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/// HD Camcorder Comparison



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models compared on this page: Sony HDR-CX520V and Sony HDR-TG3

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Model

Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
Picture ?
Manufacturer Sony Information on Sony

Sony Information on Sony

Name HDR-CX520VHDR-TG3
European name ?HDR-CX520VEHDR-TG3E
US name ?HDR-CX520VHDR-TG3
lowest US price 951 $979 $
On the market since August 2009 May 2008
Manufacturers URL link to Sonylink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
slashCAM rating ?Satisfactory
Satisfactory
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
Video formats ? AVCHD
AVCHD
Recording Medium Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
Memory Stick PRO Duo
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
Max Bitrate ?16 Mbit/s16 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG4
MPEG4
on-board memory ?64 GB 
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ?Sony
Carl Zeiss
Optical Zoom ?12 x10 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?42,9 mm42,9 mm
Filter diameter ?37 mm 
Image Stabilization ?optical
electronical
ND Filter ?No
No
Exchangable optics ?No
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/2,9 inch1/5 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?4150000 Pixel 1430000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift
auto
manual
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/10001/auto
Maximum shutter time ?1/25auto
Apperture control ?auto
manual
AE-Shift
auto
manual
Infrared recording ?Yes
No
Expanded Focus ?No
No
Peaking ?No
No
Signal Processing
Zebra ?No
70%
100%
Histogram ?No
No
adjustable sharpness ?No
No
Adjustable color ?No
No
Cinegamma ?No
No
Black Strech ?No
No
Knee ?No
No
Colorbars ?No
No
Misc.
Shot Transition ?No
No
Custom Presets ?No
No
Set Time Code ?No
No
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		About Special Equipment
via accessories
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		 Out
Out
HDMI ? Out
Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		- 
USB ?USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Microphone / Audio input ?No
No
Headphones ?No
No
Lanc ?No
No
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ? AI
No
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 370 g240 g
Weight (with battery) 450 g300 g
Battery type Sony NP-FH60
Sony NP-FH50
Battery capacity 1000 mAh900 mAh
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control Yes
No
Size
Height 62 mm32 mm
Width 65 mm119 mm
Depth 125 mm63 mm
Relative Size ?52
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?No
No
Color Viewfinder ?- -
Viewfinder format ?- -
Viewfinder pixels ?  
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 3,0 Inch2,7 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?230000 Pixel 211200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?Yes
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
thumb wheel
Manual Focus ?bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Menu
Manual Aperture ?bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Menu
Focus switcher ?No
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		No
No
Audio

[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
Audio Formats ?AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
Microphone ?5.1 Internal
5.1 Internal
Audio Control ?auto
auto
Audio levels ?No
No
Still

[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
Recording Medium ?Memory Stick Duo
Memory Stick Duo
Medium included ?No
4 GB
Effective pixels ?6631000 Pixel  
Resolutions ?3640 x 2160 max
2304x1728
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?Yes
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
Specials -50 upscaling in playback mode
- image stabilizator corrects hand rotations
- GPS receiver built in
Outside Europe the Cam is named Sony HDR-TG1
Product Shots

[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
View 1
View 2
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
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 goodSatisfactory
Resolution ?GoodSatisfactory
Color performance ?GoodGood
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodGood
Optical Zoom ?SufficientSufficient
Wide Angle ?PoorPoor
Configuration / image ?SufficientSufficient
Configuration / sound ?PoorPoor
Handling ?GoodSatisfactory
Portability ?Very good Excellent
Photo function ?SatisfactorySufficient
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?Very goodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		328288
Pros + multi functional ring
+ focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good lowlight sensibility
+ six freely configuarable display buttons
 
Cons - no microphone and headphone jacks
+ mediocre display resolution
- upgradeable only with expensive and proprietary MemorySticks
 
Conclusion for now, the low-light image quality rules superior in the sub 1000 Euro camcorder class.The great dynamic range when using the factory settings as well as its abandonment of moving part makes this cam interesting for independent filmmakers.On the other hand there are some features missing, there is no histogram, no zebra, no exposure time control, no sharpness helper and no image adjustment.While the new Exmor CMOS technology and the Bionz signal processor provide great results with the SR-12, their benefits are leveled by the smaller chip area of the TG3.Demanding filmmakers will find too many compromises in terms of lowlight, ports and manual controls, preventing them from using the camera seriously.Ambitious filmmakers on the other hand will like the nice interface via touch screen.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Sony HDR-CX520VSony HDR-TG3
slashCAM Review
HDR-CX520V Review
HDR-TG3 Review
external reviews/tests   
Forum posts Search affordable wide-angle attachment for SonyHDR-CX520VE!
My SonyHDR-CX520VE original test clips
Test: SonyHDR-CX505VE and HDR-CX520VE
Buy TG3 camcorder or similar
SONY TG3 synonymous HDT-suited for short films?
Successor to the Sony HDR-TG3


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 24.Mai 2012 - 10:15
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