Video Review #185: Sony HDR-XR500V Camcorder

[StevenTalks1]

Dude, 9:00 at night? Wow. It seems like early afternoon!

[johnisk343]

I'm rich bitch!

[Crazzy4Chicago]

does it have a night flash like when you make a video you can just turn on the light?

[XEffectENT]

is it good for night time

[tecnologyluis]

donde la compraste

[Jammydodger58]

this is way too expensive for me, all i want to do i make guitar covers for youtube with a good cam corder

[bbcake009]

your test video of your daughter is a little jittery here in youtube... How about the actual video?

[bbcake009]

which one is a lot more newer model, the xr500v or the cx560v ???

[jrnerf10087]

Where did you buy that

[djrab1972]

i had a sony hi 8 video camcorder in the 1998 ,the picture of this thing was great you can,t get a better camcorder for you r money...

[blanegeorgeupstone]

@CloudCraydon The camcorder I'm getting the Sony had bloggie for me I've found it for £80 on amazon

[CloudCrayon]

i need a camera with good audio ,1080p HD,and good batery life/memory? for cheap..does it exist?

[xx840]

do you guys think this Camcorder would be good for recording youtube episodes? like legit ones with good quality.

(when i say episodes i mean like comedy skits or so you see people do on youtube like raywilliam johnson or recklesstorutga etc..)

[omarcorrea]

@xx840 There are newer camcorders that are smaller with flash memory that would do the trick as well.

[whatsuphomedog1]

@xx840 just download it?

[MrRyan66]

pleaaaze respond I'm looking for a camera that iz:

1080p or 720p

Good price

grip

and can flip the digital screen around. ty

[Esteban7214]

@MrRyan66 Well, this one is 400 dollars of 250. It's your coice, you can go to a store in your neiborhood too.  Esteban The Gamermaster.

[tido35]

can i import to mac ?

[dayone54]

hello,

i just got mine today. ques. pls? isnt this 360x digital zoom?

if so, when i zommed in on the moon tonight how come it didnt give me a close up of it? i coldnt even see the gray in it?

do i need to change the speed or somehting? pls help me? oh mine is the hdr-cx500

thanks

debi

[dayone54]

hello,

i just got mine today. ques. pls? isnt this 360x digital zoom?

if so, when i zommed in on the moon tonight how come it didnt give me a close up of it? i coldnt even see the gray in it?

do i need to change the speed or somehting? pls help me?

thanks

debi

[pamplemousse37]

Thank you.

[trunks7o2]

do you need to plug in the rca plugs next to the hdmi plug to hear video from the TV ?

[eastcoasting32]

what editing software? great vid omar!!

[HEYITSOCOOL]

How much?

[shaebabe1998]

@HEYITSOCOOL its like 1,000 dollars.

[THEASHLEXSHOW1]

Thanks

[THEASHLEXSHOW1]

Is this waterproof!!!!

Sorry if i sound retarted! But my internet is slow and i cant watch the vid!

[omarcorrea]

@THEASHLEXSHOW1 no

[danielcdecarli]

Not worthy for me! Price too High!

My HD Camcorder is around 400 dollars. It has almost all the features this one has. But 3.9mp still image but still a very nice quality.

[1Strawbz1]

It looks like a beast close up...

[1Strawbz1]

I might just visit comet or somthing, see what they'd recommend for my special requirments.

[mooersrealty]

Great camera, only only complaint is the battery locks in but after 500 video productions, it starts to "rattle" as you pan, picked up with audio on some movements with jib crane. Nothing a patch of duct tape won't stick in place.

[sofruity1]

i know a place where you can buy it for 582 dollars ele2006.com just search on google then go to camcorders. I don;t know if it is a scam but it looks legit with the live chat that is actually a real person. Check it out!

[oxbridgeooo]

i am more interested in knowing which cam did u use to shoot this video? plz reply i am waiting omar!!!

[omarcorrea]

@oxbridgeooo I used this same camera to film the review. I had two of them

[CloudCrayon]

@omarcorrea i need a camera with good audio ,1080p HD,and good batery life/memory? for cheap..does it exist?

[SjokkoladeBolleMusa]

@oxbridgeooo he says it like 3 times xD

[04A13]

@oxbridgeooo He says he uses the exact same camera to film. Stupid.

[cutiepie44507]

i want it !!!

[Ibenofilmpjes]

Love u

[Eclipse0037]

can u use the flash in video mode aswell

[PeteyHoudini]

Great camcorder. Though, the long-lasting Sony battery sticks out big-time. One nice function is that you can turn OFF AUTO SHUT OFF. That's handy!

[MaxRemish12]

Can you get a fish eye lens for it?

[MrEzstuff]

@5:45 lol fart!

[OutNodding]

@MrEzstuff Strong gas detection.

[humyai34]

Hows the frame rate? Does it slow down at times while shooting?

[mooersrealty]

Have this camera and have nothing but praise. The lavalier or shot gun mic is needed on windy days like most sensitive internal microphones that have no muff protection. Stabilizer helps too so rarely need to use tripod.

[iverskamera]

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[answerer100]

plz help me plz.....

i live in INDIA and i wanna buy HDR-XR500E but the review is found only for 500V is ther any difference between the E' model and V' model ??? i.e. any difference between HDR-XR500V and HDR-XR500E ........

plz reply ASAP!

[MysteriosDI]

ok so I want to buy a camcorder that has a mic input so i can use a shotgun mic or a boom mic, any suggestions on which one to buy? not too expensive camcorder, price range for me is $200-$350

[AngusNG12345]

How much is it?

what currency.

[AngusNG12345]

How much is it?

[akbar1515]

Panasonic HDC-sd60 is much beter

[MegaSmud]

The only drawback to this camera is motion blur. Smallest pan and it is blurry.

[2010unseen]

VERY THIRD CLASS QUALITY OF VIDEOS, AND NO FUNCTIONS. BOGUS...DON'T BUY THIS PRODUCT.

[FightForTheInnocent]

Hi, ICould you recommend a camcorder that's resistant, films well outside, has a good image stability, long batery life and a decent zoom. £200 tops. thanks!

[RainoBoy97]

Look at the top of the box when he hold it in front of the "buymeaniphone(dot)com" logo :D

[redraven117]

not what im looking for i need something that

takes good video outside

water proof

good audio

optical zoom

optical image stableization

and im willin to pay for it any sugestions

[omarcorrea]

@redraven117 I believe Sanyo has a Xacti camera that is waterproof. I doubt the audio is awesome, but that's the tradeoff for having the camera be water proof

[theporkchopchannel]

@omarcorrea i did not see a  vid imput for dubing video from vhs to hd it be nice if it had this but may be im wrong

[wescoolya]

@omarcorrea sanyo and jvc are shitty companys. look for sony, fisher, panisonic

[AshgroveScooters]

@redraven117 GOPRO HD

[KaMiJeAn1]

@redraven117 look at the canon vixia m30 of 31 has optical image stabilization u can buy water proof case for it or buy a kodak zx3 but it only has digital zoom but i like it

[acdcrox23]

@redraven117 kodak playsport no doubt they just came out with a second model, but my first model was: waterproof, 1080p, 720p 60fps, 720p, WVGA, 5 mp stills, image stablization, nice audio, durable/shock resistant DEFINETLY recomend. Oh yea, around $140

[effectmast3r]

Does this do slow motion

[CptnConor]

HOW MUCH MONEY IS DIS TING MON?

[LongLiveTheBlues]

damn i want this but £430 fuck

[andruha11234]

im sorry, but this feels very biased!

[MattMotors101]

i bet the GPS puts the price up alot, could you please tell me a few cameras that are as good as this one without GPS i imagine will lower the price ?

[snapdave09]

Well done mate, you may well have swayed me away from the panasonic.thanks

[hypo383]

Hi, I bought this camcorder, and the vid is blury when i use a filter. is there a setting, or is it just cheap filters?

[rezwanborja]

Is this better than Sony HDR-SR11? What's your opinion?

[liatlavi1]

Hi' does it have fire wire?

[pamplemousse37]

I just bought the XR550 and I am surprised the sound is so bad. I uploaded files of myself playing the guitar, but an annoying swooshing sound in the background ruins everything. Can anyone tell me what is wrong?

[omarcorrea]

@pamplemousse37 The camcorder mic is not the ideal setup to use for recording music. You should try a boom mic

[RCampbellProductions]

@pamplemousse37 Hi there, the internal microphone is no good for recording music, You need to use an external microphone for music, the camera will probably have a mini jack input for connecting an external mic, however any decent microphone you buy will have an XLR connection, therefore you will also need to buy an XLR to mini jack cable, which you can get on ebay

[RCampbellProductions]

@pamplemousse37 Hi there, the internal microphone is no good for recording music, You need to use an external microphone for music, the camera will probably have a mini jack input for connecting an external mic, however any decent microphone you buy will have an XLR connection, therefore you will also need to buy an XLR to mini jack cable, which you can get on ebay cheap, I would recommend an AKG C1000 microphone or 2nd choice shure SM57, great reasonable priced mics

[RCampbellProductions]

@pamplemousse37 Also if your really serious about getting a good sound I would research stereo microphone techniques on youtube, however for this you would need two microphones and a stereo XLR to mini jack cable (which is basically two XLR connections going into 1 mini jack connector) to connect the mics to the camera, but for now im sure the one microphone would work well, on all professional films and music videos, the sound picked up by the cameras microphone is never used, seperate mics are

[platinum7zeppelin]

Thanks a bunch!!!

this review was extremely good and helpful.

[THEOUTCASTZ]

how much?

[mmKaeCakes]

why this camcorder is so good? haha

[namsseff]

can you turn off the image stabilization? Because I have the same camera, and I started using a 35mm adapter, and the image stabilization is a problem.

[L3z420]

can you take pictures with that camera also does it film in black and white?

[BroderickGoertzen]

I own this camera and it's great. Only feature i'd hope for would be extended high fps film time.

[moviesunrated]

I clicked this thinking it was the CX-550V, oh well. Do you have a revieq on the 550V?

And I don't think the software is even necessary for Mac, because you just open iMovie, plug in the camera and leave it for a bit to check for video, then after about 3 or 4 minutes you can select the videos you want to edit. I think that's why Sony didn't bother allowing the software to be on Mac OS

[bakonfreek]

I want this camcordder!! but its so goddamn expensive, and I'm not old enough for a job

[bakonfreek]

if your hands are big, that thing is probably the size of both my hands

[7pinkstone7]

i have sony hdrxr 200ve

[skaterguy396]

you a fisheye lense be put on this? please reply

[shweetify]

you can use flash when your recording video too right?

[FrEeDoMoFfEeT09]

differences between this one and HDR-CX550VE ??

[Imakefood]

Holy crap. awesome review. much props

[tarrizzzzzzzzz]

this can only film in 720p? I expected 1080i :/

[omarcorrea]

@tarrizzzzzzzzz It films in 1080i

[Mikeopellos]

@omarcorrea doesnt it film at 1080p?

[jonathanbain14]

@omarcorrea it actually films in 1080p, hence why it says "FULL HD 1080p" on the back of the box, funny that :-/

[vageta12345]

@tarrizzzzzzzzz 720p is betta then 1080i

[DayLight95]

@tarrizzzzzzzzz 1080i sucks

[ikonik69]

I am confused between Sony HDR-XR550V, Canon VIXIA HF S21, Panasonic HD 700 HS. Dont know which one to buy. I want some thing solid great quality great features but simple to use. Money is not an issue if I'm getting top notch quality cam. Any one with expert advice out there which will be the best pick mentioned above

[omarcorrea]

@ikonik69 I'm not a big fan of Panasonic. I own a Canon Vixia HF S100, but I love the quality of Sony cams, they're just solid cameras.

[ikonik69]

@omarcorrea ok Panasonic is out the window we boiling down to XR550V and Vixia HF S21 interms of maximum focus/zoom pic quality and pound per pound features, battery life, body frame qaulity and LCD screen which on you recomend or pick please be neutral about you opinion. Thanks

[TJsHerps]

I want this camcorder so bad!

[AeroSixWJ]

I've wanted a sony HD camcorder for 3 years,

[DaVv3e]

This camera is probably great and all but still it's just a bloody camcorder if you think that you'll be able to make amazing movies with this then you're totally wrong, get a cheaper camcorder or a better real camera :P I have the hdr-cx115 and it's excellent! but paying more for a small camera isn't worth it!

[4752joshua]

@DaVv3e

Wrong.

Just to let everyone know I have a cheap sony camcorder and a expensive one, which is this one in the video. The spec are way more better and my shots when comparing are 1000's of time better. I suggest if you actually want to be serious with your shots and get amazing shots, get the more expensive one, I PROMISE you will see a HUGE difference! I have!

[DaVv3e]

@4752joshua i say, if you want to be serious don't get a camcorder... get a real one, and if you just want to film stuff for fun, don't buy the xr500v... and what camera is your cheap one? have you tried the cx115, I bet that if you compared that one with yours the difference wouldn't be that large. so i really doubt you get "amazing shots" with it.

[4752joshua]

@DaVv3e

Sorry for the really late delay I wasnt notified about this reply. But yea-The quality is better, being a Song G lens, and besides that, the more expensive one has a mic input, making ur sound A LOT better. Thats worth it to me right there, but besides that, a 240GB harddrive instead of dealing with Cards.....there are also WAY more qualities that this one is better in including a hot shoe, and a better "low light" sensor! This is a great camera and is good for serious stuff!

[4752joshua]

Also-I KNOW a professional guy that actually uses this exact camera, but Canon, and he is making very professional things and not having to carry around a giant camera, and the whole reason he can, is because he bought the more expensive one that had the audio jack. I guess all this is just the inner producer speaking in me....

[DaVv3e]

@4752joshua psst that mic input is shit, supports only shit mics :P real mics use xlr try find that on a handy cam ... but yeah if someone wants to buy this camera to do serious stuff, go ahead I'm just saying everyone is using a Hdslr when they're on a budget now, even MGM uses a 7D.

[4752joshua]

@DaVv3e

Yea I DID find XLR for handycam, its called a beachtek adapter it works great, it sounds just as clear, as allows you to have 2 perfect XLR mics. So if your saying XLR is crap then u must not know much cuz it supports it thro a adapter.

I guess you havent done ur research, I have. :P Sounds amazing!

[DaVv3e]

@4752joshua adapters are lame.

[4752joshua]

@DaVv3e

Ok? :P

Yea I dont think so, when I use them, the audio is crystal clear, for just a little extra weight. Is that all you had to say? "adapters are lame" Good point! jk. hey, in all seriousness, I am curious why you say that, I would be interested in hearing some reasons why you think that cuz I cant think of any reasons....Thxs!

[DaVv3e]

@4752joshua okey so the reason was because this discussion has no end! let's all be friends and use what we want, okey? ;) I'm not a noob when it comes to studio things aight? I'm a violinist, guitarist mandolinist and a somewhat okay piano player I'm on my first Condenser mic plugging it through a audiobox mixing and editing in cubase and ableton, taken courses too... ;) soo Im a sound nerd ... Just don't like adapters ;P But If you like it, just use it . Okey end of discussion? ;)

[chantzbrie]

Can u take the mic off???

[Albunack]

what kind of format is is

AVI

MPEG?

[resington]

great review thanks

[LordBrian829]

i have have this camcorder now and when i upload it to PMB it but it in widescreen how do i have it full like u have it here?

[wung97]

what kind of camcorder are you taking the video of the camcorder?

[omarcorrea]

@wung97 I'm using the same camcorder to film this review, they sent me 2 XR500Vs

[procameraHF20]

@arrow1archer I agree

[3006USMC]

WHAT ABOUT NIGHT SHOT AND IR????

[arrow1archer]

How is the $79.99 it's $899.99

[megamarko94]

pplz tell me what do u think about HDRXR350V

[winkwink628]

Does it record in night vision?

[east71177]

Wonderful review. Thank you. BTW, your daughters are beautiful.

[bakonfreek]

not small, but it's a great size

[AGrandt]

The Active shoe can use a wireless microphone as well, the receiver sits in the shoe, and feeds audio into the camera via the shoe.

[omarcorrea]

@AGrandt I have a review of the Sony Bluetooth wireless mic as well if you're interested

[AGrandt]

@omarcorrea Thanks, I already have both that camera and that wireless microphone :)

[4752joshua]

@AGrandt

You can also get an adapter to make it a cold shoe to put whatever you want on it

[ieatyellow]

frame rate? 

[MillerGenuineCraft]

This video was very useful to me when learning how to first use my wonderful new camcorder. I am trying to upload an HD video now and will post it as a video response

[ajmex1996]

hey how could i win that camara i need one to shoot youtube videos ill do anything to get that camara

[DandMexperence]

can u put other lenses on it



[omarcorrea]

@DandMexperence yes

[4752joshua]

@DandMexperence

There are 3 or 4 lenses that you can buy from sony that fit on, but there is no macro lens. There ARE off-brand lenses, just make sure they are the right screw on size

[weeqify]

I just bought this camcorder! Nice review.

[galaxydreaming]

Thank you for the review - I want to upgrade from my old SONY DCR-SR40, Sony centre mentioned this one, I was thinking of going bigger like DCR-VX2100, but I only want good quality youtube & TV video. If I shot a vid, edited up in iMovie than exported in HD do you think it would be pixelated on the tv or bigger video camera needed? Thanks for considering my q.

[omarcorrea]

@galaxydreaming I'm not familiar with the VX2100

[Posthuman7]

@galaxydreaming it's "then" not "than" you illterate idiot.



[galaxydreaming]

@Posthuman7 lol so funny - ever heard of a typo... no big deal

[detmorville]

i bought this camcorder, and i really thank for this video. it helped me alot!

[alexdafaatty]

hmm i think at 5:45 he farts...

[redw22]

@alexdafaatty LMAO!

[fjcampuz]

@alexdafaatty

jajajajajajajajajaj thats right guy :D

[Echofromsomewere1]

@alexdafaatty It was the chair moving. don't ruin the mans reputation :)

[robincrack786]

@alexdafaatty me think as well lol

[oribali1]

@alexdafaatty XXXDDD

[drstevewlives]

I have an earlier model Sony camera that also uses AVCHD encoding (an HDR-SR11, a very similar camera) and the footage can be uploaded into Final Cut Pro using its "Log and Transfer" feature: It works with Final Cut Pro.

[splint3048]

In your vid the picture seems a bit jumpy when panning. Very noticable in the car park and your office. Is this normal, is it something to do with the stabilization technology?

[johnny102marvin]

I bought this video camera, but, I am not happy with the sound quality. I have made 4 youTube videos with this unit and the sound is not very good. I was thinking about pluging a microphone into the side of it. But the red hole says it is for PLUG IN POWER for microphone. I tried putting a 1/8th inch microphone end into this Sony hole, but it would not go in.

Do you have any suggestions.

[gbenifits1968]

i got Sony HDR-XR100e,its pretty nice for taking videos.

[MichielVenmans]

The children are like: oh no, dady is again talking to hes camera =D

[goodson305]

Nice, video would you show us the picture quality,does it have good detail in the picture like DSLR cameras.

[cmedip]

For the money the Panasonic HDC-TM700k smokes this camcorder

[cmedip]

you might have to get a program called clipwrap to use the clips on the mac

[lovestar631]

UR SOMETIMES HARD TO UNDERSTAND

[OutOfSkoolTV]

Hey Omar my is Omar as well!!! i was actually interested in this camera thanks for the review now i will go and pick it up:-)

[TyTimes]

this is real nice, but im gettin the HDR-XR150...

[HamzaReview]

Is there a better Sony HD camcorder?

[sing4eva311]

Is this camera compatible with a mac? Like can you upload it onto a mac and it will be fine?

[omarcorrea]

@sing4eva311 It's compatible with iMove on a Mac yes. I did not test with Final Cut

[sing4eva311]

@omarcorrea Ok thank you(:

[Biostech2008]

@omarcorrea I just wanted to chime in here, i've been looking @ the new JVC Pro HD family, and they record in MOV and MP4 wrapper and use class 6 SDHC flash cards so that your work flow is fast and simple with Final Cut Pro because those ARE the native files for Final Cut Pro.

[Biostech2008]

@sing4eva311 Final Cut Pro is compatible with AVCHD, which this camera records in AVCHD and MPEG2, but there may be some time consuming transcoding involved, so if you need to reduce work-flow time, you may want a camera that records natively in .MOV or .MP4 which is natively compatible with Final Cut Pro.

[kongloud]

can you send me one?

[dvamateur]

I chose the Sony HVR-HD1000U which is pretty much the same price, but I think has better ergonomics than this and you can mount shotgun mic and wireless receiver without any problems. And the manual ring is much easier to use. The little manual controlloer on this one seems like a joke. If it cost $200 maybe it would be fine, but I think paying for this $1,300 is crazy. That's just my opinion.

[mziluus]

this camera is the horror. it will take you 3 months from your life only to

get a software for it to be able to merge the mts files.

selling a camera without software is like selling a car without wheels.

Cheers

[cyberbotzero]

can i edit the files in Sony Vegas? What are the file type?

[cyberbotzero]

can i edit the files in Sony Vegas? What are the file type?