| |
Model
|
| Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | Sony 
| Canon
| Canon
| Manufacturer |
| Name | HDR-CX305V | HF M32 | HF M31 | Name |
| European name ? | HDR-CX305VE | Legria HF M32 | Legria HF M31 | European name ? |
| US name ? | HDR-CX305V | VIXIA HF M32 | VIXIA HF M31 | US name ? |
| lowest US price | (799) $ | (999) $ | 628 $ | lowest US price |
| On the market since | March 2010 | September 2010 | March 2010 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Sony | link to Canon | link to Canon | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| 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-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD
SD MPEG2
| AVCHD
| AVCHD
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
| SDHC card
built-in flash memory
SDXC card
| SDHC card
built-in flash memory
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
| video resolutions EU ? |
| video resolutions US ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 24 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | MPEG2
MPEG4
| MPEG4
| MPEG4
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | 16 GB | 64 GB | 32 GB | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Sony
| Canon
| Canon
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 12 x | 15 x | 15 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 29,8 mm | 39,5 mm | 39,5 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 30 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 ? | 1/4 inch | 1/4 inch | 1/4 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | | 2990000 Pixel | 2990000 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/auto
| 1/2.000 | 1/2.000 | Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | auto
| 1/2 | 1/2 | Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | No
| No
| No
| Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | No
| Yes
| Yes
| Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | No
| No
| No
| Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | No
| No
| No
| Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | No
| No
| No
| Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | No
| Yes
| Yes
| adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | No
| Yes
| Yes
| Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | No
| Yes
| Yes
| Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | No
| No
| No
| Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | No
| No
| No
| Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | No
| No
| No
| Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | No
| No
| No
| Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | No
| No
| No
| Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | No
| No
| No
| Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| Out
| Out
| FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | About Special Equipment
| No
| No
| YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out
| Out mini
| Out mini
| HDMI ? |
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | - | - | - | DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 |
| USB ? | USB 2.0 OUT
| USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB ? |
| Microphone / Audio input ? | No
| Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Microphone / Audio input ? |
| Headphones ? | No
| also AV-output
| also AV-output
| Headphones ? |
| Lanc ? | No
| No
| No
| Lanc ? |
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
| No
| Time-code interface ? |
| Genlock ? | No
| No
| No
| Genlock ? |
| Accessory shoe ? | AI
| Advanced Mini
| Advanced Mini
| Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 310 g | 320 g | 320 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | 360 g | 380 g | 380 g | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | Sony NP-FV50
| Canon BP-808
| Canon BP-808
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | 980 mAh | 890 mAh | 890 mAh | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | internal
| internal
| internal
| Charger ? |
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 52 mm | 60 mm | 60 mm | Height |
| Width | 64 mm | 68 mm | 68 mm | Width |
| Depth | 112 mm | 123 mm | 123 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 3 | 5 | 5 | Relative Size ? |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | No
| No
| No
| Viewfinder available ? |
| Color Viewfinder ? | - | - | - | Color Viewfinder ? |
| Viewfinder format ? | - | - | - | Viewfinder format ? |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | | | | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 230400 Pixel | 211000 Pixel | 211000 Pixel | Display pixels ? |
| Touch Screen ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Touch Screen ? |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker
| Rocker
| Rocker
| Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | Menu
| Menu
| Menu
| Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | Menu
| Menu
| Menu
| 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
| No
| Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| Audio Formats ? | Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | Stereo internal
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | auto
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | No
| Screen
| Screen
| Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| Recording Medium ? | Memory Stick Duo
built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | No
| No
| No
| Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | 3540000 Pixel | | | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 2304 x 1728 - Max
| 2304 x 1296 - Max
| 2304 x 1296 - 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-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| Specials | - | | | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| 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 ? | Good | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Lowlight ? |
| Resolution ? | Good | Good | Good | Resolution ? |
| Color performance ? | Good | Very good | Very good | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Excellent | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Sufficient | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Poor | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Good | Good | Good | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | 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) | 370 | 369 | 369 | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | + focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good low light performance
| + Many manual controls
| + Many manual controls
| Pros |
| Cons | - no microphone and headphone jacks
- display resolution only average
- little manual control
| - No Zebra
| - No Zebra
| Cons |
| Conclusion | Too bad Sony still does not offer any manual control on their medium-class camcorders.Because the camera actually delivers an overall good image for this price range.The wide angle lens with its almost 29mm (kb) surely makes it attractive to some buyers, since competing models offer nothing of the sort.On the other hand the camera has a spicy price tag, which makes it look somewhat less good compared to the new Panasonic series (HDC-XX60).Hence, in its price range it recommends itself only to those who need a generous wide angle without any manual control or connectivity. | A big drawback from the previous series has been fixed: setting the focus works much better thanks to the touch screen.But overall the operation is still somewhat fiddly at certain points.The large display of the upcoming HF S series will thus come in handy. On the minus side we have the low light capabilities, the missing zebra mode and the small wide angle.A plus is the lowered price, as well as the cinegamma/25p-mode and the fact, that the camera, given enough light, produces very consistent images in the auto mode. | A big drawback from the previous series has been fixed: setting the focus works much better thanks to the touch screen.But overall the operation is still somewhat fiddly at certain points.The large display of the upcoming HF S series will thus come in handy. On the minus side we have the low light capabilities, the missing zebra mode and the small wide angle.A plus is the lowered price, as well as the cinegamma/25p-mode and the fact, that the camera, given enough light, produces very consistent images in the auto mode. | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX305V | Canon HF M32 | Canon HF M31 | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests | | | | external reviews/tests |
| Comparison |  Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Sony HDR-CX570
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to JVC GZ-HM845
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF M31
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF20
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF M41
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF M36
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF100
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to JVC GZ-HM1
| Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS700
Canon HF M32 compared to Sony HDR-CX690
Canon HF M32 compared to Sony HDR-CX730
Canon HF M32 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Canon HF M32 compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Canon HF M32 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Canon HF M32 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Canon HF M32 compared to Canon HF21
Canon HF M32 compared to Sony HDR-XR500V
Canon HF M32 compared to Canon HF M41
Canon HF M32 compared to JVC GZ-HM1
| Canon HF M31 compared to Panasonic HC-V707
Canon HF M31 compared to Sony HDR-CX570
Canon HF M31 compared to JVC GZ-HM845
Canon HF M31 compared to Sony HDR-CX350V
Canon HF M31 compared to Canon HF20
Canon HF M31 compared to Canon HF200
Canon HF M31 compared to Sony HDR-SR11
Canon HF M31 compared to Canon HF M36
Canon HF M31 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
Canon HF M31 compared to Canon HF100
Canon HF M31 compared to JVC GZ-HM550
Canon HF M31 compared to JVC GZ-HD30
Canon HF M31 compared to JVC GZ-HD40
Canon HF M31 compared to JVC GZ-HM400
Canon HF M31 compared to Samsung HMX-S10
Canon HF M31 compared to Canon HV10
Canon HF M31 compared to JVC GZ-HD6
Canon HF M31 compared to Sanyo Xacti HD2000
| Comparison |
| Forum posts | | | | Forum posts |
| |
