Sony HDRPJ30V Reviews

Good mid-range HD shooter, but not best around

The Sony Handycam HDR-PJ30V is a middling camcorder, and, while its built-in projector is a cool feature, we're not sure if it warrants the price tag that comes with the model. The camcorder did well in most of our tests, and it really stood out in stabilization and motion, but its overall numbers weren't able to match what we saw from the competition. Mid-range camcorders from Canon (Vixia HF M40) and Panasonic (HDC-TM90) both did better in our tests--particularly in low light--and are available at much lower costs than the PJ30V. In fact, the PJ30V is closer in price to Panasonic's high-end model, the HDC-TM900. And if you can get a camcorder of that quality for the same price, then that puts the HDR-PJ30V in a dangerous limbo. But there is the built-in projector. That feature, along with the ability to record Full HD video with 60p and 24p frame rates, make the HDR-PJ30V stand out from the crowd at least a little. The Panasonic HDC-TM90 can record 60p, and the Canon HF M40 can record 24p, but the Sony HDR-PJ30V is the only mid-range model of the bunch that can do both. So, if you are a lover of multiple frame rates, there is some incentive to go with the PJ30V. In the end, we were more impressed with the quality and performance of the Canon HF M40 and Panasonic HDC-TM90 over the Sony HDR-PJ30V. Unless you're in love with the idea of having a projector built into your camcorder, or you're looking for a mid-range model with the most frame rate options, the Sony HDR-PJ30V is not your best choice. It doesn't have a good set of manual controls, and it lacks the top-notch low light performance that we've seen from other mid-range models this year. For our full in-depth review, please visit CamcorderInfo.com: http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-Handycam-HDR-PJ30-Camcorder-Review

Review by DigitalCameraInfo (07/15/2011 15:10).