Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I've owned many, manny camcorders: pro; prosumer; consumer. This is among the best-constructed, best-designed and user friendly with extraordinary zoom for a palm cam and very intuitive menu. Weakest feature, unsurprisingly, the viewfinder. I haven't shot /edited enough to compare/judge picture/sound quality but I'm expecting a lot.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Mainly shoot events, Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteens, etc... Overall it's O.K. and in the right hands it can get you through an event. But as a constant working "Tool" im not sure this is the camcorder of choice. First off alot of the adjustments that a "Semi Pro" or "Pro" need to make are menu driven. Also it's a bit too small to really work with. Though there are upsides to using small equipment. Out doors it great, indoors with adequate light its good, indoors with low like it's alright. Just my opinion... Check it out for yourself and then decide if this camcorder is right for you.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I am almost completely happy with this purchase. I love the solid body, the weight of the camera is just right, and it small! I work for an active travel company and it the perfect camera to get high quality, stable handheld shots of outdoor activities. We also do a lot of interviews, and the included shotgun mic is more than adequate.
It's pretty decent in low light... not amazing by any means, but its also nice to have the LED headlight without having to worry about attaching something bulky.
The projector function is a real fun party trick... and I thought that was all it was going to be, but it turns out I use it on almost every shoot. (when I can find a dark enough area to display it on). Other people have mentioned it's useful to review shots at the end of the day, but it's also useful to review shots with your subjects during a shoot.. it ads to their excitement and helps get smiles happening.
Great to have almost a hundred gigabytes internal memory, and that it also takes a memory stick or SD card.

I would not even consider NOT having this camera, but that being said, there are a couple things that could make it better.
1. The viewfinder is pretty much worthless, unfortunately. Especially when using the large battery... you can't even get your eye to the window. It's nice to be able to flip the LCD towards your subject on certain types of shoots, so they can see themselves, but that means you can't see your shot anymore.
2. I love having a handle, and probably shoot more scenes like that than I do holding it like a traditional palm-corder. Unfortunately Sony has not put a record/pause button or a zoom button on the handle. Not a deal breaker, but I constantly find myself wishing for this.
3. The lens hood seems a little like an afterthought... it's by far the most fragile part of the camera, I feel like its going to snap off. And it blocks the stereo mic although I'm not sure if that affects the audio quality much, it just feels wrong, so unless you've got a situation where there is stray light ruining your shot, probably just take it off.
4. I really think it would be nice to be able to go full manual... as it is you can select the function to use manually (exposure, iris, focus, shutter, etc) but selecting one moves the other functions to auto. Again, not a deal breaker but it would be nice to have DSLR type of control when you need it.
5. The knob to select/control the manual function is a little awkwardly placed. If the lens hood is on, it is pretty tight to get your finger on it.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Very good

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

This is my third Sony video camcorder. I started with a TRV350, then a CX260V and now the HXR-NX30.
I didn't like the TRV350 because it started eating the tapes and I lost my Alaska footage.The CX260V is a nice camera but smaller than I like.The NX30U solves most of my dislikes of those cameras.Out of the box I liked the matte finish of the NX30U over the high gloss of the CX260V. With the microphone adapter the camera is well balanced but not too heavy. Holding the camera by the handle provides very natural action during off tripod use. The recording capacity of the camera at a total of over 150 GB's means I can shoot lots of scenery before having to download to a storage device. The manual controls will be sufficient for my purposes and are easy to access and adjust. I shoot video of my travels around the Northwest US area. I use the camera for quick shooting of the animals we come across during our travels and the great scenic vistas of the areas we travel. I miss the interval recording capability of the TRV350, but so far that's the only negative for me. I also purchased the Sony conversion lenses for those times I need a little more coverage.
We are preparing for this years travels and I'm looking forward to taking video with my new camcorder.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I use this for wedding and sports videos, along with live performances. (ie comedy/music) this little guy is amazing. The floating lense is such a benefit to movement need for such production. I defenetly recommend this camera to everyone!!!! Great balue

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

This is a camera that has a lot of potential. I've only used it once during the filming of a play but found that the quality of the video to be quite good.
This camera attracted me for two very important things; the floating lens and the XLR inputs. I won't say the floating lens would replace a Glidecam but the stability is better than most electronic stabilization. And the XLR audio inputs make it a more professional camera. I only wish that it had better manual settings and it would be a plus for me to have lanc control. All in all a great extra camera for back up or a hand-held camera to be used in a wedding situation.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I use the Sony NX30 for my weekly live streaming program. It has all he features I needed: compact size, HDMI, hi definition video, shotgun mic and XLR audio inputs. But the extra features are icing on the cake: image stabilization, LED lights, and a projector! I've recommended it to all my friends.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I own a small business, dealing with webcasting and mulit camera productions. Up until buying this camera, everything we shot and edited with was standard definition. This camera has opened the door for us to enter the world of HD without being overwhelmed by some of the quirks of editing with true AVCHD clips.

I love the size of the camera as well as (most importantly) the quality that it provides. I won't get into all the specs, those are available all over the place...but I will breifly touch on what I like most:

- TRUE HD!!
- small & discreet
- balanced optical stabilization!! so great for run and gun shooters and people who hand-hold shoot a lot
- 96gb makes a SD card a nice, but not necessary, addition
- Projector. Boom.
- XLR/Handle combo is great!

Switching from SD to using HD is a hurdle, but this camera is great. There is NO LANC, and NO S-Video outputs so those were the biggest let downs for me personally. The camera does come with different zooming options (small zoom rocker, touch screen and wireless remote) but a LANC is great.

Also, all the audio options! A whole different world with the XLR attachments. Fantastic! Great video with poor audio can make or break a shoot...don't let that happen to you and get the Sony NX30u! The shotgun mic is decent (there are better out there but definitely not bad) and the regular mic is standard and decent as well.

A lot of reviews talk about the touch screen...the calibration feature helps the screen be more responsive, and I haven't had a problem yet. Not an Iphone, but good nonetheless!

Overall: My rating is a 9.5/10 - Great for intermediate/professional producers stepping into the world of HD camcorders. And with great B&H incentives and service you can't really go wrong!!

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Okay, so if the camcorder part is worth about xxx and the finger projector is worth a hundred, that would be a total of around xxx, right? What do you get for the extra 1100 here from Sony, I wonder? Anyone?

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Actually I am a photographer for a local newspaper, since it was time to update my equipment I decided to resell some of my equipment back to B&H. After they received my equipment they credited me with a higher amount as previously quoted. So then I decided to buy a video camera. Since my last video camera was DCR-VX1000, I wanted a replacement for that and I came up with NX30.

This is a terrific video cam, the video quality is outstanding as is the audio and the photography. The video quality in AVCHD is extremely sharp and in vibrant colors. The photography with 24
mgp are also very sharp with brilliant colors, no photoshop needed here. The stabilization in this camera is phenomenal.
You can take this camera and shoot videos while you are running and the outcome is still great. This is something I have not seen before.

Audio quality is great, but needs a better wind protection. Shooting through the view finder, needs some getting used to, since it is a little small. With the attached NP-FV100 battery I find it hard to look through the view finder.

Since I am not shooting documentary for the National Geographic, I find this to be the perfect high quality video camera for me. I also use the photography part for my newspaper work. This camera is small, powerful and easy to carry around with you anywhere. You can also detach the shotgun mike if you want to be less noticeable. Did I mentioned a 96 GB internal memory and also an additional slot for a external memory stick.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I just like how it feels in my hands and the picture quality is great.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I am new to making videos and so far I've found this camera forgiving and easy to use. I've done several indoor interviews with it and in spite of some concern I had originally about low light, the shots have come out well. In addition, I've been filming outdoors in winter, which I was concerned about given the all-white landscape, but those shots have turned out as well. There is a lot more to learn, but overall I'm very happy with the purchase. Using the touchscreen for almost all manual adjustments is a bit onerous, but not that bad.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

It's a really amazing camera, the price is excellent quality, very practical and easy to carry, ideal for shooting weddings, documentaries, sports and home videos, the image stabilizer is very good, the capacity of your hard drive is ideal, is advisable to buy an extra battery is ideal for video recording in places where you can not record with larger cameras

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I bought it for my friend to use as a home camera (he wanted the best for this price). I used it for 2 days to test it out and it is awesome. I think you can use it for weddings and such if the need arises. Great quality and plus the projector is awesome. The only negative about the product is the touch screen is not as responsive as i'm used to (maybe i'm spoiled by the smart phones). But i would still buy the product again if i had to since touch screen isn't such a big deal.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

We use the camera primarily for oral history on site recording. We use a second HD camera to get close up and pan shots. The NX30 works well outdoors as well and the floating lense is great. We prefer the onboard hard drive over flash cards. The mic works well but depending on the environment you are shooting in, you may want to use an external mic. Overall - good little camera.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I shoot a lot of B-Roll, but also capture people on camera for quick comments. I opted for the available small hand tripod mount with remote controls for zooming, etc., which has worked well. I purchased the recommended tripod, too and it's a joy. Overall, this camera does more than any camera I've ever owned. Excellent mic resources and with a built in lamp, it's handy when you're in a dark place and need that extra, though I was impressed with available like as a resources. I miss lugging the camera over my should, but what this camera does makes up for any physical shortcomings. I would like Porta Brace cover for this unit.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

This camera has everything you would want, but it didn't have the one thing I needed. The normal AV Out Jack usually supports a cord by Sony that can output S-Video if you desire. It appears that because of the projector function, this is now not available. I use the cameras for sports productions, and we take feeds on a standard definition system, so this was a big problem and forced us to send it back. Just a fyi if you need the same functionality.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I wanted a camera that I can use for video Production that would not scream 'Amateur'. I was amazed at how great a picture any amateur can make with this. The zoom controls are truly 'pro' and the output capabilities are extraordinary.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I got this camera as a package in my journalism program, thinking that it's going to look and feel like a cheap camcorder. I'm wrong! I now use this for work on a regular basis (news, features, etc.), and I've been more than happy with the results.

1. Audio allows for 2 XLR lines for mics! Awesome!

2. Built in LED light works wonderfully.

3. Auto settings are great 90% of the time. Would have to adjust manually when the lighting is tricky (cloudy day, bad location, shades, etc.)

4. I capture my videos in SD (because of limitation in software - FCP 7 are slow in processing HD videos). However, I think FCPX are better in processing HD vids.

5. Built in memory allows for quite a bit of of video room!

Now, of course, with everything electronic, there is always a downside. I really appreciate Sony to have come up with such an advanced camera in a small package - this is perfect for field jounalism as it gets rather difficult to be lugging around heavy cameras around all day! Also, can be disguised as a regular camcorder (with all attachments stripped) to shoot in areas where professional cameras are otherwise not allowed.

Cons:

1. Small cameras mean, not a lot of space to be attaching stuff to. Whenever I have to attach 2 audio receivers (for lavaliers), they would have to squeeze around the handle, which means my hands can't fit in it. Awkward positioning!

Hmmm, that's the only con I can really think of for now.

All in all, a great camera for professional use! It's definitely broadcast quality, and I am happy with the ease in usage. Looking forward for the next line in Sony NXCAM series...

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I've owned many, manny camcorders: pro; prosumer; consumer. This is among the best-constructed, best-designed and user friendly with extraordinary zoom for a palm cam and very intuitive menu. Weakest feature, unsurprisingly, the viewfinder. I haven't shot /edited enough to compare/judge picture/sound quality but I'm expecting a lot.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Mainly shoot events, Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteens, etc... Overall it's O.K. and in the right hands it can get you through an event. But as a constant working "Tool" im not sure this is the camcorder of choice. First off alot of the adjustments that a "Semi Pro" or "Pro" need to make are menu driven. Also it's a bit too small to really work with. Though there are upsides to using small equipment. Out doors it great, indoors with adequate light its good, indoors with low like it's alright. Just my opinion... Check it out for yourself and then decide if this camcorder is right for you.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I am almost completely happy with this purchase. I love the solid body, the weight of the camera is just right, and it small! I work for an active travel company and it the perfect camera to get high quality, stable handheld shots of outdoor activities. We also do a lot of interviews, and the included shotgun mic is more than adequate.
It's pretty decent in low light... not amazing by any means, but its also nice to have the LED headlight without having to worry about attaching something bulky.
The projector function is a real fun party trick... and I thought that was all it was going to be, but it turns out I use it on almost every shoot. (when I can find a dark enough area to display it on). Other people have mentioned it's useful to review shots at the end of the day, but it's also useful to review shots with your subjects during a shoot.. it ads to their excitement and helps get smiles happening.
Great to have almost a hundred gigabytes internal memory, and that it also takes a memory stick or SD card.

I would not even consider NOT having this camera, but that being said, there are a couple things that could make it better.
1. The viewfinder is pretty much worthless, unfortunately. Especially when using the large battery... you can't even get your eye to the window. It's nice to be able to flip the LCD towards your subject on certain types of shoots, so they can see themselves, but that means you can't see your shot anymore.
2. I love having a handle, and probably shoot more scenes like that than I do holding it like a traditional palm-corder. Unfortunately Sony has not put a record/pause button or a zoom button on the handle. Not a deal breaker, but I constantly find myself wishing for this.
3. The lens hood seems a little like an afterthought... it's by far the most fragile part of the camera, I feel like its going to snap off. And it blocks the stereo mic although I'm not sure if that affects the audio quality much, it just feels wrong, so unless you've got a situation where there is stray light ruining your shot, probably just take it off.
4. I really think it would be nice to be able to go full manual... as it is you can select the function to use manually (exposure, iris, focus, shutter, etc) but selecting one moves the other functions to auto. Again, not a deal breaker but it would be nice to have DSLR type of control when you need it.
5. The knob to select/control the manual function is a little awkwardly placed. If the lens hood is on, it is pretty tight to get your finger on it.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Very good

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

This is my third Sony video camcorder. I started with a TRV350, then a CX260V and now the HXR-NX30.
I didn't like the TRV350 because it started eating the tapes and I lost my Alaska footage.The CX260V is a nice camera but smaller than I like.The NX30U solves most of my dislikes of those cameras.Out of the box I liked the matte finish of the NX30U over the high gloss of the CX260V. With the microphone adapter the camera is well balanced but not too heavy. Holding the camera by the handle provides very natural action during off tripod use. The recording capacity of the camera at a total of over 150 GB's means I can shoot lots of scenery before having to download to a storage device. The manual controls will be sufficient for my purposes and are easy to access and adjust. I shoot video of my travels around the Northwest US area. I use the camera for quick shooting of the animals we come across during our travels and the great scenic vistas of the areas we travel. I miss the interval recording capability of the TRV350, but so far that's the only negative for me. I also purchased the Sony conversion lenses for those times I need a little more coverage.
We are preparing for this years travels and I'm looking forward to taking video with my new camcorder.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I use this for wedding and sports videos, along with live performances. (ie comedy/music) this little guy is amazing. The floating lense is such a benefit to movement need for such production. I defenetly recommend this camera to everyone!!!! Great balue

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

This is a camera that has a lot of potential. I've only used it once during the filming of a play but found that the quality of the video to be quite good.
This camera attracted me for two very important things; the floating lens and the XLR inputs. I won't say the floating lens would replace a Glidecam but the stability is better than most electronic stabilization. And the XLR audio inputs make it a more professional camera. I only wish that it had better manual settings and it would be a plus for me to have lanc control. All in all a great extra camera for back up or a hand-held camera to be used in a wedding situation.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I use the Sony NX30 for my weekly live streaming program. It has all he features I needed: compact size, HDMI, hi definition video, shotgun mic and XLR audio inputs. But the extra features are icing on the cake: image stabilization, LED lights, and a projector! I've recommended it to all my friends.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I own a small business, dealing with webcasting and mulit camera productions. Up until buying this camera, everything we shot and edited with was standard definition. This camera has opened the door for us to enter the world of HD without being overwhelmed by some of the quirks of editing with true AVCHD clips.

I love the size of the camera as well as (most importantly) the quality that it provides. I won't get into all the specs, those are available all over the place...but I will breifly touch on what I like most:

- TRUE HD!!
- small & discreet
- balanced optical stabilization!! so great for run and gun shooters and people who hand-hold shoot a lot
- 96gb makes a SD card a nice, but not necessary, addition
- Projector. Boom.
- XLR/Handle combo is great!

Switching from SD to using HD is a hurdle, but this camera is great. There is NO LANC, and NO S-Video outputs so those were the biggest let downs for me personally. The camera does come with different zooming options (small zoom rocker, touch screen and wireless remote) but a LANC is great.

Also, all the audio options! A whole different world with the XLR attachments. Fantastic! Great video with poor audio can make or break a shoot...don't let that happen to you and get the Sony NX30u! The shotgun mic is decent (there are better out there but definitely not bad) and the regular mic is standard and decent as well.

A lot of reviews talk about the touch screen...the calibration feature helps the screen be more responsive, and I haven't had a problem yet. Not an Iphone, but good nonetheless!

Overall: My rating is a 9.5/10 - Great for intermediate/professional producers stepping into the world of HD camcorders. And with great B&H incentives and service you can't really go wrong!!

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Okay, so if the camcorder part is worth about xxx and the finger projector is worth a hundred, that would be a total of around xxx, right? What do you get for the extra 1100 here from Sony, I wonder? Anyone?

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

Actually I am a photographer for a local newspaper, since it was time to update my equipment I decided to resell some of my equipment back to B&H. After they received my equipment they credited me with a higher amount as previously quoted. So then I decided to buy a video camera. Since my last video camera was DCR-VX1000, I wanted a replacement for that and I came up with NX30.

This is a terrific video cam, the video quality is outstanding as is the audio and the photography. The video quality in AVCHD is extremely sharp and in vibrant colors. The photography with 24
mgp are also very sharp with brilliant colors, no photoshop needed here. The stabilization in this camera is phenomenal.
You can take this camera and shoot videos while you are running and the outcome is still great. This is something I have not seen before.

Audio quality is great, but needs a better wind protection. Shooting through the view finder, needs some getting used to, since it is a little small. With the attached NP-FV100 battery I find it hard to look through the view finder.

Since I am not shooting documentary for the National Geographic, I find this to be the perfect high quality video camera for me. I also use the photography part for my newspaper work. This camera is small, powerful and easy to carry around with you anywhere. You can also detach the shotgun mike if you want to be less noticeable. Did I mentioned a 96 GB internal memory and also an additional slot for a external memory stick.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I just like how it feels in my hands and the picture quality is great.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I am new to making videos and so far I've found this camera forgiving and easy to use. I've done several indoor interviews with it and in spite of some concern I had originally about low light, the shots have come out well. In addition, I've been filming outdoors in winter, which I was concerned about given the all-white landscape, but those shots have turned out as well. There is a lot more to learn, but overall I'm very happy with the purchase. Using the touchscreen for almost all manual adjustments is a bit onerous, but not that bad.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

It's a really amazing camera, the price is excellent quality, very practical and easy to carry, ideal for shooting weddings, documentaries, sports and home videos, the image stabilizer is very good, the capacity of your hard drive is ideal, is advisable to buy an extra battery is ideal for video recording in places where you can not record with larger cameras

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I bought it for my friend to use as a home camera (he wanted the best for this price). I used it for 2 days to test it out and it is awesome. I think you can use it for weddings and such if the need arises. Great quality and plus the projector is awesome. The only negative about the product is the touch screen is not as responsive as i'm used to (maybe i'm spoiled by the smart phones). But i would still buy the product again if i had to since touch screen isn't such a big deal.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

We use the camera primarily for oral history on site recording. We use a second HD camera to get close up and pan shots. The NX30 works well outdoors as well and the floating lense is great. We prefer the onboard hard drive over flash cards. The mic works well but depending on the environment you are shooting in, you may want to use an external mic. Overall - good little camera.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I shoot a lot of B-Roll, but also capture people on camera for quick comments. I opted for the available small hand tripod mount with remote controls for zooming, etc., which has worked well. I purchased the recommended tripod, too and it's a joy. Overall, this camera does more than any camera I've ever owned. Excellent mic resources and with a built in lamp, it's handy when you're in a dark place and need that extra, though I was impressed with available like as a resources. I miss lugging the camera over my should, but what this camera does makes up for any physical shortcomings. I would like Porta Brace cover for this unit.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

This camera has everything you would want, but it didn't have the one thing I needed. The normal AV Out Jack usually supports a cord by Sony that can output S-Video if you desire. It appears that because of the projector function, this is now not available. I use the cameras for sports productions, and we take feeds on a standard definition system, so this was a big problem and forced us to send it back. Just a fyi if you need the same functionality.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I wanted a camera that I can use for video Production that would not scream 'Amateur'. I was amazed at how great a picture any amateur can make with this. The zoom controls are truly 'pro' and the output capabilities are extraordinary.

Comments about Sony 96GB HXR-NX30 Palm Size NXCAM HD Camcorder with Projector:

I got this camera as a package in my journalism program, thinking that it's going to look and feel like a cheap camcorder. I'm wrong! I now use this for work on a regular basis (news, features, etc.), and I've been more than happy with the results.

1. Audio allows for 2 XLR lines for mics! Awesome!

2. Built in LED light works wonderfully.

3. Auto settings are great 90% of the time. Would have to adjust manually when the lighting is tricky (cloudy day, bad location, shades, etc.)

4. I capture my videos in SD (because of limitation in software - FCP 7 are slow in processing HD videos). However, I think FCPX are better in processing HD vids.

5. Built in memory allows for quite a bit of of video room!

Now, of course, with everything electronic, there is always a downside. I really appreciate Sony to have come up with such an advanced camera in a small package - this is perfect for field jounalism as it gets rather difficult to be lugging around heavy cameras around all day! Also, can be disguised as a regular camcorder (with all attachments stripped) to shoot in areas where professional cameras are otherwise not allowed.

Cons:

1. Small cameras mean, not a lot of space to be attaching stuff to. Whenever I have to attach 2 audio receivers (for lavaliers), they would have to squeeze around the handle, which means my hands can't fit in it. Awkward positioning!

Hmmm, that's the only con I can really think of for now.

All in all, a great camera for professional use! It's definitely broadcast quality, and I am happy with the ease in usage. Looking forward for the next line in Sony NXCAM series...