Sony launched the HDR-CX500V and HDR-CX520V in July of 2009. They are both flash memory camcorders. The main differentiating point between these two siblings is the internal memory: CX500V has 32GB of internal memory and CX520V offers 64GB of internal memory. When compared to the HDR-CX12, Sony has made some very important and useful changes, or some may say improvements, in the CX500, which include the lens, stabilization, and a full 1080p output.

Like all the other Sony camcorders that have a “V” at the end of their names, the CX500V has a GPS (Global Positioning System). Video clips can be geo-tagged using the Navteq software. This feature comes in handy for easy sorting and mapping of the video clips. It features a ½.8-inch CMOS sensor with a gross pixel count of six megapixels. This sensor uses Sony’s latest “Exmor R” technology. The technology helps capture light more efficiently because of its back-illuminated design. When compared to earlier models, you will notice a remarkable improvement in low light performance.

The other improvement on the HDR-CX500V is its stabilization system. Like other camcorders, it has standard corrections along the X-axis and Y-axis from its Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). There is an addition of Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), which corrects shake for roll. Sony refers to it as Three-Way Shake Cancelling, which renders very smooth results. That does not mean that you can do without a tripod, nevertheless camcorder shake is well taken care of. All the new camcorders offer two user defined stages of correction, Standard and Active. The electronic image stabilization only switches on the Active mode. Nowadays the use of EIS has become limited because it reduces the number of effective pixels. With the CX500V, there is little possibility of this happening because of its 6-megapixel sensor. Even if there is a loss, there still is a lot to be converted to 1920×1080.

With the CX500V, the improvement is not only in the hardware, but also in the software interface. Its menu system has been made simpler and more robust. It is easier to navigate through the menu without feeling lost in the web of menu layout. The camcorder offers the new Highlight Playback function. This function enables the camcorder to analyze the footage and make a highlight reel, automate shot transition and add a background soundtrack.

The other upgrades include face detection. Once you touch a particular face on the LCD screen the camcorder will remember it even when that face leaves the frame and returns back to the frame. This face will be given priority for focus, color correction, exposure, and Sony’s Smile Shutter. Face detection is one of the better functions offered by Sony. The camcorder’s clock adjusts automatically according to the time zone that the camcorder is in. Some of the camcorder’s accessories include an AC adapter, rechargeable batteries, remote, component A/V cable, USB cable, and application software.

The CX500 offers conversion from 1080i, which is the native recording resolution, to 1080P, when you output from an HDMI cable to a compatible HDTV. Although new from Sony, other brands like JVC have been outputting to 1080P for the past two years. If paired with the DVDirect Express VRD-MC6 standalone DVD burner it can convert from AVCHD to MPEG-2.

Sony misses a very important function that could have made consumers want to possess the HDR-CX500V: the viewfinder . Another change is the position of the dial tool, which has been shifted from the top left corner near the lens to the left of the battery at the bottom. You can now operate it with the thumb of the right hand, instead of using the thumb of the left hand, although it is difficult to say if this relocation is a good change or not; it may be a matter of preference. The 32GB internal memory can give you a recording time of up to 2 hours, which should suffice most consumers’ needs. The device uses an ion lithium battery.

It sports a 3-inch 16:9 LCD touch screen, which is very handy. You can control almost everything from the screen like setting white balance, focus, exposure, scrolling through the thumbnails, etc. Simple editing like splitting a scene into two and discarding the unwanted part can be done with the touch of a button. Although very useful, the touch buttons could have been made a little larger. People with big hands may find it difficult to use the touch screen well. As a comparison, the LCD panel is 0.3-inches larger than the one on Sony’s HDR-TG5V and 0.2-inches smaller than the hard drive based HDR-XR500V.

Flash memory has its own limitations like a lackluster lens, poor low light performance, and only digital zoom. However, these devices are surely price friendly, and that would be one of the major reasons for their growth in popularity among consumers. Since internal memory is more compact than tape or disks, the camcorder size is considerably smaller. Since there is no need for moving parts, power consumption is less. The CX500V sports Sony’s professional quality G Lens with 12X optical zoom. It is an improved and upgraded lens from a 2-blade aperture to a 6-blade aperture. In addition, according to Sony this delivers a better image particularly in out-of-focus situations. Its Dual Record feature lets you take 8.3 MP of still images, while shooting high definition video, without switching the recording mode.

The camcorder has a built-in microphone that captures sound well, but not with the greatest quality. Missing is an external microphone input. An Active Interface Shoe lets you mount external mics and lights.

Overall, Sony has genuinely good low light and video performance. These also happen to be the stand out points of the camcorder. However, one of the major complaints is that there is no heed paid to the audio part of it. The camcorder, which is a compact device, lacks headphone out and a mic in. To sum it up Sony’s HDR-CX500V is a good camcorder that has the ability to deliver excellent video results. It may be the one for you if you rate picture quality and a few new hot features ahead of controls and audio performance.

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