Sony HDR-UX20 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby Alfredo PadillaPublished on Jan 10, 2008 3:35 PM 
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The HDR-UX20 is Sony’s top of the line DVD camcorder this year. Capturing in the AVCHD format at an improved 1920 x 1080 resolution, the UX20 is outfitted with both an 8GB of internal flash memory and a MemoryStick PRO Duo card slot, both of which can store HD video. The Sony HDR-UX20 is also significantly slimmed down and weighs less than last year’s Sony HDR-UX7.
Unfortunately there are also several drawbacks. You’ll find that if you want to take advantage of that high resolution capture you’ll quickly be filling up that built in memory and any MemoryStick cards you have because you can’t record to DVD at that quality. Sony has also decided to remove the Cam Control, meaning any manual adjustments will need to be done via the LCD touch screen. Unfortunately, the LCD has been reduced in size to 2.7-inches, which makes it more difficult to use the on screen menu system and increases the impact of smudges.
The Sony HDR-UX20 also sports many of the other enhancements that Sony has added to its lineup this year. Link to Zoom allows you to pick up sound from one direction ignoring noise in other directions. Face detection is a new feature that in conjunction with the new face index in the playback menu seems like it will be very helpful. Whether the upgrades are worth the loss of the Cam Control, smaller LCD display and annoyance of not being able to record at highest quality to DVD is a decision you’ll have to make.
The Front
Like many DVD camcorders the Sony HDR-UX20 is tall. The Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens sits at the top of the front, with a flash sitting to the left when looking at it from the front. It sports a filter diameter of 30mm and focal range of 3.1 - 46.5 mm. The aperture range is f/1.8 - f/2.6. Below the lens is the infrared emitter for the Super NightShot mode and below that a covered Mini HDMI port. Unlike last year's Sony HDR-UX7, the Sony HDR-SR12 (Review, Specs, ) lacks a Cam Control on the front of the device, or anywhere else for that matter. Looking at the Sony HDR-UX20 from the front you will also notice that the camcorder has slimmed down a bit compared to last year's models.
The Right Side
The right side of the Sony HDR-UX20 is where you find the DVD loading bay and the strap for holding the camcorder. We've always liked the more secure grip you get with DVD camcorders, as the drive bay provides a very comfortable handle to hold onto with good height that is lacking in other formats. Tightening the strap, our fingers sit comfortably over the controls and the camcorder doesn't flop around very much. Also on the right side you see LED indicators for the camera mode near the back.
The Back
On the back you’ll find the typical set of camcorder controls, battery back and viewfinder. The controls sit on the upper right with a rotating dial to turn the Sony HDR-SR12 on or off. Beneath this is Sony's new Quick On switch, a feature we've seen from other manufacturers for some time. This button puts the Sony HDR-SR12 into a low power hibernation mode and allows you to start it back up again faster than you would be able to if you turned it off completely.
To the right of the Quick On button you see that the mode indicator LEDs wrap around to the back so you can see which mode you're in, although the fact that the labels are not visible from the back means that their function will be lost to new users. Below the Quick On button is the start/stop button for recording. To the left of the on/off dial is the viewfinder, a feature nearing extinction in consumer camcorders that we really like to see. The viewfinder telescopes out but does not pivot. Below the viewfinder is the battery pack and below that the DC IN and A/V ports with a plastic cover.
The Left Side
On the left you find the LCD panel and a handful of well-placed buttons. Above the LCD cavity are three buttons. On the right is the play button to put the Sony HDR-SR12 into playback mode. In the center is the Easy button for activating Sony's renowned Easy Mode and on the left is the Backlight Compensation button, which is much better placed than on the Sony HDR-SR12, strangely located on the front of the camera.
Opening the panel reveals the 2.7-inch LCD touch screen with a 211,000 pixel resolution. This display is significantly smaller than the 3.5-inch display found on last year's Sony HDR-UX7. This is a poor move, and we wish that it at least had the 3.2-inch display found on this year’s Sony HDR-SR12. To the left of the display are four buttons, a pair of zoom controls, a Home button above, and a second start/stop button below. Inside the LCD cavity you will find several additional buttons and ports. First up is a slot for Sony's proprietary MemoryStick Duo/PRO Duo cards. Below that are a Mini USB port and a switch to turn the NightShot feature on/off. To the left of that switch is a button to display battery info, amongst other information.
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The left side of the Sony HDR-UX20 |
And the LCD cavity on the left |
The Top
On the top the Sony HDR-UX20 has a switch on the right and near the front to open the DVD loading bay. Towards the back on the right are the zoom toggle and still capture button. To the left is Sony's proprietary accessory shoe. Somewhat unconventionally the shoe is revealed by extending the viewfinder rather than having a completely separate cover. We do have to say that this is better than some of Canon's accessory shoe covers that detach – completely untethered – and are easily lost. Towards the front of the barrel on the top is the 5.1 channel surround sound mic.
