My initial impression of the Sony HDR-CX560V wasn't satisfying. Upon opening the factory sealed Sony Handycam box I was met with a small, plastic, piano black camcorder. Funny how it looked so much heftier on websites. Coming from the line of Sony MiniDV camcorders I've shot on for over a decade this lightweight contraption I held in my hands looked & felt more like a toy than a high end Sony Handycam. Perhaps it was a mistake to sell off one of my older MiniDV camcorders in favor of this new flash-based model. Maybe I had let consumer marketing mislead me about the new line of HD camcorders. At least that's what I thought...before using it.For anyone even somewhat interested in camcorders & video editing software it's inevitable to catch wind of the ongoing battle against flash memory & MiniDV. Since its arrival in 1995 the DV format has proven itself reliable among both novices & professionals in the video scene. Although long rumored to capture video in an uncompressed format, MiniDV is actually compressed using DCT compression. This is a lossy compression algorithm a la MPEG-2 at a bit rate of 35 Mbit/s. That 35 Mbit/s is comprised of about 25 Mbit/s for video, 1.5 Mbit/s for audio and 8.5 Mbit/s for error correction. This still makes for a very powerful master copy which proves very convenient in post production editing. This combined with the dependability of a sixteen year track record makes MiniDV quite the heavyweight.
Taking all this into consideration it's important to note that Sony no longer develops MiniDV Handycam camcorders. Perhaps this subtle hint is an early warning sign for the potential fate of MiniDV technology altogether? Regardless, the argument at this point in time is compression issues with flash-memory camcorders. Are the bitrates as high as MiniDV? How many Mbit/s do they use? Are the AVCHD files as hard to work with in editing as reported? Well, let's take one thing at a time.
Flash-based camcorders have made a quantum leap from where they were just a few short years ago. I think we can all agree DVD & HDD camcorders were a bad idea, fading from the scene almost completely. However flash-memory camcorders have not only stuck around, they've evolved considerably. One doesn't have to look far to witness what is quickly becoming an electronic epidemic. Flash-based camcorders are everywhere & spreading. The technology is in iPods, smartphones, pocket camcorders, racing cams and even key chains. But popularity doesn't always mean better quality. In all honesty it often times just means hype. This is not the case with the Sony HDR-CX560V, however. After getting past the overall plastic feel of the unit I was impressed with it's performance.
No, the Mbit/s on this model aren't as high as MiniDV. As mentioned earlier MiniDV uses a total of 35 Mbit/s 25 of which are dedicated to video. The HDR-CX560V uses a maximum of 28mbps on the 60p setting. After shooting an hour long sunset (see attached video) on this recording level I accumulated an AVCHD file of just under 12GB. For those wondering the MiniDV footage I've used over the years would be anywhere between 10 to 15GBs per hour upon uploading to my computer. As you can see the Sony HDR-CX560V is literally neck & neck with MiniDV footage in terms of megabytes. Quite impressive. Even after the footage was rendered three times & sped up to compensate for time the video still looks decent (as demonstrated in the attached video).
It should be noted, however, AVCHD files recorded at 60p have no real output source other than viewing on a PC. At the current time Blu-Ray & even AVCHD discs themselves don't support the 1080 60p files. What does this mean in plain English? Basically if you're planning on burning a Blu-Ray disc with 60p files you'll have to render them down first. Using Sony Vegas Pro 10 I have no trouble importing these files then rendering them onto Blu-Ray in 60i. I then save the original 60p file to an external hard drive for an optimal master copy. Of course the CX560V gives you the option to shoot in several different modes. These include:
FX Mode: Approx. 24Mbps (1920x1080)
FH Mode: Approx. 17Mbps (1920x1080)
HQ Mode: Approx. 9Mbps 1440x1080)
LP Mode: Approx. 5Mbps (1440x1080)
STD HQ Mode: 9Mbps (720x480)
The Sony HDR-CX560V also gives you the option of shooting in 24p (to replicate film) with a 1920x1080 pixel ratio. I've played with this option a little but don't personally care for it. To me the finished product simply has a slo-mo effect, not really a film-like effect. However, this is a personal preference, others may disagree & enjoy using it. Recording time on internal 64GB memory is as follows:
PS Mode: 5 Hours & 15 Minutes
FX Mode: 6 Hours & 10 Minutes
FH Mode: 8 Hours & 25 Minutes
HQ Mode: 11 Hours & 20 Minutes
LP Mode: 21 Hours & 30 Minutes
STD Mode: 14 Hours & 25 Minutes
Picture quality is very decent. Keep in mind I'm burning to Blu-Ray discs so the picture quality is expected to look good. For what it's worth my final cuts on Blu-Ray look twice as sharp as anything I've shot on standard definition MiniDV & rendered to DVD...but again, this is to be expected. I'm still quite a fan of the HDV files that other HD MiniDV camcorders produce and understand why serious editors wouldn't want to stray from that medium. The AVCHD generated by the CX560V files seem bulky in comparison, not so much in file size but in overall horsepower to run them. I'm running a quad CPU with a dedicated graphics card so it's not so much a problem on my end but is something I wanted fellow consumers to be aware of.
Battery life is decent when using the NP-FV100 battery (sold separately; of course) and is right on par with the estimated life expectancy on the package (roughly 6 to 8 hours depending on how you`re shooting). The unit comes supplied with a NP-FV50 which might give you an hour of recording time if used sparingly. I've found it's more convenient to use this battery as a backup. Shooting primarily on the NP-FV100 & keeping the fully charged FV50 in my bag for those "just in case" moments while on the road. It's always struck me as unfair when companies skimp on their included camcorder batters, but I suppose by now we all now the routine. Getting a new camcorder? Add a battery that actually runs the unit to the list of mandatory accessories.
There has been a lot of praise over the USB transfer system on the HDR-CX560V as opposed to traditional firewire (realtime) uploads. Simply drag & drop the files from your camcorder to your PC without having to play back the entire shoot. Well, that works well in theory, but the only problem is when transferring AVCHD files (especially the ones shot in 60p) it will literally take just as long to transfer on the 2.0 USB system as it would during a playback firewire upload. Case in point, the hour of footage I mentioned earlier took one hour to transfer from the CX560V to my computer.
The most common complaint about this unit is the lack of manual controls that can be used together & the unresponsive touchscreen. Being able to control only one element of exposure at a time might be frustrating to some who like to be at the wheel fulltime. One review mentioned "if you set the shutter speed to 1/60 you loose all other control. It is possible to set the shutter speed and then assign AE shift to the control dial which gives some control, but the camera decides what to do with gain and iris." Something to keep in mind. *see update at bottom
In regards to the touch screen, (which is 3.0') I personally haven't found it any more difficult to use than any other of the Sony touchscreen camcorders I've used in the past. Sometimes it takes one or two extra presses to get a response, could just be me not pressing hard enough the first time though.
The Sony CX560V is capable of taking still pictures of up to 12.3 mega pixels, although it's not a feature I use at all & is designed to be expanded with (I believe) up to 32GB of internal flash card memory. This feature is accessible with both SD cards & Sony Memory Sticks. It also has a GPS feature (which seems unnecessary to me) allowing you to view a map of where certain scenes were filmed on the unit's 3.0' LCD screen.
Equipped with a Sony Wide Angle G-Lens the CX560V has a superb range for capturing true widescreen footage. Finding a lens hood to accommodate it is a different story though. Don't be fooled into purchasing a lens hood advertising compatibility with the CX560V unless you read the reviews thoroughly. A lot of websites will list a 37mm hood as universally compatible with any 37mm lens camcorders. Translation: the lens hood ring will mount to the 37mm lens but because of the wide angle captured by the CX570V the hood will be visible around the edges of the shot.
Shooting in low light settings has often been bothersome for me. The HDR-CX560V has a 1/2.88" (6.2mm) Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor for just this problem. Videos result in twice as much clarity as I'm used to with my old DCR-HC48 in dim atmospheres. Also if shooting in the dark the unit comes with a night shot infrared system, which means footage will have a green tint but at least it's there if you need it. Of course what Handycam would be complete without the image stabilizer which is also included, on this model, to reduce shaky video.
Overall I'm very pleased with the Sony HDR-CX560V. Converting to Flash from MiniDV was a cautious step for me, but from what I've seen the technology is only trailing by a nose. Although I'm still holding onto my Sony HDR-HC9 for reassurance (or paranoia) the CX560V has really impressed me with what it can accomplish.
Some specs of interest:
Scene Modes:
Auto
Twilight
Twilight Portrait (Photo Mode only)
Sunrise & Sunset
Fireworks
Landscape
Portrait
Spotlight
Beach
Snow
Convenience Features:
Quick On (Powered On By LCD)
Auto Lens Cover
Red Eye Reduction
Cinema Tone (To Deepen Color & Recreate Film-Like Color Tones)
10x Optical Zoom (14x Extended Zoom)
120x Digital Zoom
Wind Noise Reduction
What's included in the box? Here you go:
Rechargeable Battery Pack (NP-FV50)
Component A/V Cable
CD-ROM (with Handycam Application Software)
AC Adaptor
A/V Connecting Cable
Remote Control (RMT-835 with Battery)
Power Cord
USB Connection Support Cable
Operating Guide
*Update: (04/19/2012) It has been mentioned on other websites & consumer reviews that holding down the center button inside the focus ring for two seconds will allow the user to select which manual setting they want to change. For example: hold the center button down for two seconds then select your IRIS value, hold it down for another two seconds and you should see the message "IRIS control set". Press & hold the center button down for an additional two seconds to select whichever other setting you want to set.
A few of the things I didn't like about this camcorder is that sometimes the touch screen can be unresponsive at time. I find myself pushing the same button a few times before the camcorder register it. This is not a major concern but it does happen from time to time. When shooting in very low light situations, I was not impressed with the Back-illuminated "Exmor R" CMOS sensor. Maybe I was expecting to capture footage beyond 8 feet but it works great if your subject is less than 8 feet away. I'm new to the camcorder world so maybe 8 feet is excellent. I don't know.
A word of caution for Mac users, you will be hard pressed using this device. As you know, the CD that comes with this camcorder is not compatible with a Mac. Furthermore, the certain video formats is not compatible with imovie either. You would need another program to convert these files if you want to use/view them in imovie. However, this is such an excellent camcorder that overcoming these drawbacks is well worth the superior video footage you get.
Overall, this is a top notch product. Anyone wanting to record their own events would be happy with this device. Items that I wish were included would be a Mini HDMI cable. Without this cable you will be forced to use the component video for playback on HDTV sets. If recording in 24p is not something you really need, then I would suggest going with the HDR-CX550
Buy Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black) Now
I purchased the Sony HDR-CX560v on March 30th and received it April 1st. When I got it, I started using it immediately to film some home movies of our new child (6 weeks old). I did tons of research on cameras before purchasing and I made the decision between this, the Canon Vixia HF21, and the Panasonic HDC-TM700K.I wanted the following attributes in a new camera: HD, low lux capabilities, ease of use, shake reduction and large amount of flash memory.
Mostly all of my videos so far have been indoors. Our home tends to be dimly lit in most of the rooms and the camcorder has done exceedingly well in those conditions. Playback on our 56" bigscreen in HD looks brilliant. It captures sound wonderfully and it files the vidoes nicely for playback. The camera is also quite easy to use. I am by no means a professional videographer and I can point and shoot wonderful vidoes with just a push of the "record" button. I also love the built-in USB. It makes is easy to hook up to my computer and transfer the vidoes. Also, I tend to be quite shaky while filming and the vibration reduction in this camera is wonderful.
Some cons of this camcorder are: The screen can be a little touchy to use. I have smaller hands and even I sometimes have to push on the screen icons a few times to get them to "select". Also, I wish this model, like the 550v would have the view finder. The screen can be hard to see in the glare. Also, I would highly recommend purchasing a larger battery. The FV50 does not last an extremely long amount of time. I am averaging about 2.5 hours of HD record time with it and this is considering it is brand spanking new.
Overall, I rate this camera a 4 star. I knocked it a little due to the screen, the view finder and the stock battery. To do over, I will still purchase this camera in spite of those cons.
With your purchase I highly recommend a larger battery, a case, an HDMI Cable with ethernet A-C type (this enables you to easily hook up the camcorder and play it back on your HD devices and is NOT included in the box from the factory) and the sony Shooting Grip (once again, I have small hands and am shaky and it helps out tremendously).
Read Best Reviews of Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black) Here
I got the camcorder 1 week ago.The video quality is amazing. I played it on my 52" 1080p Sharp and the quality is stunning.
It is an upgrade to me fro 7 year old Sony DV and Flip HD. So I haven't compared it with the latest models from the leading brands.
I have decided to get this one as the wide angle is very important for shooting videos inside the home (which is what I mostly do).
I use Mac and there are some tradeoffs with how Mac handles 1080 60p. With 1080i or 24p iMovie works well. For 1080 60p I use Toast.
Overall the material quality of the camcorder, the LCD screen and the ease of use are superb.
I don't plan on using it for still shots, but one caveat is that you can't do stills with 1080p and you'll need to switch to lower video mode. That wasn't an issue for me.
Want Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black) Discount?
This camera and the Sony HDR-CX700V, are basically the same, the difference being the 700 has zebra lines, peaking, rear viewfinder, and maybe something else. I plan to record the 24p to an external recorder, so the rear viewfinder would not be on in that case. Get a viewfinder loupe to see a better image from the screen. To me that offsets the zebra and peaking upgrade.The camera shoots an excellent image. Low light is fantastic for this class camera, best I have seen, and 24p clinched the deal for me. Best of all, you can shoot at the sun, headlights, streetlights, and not get the amateur star filter look on anything bright, including reflecting windows and chrome on cars. It shoots bright objects better by far then the Canon HF40 line, and Panasonic TM700 series. This camera also shoots a little on the warm color side, not to big of deal for me as I will capture the raw HDMI 8bit 4:2:2 externally, and color correct the rich data later. I do not like AVCHD, it's very bitty, but this is the best camera I have used in it's implementation of the codec. The Panasonic TM900, SD600, and TM700 series are also very good at this as well.
Initially the lack of full manual control outside of changing "exposure", which does not tell you anything about shutter, F stop and gain, is an operational drawback, it's the camera is doing stuff and you can just tell it lighter or darker, with a fixed exposure, but not shutter speed of F stop with fixed exposure.
This is a pricey camera, and the Sony HDR-CX700V is even more. It is to me the best picture, even with its exposure manual madness, I have seen in a compact form camera yet. Picture quality 5, manual operation 3, so 4 stars. If Auto is your style, I can recommend it as the best I have used. I also recommend using the "P" progressive modes, it's why it's top dollar, otherwise buy something much cheaper.
No comments:
Post a Comment