Customer Reviews
Not Mac compatible 
2008-06-19
I am using this camera, and it is nice. However, my biggest gripe is that it is not Mac compatible. Many creative types use a Mac, which comes with very nice movie software. I have both Macs and PCs, but would have preferred to use my Mac.
Because it wasn't compatible, I purchased Sony's Vegas, but would have been much happier using iMovie.
Sony, always improving 
2008-06-15
Sony, getting better all the time: This is not my first video camera, I started about 20 years ago with the Betamovie and with it I've made videos with such good quallity that I didn't change it by the next one, the Video 8 because it still wasn't better until the first Hi8 appeared which was really better than the Video 8 and the Betamovie, after it I've been changing my video cameras each three or four years and once I've tested a Panasonic which wasn't bad but, I've always felt better with Sony, and each time I buy a new one, I find new good surprices, beeing them in the head of those products's tecnology.
The only one thing I would complain about this last one, the HDR-SR7, is not having the red light for the photo camera which you need to get focus in dark.
Good cam tough format. 2008-04-07
I think the obvious has been stated.
The camera does a great job with good lighting. Low level lighting is an issue.
I knew that before I bought.
I also knew to have Sony Vegas primed for the AVCHD formatted files.
Playback is difficult on slower processors and editing via a laptop even with core2 duo processors is rough.
I hook the camera up to the TV via the mini hdmi/usb thumb drive via PS3/USB cable to PS3/SD DVD with AVCHD as BR on PS3.
The battery life has been ok for my usage. A backup will be necessary for vacation/long shoots.
Controls and interface are user friendly and the "easy" button is nice for instant settings and shoot.
I am very happy with this camera.
The camera is good but format is a problem 2008-03-29
The camera has shot good videos but to play them you need a powerful computer. So unless you have a dual core high speed processor you may not like to view the videos... I returned mine as i didn't want to upgrade my laptop just for the sake of AVCHD video format... i don't know when this format problem will get resolved or probably i will wait till my current laptop is completely obsolete...
Sony HDR-SR7 AVCHD Camcorder (handycam) 
2008-03-02
- Excellent design, 5.1 sound effect is too good
- I actually returned back this piece and opted for traditional Mini DV camcorder Sony DCR HC 96.
Reason for my frustration in SR7 was its compatibility issues. Its like once you buy this one, you would have to (almost) buy HD TV, HDMI cable and may be few costly softwares to work with high quality video format. Also it would require large amount of storage capacity and processing power (Yes, even though this is a hard drive model, processing is costly). And when I through of all these collectively, that package is something I cannot afford.
> Sony MUST provide HDMI cable with this buy when you are paying $1300 for it
> Since toshiba has signed off the video format war, sony would definitely come up with one good Blueray camcorder soon.. and then this camcorder would not be this hot.
MiniDV is still my favorite. I can easily get DVD quality, superb sharpness and colors. Yes there are some efforts to convert it from Mini DV to DVD but that one time work is ok if you are getting nice quality.
Worth the price tag 2008-02-12
Shoot in unrivaled high definition clarity directly onto a 60GB hard drive with the ultra-compact HDR-SR7 high definition Handycam(R) camcorder. The HDR-SR7 lets you record remarkably clear and detailed high definition video onto its convenient 60GB internal hard drive using a professional grade Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens. A 10x optical, 20x digital zoom easily brings the action extra close, while Super SteadyShot(R) optical image stabilization reduces blur from camcorder shake. Take command and get creative with manual control for focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance. View your shooting on the 2.7-inch wide Clear Photo LCD Plus display, featuring touch panel SwivelScreen(TM) technology. Shoot and view exceptional video, with stunning detail and clarity (1080 lines of resolution, HD Mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution, SD Mode). The CMOS Sensor requires less power for longer battery performance. The HDR-SR7 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on the built-in 60GB Hard Drive. Optics/Lens - 35mm Equivalent, 40-400mm (16 - 9 Camera Mode), 49-490mm (4 - 3 Camera Mode), 40-400mm (16 - 9 Memory Mode) & 37-370mm (4 - 3 Memory Mode) Shutter Speed - Auto, 1/2 - 1/500 (Scene Selection Mode) Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens Type Wide (16 - 9) 123K Pixels Viewfinder PictBridge Inputs and Outputs - Remote Jack Stereo Mini, Analog Audio/Video Output, USB Ports 2.0, Digital Audio/Video Inputs & Outputs, HDMI, Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output and Headphone & Microphone Input Dimensions - 3 x 3 1/4 x 5 7/8 inch (75 x 81 x 149mm) Weight - 1 pounds 6 ounces (610 grams) with supplied battery
Great Camera! 
2008-02-08
It's easy to use and wonderfully clear. It did take me some time to figure out how to make it record in normal mode, not hi-def, but once that was done it worked great. Also, I couldn't figure out how to convert the hi-def files into something that could be watched on the computer - like flash or something, but I am new to the world of video editing so that might just be a user problem. The camera is awesome.
Excellent Camcorder 2008-01-28
The Sony HDR-SR7 is a great high-def, consumer camcorder. The ease of use and simple features make it very straight-forward. Having used it for a few weeks, I've only found a few drawbacks. First, it seems unnecessary that Sony used a mini-HDMI connection port. It looks like there was probably enough space to put a standard-sized HDMI port, and thereby would have avoided the need for a special cable (mini-HDMI to HDMI). Second, the camcorder is very light and small, which is nice in one respect, but also requires a steadier hand to operate. Despite the optical image stablization, it is very easy to "wave around" the camera and induce lots of motion to the picture. Third, to the best of my knowledge, there is no compatibility between the Camcorders file format and Mac computers, so editing is limited to a PC.
Nonetheless, if High-Def is what you're looking for, you can't go wrong with this one.
Great amazon.com customer service! 2008-01-25
This is the first camcorder that I've ever bought. I was looking at hard-drive models (vs minidv or dvd) and there were considerable options from Sony, Panasonic, JVC, and Canon. The 60 gb hard-drive, ability to do Hi-Def, take still photos, and sony reputation were what eventually drove my decision to get the SR7. I used the camcorder on my 3-wk vacation in December and it worked flawlessly.
However, when I got back, I started getting these error messages that said that the database image file was corrupted. Maybe because the hard-drive was full? When I tried to move the data I had captured on my vacation, I was only able to grab 50% of the video, but luckily all of the photos. After 2 weeks I gave up on the file transfer and tried to reformat the hard-drive. It then gave me another error message that said that was not possible. I spent four hours with Sony tech support to diagnose the problem. In the end, they couldn't help me and suggested that the camcorder might be defective.
I promptly requested an RMA from amazon and I got a replacement within a week. I decided to give Sony one more chance, even though I lost half of my video from my vacation.
So far the camcorder is working ok. I suggest transferring the contents of the hard drive periodically, so that it doesn't get full and easily corruptable. It doesn't bode well for long trips. The still images are not as good as a regular digital camera. But the video quality is good. This is my first camcorder, so I have no frame of reference on the video quality.
So far the replacement is functioning ok.
Sony SR7 2008-01-21
Just finished a trip to Barbados and the surrounding islands. The camera did very, very well. The quality of the stills is excellent. With the hard drive, it is very convenient for shooting clips over many days. I've had many Sony video cameras, but for me this is the best.
