Sony HDR-TG7VE HD Camcorder Review
HDR-TG7VE – Ultra-compact, light and stylish Camcorder from Sony
Sony has the pride of creating commendable landmarks in the field of camcorders. Almost since a year after its launch of its smallest camcorder in the world, Sony has updated its “smallest camcorder” tag. The HDR-TG7VE camcorder is their latest sensation which boasts being ultra compact, light and stylish. The Sony TG3E model, predecessor of TG7VE being a success, Sony has inherited some of its properties into this model too. It is without any hesitation going to serve as a great option for the holiday lovers with its feature of automatic Geo-tagging with GPS and map index view. Sony HDR-TG7VE Mini Camcorder overflows with features that allow you to enjoy viewing your video memories with fun.
The ultra-compact, sleek, stylish design:
Stylishness is one of the major seller phrases of the Sony HDR-TG7VE High Definition Camcorder. It is light weighted and compact. HDR-TG7VE has its dimensions as, 117 x 30 x 62 (H x W x D) mm and weighs 230 grams without tape and battery. The compactness of this handycam be felt when you can slide it easily into your pocket. Certain camcorders which claim to be light weighed compromise on its quality of built, but Sony has not and has built it out of tough titanium. The sleek designed titanium body has scratch resistant premium hard coating… a delight to the travellers with butter fingers like me, ensuring the everyday scratches do not affect the chic design of the camcorder.
Screen and lens:
It embeds a 2.7 inch flip-out LCD touch sensitive screen. Inside this sturdy frame, is a 2.3-megapixel, 1/5-inch Exmor CMOS sensor enables brilliant picture quality with high sensitivity and low noise. Clearer video and stills when shooting is done handheld is made possible by SteadyShot Image Stabilization. The D-Range Optimizer with Auto Backlight Correction adjusts exposure and contrast for evenly-exposed backlit shots. The cherry topping to the camcorder being its Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens 10x optical zoom/ 120x digital zoom. Sony employs BIONZ high-speed image processor for enhanced image quality and responsive performance.
Absence of flash and light features such as, flash automatic pop up, video light hologram AF and Night Framing is disappointing.
16GB memory – 6 hours continuous recording: WOW!
One of the major highlights of this Sony HDR-TG7VE Handycam is its extremely decent 16GB of memory clubbed with six full hours of continuous recording possible. If you are feeling that it is going to be insufficient for you, then just whack in a 32GB memory stick, and you can add another twelve hours of HYBRID recording to it, with this you can forget the need of taking around anymore disks and tapes. When the video comes out with HD quality images and stereo sound, it is definitely going to be a great treat and a satisfying experience.
The seller feature – Geo-tagging GPS and Map Index Feature:
As mentioned earlier, the Geo-tagging and GPS are going to be traveller’s delight. The Map Index Feature allows you to view where the movie clips and still images were taken as “map pins” in the LCD display, helping you in identifying your location when you are back home. Its working principle is that, the GPS receiver plots your location as you travel adding pin to the Map Index software. The ability to place your footage on a map that too in crisp high definition is simply amazing. The absence of the metadata standard is obviously going to link to Sony’s Picture Motion Software.
Fun-filled Face Detection and Smile Shutter:
The Sony HDR-TG7VE Camcorder with GPS Receiver also comes with the two features that Sony never leaves behind in any of its productions, that is, the Face Detection and Smile Shutter. Face Detection automatically gives clearer, natural looking faces whereas, the Smile Shutter automatically captures photos of smiles even during video shooting.The two most interesting technologies that you would love and this does work in the video mode too avoiding the need to switch between the shooting modes.
Fun with HDR-TG7VE at home too:
There are also a couple of other interesting features that Sony has added to HDRTG7VE Small Size Camcorder which adds to the great work of the handycam even after the shooting is over. One among them is the automatic movie creator that attaches the image clips along with music and transition effects in a touch. This feature is known as the Highlight Playback which allows you to create mini-movies. This does not demand any editing skills, just allowing you to choose from your favourite tracks and a range of stylish transition effects. Another related feature is its easy upload to our favourite sites like you tube, face book and Flickr. Easy-to-use Picture Motion Browser software which is already available, lets you manage and browse your clips and still shots in a unique calendar view. The Face Index and Film Roll Index are included for quick, easy searches.
Simplicity in operation and handling:
The operation as such involves simplicity as the shooting controls are pared down to a minimum for a confident fuss-free operation. For instance, it is very easy to switch between the video and still photography mode. By pressing the “REC start/stop” button, the camcorder will be in the video mode and a gentle thumb press to the adjacent photo button will allow you to capture four mega pixels sill photos. Hence, the worry of mode dials will be no longer hanging around you. It just gives you this amazing feeling of having a camcorder and still camera at the same time without carrying around any extra bulk.
The handling has been made as easy as possible it can be for you. Once you flip-open the LCD, the power is automatically ON and you are ready to shoot in less than a fraction of a second. Switching to the start-up mode from stand-by is faster than ever which never gives you the trouble of missing the once in a life-time moment. The stand-by power consumption is reduced almost to zero so that you can keep this compact beauty in your pocket with extremely minimal battery drain.
Additional accessories to enhance your treasure:
There’s also a wide range of accessories by Sony, designed for great looks and dependable performance with your Sony HDR-TG7VE Full HD Camcorder. Some of the available options are, the VCL-HGE07TB wide angle cap which easily slips onto the front of the camcorder’s lens. The high-quality adaptor boosts wide angle performance of the TG7VE to 30mm, packing in more of panoramic landscapes, interiors and cannot be missed party scenes. Sony has also provided you with choices for protection, including the LCM-TGA case which is designed exclusively for the TG7VE, and the LCS-TGB soft carry case. Perfect for travellers, the exclusive LCS-STA organiser case has space for the TG7VE plus a spare battery, travel charger (BC-TRP) and cables and yes, the entire above are optional.
The list of features is yet not over. The HDMI component connector is available for enjoying HD video on HD ready TV and BRAVIA Sync via HDMI connection for playback control via compatible BRAVIA TV remote control.
Verdict:
This amazing product will be launched in UK markets in May 2009 and hence its accurate price is not known but this product is sold at a price of 120,000 yens in Japanese markets and when this value is converted to pounds, it goes up to a whooping 800 plus pounds. Being heavy with features, it might be heavy your pockets too. Certainly it is a great device but if you are not that fussy about the GPS and Map Index Feature, it is worth a think.
Sony HDR-TG7VE Digital Camcorder – Technical Specifications, Features
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Model Name | HDR-TG7VE |
| Camcorder type | Mini, HD Camcorder |
| Dimensions | 117 x 30 x 62 (H x W x D) mm |
| Weight | 230 grams without tape and battery |
| Colour/Finish | Metallic silver |
| Monitor | 2.7 inch flip-out LCD touch sensitive screen |
| LENS AND ZOOM DETAILS | |
| Lens | Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar |
| F | 1.8-2.3 |
| f (Focal Distance) (mm) | 3.2-32 |
| f (35mm conversion) | Camera mode (mm) 16:9 Mode . 43-507 / 4:3 Mode . 53-621 Memory mode (mm) 16:9 Mode . 42-410 / 4:3 Mode . 38-380 |
| Zoom ratio | Optical: 10 Digital: 120 |
| Precision Digital Zoom | Yes |
| Zoom key | lever |
| CAMERA DETAILS | |
| Minimum illumination | 5 (1/25 Shutter Speed) |
| Focus | Full range auto Manual |
| White balance | Auto / Outdoor / Indoor / One-push |
| High speed shutter | 1/2-1/1000 (including Scene Selection) |
| Iris | Auto Manual |
| Scene Selection | Twilight / Twilight Portrait (Still Image) / Candle / Sunrise & Sunset / Fireworks / Landscape / Portrait / Spotlight / Beach / Snow |
| Fader | Black / White |
| Image Device: Size | 1/5″ Exmor™ CMOS Sensor |
| Image Processor | BIONZ |
| Number of Pixels (K) | 2360 |
| SteadyShot | YES (Electronic) |
| Features included | ClearVid arrey technology Exmor™ technology x.v. colour Spot Focus (Touch Panel) Spot Meter Face Detection Smile Shutter D-range Optimizer Camera Noise Reduction Auto Slow Shutter Colour Slow Shutter Backlight Compensation Smooth Slow Rec |
| CARD DETAILS | |
| Recording Media | Memory Stick™ Duo |
| DPOF max | 999 stills |
| Memory mix | No |
| RECORDING DETAILS | |
| Movie Format | High Definition, AVCHD (1920 x 1080, 1440 x 1080) / Standard Definition, MPEG2 |
| Recording Media | 16GB Internal Memory, Memory Stick |
| Movie Quality | HD ; FH (1920×1080i, 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 | 16:9 Mode . 2304 x 1296 (3M) 4:3 Mode . 2304 x 1728 (4M) VGA: 640 x 480 |
| Still Recording during Movie (Dual Rec) | YES (2.3 M, unlimited) |
| Still image recording features | Memory Stick PRO™ Compatibility Index Playback |
| Video recording features | HYBRID (Movie rec on Memory Stick) Visual Index Face Index Film Roll Index Map Index Playlist Edit Highlight Playback Playback Zoom One Touch Disc Burn Button |
| PRODUCT SPECIFICS | Quick ON 16:9 Wide (Full) Recording Automatic Geotagging by GPS BRAVIA Sync Demonstration Mode InfoLITHUM System Picture Effects : Monotone / Sepia / Pastel Digital Picture Effects: Old Movie |
| Battery | NP-FH50 |
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