Sony Handycam HDR-XR520VE review

Sony's Handycam HDR-XR500 series constitutes a pair of hard-disk-based AVCHD camcorders that integrate the dual firsts of built-in GPS and a new Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Although the GPS aspect isn't quite ready for prime time, the new sensor and G-series lens combination deliver great video quality. Toss in some improvements to Sony's SteadyShot image-stabilisation system, as well as a solid feature set, and you have a winning combination -- albeit one dragged down by the awkward touchscreen interface and high price.

The two models in the series are identical except for the size of their hard drive: the £930 HDR-XR500VE has a 120GB drive (storing 14.5 hours of best-quality video), while the £1,100 HDR-XR520VE doubles that to 240GB (storing 29.3 hours of video at best quality).

Design
Bigger and heavier than most consumer camcorders, the XR520VE will still fit in a loose jacket pocket, but you'll know it's there. Because of the size, though, it's as comfortable to grip as the camcorders of yesteryear, with a depression above the hard drive to sink your fingers into, and it feels particularly sturdy. All the door covers feel very solidly attached.

The electronic viewfinder pulls out and tilts up -- a welcome design that we rarely see anymore. Pulling it out can also turn on the camcorder

The zoom switch falls directly under your right ring finger, which pushes the surprisingly small photo button to the very corner, where it's fairly difficult to feel. Although the record button falls under your right thumb, the mode button, for switching between video and stills, is oddly positioned -- it's too high up to reach with your thumb and too far back to reach with your forefinger. You may have to use your left hand to switch modes. Towards the front of the unit on the top, is the five-channel mic (we'd rather see Sony put that space to use for a stereo mic with good separation), and behind it is a clever sliding cover that hides the accessory shoe. Behind that is a vanishing commodity: an electronic viewfinder, which pulls out and tilts up.

On the right side, under doors, sit a variety of ports and connectors. Towards the front is a proprietary jack for composite and component output, USB and mini HDMI, and towards the back are 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks.

There's a manual switch to turn the GPS on and off, to save power, but the camcorder could use a dedicated switch for the various SteadyShot modes as well

At the front of the camcorder, there's the big-barrelled lens with electronic lens cover, flanked by a flash (there's no built-in video light) and manual dial. Although you select the default function for the dial in the menus, to switch among the adjustments that the dial controls -- focus, exposure, auto-exposure shift, and white-balance shift -- you press the central button in and hold it. We had to refer to the slim documentation to worth that one out. The dial operates sufficiently responsively to control these features. One disappointment, though, is the lack of direct control over shutter speed, iris, or audio levels, such as similarly priced models offer.

The XR520VE incorporates a large, sharp 81mm (3.2-inch) display with home, zoom and record buttons on the bezel. In its recess sit the covered Memory Stick Duo Pro slot, display toggle, easy-operation button, direct-to-DVD button for use in conjunction with Sony's DVDirect Express VRD-P1 DVD writer, and speaker. There are also direct playback and power buttons. You can use the latter to override the on/off operation when you close the LCD or pull out the EVF.