Performance

The DVD305 uses a 1.0 MP (690K effective) 1/5.5-inch Advanced HAD CCD. The Advanced HAD technology, Sony claims, improved signal-to-noise ratio up to 6dB. Further investigating by the CamcorderInfo.com staff will put this claim to the test in our upcoming full review.

This chip is significantly smaller than the chip on the step-up model, the DVD405, which has a 1/3-inch CCD (2048K effective pixels). The DVD305’s CCD does appear to be the same as last year’s DVD203.

The picture, in informal testing, appeared to be similar to the picture from last year’s model. The colors were a bit dull, though lighting is less than ideal at the booth where the camcorders were being displayed. The image was particularly noisy.

Low Light Performance

With a similar imager to this year’s DCR-DVD205, the DCR-DVD305 should perform about the same. We expect the DCR-DVD405, with its larger CCD, to perform the best out of them all, but we’ll see. Low light has always been a problem with DVD camcorders, as manufacturers often try to keep costs down with imagers of lesser size and/or quality. That said, the performance of DVD cams has continued to improve. Check out the Panasonic DVD lineup this year as well, as they are contenders in this category too. And who knows, we’ve seen good things from Hitachi as well over the years. Even Samsung has joined the race. Stay tuned for actual testing in this department.

Format

Compression

Using standard MPEG-2 video compression and JPEG still images, the DCR-DVD305 is par for the course for a DVD camcorder. Compression has always been one of the major drawbacks to the DVD format: you use tons of compression and end up with less quality and more convenience (when compared to the MiniDV format). Oh—and audio is Dolby Digital 5.1, which is particularly special if you’re in the PR department.

Media

This year Panasonic DVD camcorders are compatible with DVD-RW discs for the first time since their inception (only a couple years, actually). This seems to be trumping Sony who, until this point, had been the only manufacture of DVD camcorders able to record to this format. Now, Sony camcorders not only have nothing new format-wise on anyone, but they lack the ability to record to the DVD-RAM format, a staple of Panasonic and Hitachi DVD camcorders. Bottom line, the Sony DCR-DVD305 does not have the same recording versatility. Just DVD-R and -RW for Sony.

Editing

Editing capabilities of the DCR-DVD305 are limited, as they are on every DVD camcorder. Many manufactures, including Sony, include their own rudimentary editing software, which unfortunately is generally pretty bad. The DVD format certainly doesn’t have the versatility, or established, bigger-name editing systems of the MiniDV format. Let’s face it: when you buy this camcorder, or any DVD camcorder, you’re paying for primarily convenience, not editing.

Tour

The Front

This year’s Sony DVD camcorders are very slim, measuring just over 2 inches across. Unlike the DVD405 and DVD505, the DVD305 has no built-in lens cap. There are also no ports in the front. The microphone is smartly placed at the bottom of the body, which would seem to prevent the accidental pick-up of heavy breathing or scraping fingers across the top of the camcorder.

**The Right Side **

The right side of the DVD305 is used primarily for loading the DVDs and MemoryStick, and for holding the camcorder. The hand strap is placed low for easy handling, and to not block the DVD loading bay, which opens from the top. The MemoryStick bay has been cleverly placed on the right side, as well – a pop-out door that opens by pulling at the top of the loading bay.

Towards the rear of the right side is a hard plastic-covered port concealing a composite A/V jack and a port for a remote control (called a LANC jack on some camcorders).

**

The Back **

The rear of the DVD305 is used primarily for storing the battery. Fortunately, this rear-mounted design allows for an expanded battery pack, an option that many manufacturers have forgotten in the race to shrink camcorder bodies down. Also on the back are the video record Start/Stop button and the DC power input, and the mode dial for video/still and on/off.

**The Left Side **

The left side of the DVD305 is dominated by the 2.7-inch Hybrid SwivelScreen widescreen LCD. All Sony DVD models, except the lowest-end DVD105, have been upgraded to widescreen LCDs this year. The LCD is also a touch screen, making it the primary navigation device for manual control and menu interface. On the left side, behind the LCD, you’ll find buttons for Easy mode, Wide Select (to switch between 4:3 and 16:9), and Display. Zoom control and record Stop/Start buttons have also been placed on the LCD panel just below the screen.

The Top

The top of the DVD305 holds its most distinctive feature, the included center channel microphone, which allows for Dolby Digital 5.1 channel Surround Sound. The mic fits into the Advanced Accessory Shoe, Sony’s proprietary-fit shoe. The top of the cam also has the still shutter button, the DVD loading bay open switch, and the NightShot button.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control

*Automatic Control *

Automatic control on Sony camcorders is generally very good. The DVD305 appeared to have decent response to quick changes in lighting and focus. The popular Spot Focus and Spot Meter features have returned, as well as all the standard Program AE modes (Portrait, Sports, Spotlight, Beach & Ski, Sunset & Moon, and Landscape).

The DCR-DVD305 also includes Sony’s Easy mode, accessible by way of a button on the left side of the camcorder above the LCD panel. This mode basically puts everything in automatic mode (amusingly enough, it’s called "baby mode" in Sony board rooms). With the lack of manual controls on this camcorder, this mode may be the way to go.

*Overall Manual Control *

Manual control on most Sonys is poor, and the DVD305 is no exception. This camcorder has little control; you can control zoom, white balance, exposure, and focus, though the last two are very cumbersome to adjust.

Zoom

The DCR-DVD305 features a zoom toggle similar to all of the company’s new DVD camcorders this year. And by similar, I mean pretty dang good. You get smooth, unobstructed zooms with variable speeds to a certain extent. I just wish it were better placed under my index finger during handheld use.

*Focus *

The DCR-DVD305 has the misfortune of including manual focus controlled from the camcorder’s touch screen menu system, like all of Sony’s camcorders with a touch screen and no focus ring. This involves tapping through the camcorder’s byzantine menu system to get to the focus feature and then, when you reach it, you must tap away like a determined lab rat after a food pellet in order to adjust it—and you must do this by eyeballing it (because no numerical indicator is given).

*Exposure (Aperture) *

Exposure is also controlled through the camcorder’s touch screen menu. As in many Sony camcorders, it is operated by tapping your way across a +/- meter, from light to dark. The tapping aspect of adjustment in this case isn’t such a big deal because it doesn’t necessarily have to be done on the fly; however, it would be nice to see some F-stops and other things. Just put a number on the screen, Sony! I would feel so much better. But what can I expect? They’ve never been good on manual control.

Shutter Speed

There is no manual adjustment of shutter speed offered on the DCR-DVD305.

White Balance

The DCR-DVD305 features the same white balance options as the other DVD camcorders this year, and they are pretty standard (Auto, Indoor, Outdoor, One Push). These options can be accessed in the camcorder’s touch screen review. This is also not so much a problem as it is usually done before recording. It’s nice of Sony to include three automatic modes for white balance (though this is certainly nothing new for them or any other manufacturer), and the manual white balance is a decently smooth, subtle adjustment.

Gain

There are no manual gain adjustments available on the DCR-DVD305.

Still Features

Still Features

Stills can be captured onto a MemoryStick Duo, which is loaded on the right side of the camcorder. Stills can be recorded at a max resolution of 1152 x 864. As they seem to have done on almost their entire line this year, Sony has switched in the camcorder’s touch screen menu system to listing still dimensions as MP levels (1MP and 3MP in this case) instead of actual A x B dimensions. That’s fine with me.

Handling and Use

**

**

Handling

The handling of the DCR-DVD305 is adequate. For better handling in a Sony DVD camcorder, look to the DCR-DVD505 and DCR-DVD405. One thing that all the new Sony DVD camcorders have is an extremely smooth zoom toggle which allows for easier handheld use; its placement could be better though (more "under-the-finger"). Also, as cool as the new MemoryStick slot is, its placement almost directly under the strap can be cumbersome. This is the same design as the DCR-DVD205, so bear that in mind if you’re shopping them against each other. The DCR-DVD405 offers a body type more in line with the DCR-DVD505, and, in doing so, provides more of a lip for grip as the DVD mechanism rises to meet your digits. The DCR-DVD505 also features a enormous LCD screen (3.5") which certainly aids in handheld visualization.

LCD/Viewfinder

The DCR-DVD305 features a widescreen LCD screen (2.7" diagonal) identical to that of the DCR-DVD405. This is a step up from the DCR-DVD205. The screen has 123K pixels, the same amount as the camcorder’s color viewfinder. The camcorder’s viewfinder can pulled directly out, but not angled up for viewing.

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio

The DCR-DVD305 ships with a center-channel microphone which fits snugly in the company’s custom accessory shoe. Using this mic allows for Dolby Digital 5.1 channel Surround Sound, which Sony touts as able to reproduce the environment recorded in during playback (though isn’t this always the goal). This audio is one of the biggest selling points for Sony over the past two years, and while it’s nice (I guess), please don’t buy the camcorder solely because of this. On paper, getting useful true Surround Sound out of this microphone configuration seems dubious. Four of the five microphones are placed within millimeters of each other in the front of the camcorder's body. The fifth channel, if you use the included mic, will only capture sounds in front of you. Technically, this is 5 channels, but don't expect anything close the Dolby sound you associate with big budget Hollywood movies.  We'll get the full skinny on this in our full review. And can you believe it? The DCR-DVD305 includes no microphone input or headphone out jacks.

VCR Mode

Sony has overhauled the VCR modes from last year and improved their graphics. The new Play/Edit mode, conveniently accessed on the right side of the camcorder, presents thumbnails of stills and video on the LCD screen. The user can tap their way through this system as video clips play like chapter selections on a DVD menu. This is more of a cosmetic upgrade, but still a welcome one.

Ports

The DCR-DVD305 features a LANC jack and a composite port (S-Video / A/V input/output) on the right side of the camcorder, under an ovoid port cover. Nearby is the camcorder’s nifty new MemoryStick Duo port, which folds out from the camcorder body. On the top of the camcorder is Sony’s custom accessory shoe (only holding Sony products) which functions as a mic port. There is a USB port as well.

Other Features

Other Features*

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Mic* -This included mic, mentioned above, is pretty much the main, and only, perk of the DCR-DVD305. Frankly, I think it’s a gimmick. That and the widescreen LCD are really the only special things about this camcorder.

Comparisons / Conclusion

Conclusion

The DCR-DVD305 camcorder is the mid-point of Sony’s DVD camcorder line this year. It's advantages over the DVD205 include an accessory shoe, MemoryStick Duo capability, analog-to-digital conversion, USB, and the supplied external microphone. The DVD305 will run you about $100 more than the DVD205. Stepping up to the DVD405 for an additional $200 buys you a bigger imager (1/3' versus 1/5.5'), 3.0MP stills versus 1.0MP stills, a larger lens (25mm versus 30mm), and a built-in flash.  Personally, I would shell out the extra bones and pick up the DCR-DVD405. Everything about it promises better image quality, and frankly, we think the 5.1 Dolby Sound is a bit of a red herring.