Sony Handycam HDR-HC7

[ Music ] ^M00:00:01 >> Hi, I'm Lori Grunin, Senior Editor with CNET.com and this is the Sony Handycam HDRHC7 camcorder. It's Sony's top of the line consumer high definition camcorder. It recorders to tape in the HDV format. It's a very nice camcorder despite Sony's descent into hyperbole boasting 6 mega pixel still photos. Well that's an interpolated number. It's closer to 4.6 mega pixels. It's got the smallest .8 inch LCD which when you see your fingers on it using the touch screen, it really drives home how small the LCD is. It's got a fairly nice eye level viewfinder, however I really wish Sony had put a little more padding on it. From a design standpoint, it's very nice, fits into your hand very well, it's nicely balanced. One thing that distinguishes the HC7 from some of it's lower end brothers is the camera control dial. You press the button and then you focus using this slippery little wheel. It's really kinda hard to get a feel for. One thing that makes a big difference across the line in Sony's camcorders are the Zeiss [assumed spelling] lenses, but not just any old Zeiss lenses, the T star coated ones produce a visibly sharper picture. Despite advertising 20X on the outside of the body, really this is a 10X zoom lens and in a world where many of the manufacturers are dropping support for external microphones, Sony actually gives you a Miniden [assumed spelling] for your external mic. Of course the best thing about the HC7 is that it produces some very sharp, very nice HDV video. I'm Lori Grunin and this is the Sony Handycam HDRHC7. [ Music ]