Sony Handycam DCR-SR47 (red)
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: DCR-SR47/R
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If storage amount, zoom range, and easy operation are on your list of needs before video quality, check out the Sony Handycam DCR-SR47.
Read more
Where to buy
- Show only authorized dealers (7)
- Show all online stores (11)
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Over 1,000 Sony products. Direct from Sony Authorized store |  | In stock Y | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
 Savings, Selection & Service since 1971 Authorized store | | In stock Free Shipping! | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 PREMIER SOURCE of cutting edge electronics since 1973. Authorized store | | In stock FREE Fast Shipping! Top Rated Auth. Sony Dealer w/Warra | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Authorized store | | In stock Try Free Amazon Prime for one Month | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Dell Home and Home Office Authorized store | | In stock Free Shipping! | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Authorized store | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Authorized store | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Sony Handycam DCR-SR47 (red) price range: $295.95 - $519.95
- Reviewed by: Joshua Goldman
- Reviewed on: 05/28/2009
- Released on: 02/01/2009
The good: Simple operation; 60x zoom lens; 60GB hard drive; small.
The bad: Soft video; noticeable purple fringing on subjects.
The bottom line: If storage amount, zoom range, and easy operation are on your list of needs before video quality, check out the Sony Handycam DCR-SR47.
The Handycam DCR-SR47 is Sony's entry-level hard-drive-based standard-definition camcorder. The main attractions are its small size, large storage capacity, and megazoom lens. It's also fairly easy to use partly because of the touch-screen-based menu navigation and partly because of its dearth of shooting options. However, as with most camcorders in its class, the video results are mediocre--especially if you're watching them full screen on a large HDTV or are used to the detail of high-definition content.
If you're not terribly concerned with video quality and want a reasonably priced camcorder that's easy to use, has a megazoom lens, and can fit in a large coat pocket, this Sony is worth checking out.
| Key specs | Sony Handycam DCR-SR47 |
| Price (MSRP) | $399.99 |
| Dimensions | 2.4x2.8x4.5 inches |
| Weight (with battery and media) | 11 ounces |
| Storage capacity, type | 60GB; Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Resolution, sensor size, type | 680K pixels, 1/8-inch CCD |
| LCD size, resolution | 2.7-inch LCD, 123K pixels (touch screen) |
| Lens (zoom, aperture, focal length) | 60x, f1.8-6.0, 39-2,340mm (16:9), 44-2,640mm (4:3) (35mm equivalent) |
| Minimum illumination | 6 lux |
| File format (video, audio) | MPEG-2, Dolby Digital 2-channel stereo |
| Resolution (video/photo) | 720x480/640x480 |
| Recording time at highest quality | 15 hours, 10 minutes |
| Image stabilization type | Mechanical and electronic |
| Inputs/Outputs | None/Mini-USB, AV terminal |
| Battery type, rated life | Li ion rechargeable, 90 minutes |
Available in blue, black, or red versions, the SR47 is a cute little camcorder. Its physical controls are textbook camcorder design with a start/stop button at the back and zoom rocker up top in front of a shutter release for snapshots in Photo mode. The whole package is roughly the size of soda can. The hand strap is comfortable if a little low and because hard drives have become so small and light, there's barely a bump encasing it making the body mostly lens.
The battery juts from the back; below it is the Memory Stick Pro Duo card slot and power input. Up front below the lens is a small door hiding an AV output. Flip open the touch-screen display (there is no viewfinder), and you'll find a row of buttons in the body cavity for power; turning off and on display information; direct-to-DVD recording using Sony's $149 VRD-P1 DVDirect DVD burner; an Easy button that locks down the camcorder's few advanced features; and changing over to Playback mode. There's also a button that instantly adjusts exposure for backlit subjects. The last of the I/O ports are in this cavity, too: an uncovered Mini-USB port.
The touch-screen menu system is good for those who don't make a lot of changes. In other words, it's responsive, but can get a little confusing for those unfamiliar with Sony's Menu and Home buttons. Pressing Menu gives you access to context-sensitive shooting options, and Home gets you access to everything else. The main problem with this is remembering what functions rest where. (Fortunately, Sony put the menu tree in print in the manual that comes with the SR47.) With little practice, though, the system makes sense and even full operation--not just point and record--becomes simple.
| Features | Sony Handycam DCR-SR47 |
| White balance | Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, Manual |
| Scene modes | Auto, Twilight, Candle, Sunrise & Sunset, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports, Beach, Snow |
| Focus | Auto, Manual, Spot AF, Tele Macro |
| Color effects | None |
| Lens cover (auto or manual) | Manual |
| Accessory shoe | No |
| Video light/Flash | No/No |
This camcorder was designed for hassle-free recording and as such doesn't have a lot of extra shooting options. A majority of my field testing was done with the SR47 set to Auto for white balance, scene selection, and focus and it performed satisfactorily. There are more scene options if you chose to get specific and the same goes for white balance. Also, should you want to be more hands-on with focus and exposure, you can control both by touching the spot onscreen you'd like the camcorder to draw its information from.
For its low-end status, the SR47 performs reasonably well. It has an instant-on option that gets the camcorder powered up and ready to record very fast simply by opening the LCD (not an uncommon feature, but nice nonetheless). The autofocus is responsive, but when zoomed out it does hunt trying to focus, particularly in low-light conditions. The rated battery life for the included pack is 90 minutes of continuous shooting; expect less if you're frequently turning it on and off and reviewing clips. Extended life batteries are available, one of which Sony claims has a life of up to 11 hours of continuous shooting.
Video quality overall is very soft; the only time a somewhat sharp picture was obtained was in Tele Macro mode. Clips also display quite a bit of noise and digital artifacts until you scale down to YouTube-size dimensions. This includes noticeable purple fringing around subjects. If you still live completely in a low-resolution world, recordings are destined for video-sharing Web sites, or simply want to capture the moment no matter how it looks, the SR47 will suffice. Colors look good and white balance is respectable, too. Though low-light video had its share of noise, the results were actually decent. Lastly, while the camcorder does take still shots, you'll likely get better photos out of a camera phone.
It's true you can get much better video from an HD camcorder that costs $100 to $200 more. However, standard-definition video is less demanding to play and edit on an average desktop or laptop, and SD camcorders are less expensive. With the Sony Handycam DCR-SR47 you're trading off video quality for a lot of storage and a 60x zoom lens. Of course, it's small, lightweight, and easy to use, too. Just don't expect HD when you're paying for SD.
Find out more about how we test camcorders.
User reviews
-
-
basic, 60gigs! 60X zoom!
by yopaulyyo on March 12, 2009
Pros: Slap the battery on the charger. Start recording after messing with it for half an hour. 60X zoom is great for getting up close filling the screen with 3 keys on your keyboard. 60 gig harddrive for tons of video.There's a slot for a memory stick pro
Cons: These aren't cons but had to put something over on this column. Lack of finer controls but that's the beauty of this cam. The oem battery is only 500 ma. Puleeeaassee. A 60 Gb memory and a dinky little 500ma battery? WT.... Already bought a 4000 ma.
Summary: Simple enough for anyone. Good size harddrive. Very cool zoom. Could use a bigger battery from the manufacturer. Come on, Sony! Can you cut us a break with the accessory ...
Summary: Simple enough for anyone. Good size harddrive. Very cool zoom. Could use a bigger battery from the manufacturer. Come on, Sony! Can you cut us a break with the accessory sales? Under 400 bucks!
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
It does what it is supposed to
Pros: Ease of use, touch screen, zoom in mic, 60GB hardrive but still fits in the pocket
Cons: Slower to zoom than FH20, lack of on board editing features
Summary: Okay, I have only had this Camera for a few days, but I think it works fine for what I paid for it. I was almost going to buy a ...
Summary: Okay, I have only had this Camera for a few days, but I think it works fine for what I paid for it. I was almost going to buy a HD camera, then realized that I don't have an HD TV, I don't have a Blue Ray player, I don't have a Blue Ray Burner, and I don't have a super computer that will easily edit the footage. All that said, I decided to buy a less expensive SD camera now and buy HD later when I have the matching equipment.
Picture quality, Yes it is soft, BUT YOU ARE LOOKING AT SD! You should expect SD. I actually made the sales person at Best Buy take all the cameras that I was interested in and plug them into a TV. The JVC and Samsung cameras could not compare, the Canon FH200 had a very slightly sharper picture, but it was also 50 dollars more had no memory and shorter zoom. The mic and sound was better with the Sony as well. I compared them to the HD and whle it was definitely no where near as good, the HD wasn't so Amazing that I was willing to go out and purchase everything I would need to make movies. Also you need to think about what you want to do with the movies. I send them to my Mother and Mother-In-Law and store them for when my kids are older. Neither of the Grandmas has a HDTV or a Blue Ray player. So right there I would have a problem getting videos to them. I've already sent them video with my Sony and they LOVED IT. I used to have DC100. I hardly ever used because it was such a pain to edit and burn more discs. This is great and with a 60 Gig hard drive I never have to worry about cards. I do plan to get an extended life battery though.
So there you go.
1. Picture quality is good for SD
2. Sound is really good, plus the zoom mic is great
3. Included software is not so great hence four stars
4. Touch screen is easy to use and programabe
5. Huge Zoom and Optical stabilization is decent as long as you don't zoom too much
6. The camera is useless, I sometimes wonder why they bother putting the things on there in the first place
7. My wife like the choice of colors
8. Spring for the 60GB Drive over the flash only models
9. Overall the Camera does what it should do and does it well as long as you don't expect HD picture quality on a SD camera.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Excellent Basic Digital Camcorder, Plenty of HDD Space
by ChickenPoPie on March 21, 2009
Pros: Very compact but solid feel. 60GB HDD offers a LOT of space. Touch screen display. Ease of use. Color options aside from just silver or black. USB2.0 interface. 60x optical zoom. Image stabilization. 16:9 and 4:3 format.
Cons: Low res still shots (1M pixel). Battery life not the greatest but you at least have options to upgrade. Manual lens shutter.
Summary: The pros far out weigh the cons, especially for what I was looking for. The 60GB HDD is huge. I have a Canon HG10 with 40GB recording AVCHD and I ...
Summary: The pros far out weigh the cons, especially for what I was looking for. The 60GB HDD is huge. I have a Canon HG10 with 40GB recording AVCHD and I have never come close to filling that up. So this provides more than enough space. I got this as a gift and didnt need to get HD as they would most likely have a hard time converting or even making use of the AVCHD format at this point. Since this shoots in 16:9 format, this works great for them. The battery life for HDD camcorders isnt the greatest but you at least have the option to buy a higher capacity battery. I almost got a flash based camcorder but the battery life isnt much better (at least the stock one). So for a little more money, I got a lot more storage space as the Sony memory sticks are quite expensive to even get up to 16GB. The touch screen felt kinda flimsy but it worked all right. I think they might try to improve here and make a better, more solid feeling screen in the future. Screen kinda felt plasticy. Ease of use was great. You don't have to be a techie to figure out all the standard features nor do you have to sift through layers of menus to do what you want. Start up time was pretty good relative to others I looked at, such as the JVC and Panasonic. Only Canon seemed comparable. The image stabilization worked fine as this technology is quite mature and standard these days. Definitely would recommend this one if you're looking for standard, non-HD recordings. For most family shoots and quick clips, this works great. Was exactly what I was looking for. I took off only a half-star due to the price as it was about $100 more than other vendors ... but that's just the way Sony has always been. Plus its a new model.
Another thing I wanted to mention when comaring the flash based cams against the HDD - the flash-based were really slim which doesnt fit my hand very well and will most likely not fit most mens' hands. So controlling zoom and other toggles on the top of the cam was awkward. The SR47 (as well as other HDD cams) seemed like a more comfortable fit.
Updated on Mar 21, 20093 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
May not work w/ Mac
by KKMerced on August 2, 2009
Pros: Just got this, easy to use, like the LCD touch screen
Cons: records in MPEG-2, not compatible with older (before 2008) Macs. I can't view mpgs on my Macbook Pro or import clips into iMovie. I think iMovie 08 and 09 can import MPEG-2 but I don't have that software, so am stuck putting them on my husbands PC.
-
Terrible Picture
by Camman124 on June 14, 2009
Pros: lots of zoom
cheapCons: Very soft picture,no details.
Summary: I saw one in a store and I was disappointed in the image quality. I agree with editor the picture is way too soft. The only thing I liked about ...
Summary: I saw one in a store and I was disappointed in the image quality. I agree with editor the picture is way too soft. The only thing I liked about the camcorder was that it had heaps of zoom and body's colours. This was not enough to convince me to buy one. My friend has a blue one and I saw its ability-Poor
0 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: DCR-SR47/R
- Description: Record those special occasions with the DCR-SR47/R Handycam camcorder. A built-in hard disk drive offers extended, hassle-free recording and a professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens delivers sharp, high resolution images. For close-ups, you will appreciate a powerful 60x optical zoom. Hybrid technology even allows you to record video to the hard drive or optional Memory Stick Duo media.
General
- Product Type Camcorder
- Enclosure Color Red
- Digital Zoom 2000 x
- Optical Sensor Size 1/8"
- Optical Sensor Type Advanced HAD CCD
- Min Illumination 6 lux
- Analog Video Format NTSC
- Digital Video Format MPEG-2
- Digital Scene Transition Black fader, White fader
- Min Shutter Speed 1/4 sec
- Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec
- Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Candle, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Twilight mode
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Indoor, Outdoor
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
Main Features
- Camcorder Effective Still Resolution 0.34 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Face Detection Yes
- Still Image Format JPEG
- TV Tuner None
Memory / Storage
- Digital Storage Media Hard disk drive - Built-in - 60 GB
- Media Type Hard disk drive
- Recording Speed HQ, LP, SP
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0
- Focal Length 1.8 mm - 108 mm
- Lens Aperture F/1.8-6.0
- Optical Zoom 60 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Min focal length 1.8 mm
- Lens Manufacturer Carl Zeiss
- Max focal length 108 mm
- Features Built-in lens shield
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- Digital Still Camera Function Yes
- Additional Features Face detection, Touch-screen control, USB 2.0 compatibility, Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording
- Software Drivers & Utilities, Sony Picture Motion Browser
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.7 in - Color
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Features Zoom
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x USB, 1 x S-Video output
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x Memory Stick PRO Duo
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x A/V cable, 1 x USB cable
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Sony NP-FH30
- Supported Battery 1 x Sony NP-FH30 Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts - 1 year, Limited warranty - Labor - 90 days
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Form Factor Rotating
- Display Format 123,000 pixels
Physical Characteristics
- Width 2.4 in
- Depth 4.4 in
- Height 2.7 in
- Weight 10.6 oz
Product series
-
Sony Handycam DCR-SR47 (silver)
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 60 x, Flash card, Hard disk drive, 10.6 oz
-
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 60 x, Hard disk drive, 10.6 oz
-
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 60 x, Hard disk drive, 10.6 oz
Manufacturer info
- Sony
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.sonystyle.com
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
%20-%20Compare%20prices,%20reviews,%20user%20opinions%20-%20Shopper.com&srcUrl=http://shopper.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/sony-handycam-dcr-sr47/4014-6500_9-33490863.html){kind=small}