The HDR-UX20 is Sony’s top DVD Handycam for 2008.  It captures video in AVCHD format with a resolution of 1920 x 1080.  This resolution is a step up from other Sony models, which have a resolution of only 1440 x 1080.  It can store High Definition (HD) videos at 16Mbps in its 8GB internal flash memory or in a Memory Stick Pro Duo card.  Its Hybrid Plus ability enables this camcorder to record videos in both types of media.  Video recording comes in three options with HD HQ at 9Mbps, HD SP at 7Mbps and HD LP at 5Mbps.  You can then choose to record these HD videos on DVD media.

Like any Sony camcorder, the HDR-UX20 uses a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens.  The lens sits at the top front of the camcorder.  It has a filter diameter of 30 mm and focal range of 3.1 – 46.5 mm.  Its aperture range is f/1.8 – f/2.6.  Below the lens mounting are the infrared emitter of the Super NightShot mode and a Mini HDMI port.  

At 1.2 lbs. or approximately 560 grams, the HDR-UX20 weighs less than the HDR-UX7.  The right side of the camcorder holds the strap, and the material used gives you a firm grip of the camera.  The DVD loading bay area also provides a comfortable handle to hold.  Its dimensions are 2.3in x 5.3in x 3.7in (W x D x H).  All these combine to make the camcorder comfortable and easy to hold.

At the back of the camcorder, you’ll find the typical set of controls, battery bay and the viewfinder.  The HDR-UX20 ships with the NP-FH60 Li-ion rechargeable battery.  Below the viewfinder and the battery are the DC IN and the A/V ports.

On the left side of the camcorder are the LCD screen and several buttons.  On this side, you can also find a pair of zoom toggles, the still capture button, a Home button above and a second start/stop button below.  Inside the LCD cavity, there are also several buttons, ports and the Memory Stick slot.  Below the Memory Stick slot is the Mini USB port and adjacent to this USB port is the on/off switch for the NightShot feature.

The Sony HDR-UX20 uses a 2.7-inch touch screen LCD with 211,000 pixels.  This display is significantly smaller than the HDR-UX7, which features a 3.5-inch display.  Sony’s move to reduce the LCD size may cause difficulties for some users who have large fingers.

For easy access, this camcorder uses the Quick On switch and the Easy button.  Sony’s Quick On switch puts the camcorder into a hibernate mode and allows you to start it back up again with a quick press of the on/off button.  This feature allows for a faster way of turning the camera on from its off state.  The Easy button enables the Easy mode.  This mode is suitable for beginners, and with a simple press of this button, all the camcorder’s controls go into automatic. 

However, for those who want to have more control on the outcome of their videos with manual options, the HDR-UX20 may be a bit frustrating.  For one, Sony has eliminated the Cam Control – the ability to make quick and easy manual adjustments.  Instead, you’ll have to use its touch screen to access the drop down menu to make manual adjustments.  What will frustrate some users more is the slowness in the response of the touch screen interface – much slower than the Cam Control feature from previous Sony camcorders.

The Sony HDR-UX20 uses a 5.1 channel surround sound mic.  You will not find this non-standard mic in older Sony camcorders.  This 5.1 channel surround sound is better with an added characteristic.  It boasts a link to the camcorder’s Zoom feature, which picks up sound from one direction while ignoring noise from other directions.  This is a nice feature if you’re trying to pick up one particular voice from a noisy surrounding.  This ability compares to Panasonic’s Zoom mic feature.

Face Detection is another new feature that can be very useful to many users.  The camcorder has a face index in the playback menu, which gives you an easy search of clips that have a certain face in them.  Simply tap on a captured face in the middle of footage, and the clip will start playback at that point.

The HDR-UX20 is compatible with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL (Dual Layer) discs.  Though it can record high quality videos to its internal flash memory or on a memory card, it has limited recording capability with DVD media.  It can’t record the same high definition quality of videos as you do with the memory card and the internal memory.  You can’t take advantage of having that high-resolution capture in DVD recording, as you’ll quickly fill up all the space available on a single disk.  Moreover, video finalization in DVD can take a very long time regardless of how much footage you’ve recorded.

In standard definition, you can playback a finalized DVD on any regular DVD player.  However, in high definition, you can only playback the DVD on a Blu-Ray player or on Sony’s latest PC’s.  Otherwise, you have to connect your camcorder directly to your TV.

The HDR-UX20 comes with the very basic Picture Motion Browser ver. 2.0.  This software will allow you to transfer and burn your videos to a DVD disc.  Unlike the previous Sony HDR-UX7, AVCHD editing now supports Sony Vegas 8.0, Ulead Video Studio 11 and Pinnacle Studio 11.  The good news also applies to Mac users.  Apple added iMovie 08 and Final Cut Express 4 that supports the AVCHD format.

The added features – Link to Zoom and Face Detection – may compensate for the absence of the Cam Control and the reduced size of the LCD screen.  However, you may give the camcorder a second thought due to its limitation in accommodating longer recording time with its high definition DVD disk recording capability.  The ability to record to a memory card somehow lessens this issue, but you may decide on memory card only devices, like the Sony HDR-CX7 or hard drive devices like the Sony HDR-SR12 instead.  On the other hand, if you’re not concerned with high definition recording then this standard definition DVD camcorder may be perfect for your needs.

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Technical Specifications

Hardware

• Assignable Dial : N/A
• Light/Flash : Yes
• Manual / Auto Lens Cover : Auto
• Media Card slot : Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media
• S/S & Zoom button on LCD : Yes