Sony HDR-XR520 review

Sony HDR-XR520


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Sony’s HDRXR520V (HDD) Handycam® Camcorder featuring 1920 X 1080
Full HD Recording, 12MP Still Image Recording and large 240GB Internal
Memory.


HDR-XR520V 240GB High Definition Handycam® Camcorder - Shoot like a pro
and record your memories directly to a massive 240GB hard disk drive with
the HDR-XR520V Handycam® camcorder. This impressive camcorder is capable
of recording up to 96 hours of high definition (HD) video in HD LP mode.
Equipped with an advanced 1/2.88" Exmor R CMOS sensor, you can capture
stunning 1920x1080 HD video and 12.1 megapixel still images. Additionally,
a built-in GPS receiver helps you keep track of your current location and
even remembers where you shot your videos while the professional-quality
Sony G Lens delivers superior optical performance.


“Exmor R” CMOS Sensor and BIONZ Imaging Processor - The new “Exmor
R” CMOS Sensor is twice as sensitive as conventional CMOS sensors thanks
to back-illuminated technology that places metal wiring beneath the photo
diode instead of above it. Since light is used more efficiently, you can
enjoy smoother movement in action sequences and higher image quality in
dark conditions such as night scenes.


Two modes for dark scenes - Two modes are provided for shooting in
extremely dark conditions. You can choose the LOW LUX mode when shooting in
dim lighting such as candlelight (minimum subject luminance: 3 lux). Or use
NightShot in complete darkness, such as to capture wild animals without
scaring them away.


Exceptional speed and image quality - The new “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor is
twice as sensitive as conventional CMOS sensors thanks to back-illuminated
technology that places metal wiring beneath the photo diode instead of
above it. Since light is used more efficiently, you can enjoy smoother
movement in action sequences and higher image quality in dark conditions
such as night scenes.


Rapid signal transmission enabled by BIONZ - The BIONZ Imaging Processor
works together with the “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor to provide high
performance through high-speed signal transmission of massive pixel data.
This high-speed processing enables a number of handy features like the Dual
Rec function for capturing 12.0 megapixel still images while shooting video
footage up to the maximum capacity of the recording media, the Smooth Slow
Rec function for slow motion that highlights details of actions from golf
swings to football goals, and Face Detection technology for speedy and
precise tracking of up to 8 subjects’ faces while shooting movies.
The technology also improves Auto Focus, Auto Colour Control, and new Auto
Backlight Correction that compensates for backlighting when shooting
landscapes as well as portraits.


All the beauty of genuine High Definition - Preserve every moment at 1920 x
1080i Full HD video resolution with 6 times the detail of SD (Standard
Definition) video. A single glance is all you need to see the remarkable
difference achieved by Sony’s new "Exmor R " CMOS Sensor.
You can also shoot still images at a vibrant 12.0 megapixels to make every
detail come to life.


Optical SteadyShot - Optical SteadyShot (Active Mode) employs a 10x wider
camera shake correction angle than conventional image stabilisers to reduce
camera shake even in footage taken while walking. Now you can shoot
smoother movie footage while chasing children or strolling around
sightseeing.


x.v.Color - "x.v.Color" conforms to xvYCC, an international
standard for colour space in video endorsed by the IEC (International
Electrotechnical Commission). The xvYCC standard expresses a colour range
1.8x wider than the conventional sRGB colour space. When played back on an
x.v.Color-compliant TV, various colours like brilliant hues of flowers and
the turquoise blue of the sea can be more faithfully reproduced.
x.v.Color-supported Handycam® camcorders deliver high-resolution HD
performance as well as rich colour reproduction.


What’s AVCHD? - AVCHD is a high-definition (HD) video standard that
uses highly efficient MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video compression technology. This
technology provides a high data compression ratio that is approximately
twice the amount of conventional MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 compression while
enabling HD video content recording. AVCHD also handles the video stream
and offers a variety of HD video recording and playback options on various
media like memory cards, HDD and DVD. When the audio stream is managed by
Dolby Digital, a 5.1 spatialised recording can be created. AVCHD now
features High Profile encoding that compresses the image based on
visibility characteristics, as well as complexity, for even greater
efficiency.


Hours and hours of memories on HDD - The large-capacity 240GB HDD stores up
to an amazing 101 hours of HD video in the AVC HD 5M (LP) 1440 x 1080i
high-definition mode or up to around 29 hours and 40 minutes in the AVC HD
16M (FH) 1920 x 1080i Full HD mode. You can also record video footage and
still images to Memory Stick media when desired via Hybrid function. In
addition, conventional MPEG2-PS is supported, allowing SD video recording.
Thanks to the nature of non-linear media, you don’t have to worry about
over-writing recorded footage: new data is automatically written in blank,
unrecorded space. Moreover, you can immediately watch or erase newly
recorded footage without rewinding. Just press the desired thumbnail on the
touch panel LCD.


HYBRID = HDD + Memory Stick media - Sony’s Hybrid design gives you extra
flexibility. You can record video footage and still images on the HDD,
Memory Stick, or both media to effectively extend recording time. And you
can transfer recorded files from the HDD to Memory Stick with ease.


Easy "dubbing" within your Handycam® - Recorded images and
movies on the HDD can easily be copied to Memory Stick media. Using various
"dubbing" functions, you can copy specific scenes, all recorded
footage registered in the playlist, or footage shot on certain dates. Now
it’s easier than ever to share image and video highlights with your
family and friends.


HDMI - To enjoy your HD video footage on a large screen, simply connect the
HDR-XR520 with your HD television via HDMI cable.


BRAVIA Sync - The Handycam® playback screen is automatically displayed
when you use an HDMI cable to connect your Handycam® with a BRAVIA HD TV
that is compatible with BRAVIA Sync. You can also command your Handycam®
with the BRAVIA’s remote controller. Such easy operation makes
watching your recorded footage on a large-screen TV even more enjoyable.


PLAYSTATION®3 - You can play your HD video footage on a PLAYSTATION®3 via
USB connection or Memory Stick media and control playback, including
skipping, with the PLAYSTATION®3 remote controller.


Archiving Video - Archiving your original HD or SD footage is extremely
easy. You can use the One Touch Disc Burn button on the HDR-XR520 to
quickly burn discs on a connected PC or linked DVDirect DVD recorder. With
a single press, it only burns new footage shot since the last disc was
burned. Or you can archive your footage with Easy PC Backup, which lets you
transfer content from the HDR-XR520 to the HDD of a connected PC. Only
files recorded since your last backup are transferred. You can later export
footage back to the HDR-XR520 by using the Write-back (AVCHD) function of
supplied Picture Motion Browser software. Discs burned for your archives in
the AVCHD format can be played in HD quality on PLAYSTATION®3 as well as
Blu-ray players and recorders.


Map your memories with built-in GPS capabilities - Built-in GPS
capabilities and pre-installed data-rich maps let you record where movies
and still images were taken. Simply slide the GPS switch to “ON” to
record position information with your movies and still images. The current
time is also recorded at the GPS-corrected time for the local time zone. In
addition, you can view your current position on a pre-installed map: a
handy feature when traveling. The Map Index function further enhances your
pleasure by displaying markers on the map to show where your movies and
still images were shot. So you can search for desired content on the map
and play it back by simply touching a thumbnail on the screen. Recorded
movies and photos can also be imported to a PC installed with bundled PMB
software and displayed along with location and time information in Map
View. Simply clicking on Map View thumbnails plays the movies.


Smile Shutter technology - While shooting your original movie footage,
Smile Shutter automatically detects and takes a still image of your subject
if he or she smiles. Face Detection also optimizes focus, exposure, skin
colour, and flash settings* to ensure subjects always look their best.
It’s a great way to record snapshots of smiling friends and family
members. Save the best smiles with Smile Shutter both in videos and photos
up to the full capacity of the recording media. There’s no need to change
settings, so it’s easy for anyone to use.


Smile Detection Setting - By default, Smile Shutter operates in the Dual
Capture setting and automatically takes photographs if a smile is detected
while video footage is being recorded. Users can also select the Always ON
setting that automatically takes photos of smiling subjects whenever the
camcorder is in Recording mode - even if in Still Image Recording mode.


Smile Sensitivity Setting - You can easily set the Smile Shutter to only
capture smiles of a certain level if desired. Simply select the High
sensitivity setting to shoot even the faintest smiles, the default Medium
setting to capture normal everyday smiles, or the Low sensitivity setting
to photograph huge grins.


Smile Priority Setting - In the default Auto mode, Smile Shutter detects
and photographs subjects of all ages when they smile. But you can
prioritise smiling children by selecting the Child Priority setting or
smiling adults by activating the Adult Priority setting. Then leave the
rest to advanced Face Detection technology.


Face Detection Technology - This is the camcorder with Face Detection
technology for movie recording. Sony synergizes this technology with BIONZ
to deliver highly precise, high-speed auto focusing with detection for up
to 8 subjects’ faces and precise focusing of the main subject. This
synergism ensures quick camera tracking of subjects even when their faces
are moving and significantly improves the performance of various features.
For example, it enhances colour control adjustment of skin and other facial
features. When shooting movies, it prevents under/over-exposure of your
subjects’ faces. And when shooting still images, it optimizes the
flash settings to prevent loss of detail in face highlights and shadows.


Portrait Adjustment - When shooting portraits, Face Detection and BIONZ
work with three automatic features - Auto Focus, Auto Exposure, and Auto
Colour Control - to optimize reproduction of your subjects’ faces. The
extra-pleasing outcome is more sharply focused faces, better skin colour,
and appropriate exposure of faces even in challenging lighting conditions
or when shooting still images with the flash. By detecting subject faces,
and allocating more data capacity to them, this video compression
technology greatly enhances facial image quality.


Compression Rate - By detecting subject faces, and allocating more data
capacity to them, this video compression technology greatly enhances facial
image quality.


New Auto Backlight Correction optimizes portraits and landscapes. - New
Auto Backlight Correction automatically recognizes backlit situations ?
when shooting portraits as well as landscapes - and corrects exposure to
provide clear optimized results. When shooting portraits, the exposure is
controlled by Auto Exposure Control (based on Face Detection technology).
The D-Range Optimizer prevents underexposure of subjects and overexposure
of skies to reproduce scenes more naturally, as seen by the naked eye.


Quick Start Up - Power can be turned on or off simply by opening or closing
the LCD panel. Since opening the LCD panel turns the power on almost
immediately, users can shoot without delay. Moreover, users are less likely
to forget turning the power off. This helps to prevent accidental shooting
and wasted battery power.


Ergonomic, easy-to-use GUI - Like the top page of a Web site, the Home Menu
is the starting point for all operations. To record or play footage, change
settings or edit scenes, first press the Home Menu icon on the top left of
the touch panel or the Home Menu hardware button on the left side of the
LCD. Then select the desired category from the Home Menu. The Option Menu
provides quick access to the settings you need. Whether you’re shooting
or playing footage, just press the Option Menu icon on the touch panel to
display available settings for the current mode of operation. Then adjust
settings as desired. A Help Function is also provided for when you need
help understanding a function displayed on the Home Menu. Just press the
“?” button and then press the listed function itself to display an
easy-to-understand explanation. There is even a TV Connect Guide function
that helps make connection between the HDR-XR520 and your TV completely
trouble-free.


Quick and easy navigation to desired scenes - Helpful search functions
accelerate and simplify navigation. Film Roll Index, Face Index functions,
Visual Index and Date Index make every search fast, easy and enjoyable.


Dolby Digital 5.1ch Surround Sound with built-in zoom microphone - Whenever
you’re shooting footage, you can record audio through the built-in
zoom microphone as Dolby Digital 5.1ch Surround Sound that raises the sense
of realism when you play back your HD footage on connected 5.1ch-compatible
systems. The zoom microphone can widen or narrow its pickup angle in
accordance with the image zoom setting to focus on nearby or faraway
sounds. When zooming in on birds perched in a distant tree, for example,
the microphone automatically zooms in to capture their song. If you record
the footage on AVCHD format discs, you can also enjoy 5.1ch surround sound
on AVCHD compatible Blu-ray players and recorders as well as
PLAYSTATION®3.


Capture key moments in slow motion with Smooth Slow Rec! - Action sequences
of 3 seconds become 12 seconds of slow motion playback with smooth,
high-quality results. Just activate this feature and shoot any 3-second
action sequence, such as a golf swing or football kick. Then play back the
sequence and enjoy 12 seconds of stunning slow motion video. It’s fun to
watch and perfect for close analysis of sports moves. This remarkable
feature was made possible by the exceptional combination of Sony’s
high-quality “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor and BIONZ Imaging Processor.


Easy Handycam - Press the Easy Handycam button to enable carefree
point-and-shoot operation with all settings automatically adjusted to match
the shooting situation. This function is especially convenient for
beginners who want operation to be as simple as possible.


Scene Selection modes - Scene Selection modes let you easily create
beautiful images in almost any type of setting. Whether capturing a sunset
with friends in the foreground and illuminated skyscrapers in the
background, natural beauty at beach resorts, fireworks bursting at night,
or festive white landscapes of snow, the results are as spectacular as the
scene you shoot. The Portrait mode, for example, can produce sharp images
of people or flowers on soft backgrounds.


Manual shooting function - The manual dial allows manual adjustment of
Focus (default), Exposure, AE shift and WB shift. Just press the Manual
button to allow manual adjustment of these pre-set functions. You can also
use menu settings to assign favourite camera settings to the dial.


High-resolution 12.0 megapixel still images - In addition to capturing
moving images, Handycam® can capture high-quality still images whenever
you like. These images are shot at a resolution of up to a stunning 12.0
megapixels (4000 x 3000 pixels), which is ample for producing large,
high-quality prints.


8.3 megapixel Dual Rec function - This remarkable function lets you shoot
fine-quality 8.3 megapixel still images while capturing moving images at
the same time, thanks to high-speed BIONZ image processing. Simply press
the Photo button while shooting in the movie mode. There is no limit beyond
storage capacity as to how many still images you can shoot.


2.1 Megapixel frame extraction - right in the camcorder - After shooting
video footage, you can easily extract frames and save them as still images
using nothing but the camcorder. Simply enter the Playback Mode, search
your footage for the desired frame, and extract it as a 2.1 megapixel still
image of outstanding quality.


3.0 Megapixel frame extraction - on your PC - After shooting video footage,
you can easily extract frames and save them as still images using nothing
but the camcorder. Simply enter the Playback Mode, search your footage for
the desired frame, and extract it as a 2.1 megapixel still image of
outstanding quality.


PhotoTV HD - Now you can enjoy breathtaking image quality when displaying
still images on any BRAVIA that is compatible with PhotoTV HD. The new
PhotoTV HD picture mode optimizes the display of still images captured with
the HDR-XR520 to deliver higher resolution, finer gradations and richer
colour. Whether human skin, flowers, sandy beaches or breaking waves, the
beautiful photo-like quality is sure to delight you and your audience.


System Requirements for Picture Motion Browser - The combination of Optical
SteadyShot™ image stabilization and High ISO sensitivity helps compensate
for shaky hands, minimizes blur and allows flash-free shooting to preserve
the mood. Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization uses a built-in gyro
sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help
prevent blur without sacrificing image quality. High ISO allows for faster
shutter speed, so you can take pictures indoors or in low light without the
need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can
select up to eight ISO settings (Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200)
when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to your shooting
conditions.


Stamina® Battery Power - You never know when one of life’s special
moments will come around. Be sure your camcorder is always ready to capture
the action with Sony batteries. The compact NP-FH70 rechargeable battery
pack features InfoLITHIUM & ActiFORCE technologies which ensure maximum
power, minimum charging time and excellent battery performance. It’s
the perfect battery for newer, ultra-compact camcorders.


ACCHDH6 Accessory Kit - Keep your compatible camcorder plus accessories
safe and secure with this convenient accessory case. Included in this handy
ACCHDH6 accessory kit is a soft carrying case (LCSVA30) to keep your
compatible Handycam® camcorder safe from bumps and scratches. Also
included in this kit is a spare InfoLITHIUM battery (NPFH60) for longer
shooting times and a 1.5-foot mini HDMI cable (VMC15MHD) for fast,
convenient connection to your HDTV.


ECMHW2 Wireless Microphone - Features Capture sound right from the source
with this handy wireless microphone. Through the integrated Bluetooth®
Interactive Communication technology, the ECMHW2 microphone offers 1-way or
2-way communication. This allows you to shoot video while talking to a
friend up to 100 meters from the camcorder. The microphone and receiver
units are equipped with earphone jacks that correspond to "5.1ch
Center Mic" mode for high-quality recording even at a distance.
Supplied attachments allows the subject to easily carry the wireless
microphone with them while they are in action.

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