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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Conclusion & Comparisons

  • Photo Gallery

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

Performance

Sony DCR-SR85 at 3000 lux in auto mode

Sony DCR-SR42 at 3000 lux in auto mode

Our video performance testing begins by shooting a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde chart under a bright, even 3000 lux of light. We then grab still frames from this footage and compare them to other camcorders we've previously tested. Right off the bat, we immediately noticed the increase in sharpness the SR85 has over last year's SR42. Text is bolder and easier to read and the image has deeper colors. The darkness of the DCR-SR85's image is also prominent—a direct result of the increased pixel count. In bright light, this increase in darkness doesn't seem to hurt the image. The chart shows stronger contrasts between black and white, colors with more pop, and a more vivid picture.

 
In the blown-up images above you can see the increase in detail coming from the Sony DCR-SR85. The improvement over the DCR-SR42 isn't as significant as we'd hoped, but you can notice more detail at the tail ends of the horizontal stripes in the images above. Also numbers and text are a bit bolder on the SR85. The Canon FS11, however, produces a far better image than the Sony SR85. Canon's image has smooth horizontal curves at the top and bottom of the blow-up, and the text on the right side of the frame is easier to read (although it's by no means crystal clear).

The color reproduction on the Sony DCR-SR85 looked far different from what we saw on the Canon FS11 and FS100. Don't let your eyes fool you, the two images above are shots of the exact same colors, but taken by two different camcorders. As you'll see in our low light performance section, the Sony DCR-SR85 scored uncharacteristically low in color accuracy—usually something Sony dominates in. The noticeable fuzziness in the blues and purples captured by the SR85 also makes the image less pleasing. The Canon appears to have smooth, even colors, without the blocky distortions visible on the SR85.

Shooting outside of the lab the DCR-SR85 performed adequately. Changes in exposure went smoothly and the camcorder captured crisp images with ease. Picture quality appeared to be nearly on par with the Canon FS100 in sided-by-side shooting. It was only when we looked at areas of fine detail that we noticed a strong difference between the two camcorders.

Overall, the video performance of the DCR-SR85 is a disappointment. It has decent image quality, but the improvement over last year's DCR-SR42 isn't nearly as good as we'd hoped to see from Sony. In our tests the Canon FS11 and FS100 captured better detail and a cleaner image in bright light. We'll have more reviews coming soon that should give Sony and Canon some stiff competition: the JVC GZ-MG330 and Panasonic SDR-H60 are both plugging through our labs as we speak.

Video Resolution* (5.25)
*To test video resolution, we shoot a DSC Labs video resolution chart under a bright, even light. We then watch the footage on an external monitor to analyze the results. The Sony DCR-SR85 produced an approximate horizontal resolution of 350 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 300 lw/ph. These are a touch above average scores for a camcorder in this price range and the numbers are nearly identical to the video resolutions we measured on the Canon FS11 and FS100 (both with 350 lw/ph horizontal and 275 lw/ph vertical). The SR85 far outperformed the older Sony SR42 in video resolution, which we would expect from the higher effective pixel count on the SR85.

Low Light Performance* (2.92)
*We test low light performance in three separate stages: comparative analysis, color accuracy/noise/saturation evaluation, and light sensitivity testing. Beginning the process with the DCR-SR85, we shot a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde chart under moderately low light (60 lux) and very low light (15 lux). We then pulled frames from this footage and compared them with other camcorders that have journeyed through our labs.

Sony DCR-SR85 at 60 lux in auto mode

Sony DCR-SR42 at 60 lux in auto mode

Much like we saw in our bright light testing, the DCR-SR85 has a darker image than the DCR-SR42 at 60 lux. The SR85 has a bolder, sharper picture, but it is clearly a notch darker than last year's model. It's not that the image looked too dark at 60 lux—it actually looked quite good. Colors were deep and vivid and the blacks and whites looked very strong. If you want a very bright image, however, the SR85 will give you some problems.

At 60 lux, the Sony SR85 really showed off its sharpness when we looked closely. In the images above, you can clearly see the improvements Sony made over last year's SR42. The text on the SR42 looks blurred and distorted in comparison to the bold, sharp lettering of the SR85. The SDR-H60, Panasonic's standard definition camcorder with a 60GB internal hard drive, also produced fuzzy print in the blow-up. Only the Canon FS100 (and the FS11) came close to matching the Sony as far as sharpness is concerned.

Sony DCR-SR85 at 15 lux in auto mode

Sony DCR-SR42 at 15 lux in auto mode

Panasonic SDC-H60 at 15 lux in auto mode

At 15 lux, which is very low light, the Sony DCR-SR85 produced a very dark image. Even with this dark image, however, the colors are strong and the sharpness is still impressive. In comparison, the SR42 has a much brighter image, but its colors are faded and the picture is loaded with distracting, fuzzy noise. The DCR-SR85 may not be able to pick up as much detail in low light as the SR42, but its image is much more pleasing to look at. The Panasonic SDC-H60 produced an image quite similar to the Sony DCR-SR85 at 15 lux. Both aren't bright pictures, but have good levels of contrast and robust colors (especially when recording at such low light levels). The big difference is in sharpness, as the Sony provides a much clearer picture than the Panasonic here, just as it did at 60 lux.

For the second stage of our low light testing we use Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, saturation levels and average noise. We first shoot an X-Rite Color Checker chart at an even 60 lux, then we pull frames from this footage and run them through the software. According to Imatest, the DCR-SR85 produced a color error of 15.9. This is slightly worse than the 13.6 score earned by the DCR-SR42 last year. The difference in scores probably has to do with the darker image produced by the SR85. This isn't a horrible score, however, as most camcorders in this price range don't fair all that well with color accuracy. The Canon FS11 performed a bit better, posting an 11.8 in color error, and the Samsung SC-MX20 did a little worse, with a color error of 16.6.

The DCR-SR85 averaged 1.45% noise according to Imatest, which is a decent noise score. It's an improvement over the SR42 (1.8625% noise) and nearly identical to the numbers put up by the Canon FS11 (1.4325% noise). The SR85 also produced a saturation level of 61%.

For our last low light test we measure sensitivity. We hook the DCR-SR85 to a waveform monitor, which measures light in IREs. Watching the monitor, we slowly lower the lights until the camcorder reads an exposure of 50 IRE. The DCR-SR85 required 18 lux of light to reach 50 IRE, which is an unusually bad score for Sony. The Canon FS11, Samsung SC-MX20, and Sony DCR-SR42 all needed only 13 lux of light to obtain a peak of 50 IRE. It seems the boost in pixel count really did a number on limiting the SR85's low light sensitivity—something that is visually noticeable when comparing the 15 lux images of the SR85 and SR42. The sensitivity score doesn't measure how good the image looks at low light, it just measures how well the camcorder picks up an image when the lights go dim.

Overall, the Sony DCR-SR85 showed us some promising images in low light. It had a clearer image than much of the competition, and colors always looked solid. The camcorder does have a problem with low light sensitivity and it doesn't produce as bright an image as some of the other products in its price range. You have to take into consideration how often you'll be filming in low light settings, and how important a bright image is to you. Keep in mind, the Sony DCR-SR85 does come with a NightShot system, which can capture footage at light levels as low as 0 lux (as long as you don't mind the bright green coloration produced by the infrared sensor). We don't include special night modes in our testing or our low light scoring, however, because the image is completely distorted.

Stabilization* (6.03)
*We test image stabilization systems by attaching camcorders to a specialized device in our lab. Our device produces an agitating motion at two different speeds—speed one is roughly equivalent to the wobbliness of an unsteady hand, while speed two mimics the rocky motion you'd experience if attempting to film from a moving vehicle. At speed one, the Sony DCR-SR85 reduced 83.3% of the shake and at speed two it reduced 71.4%. Both of these are fantastic scores, as Sony generally does well with image stabilization. The DCR-SR85 is equipped with an electronic image stabilization system (EIS), which digitally smooths out unwanted motion. Using EIS can result in some loss of image quality and it should be turned off when the camcorder is on a tripod.

In comparison, the Canon FS11 reduced a similar amount of shake at speed one, but had an awful performance at speed two, providing only 11.11% reduction at the faster speed.

Wide Angle* (9.60)
*We tested the wide angle capabilities of the DCR-SR85 using a vertical laser. We set the camcorder on a stationary tripod and pull its zoom all the way out, hence displaying the widest view possible. Analyzing the footage on an external monitor, we measured the SR85's wide angle at 48 degrees. This is an average score for a consumer camcorder.

Format

Compression* (4.00)*

The Sony DCR-SR85 records video in the MPEG-2 compression, the standard for most standard definition DVD, hard drive, and flash memory camcorders. For better or for worse (most might argue the former), MPEG-2 is in the winter of its life, as the new generation of standard definition and HD use MPEG-4 variants.

There are three quality settings on the DCR-SR85. HQ records at 9Mbps, SP at 6Mbps, and LP at 3Mbps. Sony has made working with its video files much easier than Canon, Panasonic, or JVC. Rather than splitting the files into multiple parts, each clip is a unified file with a .MPG extension. In most cases, these files can be imported into editing software and media players without a hitch.

Media* (7.00)*

The Sony DCR-SR85 records video and stills to a 60GB internal, non-removable hard disk drive. If you like, video and stills can also be recorded to MemoryStick Duo cards, which load into a slot on top. It's never a bad idea to bring a backup MemoryStick, but 60GB is a fair bit of space for standard definition video. The chart below gives you approximate record times.

The step-down model from the SR85, the DCR-SR65, has a smaller 40GB hard drive, which saves you $100 off the MSRP.

A sliding door covers the MemoryStick slot.

Editing* (6.00)*

The Sony DCR-SR85 ships with Picture Motion Browser 3.0, a low rent editing bundle that allows you to perform the very basic types of edits – import clips, trim them for length, order them in a sequence, and output them into a final movie. The camcorder also has a 'disc burn' button, located inside the LCD cavity. This feature will use Sony's provided software to burn video and images onto a disc when the camcorder is connected to a computer. Unfortunately, the automatic 'disc burn' button only works with a Windows PC.

If you have another editing program that you prefer, the .MPG files should not prove to be any problem. As we mentioned in our last review of the Canon FS100, some manufacturers break MPEG-2 videos into multiple files, which makes for a messy import process. Sony conveniently outputs single, unified files.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
*** Automatic Control (7.00)
*

**

Sony has branded itself as the choice for those who want the simplest possible shooting experience. While we think the design and menu navigation have strayed from that promise, Sony camcorders typically continue to perform well in Auto mode. If you choose to completely eschew menus and manual controls, you can go forward secure in the knowledge that the DCR-SR85 can handle changes in light and focus without your help. Just point – the camcorder will do the rest.

The exposure shifts are smooth, especially when panning slowly across areas of high contrast (like the horizon). The auto white balance was fine, but tended to yellow a bit much under some incandescent lights and bluish under fluorescent lights, rather than correcting for these.

Like all Sonys, the DCR-SR85 has two very good one-touch correction controls – Spot Meter and Spot Focus – that allow users to aid in the focus and exposure without requiring a great deal of camera knowledge from them. When either feature is activated, a frame appears around the LCD screen. You simply touch the area of the screen that you want focus or exposed properly.

There are a number of Scene modes, as well, to help you with troublesome shooting situations. They include: Auto, Twilight, Candle, Sunrise & Sunset, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports, Beach, and Snow.

Overall Manual Control (3.25)

The Sony DCR-SR85 is a limited choice for users that crave a lot of manual controls. It's not so much that it lacks critical controls so much as their implementation is quite lackluster. In most instances, the problem is the touch screen interface. For tasks like white balance adjustments, the touch screen makes sense and works reasonably well. But for more subtle controls like focusing, the experience is nigh on impossible, because Sony crams so much graphical junk onto the screen that it's impossible to see the subject of the shot.

Many of Sony's HD camcorders side-step this problem by adding a dial to the front of the camcorder that allows for easy, less intrusive adjustments, but alas, you'll find no such option here. For those desiring a tally, the SR85 includes the following controls: zoom, manual exposure, manual focus, manual white balance, and two slow shutter presets. There is no aperture control, no real shutter speed control, and no manual gain.

*

Zoom (5.50)*

The zoom control of the Sony DCR-SR85 is quite good. We were able to achieve a very slow, controlled crawl. Of course, it can also go fast, as well. We could get about 3-4 zoom speeds in all. The zoom toggle falls neatly under the index finger. There's also a set of zoom buttons on the left side of the LCD door frame—good for performing zooms if you're holding the camcorder in a non-traditional manner.

Zoom Power Ratio (25.00)

The Sony DCR-SR85 has a 25x optical zoom. This is probably enough power for most types of shooters. If you need more, Sony offers a 40x zoom on the step-down DCR-SR45.

The digital zoom can be extended to either 50x, or all the way out to 2000x, a setting that guarantees atrocious quality.

Focus (5.50)

As we mentioned earlier on this page, the manual focus is poorly implemented on the Sony DCR-SR85, and any Sony camcorder that doesn't have the little 'Cam Control' dial on the front (found only on select HD models). When manual focus is activated, the following graphics are on the screen: 1) an 'away' focus button, 2) a 'toward' focus button, 3) text in the middling detailing where in the zoom range you are, 4) an Auto button to return to auto focus, 5) a Manual button to... what? Confirm the fact that you're still in manual focus mode? 6) a huge bar graphic at the bottom that explains the concept and application of a manual focus adjustment.

Yes, it's a bit crowded. In many cases, you can't even see your subject that needs the focus.

Focusing with the touchscreen is a cluttered experience.

Exposure & Aperture (5.00)

The exposure adjustment is very easy. It's essentially the same interface we just described above, though the frustration levels are lower. In a typical shot, it's easier to adjust exposure with part of the image obscured than it is to adjust focus. Don't get us wrong, this is about as far from pro-level as you can get, but at least it's simple.

Manual exposure on the DCR-SR85

A scale appears in the middle of the screen. Push the plus or minus buttons to adjust. There are 33 increments in all. The camcorder does not provide any information about what these adjustments are doing to the aperture and shutter speeds.

Shutter Speed (0.0)

There is no shutter speed control on the Sony DCR-SR85. Sony is the only manufacturer that omits this control. Canon and JVC both offer shutter priority modes, and Panasonic has independent shutter and aperture.

White Balance (5.50)

The white balance options on the Sony DCR-SR85 are minimal, but standard for a camcorder in this price range. Inside, you'll find Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, and One Push (Manual). Making a manual white balance is easy – simply select the One Push option, point your camcorder at a white or neutral grey target, then tap the white balance icon button. The adjustment takes about one to two seconds. 

Gain (0.0)

There is no manual gain control on any Sony consumer camcorder. Only Panasonic offers this option.

Other Manual Controls (3.00)
Auto Slow Shutter - This option drops the slowest shutter speed from 1/60th of a second to 1/30th of a second, when the camcorder senses that the available light has dropped.

Color Slow Shutter - This option is a jacked-up version of the Auto Slow Shutter described above. Rather than dropping the auto shutter down to 1/30th of a second, it drops down about as low as a half a second.

Guide Frames – This feature puts up grid lines on the LCD to help you frame your shot. The lines only appear on the display and will not be present in your recorded footage.

Still Features

Still Features* (3.50)

*As with most camcorders, the Sony DCR-SR85 could never replace a dedicated still camera. It isn't loaded with photo features or settings (it doesn't even come with a flash) and its image resolution is extremely small—even compared to a low-end digital camera. The DCR-SR85 takes JPEG photos in the following sizes:

-1152 x 864 (1.0 Megapixels)

-1152 x 648 (widescreen image, 0.7 Megapixels)

-640 x 480 (VGA)

To take still images you have to flick the mode toggle (the on/off switch) to photo mode. This changes the aspect ratio on the LCD to fit whatever size you have selected for still images (it will be 4:3 if you're taking photos at highest quality). Taking photos is done by pressing the shutter button at the top of the camcorder, directly behind the zoom toggle. The DCR-SR85 does not have a dual-record mode, which allows you to snap photographs while you are in video mode. This feature is commonly found on on many of Sony's higher end products and HD camcorders.

Not having a flash is the norm for compact standard definition camcorders. Sony does sell proprietary flashes and video lights that will mount to the accessory shoe at the top of the camcorder. In this price range, Sony is alone in offering accessory shoes. The Canon FS11, FS10, and FS100 do not have shoes, nor does the Panasonic SDR-H60, or the JVC GZ-MG330 and MG360.

The Photo Settings menu contains the following items:

Note: Flash Mode, Flash Level, and Redeye Reduction are only available

if a flash device is connected to the proprietary accessory shoe.

The Photo Settings menu

The Photo Playback menu contains the following options:

 

Still Performance* (5.31)
*We measured the still performance of the Sony DCR-SR85 by photographing an X-Rite Color Checker chart under a bright, even light. We photographed the chart under a variety of exposure settings, then ran the images through Imatest imaging software to get results. At its best, the camcorder produced a color error of 11.3, which is abysmal—especially for Sony. As a whole, Sony often rules the roost when it comes to producing accurate colors, but this clearly is not the case with the DCR-SR85. This is a far worse score than last year's Sony DCR-SR42 (7.02 color error) and the Canon FS100 and FS11, which produced statistically equal color errors of 8.03 and 8.5 respectively. This very poor showing from the DCR-SR85 was most noticeable with deep blues, reds, and purple colors.

The camcorder also had too much noise in its still images, producing a noise percentage of 1.9025%. Again, this is worse than last year's standard definition camcorder from Sony, the DCR-SR42, which had 1.6475% noise in its still images. Canon averaged 1.7% noise on both the FS11 and FS100. None of these are good scores for camcorders in this price range, but the SR85 has the worst of the bunch. Lastly, Sony produced a color saturation of 101.1%, a figure that is more in line with the rest of the competition.

The still performance of the Sony DCR-SR85 is particularly lousy, even for standard definition camcorder. Any photos taken with this device probably won't even cut it as low-quality web images. Do yourself a favor and buy a cheap point-and-shoot digital camera—the resulting photographs will be significantly better than anything you'll see from a regular camcorder.

Still Resolution* (5.16)
*The Sony DCR-SR85 didn't execute as poorly with still resolution as it did with still performance. We tested the still resolution of the camcorder by photographing an ISO 12233 resolution chart under bright, even light. We again used Imatest imaging software to analyze the images. The best result from the DCR-SR85 was a horizontal resolution of 622 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) with a 1.5% oversharpening. The camcorder produced a vertical resolution of 689 lw/ph with a 2.3% undersharpening. It looks like the SR85's increased pixel count (in comparison to last year's Sony SR42) gave a significant boost to resolution, while worsening color accuracy and noise.

These scores are worse than the numbers put up by the Canon FS11 (897 lw/ph horizontal, 737 lw/ph vertical), but the Sony had far less oversharpening (the FS11 had a 42.8% oversharpening on its vertical resolution). In all, the still resolution scores from the SR85 are decent for a camcorder in this price range.

Handling and Use

*

Ease of Use (7.25)*

Sony provides its customary Easy button on the DCR-SR85 in an attempt to keep things simple for beginners. The Easy button, which is found on nearly every consumer camcorder made by Sony, puts the camcorder into a uncomplicated auto mode. The Camera menu vanishes and the Home menu dwindles to only a few settings to make things less confusing. Icons and information on the LCD screen grow a bit larger so they're easier to see as well. Basically, after pushing the Easy button, the DCR-SR85 becomes a point, shoot, and zoom device. As with all Sonys, the Easy button does make things simple, but most users will probably want to play around with a few of the features the camcorder has to offer.

The DCR-SR85 isn't too difficult to use in 'normal' modes and the menu options aren't too complicated. Sony provides an excellent information box at the bottom of the LCD screen that gives a short summary about each selected setting. The menus are a bit unorganized (settings are spread out in a variety of places), but if you're used to Sony products you'll quickly learn your way around. Our only major gripe is with the touchscreen interface, which creates a number of annoyances. The screen isn't good for using manual controls and it's often too cluttered with information and fingerprints to be capable of making accurate, fine-tuned adjustments.

Handling* (6.50)
*The Sony DCR-SR85 is a compact device, but it tends to be a bit larger than most of the competition. It's wider than the ultra-slim Canon FS11 and FS100, bulkier than the JVC GZ-MG330 and MG360, and nearly the exact same size as the Panasonic SDR-H60. Despite the extra size of the Sony SR85, it handles extremely well overall—in fact, it's added girth actually makes the camcorder easier to grip and wield. The SR85 also has the benefit of a well-padded, adjustable hand strap for added support.

The Sony DCR-SR85 has a solid grip

The black, hard-plastic encasement for the 60GB hard drive on the camcorder's right side is ergonomically shaped to fit snugly into a welcoming palm. A portion of the black plastic also extends above the top of the lens barrel—providing an excellent resting spot for the tips of your fingers when you grip the camcorder. It is this design that sets the SR85 apart from the rest—the Canon FS11 and FS100 don't have good spots to put your fingers and the JVC GZ-MG330 and MG360 don't fit very well to the curve of a palm.

All the controls on the back of the DCR-SR85 line up well with your thumb and index finger. No straining motions are required to reach for hidden switches and there isn't an overload of knobs or buttons you can accidentally bump. This is a big problem with the Panasonic SDR-H60, which has six buttons, one joystick, and a mode dial all located on the back of the camcorder.

The large internal hard drive gives you something to wrap your hands around.

Sony added extra zoom, record, and Home menu buttons to the side of the LCD door, which is good for users who want to use two hands while recording (or who don't like the feel of the normal zoom toggle). The only buttons that are a bit difficult to access are the few buttons located inside the LCD cavity, and the two buttons just below them, near the base of the camcorder. Most of these buttons are rarely used, and it's a good thing some of them are out of the way. However, it would have been nice for Sony to place the Easy button, which is essential for beginners, in a more obvious location.

Of course, Sony does have the problematic touchscreen interface for accessing menus and adjusting manual controls. It can be a difficult system to use and Sony will never produce an ultimate handling device until this feature is improved (although Sony came close with the excellent Cam Control dial on select HD models).

Menu* (6.50)
*On all its camcorders, Sony uses a LCD touchscreen interface for accessing menus. The menu systems are similar on most Sonys, so if you've used another model before you should already know your way around the basics. The touchscreen can be annoying to deal with because the screen is small (2.7 inches) and the buttons don't have the best sensitivity.

Sony's menu structure isn't the easiest in the world, but it's not too bad. Settings are spread out in two menus: the Camera menu and the Home menu. The Camera menu is where you'll find most of your manual controls (focus, exposure, white balance, etc.) and effects (fader, picture effects, etc.). The Home menu houses more administrative settings (like media management, display settings, and connection options). For some reason, Sony also puts a Movie Settings and Photo settings tab inside the Home Menu. Both of these tabs contain options that directly affect the recorded image (like SteadyShot, slow shutter, and image size). It would make more sense if these settings tabs were located in the Camera menu.

The 'help' feature is useful for beginners

To make things easier for beginners, a short description of each selected setting appears at the bottom of the LCD screen. Along with this, Sony adds a help feature in the Home menu, which is activated by pressing the question mark in the upper right corner of the menu screen. With help activated, whenever an option is selected, a dialog box appears explaining what the current selection will do. This is a wonderful inclusion by Sony and it should help beginners figure out the workings of the DCR-SR85 without having to consult the instruction manual (Sony includes these information assistants on most of its camcorders).

The Home menu contains the following options:

The camcorder's Home menu

The Camera menu contains the following options:

 

**

The Camera menu holds most of the manual controls.
**

Portability* (7.00)*

Even though the Sony DCR-SR85 is a light, compact camcorder, it's actually significantly bulkier and heavier than some of the direct competition from other manufacturers. The SR85 weighs approximately 400g (14 oz.) with its battery pack installed, and its dimensions are 76.3 x 76.6 x 112.8mm (3 x 3 1/8 x 4 1/2 inches). The JVC GZ-MG360, which claims to be the world's smallest and lightest hard disk camcorder (and also contains a 60GB internal hard drive), is 40g lighter and approximately 33% smaller than the SR85. The Canon FS11, which has 16GB of internal solid state memory, has a size very similar to the JVC and weighs only 310g. Both the Canon and JVC are capable of traveling in a loose pocket, while the DCR-SR85 will likely be limited to riding in a purse, small pack, or camera bag. The Panasonic SDR-H60, another camcorder with a 60GB internal hard drive, is very similar in size and weight to the Sony DCR-SR85.

Despite the smaller competition from Canon and JVC, the DCR-SR85 still fairs well in the portability category. It has a 60GB internal hard drive, which is good for capturing over 14 hours of footage at highest quality, and it can also record to MemoryStick memory cards if you need some extra space. All the important connectivity ports are located right on the camcorder, which means you won't have to pack the extra bulk of a docking station when you travel (this is a problem with some of Sony's HD camcorders). Also, the wide design of the DCR-SR85 provides an excellent grip and sturdy handling.

Interestingly, the Sony DCR-SR65 (40GB internal hard drive) and SR45 (30GB internal drive) both have the same dimensions and weights as the Sony DCR-SR85, according to Sony's website. So, if you're looking for a smaller option from Sony, you're not going to find it—unless you upgrade to the ultra-compact, HD video HDR-TG1.

**

LCD and Viewfinder*** (7.00)
*Like many camcorders being manufactured these days, the DCR-SR85 doesn't have a viewfinder. This means all your capturing must be done wit the 2.7-inch LCD screen. The LCD provides a good image, offering a 211,000-pixel resolution display and a 270 degree rotation. To the left of the screen are also extra record, zoom, and Home menu buttons for easy access when holding the camcorder in non-traditional ways.

The only problem with Sony's LCD display is the touchscreen interface that is used to change settings and adjust manual controls. As with all Sonys, this interface can be cumbersome and annoying—it mucks up the screen with fingerprints, icons and hands get in the way when you're trying to set manual focus or exposure, and buttons can be difficult to press. On some HD models (like the HDR-CX12 and SR11/SR12), Sony offers a 'Cam Control' dial that significantly improves the manual control interface. But, alas, the touchscreen is the only option on the DCR-SR85 (as well as SR65 and SR45).

Interestingly, the camcorder doesn't automatically shut off when the LCD panel is closed, which can actually be a very beneficial feature. This makes for sneaky use of the DCR-SR85, as most subjects will have no idea you are filming them—although you'll have to record somewhat blindly as there is no live view of what the camera is capturing. It can also save battery life if you're filming a long, still shot (i.e. the camcorder is on a tripod). Of course, this feature could also be disadvantageous for users accustomed to camcorders automatically turning off when the LCD closes.

Battery Life* (10.30)*

We tested the battery life on the Sony DCR-SR85 by continuously recording video with the camcorder in auto mode. With no controls or features engaged for the duration of the test, the battery lasted for 102 minutes and thirty seconds.

This is a decent battery performance, but it is well below the performance put up by the Canon FS11, which lasted for 192 minutes and 53 seconds in our testing (roughly an hour and a half longer than the DCR-SR85).

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (5.00)

*The Sony DCR-SR85 doesn't have all the bells and whistles of audio control, but it's suited just fine for a compact camcorder. An internal microphone is housed atop the lens, right in front of the hot accessory shoe. External microphones can be purchased that will mount to the accessory shoe, but they must be Sony brand products. There is no external microphone or headphone jack on the camcorder.

In the Camera menu, the microphone recording volume can be set to normal or low. Also, there is a Zoom Mic feature that attempts to center in on the sound coming from subjects you have focused in on with the zoom lens.

Playback* (3.00)*

Playback is simple on the Sony DCR-SR85, but there are a bunch of confusing menu options and the screen is cluttered with tabs, thumbnails, and information in playback mode.

By pressing the play button on the lower right of the LCD touchscreen, or the same button on the base of the camcorder, you enter playback mode. Once in this mode, just click on the thumbnail of the video you want and it will begin playing instantly. VCR controls will appear at the bottom of the screen once the video starts playing (stop, rewind/slow-back, play/pause, fast forward/slow-forward). You can switch over to view still images by pressing the camera tab at the bottom of the LCD.

Volume control isn't located conveniently for playback. You must enter the Playback menu (the same button that accesses the Camera menu when in record mode) and select volume to raise and lower the playback audio. Sony should have made the zoom toggle or buttons double as volume control to make the adjustment handier. Pressing the Disp/Batt info button clears the screen, providing an unobstructed view of your footage.

Sony has a few advanced playback features on the DCR-SR85, but their functionality is questionable. Movie dub, which is found in the home menu, copies videos from the internal hard drive to a loaded MemoryStick memory card (photo copy can do the same thing for images). Face Index and Film Roll Index are both options for organizing video clips. Face Index uses face detection technology and indexes videos according to faces detected in each scene. Film Roll Index places chapter markers within video clips so you can jump to specific scenes within your footage. These features may sound interesting, but it is hard to imagine anyone spending that much time organizing their footage using a touchscreen interface on a 2.7-inch screen. All of this organization and indexing can easily be done on a computer—likely producing better results as well.

The Playback menu contains the following options:

**

Playback mode on the DCR-SR85
**

Connectivity* (6.00)
*There are only three ports on the body of the Sony DCR-SR85: DC input, AV-Out, and USB. On the top of the camcorder are also a MemoryStick card slot and a hot accessory shoe. The Sony DCR-SR85 (and DCR-SR65) is one of the few ultra-compact standard definition camcorders to offer an accessory shoe—the JVC GZ-MG360, Panasonic SDR-H60, and Canon FS11 are all shoe-less. Be forewarned, however, the DCR-SR85's accessory shoe fits only Sony-brand products, which means your vast collection of external microphones or lights will probably be incompatible with the camcorder. Adapters are available, but only through third-party vendors. In contrast, Canon does offer a 3.5mm stereo microphone input on the FS11.

Going clockwise starting at the upper left: AV-Out and USB, DC input,

MemoryStick slot, hot accessory shoe

Sony ships the DCR-SR85 with a docking station, which the camcorder connects to via a small port on its base. What's strange about this docking station is it provides no extra connectivity, but instead replicates the three ports already located on the camcorder—DC input, AV-Out, and USB. It's good Sony provided all the necessary connection options right on the body of the camcorder, but it's a wonder why they didn't slip some extras onto the docking station (or why they even bothered to provide the dock at all).

It should also be noted that Sony uses a proprietary AV-Out cable. This means if you break or lose the one that comes with the camcorder, you'll have to purchase a replacement from Sony.

Other Features

**What’s in the Box?

**

The Sony DCR-SR85 ships with the following items:

-Power adapter (AC-L200)

-InfoLithium rechargeable battery (NP-FH40)

-Docking station

-USB cable

-Remote control (RMT-835)

-A/V cable (stereo)

-Application CD-ROM w/driver

-Enjoy Handycam DVD

Other Features* (4.00)*

Fader – *This feature adds a fade to the beginning or end of your clips. The fade can be in black or white, and the option must be selected from the Effects tab on the Camera menu every time you want to use a fade (turning the feature on is only good for one fade).
*

*Digital Effects – *Why Sony devotes an entire tab to 'Digital Effects' is a mystery, especially when you discover there's only one effect option—Old Movie. All this feature does is slow down the camcorder's shutter speed and give the image a sepia tone. It's only good for a few seconds of entertainment.

Picture Effects – The DCR-SR85 has three picture effects settings for altering the image: sepia, black & white, and pastel. Not much changes in Sony's picture effects department—these are the same options offered by nearly every consumer camcorder from Sony.

NightShot – Sony's NightShot system uses infrared sensors to enhance low light capabilities. With the system engaged, the camcorder can capture video in complete darkness. Of course, all the footage will have a fluorescent-green coloration and only subjects captured a few feet in front of the lens will be visible. In contrast, the Canon FS11 offers a bluish video light to brighten dark scenes.

Quick On – Pressing the Quick On button puts the DCR-SR85 into sleep mode. Another push of the button instantly wakes the camcorder and it's ready for business. In reality, the Quick On button only saves you 1-2 seconds of time, as the camcorder boots quickly even from a completely powered-down state.

Backlight – Used for evening out contrast in scenes with strong backlight. For some reason, Sony gives this feature its own button (inside the LCD cavity). Is backlight really that important that it can't be in the menu with everyone else?

Conclusion & Comparisons

Conclusion

We expected more of an improvement from the Sony DCR-SR85 over last year's SR42. By increasing the pixel count on the SR85, Sony did improve image quality, but the 1/6-inch CCD sensor isn't big enough to make the camcorder an elite low light performer. This may not be an issue, however, if you enjoy the look of Sony's NightShot mode. Overall, as far as video performance goes, it's difficult to complain about the SR85—it produces a solid image and the automatic controls work admirably. The camcorder may not have produced the best scores in our testing, but in bright light and moderately low light we liked the way the images stacked up against the competition.

We must mention the limited ability of Sony's touchscreen interface. While the camcorder handles well overall, the touchscreen simply doesn't cut it when it comes to adjusting manual controls and navigating through menus. Other than that, the Sony is well designed and expertly organized.

The Sony DCR-SR85 is larger than most standard definition camcorders. If you're looking for an ultra-portable device, this isn't the camcorder for you. However, if you want something traditional, that feels good in your hand and performs well, the SR85 is an excellent option. With so many manufacturers pushing for smaller camcorders, especially in the standard definition market, it's almost refreshing to hold the Sony DCR-SR85 in your hand. It has some weight and it has a bit of bulk, but sometimes that's exactly what you're looking for.

Comparisons

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters

Sony's Easy button makes things simple for beginners and the auto controls on the DCR-SR85 perform adequately. Using the camcorder as a point-and-shoot device also keeps you from having to deal with the troublesome touchscreen interface. This could be a good choice for novice videographers.

*Budget Consumers
*The Sony DCR-SR85 isn't all that cheap, although it costs significantly less than a quality HD camcorder. There are plenty of options out there that will cost you far less and give you the same video quality. The step-down Sony DCR-SR65 will save you $100 or the Canon FS100, which comes with no internal memory, are excellent budget options.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

The DCR-SR85 does take photographs, but the options are limited and the quality is not very good. This really isn't any reason that makes this camcorder a better than average choice as a hybrid device.

Gadget Freaks

The accessory shoe may attract Sony enthusiasts with a stockpile of accessories. The shoe accepts Sony-brand products only, however, so don't expect all your professional mics to work unless you purchase a third-party adapter.

Manual Control Freaks

The annoying touchscreen interface wipes out any possibility of a manual control guru enjoying this camcorder. The manual control options are also rather limited.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

Pros won't be interested in the DCR-SR85.

Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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