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Compare most popular Digital-Camcorders to Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V

Product Name Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V

Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V

 Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V

Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V

 Canon Vixia HF S11

Canon Vixia HF S11

 Canon Vixia HF200

Canon Vixia HF200

 Panasonic HDC-TM300 (Black)

Panasonic HDC-TM300 (Black)
Release Date 03/01/2009 03/01/2009 04/01/2009
Price Range Check latest prices » $994-$1550 Check latest prices » $888-$1220 Check latest prices » $1399-$1400 Check latest prices » $549-$890 Check latest prices » $1063-$1300
Review Summary 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. 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. An excellent flash-based prosumer HD camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF S11 has the advantage of an excellent image stabilizer but it disappointingly lacks an eye-level viewfinder. 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. A very good prosumer HD camcorder, the Panasonic HDC-TM300 nevertheless has an annoying touch-screen interface.
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Basic Specs

Product Type Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080p Camcorder - 1080p Camcorder - 1080i
Digital Zoom 150 x 150 x 200 x 300 x 700 x
Optical Sensor Size 1/2.88" 1/2.88" 1/2.6" 1/4" 1/4.1"
Optical Sensor Type Exmor R CMOS Exmor R CMOS CMOS CMOS CMOS
Min Illumination 3 lux 3 lux 0.3 lux 0.4 lux 1 lux
Digital Video Format AVCHD, MPEG-2 AVCHD, MPEG-2 AVCHD, H.264, MPEG-4 AVCHD, MPEG-4 AVCHD, H.264
Image Stabilizer Optical (Steady Shot) Optical (Steady Shot) Optical (Dynamic SuperRange) Optical (SuperRange) Optical (Advanced O.I.S.)
Digital Scene Transition Black fader, White fader Black fader, White fader Art fader, Wipe fader, Black & white fader
Min Shutter Speed 1/8 sec 1/8 sec 1/2 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/800 sec 1/800 sec 1/2000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/8000 sec
Shooting Modes Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode
Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Portrait mode, Twilight mode Snow, Beach, Candle, Sunset, Sunrise, Fireworks, Landscape, Spotlight, Portrait mode, Twilight mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Low light, Spotlight, Night scene, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Scenery, Fireworks, Low light, Spotlight, Night scene, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Night portrait
Exposure Modes Program, Automatic Program, Automatic Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
Camera Flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash
Widescreen Video Capture Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Progressive scan Yes
Analog Video Format NTSC NTSC NTSC
Special Effects Vivid, Neutral, Skin Detail, Low Sharpening
White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic
White Balance Presets Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Cloudy, Indoor, Outdoor, Sunlight
Exposure Metering Spot, Evaluative, Center-weighted
Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
Effective Sensor Resolution 2.99 megapixels
Total Pixels 3.89 megapixels 9.15 megapixels
Features AF illuminator Flash +/- compensation
Enclosure Color Black
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