Review: Sony HDR-PJ50E Camcorder

Script your joy. Zoom in to your ecstasy. Shoot your moments. Project your memories. Welcome to the world of SONY HDR PJ series camcorders - the first ones with an in-built projector. The Sony HDR-PJ50E can record in full High Definition and also can transform itself into a still camera. The in-built projector allows you to project your memories up to 60-inch on any flat surface. So our quest really is to find out if this innovative feature is enough reason to justify the high price tag.

Design & Built:
The first reaction on unpacking the Sony HDR-PJ50E Camcorder is just breathtaking. It looks super stylish with the glossy black finish along with chrome silver buttons. But it is a little bulky compared to other sleek and stylish camcorders like the Canon Legria HF R205.

The top of the device houses the Zoom toggle along with the Photo Button to switch to shooting still. Plus it also has the Mode Button. The front side stores the speakers.

On the left, is the 3.0 inch touchscreen LCD. The projector is on the outer side of the LCD along with the Projector Focus toggle on top of it. Below the LCD screen, two more speakers are placed. As the LCD is opened there the Power button, Playback Button and the Projector button can be found. Also to be found are 3.5mm jack with an HDMI and 2.0 USB ports.

The rear of the device houses the battery and the Start/Stop button for recording. The left panel has the Direct Charge and Audio/Video ports with the adjustable hand strap. A tiny in-built USB cord can also be found which is connected with hand strap.

Usability:
To start with the Sony HDR-PJ50E Camcorder offers 1980x1080p Full High Definition recording. The 220 Hard Disk Drive storage capacity means that it can store up to 9 hrs of HD footage.

The Sony HDR-PJ50E features a 29.8mm wide angle G lens which gives very fine and sharp image and video details along with accurate colour reproduction. It can shoot wide angles like a landscape or a huge stretch of a beach. Another very interesting feature of this device is that it can transform itself into a 7.1 Megapixel still camera. So this one device can multitask to both record video and shoot stills. But since it is a little on the bulkier side, shooting for a longer period of time can become quite tedious.

It has a 12x Optical zoom with an additional 17x extended digital zoom for better detailing especially while shooting close-up of faces. It also includes a feature called the Optical Steady Shot which ensures that even under shaky situations, the camcorder will adjust and shoot steady videos. It functions on the EXMOR CMOS sensor which helps in reducing grain while filming in the dark.

Apart from other ports, there is an in-built 2.0 USB connected along with the hand grip which allows charging of the device and transfer of files without the need of any extra cables. Other accessories can also be added to the device with the help of the Active Interface Shoe to mount extras like external lights and microphones.  

The camcorder also has a Wind Reduction feature which cuts the noise on the mic due to passage of wind while recording.

It includes 10 shooting modes along with the Intelligent Auto Mode which automatically adjusts the to the light conditions. Also there is an in-built flash which can be come in handy while shooting still images.

The in-built projector can project up to a height of 152.4 cm (60 inches) on any flat surface. The high contrast of the projector makes everything very clear and it gives the feeling of a small mobile theatre. The projector comes with stereo speakers which enhances the audio experience at the time of the projection.

The Sony HDR-PJ50E is equipped with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound speakers which is indeed very powerful for a camcorder. A digital amplifier is also present which makes the sound flow in all directions giving clear, crisp sound.

Verdict:
Apart from having great style and amazing looks, the Sony HDR-PJ50E is also quite a performer. But with a very expensive price tag, it might find it difficult to impress the consumer in a market with camcorders like Canon Legria HF R205, that pack in similar feature but at half the price.

Price: Rs.59,990
 
Pros:
Very attractive and stylish
Powerful in-built projector
High storage capacity
Optical Image stabilisation

Cons:
Heavy and bulky
Expensive

In the Box:
AC Adaptor
Rechargeable Battery Pack
Component A/V Cable
AV Cable
USB Cable
Power Cord
Remote
CD-ROM
User Manual
Warranty card