HDR-CX405

I am an aspiring actor who purchased this camera and a few other miscellaneous products to aid me in making my own indie films and this camera would be just what you need... The camera is lightweight and compact which means you can easily take it wherever you want without any hassle, although I wouldn't recommend dropping it as you will probably destroy it. The battery lasts about 2 hours which is brilliant for when I am filming for a long period of time, the battery also only takes about 30 minutes to charge. The camera menu is relatively easy to navigate and all of the settings are easy to follow and change, however be warned that the manual is outdated and some features that are given in the manual are not present in the camera. Finally, the quality is fantastic! The camera can record in AVCHD instead of the standard MP4, meaning basically that it looks really good. I honestly thought that I was watching a professional television show when I was watching clips back. I would recommend that you purchase a Sony Micro SD Card as the camera only takes Micro cards, the camera does not come with it's own so make sure to buy one with this product. I personally have a 32gb Sony Micro SD Card and I record up to 3 hours of content in the highest quality and have it processed in seconds with that particular card. Overall, fantastic camera for the price and would recommend it to anyone look to record crisp and realistic video!

Longevity and durability are key factors but I have had it for three months and shot a fair amount of video with absolutely no problems. As long as you don't drop it on concrete it seems likely to last. Otherwise, an amazing piece of gear: super high quality photos and sound, very light and handy - I often just put it in my trouser pockets. Excellent zoom and single-shot facilities. Menu intuitive: all done with a single button. If forced to criticize: 1) it shoots automatically in mp4 and another super high-quality full-HD format. I don't need the latter, but I can't see a way of selecting mp4 only. Not a big deal, except I have to delete the larger files manually. 2) It connects and transfers files easily to a computer, but I can't find a way from the computer to DELETE files on the camera's internal storage. Maybe there's a way, but I can't find it. I have to delete them on the camera itself, which is weird. However, for the price, this is an astonishing camera.

This is a good little camera, but could be better. It’s very light, which some may say makes it feel cheap, but it’s well made and comfortable to use for long periods. It simultaneously records in two file formats (.MTS and .MP4). The .MTS files are very large but are of very high resolution. The .MP4 files are still fairly good quality, but the smaller size makes them more useable for uploading or sharing on the web. Quality of the optical zoom is excellent and you get about five and a half hours recording on a 64GB Micro SD card at the highest quality. You have to purchase the SD card separately and not all cards are compatible. I use Sony branded cards. I have found that files transfer more quickly to the PC when the camera is connected directly (rather than using a card reader). I do have a few criticisms. My previous Sony Handycam had a viewfinder as well as the fold out screen and I miss this a great deal. No memory card is supplied, so unless you order one the camera can’t be used immediately. The connector lead supplied only has an HDMI connector, so no composite etc. There is no microphone input socket. Apart from the niggles listed above I’m quite happy with this camera and it performs well.

I love this camcorder, for the price it is easily the best camcorder I have had. It is simple to use, not many functions built in but thats what I use my editing software for, I don't really need anything on the camcorder itself, I just want to point and record. I have to say that I am also quite impressed with the Still pictures it takes too, they don't rival a dedicated camera or SLR but they are the best quality again that I have had. I know to many people that colour balance, effects and total control over the aperture etc are essential but if like me you are just looking for a no hassle camcorder that to the non professional takes great quality video with good sound then you won't be disappointed. You do have some control via the menu but these are quite basic. I have spent 3 times this on other camcorders and they have not given me as good results as this little camcorder, which is very nice and compact. My only bug bear is the little built in USB charger cable on the strap, a good idea but too short, you either have to use the the extension cable or the camera hangs from the plug. From flat it takes about 2 hours to charge and on holiday in Disney recently lasted me nearly 2 days on one charge with intermittent recording throughout both days and evenings, that said I always carry a portable charger with me for my phones etc so could of topped it up if needed.

Very handy. Super lightweight. Quality of the video & zoom is worth the price