Using the Camera:

Using the SR1 is more or less just like every other camcorder around today, single touch start/stop recording, simple power toggle switch, easy zoom control, responsive auto-focus and a separate still photo button within easy reach. For more advanced functions you use the 3.5” LCD touch screen to access the rather extravagant menu system, which while being easy to use and navigate has so many options it can take a little while to find what you’re after.

Controls at rear of camera

LCD Screen Open

Photo Button

A manual control ring is included around the lens for optional manual control of focus, white balance, AE shift and exposure if you feel you can do a better job than the camera’s automatic controls. Also included around the lens are buttons for backlight compensation, a flash selector, night shot switch as well as an external microphone connection.

Controls around Lens

On top of the lens is a 4 channel microphone, where the camera inputs all audio and converts it to 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio for recording. Sadly there is no wind noise reduction function in the camera, this can lead to quite bad noise when recording outdoors if conditions aren’t ideal. Behind the microphone is the Active Interface Shoe, which allows for accessories such as a video light, flash or external microphone.

4 Channel Microphone

Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel Recording

Active Interface Shoe

An external wired remote control, called a remote commander is also included with the SR1, able to start/stop video recording, take a still photo and control zoom functions. This plugs in near the power switch on the rear corner of the camera, above a headphone jack which allows for private listening to your recordings.

The standard Lithium-Ion battery included with the SR1 is good for around 100 minutes of recording, with larger capacity batteries available to give up to 380 minutes of recording time. No external charger dock is included with the SR1, instead the batteries are charged in the camera, but only when the camera is off. When the camera is on and the power pack connected, the battery is not used in any way, it would be a lot better if it could be charged at the same time.

Video output from the SR1 comes in a variety of flavours, normal RCA video and audio, Component video and HDMI output. RCA and component cables are included, but the HDMI cable is an optional extra. Sony’s spec sheet list the SR1 as having S-Video out capability also, but no S-video cable is included, nor is there one on the options list. Nice work.

Video Outputs

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