The image quality
The data recorded in full HD, and the highest quality videos are on a Full HD TV played unbelievable plastic and alive. To my mind, they do not differ from professional broadcast HD-quality digital TV or BluRay discs. The 240 gigabyte hard drive about 24 hours of HD recording in the highest quality (including DD 5.1 sound) are possible. That should be enough even for a multi-week vacation. If not: It can connect a hard drive via USB 2.0, on which you can play the video and photo data (without a computer!). A great thing!
The lens is distinguished from extremely sharp and detailed. The zoom range with 10x optical zoom is more than adequate, and the wide angle is great! Finally, I do not need any more Weitwinkelkonverter! But you can at the 37mm filter thread still a converter (or filters) screw.
The built-in SteadyShot has an "Active" mode, which - for me - anything ever seen in the shade. Hands-free shooting with full zoom are amazing wobble-free with a steady hand. The stand can now often stay at home. Even while walking recorded videos have a noticeable calm character and reach almost real Steadicam Quality.
Also received an excellent image quality in dark environments. What the camera does here really impressive. Indoors with available light are almost no noise possible. So the films makes in dark churches, or at dusk and at night (in lit streets, for example) really fun! Here the camera is far above the average! At least as long as one remains in wide angle. Zooms you get closer, it rushes ever a little bit - but everything remains still in the frame.
The Sound Quality
The built-in 5.1-in microphone is - according to the circumstances - OK. Wind is obviously a problem, but can get to grips with windshield by an external micro. For me, the sound tends to play a subordinate role, as I re-set to music the section usually, so I let him here once sidelined.
The Operation
The menu structure is a bit confusing at first glance, but can be optimized very well for everyday use by a configurable "MyMenu".
All other buttons (Up, zoom rocker, etc.) are used to good to use. Only if one takes the camera from above, must be careful not to touch the zoom rocker.
The highlight (at least for me): front of the camera there is a small turning wheel with a button. Thus, various functions can be manually control focus, exposure, aperture, shutter speed and white balance. For someone who wants to get into the video films something creative that is a real treat.
The display
On the very large, and very high resolution display, the sharpness of photos and videos can be very good judge. Very positive I feel also the extremely wide viewing angle: From almost every x-arbitrary angle I see the display still sharp and colorfast. Because the display works as a touch screen, it is of course quite fast full Fingertapser. But the thing is done from cell phones, MP3 players and navigation systems. Whether there brings a Displayfolie improvement I do not know. Do not disturb the Fingertapser: When the display is on, they fall not disturbing basically.
Other Features
- Also worth mentioning is the additional optical viewfinder, which, although the quality is rather poor, but in very bright environments - in my opinion - is indispensable. A focus control can be so but do not perform, because the viewfinder is really tiny, but the camera's autofocus works quite clean and tidy, and you can rely generally on him.
- Positive I feel well - may sound a little silly - the flare in backlit scenes. Thanks iris the spots are beautiful 6-square, which looks much more professional in the film, as this weird, lying diamonds other cameras ... (As I said: This is just a nice side effect - nothing serious!)
- Nice features provides the playback mode of the camera: A "Highlights" feature automatically creates a random selection of some twisted scenes together, which is then deposited with music. So you can at home with the family before a first "quick-and-dirty" video view of just experienced. Nice gimmick.
- The AVCHD video files can be ruckzuck draw via USB to the computer. No lengthy import in real time as with tape-based systems.
- The tele-macro function: Blümchen- and insects filmmakers take note: This is really great! Never before have the crocuses in my garden as interesting as today! :-)
- The built-in GPS function. So you know afterwards always know where the shots were taken. Only works in the open air, and replaced no conventional Navi. A quite useful feature for people like me who have a rather moderate short-term memory ;-).
- On the camera bottom side is a slot for memory cards. Fortunately, not only for the Sony Memory Stick, but now also for SD cards. It can also be again save photos and videos, and depending on the size of the map is then increased again the overall storage capacity of the camera.
Drop of bitterness
- The I anticipated slow motion function (3 second real-time can be used as a 12-second sequence filmed as a real slow motion) does not in HD resolution. As a nice gimmick but still quite useful.
- The video editing AVCHD footage is (still) a very tough matter! With Sony Vegas 9 the work for me, although pretty good, but my dual-core processor computer is doing pretty in the knee. One should not expect miracles here, unfortunately, and HD video editing is unfortunately hardly possible in real time (as in the HDV system). This should also be in some time not a serious problem more.
- The recovery finished cut AVCHD movies on the camera via the Sony software (Picture Motion Browser) generally possible, but is miraculously an unimaginably slow and tough affair. I think Sony has here deliberately a "brake" Eini built so that one the camera does not "abuse" as a media player can. As a guide: A 2 minute clip took about 13 minutes back to the camera. It's frustrating. Here I will probably at some point an AVCHD-compatible media player must remedy this situation. Too bad, because I really wanted to bypass this step.
- When videos are saved in the highest quality, you can not take pictures at the same time. For me, not so bad, I wanted to mention times.
- The attached battery is to be regarded more as a toy. With a maximum of 104 minutes recording capacity you come here very quickly reach the limits. A larger battery (Attention: It seems to function only batteries of the V-Series!) Is certainly an expensive fun, but before I will stand before the next holiday.
In conclusion, I can only again proclaim my enthusiasm. The camera makes me really happy! Image, sound and feel is how I expected it. The little quirks I still get to grips with. I can give a strong buy recommendation.
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Addendum of 18 May 2010
After about 2 months with the XR550 I would like to make a few little notes.
1. I am still very satisfied with the camera. The picture and sound quality of Full HD recordings is really great. The camera is small, light, easy to use and meets my needs perfectly so far. I love now the Tele Macro function and the GPS function. I use the opportunity to control the exposure manually very often, and the results obtained from excellent to see. The 240GB hard drive is dimensioned more than adequate (a drive noise is in the shots the way not to hear). The management of videos with the camera enclosed software "Picture Motion Browser" makes a surprising amount of fun and creates a pleasant clarity. Normally I am not one for the "supplement programs", but the PMB is a real help.
2. Cutting of AVCHD video is unfortunately hakeliger than expected. I manage not always spend from Sony Vegas Platinum 9 a reasonable AVCHD video. Especially if the video is no longer and numerous effects and "gimmicks" features. These are partly included in the calculation or not change unpredictably, or the software crashes unexpectedly. In addition, I put in the cut AVCHD movie established a visible compression of images (JPG-artifacts) that are not visible in the original. At the moment, I handle these shortcomings by spending in Sony Vegas as HDV video (1080-50i). This works fortunately without any problems and without any visible compression - but unfortunately not the full HD resolution 1440x1080 pixels only.
These points have not directly to do with the camera, and an effect (for me) not to vote out. Filming with the XR550 and looks at the video from the camera directly to the TV, so everything is perfect. A little bit I'm just disappointed that a high-quality Sony product not easily cooperate with Sony software.
3. When extremely convenient and great way to view the AVCHD files directly from the camera itself using the WD Live media player has been found. He plays Full HD videos without any problems (even the HDV format) and can be had from around 80 Euro (excl. Of an external USB hard drive).
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