Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V – Offering Only Storage Space
Thumbs Up:
The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V has complete manual feature set for video and even though it’s not fun, but the GeoTagging surely is fun here. Also the autofocus system of the camcorder performs pretty well.
Thumbs Down:
The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V’s menu system can be annoying at times; it doesn’t have meaningful audio controls or a wind filter and it’s comparatively heavy and huge. The camcorder also doesn’t offers full-HD video quality, has a awkward touch-screen expensive and is expensive for sure
The Whiz Kid Speaks:
Price (MSRP): $1,099.00 – $1,249.99
Product Type: Camcorder – 1080i
Manufacturer: Sony
Part Number: HDR-XR550V
Weight: 1.1 lbs
Dimensions (W x H x D) in inches: 2.8 x 2.9 x 5.6 inches
Operating System Support: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista
LCD display Type: 3.5 in Color LCD display in TFT active matrix
White Balance: Automatic, Custom and Presets
Flash Memory: Flash Memory Stick
Lens System Type: Zoom lens
Optical Zoom: 10 xs
Still Image Format: JPEG
Optical Sensor Type: Exmor R CMOS
Camcorder Still Resolution: 6 megapixels
Camcorder Sensor Resolution: 6.631 megapixels
Camcorder Interpolated Still Resolution: 12 megapixels
Camcorder Video Resolution: 4.15 megapixels
Included Accessories: Rechargeable battery, AC adaptor, Component AV cable, Remote commander, Lithium battery, AV connecting cable and USB cable
Additional Features: Golf Shot function , Exif Print support , Accessories hot shoe , PictBridge support , USB 2.0 compatibility , Built-in GPS , Touch-screen control , Direct print ,Digital noise reduction , Backlight compensation , Face-priority AF function , Dynamic Range Optimizer , Takes photos while movie recording , Smile Detection technology and Dolby Digital 5.1 channel recording
Cables Included: A/V cable, USB cable and Component video cable
Connector Type: Composite audio/video output, Component video output, USB, S-Video output, HDMI output, Headphones, Remote control and Microphone
Battery type: Lithium ion
Supported Battery: Sony NP-FV50
Auto Focus: TTL contrast detection
Software: Sony Picture Motion Browser and Drivers & Utilities
Razzle Dazzle:
The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V gets some alteration from Sony, but not in terms of its design, but in terms certain trimmings and cut downs in its feature list. As a matter of fact the overall design of the Handycam HDR-XR550V is somewhat similar, except for one and two controls missing from it. The HDR-XR550V has a sturdy feel on a whole. The camera’s hard disk has a tad protuberance on the top of its body, which gives a better grip on the camera to the people with huge hands. So it’s pretty clear that at any point what you are looking at is not a lighter and slim model, but if you want it you can go for the CX550V.
Most of the doors of camcorders are sturdily attached and has an sliding door situated on top of the accessory shoe; there also is another slider positioned closer to the right vertebrae of the camcorder and covers the mic jacks and headphone; the proprietary AV out and DC power in are covered by two separate doors; and another one is positioned under the LCD hiding the USB connectors.
Inside Dope:
The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V priced at $1000, can be a real pain for some of the users, especially considering the accouterments of the camera. The Handycam HDR-XR550V has a huge a 3.5-inch LCD, G series lens, a 240GB hard disk, EVF, iris and shutter controls and mic and headphone jacks. Basically the HDR-XR550V and its almost identical sibling CX550V are the high-end models belonging to the high-end Prosumer line of Sony. The CX550V has somewhat different design than its siblings and also the recording media ability of the camera is a bit different. The design difference between the two cameras can easily be credited to camera’s storage type. This is because of the fact that the CX550V comes with 64GB of fitted flash memory and XR550V comes with a hard drive.
The frontage of the camera contains a huge-barreled lens with an electronic lens and flash positioned on top of it. The trademark Sony’s stale a manual control dial is again present in the camcorder, but it seems like Sony has started expanding its capabilities a little bit.
Sony once again has used the five-channel mic, instead of stereo mic, which we have always felt annoying and have always recommended stereo mic there. One another thing that we found was annoying here is the fact that even though the camera has a mic input, but still there is nothing to use for controlling volume controls. Though, there are two reference level options are given in the form of Low and Normal. The electronic viewfinder of the camcorder actually has a better resolution than some of its rivals.
The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V gave close to flawless performance, OK, lets put it in this way, we didn’t had any problems in the performance of the camera. The autofocus clearly is one area which seems like Sony has worked seriously on it, though we still think that the camcorder could have been a tad faster in focusing while panning. Even the stills and video shot from the camcorder appeared pretty clear. But still we think that the video could easily have been a bit sharper. But considering the price of the camcorder, we think that its performance is decent.
Nitty Gritty:
The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V is a much better camera in comparison to some of its competition, but still the video shot from camcorder could have been better and even the interface of the camcorder is a bit awkward. Bit the storage space of the camcorder makes us go gaga over this camera, and if you are a shooter who likes to shoot plenty of videos and at the same time loves to store it, then the HDR-XR550V really is a great option. But if you are not interested in this then its better to go for flash based CX550V, it has almost the same feature set, but the flash-based camera is a much better deal in the market.
