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/// HD Camcorder Comparison



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models compared on this page: Sony NEX-VG20 and Sony HDR-XR520

display: 3 models per page sorted by score Best values highlighted
Model

Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
Picture ?
Manufacturer Sony Information on Sony

Sony Information on Sony

Name NEX-VG20HDR-XR520
European name ?NEX-VG20HDR-XR520VE
US name ?NEX-VG20HDR-XR520
lowest US price (2199) $1700 $
On the market since November 2011 March 2009
Manufacturers URL  link to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
slashCAM rating ?Good
Good
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
Video formats ? AVCHD
AVCHD
Recording Medium SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
SDXC card
Built-in hard disk
Memory Stick PRO Duo
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
Max Bitrate ?28 Mbit/s16 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG4
MPEG2
MPEG4
on-board memory ? 240 GB
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ?Sony
Sony
Optical Zoom ?11 x12 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?32,5 mm42,9 mm
Filter diameter ?67 (kit lens)
mm		37 mm
Image Stabilization ?optically and electronically
optical
ND Filter ?No
No
Exchangable optics ?Yes
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/APS-C (23.4 × 15.6mm)
inch		1/2,8 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?16700000 Pixel  
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/8.0001/800
Maximum shutter time ?1/41/50
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Infrared recording ?No
 
Expanded Focus ?Yes
 
Peaking ?Yes
 
Signal Processing
Zebra ?70%
100%		No
Histogram ?Yes
No
adjustable sharpness ?No
 
Adjustable color ?No
 
Cinegamma ?Yes
 
Black Strech ?No
 
Knee ?No
 
Colorbars ?No
 
Misc.
Shot Transition ?No
 
Custom Presets ?No
 
Set Time Code ?No
 
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		No
About Special Equipment
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		  Out
HDMI ? Out
Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		--
USB ?USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Microphone / Audio input ?Mini-jack
Mini-jack
Headphones ?Mini-jack
3.5 mm mini-jack
Lanc ?No
No
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ?1 x 1 x Standard Hotshoe
 AI
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 1300 g510 g
Weight (with battery)  590 g
Battery type Sony NP-FV70
 
Battery capacity   
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control No
Yes
Size
Height 91 mm71 mm
Width 130 mm75 mm
Depth 223 mm134 mm
Relative Size ?267
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?Yes
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?Color
Color
Viewfinder format ?16:916:9
Viewfinder pixels ?1152000 Pixel 123200 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 3,0 Inch3,2 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?921600 Pixel 307200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?Yes
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ? Ring
Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
Manual Focus ? Ring
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Manual Aperture ?bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Focus switcher ?Yes
No
ND Filter ?No
No
Exp Lock ?No
No
Gain ?No
No
White balance ?No
No
Push AF ?No
No
Audio Levels ?No
No
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		1No
Audio

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
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
Microphone ?Mini-jack external
5.1 Internal
Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
 
Still

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
Recording Medium ?Memory Stick Duo
SDHC card
Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
Medium included ?No
 
Effective pixels ?  
Resolutions ?4912 x 32644000 x 3000 - Max
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?No
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
Specials  GPS with geo-tagging functionality
Product Shots

[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
View 1   
View 2   
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
luminance resolution
chrominance resolution
lens distortion
test small ISO image
noise / internal microphone
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?
Test image 12 lux optimized ?
 
slashCAM rating
Lowlight ?Very goodVery good
Resolution ?SatisfactoryVery good
Color performance ?GoodVery good
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodVery good
Optical Zoom ?SufficientSufficient
Wide Angle ?Very goodPoor
Configuration / image ?Very goodSatisfactory
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Handling ?GoodGood
Portability ?GoodVery good
Photo function ?Very goodSatisfactory
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Good
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		396364
Pros + APS-C chip with interchangeable lens
+ complete manual control over iris, shutter, gain, white balance
+ very good low-light sensitivity
+ iris control ring and touch-focus work together very nicely
Cons - Image characteristics can not be changed
- no motorized zoom
- Scaling artifacts
+ very few possibilites for manual control
Conclusion A large imaging sensor and manual control when filming, coupled with the handling of a classic camcorder.This combination is offered by no other manufacturer in this price range.But due to the fixed image characteristics a flat film look can not be achieved.Since the image quality is comparable only to medium-level HDSLR, the device offers few advantages over the DSLR-competitors besides the familiar form factor.A zoom rocker or an ND filter would be a nice addition.Furthermore Sony needs to realise that to a large extent it is the manual control settings that make companies like Red, Canon or Panasonic successful in the large-format sensor world.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
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Sony NEX-VG20Sony HDR-XR520
slashCAM Review
NEX-VG20 Review
HDR-XR520 Review
external reviews/tests   
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


Please consider that these data have been entered into this database by human beings.Also, the technical information provided by the manufacturers are at times contradictory, incomplete and sometimes even incorrect.Although we take great care checking all information, we can not gurantee for its correctness.Should you find this data to have some omission or error, please let us know! Mail:



update am 18.Mai 2012 - 06:23
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