Sony DCR-SX45E camcorder review
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| DCR-SX45E is an affordable camcorder by Sony |
Sony DCR-SX45E is an ideal solution for recording just about any occasion, the ultra-compact 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 which makes it easier to capture low-light situations.
The Sony DCR-SX45 is a small and versatile standard definition camcorder that records onto Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo or SD and SDHC cards. It has many useful features such as a 3.0” touchscreen and stereo sound with a zoom microphone.
Sony DCR-SX45E features
Huge Zoom - The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens included in the SX45 has an extra long 60x zoom range (extendable to 70x without degraded image quality). If you choose to use the digital zoom option zoom range is increased to a gigantic 2000x.
3-inch Touchscreen LCD - The 7.5cm colour LCD monitor features intuitive touch screen technology. In addition, the power-on LCD function means the camera can always be at the ready.
Intelligent Auto - Never worry about fiddly camera setup again. The Intelligent Auto (iAUTO) mode stores information for 36 scene types, meaning that the camera will give the best results for just about any type of environment.
Face Detection - This mode makes sure all faces (up to 8 faces in any frame) are identified and given the correct exposure.
SteadyShot Active - The DCR-SX45 uses an advanced digital image stabilisation system which works at all zoom settings. The Active Mode compensated for larger shake movements such as when you’re walking while filming.
Great for Sharing - The SX45 has a built-in USB arm for easy web upload using PMB software (Picture Motion Browser) included in-camera. Browse through clips and images, burn to disc, email, and upload to social networking sites. The USB arm can also be used to charge your camera.
- LED illuminator
- Direct copy to DVD without PC with optional Sony DVDirect Express writer
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| Sony DCR-SX45E review and specifications |
Sony DCR-SX45E specifications
- Product Type: Camcorder
- Connector Type: 1 x composite video/audio output 1 x Hi-Speed USB
- Expansion Slot(s): 1 x Memory Stick PRO Duo 1 x SD Memory Card
- Self Timer: Yes
- Self Timer Delay: 10 sec
- Search Modes: Index search, face index search
- Built-in Light: Yes
- Image Storage: JPEG 640 x 480
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution: 800 Kpix
- Camcorder Effective Video Resolution: 560 Kpix
- Camcorder Effective Still Resolution: 0.56 Mpix
- Widescreen Video Capture: Yes
- Media Type: Flash card
- Colour Support: Colour
- Optical Sensor Type: Advanced HAD CCD
- Optical Sensor Size: 1/8"
- Min Illumination: 3 lux
- Analogue Video Format: PAL
- Digital Zoom: 2000 x
- Shooting Modes: Digital photo mode
- Shooting Programs: Spotlight, landscape, portrait mode, fireworks, sports mode, twilight mode, sunset, candle, beach, snow, sunrise
- Image Stabiliser: Electronic (Steady Shot with Active Mode)
- Max Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed: 1/4 sec
- Exposure Metering: Multi-segment, spot
- Exposure Modes: Program, automatic
- Face Detection: Yes
- White Balance: Custom, automatic, presets
- White Balance Presets: Indoor, outdoor
- Digital Video Format: MPEG-2
- Still Image Format: JPEG
- Video Capture: MPEG-2 - 720 x 480 - 50 fps - 9Mbps MPEG-2 - 720 x 480 - 50 fps - 6Mbps MPEG-2 - 720 x 480 - 50 fps - 3 Mbps
- Operating System Support: MS Windows 7, MS Windows XP SP3, MS Windows Vista
- Peripheral Devices: USB port, CD-ROM Drive
- Type: Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - f/1.8-6.0
- Focal Length: 1.8 mm - 108 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera: 39 - 2340mm
- Focus Adjustment: Automatic, manual
- Auto Focus: TTL contrast detection
- Lens Aperture: F/1.8-6.0
- Optical Zoom: 60 x
- Zoom Adjustment: Motorised drive
- Filter Size: 37 mm
- Lens Manufacturer: Carl Zeiss
- Features: Built-in lens shield
- Supported Battery: Sony NP-FV30
- Supported Battery Details: 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 500 mAh ( included )
- Type: LCD display - TFT active matrix - 3" - colour
- Display Form Factor: Rotating
- Display Format: 230,000 pixels
- Microphone Operation Mode: Stereo
- Microphone Features: Zoom, wind noise reduction, sensitivity control
- Software: Drivers & Utilities, Sony Picture Motion Browser
- Min Operating Temperature: 0 C
- Max Operating Temperature: 40 C
- Power Device: Power adapter - external
- Cables Included: USB cable A/V cable
- Width: 5.7 cm
- Depth: 12.4 cm
- Height: 5.2 cm
- Weight: 230 g
- Enclosure Color: Black
- USB 2.0 compatibility, touch-screen control, built-in speaker, auto power save, digital noise reduction, display brightness control, Scene Detection Technology, Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording, face detection, USB charging, Exif Print support, auto backlight compensation
Supported Flash Memory: SD Memory Card, Memory Stick PRO Duo, SDXC Memory Card, Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark2, SDHC Memory Card, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
Conclusion
DCR-SX45E is an affordable camcorder by Sony but it is definitely not the best you can find for this kind of money. Some of the test video taken showed lots of noise even in daylight conditions. For this reason we would not recommend Sony DCR-SX45E.
If you are looking for a nice cheap camera you better try one of the many Samsung choices in this price range.
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