Sony HDR-CX12 High Definition Memory Stick PRO Duo Handycam Camcorder With 12x Optical Zoom
The ultra-sleek, palm-sized HDR-CX12 Handycam camcorder is the world's first camcorder with face detection and Smile Shutter technology. Face detection automatically adjusts focus, exposure and color for the most natural results. With Smile Shutter, the HDR-CX12 can detect smiles and automatically capture still images, even while recording 1920 x 1080 full HD video. You will also enjoy 10.2 megapixel still image recording to ensure your memories are preserved in stunning detail. Additionally, the CX12's small size and light weight make it an ideal travel companion, perfect for recording that special moment, wherever you are. Video and still images are stored directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo media for easy transfer to your computer or other compatible devices.
Customer Review: AVCHD Compression Nearly Impossible to Edit
First, I absolutely LOVE this camera. The image stabilization, the optics, and the controls combine for a wonderful experience that creates simply gorgeous video. My son's Pee-Wee football games look like ESPN HD! The photos were just ok. Oh, it can even fit in a roomy pocket--about like a soda can. Not super comfortable, but doable. However, I had to return it when I discovered that the videos it records are nearly impossible to edit. I have a decently souped-up dual 2GHz machine w/2 GB of RAM and Sony's own Pro version of Vegas editing software. It crashed their own software nearly every time. They've since released an update that lets it work with AVCHD-encoded videos without crashing. However, the biggest problem is playback. I have a super nice NVIDIA graphics card, but my system could only play these files back about 1 frame per-second--or less. Did some quick research and if you want to actually work with this video you'll need an unbelievably powerful machine with a raid HD array (although there didn't seem to be much agreement on what kind of rig would actually run this stuff). Many people never actually need to edit their video. They just shoot it and then play it back from the camera. You'll need to buy a mini-HDMI cable to get it to your new flat-screen TV, but with that cable the playback was glorious.
Customer Review: Quality Product/ Curious when non miniDV HD cams will be streaming capable
I will firstly admit that my husband was the one to do the research on this item. He is incredibly thorough before he buys anything. However, I'm the one that gets the most use out of it. There was one agreement upon what type of camcorder we'd get, and that's flash based memory. A. miniDV will definitely become obsolete in the near future, B. HardDrive based have potential room for error, and C. DVD as well as the MiniDV have gear components that have risk of breaking. Knowing from experience, fixing motor parts in a camcorder are costly! We love to tape our parties and trips, but we also live far from family and like to use it as a webcam. Our old Canon MiniDV did this easily, but with the new generation of cameras out there, they are not streaming capable. WE have a $30 video capture card that does the trick, but obviously quality isn't HD, nor would hdmi be even capable of streaming. The key is for a video capture card to do real-time compression that's better than 480i. This is what I'd like to see. If you're going to spend up to 1k for a camcorder, I think they need to merge webcam capabilities along side of the regular video taping soon. The cameras with the flash drive memory are getting smaller and smaller, not to mention more efficient. Back to the camera itself. Wonderfully compact, straighforward with its touch screen lcd menu display, INCREDIBLE low light capabilities, and overall obviously the HD quality image. Some complained about the proprietary SD card, but you must realize that this SD card is half the size/thickness of regular SD cards.