Techie
10:36 PM | Monday | 15 March 2010

If there's one term that we unapologetically use to refer to the Sony HDR-XR100, it would be "simple." Clad in a minimalist silver and black finish, the boxy camcorder, at first glance, is a work of sophistication. However, if a gadget's simplicity means sacrificing features and functions, we have no choice but to consider simplicity a curse.

Essentials

First, the XR100 lacks a number of essentials. Where are the microphone and headphone jacks, the flash, the video light, and the accessory shoe? And we haven't even mentioned the dearth of controls.

What's left are the covered recess in front where the mini-HDMI and proprietary AV and USB connectors are located, the manual-lens cover next to the lens, and the 5.1-channel microphone on top. That last one we wish Sony had eliminated, as it doesn't give justice to the sound at all...

On top of the 80GB hard drive are the shaky zoom switch and the flat photo button, both of which are a struggle to control. The travesty ends with the record button, as it's positioned perfectly to give comfort to our thumb. The play/display options and power buttons, Memory Stick Pro Duo slot, Easy Handycam operation, one-touch DVD burning, and speaker are all situated within the LCD recess.

The end of disappointments?

Most touch-screen video cameras are a fingerprint magnet, but the Sony XR100 is not, thank heavens. The fault of its 2.7-inch LCD touch screen, however, is a major one: It isn't responsive enough. We say "major" because most of the controls are done via its touch screen.

Speaking of controls, the XR100's menu system is also a big disappointment. Its structure is so intricate that it's almost impossible to remember the settings. In fact, finding your way may take too much time that your unusually low 60-minute battery life might easily go kaput.

The auto-focus system fails big time, as it's a pain to distinguish a subject from the background. Of course, the not-so sharp LCD doesn't help either. Overall, the video quality in XR100 is just okay, but that's something that we hardly expect from a Sony product.