Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V

price range: $1,999.58

• Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
• Reviewed on: 07/01/2009
• Released on: 03/01/2009

The good: First-rate video quality and performance; geotagging videos is fun, if limited.

The bad: Annoying menu system; no wind filter; no manual shutter-speed, iris, or audio controls; relatively big and heavy; expensive.

The bottom line: Though their geotagging capabilities are mostly novelty and their interfaces could use a complete overhaul, the top-notch video quality, performance, and consumer-friendly feature sets of the Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V and HDR-XR520V make them worthy camcorder options. Both are overpriced, but since 14 hours of recording time is plenty--especially if supplemented with flash media--the HDR-XR500V is the better deal of the two.

Read CNET's full review