spot Focus. Focal lengths from 0.1 to infinity are available and listed on the LCD screen. If you’re adjusting focus mid-shot, you can use the dial control located on the front of the camcorder, so long as you’ve assigned it to control focus. On many of Sony’s camcorders that lack focus rings or similar dial control, this on-the-fly adjustment is near impossible. The new HDR-HC7 features a less capable dial control and I found this one more responsive overall.   Sony includes a Spot Focusing option, where users tap the area of the screen for auto focus adjustments.   *Exposure & Aperture *Manual exposure of the Sony HDR-UX7 is controlled via the camcorder’s touch screen menu system or using the assignable dial control on the camcorder’s front. Like manual focus, it is located in the touch screen menu system under the "Camera 2" tab, a thematic group including AE shift, Scene Select, and Spot Metering. Like other Sony camcorders, the HDR-UX7 offers an opaque manual exposure adjustment, providing no numeric indicators onscreen. Indeed, when you adjust exposure, moving the cursor along a blank horizontal meter, you’re changing both iris and shutter with no precise information to go on. Sony also offers a Spot Metering option, allowing users to tap particular areas of the screen for specific auto exposure adjustment.   The HDR-UX7 includes an AE shift option under the "Camera 2" tab. This exposure offset feature can be assigned to the dial control, and it can be used to tweak the manual exposure function to reach exposures in between the manual function’s incremental jumps. This is a good control for on-the-fly tweaking.   *Shutter SpeedThere are no manual shutter speed options on the HDR-UX7. Look at this year’s HDR-HC7 and HDR-HC5 for manual shutter speed options on comparably-priced Sony high definition camcorders.   White Balance*Manual white balance is available on the Sony HDR-UX7 via the camcorder’s touch screen menu system only. It is located under the "Camera 3" tab, grouped with WB Shift and Color Slow Shutter (a NightShot mode). This control cannot be controlled using the camcorder’s dial control, though the WB shift can be assigned to the dial, allowing for white balance tweaking in the same manner as exposure tweaking. Standard Sony white balance options are available: Manual, Auto, Indoor, and Outdoor.   *GainThere is no manual gain on the Sony HDR-UX7   Other Manual Controls*The HDR-UX7 doesn’t have any other manual control options. *
**

Still Features

** Still Features**Sony is pushing this camcorder and the HDR-HC7 as hybrids adept at taking the best still photos to date, thanks to their large CMOS sensors. Like the HDR-HC7, the HDR-UX7’s specifications lists its stills resolutions as being up to 6.1MP. Other sizes include: 4.6MP, 3.1MP, and 0.3MP. Unfortunately, also like the HDR-HC7, the HDR-UX7 doesn’t provide pixel measurements for these sizes. We do know that the 4.6MP stills are widescreen, while the other sizes are all standard 4:3 aspect.   6.1 MP is an impressive resolution on paper, and if color has also improved over the lackluster tones of the UX1’s stills, the hybrid abilities of the UX7 may be worthy selling points. Keep an eye on our full review of this camcorder where we will thoroughly evaluate its stills.   All of the manual controls available in video recording modes are available in still capture mode including AE shift, WB shift, exposure, and focus. Unfortunately, as the HDR-UX7 does not include manual shutter speed control for video capture, still photo mode also lacks this option. Shutter speed adjustment to both video and still images is available on the HDR-HC7.   Stills are recorded to MemoryStick Duo and PRO Duo cards.

Handling and Use

Ease of Use The new menu system and large 3.5" LCD screen on the Sony HDR-UX7 really makes it easy to use - especially in comparison to Sony’s with smaller screens which includes all new Sony HDV consumer camcorders and the HDR-UX5. In comparison, the HDR-UX7 shines out. We’ve trashed the touch screen menu in the past, but frankly, an LCD screen this big coupled with an overhauled touch screen system makes it more usable. Additionally, Sony offers an Easy mode, that locks everything in auto and provides a simplified menu interface.   HandlingThe HDR-UX7 was great to handle. Sure, it’s big, but it grips like a dream. It’s great not having to worry about accessing anything on the left side of the camcorder while it’s being hand-held. The zoom toggle is good, but I do wish that it was located under my index finger instead of my middle finger (again, this is an issue that will affect users with large hands more so than others).   Handling the manual control interface on the HDR-UX7 is not bad – and that’s saying something on a Sony. It utilizes a fine dial control and is probably the best of such dial controls seen on this year’s Sony crop. Still, many will consider this control mechanism a downgrade from the multifunction ring of the HDR-UX1. Also, while the new menu system has its problems, I still enjoy using it over the systems on Sony’s HDV camcorders this year.   MenuThe HDR-UX7’s new menu system isn’t really that new; it’s featured on the HDR-UX1 and the HDR-SR1. We’ve given this menu a mixed review in the past. It is broken into two separate menus, Home and Camera, located at the upper left corner and lower right corner respectively. The Home menu includes a variety of "movie" settings including recording quality settings and assignable dial settings, while the Camera menu includes most of the manual controls.   What I like about this touch screen is that the buttons are more reasonably spaced and are organized on individual screens. I also like the thematic divisions of the button groupings. In the Camera menu, or manual control menu (located in the bottom right-hand corner), buttons are grouped thematically. Buttons pertaining to focus, exposure, and white balance are grouped together in three tabs labeled with Camera icons. There is an additional toolbox menu in both video and photo modes that leads to shortcuts in switching image sizes, recording modes, and microphone levels (not manual, just low and high). In video capture mode, another tab is available that leads to picture and digital effect options. This kind of organization is handy, but it may take a minute to get used to.   One thing about this new menu system is particularly infuriating.  Once options are changed in the Camera menu you are exited from the system and must re-enter in order to make more changes. As previous reviews have mentioned, this problem negates any speed that the new menu system adds to your handling.   LCD and ViewfinderOne of the biggest upgrades on the HDR-UX7 is the camcorder’s 3.5" LCD screen. With a resolution of 211K, this monitor is nice and big, taking up the entire side of the camcorder, and is certainly an upgrade worth paying for. The camcorder also ships with a 0.27" widescreen viewfinder (123K resolution). As much as I like the bigness of this camcorder’s LCD screen, I also appreciate the fact that you can angle the viewfinder upwards towards your eye.  

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

AudioThe HDR-UX7 includes a built-in microphone that can record 5.1 Surround Sound, an option available on a number of past Sony camcorders, and one we consider mainly a gimmick. Yes, you do indeed record sound to 5.1 channels, but the quality of that sound will be no better than what you’d get from any vanilla stereo onboard mic. The comparable HDR-HC7 also includes a manual audio level adjustment, and that’s lacking on the UX7. That being said, both camcorders include external microphone ports. If you’re serious about audio quality, you have the option of using an external mic. The proprietary AIS shoe also gives you the ability to tap Sony’s range of compatible accessories.   PlaybackThe playback mode on the HDR-UX7 is accessible using the button located under the camcorder’s LCD screen. Playback is done via a touch screen menu, with options for video and still review. The menu is much like the one found on the HDR-UX1, and when coupled with the large LCD screen of the HDR-UX7, it’s ia pleasure to use. Navigating the Home menu, users can find options for playback editing, including delete, edit, print, and playlist edit). Users can playback footage digitally to HD televisions using the camcorder’s HDMI port.   After finalizing your discs, playback of media is available on DVD players if your footage is SD. If your footage is captured in the AVCHD format, you can use some Blu-Ray Disc players, PlayStation 3 consoles, and newer Sony PCs.    ConnectivityWhile the HDR-UX7 lacks the unique sliding port cover that the HDR-UX1 featured, it does include well-placed ports including a mini microphone jack and a headphone output. The camcorder also includes a HDMI port for connecting to HD televisions for playback, an A/V output, and a component output.    

Other Features

Other Features
***Optical Images Stabilization* – It is perhaps the best feature on the HDR-UX7. It is a major upgrade from the HDR-UX5. The HDR-HC7 also features optical stabilization.   Zebra Strips – Available at intensity levels of 70 and 100 and accessible using the touch screen menu system, this feature puts zebra (black and white) strips on areas that are overexposed.     Telemacro – This option engages the full length of the camcorder’s optical zoom for capturing close-up objects and results in a focused foreground and blurry backdrops.   Guideframes – Selecting this options puts guideframes, basically a tic-tac-toe board of white lines on the screen to aid composition.   X.V. Color –  Sony is featuring this technology on four of their new HD camcorders this year. It stands for Extended YCC Colorimetry and is a new color space standard that supposedly includes more color variations. Unfortunately, the only way to view this properly is on one of Sony’s special HD televisions, which are rare and expensive right now.   *Smooth Slow Record
– *Smooth Slow Record creates slow-motion footage. The rate at which fields are recorded is increased four fold, it and can only record three seconds of footage at a time in this mode. The produced footage is understandably darker than normal.  

Comparisons / Conclusion

ConclusionIt’s hard to pass judgment on the HDR-UX7 at this point. There are, of course, a ton of great features on this camcorder, like the larger imager, the optical image stabilization, and the mic and headphone jacks. These would all add up to make an incredible standard definition camcorder. But the AVCHD format is very much a work in progress.   It has huge potential, which, ironically, is part of the problem. People have very high standards in mind when they hear a buzz term like "high definition." It may range from George Lucas to their neighbor’s HDR-HC1, but they’re not going to settle for less than that. And AVCHD is definitely no match for HDV at this time. In time, it will dominate both in popularity and in quality, but not this year. With the current coding used in consumer AVC camcorders, it looks only a little better than standard definition video blown up to 1920 x 1080 proportions. Fortunately, the UX7 has all the specs in place for a killer standard def baseline performance, so it can only go up from there.   What we can say about this camcorder is that it features Sony’s revamped menu system, and the same big LCD screen seen in last year’s top models, which makes handling easier than in the past. The new dial control is good, but I don’t know if I’d take it over the multifunction ring on the HDR-UX1. The inclusion of the microphone port and headphone jack are definite pluses over the step-down HDR-UX5, which is a stripped down and more traditional Sony point-and-shooter. But the main unanswered question is how the new imager fairs with AVCHD compression. The evolution of AVCHD will become clearer when we put the HDV flagship HDR-HC7 up against the HDR-UX7. Their 3.2 MP CMOS sensors are identical, but they employ different compression methods that our tests have shown to yield fundamentally different pictures. Stay tuned.

Meet the tester

Matt Culler

Matt Culler

Editor

Matt Culler is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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