Released in 2010, Sony’s new high definition digital camcorders are full-featured products for consumers. In comparing Sony HDR-CX550V and HDR-XR550V camcorders, both share most of the same features, with the type of memory, and the storage capacity being the main difference.
One of the prime considerations when considering purchasing a camcorder is the amount of memory. In the case of the two camcorders in question, both have large, expandable storage. The HDR-CX550V has an internal storage of 64 gigabyte flash memory, allowing recording of approximately 26 hours of high definition recording. The HDR-XR550V uses a 240gigabyte hard drive, which allows up to 100 hours of recording in HD.
If more storage is required, both camcorders are upgradeable with memory cards. Whereas previous Sony products only supported the Memory Stick Duo, and associated formats, these camcorders also support the non-proprietary SD/SDHC form.
Video recording for both of the camcorders supports the high definition 1920 x 1080 resolution. Users can playback videos on televisions in 1080/60p format, using the built in HDMI port. Additional purchase of an adaptor may be required, as the port is in the mini HDMI form. USB 2.0 is also supported for transferring photos and videos to a PC.
In addition to their video capture capabilities, both camcorders are capable of capturing still digital images. Used as a digital still camera, either camera can take photos up to 12 megapixel quality. Each camcorder is capable of taking still photos, while shooting video simultaneously; however the quality is reduced in this mode to 8.3 megapixels.
Both the HDR-CX550V and HDR-XR550V feature a 3.5″ TruBlack LCD screen. The TruBlack technology is designed to improve outdoor viewing by reducing glare. A . 27″ viewfinder allows shooting without using the larger display. The lens in both camcorders is a 26.3mm lens that supports shooting of wide angle images. 10x optical zoom, and 120x digital zoom is supported by both.
Other features shared by both camcorders include Face Detection technology, for capturing facial images correctly. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization reduces the effects of camera shake. Geotagging of images and videos is enabled by the built in gps receiver, for adding location data.
Ultimately, whether you choose to purchase the HDR-CX550V, or the HDR-XR550V may come down to the amount of memory you plan to use. Both camcorders support High Definition recording, the capacity to take high quality still images. The difference between the two models apart from the price point and amount of memory is negligible.
Get ready for high quality videos on your next family vacation. The Sony HDR-CX550V could be the right camcorder for you. You can also check out the Sony HDR-XR550V Review to see which camcorder suits you better.