| |
Model
|
| Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | Sony 
| Sony
| Sony
| Manufacturer |
| Name | HDR-CX730 | HDR-CX550V | HDR-XR550V | Name |
| European name ? | HDR-CX730E | HDR-CX550VE | HDR-XR550VE | European name ? |
| US name ? | HDR-CX730 | HDR-CX550V | HDR-XR550V | US name ? |
| lowest US price | (999) $ | 1899 $ | 960 $ | lowest US price |
| On the market since | March 2012 | March 2010 | March 2010 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Sony | link to Sony | link to Sony | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
 | Good
| Good
| slashCAM rating ? |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode |
Video
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD
SD MPEG2
| AVCHD
SD MPEG2
| AVCHD
SD MPEG2
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | SD Card
SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
SDXC card
| SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
| Built-in hard disk
SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
| AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
| AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
| video resolutions EU ? |
| video resolutions US ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60p
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 28 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | MPEG2
MPEG4
| MPEG2
MPEG4
| MPEG2
MPEG4
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | | 64 GB | 240 GB | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Sony
| Sony
| Sony
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 10 x | 10 x | 10 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 26,3 mm | 29,8 mm | 29,8 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 52 mm | 37 mm | 37 mm | Filter diameter ? |
| Image Stabilization ? | optically and electronically
| optically and electronically
| optically and electronically
| Image Stabilization ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| No
| ND Filter ? |
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| No
| No
| Exchangable optics ? |
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 1 | 1 | 1 | Number of sensors ? |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/2,9 inch | 1/2,9 inch | 1/2,9 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 6140000 Pixel | 4150000 Pixel | 4150000 Pixel | image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? |
| Image Sensor Type ? | CMOS
| CMOS
| CMOS
| Image Sensor Type ? |
| Controls |
| White Balance ? | auto
manual
presets
| auto
manual
presets
| auto
manual
presets
| White Balance ? |
| Focus ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Focus ? |
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/10.000 | 1/10.000 | 1/10.000 | Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/6 | 1/6 | 1/6 | Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | Yes
| | | Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | Yes
| | | Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | Yes
| | | Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | 70%
100% | No
| No
| Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | No
| No
| No
| Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | No
| | | adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | No
| | | Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | Yes
| | | Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | No
| No
| No
| Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | No
| No
| No
| Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | No
| No
| No
| Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | | No
| No
| Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | No
| | | Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | No
| No
| No
| Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| Out
| Out
| FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | About Special Equipment
| About Special Equipment
| About Special Equipment
| YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out
| Out
| Out
| HDMI ? |
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | - | - | - | DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 |
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB ? |
| Microphone / Audio input ? | Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Microphone / Audio input ? |
| Headphones ? | 3.5 mm mini-jack
| 3.5 mm mini-jack
| 3.5 mm mini-jack
| Headphones ? |
| Lanc ? | | No
| No
| Lanc ? |
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
| No
| Time-code interface ? |
| Genlock ? | No
| No
| No
| Genlock ? |
| Accessory shoe ? | | AI
| AI
| Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 545 g | 440 g | 510 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | | 490 g | 590 g | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | Sony NP-FV50
| Sony NP-FV50
| Sony NP-FV50
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | | | | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | | internal
| internal
| Charger ? |
| Remote control | | Yes
| Yes
| Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 67 mm | 66 mm | 70 mm | Height |
| Width | 73 mm | 74 mm | 74 mm | Width |
| Depth | 137 mm | 143 mm | 143 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 6 | 6 | 7 | Relative Size ? |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Viewfinder available ? |
| Color Viewfinder ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color Viewfinder ? |
| Viewfinder format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Viewfinder format ? |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | | 201600 Pixel | 201600 Pixel | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 3,0 Inch | 3,5 Inch | 3,5 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 921000 Pixel | 921000 Pixel | 921000 Pixel | Display pixels ? |
| Touch Screen ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Touch Screen ? |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
| Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
| Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
| Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | Menu
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Manual Aperture ? |
| Focus switcher ? | No
| No
| No
| Focus switcher ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| No
| ND Filter ? |
| Exp Lock ? | No
| No
| No
| Exp Lock ? |
| Gain ? | No
| No
| No
| Gain ? |
| White balance ? | No
| No
| No
| White balance ? |
| Push AF ? | No
| No
| No
| Push AF ? |
| Audio Levels ? | No
| No
| No
| Audio Levels ? |
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons | | No
| No
| Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| Audio Formats ? | AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
| AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
| AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | 2 steps
| auto
| auto
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | Viewfinder
Screen
| | | Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| Recording Medium ? | Memory Stick Duo
SD Card
SDHC card
SDXC card
| Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
SDHC card
| Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
SDHC card
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | No
| No
| No
| Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | | | | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 6544 3680 - max
| 4000 x 3000 - Max
| 4000 x 3000 - Max
| Resolutions ? |
| Standard ? | JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| Standard ? |
| Flash ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Flash ? |
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| Specials | integrated USB cable | GPS with geo-tagging functionality | GPS with geo-tagging functionality | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| luminance resolution | | | | luminance resolution |
| chrominance resolution | | | | chrominance resolution |
| lens distortion | | | | lens distortion |
| test small ISO image | | | | test small ISO image |
| noise / internal microphone | | | | noise / internal microphone |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? |
| Test image 12 lux optimized ? | | | | Test image 12 lux optimized ? |
| slashCAM rating |
| Lowlight ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Lowlight ? |
| Resolution ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Resolution ? |
| Color performance ? | Good | Good | Good | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Sufficient | Sufficient | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Poor | Poor | Poor | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Good | Good | Good | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Portability ? |
| Photo function ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Photo function ? |
| Optics ? | Good | Good | Good | Optics ? |
| Dynamics ? | Good | Good | Good | Dynamics ? |
| Conclusion slashCAM |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
| Good
| Good
| slashCAM rating ? |
Total score ?
(maximal 570) | 390 | 390 | 390 | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | + Image stabilizer
+ wide angle
| + multi functional ring
+ focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good lowlight sensibility
+ wide angle
+ Display with high resoultion
| + multi functional ring
+ focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good lowlight sensibility
+ wide angle
+ Display with high resoultion
| Pros |
| Cons | - Image characteristics can not be changed
- few image control options
- Small (touch) screen
| - image characteristics cannot be modified
- no focus or exposure assist
| - image characteristics cannot be modified
- no focus or exposure assist
| Cons |
| Conclusion | Wie schon beim Schwestermodell gefällt uns der der Balanced Optical SteadyShot ausgesprochen gut und stellt tatsächlich einen echten Mehrwert gegenüber den Konkurrenzmodellen dar. Eine Kombination mit einem Schwebestativ und vielleicht sogar noch ein Optical Flow Stabilisator im Schnitt erlauben imposante Kamerafahrten ohne Dollys oder Kräne. Dass Sony jedoch bei einem Preis von 1.000 Euro keine volle Kontrolle über Shutter und Blende sowie keinen Eingriff in Bildcharakteristik erlaubt, ist unverständlich. | The wide angle (which shrinks a little with active image stabilization) as well as the low light performance is better than on all competing modells.But in terms of sharpness, manual control options and color reproduction the Sony is not quite on par with the class winners.The automatics work solidly in a Sony-typical way.Remarkably good is the high-resolving display, but a focus assist option is nevertheless missed when setting the focus manually. | The wide angle (which shrinks a little with active image stabilization) as well as the low light performance is better than on all competing modells.But in terms of sharpness, manual control options and color reproduction the Sony is not quite on par with the class winners.The automatics work solidly in a Sony-typical way.Remarkably good is the high-resolving display, but a focus assist option is nevertheless missed when setting the focus manually. | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX730 | Sony HDR-CX550V | Sony HDR-XR550V | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests | | | | external reviews/tests |
| Comparison |  Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS700
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Sony HDR-CX690
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Canon HF M32
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Canon HF21
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Sony HDR-XR500V
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to Canon HF M41
Sony HDR-CX730 compared to JVC GZ-HM1
| Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Canon XA10
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-CX700
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony NEX-VG20
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-TD20 (2D)
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-PJ740
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-CX740
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-TD10 (2D)
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-FX7
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony NEX-VG10
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-FX1
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-SR12
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-XR520
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-TD20 (3D)
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-TD10 (3D)
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HVR-A1
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-HC7
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HVR-HD1000
Sony HDR-CX550V compared to Sony HDR-UX1
| Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS700
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Sony HDR-CX730
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Canon HF M32
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Canon HF21
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Canon HF M41
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Canon HF M36
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to Canon HF100
Sony HDR-XR550V compared to JVC GZ-HM1
| Comparison |
| Forum posts | | noname Batteries for SonyHDR-CX550VE
HDR-CX550VE - clipping of live concert recordings
Replacement Battery for HDR-CX550VE - alternative to the original NP-FV100 Accessories!
Panasonic HDC-TM700 or SonyHDR-CX550VE??
| HDR-XR550VE and saving on external media
SonyHDR-XR550VE or Panasonic HDC-HS700?
SonyHDR-XR550VE or at Panasonic HDC-HS700
| Forum posts |
| |
