Sony HDR-CX520

The basics

Sony’s Full HD camcorder, the HDR-CX520, aims for imaging excellence thanks to a top-quality G lens and an Exmor R CMOS sensor. The camcorder can store up to 26 hours of movies on its 64GB internal memory but if you need extra storage you can record to a Sony Memory Stick. A 12x optical zoom, built-in GPS and 3in touchscreen LCD add further sparkle to the spec sheet.

The good

No longer the preserve of the pros, super-smooth slow-motion shots can be yours, too. The CX520 has a high-quality 120fps (frames per second) slow-mo mode, which is fantastic for action shots involving skateboarding, bike jumps, free-running and the like.

It only records for a few seconds at a time, so it pays to plan your clips in advance but the results will reward your efforts. Dual recording gives you the option to snap a still image while recording a movie clip, and for audiophiles the chance to record 5.1 channel surround sound may give soundtracks a real boost.

The bad

The much vaunted low-light recording capabilities are OK and may help you out of the odd troublesome spot but there’s still no substitute for either plenty of natural light or a simple lighting-rig to help lift the gloom and ensure healthy-looking shots.

It would also be handy for the features list to include a couple more input/outputs for attaching an external microphone and headphones.

The bottom line

Comfortable to hold and use, and capable of rock-solid movie clips, the CX520 is a dependable addition to the ranks of HD camcorders. Videophiles may begrudge the odd absence from the tech specs but otherwise there’s a lot here to really enjoy.