Customer Reviews for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
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Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Model: HDR-XR500V
SKU: 9178418
UPC: 027242763067
This high-definition camcorder features x.v. Color technology for brilliant images, BIONZ image processing for data noise reduction and data compression and dual recording capabilities for capturing 8.3MP still images while shooting high-definition video.
Average Customer Rating:
4.6
out of 5
(24 Reviews) 24
Rating Snapshot 24 reviews
5 stars
20
4 stars
1
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
1
88% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
21 out of
24)
Customer Reviews for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Review 1 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Love it
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
Got this about 9 months ago. Works great! I didn't use it for a month and open it up and it was still ready to record. great battery life and all around great camera. Little exspensive, but not planning on buying and another camera or video camera for a very long time.
What's great about it: everthing
What's not so great: price
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
This AVCHD Camera is Fantastic!
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I recently purchased this camera as an open-box/clearance item at Best Buy. After purchasing this camera for roughly 1/2 price, i knew that I couldn't go wrong. The camera is very intuitive, especially in Easy mode. I also like the smile recognition and the abitlity to snap photos. I compared this unit to the new CX550v with its ability to snap photos while recording and the 64GB flash storage, however, for the price, I couldn't go wrong with this one. Way to go Sony and way to make it a best buy, (Best Buy), no pun intended.
What's great about it: Price, Photo Capture, Large LCD, Viewfinder, 120GB hard drive
What's not so great: Nothing yet!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
great product in a tough market; this is the one
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
Great camcorder, thanks Best Buy. I researched them all, as my wife gives me 1 shot every 5 years to upgrade my equipment. It came down to the panny 300 (soon to be replaced by the panny 700) or this sony hdc-xr500v (soon to be replaced by the 550) due to HD and optical viewfinder (a must for filming outdoors) on each. My decision was made after seeing this in the store, then I waited unitl it went on sale (<$900) before purchasing. Look for deals w/newer models hitting the stores.
Excellent steady-shot features. Low-light conditions are superb. Also, use the quick presets to shoot different lighting conditions [quick slide switch for mid- (indoor) and low- (night-shot) lux!]. Memorize the not-so-great menus and on-screen soft-touch buttons for quickly accessing options. Use landscape setting for shooting though backstop screens at baseball games (focuses on field, not netting). Also, the 3 sec super slow-mo (240 frames per second for 3 secs!) recording is incredible for filming golf swings or other action, just note it ties your camcorder up for up to 30 secs while buffering (saving) the information to the hard drive. Be prepared, you will miss the next pitch!!!
I did not install the factory software. Instead, I connect the camcorder via usb, then open the file folder on the camcorder and move the files directly to my computer, filed by year, month, and event. I reformat the hard drive after moving a lot of files to clean it up.
I am able to edit the HD .mts files with Roxio 2010 with no issues. You can crop the widescreen ratio to 4:3 in Roxio if needed (no need for camcorder to have this setting - the future is widescreen HD!).
I also recommend the Sony 60AV tripod (not the 50AV!) ($60). What a dream set-up, with action controls on the tripod handle (zoom, on/off). Also, use the zoom mic setting for school programs/plays to eliminate surrounding noises. I use a Rode powered zoom mic ($130) for exceptional quality 5.1 recording. Buy a 37mm clear uv lens (<$10) to protect the front of the camcorder (always leave it on for protection unless using different filters). Hope this helps.
What's great about it: price (got lucky); small; heavy; HD; 120GB hard drive
What's not so great: nothing yet
I would recommend this to a friend!
+22points
22out of 22found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
camcorder!
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
5.0
I bought this camcorder month ago. I haven't used it too much yet,but i like this camcorder.
What's great about it: 12x optical/150x digital zoom and Night Recording
What's not so great: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
-3points
2out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Don't buy sony HD Camcorder
Customer Rating
3.0
Value for Price
2.0
Picture Quality
3.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Features
3.0
For the price the camera is not worth it, you can not take movies within ten feet unless you buy an additional lens (wide angle), the placement of the zoom button is hard to get to while taking movies, the flash for still picture is to close to the lens so when you take a picture with it the picture is to bright. After seeing what other lower cost HD video camera can do, I would not recommend this camera. Also do not buy the cheaper camera light that works off the camera battery, it drains the battery very fast and its not very bright.
What's great about it: Internal harddrive and camera size.
What's not so great: Taking movies within 10 feet and placement of zoom button
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-6points
5out of 16found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Ughhhhhhh
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: chris89
from vegas
on 11/20/2009
Value for Price
2.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Features
2.0
I swore never to buy sony again after my last DVD cam screen stopped working but here i am again.
What sucks;
Can only film i wide screen format.
Must use SONY PICTURE UTILITY to import video. IT IS SLOW AND ANNOYING AND GENERALLY SUCKS. THEN THE VIDEO MUST BE CONVERTED TO ENABLE TO USE ANY PROGRAM OTHER THAN SONY.
AGAIN THIS IS SLOW AND ANNOYING AND I FEEL UNNECESSARY BUT FOR SOME REASON SONY CAN NOT RESIST DOING IT THIS WAY. MOST LIKELY I WILL THROW THIS CAMERA INTO THE TRASH JUST FOR THIS REASON.
Only Adobe sucks more when it comes forcing library features down the throats of the consumers.
I can only assume this is because we would never use their software unless forced to.
If you still feel you must buy this camera, email me and i will sell you this Piece of **** for half price
What sucks;
Can only film i wide screen format.
Must use SONY PICTURE UTILITY to import video. IT IS SLOW AND ANNOYING AND GENERALLY SUCKS. THEN THE VIDEO MUST BE CONVERTED TO ENABLE TO USE ANY PROGRAM OTHER THAN SONY.
AGAIN THIS IS SLOW AND ANNOYING AND I FEEL UNNECESSARY BUT FOR SOME REASON SONY CAN NOT RESIST DOING IT THIS WAY. MOST LIKELY I WILL THROW THIS CAMERA INTO THE TRASH JUST FOR THIS REASON.
Only Adobe sucks more when it comes forcing library features down the throats of the consumers.
I can only assume this is because we would never use their software unless forced to.
If you still feel you must buy this camera, email me and i will sell you this Piece of **** for half price
What's great about it: nice picture quality
What's not so great: the menu feature, sony dependent sofware
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-12points
4out of 20found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
BEST CAMERA EVER
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I purchased the camers for a trip to Disney with wife, children, and grandchildren. I recordered everything in high quality HD. When we got home we could not believe the quality of the picture and sound. It even shot great in low light conditions. I shot the fireworks and they came out great. I took movies of the night parade and they are great. I could not believe the differance between this and a regulad camcorder. THe only thing is you need a blue ray burner to record the movies. A regular dvd only hold 30 minuites of HD high quality. It took 10 DVD's to put it on disk. I have since upgraded to a blue ray burnner and everything is well. I would highly recommend this camcorder to anyone who has the money.
What's great about it: The movies are the clearest I have ever seen.
What's not so great: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
AMAZING!!!
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I bought this camcorder 24 hours ago. I haven't used it too much yet, but so far it is amazing!! Easy to use, superb picture and video quality. At first we weren't impressed, but then we realized it wasn't in HD mode. Once we put it in HD mode, what a difference. I have a 65 inch tv and it looked fantastic. Haven't yet tried to download movies to pc, but picture download was super easy just like my Sony camera. I am a true fan of Sony. They are quality. You may pay a little more, but the end result is worth every penny.
What's great about it: Everything
What's not so great: Pricey
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Good Choice
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
OriginallyI bought a Sony DCR-SR47 with the 60gig HD. I recorded some indoor video and tried to record a Middle school football game and the quality stunk. So not being happy and only wanting the best I went and returned that and bought this beauty instead.
So far I have only done a couple indoor videos and can already tell it is awesome quality, Completely out ranks the Standard Def Sony that I returned. One feature I truly like and think is cool is the "Smile detector" for photos I turned this on and upped the sensitivity to max and pointed it at myself. I could sit there with a frown or no expression at all and it would do nothing. But as soon as I smiled or laughed it would snap a photo. So that feature would be good for a BDay party and pointing it at the child as he or she are opening gifts or eating cake and ice cream. Might work for those with a newborn trying to capture that first smile too. Not sure how it detects the smile or who is smiling because it has an Adult and Child setting, doesn't matter...its a great feature. So not only are you getting 120GB of Hi Def video you are also getting 12.1 mp picture quality. Has awesome features but being a novice I leave it on auto and it satisfies. If you have the extra money in your budget I would say this is worth it.
I bought the Sony accessory pack with the extra battery, carrying case and hdmi cable, and also bought a tripod. This was to much of an investment to Not get the Black tie protection. Just wish the price tag on it was cheaper.
What's great about it: Graeat quality pictures and Video.
What's not so great: Price was a tad high but price matched it for 1099.00
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
4out of 5found this review helpful.
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Review 10 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Love It!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Mel4
from Dardanelle, AR
on 07/20/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
4.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
Love the ease of use. Wish it came with the better battery.
What's great about it: easy to use
What's not so great: price
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 11 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Excellent
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: ropa
from Germantown, TN
on 07/17/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
4.0
A tried a Canon HiDef recorder first. It was very confusing to use and the instructions were very poor. The Sony is easy to use, the instructions are straightforward, and the picture quality is excellent. Making HiDef or regular DVD's is easy and quick. I am very pleased with the unit. It is a tad expensive.
What's great about it: Very easy to use. Picture transfer to computer and DVD production are not difficult. Very good quality video and still
What's not so great: The GPS feature is nice, but who needs it? A person filming in the Amazon?
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 12 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Best Camera Ever
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Idir59
from Philadelphia, PA
on 07/15/2009
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
If you were thinking of buying a camera I extremly recommend this one; just wait for it to go on sale like I did( I got it for $1,065 & $100 of the 4 year warranty). Again you get what you pay for an amazing camcorder.
What's great about it: Its Quality is Unmatched
What's not so great: A little expensive UNLESS You Get It On Sale Like Me!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 13 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Amazing HD camera with tons of storage
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: BayAreaRy
from Belmont, CA
on 06/15/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I am so happy with this camera. The picture quality is absolutely amazing. I have been filming a ton (newborn baby at home) and haven't even gotten close to filling up the 120gig harddrive. I'm surprised with the ease of use of the PMB software that is included, I just conenct via USB, and everything imports to my PC with no problems at all. I've burned some DVD's and they look great too. Also this camera works with iMovie which is what my wife uses.
What's great about it: Awesome steady shot, good in low light, GPS
What's not so great: price is a little high for most
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
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Review 14 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Great Camcorder, Very Easy To Use, I Love It!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: blharris77
from TN
on 06/15/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
4.0
This is my first experience with a camcorder as we are expecting our first baby in July and we wanted to have a quality camcorder to use for a long time so we wanted one with the latest and greatest features and functions. I was debating between the Panasonic HDC-HS300, the Canon Vixia SF-10 and the Sony HDR-XR500V. From the reviews I found all three were top contenders, the Panasonic made me nervous using the three smaller chips (I am concerned about low light performance) but the purchase decision for me came down to availability and timing. We needed a camcorder now and no one in town had the Canon or Panasonic and I wanted to touch and feel before I made the purchase, Couple that with the fact that I had a $250 gift card at Best Buy and it was an easy decision, I went with the Sony.
I am very pleased with my purchase, picture quality is second to none, the camera is a good size and comfortable to use, battery life is fairly good and it is super easy to use. My only complaint is that when filming in large crowds the microphone picks up a lot of surrounding noise making it difficult to hear the voices of the people you are shooting. I tried the zoom microphone feature and that made it very difficult to hear them, almost like they were in a tunnel or something. Maybe it is user error but I have not found a way to overcome that yet.
What's great about it: East to use, awesome picture quality, GPS is really cool, Automatic still pics feature is reall neat.
What's not so great: Sound quality from stock mic could be better, Filiming subjects in high light from the shade subjects appear washed out
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 15 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Very pleased!!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: idahomom
from Hailey, ID
on 06/10/2009
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I love my HD video camera. I bought it in late March of this year and I haven't found any problems with it at all. I love taking pictures and having clear memories of my family and friends. The quality of the picture is great and the steadyshot is a great feature, especially if you are walking. I had bought this video camera because I will be having my first child in September and I wanted to keep a video diary of his coming along before and after he is born. My significant other finds this video camera to be great also, especially when he wants me to video him while he is dirtbiking. Overall I would recommend this video camera to anyone who can afford it. It is well worth the price.
What's great about it: great features, picture quality, touch-screen, perfect size
What's not so great: doesn't come with a neck strap
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 16 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
BEST HD CAMERA EVER
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: dcflip
from clark, nj
on 05/19/2009
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I have an A1 as my main camera and the 500V just compliments my Canon very nicely. Light enough to roam around all day. Stabilization is so far advanced, that no camera in its price range can even come close. Videos are sharp enough that if you want to make it sharper, it is so easy to do it on post. Low light capability is so amazing and outstanding. I am tired of seeing grains on my video, that is why I sold my SD9. This camera is highly recommended.
What's great about it: Low light, Optical Stabilizer, Instant on, user friendly menu, great videos and stills
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 17 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Sony vs Canon... I chose the Sony
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: TheSabercat
from St. Louis, MO
on 04/30/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I was wanting to jump into the HD camcorder fray and thought that I should go for the latest and greatest as things change so rapidly. I purchased both the Sony HDR-XR500V and the Canon HSF-10. Both are at the top of the heap and price scale. I wanted to compare each as both had great reviews then make a decision. Most of the reviews said that the Canon is geared more to professionals or those people wanting complete control over the settings and shooting environments and that the Sony would be best suited for the average consumer wanting the best available technology. After using both I came to the same conclusion.
I felt though that the Sony was easier and more intuitive to use, more comfortable in my hand and the controls better placed. I like the touch screen on the Sony. The Sony out of the box on auto exposure did much better in low light situations. The Sony had a better zoom and I also thought that the anti-shake technology built into the Sony worked better when zoomed in than the Canon. The battery did better on the Sony with the hard drive than the Canon with flash memory.
When it came to picture quality it was very close but I would give the nod to the Canon with still images and a draw with video images. So if you plan to keep your camera in the auto mode most of the time and you just want to pick it up and shoot awesome high def images I would and did choose the Sony.
I use a Mac computer and purchased the Sony DVD burner as well for making Blu-Ray discs, The process was a breeze. Just hooked the camera up to the burner and pressed the button and walked away. It copied the files in real time. I put the disc in my blu-ray player and it worked without a glitch. I also purchased Toast 10 for the Mac to convert the video files to different formats such as Apple TV. That was a breeze as well... though resolution was lost to downgrade to Apple TV format. Still worked easily but took some time.
In conclusion, the videos you can have today with these cameras is amazing, If you choose the Sony I think you will be very happy.
What's great about it: Easy to use, great video and still picture quality. Now you only need one camera!
What's not so great: Lack of manual controls for those who would use them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 18 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Best camera
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: aqala30
from st.louis,mo
on 04/17/2009
Value for Price
3.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
Best camera I've ever had,crisp pictures and HD videos.I had before sony MiniDV and DSC-W80,but I like this one better.I always buy Sony products and it is the best company on electronics.
What's great about it: Compact and easy to use
What's not so great: No
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
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Review 19 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Great camera, but not as good as the competition.
Customer Rating
4.0
Value for Price
3.0
Picture Quality
4.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
3.0
I've purchased both this camera and the Canon HFS10. They are both top end models and both are targeted at budget film makers and regular consumers with some money to throw around for features they will never use. I use the cameras for budget films.
After spending a decent time comparing both, other than slightly edging out the HFS10 in low light color performance (the Sony had better low light color, the Canon had less grain) this model doesn't hold a candle to the HFS10 in any other categeory. Overall picture on the Canon when viewed on a 1080p monitor is more detailed, more saturated and more filmic.
The Sony model, for a camera in this price range, is quite lacking when it comes to manual controls. It does an acceptable job with its automatic settings but I found them to be very inconsistant in many ways. The autofocus sometimes will sometimes fail to decide what it wants to focus on and other times lag noticebly.
The HDD storage format is on its way out, it tears through your battery and is extremely volatile. Too hard of a shock to the camera and EVERYTHING on the HDD can become corrupted.
Also keep in mind that the 12 mega pixel claim on this camera is misleading. Its effectly around 6 mega pixels but it interpolates the image to create a 12MP picture, but the detail is that of a 6MP picture.
I would not recommend this camera over the HFS10/100 as its neither a better value nor a better camera.
What's great about it: Great low-light color, image quality is up with the best all around. 5.1 audio recording
What's not so great: HDD storage, lousy selection of manual controls, slow auto-focus, touch-screen controls
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+2points
4out of 6found this review helpful.
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Review 20 for Sony 4.15MP Handycam High-Definition Camcorder w/120GB Hard Drive and 3.2" LCD Screen - Black
Great camera! Awsome picture
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: ZIG7
from Colorado
on 04/12/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
5.0
Great camera for the money all though a little pricey, but have not been disappointed yet. If you want crisp clear hd picture and sound, you can't go wrong.
What's great about it: Amazing video quality and sound
What's not so great: Tad pricey, but it is sony, and you usually pay more for the sony name, but for me it was well worth it
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
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