Customer Reviews

Sony HDR-XR550V 240GB High Definition HDD Handycam Camcorder

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The HDR-XR550V takes absolutely stunning HD video and stills. I owned the HDR-XR500V which I absolutely loved. In addition to all the great features on the HDR-XR500V, the HDR-XR550V includes an electronic viewfinder and also provides manual shutter speed control. It also offers a non-native 60p output option and in-camera standard definition downconversion. The latter is an especially welcome addition, giving users the ability to record and archive their footage in the highest quality, then export and edit with the smaller, more manageable MPEG-2 files.

Perhaps the most exciting new feature on the HDR-XR550V is the new memory card slot: a single slot that is compatible with both Memory Stick PRO Duo cards and traditional SD/SDHC cards. This new slot will be featured on Sony's entire Handycam lineup this year, giving users unprecedented flexibility in sticking with Sony's proprietary memory format or opting for the more univeral SD/SDHC cards.

I personally love the GPS tagging feature, although I wish it would offer more detailed maps.

The HDR-XR550V has increased hard drive capacity to 240GB, which gives me plenty of recording time.

I bought this camera to accompany my other Sony Z1U which shoots HD on HDV tapes using the HDV compression. This camera records the newer AVCHD compression onto a 240 GB hard drive, which is absolutely awesome. Even at the highest quality setting, I could record over 1900 minutes before having to delete anything. And when you're ready to capture, simply hook it up with USB, and your computer recognizes it as a disc. To edit the footage, you will need to convert the footage into Apple ProRes or Apple Intermediate Codec (if using a Mac, of course). Macintosh can not, at the time of writing this, edit the AVCHD footage NATIVELY (i.e. without converting it). I hear the new Final Cut 8 which is coming out soon should be able to do it. For the Windows users, I have a friend who edits ACVHD using a Pinnacle System and he doesn't need to convert.

The quality is GREAT- actually is sharper and looks better than my Sony Z1U, which cost $5000 when I bought it 4 years ago. Go figure. I definitely recommend this camera. I bought it to experiment with the new codec and planned to return it, now I think I'm going to keep it as a second cam. I love not having to record to tape all the time. It's so easy to capture! Get one!

I've had this camera for three months now and highly recommend it. The HD video quality (I only use the FX 24 Mbps mode) is stunning. I sometimes think the video is even more realistic looking than the actual scene being shot. I have added a Rode Stereo Video Mic and Vortex Warm Cards to good effect.

I would like to have more independent manual control over focusing, exposure, white balance, etc. It is possible to manually adjust these settings but there is only a small multipurpose rotary knob for this purpose. Also, you can't simultaneously adjust both aperture and shutter speed. A larger lens would be nice, native progressive mode framing, and XLR microphone inputs. In order to get these features, you would have to spend a few thousand dollars more.

I do have a quibble about the "12 Megapixel" still photos this camera is supposed to be able to shoot. Something is missing in them. The stills even lack the depth and vibrancy of the HD video the same camera produces. My wife's 3.3 megapixel camera (a Sony) produces much better stills. It wouldn't bother me a bit if Sony had simply not included a still photo option.

Pros:
* High quality video
* High quality still photos
* Internal hard disk drive, means no switching tapes
* Can use MemoryStick Pro Duo or SD memory cards
* Manual focus knob
* Small size

Cons:
* LCD touch screen still could use improvement
* I don't like that it turns on the moment you open the LCD panel
* No Firewire port, USB is much slower than Firewire for data transfer
* The GPS geotagging is limited to working only with the Sony software, which does NOT work with Macintosh. Geotagged photos are NOT recognized by iPhoto's "places" feature. Sony should have used real geotagging technology, instead of their proprietary geotagging which requires their proprietary software!
* The stupid thing is Sony took the time to include a Mac version of the Product Registration but NOT the software on the disk included with this camera.
* Doesn't include an HTMI cable, these things are cheap enough to supply one of Sony wanted to. I can buy an HTMI cable online for around $2-$3.

Overall, the video quality is good, but it leaves room for improvement.

XR550V is a fantastic camcorder. The quality of video is outstanding, ergonomics are top notch and having to almost never think about running out of tape/storage is great. However, the best attribute of this camcorder is the GREAT lens. It is one feature that makes this unit so handy for a typical family - no more moving left or right, forward of back - this lens is WIDE enough to capture it all, even in a LOW light. I am very happy with the HDR-XR550V and highly recommend it.

I agree with everything people have written about the excellent video quality of this camera. But I've found two things I don't like:

1) There is no neck strap, nor any way to attach one. I am getting one of those tethers that fastens to the tripod adapter screw, but that's not a very elegant solution, and the camera will dangle upside down. I'm a guy who goes on vacation with a video camera and a DSLR. So I need a way to let go of the video camera while shooting stills. This is a sad oversight by Sony. They could have at least put a post somewhere and sold the strap as an optional accessory.

2) The image stabilization is fabulous when you are shooting at wide angle. While walking alongside my wife, the picture looked like it was shot with a Steadycam. But without a tripod, when lens is at telephoto the image trembles as though there was no image stabilization at all. And since this lens is a fairly wide one, there will be lots of stuff where you'll want a closer shot. If you're handheld, you'll need to steady yourself as best you can, since the camera's software doesn't help a lot.

Other than that, the camera is definitely worth five stars.

Strangely enough, Sony announced an upgraded version, the XR560 at NAB, and promised it for April 2011 delivery. It will have 64GB of solid state storage, versus 240GB on a hard drive in this camera. For my purposes (going on two-week vacations, etc.) the current camera is what I need because of its extended storage capacity, even if there is the remote chance of a hard drive failure, compared to solid state. But we are now halfway into May, and no one seems to be advertising the new model yet, not even to say that it is coming.

In any case, I can't see how Sony could improve the video quality of the XR550V; only my two little quibbles.

This camera provides a great picture in varied lighting conditions. My only complaint is the software. Burning HD movies (which is the point of this camera) is hard to impossible to do with the provided software as well as many different packages you can buy.

It's a good video cam that takes high quality stills. Has built in GPS which seems unnecessary. Zoom function is only optical X10 which is lacking in many applications. It has no digital hybrid zoom. Remote control works poorly with extremely short range. It is easy to operate and does take a nice high def video and picks up audio very well. The stills are great quality for a vid cam but zoom function is even more limited. All in all---- i'd buy it again.

I Bought My Cam About 2 Weeks Ago. I Got Mine From A Sony Store. With Reading The Reviews Id Say Go To A Sony Store An Buy It Or Off Sony.com But The Cam Is Great Lots Of Mem, It Has A Wind Angle 240GB Way More Then Any One Would Need. I Make Videos For Online An I Leave A Lot Of Footage On My Cam. So If Ya Get The Cam You Wont Have TO Worry About Mem. But I Do Recomend Getting A New Bat For It. You Can All So Get Ex Stuff To Add To The Cam Shuch As Wireless Mics Or Lights..... THIS CAM ONLY HAS A FLASH.. So You Might Need To Get A Light For It. It Films In HD. Over All Great Cam...

I purchased this camera 4 months ago, replacing my old Sony camera. It's a fantastic camera! I really enjoy using all the built-in functionality... GPS (works great in my country Greece). The 240GB hd has all the capacity you need for many-many hours of HD video. I purchased also a Sony NP-FV100 battery and i'm ready for the next filming years!

Pros:
- Full HD
- smile/face/baby detection system
- Small size (i'm carrying the camera in my jackets pocket)
- GPS / Upload videos directly to Youtube
- Huge Capacity (240GB)
- Sony software PMB

Tip: After installing Mac iMovie '11 the camera works fine with my macbook!
;)