{"id":5150,"date":"2013-06-18T15:05:37","date_gmt":"2013-06-18T19:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.allandouglas.com\/blog\/?p=5150"},"modified":"2025-04-21T01:56:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T05:56:40","slug":"video-with-sony-handycam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/video-with-sony-handycam\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking the Next Step: Video with Sony Handycam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever since I was a kid I\u2019ve had a penchant for photography.\u00a0 I started with an old Brownie box camera and through the decades have worked myself up to a mid-range DSLR.\u00a0 Or\u2026 it was mid-range when I got it 13 years ago, now it\u2019s pretty much an antique.\u00a0 But, it has served me well.<\/p>\n

I always figured that my next step would be a new(er) high end DSLR.<\/p>\n

Video has been a curiosity for me, but I\u2019ve not done a lot with it.\u00a0 I enjoy the videos I see on the internet of people and pets doing silly things, but never really considered joining in.\u00a0 Quite recently, Marie suggested that I reconsider.<\/p>\n

I did some homework and decided on a Sony Handycam HDR-CX220.\u00a0 There are fancier models out there, but for what I will be doing I\u2019d be paying more for features I wouldn\u2019t use.\u00a0 There are cheaper brands and models out there, too\u2026 but reviews from several places on the web proved discouraging about reliability and\/or picture quality.\u00a0 This one seems to do what I want to do, and do it well, for a reasonable cost. That\u2019s called \u201cvalue\u201d.\u00a0 (Especially since when we bought it there was a $50 manufacturer\u2019s instant rebate in effect… BONUS!)
\n<\/p>\n

What I Like About the Sony Handycam<\/h1>\n

\"Sony<\/a>The thing that amazed me the most is the camera’s size: it\u2019s so small!\u00a0 It literally fits in the palm of my hand.\u00a0 When I\u2019m not using it I can slip it into a pocket of my pants (the baggy casual pants I wear around home: not so much with dress slacks or tight jeans) and have it at hand all the time.\u00a0 Which means it’s much more likely that I’ll use it.\u00a0 Having to run to another building, dig out a camera, pop in a battery and set it up pretty much shuts down taking spontaneous videos.\u00a0 If I planned to do professional video shoots it would be another matter.<\/p>\n

\"Sony<\/a>I have used video equipment before.\u00a0 I have a Sony camcorder that a relative gave us when he upgraded.\u00a0 When we got it I was amazed at its compact size and light weight compared to my last video recorder: a VHS model with a periscope sticking out the side.\u00a0 That monster must have weighed 10 pounds.\u00a0 I felt like someone from a TV news crew walking around with that thing on my shoulder.<\/p>\n

\"Old
Remember these? Whoof!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What really prevented me from using either of these very much was that they were both tape based, therefore editing raw footage into something polished required extra equipment or having the tapes digitized so I could edit them on my computer.\u00a0 More time, trouble and expense than it was worth for the silly little home videos I dabbled with.\u00a0 So, Steven Speilberg\u2026 your job was safe, trust me.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve only had this Sony Handycam a few days so I can\u2019t say much about longevity but I am impressed with the picture quality and ease of use. It offers two resolution settings: 60 FPS (frames per second) interlaced or 60 FPS progressive. The 60i setting produces video recommended for use on the web.\u00a0 But the pictures are still crisp and full colored with no pixilation (that blocky distortion that really low res videos get).\u00a0 The 60p setting is for watching at home on an HD TV or burning to blue-ray disk.<\/p>\n

\"Sony<\/a>All the set-up and selections are done using a small joystick type button on the LCD viewer panel.\u00a0 The controls that are used while filming are all right here: The Record\/Pause button is on the back under my thumb, the zoom control on top under my middle finger and there\u2019s a still shot button behind that for snapping stills even while shooting video.<\/p>\n

My first thought when I discovered that was, \u201cYeah, uh-huh: those are gonna be some *great* photographs\u2026\u201d but I\u2019m fairly impressed with them.\u00a0 Not what you get from a good DSLR, but at least as good as we get from any of our \u201cpocket\u201d cameras.\u00a0 There is no flash, but there is a low-lux setting for shooting or snapping in dim environments.<\/p>\n

It has a USB cable built into the hand strap that lets me very quickly connect to my computer to transfer pictures and videos \u2013 and recharge the battery off the computer.\u00a0 Or I can use a USB adaptor to plug it into a wall socket.\u00a0 This adaptor is sold separately, but I just borrow the one from my Kindle or one of the pocket cameras we have, they all work fine.<\/p>\n

This model does not have built-in memory, so I needed to buy an SD memory card.\u00a0 I got a 32 gig card that will provide me with more space than I normally need.\u00a0 I can also transfer video and photos to my computer by simply removing the SD card and sliding it into the reader in my laptop.\u00a0 Sony cautions against this as it could mess up the cameras media database.\u00a0 They prefer you use their free Play Memories Home software to manage your media.<\/p>\n

It does have a tripod socket and the LCD panel will pivot over to face the front so if I had any desire at all to video myself I could.\u00a0 It also has a DC in port (a DC adapter is sold separately) and a mini-HDMI port (cable included) for connecting directly to an HDTV.<\/p>\n

My only negative observations so far are the lens cover and the battery.<\/p>\n

The lens cover is a hatch that snaps open or closed, via a slidy thing on the side of the camera body, to protect the Carl Zeiss lens.\u00a0 And it works well.\u00a0 If I forget to open it, a notice shows up on the LCD screen.\u00a0 If I forget to close it, well\u2026 too bad.\u00a0 Finding a way to activate the lens cover when I open and close the LCD panel would be far more convenient and secure for the lenses.\u00a0 I’m forgetful.<\/p>\n

The camcorder came with an FV30 battery.\u00a0 It\u2019s a lithium ion battery and provides about an hour of shooting time.\u00a0 Quite sufficient for piddling around home.\u00a0 It takes about 3 hours to charge it again when fully depleted.\u00a0 Were I ever to go on a trip and want to record parts of it I\u2019d buy an aftermarket kit with two much larger batteries (FV50 at least, probably FV70) and a charger base that works in the car or a hotel room.\u00a0 I’d also get at least one extra SD Card, just in case I filled up the first one.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n