Sony HDR-TG3E High Definition Camcorder Review
Sony HDR-TG3E – World’s Lightest, Smallest Full HD Camcorder
There is no doubt that Sony is the strongest player in the camcorder industry. Over the years the company has perpetually attempted to introduce innovative, but trendy electronic devices. With HDR-TG3E, a new full High Definition (HD) digital camcorder which abounds in new features and technologies, Sony is once again one step ahead of other contenders in the market.
Sony’s HDR-TG3E compact ultra portable camcorder without any doubt offers the best video quality in any occasion. Especially features like – 1920 x 1080 HD video recording, full HD output even for still photographs, 5.1 surround sound recording with zoom for clearer dialogue and sound, and 4 mega pixel for still photo recording; makes this tiny device unique.
Sony has always been a pivotal player in producing compact camcorders and this idea is further reinforced with the introduction of HDR-TG3. This Sony HDR-TG3E full HD camcorder is way above its contemporaries in terms of image quality, performance and built tone.
Producing small camcorders is always being a trend in the industry, but Sony claims HDR-TG3 is the smallest one available till today. Due to its use of flash memory Sony TG3 is the lightest HD camcorder available. Though it may appear little heavy for the trouser pocket but try putting it inside your jacket pocket, you can barely feel the weight.
Super Light!
Lacklustre silver polish wrapped all across the body of Sony HDR-TG3 Handycam, except its face. Space right below the lens is painted in dark brown. This chic stylish camcorder has a trendy look and light weight makes it easy to carry it around.
Measuring 119mm tall, 63mm deep, and a 32mm thick this system is truly compact. Solid titanium built body with scratch-resistant and premium hard coating makes this system easy-to-use.
Other external specifications include 240g weight excluding the battery with a flip-out 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD touch screen. As you open the screen you will see Quick ON button to quickly start the device from sleep mode.
Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens is fitted inside a glass like round case.
Sony logo is embossed in shiny metal at the sideways giving some kind of sheen to this device.
Along with 2.0 Hi-Speed USB port TG3 has three built-in microphone one facing backwards and two facing forwards. This helps in picking up directional sound and mixing it to 5.1 surround, and recording Dolby Digital sound effect.
As you about turn this petite video camera you will see quite a few vents to cool down this camera during its work time.
CMOS 4.0 mega pixels logo is embossed in dark grey at the back of this camcorder.
Perfect Zooming and Precision
Sony TG3 Small Size camcorder boasts super quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lens offering ultimate resolution, high precision digital zoom ratio of 120. With powerful 2.3-megapixel, 1/5-inch Exmor CMOS sensor you can capture any moment with maximum precision.
For maintaining small stature, TG3 relies on a smaller 1/5-inch sensor. For better quality image processing ClearVid CMOS sensor is aided by Sony’s BIONZ image processor. TG3 captures Full HD video in AVCHD format. However, only 1.43-megapixels of the CMOS sensor are actually used to capture video.
Endless Recording
The best part of Sony TG3 High Definition Camcorder is its ample memory. TG3 stores its data captures to 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo that comes along with the box. But that is only enough for half an hour of footage in FH mode. Upgrade the memory card to 16GB memory for shooting up to 6 hours. Even after expansion you have the option of appending another 32GB for continuous filming continuously for 12 hours
Recording is not only super easy on Sony TG 3 like other Sony camcorders but offers popular recording modes, such as top 1,920 x 1,080 FH quality mode with data rate up to 16Mbits per seconds. Other HD modes allow you to record at 1,440 x 1,080, with data rates up to 9Mbits per seconds. You can also record in SD resolution (720 x 576) at 3, 6 or 9Mbits per seconds.
While recording you have the option of monitoring the exposure of an image. Exposure control options include slider/spot function. However, there’s no direct relation between exposure setting and iris F-stops, and you cannot control shutter speed. For an automated video recording, TG3 offers an array of Scene modes. It includes Landscape, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Sunrise & Sunset, Candle, Fireworks, Portrait, Spotlight, Beach, and Snow. Apart from these popular modes choose scene mode from two white balance presets one for indoors and the other for outdoors, along with auto and manual modes. The Colour Slow Shutter controls the speed of a shutter by dropping the shutter speed as low as required to pick up a properly exposed image.
Face Detection Feature
Sony TG3 Compact Handycam is capable of intelligent face detection and smile shutter, which works in both video and still mode. All this is topped off by a 10x optical zoom. Face Detection feature automatically lines up colour balance, focus, exposure, and skin tone for clearer and more innate faces. This in-built face detection feature also recognises square-shaped human faces and uses these as a reference for exposure. This makes an image shot against a bright light to be properly exposed. TG3 does face detection job competently, but fast-moving subjects goes out of detection, thus makes the exposure quality variant most of the time. If the image has evenly-exposed backlit shots D-Range Optimiser fine-tunes focus by adjusting exposure and contrast for more natural looking skin tones.
With TG3 you have the option of taking footage using X.V.Color scheme which gives vivid and lifelike colours. With BRAVIA TV using BRAVIA Sync via HDMI™ connection you can play your video on television and control via compatible BRAVIA TV remote control.
With built-in Flash this camcorder is not only best for video but even with still photograph with 4 mega pixel resolution and PhotoTV HD output you can view your still photo on compatible BRAVIA TV.
Attractive Software Bundle
For editing your video TG3 is bundled with wide variety of Software feature which include automatic movie creator for sticking clips, music, and transition effects together in a single click at the touch screen. With Picture Motion Browser included free for your PC with Sony TG3 camcorder you can sort, and browse through all your clips and photos.
Tools like Pinnacle Studio 11.1 Plus, CyberLink PowerDirector 7, Sony Vegas Pro 8, and Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus provide great options to edit videos and later upload them to YouTube, Facebook and Flickr. You can also download free software to move your flick to a DVD or convert your video to MPEG or WMV files. You can also use Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, CS4 or Sony Vegas. Use Premiere Pro if you have CS3 design suite installed for converting AVCHD format video to other formats. Burn them to disc, email to friends or upload to social networking sites with a few clicks.
Once you have lot of video footages stored on TG3 you can use Face Index, Film Roll Index and Visual Index for quick, easy searches. With Face Index you can find shots containing faces in a video instantly. Film Roll Index helps cutting longer recordings into shorter segments or ‘chapters’, making it easier to find the right motion.
Apart from the sleek and light TG3 camcorder Sony also includes wide selection of accessories in the box. Once you open the system you will see battery charger, battery and carry pouch, Cables and Connectors. Connector Types include 1 x HDMI output, 1 x component video output, 1 x composite video/audio output, 1 x S-Video output, 1 x USB 2, 1 x DC power input.
Great Footage
Sony HDR-TG3 Mini Camcorder is definitely an outstanding contribution from Sony.
Among other attractive features this camcorder never irks even when you are shooting for a longer time. Also switch from sleep mode to active mode is pretty fast.
Surround sound works amazing adding realism to every footage. This makes all your video crisp and lifelike. Best of all everything is built in to this camcorder. You do not need to buy any extra accessories, such as microphones or cables.
Being light weight you can move around this device and can also slide inside your bag or your pocket.
Sony claims that TG3 captures Full HD, but it does add a small amount of interpolation to digital photography taken using Sony TG3.
However, the poor low light feature will fail to capture clips taken in a dark room. Also manual focusing is possible only through touch sensitive screen, either by using a slider or spot focus option.
When trying to focus on a subject in a room lit by a 100W bulb the image tends to be grainy, but it is successful in maintaining the colour balance. Therefore, this camcorder is not perfect for shooting in a poorly lit room, but it is able to handle most of the clips taken in illuminated situations.
Face detection feature works perfectly well with still images, but when recording moving subjects tend to twitch.
Features like recording on Memory Stick™, Face Detection option, and SteadyShot image stabilization makes TG3 unparalleled in the camcorder industry.
You may also be interested in Sony HDR-TG7VE HD Camcorder Reviews, Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV Camcorder.
Sony TG3 High Definition Camcorder – Technical Specifications, Features
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Model Name | HDR-TG3E |
| Camcorder type | Mini, HD Camcorder |
| Dimensions | 32 x 63 x 119mm (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 240 grams without Tape/Battery |
| Colour/Finish | Silver |
| Monitor | 2.7-inch LCD display – Touch Panel |
| LENS AND ZOOM DETAILS | |
| Lens | Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar |
| F | 1.8-2.3 |
| f (Focal Distance) (mm) | 3.2 mm – 32 mm |
| f (35mm conversion) | 16:9 Mode ; 43-507 / 4:3 Mode ; 53-621 |
| Zoom ratio | Optical: 10 Digital: 120 |
| Precision Digital Zoom | Yes |
| Zoom key | Lever |
| CAMERA DETAILS | |
| Minimum illumination (lux) | 5 |
| Focus | Automatic Manual |
| White balance | Auto / Outdoor / Indoor / Onepush |
| Shutter Speed | 1/2-1/800 (including Scene Selection) |
| Scene Selection | Twilight / Twilight Portrait (Still Image) / Candle / Sunrise & Sunset / Fireworks / Landscape / Portrait / Spotlight / Beach / Snow |
| Fader | Black / White |
| Image Device: Size | 1/5.0 ClearVid CMOS Sensor |
| Image Processor | BIONZ |
| Number of Pixels (K) | 2360 |
| SteadyShot (Image Stabilisation) | Super (Electronic) |
| Features included | Digital Zoom : 120 x SteadyShot (Image Stabilizer): Super (Electronic) |
| CARD DETAILS | |
| Still Recording during Movie (Dual Rec) | YES (2.3 M, unlimited) |
| Memory mix | No |
| RECORDING DETAILS | |
| Movie Format | High Definition, AVCHD (1920 x 1080, 1440 x 1080) / Standard Definition, MPEG2 |
| Recording Media | Memory Stick |
| Movie Quality | HD ; FH (1920x1080i, 16Mbps) / HQ (9Mbps) / SP (7Mbps) / LP (5Mbps), SD ; HQ (9Mbps) / SP (6Mbps) / LP (3Mbps) |
| Playlist Edit | Add / Delete / Move |
| Compression of still image | JPEG |
| Image Size: Max | 16:9 Mode ; 2304 x 1296 (3M) / 4:3 Mode ; 2304 x 1728 (4M) |
| Still Recording during Movie (Dual Rec) | YES (2.3 M, unlimited) |
| Still image recording features | Memory Stick Compatibility |
| Video recording features | Dual Rec simultaneous 2.3 mega pixel still photo during video recording |
| Rechargeable Battery Pack | NP-FH30 |
| Product Specifics | Pure titanium body with scratch-resistant Premium Hard Coating ClearVid CMOS Sensor and Exmor™ derived technology for superbly detailed HD pictures with high sensitivity and low noise Face Detection automatically adjusts focus, exposure, colour balance and skin tone for clearer, more natural faces D-Range Optimiser adjusts exposure and contrast for evenly-exposed backlit shots x.v.Colour mode for vivid, alifelike colours 4 mega pixel still photo recording Face Index, Film Roll Index and Visual Index for quick, easy searches using touch screen 5.1 surround sound recording with zoom mic for clearer dialogue and sound of foreground subjects BRAVIA Sync via HDMI™ connection for playback control via compatible BRAVIA TV remote control PhotoTV HD output for optimised still photo display on compatible BRAVIA TV USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection for fast PC transfer (output only) |
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