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  • Introduction

  • Design

  • Front

  • Back

  • Left

  • Right

  • Top

  • Bottom

  • Size & Weight Comparison

  • In the Box

  • Performance

  • Color

  • Low Light Color

  • Noise

  • Low Light Sensitivity

  • Low Light Noise

  • Low Light Color

  • Motion

  • Video Sharpness

  • Testing Samples

  • Usability

  • Auto Mode

  • Auto Controls

  • Other Auto Features

  • Menus

  • Handling

  • Portability

  • Battery Life

  • LCD & Viewfinder

  • Stabilization

  • Manual Focus

  • Manual Exposure

  • Miscellaneous Controls

  • Auto Controls

  • Audio Controls

  • Editing

  • Features

  • Compression

  • Media

  • Resolution & Frame Rates

  • Still Features

  • Lens & Imaging System

  • LCD & Viewfinder

  • Connectivity

  • Battery

  • Media

  • Canon Vixia HF G10 Comparison

  • Panasonic HC-X900M Comparison

  • COMP 3

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Design
  • Front
  • Back
  • Left
  • Right
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • Size & Weight Comparison
  • In the Box
  • Performance
  • Color
  • Low Light Color
  • Noise
  • Low Light Sensitivity
  • Low Light Noise
  • Low Light Color
  • Motion
  • Video Sharpness
  • Testing Samples
  • Usability
  • Auto Mode
  • Auto Controls
  • Other Auto Features
  • Menus
  • Handling
  • Portability
  • Battery Life
  • LCD & Viewfinder
  • Stabilization
  • Manual Focus
  • Manual Exposure
  • Miscellaneous Controls
  • Auto Controls
  • Audio Controls
  • Editing
  • Features
  • Compression
  • Media
  • Resolution & Frame Rates
  • Still Features
  • Lens & Imaging System
  • LCD & Viewfinder
  • Connectivity
  • Battery
  • Media
  • Canon Vixia HF G10 Comparison
  • Panasonic HC-X900M Comparison
  • COMP 3
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

The 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor is taken directly from the Sony NEX-5N camera, as is the Sony E-mount interchangeable lens system, but the VG20's design features are no different than what you'd see on your average prosumer camcorder. It's got the right-side strap for easy handheld shooting, it's got a handlebar for transport and an alternate shooting grip, it has a 5.1-channel Dolby Digital microphone, and it has the iconic left-side LCD and top-mounted viewfinder setup that have been a staple of pro camcorders for many years.

The VG20 is Sony's second installment of this "interchangeable lens Handycam" experiment. The previous NEX-VG10 had many of the same specs and design implementations, but lacked the multiple frame rate options that the NEX-VG20 flaunts. Sony also improved the autofocus, added a better microphone, and completely revamped the design of the LCD on the VG20. Even though we didn't review the NEX-VG10, it's fair to say the VG20 offers some significant upgrades over its predecessor.

The Handycam NEX-VG20 is available for $1599 (body only) or for $2199 with an 18-200mm kit lens. This makes the VG20 the most expensive model in Sony's Handycam line, and it's a lot pricier than the Sony NEX-5N camera ($699 with its kit lens).

Design

Here's what you need to know about the NEX-VG20: it's got an interchangeable lens system that works with Sony's E-mount lenses (or with A-mount lenses if you purchase an adapter), and it uses a large APS-C CMOS sensor similar to what Sony put in its NEX-5N digital camera. So, in a sense, the VG20 is a camcorder with the guts of a compact system camera—large image sensor, interchangeable lens system, and access to a full set of manual exposure controls. The body feels strong and durable, and the its right-side grip is just as snug as any handheld prosumer or professional camcorder we've reviewed in recent memory. We reviewed the VG20 with its kit lens, an 18-200mm f/3.5 E-mount lens with built-in optical image stabilization.

Front

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Back

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Left

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Top

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Bottom

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Size & Weight Comparison

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In the Box

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The NEX-VG20 comes with quite a few accessories:

• Handycam NEX-VG20 camcorder
• 18-200mm f/3.5 kit lens (camcorder can be purchased body-only)
• instruction manual
• USB cable
• Composite AV cable
• Component AV cable
• remote control
• wind sock
• eye cup
• NP-FV70 rechargeable battery pack
• power charger
• lens hood
• Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 download coupon (when purchased from Sony)

Performance

The NEX-VG20 had no staggering weaknesses in our performance tests, but the camcorder didn't "wow" us in every category. Its low light results were somewhat disappointing, but part of the VG20's subpar results in low light may stem from the fact that it is bundled with a slow f/3.5 kit lens. The camcorder captured some fantastic footage in our real-world samples, with videos looking smooth and crisp even under an overcast sky. Motion was probably the camcorder's best attribute, and its three distinct frame rate options (60i, 60p, and 24p) are a good assortment to work with. Sharpness wasn't at the level we'd hoped it would be in our test, but we were impressed by the detail and clarity captured in both our motion test and our real-world sample videos.

Color

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The NEX-VG20 had a tiny bit of trouble with our bright light color tests. The camcorder wasn't able to render colors with perfect accuracy, coming in with a color error score of 4.4 in this test. This is a very similar score to what the Sony HDR-CX700V Handycam earned last year, but it is significantly worse than the competition from Canon and Panasonic. More on how we test color.

On the bright side, the VG20 produced colors with excellent saturation levels of 100.5%. That means the colors captured in auto mode have pop and are naturally vivid. Unfortunately, the camcorder has few color controls built into its interface, so if you're expecting to do a large amount of color tinkering you're going to have to do all that in post production. The VG20 does have a Cinematone mode that alters the gamma curve (and slightly changes the color tones), and it has a white balance shift option for changing the color temperature of your video.

Like we said, the NEX-VG20's colors weren't quite as accurate as the competition, but they were just as vivid (if not more vivid) than the models we compared it to. You can see this difference in color depth in the comparison crops on this page, especially with the Sony HDR-CX700V, which produced a much softer set of colors (with an 86% saturation level).

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Low Light Color

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Like most camcorders, the VG20 lost some of the color saturation in its videos when we brought the lights down. The saturation level dropped from 100% in bright light to around 76% in low light, and the color accuracy took a bit of a hit as well (4.84 color error in low light). These numbers are by no means bad—they're just about the same as the camcorders we compared it to—but we were hoping the VG20 would do a bit better in this test. More on how we test low light color.

Shooting with its 24p frame rate gave the VG20 a bit of a bump in both color accuracy and saturation level. The color error lowered to 4.48 and the saturation level increased to 83% with the 24p frame rate, compared to the results from 60i recording listed in the previous paragraph.

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Noise

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Noise levels were fantastically low in our bright light testing with the NEX-VG20. This is, most likely, due to the large APS-C image sensor inside the camcorder. In our tests, the VG20 measured 0.37% noise, and we consider anything under 0.5% to be top-notch in this test. It's also a much lower noise level than we measured on the Sony HDR-CX700V last year. More on how we test noise.

The crops above illustrate how well the VG20 does with sharpness with an unmoving video image. The camcorder didn't have the sharpest video we've seen this year, but its results weren't bad. The video just looked a bit soft compared to a lot of the high-end camcorders we've reviewed over the past couple of years. We see this fairly often with DSLR and system cameras that shoot video, however. The aesthetic is softer and more film-like rather than ultra-sharp.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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Limiting the shutter speed on the NEX-VG20 to 1/60th of a second, the camcorder required 8 lux of light to illuminate our test chart up to broadcast television standards. This scenario also required the camcorder to use no zoom, thus letting the lens utilize its widest aperture setting. Using a bit of zoom, in order to frame our chart to simulate a head-and-shoulders portrait shot, the camcorder needed 17 lux of light to obtain a proper video image. Both of these tests were performed using the camcorder's 60i frame rate setting. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Using the 24p setting on the VG20, which allows the camcorder to drop to a 1/50th of a second shutter speed, made it possible for the camcorder to capture a bright enough image with just 13 lux of light (when using some zoom). The VG20 was hurt in this test a bit by the fact that its kit lens has a widest aperture of f/3.5, which is not that fast. A lens with a wider aperture would surely improve the VG20's low light sensitivity, but, even with the kit lens these results aren't too shabby. They're much better than the results from the Sony HDR-CX700V and they're on par with the Panasonic HC-X900M. The Canon HF G10, however, wins the low light sensitivity category outright.

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Low Light Noise

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Just as we saw in our bright light test, Sony was able to keep noise levels down on the VG20's low light video images as well. The noise levels measured at a low 0.87% in this test, and anything under 1.0% is considered "good" in our book. Most high-end consumer camcorders also do well in this test, as the Canon HF G10 and Panasonic HC-X900M produced noise levels on par with the Sony VG20. More on how we test low light noise.

Using its 24p frame rate did little to improve the already-good noise levels on the NEX-VG20. The camcorder averaged 0.84% noise in its 24p low light video, which is barely any different than the 0.87% noise levels measured on its 60i footage.

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Low Light Color

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Like most camcorders, the VG20 lost some of the color saturation in its videos when we brought the lights down. The saturation level dropped from 100% in bright light to around 76% in low light, and the color accuracy took a bit of a hit as well (4.84 color error in low light). These numbers are by no means bad—they're just about the same as the camcorders we compared it to—but we were hoping the VG20 would do a bit better in this test. More on how we test low light color.

Shooting with its 24p frame rate gave the VG20 a bit of a bump in both color accuracy and saturation level. The color error lowered to 4.48 and the saturation level increased to 83% with the 24p frame rate, compared to the results from 60i recording listed in the previous paragraph.

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Motion

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Motion captured by the NEX-VG20 looked very good in all frame rates, and we were impressed by Sony's ability to keep the rolling shutter effect under wraps. Rolling shutter, which is a problem attributed to many cameras and camcorders that feature very large image sensors, add a wobbly, jell-o-like effect to video that usually involves panning or quick movements with the camcorder. With the VG20 the effect was nearly unnoticeable in our tests using the 60i and 60p frame rate, although the effect was more prominent in the 24p record mode.

Motion also looked crisp and had very little blur in all three frame rates. The 24p mode may have produced the crispest image overall, but its motion is obviously choppier than the 60i and 60p settings. Part of that "choppiness" is what gives the 24p setting its cinema-like aesthetic. Additionally, artifacting wasn't an issue in the camcorder's highest-quality recording modes (no matter what frame rate we used). More on how we test motion.

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Video Sharpness

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The Sony NEX-VG20 didn't do a terrible job in our sharpness test, but its performance wasn't as good as we hoped it would be. In its highest-quality recording mode, the 1080/60p option, the VG20's video showed a horizontal sharpness of 700 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 650 lw/ph. Like we said, these numbers aren't bad, but they are still worse than the top consumer camcorders we've run through this test.

Shooting with its 60i video setting, the VG20 managed a horizontal sharpness of 650 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 550 lw/ph—results that are a notch below the camcorder's 60p sharpness numbers. Again, these numbers are good, but they aren't close to being great. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Real World Samples

60p Sample Video

60i Sample Video

Rolling Shutter Sample Video

Autofocus Sample Video

24p Sample Video

Usability

The interchangeable lens system on the VG20 is definitely the camcorder's greatest asset. But having this feature also exposes some weaknesses. For example, the camcorder has no zoom lever (you can only zoom with the lens ring), and some of the auto controls don't work as quickly as they do on more traditional camcorders. Still, we are impressed with the VG20's simple design and light (for an interchangeable lens model) package. The button layout is simple and uncluttered, the hand strap and right-side grip are more than adequate, and all of your most important features are accessible on the fly. Sure, there is room for improvement, and the VG20 isn't going to react and function in the same was as a single-lens prosumer camcorder would, but we think Sony is heading in the right direction with this design.

Auto Mode

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If you're looking for that easy mode or "intelligent auto" mode that are found on other Sony Handycams, you're not gonna find it on the NEX-VG20. This doesn't mean the camcorder has no auto controls, it most certainly does, it just doesn't have that dedicated switch to bring all controls back to auto. The closest thing to an auto mode button on the VG20 is the Program AE switch inside the LCD cavity. This button reverts all exposure controls (iris, shutter speed, and gain) to auto control, but it doesn't do anything to focus, image stabilization, or any controls not related to exposure.

The iAuto mode button is difficult to find, but when you do find it the option for turning on the mode looks like this.

Auto Controls

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The thing is, the NEX-VG20, like any good prosumer camcorder, doesn't really need a special auto mode to succeed. The brilliance of the camcorder lies in its manual control options, and it's likely that is the very reason you'd be using the VG20 in the first place. No dedicated auto mode lets you pinpoint the controls you want to set manually, while leaving other controls under auto control.

Those who are hoping to rely on the VG20's automatic functions may come away disappointed, however. The camcorder doesn't focus as fast nor as accurately as a traditional camcorder, and if you go outside of Sony's E-mount lens family there's no guarantee that the autofocus mechanism on the camcorder will even work properly with the attached lens. Auto exposure was handled with more accuracy than focus, and the camcorder did a decent job when we shifted between various lighting conditions. The color temperature changed a lot when we shot under mixed light with the auto white balance turned on, so if you don't want that kind of color shifting you should lock down a manual white balance or use one of the two preset WB options.

Other Auto Features

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The few extra auto features on the VG20 include three spot functions (spot focus, spot exposure, and spot focus/exposure), an AE Shift setting (bump the auto exposure levels up or down), an auto backlight option, and face detection.

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Maybe it was the improved response of the touchscreen interface, or maybe it's just the way Sony's organizes its menu options, but we found the NEX-VG20's menu system rather easy to work with. And, for a camcorder geared towards pros, the amount of menu options is surprisingly concise. Most important controls are available for access on the fly, either through a dedicated button or by holding down the Manual button near the front of the camcorder, and the six submenus in the VG20's main menu system makes it fairly easy to find what you're looking for. Our only issue was that the buttons to scroll menu pages up and down were a bit too small for our fingertips. A slightly larger screen would help.

Handling

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There's one major detail about the NEX-VG20 that significantly alters the way the camcorder handles—there's no zoom toggle for controlling zoom. This means whenever you want to zoom with the VG20, you have to do so by rotating the zoom ring on the provided lens. While this may not bother old-school videographers or those who are used to shooting video with DSLR or system cameras, it definitely will feel weird for people who are accustomed to traditional hand-held camcorders. We simply expect a camcorder that looks and feels like the VG20 to have a little zoom lever on the right side that is easily accessible with the tip of our index finger. Instead, the VG20 has a photo shutter button in its place, further cementing the fact that, at its core, the NEX-VG20 is very much a digital camera disguised as a camcorder body.

The question is this: is it possible for Sony to implement a zoom lever on the VG20's body that would control an attached NEX lens? The lens would have to have a zoom motor inside it for this to be possible, but we imagine that wouldn't be too hard to implement. In fact, Panasonic has nearly the exact thing we're talking about for its Lumix GX1 camera. The GX1 is compatible with two G X Power Zoom lenses that have small zoom triggers right on them that let you zoom with the touch of a button (instead of the twist of a lens ring). Maybe Sony will roll out some kind of similar feature on the NEX-VG20's successor. We certainly hope so.

Because of the lack of a zoom lever, the VG20 requires two hands to use it to its fullest extent. Resting the lens barrel on the fingertips of your left hand will make the VG20 feel lighter and it gives you direct access to the zoom and focus rings on the lens. There's also the manual control wheel near the front of the camcorder that lets you set aperture, shutter speed, gain, and a few other controls. The wheel isn't great, and we wish there was a knob or ring that offered more precise adjustment method for exposure controls.

The focus button is also not as convenient as it could be, with Sony placing it too far back on the left side of the camcorder. This makes it more of a challenge than it should be to switch between auto and manual focus. Honestly, we wish the button was right up front, next to the focus ring on the lens. Other dedicated buttons, like the shutter speed and aperture buttons inside the LCD cavity, are designed well and are easy to locate (although you can't get to them if you're using the EVF with the LCD panel shut). Overall, we're impressed at how well Sony "handled" the VG20's design. Most controls are accessible without going through the menu system, and the button layout on the camcorder is incredibly simple and sparse—an absolute rarity for a camcorder in this price range.

These dedicated buttons give you quick access to aperture and shutter speed controls.

Portability

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Obviously, the NEX-VG20 weights a significant amount more than your average high-end consumer camcorder. In fact, with its provided kit lens, the VG20 comes in at 1263g (with its battery), which is about 2.8 pounds. This might sound like a lot to people who are used to compact, 400g camcorders that can fit in your coat pocket, but compared to most prosumer camcorders this is not a bad weight at all. And compared to most camcorders with an interchangeable lens system, the NEX-VG20 is downright compact.

The lens on the VG20 weighs nearly as much as the body of the camcorder itself, so if you load a smaller lens onto the camcorder you can get a much lighter package. Without its lens—body only—the VG20 weighed 642g (including the battery pack), and that's just under a pound and a half. It's also not much heavier than Sony's HDR-PJ760, which is the company's top-of-the-line traditional Handycam for 2012.

All in all, we're absolutely impressed with how portable the NEX-VG20 is. The whole package ends up being lighter than many DSLR cameras, but the VG20's "camcorder" shape makes it simple to use as a handheld recording device.

Battery Life

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Let's be honest for a moment. We admittedly chuckled the first time we put the VG20's provided battery pack into its huge battery compartment. Even though the battery is pretty big, it barely fills half of the compartment, so we didn't expect much in terms of battery life performance. Boy were we wrong. The VG20 recorded for 207 minutes straight on a single charge with its NP-FV70 provided battery. That's nearly three and a half hours of continuous recording and it blows the competition out of the water. Most traditional camcorders do use smaller battery packs, however, but it's good to see Sony catering to the pros on this one—a long battery life is always pleasant. More on how we test battery life.

The large battery compartment on the back of the VG20 looks kind of funny with the camcorder's provided battery pack. The NP-FV70 battery only fills about half of the compartment, which makes it a bit difficult to load and remove. Sony's larger battery packs, which are available at an extra cost, will fit this compartment more fully (and won't look as awkward).

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LCD & Viewfinder

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The VG20 has a traditional LCD that opens out from the left side of the camcorder and features a touchscreen interface. The screen runs three inches diagonally and has a 921,600-pixel resolution. These specs are decent, but it's actually a smaller screen than you'll find on numerous flagship camcorders from other manufacturers. JVC, for example, has a 3.5-inch LCD on its GZ-GX1.

Unlike most modern camcorders, the NEX-VG20 is equipped with a full-size electronic viewfinder (EVF). The EVF is similar to what you commonly see on a low-end professional model, and it comes with a large eye-cup that fits snugly over your eye to block out any extraneous light. The viewfinder pivots up with an effective range (about 45 degrees), but it doesn't extend out from the camcorder. This isn't a huge problem, but it does mean you may not be able to reach the viewfinder if you attach a third-party shoulder mount to the camcorder.

Stabilization

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Because of its interchangeable lens system, the Sony NEX-VG20 relies on lens-based optical image stabilization. The downside to this is that if you use the camcorder with a lens without an IS system, then you'll be without an image stabilization feature when you record. The upside, however, is the VG20's kit lens did an impeccable job stabilizing video in our test. More on how we test stabilization.

Even though the IS system is built into the lens, you still turn it on and off in the camcorder's menu system. The NEX-VG20 has two stabilization settings, Standard and Active mode, but we saw little difference between them in our test. With Standard IS (Sony calls this Optical Steady Shot, by the way) the VG20 was able to reduce 71% of the shake in our low-speed test and 66% of the shake in our high-speed test. Active mode wasn't much different, reducing shake by 73% in the lower speed mode and 65% in the higher shake test setting. What impresses us about these numbers is their consistency. The VG20, with its large frame and decent grip, should be able to reduce video shake in a variety of different shooting situations.

Manual Focus

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Manual focus on the VG20 is controlled using the camcorder's attached lens, which will likely be the 18-200mm E-mount lens if you bought the camcorder as a kit. There is large, ribbed lens ring on the lens (as is the case for most lenses) that allows you to control focus with your fingertips.

While this lens ring is fantastic for making precise focus adjustments, we don't like the location for the manual focus switch. This button is found on the side of the camcorder's body, just in front of the memory card slot, so it's not easy to reach while your using the focus ring. We wish the focus button was in a more approachable position much closer to the lens, as this would allow easier switching between auto and manual focus control

When setting focus, the VG20 has peaking controls and an expanded focus zoom function to assist you with getting the correct focus. Peaking is controlled through the menu system where it can be turned on and off, intensity can be adjusted (high, middle, low), and colors can be changed (white, red, yellow). The expanded focus is engaged by a dedicated button on the right side of the camcorder, which is easily accessible with your pinky when you grip the camcorder in your right hand.

The adjustment dial makes accurate focus adjustments easy.

Manual Exposure

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The NEX-VG20 has the big three exposure controls—aperture, shutter speed, and gain—as well as a basic exposure adjustment option and an auto exposure shift (AE shift) setting. This amount of control is excellent, and it is exactly what we expect to see from a camcorder in the $2000 dollar price range. The only setback is the method for setting these controls, as the VG20 relies on a small rotating dial near the front of the camcorder rather than a large ring or control knob.

All of these exposure controls can be set during video recording, and the "manual" button in front of the control dial allows you to set these controls on the fly. Holding the button in for a second or so brings up an on-screen menu where you can choose a particular control you want to adjust (from options of exposure, gain, iris, shutter speed, AE shift, and white balance shift). Inside the LCD cavity are also dedicated buttons for iris (aperture) and shutter speed control, as well as a Program AE button that allows you to revert all exposure settings to auto when pressed.

Two tools, found in the menu system, are designed to assist with exposure adjustment. The Zebra feature overlays a striped pattern on areas within the frame that are overexposed. The patterns can be set to display at 70% or 100% thresholds, with the 70% setting more useful for properly exposing faces and skin tones and the 100% setting better for evaluating overall exposure levels. There's also a histogram function available that displays a live graph of the light levels within a given frame.

The manual exposure controls are only found on the Contour app, not on the camcorder itself.

Miscellaneous Controls

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Sony keeps things fairly simple on the NEX-VG20, so you won't find an extensive set of color controls or precise image modes on the camcorder. Certainly nothing like the Picture Profile settings you get on Sony's professional camcorders that give you control over things like gamma, sharpness, knee point, black levels, etc.

But there are two white balance presets (outdoor and indoor), a manual white balance mode (one push, just like on other Handycams), and a white balance shift setting. There's a Cinematone feature that slightly alters the gamma curve to enhance the color and brightness of your image (providing a more film-like aesthetic in the process). Additionally, there are three "spot" adjustment settings: spot focus, spot meter, and spot meter/focus. These modes allow you to tap the portion of the screen you want to focus or expose properly, making them easy-to-use controls that mix manual and automatic adjustment (they're also found on all of Sony's current Handycam lineup).

Auto Controls

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The thing is, the NEX-VG20, like any good prosumer camcorder, doesn't really need a special auto mode to succeed. The brilliance of the camcorder lies in its manual control options, and it's likely that is the very reason you'd be using the VG20 in the first place. No dedicated auto mode lets you pinpoint the controls you want to set manually, while leaving other controls under auto control.

Those who are hoping to rely on the VG20's automatic functions may come away disappointed, however. The camcorder doesn't focus as fast nor as accurately as a traditional camcorder, and if you go outside of Sony's E-mount lens family there's no guarantee that the autofocus mechanism on the camcorder will even work properly with the attached lens. Auto exposure was handled with more accuracy than focus, and the camcorder did a decent job when we shifted between various lighting conditions. The color temperature changed a lot when we shot under mixed light with the auto white balance turned on, so if you don't want that kind of color shifting you should lock down a manual white balance or use one of the two preset WB options.

Audio Controls

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The VG20's prominent built-in microphone is one of the big advantages the camcorder has over a regular digital camera (like the Sony NEX-5N). The mic records 5.1-channel Dolby surround sound, but it can also be set to record 2-channel audio instead. There's a wind noise reduction filter in the camcorder itself, but the VG20 also comes with a real physical wind sock that you can put over the built-in mic. You can also control the audio levels in the menu system, keep tabs on the audio with an onscreen level display, and you can use an external mic via the 3.5mm mic jack on the camcorder's handlebar.

Editing

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In-camera editing features are not a huge part of the NEX-VG20's repertoire. The camcorder has the ability to divide video clips and grab still images from videos, but that's about it. You can, of course, delete videos and photos through the playback system as well.

Features

The NEX-VG20 was built to give the user easy access to focus and exposure controls, and Sony got this design right. The dedicated shutter speed and iris (aperture) buttons inside the LCD cavity make those controls easy to adjust on the fly, and the manual control button near the front of the camcorder lets you set things like gain, AE shift, and WB shift without having to go through the menu system as well.

But there's two things that bother us: 1) the manual control wheel that is used to set exposure isn't great. We expect to see a larger knob or ring on a camcorder of the VG20's caliber. 2) the camcorder lacks the high-end custom image presets and picture controls that you get on most prosumer camcorders. Yes, the NEX-VG20 is on the cheap end of the "professional camcorder" market, but it wouldn't hurt to add some in-depth gamma controls, sharpness adjustment options, black level functions, color settings, etc. The lack of these controls does make the VG20 a simpler camcorder overall, however, and it lets the user concentrate on getting exposure and focus correct—which are harder to fix in post production.

Compression

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Like most modern HD camcorders, the VG20 compresses video using the AVCHD format, which is based on the MPEG-4 codec. The camcorder is even AVCHD 2.0 compliant to accommodate the VG20's 1080/60p and 24p native progressive record modes. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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There's no internal memory on the NEX-VG20, so you need to buy a memory card before you can record video with the camcorder. The memory card slot works with all types of SD memory cards (SDHC and SDXC included) and it works with Sony's own Memory Stick PRO Duo memory cards. Sony recommends using a class 4 or faster SD card when shooting video with the camcorder. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Resolution & Frame Rates

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In addition to 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording, the VG20 has two 1440 x 1080 recording options and one standard definition record mode. The 24p frame rate is available in two of the record modes, while the 60i frame rate can be used in any mode (except for the 1080/60p PS mode).

Still Features

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The VG20 may be part of Sony's Handycam camcorder line, but inside it has the guts of a Sony NEX camera. Its APS-C image sensor is much larger than the CMOS imager you'd find in a traditional camcorder. In fact, it's the same size sensor that comes in Sony's NEX-5N camera. This sensor, combined with the fact that the VG20 can use any lens from Sony's E-Mount family, makes the NEX-VG20 capable of taking excellent photos.

The camcorder is still designed to shoot video, though, so the VG20 does lack some of the controls and features you'd expect to see on a standard DSLR or compact system camera. You will still find the basics though: a continuous shooting mode, exposure bracketing, a self-timer, even the ability to shoot photos in the RAW format (JPEG and RAW & JPEG options are also available). Manual controls that are available in video mode, like aperture, shutter speed, gain (ISO), and white balance, are all available in photo mode as well.

As for still image resolutions, the NEX-VG20 has about the same options as you'd expect to see on a camera that is dedicated to photography. The camcorder has three size options that shoot with a 3:2 aspect ratio, including the VG20's highest-res 16-megapixel setting, and it has three 16:9 photo sizes (with the highest being 13.6-megapixels). Photos can also be captured from videos in playback mode, and you can capture still images during recording.

Lens & Imaging System

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The NEX-VG20 is packaged with an 18 - 200mm f/3.5 lens, although the camcorder is also available as a body-only unit. This lens gives you a little more than 10x optical zoom, which puts it on par with your average high-end consumer camcorder. Of course, the advantage of the VG20 is that it can work with any E-mount lens from Sony—just like Sony's NEX line of compact system cameras (for shooting photographs). Sony also sells an A-mount adapter that opens the NEX-VG20 up to an even wider array of lenses. And, if you really want, you can find third-party adapters that will let you hook just about anything up to the VG20 (just be aware that some features, like autofocus and stabilization, won't work unless you use a compatible lens).

Inside the VG20 is a big APS-C CMOS sensor that measures 23.5 x 15.6mm. This sensor is much larger than the CMOS chips found in high-end and even most professional camcorders. The reason is because it's a digital camera image sensor, basically the same sensor that Sony uses in its NEX-5N camera. It is loaded with a ton of pixels and its large size should translate to less noise and better low light performance for the camcorder. Large sensors also can pose certain problems, such as a rolling shutter effect that produces wobble when you pan the camcorder. Check out our performance sections to see how the NEX-VG20 did compared to the traditional camcorders we compared it to.

LCD & Viewfinder

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The VG20 has a traditional LCD that opens out from the left side of the camcorder and features a touchscreen interface. The screen runs three inches diagonally and has a 921,600-pixel resolution. These specs are decent, but it's actually a smaller screen than you'll find on numerous flagship camcorders from other manufacturers. JVC, for example, has a 3.5-inch LCD on its GZ-GX1.

Unlike most modern camcorders, the NEX-VG20 is equipped with a full-size electronic viewfinder (EVF). The EVF is similar to what you commonly see on a low-end professional model, and it comes with a large eye-cup that fits snugly over your eye to block out any extraneous light. The viewfinder pivots up with an effective range (about 45 degrees), but it doesn't extend out from the camcorder. This isn't a huge problem, but it does mean you may not be able to reach the viewfinder if you attach a third-party shoulder mount to the camcorder.

Connectivity

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Most of the ports on the NEX-VG20 are found on the right side of the camcorder, in the area where you rest your palm when using the right-side grip. Here' you'll find three flexible (yet sturdy) port covers that protect the mic jack, DC-input, Multi-AV port, USB terminal, and HDMI connector. The Multi-AV port fits Sony-proprietary cables, of which a Component and Composite cable are provided with the camcorder (other cables, including wired remotes, will work with this port).

On the handlebar are a few more ports. There's the 3.5mm external mic jack, which blends into the right side of the handlebar and is covered by a small tab, and there are two accessory shoes on the top of the handlebar. The front shoe is powered (hot) and works with Sony's external flash devices that are sold separately. The rear shoe is not powered (cold), but it will fit any accessory with a traditional shoe mount, and is recommended for mounting an external microphone.

Battery

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The large battery compartment on the back of the VG20 looks kind of funny with the camcorder's provided battery pack. The NP-FV70 battery only fills about half of the compartment, which makes it a bit difficult to load and remove. Sony's larger battery packs, which are available at an extra cost, will fit this compartment more fully (and won't look as awkward).

Media

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There's no internal memory on the NEX-VG20, so you need to buy a memory card before you can record video with the camcorder. The memory card slot works with all types of SD memory cards (SDHC and SDXC included) and it works with Sony's own Memory Stick PRO Duo memory cards. Sony recommends using a class 4 or faster SD card when shooting video with the camcorder. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Canon Vixia HF G10 Comparison

If we had to pick one Sony product that the NEX-VG20 is most similar to (other than its predecessor, the VG10), we'd probably go with the Sony NEX-5N digital camera. The VG20 and the 5N have similar internal specs—same size sensor and pixel count, same lens mount, and similar video performance overall. But the VG20 is officially a Handycam camcorder, not a camera, so the HDR-CX700V from 2011 is still a very apt comparison.

The CX700V was a flagship model in Sony's Handycam line, so its menus and recording features are very similar to what you'd find on the VG20. So, in one sense, the VG20 handles a lot like the CX700V. But the CX700V doesn't have the option of using multiple lenses, nor did it do as well as the VG20 in our low light video tests (remember, it's got a totally different image sensor). Compared to the VG20, the CX700V has more automatic controls, better autofocus, and, most surprisingly, a fancier control wheel for adjusting exposure.

The price difference between these two models is significant, but it may not be as wide as you think. The CX700V, even though it is a 2011 model, still sells for around $1300 online. The VG20, without a lens mind you, retails for $1599. But the extra $300 bucks gives you the power to use multiple lenses with the camcorder, which is far better than any manual control or feature you get on the CX700V.

Panasonic HC-X900M Comparison

In one corner you have the Canon HF G10, the best, most "professional" consumer camcorder to come along in years, and in the other corner you have the Sony NEX-VG20: an interchangeable lens camcorder that is directly marketed to the low-end professional or prosumer audience. Both models have their advantages, but right now we think the edge may still go to the Canon. Sony still has a few kinks to work out with the VG20 before it's ready for prime time.

The Canon HF G10 seemingly has no flaws when it comes to video performance. It worked magic in low light, handled our motion and sharpness tests with ease, and it has one of the most robust sets of manual controls we've seen on a consumer model (as well as a large lens ring). One of the only things you can't do with the HF G10, however, is remove its lens.

So that's where the Sony VG20 takes its advantage. It all comes down to what you want as a videographer. Would you like a compact HD camcorder with internal memory and good auto controls and excellent capabilities in low light? Then buy the Canon HF G10. If you prefer having the flexibility of using different lenses—including some very expensive Zeiss glass options—then the Sony VG20 is your boy.

If Sony had included a few more pro features like gamma control, extensive color controls, and image adjustment options, then we'd probably side directly in the VG20's corner for this head-to-head comparison. But, as it stands, the Canon actually has more controls for the professional videographer than the Sony VG20, and that's something we did not expect.

Both camcorders aren't cheap. Canon still lists the HF G10 for $1499 on its site, but you can find it for a few hundred less if you shop around. The VG20 will set you back $2199 with its kit lens (or $1599 body only).

COMP 3

The Panasonic HC-X900M, while a very good camcorder, was something of a disappointment for us this year. Sure, Panasonic loaded it with a lot of good features and it's 1080/60p record mode produced arguably the best video image we've seen all year, but the camcorder represented no significant upgrade over its predecessor: the Panasonic HDC-TM900. Compare this to the Sony NEX-VG20, which was outfitted with a host of upgrades over the previous Sony VG10.

The saving grace for the X900M is its price. Panasonic launched the camcorder earlier this year with a $1200 price tag, but now you can find it for less than $1000 from reputable online retailers. Even Panasonic has knocked $100 off the MSRP on its own website. This makes it one of the cheapest flagship models available, so it's a good fit if you want top-notch image quality without breaking the bank.

But as far as unique features and innovative design goes, the Sony NEX-VG20 is, by far, the more interesting camcorder of the two.

Conclusion

Ever since DSLR cameras started recording video we've been waiting for a product like the Sony Handycam NEX-VG20 to come along. People obviously love the way DSLRs and system cameras capture video, and they love the ability to work with different lenses, but most cameras simply aren't designed with videography in mind. They're all still the same old rectangular boxes that require two hands to grip and have viewfinders that are essentially useless for video recording. We know there are plenty of third-party grips and tools that can morph your DSLR into more of a "camcorder", but the Sony NEX-VG20 does this right out of the box.

While we do love this design idea, the NEX-VG20 isn't all perfect. The APS-C image sensor and E-mount lens system make for some impressive video performance, particularly with motion, but we were disappointed with the VG20's performance in low light and sharpness. With such a large image sensor and expensive lens we expected the NEX-VG20 to do better than it did in our tests. This doesn't mean the VG20 was terrible, it produced mostly above-average results all around, as well as some top-notch results in other categories (like stabilization, battery life, and motion).

Exposure controls like aperture, shutter speed, and gain are all easily adjustable on the NEX-VG20. Focus is also wonderful to set manually with the large lens ring on the kit lens. But we wish the camcorder had more professional color and image controls, like the kind Sony puts on its professional models. This was an area where the VG20 was extremely lacking, and we're guessing Sony will include more on its next "interchangeable lens camcorder".

If you're a videographer who wants to use an arsenal of different lenses when you want to shoot video, then the NEX-VG20 should definitely be on your radar. It's one of the only interchangeable lens camcorders you can get for under $2000, although we expect to see more in the future. Just remember, the VG20 may seem lacking in controls if you're used to shooting with professional equipment.

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Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

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

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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