Iphone Hdr Review
Sony – HDR-XR160 any opinions?
I cheaped out and bought a crappy SD camcorder. The video was worse than my Iphone it was such a joke. So I have been looking at this one. But I can not find any reviews on it. Has anyone had any experience with this camera? I’m don’t think I’m that picky. As long as the picture and sound quality are clear then I’m good. But that crappy SD camcorder that I got was just plain awful with video clarity it was so grainy.
Hi Richard:
There are a few reviews on the Sony XR160, most calling that series “sub-par” in HD quality (but most of the under-$1000 HD camcorders are pretty crappy at HiDef!).
Here’s the CNet review page: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/sony-handycam-hdr-xr160/4505-6500_7-34468885.html
The CNet review explains that the Sony imaging sensor has fewer pixels than required for true-HD resolution, so the internal electronics “interpolates” the missing detail and you get “artifacts” (blocks & jaggies) in the resulting “HD” video.
In the $500-$600 price range, you’d do better with a miniDV tape format StandardDef camcorder than any of the memory-card or hard-drive format recorders. If you want 16:9 widescreen video, most of the decent miniDV StandardDef camcorders will switch to that format, and still outperform a true-HD consumer model.
hope this helps,
–Dennis C.
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