Sony HDR-SR12 Camcorder Review

The Sony HDR-SR12 ($1,399 MSRP) is the company’s third generation AVCHD camcorder recording to hard disk drive (HDD). The SR12 features a new CMOS sensor and DSP touted by Sony to be the best yet, along with a huge 120GB capacity. It is joined by the HDR-SR11 ($1,199 MSRP), an identical camcorder with a smaller 60GB HDD. In previous iterations, all AVCHD camcorders have failed to live up to performance expectations, but 2008 seems to be the year it’s turning around. The Canon HF10 gave outstanding performance and sharpness. The Panasonic HDC-SD9, while not as good as the Canon, exceeded the performance of its predecessors. So how does the Sony HDR-SR12 hold up to the competition? In a word … strongly. This is undoubtedly the sensor/processor package to own if you’re a Sony fan. The low light performance is excellent – far superior in noise reduction to the Sony HDR-HC9, its HDV cousin, and comparable to the Canon HF10 in1080/60i. However, the overall sharpness does not match that of the Canon HF10 in bright light, and Canon’s inclusion of multiple frame rates (60i/24P/30P) makes it a tempting offering. The manual control packages are evenly matched. Sony wins on capacity, while Canon wins on portability. It’s a tough choice. Let’s explore.

The Front (9.0)
Before we begin our quest, it is imperative to declare that Sony has designed a rock solid camcorder that handles like a tamed lion. Beauty abounds in the design. In front, the HDR-SR12’s 12x optical zoom lens is guarded by an automatic enclosure that engages when the camcorder is powered on or off. Automatic lens enclosures are gaining popularity amongst high-end camcorders for their consumer-friendly simplicity, but advanced shooters and pros know not to rely on the delicate inner mechanics. The HDR-SR12 has an aperture range of f/1.8-f/3.1 and is capable of the following focal lengths:

4.9mm – 58.8mm
40mm – 480mm (35mm equiv. in Movie mode)
37mm – 444mm (35mm equiv. Still Image mode)

The HDR-SR12’s lens has a 37mm filter diameter for external lens attachments like a wide angle or colored filter. A Flash is embedded to the left of the lens, but due to its off-kilter placement, shooters will most likely experience uneven lighting in their images. Below the lens is a small Backlight Compensation (BLC) Button, which is easy to access after acclimatizing yourself with the HDR-SR12’s architecture.

To the right of the BLC button is a lustrous, knurled knob of goodness—yes, Sony’s renowned Cam Control Dial. You’ve seen it on Sony’s HDR-UX7 (Review, Specs, ) (Review, Specs, $599.97), and now the HDR-SR12 has been knighted with the glory of the multifunction Cam Control dial. This control is the closest you can get to a lens barrel ring these days, and it operates almost as smoothly as the Fonz. To the left of the lens is the Remote sensor and Record lamp.

The Right Side (7.5)
Chiseled from a solid block of ingenuity is the HDR-SR12’s right side. Sony went for practicality and sheer sexiness on the grip side. Toward the lens end, the Mic, Headphone, and HDMI ports are shielded by a sliding port cover door. No other camcorder is equipped with such a flashy and convenient enclosure system—this design is straight out of Q’s laboratory from any 007 movie. On the opposite end you’ll find the A/V and USB terminals, enclosed by a covert plastic plate that slides underneath the body of the camcorder. Sony has kicked some major behind so far with the HDR-SR12’s architecture.

The HDR-SR12’s hand strap is thick and wide, yet lacks the amply padded mesh liner found on the HDR-HC9. The strap feels more like the Canon HF10’s, but the HDR-SR12 handles better because it is built like a tank. The large HDD enclosure provides plenty of open real estate to grab onto.

The Back (9.0)
Things even look pretty darn hot at the HDR-SR12’s caboose end. The HDR-SR12’s NP-FH60 rechargeable battery pack burrows deep into the cavernous battery chamber, leaving space for the shooter to utilize the pivoting viewfinder. Sony did not buy into the infectious “less is more” philosophy that has been drifting around the camcorder circuit. Instead, they slapped a rugged viewfinder on the HDR-SR12 that flips upward approximately 45 degrees, providing plenty of clearance for those who want to save some battery juice. The fan-shaped dioptric adjuster is located underneath the shaft of the viewfinder.

Along the right side, the HDR-SR12’s futuristic circular Mode Dial surrounds the Record Start/Stop button. The Record Start/Stop button is on the small side and is slightly too shallow, so try not to inadvertently toggle the Mode Dial while attempting to capture the moment. Above the Mode Dial are two lamps representing the Video/Photo mode and Charge/HDD Access actions. At the top is the HDR-SR12’s Quick On button, which enables the HDR-SR12 to spring into action in approximately one second. At the bottom of the right side is the HDR-SR12’s DC-in jack, housed by a spring-loaded door that flips down like a drawbridge—ooh this camcorder is devilishly clever!

The Left Side (7.0)
The HDR-SR12’s money shot side oozes with glossy black style. At this angle, it’s all LCD screen, which boasts a highly durable construction. When you flip open the HDR-SR12’s 3.2-inch LCD screen, a handful of buttons are located within the LCD cavity, in addition to the Memory Stick PRO Duo slot. Here you’ll find the Display/Battery info, Easy, Playback, and Direct Burn buttons. The NightShot light switch is located toward the center of the LCD cavity. Even the HDR-SR12’s Memory Stick PRO Duo slot is stealthy, with an easily accessible side-swinging hatch as the cover.

Now onto the glorious 3.2-inch LCD screen, with a huge 921,600-pixel resolution, the same screen found on its Alpha line of DSLR cameras. Finally, Sony went back to the drawing board and summoned this flavor of greatness from the HDR-SR1 and HDR-UX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $639.00) (Review, Specs, Recent News, $729.95). A touch-screen interface demands an ample viewing pane, and the HDR-SR12 delivers. Along the left side of the LCD panel is a strip containing the following buttons: Home, Zoom Out, Zoom In, and Record Start/Stop. Sony is really cleaning up here on the design front—this is one of the most solid camcorders we’ve seen.

The Sony HDR-SR12 left side		The LCD cavity

The Top (7.0)
Up top, Sony places the built-in stereo microphone at the head of the ship, but have no fear—the HDR-SR12 is a voluminous camcorder. The HDD enclosure offers plenty to grab onto—most fingers will not reach the microphone. Next in line is Sony’s proprietary hot shoe, or Active Interface Shoe (AIS). The hot shoe is shielded by a sleek sliding metal panel that lifts up to accommodate the pivoting viewfinder. When the hot shoe cover and viewfinder are both pulled out and up, the HDR-SR12 looks as though it is part Transformer. Toward the back is the HDR-SR12’s rugged Zoom toggle and wide Photo button. Sony’s Zoom toggles are difficult to contend with due to their concrete construction and smooth as churned butter play. The HDR-SR12 has set a new standard in camcorder design, so look out!