The Sony HDR XR200
The Sony HDR XR200 hit the market as the entry level model for the company’s range of camcorders which were smartly equipped with GPS and GEO tagging. When I say entry-level, don’t snub your nose and immediately head off in search for a higher level, because this little camera is jam packed with incredible features and superb deliverance when it comes to the quality of your film.
To mention some of these features: a 120 gig hard drive and a slot for an external memory stick in case you need additional storage space, 15 x optical zoom lens, Full HD (1920 X 1080) recording, 5.1 surround sound recording, touch screen LCD, optical image stabilisation and still image capture (4 megs).
The Sony XR200 allows the user to play with a wide range of manual functions giving you some freedom to be a little creative while recording your videos, if you aren’t interested in manual operation, of course it comes with an option that just tells the camera to do everything for you while you simply point and shoot.
These features might all seem a little familiar to you and if you have had any interaction with the Sony SR10 then you’d be right in thinking that they are very similar cameras. The difference is in the hard drive space (the XR200 has an additional 80 gigs providing a total of 15 hours recording at the highest quality, compared to the SR10’s 4 and a half hours of recording space) and of course the GPS and GEO mapping was not a feature in the SR10.
The Sony XR200 is equipped with 1/5 in ClearVid CMOS sensor with an effective pixel count of 1490 K.
Some of the features that you might find on the SR10 you will find upgraded versions on the XR200.
Smile Shutter, Super Shot image Stabilization and Face Detection are among the improved features. While there really is nothing bad to say about the SR10, the Sony XR200 is an all round better product.
The Sony BIONZ image processor lives up to its reputation by giving the camera an extra boost in processing and function speed.
The Face Detection function is available for both still images and your video recording. The Sony XR200 is able to recognise up to eight faces in your frame and adjust lighting, expose and focus accordingly allowing for the best natural skin tones results. Smile Shutter will trigger the camera to start recording or snap an image as soon as the camera detects a smile on a face it has prioritised.
You can record and, without stopping, take a picture, letting you continue your video without interruption and still capture the special moments you want on image as well.
The Sony XR200 proved itself when it came to low-light shooting and gave no signs of losing quality at all. Along with low-light shooting, Sony’s infrared Night Shot mode is also a feature and allows you to shoot in complete darkness.
The Navteq GPS Map on the Sony XR200 is a feature not yet seen on any other manufacturers cameras. It is, basically, a 2D map of your current location, zoom in and out options and the peace of mind that if you are lost you will be able to find your way home again! A nifty little feature with the GPS is GEO-tagging which will ‘tag’ the location of filming on the video footage and you can browse your video menu by location if you wish.
The Sony XR200 weighs in at 390 grams and has a 2.7 inch wide touch screen LCD with 211,000K pixels. The screen can rotate 270 degrees and if your camera is off – opening the screen triggers power up. There are start, stop and zoom buttons located on the frame of the LCD for convenient access.
A shoe mount gives you the option of using any Intelligent Accessories, like lighting and microphones.
Sony has kept its traditional and unmistakable shape for the design of this camcorder, an oblong, sturdy and comfortable to hold shape.
Once you are done recording you can use the Sony Picture Motion Browser software to sort through, move around, organise and transfer your footage.
All in all the Sony XR200 is a fantastic little camera with incredible features and comfortable use.
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