Sony HDR-CX700V Camcorder Review

Introduction

Front

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Back

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Right

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In the Box

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The Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V comes with the following items:

• lens hood
  
• power cord
  
• USB extension cable
  
• NP-FV50 rechargeable battery pack
  
• Component cable
  
• AV cable
  
• software CD
  
• AC adapter
  
• instruction manual
  
• remote control
  

Color

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The Sony HDR-CX700V wasn't as strong on color accuracy as the flagship models from other manufacturers, but it still put up respectable numbers. The camcorder managed a color error of 4.2 and a saturation level of around 86%. These numbers gave the camcorder a slight edge over last year's HDR-CX550V, but not by much. More on how we test color.

Color Accuracy Performance

Color Error Map The map above is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camera processed each particular color while capturing video.

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V produced a color error of 4.20 and a saturation level of 86.00% in our bright light color testing.

Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V Color Modes

Auto

100%

Unlike the Panasonic HDC-TM900 and Canon HF G10, the Sony HDR-CX700V doesn't have much in the way of color controls. It does have a Cinematone setting that enhances contrast and makes for a more film-like aesthetic, especially if you combine this feature with the camcorder's 24p record mode. You can also play around with the CX700's white balance shift feature to make the color tones hotter (more red) or colder (more blue). There's no specific saturation boost or color preset functions on the camcorder, though.

If you cycle through the chart images below, you can see the Sony CX700V produced a good image in this test that looks similar to the competition. The colors appear a bit more muted on the CX700V, however, as the Canon HF G10 and Panasnoic HDC-TM900 both had saturation levels near 100%.

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Low Light Color

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The HDR-CX700V took a dip in color accuracy when we dimmed the lights for the low light test. The camcorder measured a color error of 5.37 and a saturation level of 70.72%. These numbers are a little bit below average for a flagship model, but they are still respectable. The good news is that they are better than last year's HDR-CX550V by quite a bit. The new Sony camcorder has more vivid and accurate colors than the old. More on how we test low light color.

Low Light Color Accuracy Performance

Color Error Map The map above is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camera processed each particular color while capturing video.

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V produced a color error of and a saturation level of in our bright light color testing.

We like the Canon HF G10 and Panasonic HDC-TM900 more as far as color in low light is concerned, but the Sony HDR-CX700V isn't that far behind. Its colors look good, if a bit weak, and the camcorder was able to retain a decently sharp image in low light. Many of you readers are probably aware that the HDR-CX700V has a 24p mode in addition to 60i and 60p recording. We did some testing of the 24p mode in low light, but we saw little difference in our color accuracy or noise tests when using this mode.

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Noise

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Similar to what we saw in our color test, the Sony HDR-CX700V put up good, but not fantastic, results in our noise test as well. The camcorder averaged around 0.61% noise in bright light, which is a bit higher than last year's HDR-CX550V, but this increase isn't anything to worry about. The good news is the camcorder did better than last year's model in our low light noise test, and that's an area where noise is more of a concern. More on how we test noise.

The crops above give us a good amount of insight as to what kind of sharpness and detail the CX700V is capable of capturing. As you can see, the CX700V didn't record an image that was quite as sharp as the Canon HF G10 or Panasonic HDC-TM900, but its level of sharpness was nearly the same as last year's CX550V. Things looked a bit sharper when we shot using the camcorder's 1080/60p mode, but the crop above is taken from the highest-quality 60i setting. Continue onto the next section of this review for more details about the Sony's sharpness capability (and the differences we noticed between the 60i and 60p frame rates).

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Low Light Sensitivity

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We had hoped Sony's updates to the HDR-CX700V would result in improved low light sensitivity on the camcorder, but, alas, it did not. The CX700V needed 40 lux of light to hit 50 IRE on our waveform monitor—an amount of light that is just one lux less than last year's CX550V needed to reach the same levels. This is a disappointing low light sensitivity performance, particularly when compared to the stellar results we got from the Canon HF G10 and Panasonic HDC-TM900 earlier this year.

Since the CX700 has such a wide angle lens, we also tested the camcorder's sensitivity using no optical zoom so we could see how much a fully-opened aperture would enhance its low light sensitivity. The results were much better without zoom, as the CX700V needed just 12 lux of light to peak at 50 IRE. Again, however, this represents no improvement over last year's high-end cam from Sony. The point we want you to take away from this is that using too much zoom in low light will drastically reduce the brightness of the image from the CX700V. The same thing goes with most consumer camcorders these days, which is why we now test models with and without using zoom for this test. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Sony did incorporate a 24p mode for the first time on the HDR-CX700V, and we tested the camcorder's sensitivity using that frame rate as well. 24p mode produced a bit of a boost: the camcorder needed 31 lux of light to record a viable image (with zoom). This is an improvement of 9 lux over the CX700V's performance with its 60i frame rate. It is definitely significant, but a low light sensitivity score of 31 lux is still very bad for a high-end model. In comparison, the Canon HF G10 needed just 2 lux of light to reach 50 IRE when we used its 24p record mode. That result simply crushes what the Sony HDR-CX700V is capable of in low light.

In Sony's defense, the HDR-CX700V does have two low light modes. The first is called "low lux" and it uses a combination of a slow shutter and a gain boost to enhance low light performance. The second is "Nightshot," which is a feature that isn't found on many other camcorders besides Sony products (there are nightshot adapters out there, though). It uses infrared technology to allow you to record in total darkness— but all your footage comes embossed with a bright green glow, of course.

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Low Light Noise

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The HDR-CX700V averaged 1.1% noise in our low light test, which is a solid score, but is slightly worse than the competition managed. When you score that well, however, we don't consider noise to be much of an issue. You can see for yourself in the crops below, as we don't see much noise in the Sony HDR-CX700V's image (and the same goes with the models we compared it to). More on how we test low light noise.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Noise Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Noise Score", xLabel="Low Light Noise Score"}}

Low Light Color

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The HDR-CX700V took a dip in color accuracy when we dimmed the lights for the low light test. The camcorder measured a color error of 5.37 and a saturation level of 70.72%. These numbers are a little bit below average for a flagship model, but they are still respectable. The good news is that they are better than last year's HDR-CX550V by quite a bit. The new Sony camcorder has more vivid and accurate colors than the old. More on how we test low light color.

Low Light Color Accuracy Performance

Color Error Map The map above is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camera processed each particular color while capturing video.

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V produced a color error of and a saturation level of in our bright light color testing.

We like the Canon HF G10 and Panasonic HDC-TM900 more as far as color in low light is concerned, but the Sony HDR-CX700V isn't that far behind. Its colors look good, if a bit weak, and the camcorder was able to retain a decently sharp image in low light. Many of you readers are probably aware that the HDR-CX700V has a 24p mode in addition to 60i and 60p recording. We did some testing of the 24p mode in low light, but we saw little difference in our color accuracy or noise tests when using this mode.

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Motion

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With its new 60p and 24p record modes (in addition to 60i), the HDR-CX700V offers a whole new set of options in terms of recording motion. The 60p record mode on the CX700V didn't improve results in our motion test as dramatically as the Panasonic HDC-TM900's 60p mode, but it still helped the CX700V produce smoother video with less artifacting. The 24p record mode on the camcorder was a bit choppy, but we're happy to finally see this feature on a Sony camcorder. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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Let's dig into video sharpness, which is one of the most important scores in our battery of camcorder tests. Since the CX700V has both a 60p and 60i record mode, we had to test the camcorder in both record modes. With 60p recording, the HDR-CX700V managed a horizontal sharpness of 750 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 800 lw/ph—both of which represent quality performances.

With 60i recording, the CX700V didn't capture an image that looked quite as sharp. The numbers dropped to 750 lw/ph horizontal and 600 lw/ph vertical. These aren't bad numbers, but the camcorder will clearly produce a sharper and finer picture with its 60p mode. This is the same phenomenon we noticed with the Panasonic HDC-TM900's 60p mode, which was far sharper than its 60i setting. Overall, the Panasonic TM900 produced a sharper image than the CX700, but we're pleased that Sony was able to improve its sharpness over last year's CX550V. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Ease of Use

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The CX700V is equipped with Sony's iAuto system, which is the camcorder's dedicated auto mode. The system works adequately for recording video, but our issue with it is that the iAuto button is somewhat hard to find. There's no dedicated lever or switch on the camcorder itself. Instead, the iAuto button is on the lower right corner of the LCD. It is small, hard to press, and hard to find if you don't know what you are looking for.

Once you are in iAuto, the camcorder works well. The auto focus and auto exposure controls are effective, but we did notice a few problems with the camcorder's auto white balance. We like Sony's new menu system on the HDR-CX700V—it is easier to navigate than the odd swipe-touch menu on last year's HDR-CX550V—but the smaller LCD screen can make certain touch-buttons difficult to press. At first, we were also confused by the quick-jump icons on the menu system that act as anchor links to different areas of the menu. We weren't sure what these icons corresponded to, but it makes sense after you use the menu a dozen times or so.

One thing we like about the new menu system on the CX700V is the large icon layout of the initial menu screen. Here, menu options are divided into succinct categories: Shooting Mode, Camera/Mic, Image Quality/Size, Playback Function, Edit/Copy, and Setup. After selecting one of these options, you are taken to a longer list menu setup, but these lists are far shorter than the multitude of pages you got on the Sony CX550V. Only the menu options that pertain to the initial menu selection (Shooting Mode, Camera/Mic, etc.) will appear in these lists. This makes finding a specific option a far easier task, and that is always a good thing.

Auto Mode

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If you want to put the HDR-CX700V on cruise control, you can switch the camcorder over to its iAuto mode. With this setting, the camcorder relies entirely on auto controls, so you don't have to worry about adjusting anything manually. We love having this dedicated auto mode, but we wish Sony would make it easier to find. To turn it on, you must press a small icon in the lower right corner of the LCD. There's no dedicated button or switch on the body of the camcorder, and that may be the first place new users are going to look.

Some dedicated auto modes lock you out from accessing the menu when the auto mode is engaged, but Sony's way is different. You can still access the menu system when iAuto is turned on, but if you change certain things a menu will pop up and tell you that iAuto has been turned off. We're not sure if we like this better than being "locked-out" from a menu system, but we do like Sony's helpful pop-up messages that let you know what is going on. At least the camcorder doesn't leave you in the dark.

Auto Controls

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Auto controls can be broken down into a few main categories: autofocus, auto exposure, auto white balance, and additional auto features. Autofocus is arguably the most important of the three, and the Sony HDR-CX700V appeared to have a good system in place. Focus was fairly quick, with the only slow points being when we used a ton of zoom or quickly switched between close-ups and far-away shots. Auto exposure was also very fast, but this may perturb users who like a slower, more fluid exposure response. If you like your videos to be a bit brighter or darker on average, you can bump the auto exposure shift a notch or two. This feature is a great middle-ground between using auto controls and full-on manual adjustments.

Auto white balance was okay, but it certainly wasn't perfect. We noticed a few times where the camcorder had trouble calibrating the color temperatures when we switched lighting environments. Still, the camcorder had better auto white balance than we saw from the Panasonic HDC-TM900 (the Canon HF G10 handled auto white balance better).

The HDR-CX700V has a ton of additional auto controls, the coolest of which is the auto tracking feature. Tracking features that follow around your subject and provide proper exposure and focus are very common on new consumer camcorders, so it would be a disappointment if Sony did not include this feature. The system works well, although it will occasionally "lose track" of your subject if they leave the frame for too long. This happens on all camcorders with tracking features, though, so it isn't an issue that is only a problem with the CX700V. The camcorder also has a good selection of scene modes, a number of face detection features, and a spot meter/focus option that allows you to touch the portion of the screen you want to focus or expose correctly.

Handling

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The HDR-CX700V has a tight design, and its compact design is relatively surprising when you consider how many features and controls are stuffed inside. Overall, the camcorder is suitable as a high-end model, but we found a number of handling problems when we started nitpicking. The most obvious gripe is that Sony reduced the size of the LCD on the CX700V by 1/2 an inch (compared to last year's flagship models). We loved the 3.5-inch screen that Sony included on its top camcorders, and it is sad that Sony decided to take it away. The smaller screen makes the touchscreen interface more difficult to use and it gives you less space to frame your shot.

The improvements Sony made to the menu system do make the touchscreen easier to use, however. There's no more funky swiping and scrolling features for the menu system, and the new menu arrangement is easier to digest and understand. Sony also provides plenty of info boxes and tips when you select menu options, which is great for beginners. If you want to avoid the touchscreen, the CX700V has a small control dial on the front of the camcorder that can be used to adjust various manual controls. We didn't come away overly impressed with the dial, however, as its loose rotation made it very difficult to use for making precise adjustments. The dial's front button was also unresponsive at times, and we found the dial to be particularly flaky when we used it while video recording was taking place.

The body of the HDR-CX700V has a contoured design with numerous slopes, slight valleys, and a number of grooves. It is not a boxy camcorder, but, instead, looks streamlined and shapely. Unfortunately, its shape isn't all that comfortable to grip on the right side. The slight bumps on the right don't fit into the palm of your hand with perfection, so it leaves you with a so-so grip. At the top of the camcorder, you must be careful to not let your pinky wander towards the built-in mic near the front of the CX700V. We wish Sony had made things a bit roomier for your fingers up there, and maybe more space for your palm to rest.

The hand strap is also at fault for making the CX700V uncomfortable to grip. Sony added a built-in USB cable to the new camcorder, and this cable tucks into the side of the hand strap via a small plastic groove. By adding this, Sony made the hand strap too rigid and had to take out a significant amount of padding and flexibility. Yes, the hand strap is still adjustable, but it feels like a hard plastic ridge is up against the back of your palm. Previous Sony camcorders, like the HDR-CX550V, offered larger hand straps with a lot more padding. Although we do like the presence of the built-in USB cable, we'd prefer to have the old hand straps back instead. Or maybe Sony can figure out a way to incorporate both in the future.

Portability

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Depending on where you look, Sony lists a bunch of different dimension specs for the HDR-CX700V. When we measured the camcorder, it came in at 62mm wide, 72.5mm tall, and 139mm long. This is not including the provided lens hood, however, which will add around 35mm to the camcorder's length. Overall, this makes the HDR-CX700V just a tad more compact than last year's HDR-CX550V. Frankly, we expected more of a compact design on the new camcorder, particularly when you consider the LCD shrunk by 1/2 an inch.

As for weight, the CX700V comes in at 490g, which is 10g heavier than its predecessor. This increase in weight doesn't really bother us (who cares about 10 grams?), but you must realize that the HDR-CX700V is not the kind of camcorder you can just toss in your bag and forget about. It's got some weight to it, although it is nothing compared to the tape-based camcorders from just a few years ago. Also, the camcorder's 96GB of internal flash memory will allow you to record for a long time without having to worry about bringing along an extra memory card on your travels.

Battery Life

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The HDR-CX700V did an excellent job in our battery test. The camcorder recorded for 133 straight minutes with its provided, fully-charged battery pack. We consider any battery life of around 2 hours to be good, so this 2+ hour performance is definitely better than average for a flagship model. It's also nearly a half hour longer than the HDR-CX550V lasted in this test, and it is more battery life than the flagship models from Canon or Panasonic offered.

Keep in mind, actual recording with lots of starting and stopping, as well as using various controls, will result in a shorter battery life. The 133-minute showing we got from the HDR-CX700V was with the camcorder just sitting on a table recording in auto mode (with GPS and image stabilization turned off). More on how we test battery life.

As with most high-end camcorders, the CX700V has an open battery compartment that can accommodate larger battery packs. So, if the 133-minute performance isn't good enough for you, you can always go and purchase a larger battery from Sony to use as a backup.

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LCD & Viewfinder

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Here's something we haven't seen before: the HDR-CX700V has a smaller LCD than its predecessor, the HDC-CX550V. Yes, Sony reduced the size of the screen by 1/2 an inch, but, in Sony's defense, the CX700V is quite a bit thinner than the CX550V. Still, we don't personally mind having a bit more bulk if it means the LCD is half an inch larger, but that's just us. Maybe there are users out there who don't care if the LCD is only 3 inches in size. After all, it was only a few years ago that the standard LCD was a measly 2.7-inches (and this is still the norm for low-end and mid-range models).

At least Sony did something smart by retaining the 921,000-pixel resolution of the LCD. This means the LCD still delivers clarity and detail, which are necessities when you're trying to make precise adjustments to things like focus or exposure. The LCD has two brightness options (normal and bright), and it uses a touchscreen interface. It is when you use this touchscreen system that you really start to miss the larger screen space on the LCD. A smaller screen means there's more clutter and touch-buttons take up more space.

The HDR-CX700V is Sony's flagship model for 2011, and that means it comes with a tiny viewfinder. Viewfinders, which were a staple of the camcorder industry many years ago, have been phased out on all but the top camcorders from each manufacturers. In all honesty, the viewfinder on the back of the CX700V barely deserves to be called viewfinder at all. It has a terrible hard-plastic eyepiece, it offers a meager 0.2-inch screen inside, and it does not pivot or tilt. It does extend about a 1/2 inch out from the camcorder, and it has a respectable resolution of 201,600 pixels, but that's about all the praise we're willing to give it. Oh, it also has a diopter adjustment dial on its right side.

We don't want to give you the impression that the HDR-CX700V's viewfinder is that much worse than what the competition offers. The viewfinder on the Panasonic TM900 is slightly better, only because its eyepiece offers a tiny bit more cover. Same goes with the Canon HF G10's viewfinder. Frankly, we haven't seen a consumer camcorder with a "good" viewfinder in many years. You'll have to upgrade to a pro model if you want that kind of luxury!

Stabilization

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We are surprised to say it, but the HDR-CX700V did significantly worse in our stabilization test than its predecessor from Sony. We aren't exactly sure why this is the case, but our theory is the new design of the camcorder altered the effectiveness of the optical image stabilization system. Here's something else, though, the shape of the CX700V enables the camcorder to remain quite steady even without image stabilization turned on. Since our test measures how much improvement there is with the stabilization system engaged, the fact that the CX700V didn't shake all that much in the first place may have negatively impacted the results. To counter this, we did give the HDR-CX700V extra points in other sections that deal with balance and design, as the camcorder clearly does a good job at keeping steady on its own. More on how we test stabilization.

Anyway, let's get to the numbers. The HDR-CX700V has two stabilization modes: SteadyShot optical image stabilization (OIS) and active image stabilization (active mode). In our low shake test the two IS modes performed nearly the same, with both reducing the shake by around 23% (24% with regular OIS and 22.23% in active mode). In our high shake test active mode did a bit better at reducing the shake than the regular OIS did—a 34.52% reduction with OIS and a 49.17% reduction with active mode. Active mode seems to use both optical stabilization and a digital stabilization system in order to produce a better stabilization system in "active" environments (if you are running while holding the camcorder, for example). All of these results are worse than the numbers put up by the HDR-CX550V in this test last year.

Manual Focus

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Miscellaneous Controls

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Cinematone

What this feature actually does is somewhat vague, but it essentially creates more contrast and alters colors a bit in order to make them look more film-like. You can use this feature in conjunction with the CX700V's 24p mode, or you can use it when recording 60i or 60p.

Tele Macro

Allows you to focus clearly on close-up subjects when using a full optical zoom. When Tele Macro is turned on, the camcorder automatically sets the zoom to its full optical setting and changing the zoom will turn off the Tele Macro function.

Conversion Lens

Only to be used when a conversion lens is attached to the HDR-CX700V (like a wide angle or tele conversion lens). This feature will optimize the autofocus and image stabilization system to work correctly with these conversion lenses.

Guide Frame

Lines split the screen into nine equal sections to assist with framing. The lines won't end up on your recorded video—they're just for framing.

Zebra

A feature that isn't found on most Sony camcorders, but is very common on professional video products. When turned on, striped "zebra" patterns are displayed on the LCD in areas of the frame that are overexposed. You can adjust exposure levels accordingly and the zebra stripes will begin to fade. You can set the zebra patterns to appear at brightness levels of 70 IRE or 100 IRE on the HDR-CX700V.

x.v. Color

Lets you shoot using the expanded xvYCC color gamut. Colors will only appear enhanced if you view the resultant footage on an xvYCC-compatible television.

Auto Controls

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Auto controls can be broken down into a few main categories: autofocus, auto exposure, auto white balance, and additional auto features. Autofocus is arguably the most important of the three, and the Sony HDR-CX700V appeared to have a good system in place. Focus was fairly quick, with the only slow points being when we used a ton of zoom or quickly switched between close-ups and far-away shots. Auto exposure was also very fast, but this may perturb users who like a slower, more fluid exposure response. If you like your videos to be a bit brighter or darker on average, you can bump the auto exposure shift a notch or two. This feature is a great middle-ground between using auto controls and full-on manual adjustments.

Auto white balance was okay, but it certainly wasn't perfect. We noticed a few times where the camcorder had trouble calibrating the color temperatures when we switched lighting environments. Still, the camcorder had better auto white balance than we saw from the Panasonic HDC-TM900 (the Canon HF G10 handled auto white balance better).

The HDR-CX700V has a ton of additional auto controls, the coolest of which is the auto tracking feature. Tracking features that follow around your subject and provide proper exposure and focus are very common on new consumer camcorders, so it would be a disappointment if Sony did not include this feature. The system works well, although it will occasionally "lose track" of your subject if they leave the frame for too long. This happens on all camcorders with tracking features, though, so it isn't an issue that is only a problem with the CX700V. The camcorder also has a good selection of scene modes, a number of face detection features, and a spot meter/focus option that allows you to touch the portion of the screen you want to focus or expose correctly.

Audio Controls

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The HDR-CX700V has a handy new built-in microphone, but the audio record mode is no different than it was on previous flagship models from Sony: 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio. The camcorder has the option of recording 2-channel stereo if you want to, but we assume most users will want to kick it up to 5.1-channels for their recordings. The mic on the CX700V certainly looks a whole lot more elegant than the mic on the CX550V looked last year. It's got a chrome finish and two separated channels to give it an aura of professionally.

Unfortunately, Sony did nothing to improve the position of the built-in mic. It still sits on the top of the camcorder, a bit too close for comfort to the edge of your hand when you grip the model. We would hate it if a wandering pinky rubbed against the shiny mic and added unwanted noises to your soundtrack. Keep your fingers close together to avoid this problem.

Sony also added an audio level display to the LCD, which is great, but you can't control audio levels manually on the camcorder other than switching between normal and low recording levels (bummer). There's Sony's zoom mic feature, wind noise reduction, and a mic and headphone jack on the CX700V as well.

Editing

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The HDR-CX700V comes with a slightly updated version of Picture Motion Browser (version 5.5). Last year's Handycams came with version 5.0 of the same software. Not much changed with the look of the new version, but 5.5 does allow for importing of 60p and 24p clips—an essential feature for working with the HDR-CX700V. Other than that, we didn't really see any differences to the new version. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

The CX700V has a whole submenu dedicated to in-camera editing. Ah, but don't get all giddy yet, my friends. The options in this submenu are downright unflattering: delete, protect, copy, and direct copy. No trimming features, no effects. Sure, you can add music to your videos and create playlists in playback mode, but we were hoping for some real, down-to-earth editing features in the "Edit/Copy" submenu. Instead, it gave us tired features. Also, can a "delete" function really be considered an editing feature?

Compression

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For most HD recording on the CX700V, the camcorder uses AVCHD compression. AVCHD is the standard for consumer HD camcorders and it is becoming extremely common. Most editing programs will work with it, but the files are large and require a powerful computer to work with if you're doing extensive editing. Sony is one of the few manufacturers to include standard definition record modes on its HD camcorders. So, if you don't need the high-quality of HD, you can capture videos that are far smaller and easier to edit by switching the cam over to SD record mode.

We say the CX700V uses AVCHD compression "most" of the time because the camcorder's 1080/60p mode uses an original compression system that is based on the MPEG-4 codec (the same thing AVCHD is based on). AVCHD cannot handle 1080/60p recording, hence the reason Sony uses this proprietary original format. This is the same thing Panasonic had to do with its 1080/60p mode on last year's HDC-TM700 and this year's HDC-TM900 models. The problem with this format, and this goes with the Panasonic models as well, is that the resulting video is not compatible with most editing programs. In fact, we had a number of programs—specifically iMovie and Final Cut Express—crash whenever we tried to import 60p footage from our HDR-CX700V.

The problem was actually even worse: we couldn't even connect the camcorder to a computer when it had 60p and 60i footage on it. The software we used (iMovie and Final Cut Express) would only recognize the footage if no 60p clips were contained on the camcorder's internal memory. This is yucky and disappointing, but we're not surprised either. 1080/60p recording is new, there's a lot of bugs with compatibility, and it is going to take time before manufacturers all get their act together and smooth things out. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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If you've got a thing for flash memory, then you'll love the Sony HDR-CX700V. The camcorder is loaded with 96GB of internal flash memory, and a dual-format memory card slot that works with both SD and Memory Stick cards. To be specific, the card slot works with Memory Stick PRO Duo and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo cards, as well as SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The card slot is located inside the LCD cavity, behind a sliding door that also covers the USB and HDMI ports.

This gives you a ton of media options to work with, and, honestly, the 96GB of internal flash memory will take you a while to fill unless you're shooting tons of HD video at the highest quality settings. If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to backup your footage to disc, computer, or hard drive, the HDR-CX700V's multitude of media settings may be right up your alley. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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Like most camcorders, the Sony HDR-CX700V has a dedicated still image mode for taking photos with the camcorder. You can access this mode by selecting it from the menu system (under the Shooting Mode submenu), or by pressing the small mode button on the back of the camcorder. The mode button only switches between video and photo modes, it does not allow you to enter other shooting modes (like Golf Shot or Smooth Slow Record), nor will it bring you to playback mode.

When you look at photo size options on the camcorder, you'll notice the highest quality setting is a 12.3-megapixel photo option. This setting exceeds the CX700V's effective pixel count for still images, which is 6.14 megapixels. However, Sony claims that the "unique pixel array of Sony's ClearVid and the image processing system (BIONZ) allow still image resolution equivalent to [12.3 megapixels]." Basically, we take this statement to mean Sony is interpolating the images in order to capture them at that size. The amount of pixels in those 12+ megapixel photos, will still be 6.14 megapixels (or around that). Other photo options on the CX700V include a 9.2 megapixels, 3.3 megapixels, and VGA. All of these size options, other than the 12.3-megapixel mode, capture photos at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Enough of this pixel jargon. The Sony HDR-CX700V has plenty of other still image features worth talking about. There's a built-in flash on the front of the camcorder, and the flash has a number of intensity settings and red-eye reduction. The face detection feature can also be used to detect smiles, which leads us to Sony's "smile shutter" technology. This allows the camcorder to automatically take photos when it detects a smiling subject. It doesn't work perfectly, but the mode even allows you to set the smile sensitivity for which the camcorder to detect (low, medium, or high).

Lens & Imaging System

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The lens and sensor on the HDR-CX700V is _slightly_different than the setup on the previous flagship Handycam from Sony, the HDR-CX550V. The new camcorder has the same amount of optical zoom (10x), and its lens still has a widest aperture setting of f/1.8, but the focal length has been altered slightly (see the table below for exact details). Sony also increased the pixel count of the image sensor on the HDR-CX700V, but the sensor is still the same size as what was inside last year's HDR-CX550V.

The camcorder comes with a large lens hood that can be attached to the front of the camcorder. The hood isn't all that durable, but it is a good thing to have if you're shooting in a space with lots of glare. Attaching the hood does make the CX700V less portable, however, so don't bring it along unless you're comfortable with the extra bulk.

LCD & Viewfinder

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Here's something we haven't seen before: the HDR-CX700V has a smaller LCD than its predecessor, the HDC-CX550V. Yes, Sony reduced the size of the screen by 1/2 an inch, but, in Sony's defense, the CX700V is quite a bit thinner than the CX550V. Still, we don't personally mind having a bit more bulk if it means the LCD is half an inch larger, but that's just us. Maybe there are users out there who don't care if the LCD is only 3 inches in size. After all, it was only a few years ago that the standard LCD was a measly 2.7-inches (and this is still the norm for low-end and mid-range models).

At least Sony did something smart by retaining the 921,000-pixel resolution of the LCD. This means the LCD still delivers clarity and detail, which are necessities when you're trying to make precise adjustments to things like focus or exposure. The LCD has two brightness options (normal and bright), and it uses a touchscreen interface. It is when you use this touchscreen system that you really start to miss the larger screen space on the LCD. A smaller screen means there's more clutter and touch-buttons take up more space.

The HDR-CX700V is Sony's flagship model for 2011, and that means it comes with a tiny viewfinder. Viewfinders, which were a staple of the camcorder industry many years ago, have been phased out on all but the top camcorders from each manufacturers. In all honesty, the viewfinder on the back of the CX700V barely deserves to be called viewfinder at all. It has a terrible hard-plastic eyepiece, it offers a meager 0.2-inch screen inside, and it does not pivot or tilt. It does extend about a 1/2 inch out from the camcorder, and it has a respectable resolution of 201,600 pixels, but that's about all the praise we're willing to give it. Oh, it also has a diopter adjustment dial on its right side.

We don't want to give you the impression that the HDR-CX700V's viewfinder is that much worse than what the competition offers. The viewfinder on the Panasonic TM900 is slightly better, only because its eyepiece offers a tiny bit more cover. Same goes with the Canon HF G10's viewfinder. Frankly, we haven't seen a consumer camcorder with a "good" viewfinder in many years. You'll have to upgrade to a pro model if you want that kind of luxury!

Connectivity

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The CX700V is outfitted with several crafty port covers, most of which slide open in a smooth manner to reveal assorted terminals, jacks, and other connectivity features. Let's start on the right side of the camcorder, where the CX700 plays host to a number of enticing ports. For starters, there's the sly USB cable that tucks into the side of the camcorder's hand strap. This built-in cable means you don't have to remember to pack a bulky USB connector with you when you take the CX700V on vacation. The built-in USB cable isn't perfect—it is too short and it makes the hand strap a bit rigid—but it is certainly a boon to portability.

Also on the right side are two port covers, the larger of which is a sliding door near the back of the camcorder. We like that this cover is well labeled (Sony does a good job with labels all-around), and it slides open with ease to reveal the 3.5mm mic jack, 3.5mm headphone jack, and the multi-AV port. The AV port has a Sony-proprietary connector, but it works with the provided AV/Component cable and it can be used with Sony-accessory wired remotes.

Towards the front of the camcorder is a small door that flips upward to show off the DC-input port. This port cover opens decently, but it doesn't feel as strong as the sliding port cover near the back. It sticks out from the camcorder, which makes it uncomfortable to leave open, and it looks like it could snap off if you push it with excessive force.

More ports are inside the LCD cavity behind a thin sliding door. This is where the memory card slot, HDMI, and USB ports are. We're happy to see the USB terminal here in addition to the built-in USB cable. It simply gives you more options for connecting the CX700V to a computer, and in this case more options is a good thing. One thing to note: the HDR-CX700V doesn't come with a USB cable that connects to this USB terminal. The cable that ships with the camcorder is a USB extender that can attach to the built-in USB cable on the right side of the camcorder. This doesn't bother us too much, though. If you're anything like us, you probably have a bunch of USB cables laying around that you can use with the HDR-CX700V.

Finally, there is a powered accessory shoe on the top of the HDR-CX700V, and it is also positioned behind a sliding cover. The shoe is proprietary (just like the multi-AV port), so it only will fit Sony-made accessories. Third-party adapters are available, but Sony won't guarantee their success (or even admit that they exist).

Battery

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As with most high-end camcorders, the CX700V has an open battery compartment that can accommodate larger battery packs. So, if the 133-minute performance isn't good enough for you, you can always go and purchase a larger battery from Sony to use as a backup. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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If you've got a thing for flash memory, then you'll love the Sony HDR-CX700V. The camcorder is loaded with 96GB of internal flash memory, and a dual-format memory card slot that works with both SD and Memory Stick cards. To be specific, the card slot works with Memory Stick PRO Duo and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo cards, as well as SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The card slot is located inside the LCD cavity, behind a sliding door that also covers the USB and HDMI ports.

This gives you a ton of media options to work with, and, honestly, the 96GB of internal flash memory will take you a while to fill unless you're shooting tons of HD video at the highest quality settings. If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to backup your footage to disc, computer, or hard drive, the HDR-CX700V's multitude of media settings may be right up your alley. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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Like most camcorders, the Sony HDR-CX700V has a dedicated still image mode for taking photos with the camcorder. You can access this mode by selecting it from the menu system (under the Shooting Mode submenu), or by pressing the small mode button on the back of the camcorder. The mode button only switches between video and photo modes, it does not allow you to enter other shooting modes (like Golf Shot or Smooth Slow Record), nor will it bring you to playback mode.

When you look at photo size options on the camcorder, you'll notice the highest quality setting is a 12.3-megapixel photo option. This setting exceeds the CX700V's effective pixel count for still images, which is 6.14 megapixels. However, Sony claims that the "unique pixel array of Sony's ClearVid and the image processing system (BIONZ) allow still image resolution equivalent to [12.3 megapixels]." Basically, we take this statement to mean Sony is interpolating the images in order to capture them at that size. The amount of pixels in those 12+ megapixel photos, will still be 6.14 megapixels (or around that). Other photo options on the CX700V include a 9.2 megapixels, 3.3 megapixels, and VGA. All of these size options, other than the 12.3-megapixel mode, capture photos at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Enough of this pixel jargon. The Sony HDR-CX700V has plenty of other still image features worth talking about. There's a built-in flash on the front of the camcorder, and the flash has a number of intensity settings and red-eye reduction. The face detection feature can also be used to detect smiles, which leads us to Sony's "smile shutter" technology. This allows the camcorder to automatically take photos when it detects a smiling subject. It doesn't work perfectly, but the mode even allows you to set the smile sensitivity for which the camcorder to detect (low, medium, or high).

Other Features

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Smooth Slow Record

A simple slow motion mode, Smooth Slow Record, will capture 3 seconds of footage and turn it into 12 seconds of slow motion video (by recording with a 240fps frame rate). The video quality isn't great, so we recommend using this function sparingly, but it can create some cool effects. The main problem is the 3-second recording limitation. You can also set Smooth Slow Record to capture the three seconds of footage before or after you hit the record button.

Golf Shot

This feature is entirely designed to capture and analyze a golf swing. When you turn it on, the screen is cropped on the left and right and a small white box appears in the middle of the frame. You are meant to position the golfer within this box and a message tells you to press the start/stop record button "right after impact" (we assume this is referring to the golf club hitting the golf ball). The feature works best if the camcorder is on a tripod or laying flat.

After you do all this, the camcorder will take the short bit of footage and divide into a bunch of still images. This way you can see frame-by-frame analysis of your golf swing. Maybe this feature could be used for other analysis, but the limitations on image size and record time make this difficult. Can't Sony tweak this feature for a baseball swing analysis? Maybe next year.

Nightshot

Night Shot uses infrared technology (like night vision goggles) to allow 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 feature for people who love to take their camcorder camping, spelunking, or on nighttime tours of haunted houses.

Fader

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

GPS

The HDR-CX7000V has built-in GPS that allows you to keep track of your videos by the location in which they were shot—and you can even view/organize clips by location on a map. You turn GPS on and off via a small switch inside the camcorder's LCD cavity. Keep in mind, having GPS activated will drain your battery a bit faster than normal. Also a problem: the CX700V's GPS function could not find our office location on the map. We had to walk around outside before things started to click. Don't expect the GPS to work smoothly everywhere (even in major cities).

Panasonic HDC-TM900 Comparison

We enjoyed many of the updates initiated by Sony on the HDR-CX700V, but the truth is, we liked the updates made by Canon on its new Vixia HF G10 even more. Canon tried out a new sensor system on the HF G10 that uses a smaller concentration of pixels on its CMOS imager. The idea paid off, as the HF G10 currently sits atop our rankings as the best camcorder for low light videography. This new sensor system did force the G10 to take a hit in other categories, particularly still image performance, but we felt the benefits in low light far outweighed the camcorder's detriments elsewhere.

The big feature the HF G10 lacks, however, is a Full HD 1080/60p record mode. Canon, who has long been known as the king of multiple frame rate options, has yet to offer a 60p record mode on any of its consumer camcorders. The HF G10 does have a PF24, PF30, and 24p record mode, though, so it is not without options. The fact that Sony finally got around to offering multiple frame rates this year on the CX700V is very exciting, and it gives consumers who are looking for 24p recording more options.

Canon also wins the battle in terms of handling and controls. The HF G10 has more control options, a better designed lens ring, and the body of the camcorder feels more rugged and professional. The Sony HDR-CX700V is no chump when it comes to controls, but its poorly-designed adjustment dial and lack of advanced controls would probably not satisfy a professional or prosumer videographer.

The competition here is close, particularly because Sony implemented so many long-awaited features on the new HDR-CX700V, but the Canon HF G10 is still the better product for someone looking for a professional-grade camcorder. The Sony HDR-CX700V may be the better choice if you are a more novice camcorder user, but you still want access to top-level image quality. We also love that the CX700V can record standard definition video if you want to (in addition to HD). This makes it a great "bridge" model for those who want to shoot in both formats.

Sony HDR-CX550V Comparison

We were disappointed by the HDC-TM900, but not because it is a bad camcorder. Instead, we were upset by Panasonic's lack of progress with its new flagship model. The HDC-TM900 has little in the way of new features compared to its predecessor (the HDC-TM700), and its video performance was essentially the same. The new elements Panasonic did add: a larger LCD (by 1/2 an inch), an iFrame record mode (for better Mac compatibility), and a redesigned menu system. The HDC-TM900 is also capable of recording 3D videos—but you need to purchase an expensive lens adapter first.

Despite its lack of innovation, the HDC-TM900 is still a top-notch camcorder. It did better than the Sony HDR-CX700V in our performance testing, its Full HD 60p record mode produced sharper video and better motion, and the camcorder's manual controls are easier to use. For all those reasons, it is a better camcorder than the HDR-CX700V.

But, the Sony does have its advantages. We liked its 24p mode more than Panasonic's Digital Cinema 24p option, and the CX700V is a simpler camcorder for beginners. The presence of a standard definition record mode on the HDR-CX700V is also a pleasant attribute (as is the camcorder's enormous amount of internal flash memory). Both of these camcorders are very good top-level models. Sony did a lot more to improve on last year's model, while Panasonic made very slight adjustments to our 2010 pick for Camcorder of the Year.

COMP 3

Sony added a number of exciting—and long-awaited—new features tot he HDR-CX700V that weren't present on last year's HDR-CX550V. The inclusion of 24p and 60p frame rates, both of which can be used to record Full HD video, are two very compelling reasons to check out the CX700V. Sony had long been known as one of the few major manufacturers to not offer alternate frame rates on its camcorders (other than low-quality slow motion modes), so we welcome the addition of 24p and 60p with open arms.

The new frame rates did not boost performance in our video testing by a huge margin, but the 60p record mode did produce a sharper image and it captured motion better than the camcorder's 60i frame rate. The 24p mode looked decent, and we found it did at least as good of a job as Canon's 24p mode (on the HF G10) at simulating a film-like aesthetic.

There were a few aspects about the HDR-CX700V that made the camcorder less desirable than last year's model, however. Sony reduced the size of the LCD by half an inch, the manual control dial didn't feel as well designed this year, and the image stabilization system didn't work as well. All of these things bothered us, but we're able to forgive Sony because the presence of the new frame rates outweighed the poor design modifications.

If you have no need for experimenting with new frame rates, there isn't much of a reason to pick the HDR-CX700V over the HDR-CX550V. The CX550V was a fine camcorder for beginners who want a high-end consumer camcorder that is easy to use. The CX700V can also deliver this, but it is more expensive and it doesn't handle quite as well as last years model. A lot of people looking at flagship models, though, are likely to be intrigued by the 60p and 24p frame rates. So, we think Sony made the right choice to include them on the new camcorder.

Conclusion

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V is close to being a fantastic camcorder, but its sub-par results in our low light test made it fall short. The camcorder has a wonderful set of features, including the new 24p and 60p record modes, as well as a good amount of manual controls. It isn't loaded with pro-level controls like the Canon HF G10 (for example, the CX700V has no gain control), but it has most of the controls that your average videographer would want to play with.

Besides taking a hit in low light, the HDR-CX700V also had a tough time in our stabilization test. This is one area where the camcorder did worse than last year's flagship camcorder from Sony (the HDR-CX550V). Sony also decided to shrink the size of the LCD by 1/2 an inch on the CX700V, which, as we've hinted at throughout this review, was a stupid idea. Despite the decrease in screen size, the HDR-CX700V is not any lighter than last year's HDR-CX550V.

But there's still plenty to love. The 96GB of internal flash memory, the multiple frame rate options, the simple interface for beginners, and the standard definition recording options (in addition to HD) are all wonderful features for a top-level consumer camcorder. The built-in USB cable is a bit strange to see, but we think it will appeal to certain users. However, we don't like that Sony had to alter the design of its hand strap, thereby making it far less comfortable than previous Handycams, in order to accommodate the USB cable.

One final note about 1080/60p recording with the HDR-CX700V: the 1080/60p video files, as is the case with all 1080/60p files, can be increasingly frustrating to work with on a computer. We had several editing programs crash simply when we tried connecting a CX700V that contained 60p files on it to a computer. Sony's provided software does work with these files, however, and the software wasn't a huge pain to install on our PC (it is not supported on Macs). If editing is your thing, you should plan to do a lot of troubleshooting when working with 1080/60p files recorded with the CX700V. Other than this mess, the 60p clips looked lovely when viewed on an HDTV (directly from the camcorder), and the 24p frame rate did a very good job at creating a cinematic aesthetic.

Photo Gallery

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