Canon Vixia HV40

The Sony HDR-XR520V is different from the Panasonic HDC-TM300 and Canon HF S100 because it records to an internal hard drive instead of flash memory. The camcorder does have a flash memory option, however, since it includes a Memory Stick PRO Duo card slot in addition to its 240GB internal hard drive. Yes, you read that correctly, the XR520V has a larger hard drive than most laptops. The camcorder is a lot larger than its flash memory competition, but it is actually a bit smaller than the Canon HV40. So, it seems a gigantic hard drive is now more compact than a MiniDV tape deck.

The practicality of a 240GB hard drive on a camcorder is debatable, but one thing’s for sure—you don’t have to worry about buying a tape or memory card for a long time. The Sony HDR-XR520V can store over 29 hours of video, at its highest quality setting, to the 240GB hard drive. If you lower things down to a mid-level quality setting, the number jumps close to 60 hours of video. That is a heck of a lot of video to store on a camcorder, which is why some people may be wary of the XR520V. If you lose the camcorder or damage the hard drive, you could lose hours upon hours of footage. The HV40, with its tape-based media, automatically produces a tangible copy of everything you record onto MiniDV tape. This makes the HV40 better for someone who wants to instantly archive their footage, although the process of getting that video off the tape and onto a computer can be a hassle.

Looking at performance and controls, the HV40 and Sony HDR-XR520V are quite similar. The XR520V does have a better control dial, a larger LCD screen, and a few more gimmicky options like face detection and smile shutter. Both camcorders handle similarly due to their bulky right-side designs. The HV40 feels a bit more comfortable, thanks to some rounded contours and a slightly more ergonomic design.

Even though the 240GB hard drive is an impressive spec, we feel the HDR-XR520V is a bit overpriced for what you get. It is $500 more than the Canon HV40 and its benefits aren’t that much better. Of course, the decision between these two products really comes down to media.