The eagerly-anticipated follow-up to the HDR-SR7, the SR11 has a number of interesting new features, including a higher bit-rate (now up to 16 Mbit/s), Full HD video at 1920 x 1080 pixels, a longer zoom and a new scroll wheel.

Handling

All told, the external design represents a modest evolution of the previous model: it's a few millimeters shorter, but a lot heavier.

The interface is controlled via a large 3.2'' touch screen with 920 000 pixels, with an undeniably good display quality.

Unfortunately, the menus that it shows are a little confusing, and if you're not used to Sony's system, it can take a little while to work out where even the most basic features are hidden.  Once you've got the hang of it, thought, controlling the camcorder is easy enough.

The electronic viewfinder is mobile, so you can get a good look, and is still in the 16:9 aspect ratio.  It makes a welcome change from the main LCD screen in bright conditions.

However, because all of the settings are programmed using the LCD touch screen on the side of the camera, shooting with the viewfinder involves a lot of unnecessary toing and froing.

Unlike the SR7, which relied on a computer docking station, there are plenty of connectivity options, including a USB port mounted directly on the camera itself.  There are also jacks for a microphone and headphones, a HDMI port for playing your video back directly to a TV and a component video out.

More experience users will appreciate the presence of the Cam Control scroll wheel, which gives fine control over some manual settings, including focus and white balance.

The zoom too is very precise, and moves gracefully in and out, but we were disappointed by the power of the otherwise good autofocus in low light.

Although the SR11 can shoot in Full HD, Sony hasn't removed the option to record in Standard Definition, leaving the door open for those who want to save a little space on the hard drive, or, optionally, on the Memory Stick Duo Pro that you can use to expand the amount of storage space available.


Video Quality

In general, the video quality offered by the SR11 is excellent, although still not quite as good as that offered by Canon's HF11.

The SR11E, with a bit-rate of 16 Mbit/s, still represents a step forward from the SR7, especially when it comes to the amount of detail.   Colors too are more accurate, with less saturation giving softer, more lifelike images.  The use of a face detection mode means that skin tones in particular are well handled.

Meanwhile, electronic noise has been reduced, with chromatic aberration now almost entirely absent.  There is a little blurriness in low light, though, and details soon disappear.

The automatic white balancing tends a little towards colder shades while inside.

Overall, the quality of still shots is acceptable.