Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V Camcorder Review

by Kaitlyn Chantry
Published on Apr 25, 2009 8:20 AM

 
Intro
Product Tour
Color & Noise Performance Motion & Sharpness Performance
Low Light Performance Compression & Media
Manual Controls Still Features
Handling & Use Playback & Connectivity
Audio & Other Features Canon HF S100 Comparison
Panasonic HDC-TM300 Comparison Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison
Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings


Product Tour Summary
• New 1/2.88-inch back-illuminated Exmor-R CMOS sensor is designed to improve low light sensitivity and decrease noise
• The new six-blade aperture G-lens
• Less elegant overall design; more geared towards practicality that aesthetics
• We just can't get enough of that smooth manual control dial
Introduction (Page 2 of 17) Color & Noise Performance

 

Lens & Imaging System

The Sony HDR-XR520V's f/1.8 12x zoom lens

 

Sony put a lot of effort into revamping the lens and imaging system on this year's flagship lineup. The star of the show is the new 1/2.88-inch back-illuminated Exmor-R CMOS sensor, which Sony is featuring in its top two models, the HDR-XR500 and HDR-XR520. The new sensor design moves the photodiode from beneath the circuitry wires to above; presumably less interference will mean improved and less noise. Sony has also taken its six-blade aperture G-lens from their prosumer line and brought it to the consumer models, including the XR520.

Lens   Sensor
Filter Diameter 37mm   Type CMOS
Focal Range 5.5 - 66mm   Size 1/2.88-inch
Focal Range (35mm equiv.) 52 - 624mm   Pixel Count (Gross) 6.631-megapixels
Aperture f/1.8 - f/3.4   Pixel Count (Effective) 4.15-megapixels (video)
6-megapixels (stills)
Lab Tested Wide Angle* 47°
* How We Test Wide Angle

 

Front

  f/1.8
  12x zoom lens
flash for
still photo use
  The cam dial makes
  manual controls like
  focusing much
  smoother.
 

 

Right

  Combined composite/component AV-out jacks,
  USB, and HDMI are located behind a sliding door.
  Headphone and microphone jacks
  are hidden behind the pop-out
  plastic door.

The handstrap.........

 

Back

The viewfinder is a rare find
 on camcorders these days. It
 extends out and pivots up
 for increased accessibility.

   Video/Still mode button
  indicator lights
  Record on/off
  button
NP-FH80
 rechargeable
battery pack
  DC power port
 

 

Left

Home menu button
Playback mode low light modes playback speaker
secondary zoom controls
GPS mode on/off
 Record
 start/stop		 power button Easy mode button MemoryStick
PRO Duo slot
onscreen display on/off
  DVD back-up button
 

 

Top

photo shutter button
zoom toggle
built-in stereo microphone Sony proprietary-fit accessory shoe
is found under this sliding door.
 

 

Bottom

tripod mount

 

In The Box

composite AV Sony HDR-XR520V DC power
component AV AC power
CD-ROM with editing software manual and
other documentation		 NP-FH60
rechargeable battery pack
remote control
 



<< Intro | Color & Noise Performance >>