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models compared on this page: Sony HDR-XR520 and Sony HVR-A1

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Model

Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
Picture ?
Manufacturer Sony Information on Sony

Sony Information on Sony

Name HDR-XR520HVR-A1
European name ?HDR-XR520VEHVR-A1E
US name ?HDR-XR520HVR-A1U
lowest US price 1700 $2149 $
On the market since March 2009 October 2005
Manufacturers URL link to Sonylink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
Video formats ? AVCHD
MiniDV
HDV
DVCAM
Recording Medium Built-in hard disk
Memory Stick PRO Duo
MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
DVCAM 720 x 576/50i
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
Max Bitrate ?16 Mbit/s25 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG2
MPEG4
DV
MPEG2
on-board memory ?240 GB 
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ?Sony
Carl Zeiss
Optical Zoom ?12 x10 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?42,9 mm41 mm
Filter diameter ?37 mm37 mm
Image Stabilization ?optical
electronical
ND Filter ?No
Yes
Exchangable optics ?No
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/2,8 inch1/3 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? 1983000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/8001/10.000
Maximum shutter time ?1/501/3
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
AE-Shift
Infrared recording ? No
Expanded Focus ? Yes
Peaking ? Yes
Signal Processing
Zebra ?No
70%
100%
Histogram ?No
Yes
adjustable sharpness ? Yes
Adjustable color ? Yes
Cinegamma ? Yes
Black Strech ? No
Knee ? No
Colorbars ? Yes
Misc.
Shot Transition ? Yes
Custom Presets ? No
Set Time Code ? Yes
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
In
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		About Special Equipment
 In
Out
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		 Out
Out
HDMI ? Out
No
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		- In
Out
USB ?USB 2.0
USB 1.1
Microphone / Audio input ?Mini-jack
 XLR
Headphones ?3.5 mm mini-jack
Mini-jack
Lanc ?No
Yes
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ? AI
AI
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 510 g1020 g
Weight (with battery) 590 g1120 g
Battery type  Sony NP-FM50
Battery capacity  1180 mAh
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height 71 mm140 mm
Width 75 mm100 mm
Depth 134 mm190 mm
Relative Size ?726
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?Yes
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?Color
B/W and color
Viewfinder format ?16:916:9
Viewfinder pixels ?123200 Pixel 252000 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 3,2 Inch2,7 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?307200 Pixel 123200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?Yes
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
Rocker
Ring
Manual Focus ?Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
 Ring
Menu
Manual Aperture ?Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Wheel
Menu
Rocker
Focus switcher ?No
Yes
ND Filter ?No
No
Exp Lock ?No
Yes
Gain ?No
No
White balance ?No
No
Push AF ?No
Yes
Audio Levels ?No
No
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		No
1
Audio

[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
Audio Formats ?AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
Microphone ?Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Stereo internal
external XLR
Audio Control ?auto
auto
manual
Audio levels ? Viewfinder
Screen
Still

[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
Recording Medium ?Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
Memory Stick Duo
Medium included ? 16 MB
Effective pixels ? 2764800 Pixel
Resolutions ?4000 x 3000 - Max
1920x1080
1440x1080
640x480
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?Yes
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
Specials GPS with geo-tagging functionality 
Product Shots

[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
View 1  
View 2  
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
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 ?Very goodSatisfactory
Color performance ?Very goodSatisfactory
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodGood
Optical Zoom ?SufficientSufficient
Wide Angle ?PoorSufficient
Configuration / image ?SatisfactoryGood
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactoryGood
Handling ?GoodSatisfactory
Portability ?Very goodVery good
Photo function ?SatisfactorySufficient
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		364326
Pros + very good low-light sensitivity
+ iris control ring and touch-focus work together very nicely
+ good picture impression
+ portable
+ partly professionally equipped
Cons + very few possibilites for manual control
- color resolution only average
- DV-quality only average
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 firmwareLike its consumer twin HC1 the Sony HVR-A1 has a very good brightness resolution, but tends sometimes to show color moirés on fine details.The color resolution is not on a HDV-level, though the CMOS sensor theoretically should have more reserves.The overall picture impression is good, partly due to the good dynamics behavior with little noise and few smear-effects.Color-wise the A1 is fairly neutral, almost somewhat low-key.The wide angle is very limited for indoors, but on the other hand there are only few lens errors.In low light situations the A1 loses color fast.Compared to the HC1 it is slightly better equipped in terms of sound and image.The handling remains only satisfactory due to the touch screen.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Sony HDR-XR520Sony HVR-A1
slashCAM Review
HDR-XR520 Review
HVR-A1 Review
external reviews/tests  www.dv.com
www.sundancemediagroup.com
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
Audio channel raise (XH A1 + Zoom H4n)
XH A1 - Recording directly to hard drive
For XH A1 do shoulder camera
XH A1 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 - Sound recording problem
XLR cable for XH A1 and setting with Rode NTG-1
XH A1 capture tapes with XL H1?
ABT A1 Aloha: You look at the video synonymous only to the woman?
XH A1 Anal / dv
XH A1 High Definition: Violent Noise despite presets
XH A1 Audio MONO MIC Jack?
Conclusion XH A1 vs VX2100E
Canon XH A1 for sale
XH A1 s.TV join? Help!


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 - 14:40
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