Sony DCR-SR87: Review

Posted to Camcorders 2010-02-14

Sony DCR-SR87 review:

The Sony DCR-SR87 is a new hard drive digital camcorder from Sony. It features a 1.07 megapixel image sensor, 25X optical zoom and an 80GB hard drive. The unit can store up to 19 hours of video at maximum quality and up to 56 hours at standard quality. Other features include optional storage of videos on Memory Stick PRO Duo memory cards, a 1/6 inch CCD image sensor and SteadyShot optical image stabilization.

The DCR-SR87 also features direct connection to the Sony VRD-P1 DVD burner for transferring videos to DVD, a 2.7 inch widescreen touch panel display with 123K pixel resolution plus Dolby Digital 5.1 channel sound recording. The unit comes with Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software, One Touch Disc Burn, which allows you to connect the camcorder to your PC and burn a DVD, and a USB 2.0 connection. The camcorder also features power on by simply opening the LCD display.

Rating:

3.8 out of 5

Features

The DCR-SR87 has an excellent feature set. It's a bit pricey, but can store more video than most of the competition in this price range. Storage of videos on Memory Stick PRO Duo media is an added bonus, and you can transfer between hard drive and memory card right in the camcorder. The 25X optical zoom with image stabilization opens up a lot of picture taking options, and the CCD image sensor gives excellent low-light performance.

Ergonomics

The Sony DCR-SR87 gets high marks for usability. Most of the features can be controlled using the convenient touch panel, and the buttons for the rest are well-placed. The angle of the LCD can easily be adjusted, and the display is easy to see even in bright sunlight. The automatic power-on when the LCD is opened is a very convenient feature, and with the 80GB hard drive, you don't have to carry a handful of memory cards to shoot a day's worth of video.

Summary

If you're in the market for a digital camcorder, give the Sony DCR-SR87 a look. It's built-in 80GB hard drive makes it a bit larger than some of the compact units available, but the convenience it offers is hard to beat. The 25X zoom with optical image stabilization is also a big plus, making this a very versatile unit. All in all a very good offering from Sony.

Pros

19 hours storage at maximum quality, 56 hours standard
1.07 megapixel CCD sensor
2.7 inch touch panel LCD display
80GB hard drive

Cons

Currently the price is a bit on the high side