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Compare most popular Digital-Camcorders to Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

Product Name Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

Sony Handycam HDR-SR11

Sony Handycam HDR-SR11

Canon Vixia HF200

Canon Vixia HF200

Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V

Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V

Sony Handycam HDR-CX12

Sony Handycam HDR-CX12

Release Date 04/01/2009 03/01/2009 08/01/2008
Price Range Check latest prices » $1395-$1669 Check latest prices » $1290-$1442 Check latest prices » $549-$750 Check latest prices » $985-$1200 Check latest prices » $1400
Review Summary Sony's Handycam HDR-SR11 and SR12 60GB hard-drive-based AVCHD camcorders deliver top notch performance and image quality. Sony's Handycam HDR-SR11 and SR12 60GB hard-drive-based AVCHD camcorders deliver top notch performance and image quality. While it's more expensive than its sub-$600 competitors, the Canon Vixia HF20 and Vixia HF200 deliver a more extensive feature set for the extra money. The HF200, which lacks internal memory, is probably a better buy than the HF20, though the HF20's all-black body is a bit classier looking. Though their geotagging capabilities are mostly novelty and their interfaces could use a complete overhaul, the top-notch video quality, performance, and consumer-friendly feature sets of the Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V and HDR-XR520V make them worthy camcorder options. Both are overpriced, but since 14 hours of recording time is plenty--especially if supplemented with flash media--the HDR-XR500V is the better deal of the two. As the flash-memory-based equivalent of the HDR-SR11, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX12 serves up the same pleasing performance and quality as its hard-drive cousin.
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Basic Specs

Product Type Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080p Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080i
Digital Zoom 150 x 150 x 300 x 150 x 150 x
Optical Sensor Size 1/3.1" 1/3.1" 1/4" 1/2.88" 1/3"
Optical Sensor Type ClearVid CMOS ClearVid CMOS CMOS Exmor R CMOS ClearVid CMOS
Min Illumination 5 lux 0 lux 0.4 lux 3 lux 0 lux
Digital Video Format AVCHD, MPEG-2 AVCHD, MPEG-2 AVCHD, MPEG-4 AVCHD, MPEG-2 AVCHD, MPEG-2
Special Effects Sepia, Pastel, Monotone, Old Movie Sepia, Pastel, Monotone, Old Movie Sepia, Pastel, Monotone
Image Stabilizer Optical (Super Steady Shot) Optical (Super Steady Shot) Optical (SuperRange) Optical (Steady Shot) Optical (Super Steady Shot)
Digital Scene Transition Black fader, White fader Black fader, White fader Black fader, White fader Black fader, White fader
Min Shutter Speed 1/2 sec 1/2 sec 1/8 sec 1/30 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/960 sec 1/800 sec 1/2000 sec 1/800 sec 1/250 sec
Shooting Modes Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode
Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Candle, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Portrait mode, Twilight mode, Twilight portrait Snow, Beach, Candle, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Portrait mode, Twilight mode, Twilight portrait Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Candle, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Portrait mode, Twilight mode Beach, Candle, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Portrait mode, Sports lesson
White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Presets, Automatic
White Balance Presets Indoor, Outdoor Indoor, Outdoor Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Indoor, Outdoor
Exposure Modes Program, Automatic Program, Automatic Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Program, Automatic Program, Automatic
Exposure Metering Spot, Matrix Spot, Matrix Spot
Camera Flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash
Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction Auto mode
Widescreen Video Capture Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Effective Sensor Resolution 2.99 megapixels
Total Pixels 3.89 megapixels 5.6 megapixels
Analog Video Format NTSC
Features AF illuminator
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