Hdr Pj710 Turn the Camera Off and on Again

Sony isn't but giving the HDR-PJ710V abroad for complimentary, and so you have to determine if this better operation is worth the cash. With an initial launch cost of $1299 (likewise loftier), the camcorder has since dropped to $1149 on Sony's website. This puts it in roughly the same toll range as the Canon HF G10, and just a flake more expensive than the Panasonic HC-X900M. If you have even more cash to blow, Sony does offer a step-upwards HDR-PJ760V Handycam for $1399. The PJ760V has three times every bit much internal retentiveness (96GB) and includes an electronic viewfinder—otherwise it'due south the same as the HDR-PJ710V.

A huge clamper of the camcorders on the market these days are small enough to fit in your pocket, heck, some of them are small plenty to mountain on your helmet with ease. The Sony HDR-PJ710V is non one of those camcorders. In fact, it's one of the bulkiest camcorders we've seen since we reviewed the Canon HF G10 concluding year. Only this actress size makes the PJ710V feel more professional, and that should make _you_ experience more like a pro when you're using it. The about unusual pattern implementation on the PJ710V is probably the camcorder's built-in projector, only it's not like this projector actually gets in the way of the overall design. It'due south only a little light on the back of the LCD panel. There'due south likewise the strange lens that wobbles thanks to Sony'due south new optical image SteadyShot feature. When you turn the PJ710V on, y'all may observe the lens snapping into place like a robot that'southward that's tuned-in on your confront. It's kinda creepy, but besides kind of cool. Just call back that the wobbly lens that you lot can hear when y'all shake the camcorder is normal.

The Sony Handycam HDR-PJ710V with its provided accessories.

The HDR-PJ710V ships with the following accessories: • Sony HDR-PJ710V camcorder • lens hood • ability cord and AC adapter • USB extender cable • AV cable • remote control • HDMI cable • step-downward ring • instruction manual • NP-FV50 battery pack Honestly, we didn't look Sony to make such a significant improvement to the performance of the new HDR-PJ710V. Merely the camcorder _is_ improved over final yr's high-finish Handycams, and virtually all of comeback comes in the form of stronger low light functioning. The HDR-PJ710V showed less dissonance, stronger colors, and a far ameliorate low light sensitivity than final yr's HDR-CX700V. And these amend low low-cal numbers positions the new Sony PJ710 to better compete with the HC-X900M from Panasonic and the HF G10 from Canon—both of which are currently fighting for space at the top of our camcorder rankings.

As usual, the Sony HDR-PJ710V produced pleasing colors in our tests, and those colors were quite a bit more accurate than the competition. The camcorder managed a colour error of 3.14—a event that's a fleck improve than last year'south HDR-CX700V from Sony—simply it also produced a top-notch saturation level of 92%. _Note: We used new lights for our color examination with the HDR-PJ710, and in doing so we obtained a better score using automobile white rest than transmission white balance on the camcorder. Originally, we based our color score on the manual white balance results, but nosotros decided to change the numbers to reflect the car white residue results instead. This process matches what we've washed in the past, in scoring camcorders using the white balance manner that results in the all-time color accurateness._ [More on how we examination color.](/content/How-We-Test-Camcorders-36180.htm#colour)

There aren't a lot of special color modes on the PJ710V, simply the camcorder does have colour temperature control that can push button your videos cooler (more than blue) or warmer (or blood-red). Of course, using different white balance options also volition take a huge impact in the way the PJ710 produces colors. In fact, we found the camcorder actually had _better_ color accuracy when we shot with its auto white residue mode than when nosotros manually fix the white balance. Yeah, we know, it doesn't make sense, but that'southward the results nosotros obtained. The Sony managed a color error of around 4.v using transmission white balance, which is more than than a full point worse than our car white balance test.

Above we have sample images shot with the PJ710 using three dissimilar lighting setups. The offset is regular bright light automobile, and below this yous can compare the vivid lite prototype with two low calorie-free images. The beginning is was shot with even, but very dim (20 lux), calorie-free. The second image was shot with a single incandescent bulb in order to create a shadow result. All 3 of these images were shot using the 60p frame rate and auto white balance with automatic settings (and low light modes or enhancements turned off).

Much like we saw with our noise examination, color accuracy results were unchanged for the Sony HDR-PJ710V from bright calorie-free to low light. Nosotros measured the colour fault at four.51 for the camcorder in low calorie-free, which is just two hundredths of a point different from the brilliant light color results. The saturation level did drop a bit in low lite, withal, merely the camcorder maintained a decent 78% saturation. This saturation outcome is better than last year's CX700V from Sony, and it's stronger than what we saw from most of the contest in this toll range. [More on how nosotros test low light color.](/content/How-We-Examination-Camcorders-36180.htm#lowlightcolor)

Sony improved the noise performance on the HDR-PJ710, that's for certain. Compared to final year's HDR-CX700V, the PJ710 had both lower dissonance levels in bright light and low calorie-free. In bright light, the results weren't that different, with the PJ710 averaging 0.54% noise (just 0.06% less than the CX700V). In depression lite, the results were more than improved with the new model, and you can read about that in our depression low-cal functioning section. [More on how we test noise.](/content/How-We-Exam-Camcorders-36180.htm#racket)

Low light sensitivity was our biggest event with last year's HDR-CX700V, so we're impressed by how well things have improved on this yr's HDR-PJ710V. In our examination, the PJ710V required xviii lux of light to illuminate our test chart when nosotros used zoom on the camcorder, and information technology needed but six lux of light to illuminate the chart properly without zoom. While this isn't a fantastic performance, it's still very good, and the comeback compared to the CX700V should not be understated. [More on how we test low light sensitivity.](/content/How-Nosotros-Examination-Camcorders-36180.htm#sensitivity) Using the PJ710'south 24p frame rate does improve low low-cal sensitivity a bit, and it does so by letting the camcorder employ a slower shutter speed. The numbers we obtained using the 24p frame charge per unit are equally such: 14 lux with zoom and 5 lux without zoom. So, you can expect to see a bit of an improvement using 24p compared to 60i/60p on the Sony HDR-PJ710V.

At 60 lux, which is the light level we use for our depression lite noise test, the Sony HDR-PJ710V showed very picayune noise. In fact, the numbers show the camcorder had identical noise levels in low low-cal equally it did in bright light—a very impressive showing for this new Sony Handycam. Most impressive is the fact that this camcorder averaged half the noise that the HDR-CX700V averaged last twelvemonth. A potent improvement for Sony here. [More on how we test low lite racket.](/content/How-We-Test-Camcorders-36180.htm#lowlightnoise)

Much similar we saw with our dissonance test, colour accuracy results were unchanged for the Sony HDR-PJ710V from vivid light to low light. We measured the colour error at 4.51 for the camcorder in low calorie-free, which is just ii hundredths of a point different from the brilliant low-cal colour results. The saturation level did drop a bit in low light, nonetheless, but the camcorder maintained a decent 78% saturation. This saturation result is better than last twelvemonth's CX700V from Sony, and it'due south stronger than what we saw from well-nigh of the competition in this price range. [More on how we exam low light color.](/content/How-We-Test-Camcorders-36180.htm#lowlightcolor)

With the add-on of 60p and 24p frame rates, equally well as 60i options, Sony has drastically improved the motion operation on its high-stop Handycam models over the past few years. The HDR-PJ710 continues this trend, with motion results that were very adept in every single category. Artifacting was a not-upshot in bright lite when nosotros shot with the 1080/60p way, although we did come across more and more artifacting equally the lights were brought down. Notwithstanding, this was a very good showing for the camcorder. Abaft and smoothness were not a problem with the 60p manner either. Shooting 60i was a bit less shine, but we didn't observe much of a difference compared to the Sony'due south 60p setting. There was some color bleeding on our rotating pinwheels in our motion test, just nil worse than what nosotros saw from the competition. In all, the Sony HDR-PJ710V is a powerful camcorder when it comes to motion, and the presence of three distinct frame rates available for shooting Total HD video puts the camcorder nigh the top of the pack in this category. [More on how we test motion.](/content/How-We-Test-Camcorders-36180.htm#motion)

Bright Lite Motion Test - 60i

Low Light Motion Examination - 60i

Shadow Move Test - 60p

See below for a full discussion of the available resolution and frame rate options for the

The Sony HDR-PJ710 tin can record Full Hard disk video using 60i, 60p, or 24p frame rates (in various dissimilar modes). Only the highest-quality setting allows for 1080/60p recording, and some of the lower-quality modes record a 1440 × 1080 stretched image instead of Full 1920 × 1080 video. The camcorder has a single standard definition mode equally well. This is a good set of recording options for a consumer camcorder, and Sony impressively covers all the important bases. The only meaning modes that are missing are a 720p HD pick and a 30p frame charge per unit.
The PJ710 has Sony'due south classic Smooth Irksome Record role, which is a bones slow motility mode. Polish Tiresome Record uses a 240fps frame charge per unit that allows you to capture 3 seconds of footage and turn it into 12 seconds of irksome motion video. Quality isn't great and the three-2d limitation is a bummer, simply the effect is cool. Y'all also have the option of setting Smooth Slow Tape to capture the three seconds of footage before or after you hit the tape button.

Nether the hood, the Sony HDR-PJ710V has the same image sensor as last year'southward Sony HDR-CX700V. So, we expected the results of our sharpness test to be similar, and they were. Sure, the PJ710V has a different lens than its predecessors, but we plant this lens didn't practise annihilation to amend sharpness. That'south non to say the Sony didn't do well in this test (information technology did), simply its results weren't the sharpest we've seen from a consumer camcorder.

The PJ710V managed a horizontal sharpness of 750 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 800 lw/ph, both of which are very skillful scores that rank in the upper echelon of consumer camcorders. Both of these numbers were likewise obtained using the camcorder's highest-quality record mode; the 28Mbps 1080/60p option. Shooting at the next stride down, with the camcorder's Hard disk drive FX 1080/60i setting, the PJ710V managed sharpness values of 700 lw/ph horizontal and 600 lw/ph vertical. More on how nosotros test video sharpness.

The user interface on the HDR-PJ710V is first-class in most aspects. The automobile controls are like shooting fish in a barrel to apply and there are a bunch of unproblematic features yous tin play around with. Our simply issue is that the dedicated motorcar mode isn't all that front end-and-center; information technology should be easier to locate. The transmission controls are just as extensive on the camcorder, although some pros may be miffed by the lack of a true manual manner that allows for aperture and shutter speed adjustment independent from one some other. That minor gripe aside, the camcorder functions very well with its control dial and better-than-boilerplate touchscreen. Some may be put off by the camcorder'south size, and we have to admit the bulk did feel uncomfortable at times, simply when yous accept a camcorder loaded with and so many controls it is hard to get in much smaller than the PJ710V.

The defended auto mode on the HDR-PJ710, which is called iAuto, works merely fine. But our problem with the style is that it's not that like shooting fish in a barrel to find, and that'southward been the example for a few years now on Sony'southward Handycams. Gone are the days of a dedicated "Easy" button on the camcorder itself, and in its identify is a tiny iAuto button on the lower right of the touchscreen. But even that push button just appears when yous tap the screen to bring upwards the onscreen brandish!

The camcorder only has a few physical buttons on its body—the balance of the controls are set with the touchscreen or dial.

The automatic controls themselves don't have much to complain about. Focus and exposure are adjusted extremely apace and quietly, in fact the adjustments may be a chip likewise fast for some people. Auto white balance sometimes took a few seconds to calibrate properly, but the PJ710 usually handled scenes just fine after a few moments. The 10x optical zoom focus is like shooting fish in a barrel to ready with the slider on the top of the camcorder, and we had no problem getting the variable zoom to go the speed of our liking (by applying more or less pressure level to the toggle). In that location's also a 120x digital zoom if you want even more zoom on the camcorder, simply using this will deteriorate your epitome quality.

If you'd like to venture out across the dedicated car way on the PJ710V, you'll find that there are enough of extra machine modes yous can play with. These controls require some kind of user input, but some are as uncomplicated as turning them on or off in the menu organisation. In that location's the spot meter and spot focus function, which lets you tap the office of the screen you desire to focus and expose properly, and there'due south an motorcar back light setting that should help illuminate subjects with a stiff backlight.

In low light situations, you can turn on the Low Lux setting to boost the brightness of your image. This will plough on a slow shutter (1/30 of a second) and increment gain, so you will notice more noise and a blurred image due to the slower shutter (but it volition certainly be brighter). The camcorder also has confront detection and a smile shutter feature that volition automatically take photos when a smile is detected within the frame.

Sony revamped the menu system on its Handycams a while back, and so if you're familiar with whatsoever of last twelvemonth's Handycams so you lot will recognize the menu on the HDR-PJ710V. The bill of fare is clean and modern, simply it'due south not the simplest to use. If you're comfy working with a small touchscreen, similar those on older prison cell phones, then y'all will probably be fine with the PJ710V. The screen'due south small size makes icons and navigation controls difficult to printing, especially if you have big fingers. Only, once more, the bill of fare looks pretty and has a adept corporeality of help text to requite you an idea of what each control does. It'due south also organized into half dozen submenus to assistance keep like options clumped together.

I new option is the My Push feature that lets yous option 3 menu items and put them as shortcuts on the LCD. As far as we tin can tell, you can select any menu option for this: from manual white balance to wink controls to GPS on/off. We similar this mini-customization feature, although we uncertainty many users will really ever use it (or change the My Button options from its original default settings).

The HDR-PJ710V handles no differently than last year'due south flagship Handycams from Sony. It's a large and clunky camcorder compared to the average consumer model, but that extra size does give the PJ710V (and its user) more than clout. This camcorder has a ton of controls, it's got a built-in projector, and it has a new optical image stabilization system. There are a lot of connectivity features, well-nigh of which are very helpful, and the camcorder fifty-fifty has a built-in USB cable that tucks into the hand strap.

The PJ710V is certainly larger than your average consumer camcorder in 2012.

This mitt strap isn't that comfortable, all the same, and part of its crude design comes from the fact that it has a little firm that the USB cable lives inside. This makes the mitt strap more rigid, so it conforms less to the back of your hand. Information technology all the same provides a decent grip, but it's not like wearing a plush, comfortable glove. The touchscreen LCD is also the cause for some pocket-size irritation. The interface is fine for most situations, just navigating menus and doing precise adjustment with the tiny touch buttons is a laborious task. We must admit, nosotros liked this touchscreen much better than what we saw from JVC and Panasonic earlier this year. Sony and Canon camcorders definitely accept the best touchscreens right now, but they still aren't perfect.

From the front end, the camcorder doesn't seem that beefy.

The control dial on the front of the Sony HDR-PJ710V is another feature that should be treasured by pros. But, like the camcorder's touchscreen, the dial is far from perfect. It'due south great for setting focus, as the tension on the punch seems to be just correct for getting precise focus adjustments (especially when used with the camcorder's peaking characteristic). But the dial moves a bit too rapidly for good exposure control. You can too access a quick carte du jour by pressing and holding the push button on the forepart of the dial, but this push button wasn't always responsive to our touches. Just to be clear, we like the dial and are grateful Sony continues to implement information technology on its flagship Handycams, but there is certainly some room for improvement.

In the back, the protruding battery pack tin can go far the mode when you agree the camcorder.

The bombardment on the HDR-PJ710V lasted for just nether two hours in our test. This examination was conducted with by letting the PJ710V continuously record (with special features, like GPS and stabilization turned off) with its highest-quality 60i record mode. Lasting for around 2 hours (118 minutes, to exist exact) is a decent job for a camcorder of this size and cost range. It'south much longer than the Panasonic HC-X900M lasted, and it's well-nigh identical to the Canon HF G10. Recall, Sony does sell bigger batteries that will last longer if you need that kind of affair. More on how we exam battery life.

The camcorder comes with an NP-FV50 rechargeable battery pack that fits in the slot on the back of the PJ710 and hangs out from the camcorder by a quarter-inch or so. The camcorder will work with larger bombardment packs, the NP-FV70 and the NP-FV100, available from Sony or generic models from tertiary-party manufacturers. The battery charger is not a stand up-alone unit, as the bombardment pack must be inserted in the camcorder and the camcorder must be plugged in for the battery to charge.

The PJ710V with its provided NP-FV50 battery pack.

On the left side of the PJ710 is a rotatable LCD that measures 3-inches diagonally. The screen has an impressive 921k-pixel resolution and it can rotate up to 270°. These specs are no unlike than last yr's HDC-CX700V from Sony, but the PJ710 has an extra notable feature—a built-in projector that lives on the back of the LCD console. Something odd we should point out. Two years agone, Sony's flagship Handycam, the HDR-CX550V, had an even larger LCD than today'south PJ710. The screen was iii.v-inches diagonally, which Sony may have decided was, in fact, _too big_. Hence the reduction in screen size we've seen over the by two years. Frankly, we liked having the extra one-half inch of screen real manor. It certainly helped with bill of fare navigation, especially when Sony's touchscreen interface is and then integral to the user interface.

The HDR-PJ710V _does not_ have a built-in viewfinder. But if you lot're really itching for an EVF, you can upgrade to the HDR-PJ760V camcorder instead. The PJ760V has the aforementioned lens, sensor, and specs as the PJ710V, simply information technology includes a viewfinder and 96GB of internal retentiveness (instead of 32GB). It'southward besides one of the priciest consumer models on the block, with an MSRP budgeted $1600.

Sony is truly excited about its new Balanced SteadyShot optical prototype stabilization feature on the HDR-PJ710V and many other 2012 Handycams. We hear a lot near new image stabilization systems every year, then we tend non to get overly excited, only subsequently testing the PJ710 over the by few days, nosotros are ready to proclaim its stabilization greatness. The camcorder stabilized our examination videos with expert precision in our tests, equally we found the PJ710 consistently was able to reduce the milk shake by a solid 85%. [More on how we test stabilization.](/content/How-We-Examination-Camcorders-36180.htm#stabilization) This result is on par with the best camcorders we've seen over the past few years (like the Panasonic HC-X900M), and information technology'southward a big improvement over concluding year'south HDR-CX700V from Sony. For regular hand-held recording, nosotros didn't find Sony'south Agile stabilization mode doing annihilation meliorate than the camcorder's regular SteadyShot, but we as well didn't test the Active mode while running around with lots of hasty motion. In all, this is an impressive feat for Sony, and we tin honestly say this new stabilization feature is really worthy of the hype. Manual focus, with peaking, is available on the HDR-PJ710, and you lot can set the focus using the touchscreen or the control dial on the front of the camera. Our preferred selection is via the control dial, which, while not quite as skilful as a lens band, does give you the ability to quickly change focus on the fly with accuracy. The focus assist peaking feature can be prepare to 3 different colors: scarlet, xanthous, or white. And if yous detest setting focus manually, merely nevertheless want to exert some control over the focus, there'due south also the touch focus feature on the PJ710 that lets you tap the portion of the LCD you want to bring into focus.

The control punch can be used to adjust a variety of controls, including focus.

Like well-nigh high-end camcorders, the HDR-PJ710V has loads of exposure controls. There'southward your basic exposure aligning, which is the best pick if you lot simply want to bump the brightness of your paradigm upwardly or down. You can besides exercise this using the machine exposure shift function, which lets you apply adjustments to the way the camcorder automatically determines exposure levels.

For the more avant-garde user there are three more exposure controls: aperture (iris), shutter speed, and AGC (gain) limiter. The aperture and shutter speed are both priority modes, so they can't be fix independently from 1 another, just that'south not a huge deal on a camcorder like this. All it ways is that yous get to selection ane to gear up, while the camcorder selects the other automatically. The camcorder'due south shutter speed range is solid, going from a slow of one/8 (great for blurry, boring-shutter effects) to a fast of one/ten,000 of a second. The iris range isn't as good, but information technology's not too shabby either; it ranges from f/1.eight to f/9.6. Simply like focus, the discontinuity, shutter speed, and exposure controls can all be set using the control punch on the front of the camcorder.

At that place's also that AGC limiter feature we mentioned every bit function of the three exposure controls on the HDR-PJ710. AGC stands for automobile gain control, then the limiter is basically a roundabout way of decision-making gain. Instead of actually being able to set the gain, however, the camcorder lets yous prepare a limit to the corporeality of gain that can be used. Nosotros'd prefer full-fledged gain control, only this is much improve than cipher—and it'southward still fairly uncommon to discover whatever kind of gain control on a consumer camcorder these days. The limiter maxes out at 24dB (the most gain) and goes all the style to 0dB (no proceeds), with options in between in 3dB increments. The AGC limiter can't exist set using the control dial, and so you have to become into the card system to turn it on.

If that'southward not plenty exposure control for you (and it might not be if you're in the need for contained aperture and shutter control), and then you should also check out the camcorder's Zebra Pattern setting. This option—an essential tool for pros—helps y'all identify areas of the frame that are overexposed. Zebra patterns will appear on areas that are likewise bright, and you can gear up the sensitivity to 70% or 100% of the broadcast standards for overexposure.

In addition to its suite of exposure controls, the HDR-PJ710 too has a manual white balance option and two white residue presets (outdoor and indoor). We could do for a a few more presets, but we likewise similar the simplicity of the "indoor" and "outdoor" selection. Ordinarily people don't know what kind of light they're shooting under, so naming the presets afterward bulb types can be problematic. The PJ710 as well has a WB Shift characteristic that lets you tilt the colour temperature in one management or another.

Cinematone

For more film-similar colors and shadows, you lot can turn on Cinematone on the HDR-PJ710V. The feature volition work in most shooting modes, but for the most cinema-like-wait you can use Cinematone in conjunction with the 24p frame rate.

Tele Macro

For shooting closeups with a lot of optical zoom, you may desire to switch the PJ710 over to its Tele Macro mode. The camcorder can practice extreme closeups without its Tele Macro mode engaged, but if you're using lots of zoom then yous may non be able to become the focus correct without information technology.

Conversion Lens

This feature is only necessary if you're using the PJ710 with one of Sony's conversion lens (either wide angle or tele converter). If ane of these conversion lens are attached, you tin can select the conversion lens option in the menu organization to optimize the paradigm stabilization and autofocus to work better with the conversion lens. Nosotros're not sure why Sony can't have these features engage automatically when a conversion lens is fastened, but at least the option is here for you to plough on.

Guide Frame

Sony doesn't become crazy with guide frames, as the PJ710V just has i choice: on or off. Turned on, and the camcorder will display a 9-sector grid to aid you frame your image. At that place are no options for different colors, shapes, or larger/smaller grids.

The automated controls themselves don't have much to mutter about. Focus and exposure are adjusted extremely quickly and quietly, in fact the adjustments may exist a bit too fast for some people. Car white balance sometimes took a few seconds to calibrate properly, but the PJ710 usually handled scenes simply fine subsequently a few moments. The 10x optical zoom focus is easy to set with the slider on the top of the camcorder, and we had no problem getting the variable zoom to go the speed of our liking (past applying more or less force per unit area to the toggle). There's also a 120x digital zoom if you want fifty-fifty more zoom on the camcorder, but using this will deteriorate your paradigm quality.

You lot'd be hard-pressed to find a consumer camcorder with more than sound features than the HDR-PJ710V. The camcorder comes with a built-in v.ane-channel surround audio microphone that sits simply above the lens. This mic can also be switched to regular ii-channel stereo if that better suits your purpose. The mic is placed decently, but if you're not conscientious, or if y'all take huge fingers, you could discover your pinky wandering over to the summit of the mic when y'all grip the camcorder. Be conscientious and you'll be fine.

Additionally, the PJ710 has a three.5mm mic port and a headphone jack for working with an external mic. The audio levels tin can't be adjusted fully—that'south one of the few letdowns of this camcorder's audio features—but yous tin can switch betwixt normal and low audio recording. At that place is a full-fledged audio level brandish, auto current of air noise reduction, and a zoom mic feature that volition optimize audio recordings based on what the lens is zoomed into. The closer vocalization feature works in conjunction with the zoom mic and confront detection to make people's voices sound clearer.

The born mic records surround sound sound.

Sony loaded the HDR-PJ710V upward with tons of features. Many are very useful, similar the traditional exposure controls and professional peaking and zebra pattern options, and some are silly and express, like smile shutter and smooth slow record. Others, like the congenital-in projector, GPS, and Nightshot, fall somewhere in the middle. They take their uses, simply ultimately they aren't necessary for the average videographer. In the end, Sony has all the really important bases covered. The HDR-PJ710V has a lot of record modes and quality options, and it has the necessary transmission features for you to take full control over your video production.

The AVCHD compression organisation used on the Sony HDR-PJ710 allows for progressive recording, so it's official proper name is AVCHD two.0 or AVCHD Progressive. It's the aforementioned system used on previous Sony Handycams, but since the PJ710 has an option for 1080/60p and 1080/24p recording, Sony had to implement the updated system to continue the camcorder AVCHD compliant. This is the same pinch system used on Panasonic camcorders that offer 1080/60p recording as well. Read more than nearly the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

32GB of internal wink retention is included on the Sony HDR-PJ710V, which is enough to capture a couple hours of video at the highest quality setting. If you desire to record more video, you tin load a retention card (SD or Memory Stick PRO Duo) into the camcorder's memory card slot. Read more than about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

The camcorder works with SD-type or Retention Stick PRO Duo retentivity cards.

The Sony HDR-PJ710 can record Total Hard disk drive video using 60i, 60p, or 24p frame rates (in various different modes). Only the highest-quality setting allows for 1080/60p recording, and some of the lower-quality modes record a 1440 x 1080 stretched image instead of Full 1920 x 1080 video. The camcorder has a unmarried standard definition mode as well. This is a good gear up of recording options for a consumer camcorder, and Sony impressively covers all the of import bases. The but significant modes that are missing are a 720p Hd option and a 30p frame rate.

The PJ710 has Sony'due south classic Smoothen Dull Record function, which is a basic deadening motion mode. Smooth Slow Record uses a 240fps frame rate that allows yous to capture three seconds of footage and turn it into 12 seconds of tedious move video. Quality isn't great and the three-2d limitation is a bummer, just the result is cool. You also have the option of setting Smooth Tiresome Record to capture the 3 seconds of footage earlier or after you striking the record button.

Sony's spec canvas for the HDR-PJ710V has some misleading information near the camcorder's still epitome capabilities. Co-ordinate to Sony, the max effective resolution for photos on the PJ710V is 24.1 megapixels—but this number far exceeds the paradigm sensor's gross pixel count of 6.65 megapixels. What this tells us is that the PJ710V is interpolating its even so images. The camcorder will capture a roughly 6-megapixel image, so stretch it to a huge 6544 x 3680 image. And just because the image is that large, doesn't hateful it has tons of detail. And so, in reality, the 24.1-megapixel mode isn't nigh as skilful as it sounds.

All that garbage aside, the HDR-PJ710V does have quite a few still prototype features. There's a self timer role, a built-in flash (with intensity settings and red centre reduction), half dozen unlike photo size options (3 of which are "interpolated"), and the ability to capture still images during video recording. Sony's Smile Shutter feature, allowing the camcorder to automatically snap photos when information technology detects a human grinning within the frame, is likewise included.

The Zeiss lens has a 10x optical zoom and an automatic cover.

The Sony PJ710V is equipped with a big sensor and a large lens. The sensor is a one/two.88-inch Back-illuminated CMOS, while the lens has an f/ane.8 discontinuity and 10x optical zoom capability. Additionally, the lens has a very wide angle of view, which ways you can fill up a lot of subjects in your shot (but this also means yous have to use more zoom to become closeups). The complete lens and sensor specs are listed in the table below.

We should mention that the lens on the PJ710V has very similar, but slightly dissimilar, specs to last year's HDR-CX700V Handycam. The primary signal we'd like to emphasize is that the new camcorder is branded with a Zeiss lens, while the CX700V was stuck with a Sony Chiliad lens. Is this why the PJ710V showed an improvement in low light performance? Perchance. But the fact that the lenses have such like specs makes usa remember there actually isn't much difference from last year other than the Zeiss logo on the side.

On the left side of the PJ710 is a rotatable LCD that measures 3-inches diagonally. The screen has an impressive 921k-pixel resolution and it can rotate upward to 270°. These specs are no unlike than concluding yr'south HDC-CX700V from Sony, only the PJ710 has an extra notable feature—a built-in projector that lives on the dorsum of the LCD panel.

Something odd we should betoken out. Two years ago, Sony's flagship Handycam, the HDR-CX550V, had an fifty-fifty larger LCD than today's PJ710. The screen was three.5-inches diagonally, which Sony may have decided was, in fact, too big. Hence the reduction in screen size we've seen over the by two years. Frankly, we liked having the extra one-half inch of screen real estate. It certainly helped with carte du jour navigation, particularly when Sony's touchscreen interface is and then integral to the user interface.

The HDR-PJ710V does not have a born viewfinder. But if you're actually itching for an EVF, you can upgrade to the HDR-PJ760V camcorder instead. The PJ760V has the same lens, sensor, and specs as the PJ710V, but information technology includes a viewfinder and 96GB of internal retention (instead of 32GB). Information technology'due south as well one of the priciest consumer models on the block, with an MSRP approaching $1600.

The Sony HDR-PJ710 has a lot of connectivity options. About prominent is the born USB arm that tucks into the handstrap on the correct side of the camcorder. Some may dislike the way this cable tin make it the style during recording, simply if you tuck it into its holder, the cablevision shouldn't distract you. Either way, we think the benefit of having an attached USB cable outweighs the drawback of clutter.

Behind the hand strap is a sliding door that covers three ports: 3.5mm mic jack, headphone jack, and a Sony-proprietary AV port. The AV port works with the provided Composite cable, and it can besides exist used with Component, S-Video, and LANC products that are sold separately. Turning effectually to the back of the camcorder is a alone DC-input, covered by a flip-down door near the base of the battery compartment.

On the left side of the PJ710, inside the LCD cavity, is some other sliding door. This one covers the HDMI, USB, and memory card slot. The card slot works with both SD and Retention Stick PRO Duo cards, although nosotros had a much easier fourth dimension getting SD cards in and out of the slot than Memory Sticks. Finally, on the top of the camcorder is a powered (hot) accessory shoe that is designed to fit Sony accessories. The shoe is covered past a unique door that remains hinged to the camcorder when turned to its side. This is a far better cover than the removable slips of plastic we've seen topping accessory shoes from other manufacturers.

The camcorder comes with an NP-FV50 rechargeable battery pack that fits in the slot on the back of the PJ710 and hangs out from the camcorder past a quarter-inch or so. The camcorder will work with larger battery packs, the NP-FV70 and the NP-FV100, available from Sony or generic models from third-party manufacturers. The battery charger is non a stand up-alone unit, as the battery pack must be inserted in the camcorder and the camcorder must be plugged in for the battery to charge. Find out how the performed in our bombardment life examination./r:link_to_content

The PJ710V with its provided NP-FV50 battery pack.

32GB of internal flash memory is included on the Sony HDR-PJ710V, which is enough to capture a couple hours of video at the highest quality setting. If you want to record more video, yous tin load a memory bill of fare (SD or Memory Stick PRO Duo) into the camcorder's retention bill of fare slot. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of diverse media types.

The camcorder works with SD-type or Retentivity Stick PRO Duo memory cards.

Sony's spec canvass for the HDR-PJ710V has some misleading information well-nigh the camcorder'south still prototype capabilities. According to Sony, the max constructive resolution for photos on the PJ710V is 24.1 megapixels—just this number far exceeds the image sensor'due south gross pixel count of 6.65 megapixels. What this tells us is that the PJ710V is interpolating its still images. The camcorder will capture a roughly half-dozen-megapixel image, then stretch it to a huge 6544 x 3680 image. And just because the prototype is that large, doesn't mean it has tons of particular. And so, in reality, the 24.1-megapixel style isn't nearly as good every bit it sounds.

All that garbage aside, the HDR-PJ710V does have quite a few still prototype features. There's a self timer role, a congenital-in flash (with intensity settings and red eye reduction), six different photo size options (three of which are "interpolated"), and the ability to capture still images during video recording. Sony's Smile Shutter characteristic, allowing the camcorder to automatically snap photos when it detects a human smiling within the frame, is also included.

Built-in Projector

Aye, Sony makes a agglomeration of camcorders with born projectors now and the HDR-PJ710V is i of them. In fact, Sony'south whole line of Handycams with "PJ" in the model name are camcorders that include projectors. If you lot don't desire a built-in projector on your camcorder, you should take a look at the HDR-CX760V instead—it'south got the aforementioned specs as the PJ710V except no projector and more internal memory.

But we're here to talk almost the PJ710'southward congenital-in projector. From what nosotros can tell, the projector doesn't appear to be any different than the DLP LED projectors nosotros saw on last year's HDR-PJ30V camcorder from Sony. We thought the projector idea was absurd back then, but certainly not a necessity, and we feel the same way today. Nosotros're happy to see Sony expanded its line of "projector cams" because we think it's a fun feature that people volition get a kick out of playing with. But that's well-nigh it. This is not an essential characteristic, nor is it a game-changer. Information technology'due south just a built-in projector that projects a decent image onto a white wall. Audio isn't great coming from the camcorder, the projector's output is only 640 ten 360, and the just control you have over the projector is focus.

Viewing your videos on an HDTV will make them look far better than the congenital-in projector, but setting up the projector at a party or gathering is definitely a cool fob to intermission out once in a while. You lot can read more almost the projector's specs and our review of it in our HDR-PJ30V camcorder review here.

NightShot

Night Shot uses infrared engineering science (like nighttime vision goggles) to permit you record an image in total darkness. You just have to be willing to accept the fact that all your videos shot in this mode will come out looking bright green. This is a prized characteristic for people who love to take their camcorder camping, spelunking, or on nighttime tours of haunted houses.

Video Light

You tin plow a video low-cal on to give you a brightness boost when shooting in low light situations. The lite isn't that brilliant, only the camcorder does have two intensity settings (normal and bright).

Golf Shot

This characteristic is entirely designed to capture and analyze a golf swing. When you plough information technology on, the screen is cropped on the left and correct and a pocket-sized white box appears in the middle of the frame. You are meant to position the golfer inside this box and a message tells you to press the beginning/stop record push "right after touch" (nosotros assume this is referring to the golf club hitting the golf ball). The characteristic works best if the camcorder is on a tripod or laying flat.

After you do all this, the camcorder will accept the brusk bit of footage and divide into a agglomeration of withal images. This mode you tin see frame-by-frame analysis of your golf game swing. Peradventure this feature could be used for other analysis, simply the limitations on image size and record time make this difficult.

GPS

The HDR-PJ710V has congenital-in GPS that allows y'all to keep track of your videos past the location in which they were shot—and you tin even view/organize clips by location on a map. Similar most cameras and camcorders with GPS, the feature didn't work that well, and we couldn't pick upwards a signal unless we were in the great outdoors (information technology didn't piece of work in our office).

Fader

You lot can add a black or white fade while you shoot your video clips using this setting.

Last year, Sony included its built-in projector feature on just 3 camcorders, all of which were mid-range models (the HDR-PJ10, PJ30V, and PJ50V). This year, Sony put the projector on high-end products as well, which is why nosotros're comparison the HDR-PJ710V to last year's flagship Handycam, the HDR-CX700V.

The CX700V was no slouch, simply it had one glaring weakness: bottomless depression lite sensitivity. This year, Sony went ahead and improved the low light performance across the board for the HDR-PJ710V, and, in doing so, drastically improved the overall performance of its new flagship Handycams. The PJ710V showed a clearer image in low light than its predecessors, too as featuring a much meliorate low light sensitivity and better color accurateness in our low lite test. In bright light, things weren't much different, with Sony maintaining its top-notch results from last year.

We don't know the verbal reason for this low light improvement. Information technology may be from modest updates to the sensor or paradigm processor, or information technology may be from the tweaked lens that now features a Zeiss branding on its side. Whatever it is, Sony certainly fabricated something click. Along with this improved depression light capability, the Sony PJ710V also has a amend optical SteadyShot system than its predecessors. One thing'southward for certain: the HDR-PJ710V is a better camcorder than last year's HDR-CX700V.

Features on the new HDR-PJ710V aren't much different than what we saw on the HDR-CX700V, but in that location are a few discrepancies. The PJ710V doesn't accept a viewfinder, and it has merely a third of the internal memory that you got on the CX700V (32GB vs. 96GB). Yous can get both of these features by spending a bit more greenbacks and upgrading to the HDR-PJ760V, a camcorder that should perform identically to the PJ710V.

And if yous have no use for the cool, but ultimately unnecessary, built-in projector on the HDR-PJ710V, then you have the option of going with the HDR-CX760V instead. The CX760V is the true successor to the HDR-CX700V—information technology has 96GB of born memory, it has a viewfinder, and it doesn't have a projector. It also costs $1299, which is the verbal price the HDR-CX700V launched for in 2011.

/r:render
The HC-X900M is a neat camcorder, and correct now it's non too hard to notice information technology for less than $grand, making it one of the best values on the market today. Simply the camcorder too represents a disturbing trend for Panasonic: it has piddling in the way of improvement over last year's HDC-TM900. We plant the new X900M had the same functioning scores every bit its predecessor and only a few updated features, which makes us wonder why Panasonic bothered upgrading the line in the first identify.

Compared directly to the Sony HDR-PJ710V, the Panasonic has a few clear advantages. It's smaller and more comfy to conduct, it has more than transmission controls (with a real lens ring!), it has the pick of shooting 3D, it has a larger LCD and a viewfinder, and it's cheaper. The Sony's advantages include a sleeker interface, better automatic controls and features, stronger battery life, more connectivity options, and the built-in projector. Both camcorders performed very well in our stabilization examination (one of the few areas where Panasonic did update the X900M), and both camcorders produced first-class results in our image tests.

Nosotros want to give Sony the edge here solely considering the company did more to ameliorate over last year's Handycams, only we wouldn't call it the runaway winner. The Panasonic is the better value at the moment, but if the cost starts to driblet a bit more on the PJ710V information technology will exist difficult to contend confronting the Sony. Non to mention the Sony holds a slight edge in our overall performance scores.

/r:return
The Canon HF G10 is over a year and a half former at this point, and information technology may exist finally starting to evidence its age. The HF G10 was such a stiff camcorder in 2011 that its reign of supremacy spilled over into 2012 without much getting in its way. The camcorder still has the best depression light performance we've seen, and its stellar set of manual controls are unmatched in the consumer marketplace.

However, the HF G10 is missing a key feature that is starting to damage its reputation—1080/60p recording. This is a feature that nearly anybody else (JVC, Sony, and Panasonic) have begun implementing on consumer camcorders. Canon was once known to be the king of camcorder frame rate options, which makes the lack of a progressive 60fps mode on its flagship camcorder (and every camcorder in the Vixia line) all that more disappointing. Sure, the HF G10 even so has 24p, 30p, and 60i recording, but in the past couple of years Sony has actually stepped up the game to compete. The HDR-PJ710V has 24p, 60i, and 60p options, which should please videographers but as much (if not more than) than Canon's options.

The Canon HF G10 is also all the same a pricey camcorder, despite the fact that it's a 2011 model. You can find information technology online for around $1200, which places it a scrap higher than the Sony HDR-PJ710V. Permit's be clear: like most flagship models, the HF G10 is a fantastic camcorder. It won our award for Camcorder of the Year in 2011 and if it came out this year it would certainly compete for that award again. Only afterward a year and a half, the HF G10 is starting to feel a bit stale. It doesn't accept a 60p manner, nor does information technology have a special new feature like WiFi, GPS, or a built-in projector. Canon is at the point where its flagship Vixia is prepare for an upgrade.

/r:render
We tin can say this with all honesty: the Sony HDR-PJ710V is the well-nigh improved camcorder nosotros have reviewed this twelvemonth. Unlike Canon, Panasonic, and JVC, Sony's new flagship Handycam is significantly amend than its predecessors in terms of performance, and that'south exactly what we look for in a top-of-the-line camcorder.

Fifty-fifty better is the fact that Sony improved in exact area that was problematic for last year's HDR-CX700V—low light video. The HDR-PJ710V churned out i of the best low light performances we've seen so far this year, essentially turning last year's biggest weakness into ane of this year's greatest strengths. The new Sony PJ710V not only produces brighter images than concluding year's CX700V, but it besides showed far less racket and better colors than its predecessor. Sony too improved its SteadyShot image stabilization system, which was some other expanse final yr'southward CX700V left us disappointed.

Sony didn't mess with the interface or controls on the PJ710 all that much, but they really didn't need to. The camcorder effortlessly combines automatic functions with a robust set of manual controls in guild to appeal to beginners an pros alike, and that's something Sony is certainly developing a knack for. The camcorder still includes our favorite features from last year, including 24p and 60p record modes, the power to record standard def video (in addition to HD), and a physical dial for setting transmission controls.

At that place's also the congenital-in projector, which is probably the PJ710V's most unique characteristic. Just compared to the improved low low-cal and stabilization performance, the built-in projector isn't that noteworthy in our heed. Yeah, it'southward a fun feature to play around with, merely it'due south not a necessity, and we wish Sony would offer a projector-less camcorder with the aforementioned specs, and a cheaper price, than the $1150 PJ710V.

We said final year that the Sony HDR-CX700V was a cracking camcorder that cruel brusk due to its poor low light performance. With the HDR-PJ710V, Sony was able to plough things around in a large manner, so that statement no longer applies. The PJ710V is just a great camcorder. Menses.

Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video proficient of our imaging squad and Reviewed.com's caput of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in movie and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

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