VIDEO BLOG – NEW GEAR REVIEW:
120 Frames Per Second with the Sony HDR-SR11 AVCHD Camcorder

Click to Watch!
You can also watch this in 720p HD by clicking here.

Sony HDR-SR11 AVCHD 60GB Hard Drive Camcorder

UPDATE: 2/19/09 – This camera has been discontinued! The new replacement for this camera looks to be far better. It is the HDR-XR500V. You can find it at B & H by clicking here.

Many people have emailed me and asked, “…what is a good camcorder if I only have $1000 to spend?” and “I cannot afford an EX1 with a Letus Extreme. Can I get the same shallow depth of field and overcranking slowmo on a cheap camera?” Well, I decided to answer this with a video blog.

I have purchased this new camera so that I can use to create short videos for my blog. I read about SR11 and I only heard good things about it. I also wanted to see how the Sony HDR-SR11 shot at 120 frames per second. I also own a HDR-HC3 and the “smooth slow recording” feature was very low resolution. Sony has improved this high speed shooting with the SR11. I was curious to see how it compared to my Sony PMW-EX1 shooting at 60 FPS. The SR11 costs $700 and the EX1 cost over $10k with the 35mm lens adapter, so you DO get what you pay for. But this is a great little camera and I highly recommend it. If you want a 120GB hard drive, then go with the HDR-SR12. It costs a few hundred dollars more.

Let me just say, 120 FPS is good, but it is not HD on the SR11. Take a look for yourself.

Click to Watch!

I also spoke about the Sony .7 wide angle conversion lens (model number: VCL-HG0737C) that costs $130 at BHvideo.com. I also talk about the Sony underwater enclosure (model number: SPK-HCD) made for the HandyCam line of cameras that is good to go underwater up to 15 feet. This $160 watertight case connects to the camera to provide full control, and even has a hydrophone water microphone! I will write a blog on this in the spring when I take it for a dip.

Sony does not mention it, but this camera has night vision and a built in infra-red led light. It also has a 1/8 inch stereo microphone input. The camera has a built in 60 GB hard drive.

The tapeless work flow is very easy using Final Cut Pro 6.0.4. You just connect the camera via USB2 and use the “Log and Transfer” import setting in FCP. All the videos show up as thumbnail clips, much like the EX1.

You can watch this video in HD by going to Vimeo. Click Here to see it.

Post any questions you may have down below.

All the info you need from Sony’s Webpage:

Shoot video and still photographs like a pro. Sony’s HDR-SR11 Handycam® camcorder has everything you need for a superior video and photo experience. Its Face Detection technology, made possible by the ClearVid™ CMOS sensor (with Exmor™ technology) and BIONZ™ image processor, helps make sure people look their best in videos and photos. Capture extremely detailed video in Full 1920 x 1080 High Definition resolution, as well as stunning 10.2 megapixel still photos. Records directly to a built-in 60GB hard drive or your choice of removable Memory Stick Duo™ or Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media.

Note: Most camcorders will not fit in ACC-FH50A case when the large (NP-FH100) battery is attached to camcorder.

1920×1080 Recording at 1080i
Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution.

Face Detection for Video Footage and Digital Still Photos
Made possible by the BIONZ™ image processing engine, Face Detection technology recognizes up to 8 faces anywhere in the frame and automatically controls focus, exposure, and color to help capture smiling faces brightly and clearly. Face Detection also helps make skin tones look natural without affecting other colors in the image.

5 Megapixel ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor (with Exmor™ Technology) and BIONZ™ Image Processor
Sony’s newly designed CMOS image sensor delivers bright, vivid, and spectacularly detailed 5 megapixel (effective) video footage, as well as 10.2 megapixel still images — all with prolonged battery life. Exmor™ technology captures images with high resolution and high sensitivity. In addition, the advanced Sony BIONZ™ image processor improves camera response time and screens out noise so the signal from each pixel is as pure as possible.

BIONZ™ Image Processor
The advanced Sony BIONZ™ Image Processor uses hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry that improves camera response time, screens out noise before RAW data conversion, handles Dynamic Range Optimization processing, and prolongs battery life.

Exmor™ Imaging Sensor
Exmor™ technology captures video and still photo images with high resolution, high sensitivity, and exceptional detail. Advanced on-sensor A/D conversion yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio.

Hybrid Recording to Hard Disk Drive or Memory Stick® Media
Hybrid recording technology delivers a new level of flexibility for transferring your video footage and digital photos from the camcorder to compatible viewing devices. Record to the camcorder’s internal hard disk drive, or choose instead to record to removable Memory Stick Duo™ media or Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media. You can even select from various dubbing functions to easily copy video or still images from the hard disk drive to Memory Stick media — without using a PC. Images recorded or transferred to Memory Stick media can then be played directly on a PS3 or PC to share your memories with friends and family.

Dual Record
While recording video in High Definition you have the ability to capture still images directly to Memory Stick Duo™ media (sold separately).

12X Optical / 150X Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

3.2″ Wide1 (16:9) Touch Panel XtraFine LCD™ Display (921K pixels)
The 3.2″ Wide1 (16:9) XtraFine™ LCD screen displays sharp, bright, photo-quality images, letting you compose and share video and still images more easily — even outdoors. With nearly 1 megapixel (921K pixels) resolution and a wide viewing angle, the XtraFine LCD™ screen is like having a high-resolution video and photo viewer built into your camcorder.

Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1ch recording
Featuring Dolby® Digital 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects in sync with the camera’s zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.

Dolby® Digital 5.1ch Recording
Record in Dolby Digital 5.1ch surround sound with the camcorder’s built-in microphone. Recording in 5.1 channel surround sound allows you to experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all directions, so you can enjoy your personal home movies the way you experienced them while recording.

Dynamic Range Optimizer
Powered by the exclusive Sony’s BIONZ™ high-speed processing engine, D-Range Optimization preserves image data in bright highlights, such as suppressing “whiteout” in skies. When shooting in back lit settings, D-Range Optimization reveals more detail in shadows, preventing “blackout.” As a result, the captured image appears as natural as the original scene.

Tele Macro Function
Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode help your subject stand out by properly focusing the subject while leaving the background unfocused. The Tele Macro Mode is useful for shooting close-up shots, especially when you need to prevent the camcorder from casting a shadow on the subject.

Switchable HD/SD Format Recording
Record and play back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T Lens
Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T lenses use highly advanced optics to deliver vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T coating further reduces unwanted glare and flare for increased contrast and color.

Active Interface Shoe
Sony’s proprietary hot shoe makes it easy to use Intelligent Accessories, such as external lights and microphones, by providing power and on/off capability directly from the camcorder.

HDMI™ Connection with BRAVIA® Sync™ (CEC) Technology
HDMI™ connectivity provides a simple, high-quality video and audio connection, with the ability to transmit HD video and 5.1 channel audio directly from the camcorder to compatible HDTVs via a single cable. With BRAVIA® Sync™ (CEC) technology, the HDMI connection also delivers the ability to control both the camcorder and HDTV using a single BRAVIA TV remote.

USB 2.0 Interface
The USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your camcorder to a PC for fast transfer of video and still images for editing.

InfoLITHIUM® Battery with AccuPower™ Meter System
Unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony’s rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening “Memory Effect,” so you’re free to charge the battery at any time. Additionally, Sony’s exclusive AccuPower™ meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Stamina® Battery Power Management System
When using the Sony InfoLITHIUM® Battery, the Stamina® Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.

Battery Information
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. When using the LCD screen or viewfinder, the display will show how much the battery is charged — in 10% increments — and the recordable time left.

Built-in Intelligent Flash
For added clarity and detail when taking pictures in low-light situations, the built-in flash improves pictures and reduces shadows.

Easy Handycam Button
Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the Easy Handycam Button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are “locked out,” letting you focus only the buttons essential for recording.

Date Index Function
Search recorded content by shooting date to quickly and easily find a specific scene.