Sony Handycam HDR-XR520 Comments

Hi there James,

Love your camcorder reviews by the way..most helpful!

Anyway, your review is timely as I'm looking for a new camcorder (having given away my Sony analogue one yearsss ago!) ..

I'm torn between the Panasonic HS300 and the Sony XR520..both in similar category and price range..

I am planning to upgrade myself from just a "home video" enthusiast to a serious short film making hobbyist..

Thus, I suppose I would need a good videocam with progressive scan mode,etc for starters.

Can you give me some advice on which videocamera to choose between the 2 (panasonic and sony)?
Also how does the Canon range (HF 100, HFS 10, HFS 100) compare (quality wise) as compared to the Panasonic range?

Thank you

-Idora-

Hi James.

Thanks for your timely reply ! it's already 11/40p.m in Malaysia by the way..

From your reply, seems that Panasonic seems the best bet for me..but I got another concern since I'm nre to these new formats in Camcorders..

Which is the best format..Hard Disk Drive? Flashcard/SD card? Hybrid? Is HDD a safe recording format to use? any susceptibility to damage..let's say if I take it out on a rough journey for example?

As for the Panasonic HDC-HS300, since it hasn't got a "full" progressive scan mode, like Canon's 25 p/30p , how is the quality for rapid sports shots? (e.g. a tennis match )

Appreciate your comments before I make my purchase! ;o) Thanks!

-Idora-

Thank James for the review. Always informative.

I'm looking for a all-in one Camcorder that I can travel with. Size is important to me, but quality is top. It seems the video quality on this year's top consumer cam's seem very close. I guess it comes down to the secondary features.

Which of the three top models (xr520/s10/tm300) produces the best still photos? I've read that 3 chips sensors is not that good for stills vs. a larger single chip sensor. Is that true, so does the Panasonic produce less quality stills then say the Sony or Canon? Which do you believe has the best low light ability. Appreciate the help.

cheers-

Great review again James - I assume this is the product that you were suggesting I wait for last week? Couple of questions - is the XR500 also a UK model? Not sure I need the storage of the 520, and the price should be lower on the 500...
Secondly, which is Sony's current top of the range flash based cam and how does that compare to the 500/520?
Many thanks

James
Sony's websites seem to be in a real mess. If you look here:
https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/SonyStyle/Camcorders/High-Definition
They list both the XDR 520 and 500 and both with sterling purchase prices. They also have the XDR 200 - have you seen that version, and if so how does it compare?

Blast those sony people! Never mind, thanks for all your help. It does strike me that there is a pretty big opportunity in the market place: there seems to be only one paper publication focused on Camcorders, but it has no comprehensive model list. All the questions I have been asking here and researching elsewhere seem to me to be a constant refrain - what is a true like for like comparison, what's due out soon, what feateures do you gain or lose by paying more or less.....and the web is much better place because magazines are always out of date by the time they are published.
Given the cost of the item, the revenue avaialable to a site that really delivers on this need should be substantial..

Hi James, thx for your lucid reviews! I am planning to make simply nature movies with a camcorder costing till pstg 1500. Slow motion, wide angle and a real good image quality (colors and sharpness) are key. What machine do you recommend? Did you test the Samsung HMX H106 already, as this one has an internal 64 gb SSD? If not for now, do you know of a review regarding esp. the image quality of the H106 please?

Hi James and thnx for your informative and helpful reviews. Haven't noticed much evaluation of the audio capabilities of these camcorders though. For example, both the Sony and Panasonic models claim to record in 5.1 channel audio, whereas the Legria (where does that name come from, by the way?) HFs10 (only) has stereo. Is there much value of 5.1 in practice, given the close placement of the mics? How does the zoom mic function perform as opposed to the fixed placement on the HFS10?

Tia
Bruce

Hi James.
The XR520 was on my which list but I went for the €500 cheaper HG21 and I used the €500 to get a 0.3x wide angle, a Seinheiser microphone and the largest Canon battery.

For all the beginners (like myself) use €200 of your budget to get a proper external microphone... it makes such a difference. Be sure to test it with your camera and if YOU hear the difference, then pay the extra buck. There's no reason paying for something you can't hear.

The wide angle I would recommend a 0.5x, it's less "fisheyeish", the extra battery you can live without. My point is, the accessories really make a difference, in particular the microphone - I would go for a cheaper camera and get some accessories, then maxing out on camera alone.

I'm I happy with the HG21, well yes it serves it's purpose for family videos and to get started, but the video quality (I see a lot of noise and compression artifacts especially around edges) is no where near anything you see in broadcasts. Once I get a grip of videography I will go for a semi-pro.

James. Help PLEASE.
I've been looking around for a camcorder for a while now and after going through your reviews (plus some of my own research), i have two finalists. Sony's XR520.. And Panasonic's HS300.
I need help to decide between them..
i like the features of the Panasonic and the fact that it use's SD cards (and of course a non-proprietary accessory shoe).. but its 10Mp and has a 120HD, the Sony, i like the G lens, the Wapping 240Gig HD and its 12MP. but it has GPS, something i cant see me ever using plus the GPS would have a knock on effect on the battery too.
I have been up and down London's Tottenham court road, quizzing each and every shop that stocks both. no one can actually provide me with a comparison.
in your opinion, which could you suggest? Just in case price comes into it, I can say that I can pick up the Panasonic for a fiver less then the Sony.

Hi James, great review on both the XR520 and HS300 but i have the same issue as above comment. I have been looking at both the cameras and read review after review. My big concern is low light performance, i have been looking on your tube at videos taken but i was after your thoughts as you have used them both and have a better idea of what they achieve.

Thanks

Hi all, recently purchacrd the XR520V, as we speak I am ploughing my way through the manual and experimenting as I go! I have two questions...for now, how do you oporate the lash light, tried for the life of me to get it on bur to no avail! And how do I download the manual for this unit?......please!

Regards Jon B

Hi downloaded the manual, talk about dumb & even dumber! But still can't get the flash to work....help please anybody!

Jon Blackford

James, can you help me? Bought a Sony HDR-XR52V but cannot for the life of me get the flash to work!

Anyone pout there help?

Regards Jon B

Hi, I just bought an XR520 based on the reviews on this site, and many others. Just a point to note that wasn't mentioned anywhere (or I missed it) is that not all of them has a built-in GPS. I think it needs to have a 'V' on the end of the model number.
Now I am going to sit down and play a bit.

Regards

Hi James,
Finally, a ripping review on something which I NEED to know about.
I'm a student so money isn't 'flowing', I'm in need of a camcorder & I've been doing a touch of research and I've come to the same conclusion as most other people on this page; I'm going to purchase either:
- the Sony xr520,
- Canon's LEGRIA HF S10; and
- S100 or Panasonic's HDC-HS300

I study film so short films will be recorded on it. I'm going on a 3 month snowboarding trip so filming 'action' is also required. Obviously all camcorders do this, but which is the best out of the 3? I'm not TOTALLY up with all the technical jargon used when referring to the specifications of each camcorder, but I can still roughly understand.

I've been looking in local stores for camcorders, but recently I've turned to the net as all the prices on here seem SO much cheaper.

What I've found on the net is that the Sony xr520 is offered with and without the GPS, so just wanting to know if that's the only difference between the two? I'm positive that the GPS is a useless function for me, and the price without GPS is roughly $1100 and with GPS is $2199.... so you see why I ask!
however, should i just go with the canon or panasonic?

thanks for your help and the reviews, bloody excellent.

Tom.

And Also!!!!! - which has the best microphone? or will i need to pick up an upgrade no matter what?

Cheers.

hi James. Thanks for yr good reviews.
I want to buy my first camcoder and I am looking for a Flashdrive one. I have sony's DSC-H50 camera(9.1 MP, 15 Optical Zoom )so i am not worry about still photos. I will use camcoder for only recording videos. I am so confused between Panasonic HDC-TM300, Sony HDR CX520(same as HDR XR520 just use flash drive and less memory) and canon Legria HF S10(or Legria HF S11). I am going to use it for recording normal video while on holidays, nothing special like making movies. i also consider recording at night. can u please tell me which one is good one? and is night mode is only use for taking still images or recording movies too?

I highly agree with the review of HDR XR520V, and was very happy to have somebody with lots of similar views.