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"Not Perfect, but important differentiating features"
4.0 starson by AetherLPros: - Image Stabilization capability is best in class
- Wide(r) angle lens (28mm equivalent) then competitors
- SDHC cards now accepted
- Best in class low-light performance
- 24 MB/sec recording rate now standard for 1080i filmingCons: - No wind filter, which is frustrating for outdoor use
- Does not include 24p Processing
- Panasonic 700 Camcorder includes Time Lapse Recording, which is neat but not present on the Sony. And yes, the Panasonic TM700 includes a Wind Filter as well.Summary: No offense to the CNET reviewer, but the quality of this review is very poor and even inaccurate. CNET's camcorder reviews are now significantly lacking, and I strongly recommend potential buyers read such websites as SlashCam or CamcorderInfo (CCI) for more detailed reviews, and empirical test results. CCI (as is CNET) is incorrect in their low light performance measures, as the test performed was flawed (see User Comments for F-Stop errors), but SlashCam has an accurate review related to Low Light Performance, and the Sony's single chip actually outperforms the 3 chips of even the Panasonic TM-700. Sample images are provided to prove the performance statements, which are given here.
Now to the camcorder: The low-light performance and better image stabilization as well as wide angle lens combination sealed the deal for me after a lengthy research period over this camcorder's main competitor, the Panasonic HDC-TM700. The Panasonic includes 1080p60p recording, and a 3 chip sensor which offers better colour accuracy and sharpness (marginal, and likely indiscernible to 99% of viewers). But the Panasonic's 1080p video will seriously slow down all but the fastest of computers for editing, and the Panasonic version is getting reports of fan noise from the camcorder creeping into the audio mic on the cam when the scene being filmed is quiet.
The Sony cam is not perfect, and I would like to see them add in some of the features now being offered by their competitors, but the image stabilization and low light recording (2 very important performance aspects of a cam) make this the cam to beat in 2010, from my perspective.
- 4 replies to this review
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OK, another follow up on my earlier review - the Adobe 1080i encode was flawless, and gave me a big sigh of relief. Adobe's down-conversion to 720p was the culprit, not the camcorder. The 1080i signal (blue-ray) jumps off my monitor as if I was on the West Coast Trail all over. The image is perfectly crisp and panning is like silk. Now the only issue that remains is that busted auto-lense-cover...
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Alright, here is my update after a few months use. My rating has decreased overall due to a couple of issues - 1) Bluemantis' predictive insight on the automatic lense cover came true on the middle of the West Coast Trail in British Columbia, Canada. The bottom half of the auto-cover froze in the "open" position, and I struggled to keep sand out of the lense. 2) I used to own the HDR-SR12 camcorder before upgrading to this one. And the SR12 from Sony - I could pan quicker without the image blurring on me. But the cx550v seems to require a lot slower of a pan in order to keep a crisp image. This is very disappointing. I am using Adobe CS4 Premiere Pro for editing...and my first video with this obvious blur problem was encoded at 720p from a recording of clips at 1080i. Thus, im trying as I type this to encode at 1080i to see if the image is more stable. But even with the SR-12, I didnt have this issue. If the 1080i video shows the same, I am going to have to try to return the cam.
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I'd love to get an update from you on this review as I'm actively researching a prosumer model appropriate for business level videography. If you have any new thoughts, come back and share them.
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Thanks for a review which frankly is more professional than the one offered by CNET.
I have to start by saying up front that I have decades of loyalty to Nikon and Sony camera equipment. You invest in a company you believe in and invests in its customers, and chances are you aren't going to jump ship to (for instance) Canon just because they have one more feature than the camera you want that fits your legacy of lenses. That being said, I found this Sony to be everything you said above.
My biggest drawback is the automatic lens cover. Its apparent fragile nature makes me want immediately to put a clear lens cover on the camera as I would with any of my Nikkor lenses.
I like flash memory over hard drive - even if more expensive. I don't care much about the lack of compatibility with Apple software.
And as a person with a familial tremor, I give 5 stars to the image stabilization software. I just filmed an entire piano class recital while standing. The result won't make you seasick.
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