Sony HDR-XR520V Handycam Camcorder 240GB AVCHD HDD

Sony HDR-XR520V Handycam Camcorder 240GB AVCHD HDD

HDR-XR520V 240GB High Definition Handycam® Camcorder
Shoot like a pro and record your memories directly to a massive 240GB hard disk drive with the HDR-XR520V Handycam® camcorder. This impressive camcorder is capable of recording up to 96 hours of high definition (HD) video in HD LP mode. Equipped with an advanced 1/2.88" Exmor R CMOS sensor, you can capture stunning 1920x1080 HD video and 12.1 megapixel still images. Additionally, a built-in GPS receiver helps you keep track of your current location and even remembers where you shot your videos while the professional-quality Sony G Lens delivers superior optical performance.

“Exmor R” CMOS Sensor and BIONZ Imaging Processor
The new “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor is twice as sensitive as conventional CMOS sensors thanks to back-illuminated technology that places metal wiring beneath the photo diode instead of above it. Since light is used more efficiently, you can enjoy smoother movement in action sequences and higher image quality in dark conditions such as night scenes.


Two modes for dark scenes
Two modes are provided for shooting in extremely dark conditions. You can choose the LOW LUX mode when shooting in dim lighting such as candlelight (minimum subject luminance: 3 lux). Or use NightShot in complete darkness, such as to capture wild animals without scaring them away.


Exceptional speed and image quality
The new “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor is twice as sensitive as conventional CMOS sensors thanks to back-illuminated technology that places metal wiring beneath the photo diode instead of above it. Since light is used more efficiently, you can enjoy smoother movement in action sequences and higher image quality in dark conditions such as night scenes.


Column A/D Conversion converts light to digital signals within the sensor instead of afterwards and applies noise reduction both before and after conversion (dual noise reduction) to significantly reduce noise. This contributes to superior image quality (at AVCHD 1920 x 1080i resolution) with extremely low noise, high sensitivity and smear-free clarity at high processing speeds. Furthermore, Sony’s original ClearVid array employs rotated pixels and an exclusive pixel colour layout to capture more detail. Whether shooting high-definition movies or high-resolution still images, you'll be amazed by the simply spectacular results.


Rapid signal transmission enabled by BIONZ
The BIONZ Imaging Processor works together with the “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor to provide high performance through high-speed signal transmission of massive pixel data. This high-speed processing enables a number of handy features like the Dual Rec function for capturing 12.0 megapixel still images while shooting video footage up to the maximum capacity of the recording media, the Smooth Slow Rec function for slow motion that highlights details of actions from golf swings to football goals, and Face Detection technology for speedy and precise tracking of up to 8 subjects' faces while shooting movies. The technology also improves Auto Focus, Auto Colour Control, and new Auto Backlight Correction that compensates for backlighting when shooting landscapes as well as portraits.


All the beauty of genuine High Definition
Preserve every moment at 1920 x 1080i Full HD video resolution with 6 times the detail of SD (Standard Definition) video. A single glance is all you need to see the remarkable difference achieved by Sony's new "Exmor R " CMOS Sensor. You can also shoot still images at a vibrant 12.0 megapixels to make every detail come to life.


Optical SteadyShot
Optical SteadyShot (Active Mode) employs a 10x wider camera shake correction angle than conventional image stabilisers to reduce camera shake even in footage taken while walking. Now you can shoot smoother movie footage while chasing children or strolling around sightseeing.


x.v.Color
"x.v.Color" conforms to xvYCC, an international standard for colour space in video endorsed by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). The xvYCC standard expresses a colour range 1.8x wider than the conventional sRGB colour space. When played back on an x.v.Color-compliant TV, various colours like brilliant hues of flowers and the turquoise blue of the sea can be more faithfully reproduced. x.v.Color-supported Handycam® camcorders deliver high-resolution HD performance as well as rich colour reproduction.


What's AVCHD?
AVCHD is a high-definition (HD) video standard that uses highly efficient MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video compression technology. This technology provides a high data compression ratio that is approximately twice the amount of conventional MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 compression while enabling HD video content recording. AVCHD also handles the video stream and offers a variety of HD video recording and playback options on various media like memory cards, HDD and DVD. When the audio stream is managed by Dolby Digital, a 5.1 spatialised recording can be created. AVCHD now features High Profile encoding that compresses the image based on visibility characteristics, as well as complexity, for even greater efficiency.

Hours and hours of memories on HDD
The large-capacity 240GB HDD stores up to an amazing 101 hours of HD video in the AVC HD 5M (LP) 1440 x 1080i high-definition mode or up to around 29 hours and 40 minutes in the AVC HD 16M (FH) 1920 x 1080i Full HD mode. You can also record video footage and still images to Memory Stick media when desired via Hybrid function. In addition, conventional MPEG2-PS is supported, allowing SD video recording. Thanks to the nature of non-linear media, you don’t have to worry about over-writing recorded footage: new data is automatically written in blank, unrecorded space. Moreover, you can immediately watch or erase newly recorded footage without rewinding. Just press the desired thumbnail on the touch panel LCD.

HYBRID = HDD + Memory Stick media
Sony’s Hybrid design gives you extra flexibility. You can record video footage and still images on the HDD, Memory Stick, or both media to effectively extend recording time. And you can transfer recorded files from the HDD to Memory Stick with ease.


Easy "dubbing" within your Handycam®
Recorded images and movies on the HDD can easily be copied to Memory Stick media. Using various "dubbing" functions, you can copy specific scenes, all recorded footage registered in the playlist, or footage shot on certain dates. Now it's easier than ever to share image and video highlights with your family and friends.

HDMI
To enjoy your HD video footage on a large screen, simply connect the HDR-XR520 with your HD television via HDMI cable.

BRAVIA Sync
The Handycam® playback screen is automatically displayed when you use an HDMI cable to connect your Handycam® with a BRAVIA HD TV that is compatible with BRAVIA Sync. You can also command your Handycam® with the BRAVIA's remote controller. Such easy operation makes watching your recorded footage on a large-screen TV even more enjoyable.

PLAYSTATION®3
You can play your HD video footage on a PLAYSTATION®3 via USB connection or Memory Stick media and control playback, including skipping, with the PLAYSTATION®3 remote controller.

Archiving Video
Archiving your original HD or SD footage is extremely easy. You can use the One Touch Disc Burn button on the HDR-XR520 to quickly burn discs on a connected PC or linked DVDirect DVD recorder. With a single press, it only burns new footage shot since the last disc was burned. Or you can archive your footage with Easy PC Backup, which lets you transfer content from the HDR-XR520 to the HDD of a connected PC. Only files recorded since your last backup are transferred. You can later export footage back to the HDR-XR520 by using the Write-back (AVCHD) function of supplied Picture Motion Browser software. Discs burned for your archives in the AVCHD format can be played in HD quality on PLAYSTATION®3 as well as Blu-ray players and recorders.

Map your memories with built-in GPS capabilities
Built-in GPS capabilities and pre-installed data-rich maps let you record where movies and still images were taken. Simply slide the GPS switch to “ON” to record position information with your movies and still images. The current time is also recorded at the GPS-corrected time for the local time zone. In addition, you can view your current position on a pre-installed map: a handy feature when traveling. The Map Index function further enhances your pleasure by displaying markers on the map to show where your movies and still images were shot. So you can search for desired content on the map and play it back by simply touching a thumbnail on the screen. Recorded movies and photos can also be imported to a PC installed with bundled PMB software and displayed along with location and time information in Map View. Simply clicking on Map View thumbnails plays the movies.

Smile Shutter technology
While shooting your original movie footage, Smile Shutter automatically detects and takes a still image of your subject if he or she smiles. Face Detection also optimizes focus, exposure, skin colour, and flash settings* to ensure subjects always look their best. It’s a great way to record snapshots of smiling friends and family members. Save the best smiles with Smile Shutter both in videos and photos up to the full capacity of the recording media. There’s no need to change settings, so it’s easy for anyone to use.

Smile Detection Setting
By default, Smile Shutter operates in the Dual Capture setting and automatically takes photographs if a smile is detected while video footage is being recorded. Users can also select the Always ON setting that automatically takes photos of smiling subjects whenever the camcorder is in Recording mode - even if in Still Image Recording mode.

Smile Sensitivity Setting
You can easily set the Smile Shutter to only capture smiles of a certain level if desired. Simply select the High sensitivity setting to shoot even the faintest smiles, the default Medium setting to capture normal everyday smiles, or the Low sensitivity setting to photograph huge grins.


Smile Priority Setting
In the default Auto mode, Smile Shutter detects and photographs subjects of all ages when they smile. But you can prioritise smiling children by selecting the Child Priority setting or smiling adults by activating the Adult Priority setting. Then leave the rest to advanced Face Detection technology.


Face Detection Technology
This is the camcorder with Face Detection technology for movie recording. Sony synergizes this technology with BIONZ to deliver highly precise, high-speed auto focusing with detection for up to 8 subjects' faces and precise focusing of the main subject. This synergism ensures quick camera tracking of subjects even when their faces are moving and significantly improves the performance of various features. For example, it enhances colour control adjustment of skin and other facial features. When shooting movies, it prevents under/over-exposure of your subjects' faces. And when shooting still images, it optimizes the flash settings to prevent loss of detail in face highlights and shadows.


Portrait Adjustment
When shooting portraits, Face Detection and BIONZ work with three automatic features - Auto Focus, Auto Exposure, and Auto Colour Control - to optimize reproduction of your subjects’ faces. The extra-pleasing outcome is more sharply focused faces, better skin colour, and appropriate exposure of faces even in challenging lighting conditions or when shooting still images with the flash.

Compression Rate
By detecting subject faces, and allocating more data capacity to them, this video compression technology greatly enhances facial image quality.

New Auto Backlight Correction optimizes portraits and landscapes.
New Auto Backlight Correction automatically recognizes backlit situations ? when shooting portraits as well as landscapes - and corrects exposure to provide clear optimized results. When shooting portraits, the exposure is controlled by Auto Exposure Control (based on Face Detection technology). The D-Range Optimizer prevents underexposure of subjects and overexposure of skies to reproduce scenes more naturally, as seen by the naked eye.


Quick Start Up
Power can be turned on or off simply by opening or closing the LCD panel. Since opening the LCD panel turns the power on almost immediately, users can shoot without delay. Moreover, users are less likely to forget turning the power off. This helps to prevent accidental shooting and wasted battery power.

Ergonomic, easy-to-use GUI
Like the top page of a Web site, the Home Menu is the starting point for all operations. To record or play footage, change settings or edit scenes, first press the Home Menu icon on the top left of the touch panel or the Home Menu hardware button on the left side of the LCD. Then select the desired category from the Home Menu. The Option Menu provides quick access to the settings you need. Whether you’re shooting or playing footage, just press the Option Menu icon on the touch panel to display available settings for the current mode of operation. Then adjust settings as desired. A Help Function is also provided for when you need help understanding a function displayed on the Home Menu. Just press the “?” button and then press the listed function itself to display an easy-to-understand explanation. There is even a TV Connect Guide function that helps make connection between the HDR-XR520 and your TV completely trouble-free.


Quick and easy navigation to desired scenes
Helpful search functions accelerate and simplify navigation. Film Roll Index, Face Index functions, Visual Index and Date Index make every search fast, easy and enjoyable.

Dolby Digital 5.1ch Surround Sound with built-in zoom microphone
Whenever you're shooting footage, you can record audio through the built-in zoom microphone as Dolby Digital 5.1ch Surround Sound that raises the sense of realism when you play back your HD footage on connected 5.1ch-compatible systems. The zoom microphone can widen or narrow its pickup angle in accordance with the image zoom setting to focus on nearby or faraway sounds. When zooming in on birds perched in a distant tree, for example, the microphone automatically zooms in to capture their song. If you record the footage on AVCHD format discs, you can also enjoy 5.1ch surround sound on AVCHD compatible Blu-ray players and recorders as well as PLAYSTATION®3.

Capture key moments in slow motion with Smooth Slow Rec!
Action sequences of 3 seconds become 12 seconds of slow motion playback with smooth, high-quality results. Just activate this feature and shoot any 3-second action sequence, such as a golf swing or football kick. Then play back the sequence and enjoy 12 seconds of stunning slow motion video. It’s fun to watch and perfect for close analysis of sports moves. This remarkable feature was made possible by the exceptional combination of Sony’s high-quality “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor and BIONZ Imaging Processor.


Easy Handycam
Press the Easy Handycam button to enable carefree point-and-shoot operation with all settings automatically adjusted to match the shooting situation. This function is especially convenient for beginners who want operation to be as simple as possible.

Scene Selection modes
Scene Selection modes let you easily create beautiful images in almost any type of setting. Whether capturing a sunset with friends in the foreground and illuminated skyscrapers in the background, natural beauty at beach resorts, fireworks bursting at night, or festive white landscapes of snow, the results are as spectacular as the scene you shoot. The Portrait mode, for example, can produce sharp images of people or flowers on soft backgrounds.


Manual shooting function
The manual dial allows manual adjustment of Focus (default), Exposure, AE shift and WB shift. Just press the Manual button to allow manual adjustment of these pre-set functions. You can also use menu settings to assign favourite camera settings to the dial.

High-resolution 12.0 megapixel still images
In addition to capturing moving images, Handycam® can capture high-quality still images whenever you like. These images are shot at a resolution of up to a stunning 12.0 megapixels (4000 x 3000 pixels), which is ample for producing large, high-quality prints.

8.3 megapixel Dual Rec function
This remarkable function lets you shoot fine-quality 8.3 megapixel still images while capturing moving images at the same time, thanks to high-speed BIONZ image processing. Simply press the Photo button while shooting in the movie mode. There is no limit beyond storage capacity as to how many still images you can shoot.


2.1 Megapixel frame extraction - right in the camcorder
After shooting video footage, you can easily extract frames and save them as still images using nothing but the camcorder. Simply enter the Playback Mode, search your footage for the desired frame, and extract it as a 2.1 megapixel still image of outstanding quality.


3.0 Megapixel frame extraction - on your PC
After shooting video footage, you can easily extract frames and save them as still images using nothing but the camcorder. Simply enter the Playback Mode, search your footage for the desired frame, and extract it as a 2.1 megapixel still image of outstanding quality.

PhotoTV HD
Now you can enjoy breathtaking image quality when displaying still images on any BRAVIA that is compatible with PhotoTV HD. The new PhotoTV HD picture mode optimizes the display of still images captured with the HDR-XR520 to deliver higher resolution, finer gradations and richer colour. Whether human skin, flowers, sandy beaches or breaking waves, the beautiful photo-like quality is sure to delight you and your audience.

What's Included:

• HDR-XR520V Handycam® camcorder
• AC adaptor AC-L200
• Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-FH60
• Remote Commander RMT-835
• Component A/V Cable      
• A/V Connecting Cable      
• Clock Lithium (Installed) 
• Lithium Battery      
• Application Software / USB Driver / (CD-ROM)      
• USB Cable