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Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

80

Very Good

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5 User Reviews | add yours »

Pros
Huge storage capacity
Excellent video quality
Cons
High price tag
Records only 60i video

Sony Handycam HDR-SR12 High-Definition Camcorder Review

by Jim Feeley

- The Sony Handycam HDR-SR12's big differentiator is its built-in 120GB hard drive, which holds more than 14 hours of video at its highest quality setting. Both the image quality and the storage capacity are impressive, but unless you need to record hours of video without a break, these selling points may not justify the camera's $1300 price (as of September 25, 2008).

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User Reviews for Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

Reviewed by: jpn6689

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Out of the box Mac Compatibility, extra large touch LCD display, Crystal Clear HD video, better than average still photos

Weaknesses: advertises 10 megapixel still photos - actually is 5

Overall Evaluation: This is by far the finest consumer level camcorder available. I was considering purchasing either this camera or the Canon HF100/HF10. Both of the Canon models are fine cameras, but this camera has some definite advantages including a massive hard drive for on-board storage, extra large touchscreen display, Sony Bravia sync capabilities, etc. Quality is crystal clear. Out of the box integration with Mac is also superb. After shooting both video and photos, I simply plugged the camcorder in via USB 2.0 and was able to open the video in iMovie within seconds. No convoluted conversions necessary. If you are looking for a fantastic camera with all the space and features you could want, look no further...
Reviewed by: KarlS

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Terrific HD and SD video

Weaknesses: Software is complicated; manuals not intuitive.

Overall Evaluation: I have finally become my father. I'm geezing. This is just a fabulous camcorder, but I'm way over my head trying to get my videos onto my PC and then burning the correct format DVDs to share with friends/family. Reading the "quick start" guide plus the PDF-format owner's manual on the included CD... almost made my head explode. And I've had a camcorder of various media and every type of film and digital cam in my hands since they were so big you needed a friend to help carry the components. I feel like I've traded my soul to the devil to get the latest/greatest technology. Of course, now I'm getting the, "I told you so!!" from my wife. I guess I should've accepted the simplicity (although less perfect video compression) of the last-most-current media recording directly to mini-DVDs in the camcorder. Yikes!

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News, Reviews, How-To's about Handycam HDR-SR12

High-Definition Camcorders These camcorders capture gorgeous high-definition video; you'll need a very powerful computer to edit their footage and a rewritable Blu-Ray or HD DVD drive to output in high definition.

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