VG10 Samples and Conclusion

Video and Sound Quality
While DCR does not have a test lab in Wyoming, I was able to view my footage back at the hotel room, and I was impressed. I'll reserve final judgment for when I can blow it all up on a large-screen HDTV, but I think the video will certainly rival the output of the NEX-5. So I expect a video with the detail and depth of an SLR image.

However, the 14 megapixel JPGs stills haven't been compressed at all. So check those out, too.

As for audio, the Quad Capsule Spatial Array Microphone may just be the first on-board camcorder mic I like. The mic is designed for with what Sony calls exceptional "front-side directivity and stereo separation." This means the microphone is more sensitive to noise coming from the front than it is to noise coming from the back. And after reviewing the footage and listening carefully to the guns and fighting Native Americans, I can't say anything bad about the sound quality ... yet. Once again, I'll need more time to properly test it out before making declarative statements.

Preliminary Conclusion
Shooting with the VG10 is a new experience for me. The form factor was slightly off-putting, but after an hour or so spent familiarizing myself with the controls and experimenting with different shooting methods, I grew accustomed to its unique design and shot some fun video.

Of course, my positive impressions of the VG10 could be influenced by the absolutely gorgeous Wyoming countryside, which makes for an ideal subject. Check back soon for the full DCR Sony VG10 full review to find out for sure.

Sample Video
Like Sony's Handycams, the VG10 shoots in AVCHD and spits out m2ts files, which aren't ideal for Web use. They are too large to stream and must be compressed, which significantly lowers the quality. So please keep that in mind as you view the VG10 sample footage.

Sample Images