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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Conclusion & Comparisons

  • Photo Gallery

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Auto / Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Conclusion & Comparisons
  • Photo Gallery

Performance

Sony DCR-DVD810 at 3000 lux in auto mode

Sony DCR-DVD910 at 3000 lux in auto mode

We start our video performance testing by shooting a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde chart under a bright, even, 3000 lux of light. We then pull still frames from this footage and compare them to other camcorders that have made their way through our labs. At 3000 lux, the DVD810 produced a decent image—looking nearly identical to the frames we pulled from our Sony DCR-SR85 testing. The colors were very deep for a standard definition camcorder and the image was relatively sharp. Comparing to the DCR-DVD910, however, the DVD810 had a significantly worse image. The DVD910 showed crisper detail, less noise, and not as much interference or artifacting as the DVD810.

The blown-up images above show off the differences between the DCR-DVD810 and DCR-DVD910. Looking in the top right corner, it is difficult to read the numbers in the image from the DVD810, while the DVD910 produces legible numerals. Also, notice the vastly different color reproduction between the two camcorders, as well as the small blocks of discoloration and artifacting in the image from the DCR-DVD810. This is the same thing we noticed, especially in the blues and purples, coming from the Sony DCR-SR85. The image on the DVD810 does have more contrast than the DVD910, which makes text appear bolder and darker, but the DVD910 has a far smoother, crisper, and cleaner picture.

Sony DCR-DVD 810 in auto mode

Canon DC330 in auto mode

Out of the lab, the DCR-DVD810 provided the kind of image you'd expect from a standard definition camcorder. Areas with lots of detail had some interference, scenes with intense colors and bright light weren't reproduced faithfully, and artifacting was present in some of the footage. That being said, the video quality wasn't too bad for a camcorder in its price range. The images above are side-by-side comparisons with the DC330, a standard def camcorder from Canon that records to DVD. The Canon DC330 tended to capture more detail, like in the bricks above, and more saturated colors than the DCR-DVD810.

Sony DCR-DVD 810 in auto mode

Canon DC330 in auto mode

The biggest problem we noticed with the DCR-DVD810 was a choppy, blurry image along straight lines in bright light. In the images above, the DVD810 produced interference around the edge of the windows and along some of the lines on the trash can. The Canon DC330, on the other hand, produced a smooth, crisp image throughout. Even the blown-out portion of the windows looked crisp and the entire picture had little distortion or interference. The Canon also rendered deeper, more vivid colors than the DVD810. The Sony DCR-DVD910 clearly has a better image performance than the DVD810 in bright light, but the DVD910 comes with a steep $650 price tag (and it doesn't come with any internal memory!). If you're going to pay that much for a camcorder, you might as well spring for an HD model.

Video Resolution* (5.25)
*We test video resolution by shooting a DSC Labs video resolution chart under a bright, even light. We then view the recorded footage on an external monitor to determine the results. The DCR-DVD810 produced an approximate horizontal resolution of 350 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 300 lw/ph. These are identical scores to what we measured on the Sony DCR-SR85, and they are a bit higher than average for a camcorder in this price range.

Low Light Performance* (2.95)
*We test the low light performance of camcorders in three separate stages. The first is comparative analysis, where we compare low light images from other camcorders we've brought through our labs. In the second stage we run images through Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise percentages, and saturation levels. In our final stage, we look at light sensitivity by connecting the camcorder to a waveform monitor.

Beginning our comparative analysis testing with the DCR-DVD810, we shot a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde chart at 60 lux (moderately low light) and 15 lux (very low light). We then pulled frames from this footage and compared it to images from other camcorders.

Sony DCR-DVD810 at 60 lux in auto mode

Sony DCR-DVD910 at 60 lux in auto mode

At 60 lux the DCR-DVD810 captured a good, deep image. It wasn't the brightest picture in the world, but the colors were saturated, blacks were dark, and whites popped with brightness. The image, again, looked very similar to our test shots with the DCR-SR85 (they both have the same CCD sensor and lens), which is to say a dark, yet rich image. The DCR-DVD910, in comparison, showed us a brighter, softer picture—however, colors didn't pop nearly as much and the text didn't appear as solid or bold as the 60 lux image from the DVD810. We must say, even though the DVD810's colors may be a bit too dark, the camcorder still produced a better looking image than the more expensive DVD910 at 60 lux.

Sony DCR-DVD810 at 15 lux in auto mode

Sony DCR-DVD910 at 15 lux in auto mode

At 15 lux, which is very low light, the Sony DCR-DVD810 continued providing a dark, yet colorfully robust image. Of course, noise and artifacting were prominent, but any camcorder in this price range will begin breaking down at 15 lux. The comparisons with the DCR-DVD910 at this light level were shocking. The DVD910 has a washed-out, grainy image at 15 lux, with colors that are more faded than your favorite childhood t-shirt. Yes, both camcorders have noise, blur, and grain, but the DCR-DVD810 still has a strong, pleasing image amongst the interference. This is the same quality we saw coming from the DCR-SR85 at this light level, which also produced a dark, strong picture.

For our second stage of testing, we use Imatest imaging software to determine the color accuracy, noise percentage, and saturation levels of the recorded video. We shoot an X-Rite Color Checker chart at an even 60 lux, and then run the frame grabs from that footage through the software. According to Imatest, the DCR-DVD810 produced a color error of 14.9 and an average noise of 1.6025%. Both these scores are very close to the numbers achieved by the DCR-SR85 (15.9 color error, 1.45% noise), which, again, makes sense because the two camcorders have identical sensors and processing systems. The DVD810's color error is a bit higher than some other standard definition camcorders in its price range (like the Canon FS100), but it's not a horrible score. It's also better than the 16.9 color error posted by the DCR-DVD910. Lastly, the saturation level on the DCR-DVD810 measured at 64.19%, which is also a slightly higher score than the DVD910 recorded.

Our final stage of testing determines low light sensitivity. We attached the DCR-DVD810 to a waveform monitor, which measures light in IRE (the standard in broadcasting). Watching the monitor, we slowly lower the lights until the camcorder is outputting a peak of 50 IRE. The DVD810 required 18 lux of light to produce 50 IRE, which is exactly what the DCR-SR85 required. The DCR-DVD910 needed only 15 lux to reach the same light level, but as we showed above, its low light image is washed-out and riddled with interference. Other standard def camcorders, particularly the Canon FS100 and FS11, the Samsung SC-MX20, and the JVC GZ-MG330 all required approximately 13 lux of light to output 50 IRE.

Overall, the Sony DCR-DVD810 isn't the best low light performer and it's light sensitivity is well below average for its price range. However, the camcorder retained color depth and provided a vivid image even in settings with very low light. In both our 60 and 15 lux tests, the camcorder exhibited an image far superior than what the pricey DCR-DVD910 showed us.

Stabilization* (5.90)
*The Sony DCR-DVD810 is equipped with SteadyShot, an electronic image stabilization system (EIS), which smooths out the image digitally. This is the same system used by the Sony DCR-SR85, while the DCR-DVD910 has a more expensive optical stabilization feature.  EIS can result in some loss of image quality, whereas optical stabilization should not.

We test stabilization by attaching the camcorder to our shake simulation device. Our device has two speeds—speed one is roughly the same as filming with a wobbly hand, speed two imitates the jitters of a moving car. At speed one, the DVD810 reduced 75% of the shake created by our device. At speed two, the camcorder reduced 87% of the shake. These are both average scores for Sony, which usually does very well in this test. The camcorder's performance was nearly identical to what we saw from the DCR-DVD910 and DCR-SR85.

Wide Angle* (9.60)
*We measured the maximum viewing angle of the DVD810 using a vertical laser. We placed the camcorder on a tripod, with image stabilization turned off, and its zoom pulled all the way out. We measured the wide angle of the lens to be 48 degrees, which is average for a consumer camcorder. It is also identical to what we measured on the DCR-DVD910 and DCR-SR85.

Format

Compression* (4.00)

*The Sony DCR-DVD810 uses an MPEG-2 compression for video, which is the established format for standard definition camcorders that record to non-linear media (DVD, hard drive, flash memory). MPEG-2 is an outdated, inefficient format and its implementation will eventually be discontinued. With the flood of HD camcorders, which use varying types of MPEG-4 compressions, MPEG-2 will soon be obsolete.

The three quality settings on the DCR-DVD810 are: HQ (9Mbps), SP (6Mbps) and LP (3Mbps). You should probably do most of your filming in HQ, unless you are shooting something where video quality is of little concern. Unlike Canon, Panasonic, and JVC, Sony keeps each video clip as one, unified file with an .MPG extension. This makes working with the footage on a computer much easier. Most editing software and media players will handle the clips with ease.

Media* (10.00)
*The DCR-DVD810 is the Swiss Army knife of camcorders when it comes to media options. The camcorder can record to 8cm DVDs (often referred to as mini DVDs), 8GB of non-removable flash memory, or to Memory Stick Pro Duo cards. With three media options, you can tailor your recording based on what you want to do with the footage. If you're filming a concert for a friend and want to give them a copy right after, shoot on DVD and hand the disc over at the end. If you're traveling light and don't know how much filming you'll be doing, bring along a few Memory Stick cards to record to. The 8GB of internal memory works best as a backup, and it will always be there—even if you have no cards or DVDs to capture your precious images.

DVD is only one of three media options on the DCR-DVD810.

Even though the DVD810 is marketed as a DVD camcorder, the two other recording options on the device work far better. DVDs don't hold much footage (20 min. at highest quality, compared to 115 min. for the 8GB of internal memory), they scratch easily, they're large (in comparison to the minuscule Memory Stick Pro Duo cards), and they need to be finalized before they'll work on a regular DVD player. The camcorder works with the following discs:

DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-R, and DVD+R dual layer.

The DVD810 doesn't allow still images to capture to DVD, which is another place where the camcorder's internal memory comes in handy. In comparison, Canon's standard definition DVD camcorder, the DC330, has no internal memory and requires an SD/SDHC card to save still images. The DCR-DVD810 also has a dubbing feature, which allows you to copy video files from the camcorder's internal memory or Memory Stick Pro Duo cards onto DVDs right inside the camcorder. This is a good feature if you enjoy having your footage on DVD, but you don't like recording directly onto the discs.

The camcorder takes Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

We like the 8GB of internal memory on the DCR-DVD810 so much, we wish Sony would make the exact same camcorder—only without the DVD drive. This would put Sony in direct competition to the Canon FS100, FS10, and FS11—three flash memory camcorders that include varying amounts of internal memory. The DVD8190 is, surprisingly, the only standard def model from Sony that has any internal flash memory (the HDR-UX20, an HD camcorder, also has 8GB of internal memory). The step-down model from Sony, the DCR-DVD710, has the same specs as the DVD810, except it's $50 cheaper and lacks the internal memory.

Below is a table of approximate recording times for the various media:

Editing* (6.00)
*The Sony DCR-DVD810 comes with Picture Motion Browser 3.0, a very basic software that helps you import clips, perform minor edits, and organize your footage. As long as you're recording to flash memory, the .MPG files created by the DVD810 should be no problem to import into your preferred editing software. Some manufacturers (Canon, JVC, Panasonic) save video clips as .MOD, which can be a hassle to work with and often must be converted before they can work with any media players or editing programs.

Transferring video from recordable DVDs isn't as easy a process as working with clips stored on flash memory. Files simply cannot be dragged and dropped off of the discs, so you'll have to figure out a method for your editing software to import the footage. Many programs may not be able to import from DVDs and the process could be slow and infuriating. Our recommendation is to record to the camcorder's internal memory or Memory Stick Pro Duo cards if you plan on doing any editing—after all, you can always burn that footage to DVD using a computer.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
* Automatic Control (7.00)**

The DCR-DVD810 does well with automatic controls, which is what we expect to see from Sony. Autofocus, white balance, and exposure features all work quickly and accurately—giving you strong results without any manual adjustment. Sony also provides an Easy mode, which is a simple way to run the camcorder with fully automated controls. Easy mode does block some automatic settings, however, like scene modes, spot meter and spot focus, and white balance presets.

Autofocus worked quickly and well, often taking less than a second to focus images. In low light, sometimes the DVD810 had trouble focusing, but this is normal for a camcorder in this price range. Auto exposure also performed strongly, providing smooth transitions with changes in light and even shifts in areas of high contrast. The camcorder also offers two 'one touch' features for exposure and focus—spot focus and spot meter. With both features, you simply touch the part of the LCD screen that you want to correctly expose or focus correctly.

Auto white balance was the weakest of the automatic controls. It often produced a yellowish hue under incandescent light and a bluish tint with fluorescent light. Outdoors the auto white balance usually worked wonderfully. Sony provides two white balance presets—outdoor and indoor—which is a meager array. The one-push manual white balance, however, is an excellent feature.

The camcorder has an auto slow shutter feature that will bring the shutter speed down to 1/30 of a second in low light situations. A shutter speed this slow will significantly boost the brightness of the image, but it will also give a significant choppiness to anything the camcorder captures in motion.

The DCR-DVD810 has 10 special scene selection options that automatically adjust the camcorder's settings to fit the particular scene: Auto, Twilight, Candle, Sunrise & Sunset, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports, Beach, and Snow.

Overall Manual Control (3.25)

While Sony does a great job with automatic features, it usually falls short when it comes to manual control. All manual adjustments on the DCR-DVD810 must be made with the inarticulate touchscreen interface. It is not only an inefficient system, as you must navigate through menus to select the options you want to control, but it's also a difficult one to work with. The touchscreen is not suited for fine-tuned adjustments, the buttons are small and difficult to press, and the screen gets far too cluttered with icons and information to allow for easy manipulation of controls. Sometimes, as with the case for manual white balance and the spot focus/exposure features, the touchscreen works extremely well. It's with more delicate controls, like manual exposure and focus, that the camcorder runs into walls.

It's disappointing Sony doesn't implement a Cam Control dial on the DCR-DVD810, a feature we loved on the Sony HDR-SR12 and HDR-CX12 (both are HD models). The dial provides an easy, smooth way to make manual adjustments, and, best of all, it allows you to avoid using the touchscreen system. The DVD810 is certainly large enough to accommodate a control dial, which makes it extra frustrating that Sony doesn't provide one.

*

Zoom (5.50)*

There are two ways to zoom on the DVD810. A traditional zoom toggle is located on the top of the camcorder and is easily adjusted with the tip of your index finger. On the LCD panel are also two zoom buttons that can be useful if you like controlling the camcorder with two hands. The zoom responds well and a bar display appears on the LCD to show you how far you've zoomed. Unfortunately, Sony doesn't provide numbers with the display, so exactly recreating zoom levels for different shots is nearly impossible.

Zoom Power Ratio (25.00)

The DCR-DVD810 has a 25x optical zoom, which is the same magnification offered by the Sony DCR-SR85. This will likely be enough of a zoom for most situations, but it falls short of the 37x optical zoom offered on the Canon DC330. The DVD810 also has a 2000x digital zoom, but it severely distorts the quality and look of the image. We always recommend sticking with optical zoom.

Focus (5.50)

As we discussed above, the DCR-DVD810 uses the LCD touchscreen for manual focus adjustment. The feature is accessed in the Camera menu and is adjusted by pressing the 'far' and 'near' buttons that appear on the touchscreen. Too many icons and numbers clog the screen when you attempt to manual focus and the entire process is annoying and bothersome. If you're used to focusing with a lens ring or dial, the system is sure to aggravate.

Using the touchscreen to focus can be a real drag.

 

*Exposure & Aperture (5.00)
*Manual exposure is controlled in a similar manner to focus on the DCR-DVD810. A bar appears on the screen with buttons on either side that allow you to raise or lower the exposure levels. There are 26 separate exposure steps in all, but no numbers tell you how much you have adjusted the levels, although the bar graphic will give you some idea. Adjusting exposure is a bit easier than using manual focus as the screen is less cluttered and it is easier to see what's going on.

There is no independent aperture control on the DCR-DVD810.

The screen is also cluttered when adjusting exposure.

*Shutter Speed (0.0)
*There is no direct control over shutter speed on the DCR-DVD810. Sony is the only major manufacture that doesn't allow for this control. Canon and JVC have shutter priority modes, and Panasonic has independent shutter and aperture modes.

Sony's auto slow shutter and color slow shutter features do offer options for slow shutter speeds, but they are entirely automated features.

*White Balance (5.50)
*The DCR-DVD810 has a One Push manual white balance feature that is easy to use and provides good results. Simply select the One Push feature, point the camcorder to a white or neutral gray image, then push the white balance button. The button will blink for a few seconds while the adjustment takes place. Sony also offers an outdoor and indoor white balance preset, but you'll probably be good sticking to auto most of the time and manual when you want accurate colors (especially indoors).

Gain (0.0)

There is no manual gain control on the Sony DVD810. Only Panasonic and Sanyo offers this option on consumer camcorders.

Other Manual Controls (3.25)
Color Slow Shutter – This option drops the auto shutter speed on the camcorder to as low as 1/2 a second, which provides a tremendously bright image in low light, but produces an incredibly choppy image whenever motion is recorded.

Guide Frames – Grid lines, to help you frame your shot, appear on the LCD and viewfinder when this feature is selected. The lines only appear on the display and won't end up on your recorded footage.

Still Features

Still Features* (3.50)*

The still features on the DCR-DVD810 are limited and nearly identical to what we saw on the DCR-SR85. Photographs can be captured in three sizes: 1152 x 864 (1.0 Megapixels), 1152 x 648 widescreen image (0.7 Megapixel), and 640 x 480 (0.3 Megapixels). The camcorder has a dedicated still image mode, which is engaged by flicking the on/off button to the left. Photographs can only be captured to the camcorder's 8GB of internal memory, or Memory Stick Pro Duo cards—still images cannot be recorded to DVD.
The DVD810 has no built-in flash, but it does have an active accessory shoe that will work with external flashes purchased from Sony (the shoe will only work with Sony products). The camcorder's NightShot mode can be used for still images, but there is no direct adjustment for aperture or shutter speed. Focus, exposure, and white balance can all be set for photos in the exact same manner as video mode. There is also the option for a 10 second self-timer in the Camera Menu. In comparison, the more expensive Sony DCR-DVD910 comes with a built-in flash, a maximum 4.0 Megapixel still image resolution, and a face detection feature.

The Photo Settings menu, inside the Home menu contains the following items:

The Photo Settings menu is located in the Home menu

Playing back photos on the DCR-DVD810 is just like viewing recorded videos. Photos are arranged as a series of thumbnails, and clicking on them brings up a full screen image. The Photo Playback menu only has a few features, but they are different than what you'd see on the Video Playback menu.

The Photo Playback menu contains the following options:

Still Performance* (6.00)
*To determine the still performance of the Sony DCR-DVD810 we photographed an X-Rite Color Checker chart under bright, even light. We then ran the still images through Imatest imaging software to get results. At best, the camcorder produced a color error of 10, which is a disappointing score. This is very similar to the results we got with the Sony DCR-SR85, another camcorder with poor color performance. The Sony DCR-DVD910, however, produced a color error of only 5.72, which is closer to what we're used to seeing from Sony.

On top of the shoddy color accuracy, the Sony DVD810 also produced a significant amount of noise. It's noise percentage came in at 1.895%, which is statistically identical to the 1.9025% produced by the DCR-SR85. Again, the DCR-DVD910 proved to be a better still image performer, averaging 1.1325% noise. Finally, the saturation level on the DVD810 measured at 105.6%, which is normal for a camcorder in this price range.

Still Resolution* (5.21)
*We test still resolution on camcorders by photographing an ISO 12233 resolution chart under bright, even light. We then take these still images and run them through Imatest imaging software for analysis. According to Imatest, the Sony DCR-DVD810 measured a horizontal resolution of 625 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) with a 3.4% undersharpening. It measured 496 lw/ph vertical resolution, with a 17.6% undersharpening. The horizontal resolution on the DVD810 closely matches what the DCR-SR85 scored, although the SR85 scored a bit better on vertical resolution. The DVD910, shooting pictures with a higher pixel count, produced a much better still image resolution—1161 lw/ph horizontal. Overall, the still image resolution of the DVD810 is average for a camcorder in this price range.

Much like the Sony DCR-SR85, the DCR-DVD810 isn't the best choice when it comes to still performance. Colors are off and the quality of the image is lousy (it's maximum still image resolution is 1.0 Megapixels). The Sony DCR-DVD910 is far better for taking still images, as our test results show—but there's always the option of purchasing a dedicated still camera, which will provide you with far better photographic quality than any consumer camcorder.

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (7.25)*

For some time now Sony has been marketing itself as the manufacturer for those new to the camcorder universe. The DCR-DVD810 fits this bill on some levels—it has solid automatic controls and it implements Sony's acclaimed Easy button—but its three different options for recording media can make life a little complex. Sticking to one media will make things simpler for beginners, but it will also limit the camcorder's versatility as a recording device.

The aforementioned Easy button is a blessing for people who want to point and shoot and let the camcorder do the rest. Settings are automated and manual controls aren't even accessible when Easy mode is activated. Even the icons get larger in Easy mode, making them more visible and easier to read. The problem is, if you want to make any manual adjustments, you have to venture outside of the safe confinement Easy mode provides.

Many users may see DVDs as an easy-to-use storage media. People are familiar with recordable discs and they provide a tangible, portable object that contains your footage. The ability to watch your videos by putting discs right into a DVD player is also convenient. Even with all these benefits, however, we find recording to DVDs to be more of a hassle than using internal memory or Memory Stick cards. DVDs must be formatted and finalized or they won't work in many players, videos cannot be deleted after you've recorded them, each disc fits only 20 minutes of footage at the highest quality, and they are very prone to scratching. Even if it is something you're familiar with, recording to DVDs can be more of a headache than anything else.

We found using the 8GB of internal memory on the DCR-DVD810 was by far the easiest and most convenient method for capturing video and recording to Memory Stick Pro Duo cards was also a simple effort. DVD-based camcorders are truly a dying breed and the DVD810 would be a better, simpler product without its disc recording capabilities.

The DCR-DVD810 is an awkward handler.

Handling* (5.00)
*Being over three and a half inches tall, the DCR-DVD810 is a lot of body to grip and holding it is generally uncomfortable. We liked the bulkiness the Sony DCR-SR85 provided, but the DVD810 doesn't fit as well to the palm and the shape of the DVD hatch is rigid and uncomfortable. There is very little curve at the bottom and top of the right side, which makes it feel like you're wrapping your fingers around a box rather than a $450 camcorder. The slimness of the camcorder also poses problems—there isn't anywhere convenient to place your fingertips and they easily rub noses with the built-in microphone above the lens. A front mounted microphone would have been a better idea.

Sony's hand strap offers a tight grip, even if it isn't a very comfortable one. The strap does get in the way of the DVD hatch, however, and it can be a nuisance if you are trying to swap DVDs on the fly. There's also the problem with the DC-input placement on the right side of the camcorder. The input is placed exactly where your index finger rests when you grip the camcorder, which means an annoying, obtrusive cable is directly in your path whenever the camcorder is connected to its power source.

The right side of the camcorder is uncomfortable to grip.

The viewfinder on the DVD810 will surely be a delight for those shooting outside on a bright, sunny day, but a few little improvements would have made using the viewfinder much more enjoyable. The finder does extend approximately 3/4-inch from the body of the camcorder, but it doesn't pivot or rotate at all. This makes it almost unusable when larger battery packs are installed on the back of the camcorder and it makes it difficult to use the viewfinder to capture images at odd angles. A rubberized eyepiece would have added more comfort to the viewfinder, as well as providing better use for glasses-wearing videographers.

We must mention Sony's cumbersome touchscreen interface that is used to make manual adjustments and select settings. Many people accustomed to the interface will use it with confidence, but it can be an uncompromising annoyance for those who don't like touchscreens or who aren't familiar with Sony's system.

Menu* (6.50)
*Sony doesn't change its menu system around very often, so anyone who's familiar with another Sony camcorder should adjust quickly to the DCR-DVD810. It isn't the easiest menu structure in the world, but Sony does a relatively good job at keeping things simple. Settings are spread out amongst two menus, the Home Menu and the Camera Menu, and both are accessible via the LCD touchscreen. There is a playback menu on the touchscreen as well.

The DVD810 can be a bit more difficult to navigate because of its three options for recording media. The menus are stuffed with a few extra settings—like media format, finalize, unfinalize, disc select guide, media set—all of which are used to make changes and adjust the various recording media.

The touchscreen is convenient in many ways as it limits the amount of buttons and clutter on the body of the camcorder. Unfortunately, the touch system isn't the most accurate or sensitive method for making manual adjustments and selecting options. If you are familiar with Sony, you'll no doubt be comfortable using the touchscreen system. However, if you're used to a joystick or lens ring, the touchscreen may be a serious annoyance.

The help feature can be a good assistant.

There are lots of options in the Home menu, which houses most of the camcorder's administrative settings. Sony has a wonderful 'help' button (represented by a question mark) that will provide you with information about each setting. There is also an information bar at the bottom of the screen that doles out important details.

The Home menu on the DCR-DVD810

The Home menu contains the following options:

The Camera menu on the DCR-DVD810 holds most of the manual control options and effects. It is essentially the same group of settings you'll find on every Sony camcorder (plus or minus one or two features).

The Camera menu on the DCR-DVD810

The Camera menu contains the following options:

Portability* (6.50)
*The DCR-DVD810's tall, slim body isn't conducive for pocket portability and it's design is much larger than other standard definition camcorders. However, the three recording media options does make the DVD810 very convenient. Extra DVDs can be purchased on vacation if you fill up the internal memory and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards can always be brought along to maximize storage capacity. The variety of recording options does enough to counteract the bulk of the camcorder when it comes to portability.

The DCR-DVD810 measures 55.0 x 89.0 x 130.0mm (2 1/4 x 3 5/8 x 5 1/8 inches) and weighs 450g (14.9 oz.), which is nearly identical to the size and weight of the Canon DC330.

**

LCD and Viewfinder*** (7.50)*

The DCR-DVD810 has a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD that also functions as a touchscreen interface. The screen has a 123,000 pixel display, which is not as good as the 211,000 pixel display found on the DVD910. Given the large size of the DCR-DVD810 (mainly due to the DVD hatch), it would have made sense for Sony to tack a slightly larger LCD onto the camcorder—like the 3.2-inch screen on the high definition HDR-SR12. A larger screen does wonders in making the touchscreen interface easier to use and it's always a welcomed feature (as long as it doesn't make the camcorder too bulky).

The DVD810 does offer a viewfinder, which is becoming something of a rarity on consumer camcorders. The viewfinder has a widescreen, color display and also features 123,000 pixels. It's design isn't fantastic as the finder doesn't pivot, but it does extend approximately 3/4 of an inch from the body of the camcorder. The viewfinder also doesn't have a rubberized eyepiece and is instead surrounded by a hard plastic shell. The plastic isn't very comfortable or forgiving to glasses-wearers, but its shape fits well with the naked eye. There is a diopter adjustment dial on the left side of the viewfinder for fine tuning the magnification to match your eye strength.

The Canon DC330 also offers a similar viewfinder as do all of Sony's DVD-based camcorders. To note, the viewfinder only works when the LCD is closed, which is a common feature on camcorders. Not only is the viewfinder a godsend on a sunny day when it's hard to see anything on the LCD display, but it's also an excellent way to conserve battery life.

Battery Life* (11.20)*

We tested the battery life of the DCR-DVD810 by recording continuously using the camcorder's internal memory. The LCD screen was open the entire time, but no controls or features were engaged for the duration of the recording. In our testing, the DVD810's battery lasted for 111 minutes and 50 seconds. This is an average score for a camcorder in this price range and it is 30 minutes less than the battery life of the Sony DVD910 and roughly 10 minutes longer than the Sony SR85.

Many larger batteries are available from Sony that can provide performance lasting up to 5 times as long as the supplied pack.

 

 

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (6.00)

*A 5.1 channel Dolby Digital microphone is prominently mounted on the top of the Sony DCR-DVD810. Its placement isn't the best, as fingers can easily get in the way of the microphone when you grip the camcorder. In the Camera menu there are options for switching the microphone level from normal to low or to record 2 channel audio instead of 5.1. There is also a zoom mic feature on the DVD810, which has become an included option on most Sony camcorders. The zoom mic will automatically focus-in the sound recording on whatever subject the camcorder is zoomed into. The quality of Sony's built-in microphone is not very good to begin with, so it is doubtful many users will spend much time playing around with all these controls.

Sony put an active interface shoe on the top of the DVD810. For true audiophiles this could sound like a blessing, but the shoe, unfortunately, works only with Sony accessories. This means your large collection of pro mics will require a third-party adapter before they can be of any use working with the DVD810. The shoe is still a good touch, however, as it sets the camcorder apart from the competition and Sony does sell a variety of accessories.

Playback* (6.50)
*The playback system on the DCR-DVD810 is no different than you'd see on any other Sony camcorder. In playback mode, your footage is arranged as a series of thumbnail images and you can select a clip by pressing on the touchscreen. VCR buttons appear on the screen when you select a clip for playback. The playback screen is cluttered with a lot of information, tabs, and buttons, so it can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but the system is generally simple to use.

Since the camcorder can record to three different media, playback can be confusing if you have images and clips spread out amongst the different storage devices. You must go into the Home menu, then select Movie Media Set and choose the media you want to view clips from. This process can be annoying and it would have been much easier if Sony simply put a media selection tab right on the playback screen (or more easily accessible through the Playback menu).

If you're thinking about purchasing the DCR-DVD810, it is likely because you want the ability to record video to DVD. Sony adds an interesting dubbing feature, which enables you to burn files from the camcorder's internal memory or Memory Stick Pro Duo cards onto a DVD all inside the camcorder. The dubbing button is located inside the LCD cavity and is a good feature for making discs on the go or if you don't have a DVD burner on your computer.

The camcorder offers two indexing methods for organizing video: film roll index and face index. Film roll index allows you to jump to a specific scene in a clip by displaying a variety of frames taken from a specific interval. Face index organizes footage based on faces detected within the videos. Both index modes are too complicated to really be of any good and the same organization could be done a lot more simply on a computer.

Playback mode and menu on the DCR-DVD810

The Playback menu contains the following options:

Connectivity* (6.00)
*The port placement on the DCR-DVD810 is odd and confusing. Three separate ports are scattered on the camcorder's body: A/V-out in the front, USB inside the LCD cavity, and DC-input on the right side. This would be a fine design if there was some good reason for these placements, but there isn't. The DC-input is in a particularly horrible spot, as it is located exactly where your index finger and parts of your palm rest when you grip the camcorder. This means your grip is completely obstructed when you have the DC cable connected and you have to maneuver around the obtrusive power cable to access some of the camcorder's most vital controls.

The A/V-out port isn't horribly placed in the front of the camcorder, but the plastic door that covers the jack is particularly flimsy. Sony also uses proprietary A/V cables, which means regular cables won't work with the camcorder. The USB port doesn't have a cover, but it is relatively safe inside the LCD cavity.

The LCD cavity is also home to the Memory Stick Pro Duo slot. A small latch opens up and cards slide into a slot going parallel to the body of the camcorder. It can be a bit awkward to get cards out of the slot, but the design isn't too bad and it's more convenient than having a card input on the bottom of the camcorder or in a more cluttered location. On the top of the DVD810 is an accessory shoe for mounting a flash, light, or microphone. Unfortunately, the shoe only works with Sony-brand accessories.

Going clockwise starting with the upper left: USB port, A/V-out, Memory Stick PRO Duo slot, DC-input

 

 

 

Other Features

**What’s in the Box?

**

The Sony DCR-DVD810 ships with the following items:

-AC Adapter

-Power cord

-A/V-out cable

-USB cable

-Remote control

-Rechargeable battery pack NP-FH40

-Picture Motion Browser software

Other Features* (5.00)*

NightShot – Using an infrared sensor, NightShot makes the DVD810 capable of capturing images in complete darkness. It can be a wonderful feature for late-night videographers, as long as you don't mind the shiny, green glow the setting adds to your footage.
*

Fader – *Turning this feature on adds a fade to the beginning or end of video clips. The fade can be either black or white and begins after the record button is pressed.

*Digital Effects – *Sony could really go for an update to its digital effects features. The only option here is old movie, which simply slows the shutter speed down and gives the footage a sepia tint.

Picture Effects – There are three effects for changing the image on the DVD810: sepia, black & white, and pastel.

Quick On – This button puts the camcorder into a sleep mode, and pressing it again wakes it up quickly. The feature, found on most Sonys, is not very useful. The camcorder turns on quickly regardless of what state you're booting it from.

Backlight – The DVD810 offers its very own backlight compensation button, which is found on many Sony camcorders. This setting attempts to even out exposure on subjects who are strongly lit from behind. It is nonsensical that Sony gives camcorders a dedicated button for this feature—rather than offer a button for focus, exposure, or something else far more useful.

Conclusion & Comparisons

Conclusion

Sony clearly knows how to do DVD camcorders. The HDR-UX20, an HD model from Sony, won our Best DVD Camcorder award for 2008, and the DCR-DVD810 ($449.99 MSRP) is another strong performer in the category. The 8GB of internal memory included on the DVD810 is a splendid surprise that makes the camcorder a versatile device and ideal for someone looking for a product with multiple media options. It also gives the camcorder a significant advantage over the Canon DC330, which can only record video to DVD. The video quality on the DCR-DVD810 isn't the best for a camcorder in its price range, but it provides a decent image and its auto controls work competently in most shooting situations. The camcorder also impressed us with how well it stood up against the higher-end DCR-DVD910, which had a sharper picture, but a worse low light image than the DVD810.

The DCR-DVD810 does have handling issues and it isn't a very comfortable camcorder to hold. The large DVD hatch isn't ergonomically designed—making the entire camcorder feel rigid, boxy, and stiff in your palm. The tall design of the device isn't very conducive for portability and the overall look of the DVD810 is unappealing and tired. Also, as with all Sony camcorders, the touchscreen system can be annoying and difficult for users who aren't accustomed to the interface.

Even with all these problems, the DCR-DVD810 is a decent video performer and offers a good value for what you get. DVD-based camcorders are heading towards extinction, but if you insist on purchasing one you can put your confidence in Sony and the DCR-DVD810.

**Comparisons
**

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters

Sony's easy mode and reliable automatic controls make the DCR-DVD810 a decent choice for beginners. The odd shape of the camcorder and the multiple options for recording media may bother and confuse some users, however.

Budget Consumers

With an MSRP of just under $450, the DCR-DVD810 is an excellent buy. Camcorders that record to internal flash memory are usually quite pricey, and the 8GB that come with the DVD810 are a tremendous resource. The camcorder actually runs $50 cheaper than the Canon FS10, which also has 8GB of internal memory—but it doesn't offer a DVD drive. If you desire the ability to record to DVD, and like having multiple media options, the DVD810 is a tremendous bang for your buck.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

The DCR-DVD810 doesn't produce very good still images and its size is awkward for taking snapshots. If you like the idea of storing video on DVDs and photos on internal memory or memory cards, then perhaps the DVD810 could be intriguing. Otherwise, it's a lame excuse for a still camera and it won't yield pleasing results.

Gadget Freaks

The multiple recording options may pique the interest of some gadget-lovers, but DVD recorders are basically in the twilight of their lives. The DCR-DVD810 certainly won't be on anyone's list of hot, exciting technology.

Manual Control Freaks

The touchscreen interface on the DCR-DVD810 is not pleasant for anyone to deal with, let alone users who love manual controls. Combine this with the fact that the camcorder has very few manual controls to begin with and you're staring at a product any true manual control devotee would despise.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

There's nothing about the DCR-DVD810 that would be attractive to professionals or serious videographers.

Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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