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models compared on this page: Sony NEX-VG20 and Sony HDR-HC7

display: 3 models per page sorted by score Best values highlighted
Model

Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
Picture ?
Manufacturer Sony Information on Sony

Sony Information on Sony

Name NEX-VG20HDR-HC7
European name ?NEX-VG20HDR-HC7E
US name ?NEX-VG20HDR-HC7
lowest US price (2199) $1700 $
On the market since November 2011 January 2007
Manufacturers URL  link to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
Video formats ? AVCHD
MiniDV
HDV
Recording Medium SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
SDXC card
MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60p
HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
Max Bitrate ?28 Mbit/s25 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG4
DV
MPEG2
on-board memory ?  
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ?Sony
Carl Zeiss
Optical Zoom ?11 x10 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?32,5 mm41,3 mm
Filter diameter ?67 (kit lens)
mm		37 mm
Image Stabilization ?optically and electronically
optical
ND Filter ?No
No
Exchangable optics ?Yes
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/APS-C (23.4 × 15.6mm)
inch		1/2,9 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?16700000 Pixel 2280000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/8.0001/auto
Maximum shutter time ?1/4auto
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
AE-Shift
Infrared recording ?No
Yes
Expanded Focus ?Yes
Yes
Peaking ?Yes
Yes
Signal Processing
Zebra ?70%
100%		 Off
70%
100%
Histogram ?Yes
Yes
adjustable sharpness ?No
Yes
Adjustable color ?No
Yes
Cinegamma ?Yes
No
Black Strech ?No
No
Knee ?No
No
Colorbars ?No
Yes
Misc.
Shot Transition ?No
No
Custom Presets ?No
No
Set Time Code ?No
No
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		No
No
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		  Out
HDMI ? Out
Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		- In
Out
USB ?USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Microphone / Audio input ?Mini-jack
Mini-jack
Cinch
Headphones ?Mini-jack
Mini-jack
Lanc ?No
Yes
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ?1 x 1 x Standard Hotshoe
 AI
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 1300 g550 g
Weight (with battery)   
Battery type Sony NP-FV70
Sony NP-FH60
Battery capacity  1000 mAh
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control No
Yes
Size
Height 91 mm82 mm
Width 130 mm82 mm
Depth 223 mm138 mm
Relative Size ?269
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?Yes
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?Color
Color
Viewfinder format ?16:916:9
Viewfinder pixels ?1152000 Pixel 123200 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 3,0 Inch2,7 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?921600 Pixel 211200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?Yes
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ? Ring
Rocker
Manual Focus ? Ring
Menu
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Manual Aperture ?bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Focus switcher ?Yes
Yes
ND Filter ?No
No
Exp Lock ?No
No
Gain ?No
No
White balance ?No
No
Push AF ?No
No
Audio Levels ?No
No
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		1 
Audio

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
Audio Formats ?AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
Microphone ?Mini-jack external
5.1 Internal
Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
No
Still

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
Recording Medium ?Memory Stick Duo
SDHC card
Memory Stick Duo
Medium included ?No
No
Effective pixels ? 1991000 Pixel
Resolutions ?4912 x 32642848x2136
2848x1602
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?No
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
Specials  &"Smooth Slow Record" slow motion mode: 3 seconds are recorded with 200 half frames/sec., resulting in a 4-fold slow motion.However, the recording is without sound and in poorer image quality.
Product Shots

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
View 1  
View 2  
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
luminance resolution
chrominance resolution
lens distortion
test small ISO image
noise / internal microphone
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?
Test image 12 lux optimized ?
 
slashCAM rating
Lowlight ?Very goodSatisfactory
Resolution ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Color performance ?GoodSatisfactory
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodGood
Optical Zoom ?SufficientSufficient
Wide Angle ?Very goodSufficient
Configuration / image ?Very goodSatisfactory
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Handling ?GoodSatisfactory
Portability ?GoodVery good
Photo function ?Very goodSatisfactory
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		396310
Pros + APS-C chip with interchangeable lens
+ complete manual control over iris, shutter, gain, white balance
+ good picture impression
Cons - Image characteristics can not be changed
- no motorized zoom
- Scaling artifacts
- low color resolution
- color moirees
Conclusion A large imaging sensor and manual control when filming, coupled with the handling of a classic camcorder.This combination is offered by no other manufacturer in this price range.But due to the fixed image characteristics a flat film look can not be achieved.Since the image quality is comparable only to medium-level HDSLR, the device offers few advantages over the DSLR-competitors besides the familiar form factor.A zoom rocker or an ND filter would be a nice addition.Furthermore Sony needs to realise that to a large extent it is the manual control settings that make companies like Red, Canon or Panasonic successful in the large-format sensor world.The Sony HDR-HC7 shines with very good brightness resolution, but tends to show quite visible color moires on very fine details.The color resolution is only on SD-level, which makes for a rather soft image impression.The noise behavior has been improved compared to its predecessor - along with the few smear-effects this provides very good image dynamics.In terms of color the HC7 is neutral.The wide angle is very limited for indoor shots, lens errors keep whithin limits though.In low-light situations the HC7 produces somewhat colorless and dark images.The touch screen brings no points in the configuration score.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-HC7
slashCAM Review
NEX-VG20 Review
HDR-HC7 Review
external reviews/tests   
Forum posts  SonyHDR-HC7E: HD / HDV to PC
FCE exporting on Sony HDR-HC7E
HDR-HC7E: Picture wobbles horizontally when it's warm
sony HDR-HC7 and HDR-HC9
HDR-HC7E what do?
Problems with SonyHDR-HC7E
Hife differed SonyHDR-HC7E and HDR-HC9E
Canon HV20 or Sony HDR-HC7E - HDMI -in/out?
HV 20 No !!!!! HC7 ?????
SonyHDR-HC7E tapes
SonyHDR-HC7E, although I only wish to DV?
SonyHDR HC7 - Disturbing noises drive
how does it HC7 so - your opinions are in demand


Please consider that these data have been entered into this database by human beings.Also, the technical information provided by the manufacturers are at times contradictory, incomplete and sometimes even incorrect.Although we take great care checking all information, we can not gurantee for its correctness.Should you find this data to have some omission or error, please let us know! Mail:



update am 23.Mai 2012 - 15:50
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