Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony Handycam HDR-TG7VE High Definition Flash Memory Camcorder with 16GB Internal Memory

Having several camcorders ranging from SD MiniDV through DVD to SD card based my search for a true 1080 HD device led me in an unexpected direction once I'd seen the HDR-TG7VE. Although there are a number of 1080 HD camcorders available now, I ruled out HDD based camcorders as well as any any disc based immediately due to their fragile nature (especially with children). Additionally the inclusion of GPS has gone from novelty to necessity as my video and photo library grows and AVCHD is the preferred codec base. Whilst Sony was not at the top of my list originally due to the use of memory stick, the feature set of the HDR-TG7VE kept it in the running and ultimately I found myself purchasing one along with a 16GB Pro Duo HX memory stick.

After two weeks of heavy use on holiday there's no doubt that this is absolutely a brilliant piece of equipment with nothing significant in the way of faults. Switching it to Full HD mode with GPS and the Zoom Microphone function enabled we have been awed by the quality of not just the video, but also the sound and the brilliant "smile" detection. The colour reproduction and detail in the video, even in low light conditions, is simply extraordinary and watching photos and videos on an HD screen is like watching it again in real life.

The sound as well is amazing: Filming from the opposite end of the swimming pool I zoomed in on one of the kids as they threw their goggles in to dive and retrieve them - you don't hear the people between us however you hear the clear, precise sound of the goggles hitting the water and the splash of my daughter following them thereafter. Very impressive.

The photos it takes in photo mode are more than passable but better still are the photos it takes automatically when someone smiles whilst videoing; you find that not only do you have fantastic video at the end of the day but also a collection of brilliant photographs to go with them.

Whilst not a fan of Sony's software, they have improved dramatially and their PMB application is actually a reasonably well done package, transferring video from the device over, picking faces and scenes out so that you can hone in on specific clips, and allowing you to easily transcode it to different formats, record to DVD, BluRay, etc.

The diminutive size of this device coupled with it's rapid on/off and brilliant built-in screen have seen it used by everyone in the family including the children, who find the thumb operated start/stop Wide/Telephoto controls not only intuitive but simple to use.

This is simply a briliant piece of equipment that you can carry everywhere, get great videos and photos, as well as know WHERE you took them (the GPS is incredibly accurate and pinpointed our location even in small side-streets). I'd recommend you set it to full HQ HD, which will reduce your overall video time from 6 to just under 2 hours, however this matches the battery life fully and the quality beggars belief.

This is the best consumer camcorder I have used to date and the quality rivals that of much more expensive prosumer models. You will not be sorry if you pick it up and you'll love the memories you capture with it (especially since you can carry it non-intrusively).

Having just come back from Florida where this camera came in very handy i can only heap praise on the product.

It functioned admirably and as most of the videoing was outdoor the GPS locked onto a signal very quickly. It is very quick to start from just opening the side viewfinder and records within a split second so you can catch the moment unfolding.

The other family in the group after the 3rd day didn't bother taking their video camera as it was bulky (even though it was a palm grip type) but the TG7 is easy to slip in the pocket when not in use.

I'd recommend the leather and metal case (says its for TG3 but still fits).

The digital camera side is adequate for A5 pics but maybe too grainy for anything bigger and the flash being around the lens itself sometimes isnt powerful enough in comparison to dedicated compact cameras.

This video camera is MAC compatible and the GPS info is used by iPhoto 09 to geotag pictures.

Well worth the expense.

My 2 previous camcorders were a Super VHS and Hi 8 and having spent countless hours transferring 20 plus years of video tape at a snails pace, I decided to go digital. I wanted a camera that didn't weigh a ton, didn't need it's own suitcase and took high quality images that last. To that end I haven't been disappointed. As luck would have it, my first real use of the camera was in Denmark at a friend's wedding, so the GPS was a source of endless amusement to the Danes. In good light the images are terrific, better than anything I've ever videoed. Unfortunately in the evening the indoor shots were very grainy, so I'm looking at Litepanels Micro Kit to light interiors. Goodness knows whether I can afford this or where I will put it on the camera if I buy it. The camera has a "smile" facility that is transfixing - every time someone even starts a smirk, let alone a smile, the camera captures the moment without asking. I was going to turn this off as the pictures are not very high quality, but the poses it captures are excellent. Transferring the images onto a computer was very easy and very fast, although the software then wanted to analyise every little thing for ages, but at least I can sort the images by smiles, dates, people, views and yes, countries. Reviewing the footage on the computer I was dissapointed that when I panned around, the images became jerky and I'm not too sure how to correct that. I've certainly dusted down my tripod to see if that makes a difference, although that kind of defeats the object of having a tiny camera somewhat. The case I bought at the same time is great and essential and I also bought an extra memory card and spare battery, neither of which I have had to use yet, but you never know.
Overall it's great and a worthwhile investment if you can afford it. It's not perfect, but then again, nothing is.

This is the best video camera ever! It is simple to use, has a superb camera function for stills, and the video quality is perfect.

I was after the most compact camera possible for a trip to Florida, so I kept it in my pocket for all our visits to theme parks. The result is videos and photos of everywhere we went. Perfect!

You do notice the HD quality too, so I think its worth the extra for that function. The built in memory is massive, and you can transfer everything to your PC or memory card or disc to suit you.

Well, having read the reviews here, I was quite excited before receiving this camcorder. I bought my last camcorder almost 10 years ago and although it was cutting edge then, I had expected some real steps forward with this new Sony. I was surprised to be slightly disappointed.

Sure the GPS function is a great feature with auto time adjustment, so no more recording with out-of-date time stamps. The auto smile capture is real joy and effortlessly takes perfectly timed, happy pictures. The 16Gb internal memory is fantastic; no more managing of DV tapes. But quite honnestly...I think the improvements stop there.

Now for the disappointing things. The Operating system style and dynamics have hardly evolved at all. The touchscreen lacks sensitivity and with the slightly sluggish response from the OS, is actually quite frustrating. To page through all the options takes forever scrolling down the page - no Apple iTouch screen scroling here. The camera seems to toggle from filming mode to non-filming mode at the strangest of times. This wouldn't be a problem, but everytime it toggles the lens cap clutters open or closed in a quite disconcerting way.

All of this I guess is not too important since the camera remains quite fit for purpose and does film really very well (although the quality has not improved that much over 10 years).

Where I am less forgiving is the PC and PS3 integration. All I can say is "rubbish". Come on Sony it is possible to do better than this. There is no native USB connection - Sony provide some flimsy adaptor for this. You can't just connect the PC to the camera and pull the pictures off. Similarly you can't just plug it into a PS3 to store the films there. You have to jump through hoops using some rubbish software that comes on a DVD - nonsense. Also daft, is that you have to open the screen flap to switch on the camera when connected to the PC or PS3. Surely this could have been done passively in some way.

So on the whole, this is a good device. I don't know if it is better or not relative to the competition but it is certainly nothing like as refined as I had imagined given how many real quality electronic devices there are on the market these days. Sony seem a little stuck in the past.