The Sony DCR SR45 gives the camcorder a very modern look

Category: Review on Sony DCR SR45 Hard Drive Camcorder

Posted by: 10-Nov-2008

Strengths: Compact size, large capacity HDD, excellent night vision

Weaknesses: Image quality not the best around

The SR45 plays on the fact that it is a slim camcorder which attracts many users who are on the lookout for portability. What the DCR SR 45 does not deliver is the high quality output and that sends the semi-professional buyer away. The missing pieces of the Sony DCR SR45 are just too many to list. One is that the camera lacks a view finder. As a first time buyer of a camcorder, I found this a bit unnerving and this has also resulted in lower usage of the DCR SR45. If that is not a problem you are faced with the issue of not having a wide angle lens.

Though the camera is in the mid-price range, it does cost quite a bit when you start buying upgrades for it and then there is no stopping the spiralling costs. Don’t get me wrong, the Sony DCR SR45 does have all the finesse of a Sony product but somehow falls short of ensuring customer delight with its performance. There are of course some benefits with the camera such as a high-capacity hard disk which frees you from pesky tapes and gives you up to six hours of uninterrupted footage.

So with size and capacity on its side, the only thing Sony DCR SR45 is missing is top-notch performance and you really feel a bit cheated about it! However, there are little benefits such as excellent night vision shots and the built-in editing software which takes away some of the sting from the average image performance which the camcorder delivers otherwise. The SR45 is not too bad...just better image quality would have made it a star!