Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V Camcorder Review

Sony HDR-XR520V versus Sanyo VPC-HD2000
• The two are very similar in terms of video sharpness; the Sony wins in noise and the Sanyo wins in color and still performance • The Sanyo has impressively smooth 60p video, plus the option of shooting in 60i or 30p • The Sanyo completely outclasses the Sony in low light performance • The Sanyo has independent aperture, shutter speed, and ISO control, but relies on the joystick and LCD, while the Sony is slightly more limited but gives the user more powerful tools (like a great cam control dial and viewfinder) • The Sanyo may as well not have any stabilization at all, while the Sony has excellent optical image stabilization • Neither is particularly beginner-friendly
	Panasonic HDC-TM300 Comparison	(Page 14 of 17)	Conclusion

The Sony HDR-XR520V and the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 are an unlikely coupling: one the flagship camcorder from a major manufacturer with 240 GB of internal hard drive capacity and the other a strange little dark horse worth half the price of its powerful competitor. In terms of video performance, the Sanyo actually has superior color and just about the same sharpness. The Sony once again wins in noise—as it does compared to just about every camcorder this year. And while the Sony's motion looks very good, it's difficult to compete with the 60p video offered on the Sanyo.

The biggest surprise this year has been the Sanyo's superb low light performance, which is among the best camcorders we've tested so far this year. Low light footage is crisp, clear, and vibrant, especially compared to the Sony's relatively dark image. The Sanyo also offers a 30p mode, which further improves performance, though it's hard to top the already stellar 60p results.

Where the Sony really pulls ahead, however, is in manual controls. The dial and viewfinder are essential tools that the Sanyo lacks. You get lots of flexibility with the Sanyo's independent aperture, shutter speed, and ISO controls, but it's all done with a joystick and LCD. Plus, the Sony has an impressive optical image stabilization, compared to the Sanyo's abysmal digital stabilization. If stabilization is important to you, the Sony might be a better choice. However, if you shoot a lot in low light, the Sanyo is an excellent choice. Plus, the money you save could be used to invest in a monopod for improving stabilization.

	Comparison Specs
	Sony HDR-XR520V	Sanyo VPC-HD2000
Price	$1499.99	Approx. $600 - $700
Primary Recording Media	240GB internal hard drive	SD/SDHC Memory Card
Secondary Recording Media	Memory Stick Pro Duo card	None
Image Sensor	1/2.88-inch CMOS	1/2.5-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	4.15-megapixels (video) 6-megapixels (stills)	5.31-megapixels (video) 8.0-megapixels (stills)
Mic Input	Yes, 3.5mm	Yes, 3.5
LCD	3.2-inch with 921,000-pixel resolution	2.7-inch with 230,000-pixel resolution
Viewfinder	Yes	No
Weight	590g (including battery)	311g (including battery)
Dimensions	71 x 75 x 137	90 x 112.6 x 54.5mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Frame Rates	1080/60i	HD: 1080/60p, 1080/60i, 1080/30p, 720/30p SD: 240fps (448 x 336), 600fps (192 x 108)
Compression	AVCHD	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Maximum Bitrate	16Mbps	24Mbps
Optical Zoom	12x	10x
Stabilization	Optical (with two settings: standard and active)	Digital

Low Light Comparison
Sony HDR-XR520V	Sanyo VPC-HD2000

Stabilization Score Comparisons