Product Description

The HDR-UX5 2.1 Megapixel High Definition DVD Camcorder records straight to a 3-inch DVD-R, -RW, +RW & +R DL (Dual Layer) media formats. You can record 1080i high-definition video and capture every second with 10x optical/80x digital zoom and in 5.1ch surround sound. The HDR-UX5 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video. 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS Sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video 1080 lines of resolution in HD Mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode. Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. The 2.7-inch Wide (16:9) LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution for multiple viewing angles. The picture stabilization system uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera Shake without compromising picture quality. SteadyShot Image Stabilization Scene Modes - Beach, Candle, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, and Sunrise & Sunset Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output HDMI Connection Output Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens Viewfinder - Wide (16 - 9), Color (123K Pixels) Built-in Microphone - Stereo 35mm Equivalent Optics/Lens - 41.3-485mm (16 - 9 Camera Mode), 50.5-594mm (4 - 3 Camera Mode), 40.4-404mm (16 - 9 Memory Mode) and 37-370mm (4 - 3 Memory Mode) Shutter Speed - Auto, 1/2 - 1/500 (Scene Selection Mode) Dimensions - 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 5 3/8 inch (82 x 82 x 134mm) Weight - 1 pounds 5 ounces (600 grams) with disc and battery

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1509 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: HDR-UX5
• Released on: 2007-03-15
• Dimensions: 3.20 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• Record 1080i high-definition video directly to DVD
• 2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor; Real-Time HD Codec engine
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens; 10x optical/80x digital zoom
• 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Clear Photo Plus LCD
• DVD-R/-RW/+RW and +R DL (Dual Layer) compatible

Manufacturer Description
Record 1080i high-definition video directly to a 3-inch DVD (sold separately). The HDR-UX5 supports DVD-R/- RW/+RW/+R DL (Dual Layer) media formats. Capture every second with 10x optical/80x digital zoom and in 5.1-channel surround sound. You can even create 4-megapixel still images.

HDR-UX5 Highlights

2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor The 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution in HD Mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode) and 4-megapixel still image performance. Unlike traditional CCD Imagers, CMOS sensors require less power and provide better battery performance.

Switchable HD/SD format recording The HDR-UX5 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on standard 3-inch DVD media.

Real-Time HD Codec engine Sony developed a Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system with reduced energy consumption and compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. This engine provides efficient MPEG2 compression, and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format, so that High Definition video can be recorded on the same MiniDV cassettes as are used for SD recording.

x.v. Color x.v.Color can capture or display nearly twice as many (1.8x) viewable colors than currently possible. This provides a more accurate and vivid color range, for a more natural, lifelike overall experience.

DVD format video recording The DVD recording format, in both MPEG2 (SD) and AVCHD delivers digital picture and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV and High Definition, but on DVD. Playback of these DVDs couldn't be simpler (depending upon the playback device used). After finalizing the disc in the camcorder, the disc can play back in most DVD Players (SD), computers, Blu-Ray Disc players and even PlayStation 3 video game consoles.

DVD-R/-RW/+RW and +R DL (Dual Layer) compatible The HDR-UX5 is compatible with a variety of DVD formats allowing the easy of use and simplicity found in DVD media. With DVD+RW media there is not a need to finalize the disc (minimum recording time required). Simply remove the finalized disc and insert the media into a compatible Blu- Ray Disc Player.

10x optical/80x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Sonnar T* lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfectg renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare.

2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Clear Photo Plus LCD The 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with imporoved resoltuion. The 211K-pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback, and the widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier.

Smooth slow record By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 3 seconds allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight. In addition, record an audio track to narrate what is being seen in the video.

Memory Stick Duo media slot Capture still images up to 2304 x 1728 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo media for easy trasfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick media devices.

Dual record While recording video in high-definition, you have the ability to capture a 2.3-megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick Duo media.

Super SteadyShot image stabilization system Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera "shake" without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems.

Tele Macro function Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocused so that the subject stands out.

Additional Features

• Active interface shoe
• Built-in intelligent flash
• Super NightShot infrared system
• Scene Selection modes
• Fader effects
• Picture effects
• InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system
• One-touch wide-angle shooting
• Easy Handycam button
• On-screen zoom and record buttons
• Manual focus
• Multi-language menu

Customer Reviews

Amazing color, amazing Audio
The combination of ClearVid CMOS and x.v. Color standard makes the difference. Supposed to capture 1.8X colors more than the human eye can recognize and i agree with that. Your LCD with HDMI will blow your eyes (component is nice too). I never tought my TV can display those colors, clear, crispy, vivid, you got to see it to believe it.

You can capture still images at 4MP even while you're recording (you need a MStick Duo). The pics are ok but doesn't replace a semipro digital camera. But let me tell you that you can leave your digital camera at home.

Your home movies will be flavored with dolby digital audio, so if you have a home teather you will see your friends in the scene while you're hearing sounds from other directions.

Slow motion mode lets you capture up to 240 fps for just 3 seconds, that's a 12 seconds sequence with no lost frames at normal playback, interesting for sports or any fast move.

The only con is the AVCHD format, you will need a PS3 or Blue Ray player in order to play the Double Layer DVD but can use the camcorder as player. Anyways you can use standards mini DVDs.

Is a good deal, i think camcordes twice the price are not much better than this.

Sony AVCHD means Sony Blu Ray disc player
The price of this SONY HDR-UX5 camcorder is a bit high. Also, you cannot just purchase this camcorder without also getting a Sony blu-ray disc player because you need a Sony blu-ray disc player to play the disc on your tv set if you are shooting with high def. Sony uses a video compression scheme called AVCHD to encode the high def video, so your disc with AVCHD video cannot be playback with regular dvd player. You can use the software that comes with the camcorder to playback the AVCHD video on your pc but I would rather watch my high def video on the big screen. On the pc, image size for AVC HD is 1440x1080 and MPEG2 SD is 720x480 which is about 4 in by 2 in. The quality of the video and audio is good and the 4M still photo is acceptable. In-door video is good if you have proper lighting. You can shoot at the screen of your tv set and get comparable result when you show the recording later on the tv set. Auto flash has three settings (high/normal/low) to give you sufficient lighting for still photo. I do not have problem shooting photo indoor.

The camcorder ($700) is expensive. On top of that, you need money for the accessories.

1. You have two choices of video format- HD OR SD. With HD, you should get the sony blu-ray disc player because the High def is AVCHD 1080i and can be playback on your tv with sony blu-ray disc player. Without a sony blu-ray disc player, you can playback the high def video by connecting the video camera to your tv set with the supplied component video cable. You will not be able to play "the disc" by itself using a regular dvd player if it is recorded with HD video. With SD, it is MPEG2 video. So, for SD, you can play your 8cm disc without the blu-ray disc player. For high def, you should get a Sony blu-ray disc player. I think of the Sony blu-ray disc player as an important accessory to the UX5.

2. Using the supplied battery(FH60), the recording time for SD (on SP mode) is about 75 min. I upgraded the battery to FH70 and I expect to get about 150 min. So I do not need to run back to my hotel to charge the battery when I was only halfway through shooting at the Great Wall. The mini dvd+rw disc records 30 min (single-sided, 1.4GB). If you want to record continuously on a single disc, consider using dvd+r DL. In SD (on SP mode), it is about 55 min.

3. If you record with dvd-rw disc, you can split or trim the video and that is all the editing function you got from sony. Or, you can use Nero 8 Ultra Edition to edit High Definition content in AVCHD format. Roxio easy media creator 10 and Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus will edit AVDHD. I don't know whether EMC 10 down-converted your footage. Certainly, it is much less expensive than doing it on the mac with Final Cut Studio 2. On the mac, you need Intel Core 2 Duo, Quartz Extreme graphics card, Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later, at least 2GB of RAM, Final Cut Pro 6 which is included in FCS 2. If instead, you use imovie '08, which is included with iLife '08; it will downgrade the high def to 480i. To me, it means it is not high def anymore.

So, as I've said before, AVCHD means get a Sony blu-ray disc player, shoot in high def and show your footage on the big screen like it is meant to be.

[...].

Pretty good but it could be better
I upgraded from a Sony DCR-HC30E that was 3 years old to this new HD camera and these are the pros and cons that I have found:

Pros:
* High definition. Pretty amazing quality on good light conditions even when conected to a 32" Samsung LCD TV that is only HD Ready (not full 1080i)
* 16x9 rather than 4x3 format
* Power adaptor is smaller (important when travelling)although the power cable could also be shorter and smaller.
* Faster transfer to PC (not at viewing speed like old tape camera)
* More efficient for archiving the original videos in external HD (about 1/3 of disk space).
* Direct one-cable connection to TV with Standard HDMI connector
* Simple PC Software provided to view AVCHD files and to convert into regular Video DVDs (although it can take the whole night to genereate a DVD of 15 min)

Cons:
* Much bigger and heavier than my old camera. Now I need to think twice before taking it for my next trip.
* Being realistic can only record 15 min instead of 1 hour of video, before changing the DVD.
* Editing AVCHD files require a lot of processing power. Now I need to upgrade both my PC and my video editing software.
* Not possible to record both high def and standard def in the same DVD
* All disks have to be finalized before being able to read on a PC, and this is a slow operation that can take up to 5 minutes. So better to transfer videos through USB if you haven't had to remove the DVD from the camera because you ran out of disk space.
* Battery duration. Battery supplied is NP-FH60 rather than NP-FH70 and sometimes won't last for 2 DVDs of 15 minutes each.
* Only as emergency photo camera since quality of photos is way below my old Canon Ixus 2 Mpixel camera.
* Photos taken during video recording are even worse
* Memstick is not provided, so unless you buy one, you cannot even try it as a photo camera.
* I bought a Mem stick of 1GB. This is the same capacity than the DVDs, but you cannot recrd video to the memory stick!
* Camera is slow to start recording since you press the record button, so you may loose the first two seconds. In addition it is slow powering up.
* No multi TV System. I bough in the US and therefore is NTSC only, but I want to use it in Asia Pacific and in Europe. Fortunately I have a multisystem TV.