Sony HDR-TG3 review

Matthew Sparkes Read more October 7, 2009

£518

Price when reviewed

This Sony is one of the most portable camcorders in our test, matching the HD700’s dimensions on paper and weighing a pocket-friendly 298g. We found it could be carried in a jacket pocket conveniently and inconspicuously, which is a huge advantage over larger cameras such as the Canon HF10. It can be taken everywhere, so you never miss a moment you want to capture.

The camera is also extremely well-built, with a titanium case. This surely adds significantly to the cost, but it does add a reassuring resilient feel to a camera designed to be used on the move. It still contains fragile optics, but it feels as if it could survive rough treatment better than most.

Considering its small dimensions, the camcorder offers impressive features. Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 can be captured, and a 5.1-channel microphone is included to record clear audio to match the video, a feature that only the award-winning Panasonic is able to match.

Unfortunately, though, cramming these features into such a small package pushes the price up to £450, where it comes into direct competition with some of the best cameras in our test. Because of the small 1/5in sensor used, and the compact lens, it struggles to match the quality of camcorders like the HD1000 and HDC-HS9.

There’s also no external microphone or headphone socket, no accessory shoe and no internal storage, all of which can be had on slightly larger models on test here for the same cost. As with most Sony products, the Memory Stick card format is used – another negative point. We would have preferred to see the ability to record to the cheaper SD card format used in the majority of the cameras here, but on the plus side, a 4GB card is included in the box.

Despite this, the HDR-TG3 is not a camera we’re able to recommend. It can’t match similarly priced competitors this month for quality or features, and it’s considerably more expensive than the other pocketable cameras on test. Unfortunately that combination of failings just puts it out of the running.

Specifications
Camcorder HD standard	1080p
Camcorder maximum video resolution	1920 x 1080
Camera megapixel rating	4.0MP
Camcorder recording format	AVCHD
Accessory shoe?	no
Camera optical zoom range	10.0x
Camera optical image stabilisation	no
Electronic image stabilisation?	yes
Screen size	2.7in
Touchscreen	yes
Viewfinder?	no
Built-in flash?	yes
Light?	no
Number of sensors	1
Audio
Internal mic type	5.1
External mic socket?	no
Quoted battery life	100mins
Dimensions
Dimensions width	31
Dimensions depth	63
Dimensions height	119
Dimensions	31 x 63 x 119mm (WDH)
Weight	298g
Storage
Integrated memory	N/A
Camcorder internal storage type	N/A
Memory card support	Memory Stick
Outputs
Composite video output?	yes
Component video output?	yes
Accessories
Remote control?	no
Dock?	yes