We at Castle Drywall in Winston Salem found it easy to learn. In minutes they spotted how to use the focus ring, exposure controls, zoom speed, etc. It also captures color like no other color.

None so far.

Well built and durable. Can take extended batteries for extra recording time. dallas masonry contractors

Whiles it was possible to get two hours from a T-40 tape in SLP mode, the practical limit was more like 20 minutes.

The microphone, the external microphone jack, the lens, the barn-door lens hood (I am always losing my lens cap) A few time I had to hand over the camera for an assistant in training to use. They found it easy to learn. In minutes they spotted how to use the focus ring, exposure controls, zoom speed, etc. It also captures color like no other color. I have owned this camera for 2 1/2 years, and used it in the noirish corners of Athens, Greece, the bright zangy neon light of Beverly Hills, the rich greens of summertime Long Island, and the colors are so lifelike.

Sony seems to have a problem with it's firewire port. I used another Sony video camera and it's firewire port was already shot. Mine went while loading video into a computer. I know it's probably the one corner of the camera that gets the most physical wear, and I think Sony needs to strengthen this aspect of their otherwise wonderful cameras.

The Sony FX7 HDV Camera is a one of it's kind unit. The clarity of the lens is incredible. For a far distance landscape shot, I was getting mountain side homes a mile away in sharp detail, with talent in the foreground in sharp clarity. It truly put my videographer talents to the acid test when I had to photograph a female model indoors, and make sure the make-up and lighting would bring out her face, because this camera was picking up every detail. It's playback unit is beautiful, with a sharp, large LCD screen. More pluses are it's built in microphone, and the still camera card.

Customer Service

While shooting in Athens, Greece, some water droplets got on the camera and it totally shut down. You can imagine our panic being so far from home! Well, I called Sony, and the customer service man recommended keeping the camera tape-door open for a few hours, to help dry out the camera. Well, it was near working in a few hours, but still un-usable. When I got back to New York, I went to an authorized Sony dealer and he took the camera in. He held onto the camera for a week, and returned it to me, and it was back to 100% wirking condition. He explained he knew how camera have a safety-shut-off when it gets wet. He said the camera goes into a sleep mode while it totally dries. He returned the camera, and didn't charge me a dime for camera repairs.

Similar Products Used:

Canon GL1, Canon GL2,