 "Popping sound in playback mode of HDR SR5" | 2007-12-14 |
| - Reviewed By Geldoff |
Being the new owner of a HDR SR5, I have encountered a problem.
I have been in touch with Sony service tier's I (Malaysia), II & III (U.S.) to report this problem. They don’t seem to understand though. Not only have I taken my SR5 back and swapped it for another, the problem exists on them all.
If you go to You Tube and look up HDR SR5 you'll find that those who have elected to capture footage in a quiet setting, experience this problem.
I have come to find out that although most all of the Sony HDD camcorders make this sound, they all begin at various frame times. I've found on mine, it begins anywhere from 8-10 seconds into recording and then it happens again every 10 seconds app. thereafter.
My amateur synopsis is the following...
There is a red Access light that flashes to alert you, the user, that data is being written to/read from, the HDD. When in recording mode, pay close attention that as you record, watch for the access light to flash on the back of your camera. At the time of the flash, take note of the frame count in the view finder LCD of your camera. Write it down. You'll probably hear it again some 10 seconds later. Write it down again. This sound has something like a 3-pop echo sound.
My hunch is that the electrical current that runs through the circuit board that is attached to the light flash is the culprit. My guess (and only a guess) is that the first of the three "pops" preps a current to the circuit board, the second illuminates the access light and the third closes the current from the board.
The mic, as sensitive as it is, picks up and records the sound into your precious moment.
This sound WILL NOT go away.
I've decided for myself to keep it. My long term use will be to use the Sony Vegas software and edit music etc. over the top anyways. This will nullify the popping.
Because beyond the pop sound... This camera is truly... flat out smokin' hot!!
I hope this helps...
|
| |
 "Don't record in HD" | 2008-05-22 |
| - Reviewed By ikoiko33 |
My husband and I purchased this camcorder back in October, and found it to be a great little camcorder. We recently went on vacation, and got the idea to try recording in HD for the first time. We were able to play back the video ONCE by plugging into an HD TV. After that, we have been unable to retrieve ANY of our HD videos!! We can not even use the playback feature on the camcorder ... hours of video, now useless.
I really wish that we had done some more research before purchasing this. After many frustrating hours doing research, and downloading software, we have come to learn that the software for HD pretty much doesn't exist ... thus making the HD feature an expensive, yet useless "perk". Stay away from ANY Sony HD camera until more software becomes available. |
| |
 "Stay Away from the camera" | 2008-04-27 |
| - Reviewed By ckessinger501 |
| I spent a lot of money on this camera and thought it would work well with my VAIO laptop but the other reviews are accurate - Sony has horrible support and you can't do much with the videos. I'm insulted that they would expect me to pay another $200 just to do some editing. If you have a Mac (we have both) it wont work with it. The CD that came in the box was damaged so I couldn't even transfer my files to the PC without paying $30. Sony was arrogant when working with them. Stay away.... |
| |
 "Fabulous Camera" | 2008-04-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1ORNMDXEVLOQR |
| I've had this for a few months and am really pleased with it. I've taken many movies, still shots within the movie, and just plain still shots. The quality is exceptional! |
| |
| "Nice Cam" | 2008-03-26 |
| - Reviewed By nando_6 |
This is my first video cam so I'm speaking as a totally newcomer to this world.
I must say it is a great camera with a great HD video quality compared to SD, although it is not very good with low light.
This is a good product with very good characteristics. |
| |
| "Nice Camcorder" | 2008-03-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1LS9BS4FIDXPG |
| It makes a beautiful crisp video. I didn't realize that there is no mic input or earphone output jack. The internal mic works well though. For the money you can't beat it! |
| |
 "iMac friendly but the Jury's still "out" on this one..." | 2008-03-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2YYCG0Z9ARTLO |
I got this camcorder a few weeks ago and have tested it in a few different locations and under a few different lighting conditions. I bought it specifically because it was on sale, and it is compatible with my iMac (intel based). Overall, I'm less than impressed with the quality of the camera when considering how much it was originally priced at. However, since I purchased it at a "steal" of a price I'm taking it all in stride.
Positives:
-Lightweight
-Takes "on the fly" still pictures during video recording
-Easy to use menu system
-Works with my iMac! (Intel based iMac and iMovie '08) No problems so far.
-Harddrive storage for video
-SD storage for still shots
-battery life is decent on all settings (not great, but not bad. Decent)
-all normal video/cam controls are easily reachable w/out using left hand
Negatives:
-The video capture to my computer takes an eternity; longer than I have recorded.
-Does NOT handle low light situations well AT all. Very grainy.
-Does not seem to auto-focus in low light situations.
-Low light pictures are downright awful.
-Pictures taken in the best of lighting conditions are very low quality
-Handle/strap is uncomfortable (weird). The cam flops away from my hand.
-I consider the boot up time to be "extensive".
-no view finder
-"on the fly" still pictures is limited to 3. After 3 you must stop and restart video recording in order to take more
-no hook up areas for an extra lanyard or anything of that sort
-zoom is incredibly sensitive. It "goes" so fast it's completely unrealistic and almost uncontrollable.
If I were to give a bottom line right now I'd say that unless I come into some grand understanding of how I have my camcorder set at the wrong settings, this puppy's probably going back. It's a powerful little beast, but it certainly rears it's ugly head in low light conditions, and I want to have all the kinks worked out before High School Football season rolls around. I'm getting plenty of practice in before I "need" to use it for the real deal. I'll need to be sure this cam takes great distance shots during night games under the lights. If it won't do that, I will be returning it and finding something that does. |
| |
| "Good priced Entry level HD Camcorder" | 2008-02-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHX0HEP01GCSR |
Well, this is a good entry level HD camcorder. We purchased this before Christmas and the price was perfect ($300 less than what we saw in Best Buy and Circuit City). Couldn't beat that price. This camera is easy to use. The picture quality is amazingly clear. I love the fact it's got a HD, so no need to have SD cards (there is a slot which you can use).
One thing I'm not a big fan of, is Sony's software format (AVCHD or something like that). It makes it hard to convert to DVD format. There is a docking station it comes with and there's a "copy" disc" feature. I have not used that as I have tried to scour the web to find a coverting program that is econimcally feasible to buy. Until then, I can download the videos to our PC for future copying.
Another thing this camera doesn't have is a "viewfinder". I never even though about that until I was actually using the camcorder. You need to use the LCD display (which also drains the battery faster than a viewfinder would). After using the camcorder, I miss the viewfinder, but that's only my opinion. |
| |
| "Great images" | 2008-02-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2I54DI481KHMB |
| You can not find such a good video image for such a price! Great choice |
| |
| "hd sony camera" | 2008-02-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3M7VTMQ2F6WLB |
| This particular camera has a great picture and takes great pictures as well. The only thing i didnt like was the ability to record in one format only. The controls are easy to figure out in my opinion. |
| |
| "GOOD PRODUCT" | 2008-02-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2TMZM5CZRJXJK |
| HE ONLY BAD THING IS THE IMAGE IN THE NIGHT. THERE IS SOME KIND OF NOISE IN THE BLACK COLOUR. BUT IS A GREAT CAMERA. |
| |
Expedited Available
