Handy HD
Sony’s latest HD camcorder is creating quite a bit of a stir but can something barely larger than a pack of playing cards really produce broadcast quality pictures? Read on to find out!
Well the answer is both yes and no. Yes the images from the CMOS sensor are very impressive indeed especially given its physical dimensions but any camera with such a small sensor and lens is going to struggle in low light situations and this one is no different.
Moving on, this camera records AVCHD footage straight to a memory stick DUO. The 4gb one provided will accommodate about 30 mins worth on the highest settings, which comes in at around about 16 megs per second, its not surprising given the cameras 1080i HD output but it does mean that realistically you will need to shell out for a much bigger memory card.
So aside from ordering a 16gb card as soon as I got home (!), I unboxed the camera and started to set it up. Again, both with unboxing and setup, the Sony scores very highly. Charging the camera is a sinch thanks to the included docking station which also allows you to pump a non-hd (composite) signal to your TV. The camera charged quickly and thanks to infolithium you can expect around about 90 mins use from a full battery. This seems a little on the light side considering there are very few motors to be driven inside but with the chore taken out of charging it is handy knowing that it only needs to be returned to its dock after each shoot.
During use I found the camera easy to operate once I’d sussed the touchscreen menu systems. The zoom wheel can easily confused with the mode wheel at first but the camera responds very quickly to commands so even incorrectly altering functions wasn’t too frustrating. The camera is also very well built with its Titanium casing and the weight feels just right. there’s so much positivity which simply oozes out of your tactile experiences with this wonderfully constructed piece of equipment.
Undoubtedly this camera’s big plus point is its size. It simply cries out to be carried everywhere. Not just on your travels but in your laptop case or next to your mobile phone and if you stop to think about what its capable of too then this makes it an even more amazing piece of kit! Remember despite its size, this unit can pump out full, vivid and relatively sharp HD to your telly (thanks to an excellent CMOS sensor, Sony CPU and Carl Zeiss optics) and coupled with its above average to excellent picture quality, its easy to recommend this to any point-and-shoot enthusiast who’s looking for an ultra portable camera for everyday use. It won’t satisfy the needs of professional film makers though. Its functions are basic at best and its low light performance isn’t terribly impressive but in a seemingly contradictory way, I wouldn’t be surprised if despite some of these bareable faults, it turned out that film-makers and documentary professionals where still packing them in their luggage alongside all the pro gear. You see technology aside, there’s something very liberating about an instant-on, rugged, compact HD camcorder which cuts out the hasstle and fuss which can sometimes put people off from taking their camcorders out with them in the first place, and again for this reason, the TG3E is right at the top.
Just before I close, I will also make mention of the 5.1 Dolby Digital recording and a workflow which importantly supports both PC and MAC (Intel ones only, with Leopard too) which is incredibly often overlooked. the TG3E supports the AVCHD format which means that both PC’s and MAC’S are equally compatible for a change so you have no excuses for creating some top class videos for the internet or DVD.
In closing, this is a very capable camera which feels especially useful and exciting to use, mainly due to its small size. With decent light, you’ll enjoy vivid colours and sharp details which are comparable to any HD consumer camera on the market so if your wallet can take the whack, you should buy this camera but whatever you do, never leave it at home!
Love
build quality
picture quality (overall)
size
ease of use
Super Smooth Slow motion feature (shoots 3 seconds at higher F.P.S then creates a stunning 11 second clip)
Useful photo mode (both 4:3 and widescreen, including flash too)
Hate
No 720p mode
4gb card isn’t generous enough for the camera price
Slow Mo feature should allow longer shots
Pricey
The unit won’t stand up while filming, you’ll need a mini-tripod at least
More Information
TRUVEO sample clips here
Active forum for Sony HD camcorders here
And finally, a little video demonstrating the inbuilt slow motion mode!
Smooth Slow Recording – Sony HDR-TG1 from Elliott Verreault on Vimeo.
