Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom
by Sony
Our Price: $799.95
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $364.98 (click here)
Category: Digital Camera
See more digital camera details and other models
Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: SonyRelease Date: 2008-01-31
Model: HDR-SR85
Product features:
- Capture video to hard disk drive; 60 GB storage
- 25x optical zoom, 2000x digital zoom; Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
- 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Clear Photo LCD
- Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1-channel recording
- Memory Stick Pro Duo media slot
- AmazonBasics IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin FireWire Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to Mini-B Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]
- Sony VCL-HG0730X 30mm 0.7x High Grade Wide Angle Conversion Lens for DCR-HC96, DVD92, 203, 403, 405, 505, SR100 & HDRSR1 Camcorders
- Sony VCL-HA20 TeleConversion Lens for 37mm/30mm/25mm Lenses
- Sony VCL-HA06 30mm 0.6x Wide Angle Conversion Lens for most Sony Camcorders
Digital camera reviews of Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom
Digital camera Review: Made trip to Aruba even more amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
Recently went on a trip to Aruba, taking both a portable point-and-shoot, bulkier Digital SLR camera, and the Sony Handycam with 25x OPTICAL (not digital!) zoom. Out of the three, the Handycam proved without a doubt to be the best device to record memories.
To start off with, my other camcorder is a Canon mini-DV tape camera, which has served me well since 2004. I recently got the Handycam, not to replace my mini-DV camcorder, but to supplement it. I bought this with the intention of taking it for trips during which carrying many tapes would be a hassle. Plus I thought the optical zoom would come in really handy during a vacation where I'd want a lot of footage of the beach, people swimming in the water, etc. Perhaps the best part was the zoom.
POWERFUL OPTICAL ZOOM (DIDN'T CARE MUCH FOR DIGITAL ZOOM)
This has a 25x optical zoom, and 2000x digital zoom. When I bought my previous camcorder in '04 (which has only a 12x optical zoom, but a seemingly impressive digital zoom), I figured the lack in optical could be offset by its allegedly high-performance digital zoom. For those of you who aren't familiar with the difference between optical and digital, great optical zoom is a plus, while digital zoom really doesn't help much. Optical zoom records the subject as if you're physically closer to them - in other words, you can zoom in without losing quality - while digital zoom is similar to zooming in on a photo on your computer. There is a noticeable lack of image quality! It's hard to spot the difference on your camera's LCD screen, but when you move the file to a computer, or TV, it becomes really noticeable due to the larger size. To sum it up, this camera has a very powerful optical zoom which means you don't have to rely on a digital zoom, so you can in effect see objects very far, without losing quality...I personally didn't even bother to zoom in digitally.
DOWNSIDE TO 25X ZOOM
The zoom came in much handier than I expected, but to use 25X zoom, you should try using a tripod or resting the camcorder on a steady surface. Otherwise, the video comes out very noticeably shaky. When you're less zoomed in, it's not as noticeable. Overall, I'd say the video is pretty stable (assuming your hands are!) unless you're zoomed in to the max.
HARD DISK IS VERY CONVENIENT
As for the HDD (hard disk drive), this is brilliant. So much better than relying on tapes that are a hassle to carry, and which you have to make a conscious effort not to accidentally record over! The camera automatically splits videos into different files when you stop recording, so you have pre-divided clips on your hard drive that you can more easily import to a video-editing program. Importing from my DV tapes was a big project, but with this I just plugged into my computer and dragged over the files as you would from an external drive. Very convenient!
PHOTO QUALITY
Don't buy a camcorder to take still photos! While it can take photos, I wasn't really impressed with the image quality. It's video quality, however, was superb. Obviously not as good as you'd get with an HD camcorder since this is standard definition, but it's still great video quality. I think my cell phone took better pictures than this! Still, convenient feature.
In conclusion, great video quality, decent photo quality, and a powerful zoom combined with a VERY convenient hard drive (as opposed to tapes) makes me very happy with my Handycam. The fact you can just plug in and drag files, instead of going through a lengthy import process, is really what pushes this from four stars for a good camera, to five stars for a great one.
More Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Summary of Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom
The DCR-SR85 Handycam camcorder holds on to all your memories. With a 60GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), store up to 40 hours of video (LP) in amazing resolution with the 1 Megapixel CCD. An industry leading Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens keeps every little detail locked in to perfection. You can easily transfer and share your videos by simply connecting the DCR-SR85 to the included Handycam Station and burn a disc with a single push. Now, it's easier than ever to capture and share your memories.even gives you the choice to record video to either the internal hard disk drive or removable Memory Stick PRO Duo media.Camcorders
Cameras and Photo
Most talked about in Ghost Hunting Equipment
Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical ZoomSony; Release date: 2008-01-31; Digital Camera
Best price: $710.00
The Ghost Meter EMF SensorTechnology Alternatives Corp.; Tools
Best price: $30.98
Price in other shops:
Raytek MT4 Mini Infrared ThermometerRaytek; Raytek; Raytek; Automotive; Automotive Parts and Accessories
Best price: $37.95
Price in other shops:
Wimshurst Electrostatic GeneratorLethan Corporation; Lethan Corporation; Single Detail Page Misc
Best price: $57.95
How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guideby Joshua P. Warren
Fireside; Published: 2003-09-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.28
Price in other shops:
Similar digital cameras
Sony NPFH100 H Series Actiforce Hybrid InfoLithium Battery for most Sony CamcordersSony; Release date: 2007-02-15; Digital Camera
Best price: $39.99
Price in other shops:
Sony ECM-HGZ1 Shotgun Microphone for DCR-PC55, DCR-DVD305, DVD 405, DVD 505, HDR-HC1, HC5, HDR-UX1, UX5, DCR-SR100 & SR200 CamcordersSony; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
BigVALUEInc Accessory Saver FH100 Compatible Replacement Battery/ Rapid Charger Filter Kit Tele/ Wide Lens Bundle for 30mm Sony Handycam HDD Hard Disk Drive Camcorders + More!BigVALUEInc; Digital Camera
Best price: $69.95
Deluxe Accessory Kit for the Sony Handycam Camcorder DCRSR45 DCRSR65 DCRSR85Ace Photo Digital; CE
Best price: $97.95
Price in other shops:
Sony ECMHW1 Bluetooth Wireless Microphone for DVR-DVD405, 505, HDR-SR1, UX1 & DCR-SR60, SR80, SR100 CamcordersSony; Digital Camera
Best price: $90.95
Price in other shops:
Sony LCS-X20 Soft Carrying Case for most Sony CamcordersSony; Digital Camera
Best price: $13.83
Price in other shops:
Sony ACCFH70 Accessory Kit w/ NPFH70 Battery & LCS-VA30 Case for most Sony CamcordersSony; Release date: 2007-02-15; Digital Camera
Best price: $69.95
Price in other shops:
Sony BCTRP Battery Charger for NP-FH Series BatteriesSony; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Sony NPFH70 H Series Actiforce Hybrid InfoLithium Battery for most Sony CamcordersSony; Release date: 2007-02-15; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Sony LCS-X30 Soft Carrying Case for most Sony CamcordersSony; Digital Camera
Best price: $17.04
Price in other shops: