Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder (Black)

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 4.1 x 7.8 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B004H8FNAI
• Item model number: DCRSX45/B
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #40 in Camera & Photo > Camcorders
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 4, 2011

Product Description

Color: Black

From the Manufacturer

Sony DCR-SX45 Standard Definition Handycam Camcorder

Overview

The ultra-compact DCR-SX45 features a 3.0” touch-screen LCD (230K), a built-in LED video light, as well as a professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, which delivers sharp, high-resolution images and powerful 70x extended zoom that lets you capture extremely tight shots, even from far away.

70x Extended Zoom to get even closer to the action   
Extended Zoom works in conjunction with 60x optical zoom to get even closer to the action while maintaining image quality.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens     
The professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens is designed specifically for compact camcorders. Precision ground optics help maintain the sharpness and contrast of larger lenses, and SteadyShot image stabilization helps reduce blur caused by camera shake.

3.0” touch-screen Clear Photo LCD Plus  display (230K)     
The 3.0” touch-screen Clear Photo LCD Plus display  provides exceptional viewing clarity with 230K pixels resolution. The display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. The convenient touch panel allows easy access to menus and additional functionality such as spot focus and spot metering.

SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode   
Steadyshot image stabilization with Active Mode allows for a greater degree of image stabilization over the well known, Sony developed, SteadyShot stabilization that has been used for years, giving you more stable video even when on the move or in low light circumstances.

Intelligent Auto (36 different scene combinations possible)   
Intelligent Auto mode goes a step beyond traditional auto modes by analyzing your shot and then automatically selecting the appropriate settings from seven distinct scene modes (36 different combinations possible): Landscape, Backlight, Twilight, Spotlight, Macro, Portait,  Tripod.

Dolby Digital stereo recording with Built-in Zoom Mic     
The built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects with the camera's zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.

Face Detection to keep faces in focus     
Face Detection technology recognizes faces and optimizes camera settings for both video and still images, so faces are captured more clearly and skin tones look more natural.

Built-in LED video light   
The DCR-SX45 features an LED light that can assist in low-light situations giving you more flexibility when capturing your video.

Built-in USB cable for easy file transfer/charge   
The high-speed, built-in USB 2.0 cable allows for easy connection to your computer without having to remember separate cables.  It also fits conveniently into the hand strap so it’s out of the way until you need it.

Direct Copy to external HDD without PC³   
Store your memories in a whole new way with the ability to copy videos from your camcorder directly to an external hard disk drive³ (sold separately), all without a computer. Your camcorder can also access videos stored on the external hard drive for playback on your TV, allowing you to utilize the camcorder’s handy playback features.

Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) software²     
Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC². In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD, as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites¹.

Auto Lens Cover   
The automatic lens cover protects the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens from scratches during transport or while not in use by closing the lens cover automatically when the camera is shut off.

Film Roll / Face Index   
With Film Roll Index, the camcorder previews the beginning of scenes and creates scene indexes set at specified display intervals (3, 6, or 12 seconds and 1 or 5 minutes). Face Index indexes your video footage according to the faces detected in each scene. When it’s time to play back video, simply search for what you want by selecting from among the detected faces displayed in the index.

Dual Media card slot     
For convenient storage and sharing of your images and videos, the DCR-SX45 accepts Memory Stick Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo / Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media and SD/SDHC media (sold separately).

<sub>1. Requires PC with internet connectivity.
2. Requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7. Not supported by Mac OS.
3. Requires VMC-UAM1 cable (sold separately), AC power for camcorder, and hard drive formatted in FAT-32. USB-hub not supported. External HHD/USB media should be less than 2TB(Terabytes).</sub>

Product Description

An ideal solution for recording just about any occasion, the ultra-compact Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder features a 3.0" touch-screen LCD (230K), a professional-quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens, which delivers sharp, high-resolution images and powerful 70x extended zoom that lets you capture extremely tight shots-even from far away. There's also a convenient built-in LED video light on the Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder which makes it easier to capture low-light situations.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice little Sony, May 5, 2011

By 

James Shirk (Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder (Blue) (Electronics)

This is not a High Definition model, if it were my review would be quite different but beings it's standard def it's okay.

Okay first there's the light which is little more than a hoax, but it does mean that it might need a light in lowlight conditions. It is very small, and light, flip the 3" LCD & the camera turns on and the lens opens immediately. The battery life is as good as any Sony camcorder and I have an older sony that I used for 2 years & never had to get another battery for it. Can count on at least an hours worth of juice, but you can power it with the ac adapter.

It has no built in memory so you need to buy an SD card, 16GB is good.
It does not have very good manual adjustments, just like all sony camcorders I suppose, but most of you will be using the iAuto anyways.

Some folks think standard definition is dead but it is still used a lot, including all DVD's are not HD.
It's affordable and well worth the money for a beginner, if you are a serious photographer with experience save your money and get something bigger.

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Should have went with a high def model, April 12, 2011

By 

Agent 007 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder (Blue) (Electronics)

Many options to choose from. Menu style is very user friendly. The biggest problem for me was picture quality. I understand this is a standard definition camcorder but in low light or indoors the picture was just to grainy. Outdoors the picture is okay but it could be better. The battery life wears down extremely fast so you must have a backup. Overall I should have paid an extra $200 and bought the CX110 model. I bought it on 4-8-2011 and I returned it 4-12-2011.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars easy to use, August 4, 2011

By 

Michael F. Burdick (Chino Valley, AZ, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder (Silver) (Electronics)

This handycam camcorder was the first I ever bought, so I can't really compare it with any others. But, I have noticed that the recorded picture is remarkably still, despite one's shaky hands! And I was able to take clear pictures through my car windows. The sound is very clear and picks up even the quietest sounds. I don't know how much better a HD picture would look, so I cannot comment much on the picture quality. However, it is certainly good enough for my touristy purposes. After downloading the software, I was able to burn DVD's very easily from the camera (since I have an external DVD player attached to my computer). And, it sounds like a "slot machine" when you turn it on and press buttons, as it has all sorts of internal sounds to let you know what it is doing!
So, I am very happy with this camcorder.

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