Sony HDR-UX19E

The basics

The Sony HDR-UX19E is a full-HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) camcorder with a 1/5.0 ClearVid CMOS sensor. It measures 134x93x58mm and weighs 470g, and has a 15x optical and 180x digital zoom. Other boons include the 2.7-inch LCD viewfinder, up to three hours HD recording and 5.1 surround sound recording.

The good

Can’t afford a shiny new Prius? This hybrid has nearly as much as street cred but a much lower price-tag. The hybrid element is a choice between recording stunning Full HD to either a plain old DVD blank or the built-in 8GB of memory. Whichever you choose, you’ll get the benefit of face detection, an optically stabilised 15x Carl Zeiss lens and a D-Range Optimiser to rescue shadow detail. It’s all controlled by finger power alone, using the opulent 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD.

The bad

Sony is famous for playing its own game, so you’ll get the best from this gorgeous camcorder if you already have a house full of Sonys. The UX19 uses Memory Stick cards for (4-megapixel) still photos and needs a Bravia telly to make the most of its cinema-quality x.v.Colour and PhotoHD settings, not to mention Bravia Sync integrated remote control via HDMI.

The bottom line

A luxury purchase for anyone who wants the fire-and-forget convenience of instant HD movies without sacrificing Sony’s trademark style and ease of use.