Sony DCRSX30ER Handycam Camcorder With 4GB Internal Memory (2h 55mins) – Red is a light and compact camcorder which is fun and easy to use yet captures images with incredible detail. Its ultra–powerful 60x optical zoom gives you crisp and clear Standard Definition images, with space for 3 hours of film on the 4GB internal flash memory. The SteadyShot feature ensures that camera shake doesn’t spoil your shots. You can also simultaneously record on an optional Memory Stick, which is removable to make transfers easy, and burn DVD copies at the touch of a button. Compose your scenes easily, choose your settings and enjoy vibrant playback on a superb 2.7″ LCD screen with touchscreen controls.
The SX30 is fitted with a Vario-Tessar lens made by Carl Zeiss, the world renowned optical specialists. These premium lenses are highly rated by photographers for their colour precision, superb contrast and extremely low distortion levels at all focal lengths. Add to this an incredible optical zoom that extends to 60x magnification and you have the capability to shoot with amazing detail even when the subject is at a distance. If you need to go even closer you also have a digital zoom of up to 2000x, though optical zoom is generally considered superior because it physically moves the lens rather than moving in on the image. The SX30 makes it easy for you to see what you’re doing when you set up your shots too. The large, tilting LCD display uses reflective technology to give excellent visibility even in direct sunlight.
Helpful consumer’s review
I bought this camcorder as a present for my mother on the grounds of its looks, lightness and ease of use. It is indeed pretty and very light, small and dead simple to use. As usual with Sony camcorders, this feels like a quality product: well built, easy user interface, good manual, easy to take the video from the camcorder and put it on a computer.
The files it produces are MPEG2, a well established format, which is computer friendly as many video editing programs can process it without problems.
What’s not so good is the image quality. I appreciate that this is standard definition and cannot compete with HD camcorders, but my criticism is that its quality is well below a tape camcorder that I had a few years ago (bought in 2005) and on a par with a tape camcorder I had many years ago (bought in 2001).
If you want something that is easy to carry and your target is YouTube this can be the thing for you. On the other hand, if you want to play the end result on a modern 40″ + flat screen TV then you are better off looking elsewhere.
