| |
Model
|
| Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | Sony 
| Sony
| Canon
| Manufacturer |
| Name | HDR-XR520 | HDR-XR500V | HF M41 | Name |
| European name ? | HDR-XR520VE | HDR-XR500VE | Legria HF M41 | European name ? |
| US name ? | HDR-XR520 | HDR-XR500V | VIXIA HF M41 | US name ? |
| lowest US price | 1700 $ | 1230 $ | (799) $ | lowest US price |
| On the market since | March 2009 | March 2009 | March 2011 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Sony | link to Sony | link to Canon | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| 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-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD
| AVCHD
| AVCHD
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | Built-in hard disk
Memory Stick PRO Duo
| Built-in hard disk
Memory Stick PRO Duo
| SDHC card
built-in flash memory
SDXC card
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | 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
| AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
| 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 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 16 Mbit/s | 16 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | MPEG2
MPEG4
| MPEG2
MPEG4
| MPEG4
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | 240 GB | 120 GB | 32 GB | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Sony
| Sony
| Canon
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 12 x | 12 x | 10 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 42,9 mm | 42,9 mm | 43,6 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 37 mm | 37 mm | 43 mm | Filter diameter ? |
| Image Stabilization ? | optical
| optical
| 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 ? | 1/2,8 inch | 1/2,8 inch | 1/3 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | | | 2000000 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 ? | 1/800 | 1/800 | 1/2.000 | Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/50 | 1/2 | 1/6 | Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | | Yes
| No
| Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | | No
| Yes
| Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | | No
| Yes
| Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | No
| No
| No
| Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | No
| No
| No
| Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | | No
| Yes
| adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | | No
| Yes
| Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | | No
| Yes
| Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | | No
| No
| Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | | No
| No
| Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | | No
| No
| Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | | No
| No
| Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | | No
| No
| Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | | No
| No
| Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| Out
| Out
| FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | About Special Equipment
| About Special Equipment
| No
| YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out
| Out
| Out mini
| 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
| 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
| AI
| Advanced Mini
| Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 510 g | 510 g | 360 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | 590 g | 590 g | 400 g | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | | Sony NP-FH60
| Canon BP-808
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | | 1000 mAh | 850 mAh | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | internal
| internal
| internal
| Charger ? |
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 71 mm | 71 mm | 74 mm | Height |
| Width | 75 mm | 75 mm | 71 mm | Width |
| Depth | 134 mm | 134 mm | 137 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 7 | 7 | 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 ? | 123200 Pixel | 123200 Pixel | 260000 Pixel | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 3,2 Inch | 3,2 Inch | 3,0 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 307200 Pixel | 307200 Pixel | 230000 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
| Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Menu
| Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| 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-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| Audio Formats ? | AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | auto
| auto
| auto
manual
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | | No
| Viewfinder
Screen
| Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| Recording Medium ? | Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
| Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
| built-in flash memory
SDHC card
SDXC card
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | | No
| No
| Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | | | | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 4000 x 3000 - Max
| 4000 x 3000 - Max
| 1920x1080 | Resolutions ? |
| Standard ? | JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| Standard ? |
| Flash ? | Yes
| Yes
| | Flash ? |
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| Specials | GPS with geo-tagging functionality | GPS with geo-tagging functionality | Cinema-style filterStory CreatorTouch Decoration | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| 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 ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Sufficient | Sufficient | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Poor | Poor | Poor | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Good | Good | Good | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Portability ? |
| Photo function ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Sufficient | 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) | 364 | 364 | 362 | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | + very good low-light sensitivity
+ iris control ring and touch-focus work together very nicely
| + very good low-light sensitivity
+ iris control ring and touch-focus work together very nicely
| + Manual control over image characteristics
+ Good low-light characteristics
| Pros |
| Cons | + very few possibilites for manual control
| + very few possibilites for manual control
| - No Zebra
- (Too) little external controls
| Cons |
| Conclusion | The Low-light picture quality is very good and sets a new standard for the sub 1000 euro camcorder classBut there is no histogram, no zebra, no shutter-control, no focus assist and no picture adjustmentThis is sad, especially because Sony could probably unlock these functions via firmware | The Low-light picture quality is very good and sets a new standard for the sub 1000 euro camcorder classBut there is no histogram, no zebra, no shutter-control, no focus assist and no picture adjustmentThis is sad, especially because Sony could probably unlock these functions via firmware | In terms of sharpness, the new camcorders are finally on par again with the generation preceeding its predecessors.The good low light performance and the - for many users - sufficient manual features certainly make the RF M-series interesting for price-sensitive buyers.However, has to live with the small wide-angle, a low-resolution display, missing features such as zebra or histogram as well as the automatics. | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-XR520 | Sony HDR-XR500V | Canon HF M41 | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests | | | | external reviews/tests |
| Comparison |  Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Canon XA10
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Canon HF G10
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-CX700
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-TD10 (2D-Modus)
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-CX550V
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-FX7
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony NEX-VG10
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-FX1
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM350
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-SR12
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-XR500V
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-TD10 (3D-Modus)
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD1
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HVR-A1
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HDR-HC7
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to JVC GS-TD1BE (3D-Modus)
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Sony HVR-HD1000
Sony HDR-XR520 compared to Panasonic HC-X909 (3D mit VW-CLT2)
| Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Canon HF G10
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS700
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Sony HDR-CX690
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Sony HDR-CX700
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Sony NEX-VG10
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM350
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Canon HF21
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Canon HF S11
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Canon HF S21
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Canon HG21
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS100
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Sony HDR-CX520V
Sony HDR-XR500V compared to Sony HDR-CX505V
| Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Canon HF M41 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Canon HF M41 compared to JVC GZ-HM845
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Canon HF M41 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Canon HF M41 compared to Canon HF M31
Canon HF M41 compared to Canon HF20
Canon HF M41 compared to Canon HF M36
Canon HF M41 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
Canon HF M41 compared to Canon HF100
Canon HF M41 compared to JVC GZ-HM1
Canon HF M41 compared to Canon HF S11
| Comparison |
| Forum posts | Final Cut Pro plugin for SonyHDR-XR520VE
Camera Case for SonyHDR-XR520VE
SonyHDR-XR520VE flickering beam on BRAVIA TV
Buy Panasonic HDC-HS300 / Canon HG21 / SonyHDR-XR520VE
Wide Anglefür XR520 + Beginner Questions
HD video import of SonyHDR-XR520VE in Final Cut Express (Mac)
Lens / wide Anglefür SonyHDR-XR520VE
| How do I get my videos of SonyHDR-XR500Ve on the MAC??
Question about Resolutionbei SonyHDR-XR500VE HD camcorder! 1080i or 1080p?
Difference? SOny HDR-XR500V or ... VE
Update of SonyHDR-SR11E to SonyHDR-XR500VE ... what do you think?
HDR-XR500VE - only 25 FPS?
SonyHDR-or XR500V Panasonic SD300??
| New Canon (Vixia HF as G10 / M41 RF) compared to Panasonic HDC-750 SDT
Test: Canon HF M41 - Interestingly harbinger
| Forum posts |
| |
