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  • Introduction

  • Front

  • Back

  • Left

  • Right

  • Top

  • Bottom

  • In the Box

  • Color

  • Low Light Color

  • Noise

  • Low Light Sensitivity

  • Low Light Noise

  • Low Light Color

  • Motion

  • Video Sharpness

  • Stabilization

  • Testing Samples

  • Ease of Use

  • Auto Mode

  • Auto Controls

  • Handling

  • Portability

  • Battery Life

  • LCD

  • Stabilization

  • Miscellaneous Controls

  • Auto Controls

  • Audio Controls

  • Editing

  • Compression

  • Media

  • Still Features

  • Lens & Imaging System

  • LCD

  • Connectivity

  • Battery

  • Media

  • Still Features

  • Other Features

  • Canon Vixia HF M40 Comparison

  • Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison

  • Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V Comparison

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Front
  • Back
  • Left
  • Right
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • In the Box
  • Color
  • Low Light Color
  • Noise
  • Low Light Sensitivity
  • Low Light Noise
  • Low Light Color
  • Motion
  • Video Sharpness
  • Stabilization
  • Testing Samples
  • Ease of Use
  • Auto Mode
  • Auto Controls
  • Handling
  • Portability
  • Battery Life
  • LCD
  • Stabilization
  • Miscellaneous Controls
  • Auto Controls
  • Audio Controls
  • Editing
  • Compression
  • Media
  • Still Features
  • Lens & Imaging System
  • LCD
  • Connectivity
  • Battery
  • Media
  • Still Features
  • Other Features
  • Canon Vixia HF M40 Comparison
  • Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison
  • Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V Comparison
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

In addition to the PJ30V, Sony has three other "projector cams" in its 2011 line. The HDR-PJ50V has the same features as the PJ30V, except it is loaded with a 220GB internal hard drive that makes it a bit larger and heavier (and $50 more expensive). The HDR-PJ10 is the cheapest of the three models (around $700), but it does not have a GPS function and lacks a number of other features found on Sony's other two projector camcorders.

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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In the Box

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The Sony Handycam HDR-PJ30V comes with the following items:

• rechargeable battery pack (NP-FV50)
• Component cable
• software CD
• AC adapter with power cord
• AV cable
• remote control
• USB extender cable
• instruction manual

Color

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Sony isn't generally considered a leader in our color accuracy tests, so the middle-of-the-road showing by the HDR-PJ30V here isn't that surprising. The camcorder managed a color error of 4.81 and a saturation level of around 90%. These numbers are in the same ballpark to what the Sony HDR-CX700V scored, but they are a bit worse than our measurments from the Canon HF M40 and Panasonic HDC-TM90. More on how we test color.

The Sony PJ30 is not the best camcorder for color enthusiasts, as it has no color modes to be found. You can't boost the saturation or pick a color preset like you can on many other mid-range HD camcorders. The only thing you can do is pick from the PJ30V's variety of scene modes, some of which alter the color tones slightly.

Luckily, the colors produced by the Sony HDR-PJ30V in auto mode generally look pleasing to the eye. Check out our sample comparisons below to get a better idea how it stacks up to the competition. Its colors aren't quite as vivid as what the Panasonic HDC-TM90 produced, but they look just as crisp and deep as the colors captured by the Canon HF M40 and Sony HDR-CX700V.

Low Light Color

Color results in low light for the Sony PJ30V were not strong. The camcorder registered a color error of 6.24 in this test—that's nearly a point and a half higher than its bright light color results—and a saturation level of 69%. This color error is worse than the other three camcorders we compared the HDC-PJ30V to, although none of these models put up top-notch numbers in this test. The only camcorder in this group with a saturation level well above 70% in this test was the Panasonic HDC-TM90 (85% saturation). The rest of the models, the PJ30V included, produced somewhat muted colors, and all had saturation levels between 69% - 70%. More on how we test low light color.

The Sony HDC-PJ30V does have a few alternate frame rates for recording Full HD video, but neither its 24p or 60p modes showed a huge amount of improvement in our low light color accuracy testing. The 1080/60p mode did enhance sharpness and motion performance a bit, and the 24p mode did increase the saturation level to around 75%, but neither did much to improve color accuracy in low light.

The low lux mode on the HDC-PJ30V did improve the brightness of the camcorder's low light image, but it also didn't do anything to improve color accuracy. Saturation was also boosted by about 5% when we shot using the low lux setting (about the same as the 24p mode did). Keep in mind, though, that the low lux option does allow the camcorder to utilize a slow shutter (1/30 of a second shutter speed), which can create jerky motion and blurred images at times. The mode doesn't always use a slow shutter, though. It only does so if the light levels are seriously dim. In our 60 lux test, for example, the low lux mode simply boosted brightness without using a slower shutter (we assume by increasing the ISO levels or something to that effect).

Noise

The HDR-PJ30V averaged 0.7% noise in our bright light test, which is in the same range as the noise levels we measured on the three comparison models in this review. This isn't a stellar noise performance for Sony, but anything under 0.75% noise is usually considered good in this test. More on how we test noise.

The noise crop shown above do a good job showing off sharpness levels of the PJ30. You'll notice that the HDR-PJ30V didn't produce the sharpest image in this set, but its video was still quite crisp for a mid-range HD model. The Canon and Panasonic camcorders showed a bit more fine details in the vertical trumpet, while the higher-end Sony HDR-CX700V produced an image that looks marginally sharper than the PJ30V.

Low Light Sensitivity

We were disappointed by the HDR-PJ30V's results in our low light sensitivity test, but the camcorder did put up stronger numbers than its higher-end cousin, the Sony HDR-CX700V. In auto mode and using zoom, the PJ30V required 28 lux of light to illuminate our test chart so that it registered 50 IRE on our waveform monitor (the standard minimum illumination for a video broadcast). When we pulled the zoom back so the PJ30V could use its widest aperture, the camcorder needed just 11 lux to illuminate the chart adequately. Recording using zoom but using the PJ30V's 24p frame rate gave the camcorder a slight boost in this test as well: the camcorder needed 23 lux of light to hit 50 IRE using its 24p record mode. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

None of these numbers are fantastic, particularly when compared to the excellent Canon HF M40, which is one of the strongest low light camcorders we've seen this year. The Panasonic HDC-TM90 also did better on this test, although its numbers weren't stellar like the Canon HF M40 (which needed just 5 lux—a very low amount of light—to illuminate the chart accordingly).

Low Light Noise

The HDR-PJ30V had 1.6% noise in our low light test, which is a significant increase over its 0.7% noise it showed in our bright light test. Still, this low light noise level isn't all that bad—despite the fact that it is more noise than we measured on the competition. In the comparison images below, it is difficult to see much noise on the PJ30V's image, although you can see a slight amount. For noise to truly be distracting, there needs to be around 2% or 3% present in this test. Of course, if you try to shoot video at lower light levels than our test (which is at 60 lux), you will likely start to see more noise in the image. More on how we test low light noise.

As we saw with our low light color test, we didn't see any improvement with the noise levels when we shot using the 24p record mode on the PJ30V. The low lux setting did lower noise levels a bit, however, as it enabled the camcorder to register 1.3% noise. Still not a fantastic result, but it is slightly better than the HDC-PJ30V's auto mode.

Low Light Color

Color results in low light for the Sony PJ30V were not strong. The camcorder registered a color error of 6.24 in this test—that's nearly a point and a half higher than its bright light color results—and a saturation level of 69%. This color error is worse than the other three camcorders we compared the HDC-PJ30V to, although none of these models put up top-notch numbers in this test. The only camcorder in this group with a saturation level well above 70% in this test was the Panasonic HDC-TM90 (85% saturation). The rest of the models, the PJ30V included, produced somewhat muted colors, and all had saturation levels between 69% - 70%. More on how we test low light color.

The Sony HDC-PJ30V does have a few alternate frame rates for recording Full HD video, but neither its 24p or 60p modes showed a huge amount of improvement in our low light color accuracy testing. The 1080/60p mode did enhance sharpness and motion performance a bit, and the 24p mode did increase the saturation level to around 75%, but neither did much to improve color accuracy in low light.

The low lux mode on the HDC-PJ30V did improve the brightness of the camcorder's low light image, but it also didn't do anything to improve color accuracy. Saturation was also boosted by about 5% when we shot using the low lux setting (about the same as the 24p mode did). Keep in mind, though, that the low lux option does allow the camcorder to utilize a slow shutter (1/30 of a second shutter speed), which can create jerky motion and blurred images at times. The mode doesn't always use a slow shutter, though. It only does so if the light levels are seriously dim. In our 60 lux test, for example, the low lux mode simply boosted brightness without using a slower shutter (we assume by increasing the ISO levels or something to that effect).

Motion

In the past, Sony was known for producing solid results in our motion test, but we were consistently disappointed by the company's lack of including multiple frame rate options on its models. This year, Sony changed all that by offering 24p and 60p record modes (in addition to 60i) on a number of its mid-range and high-end camcorders—the PJ30V included. We liked the way the HDR-PJ30V recorded motion in all three of its frame rates, but we must admit the 1080/60p mode looked the best. Artifacting was minimal, the video was smooth, and only a minor amount of blur and trailing was present. The 24p setting looked choppier, but it wasn't too bad, and it is a welcomed option for videographers looking to capture a film-like aesthetic. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

Sharpness results for the Sony HDR-PJ30V were good, but they were not in the upper echelon of sharpness scores like the numbers we saw from the Canon HF M40 and Panasonic HDC-TM90. In our testing, the HDR-PJ30V managed a horizontal sharpness and vertical sharpness of 700 lw/ph. Both of these results were obtained when shooting with the camcorder's highest-quality setting, which happens to be the 1080/60p record mode. This mode uses the highest bitrate (28Mbps) to record video, so it makes sense that it would produce the sharpest results.

Shooting with the 60i setting, the PJ30V produced sharpness numbers of 650 lw/ph horizontal and 575 lw/ph vertical. These numbers aren't very strong, so if you want the sharpest performance from your camcorder, you should use the 60p record mode. Of course, 60p videos are very large due to their high bitrate, and they don't work very well (or at all) with a number of editing systems (Sony's provided software will allow you to import them to a computer, though). More on how we test video sharpness.

Stabilization

The Sony PJ30V is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS), and the camcorder did an excellent job in our stabilization test. Running the camcorder through our low shake test, which is meant to mimic the movement of a shaky hand, the PJ30V's standard OIS setting reduced 77% of the shake. In our high shake test, which puts the camcorder through a far more rigorous motion, the regular OIS reduced 79% of the shake. Both of these are excellent numbers that place the PJ30V in the upper echelon of OIS camcorders, and it also represents a much better performance than what we got from the Sony HDR-CX700V (the Panasonic TM90 also did a very good job in this test). More on how we test stabilization.

Using the active stabilization mode on the HDR-PJ30V actually resulted in worse stabilization performance for the camcorder. The numbers weren't all that different—71% reduction in low shake, 73% reduction in high shake—but they were a bit lower than the standard OIS on the camcorder. Active mode also appears to use a combination of digital and optical stabilization systems, and when the mode is turned on the camcorder automatically gets a 5x bump in zoom (Sony calls this "enhanced zoom" because it isn't optical, but it shouldn't result in image degradation). We recommend sticking with the standard OIS, as it did a perfectly fine job in our testing.

Testing Samples

Ease of Use

Sony has long been known for creating powerful, yet easy-to-use camcorders, and the HDR-PJ30V tries to fit this bill. It isn't as simple as a point-and-shoot pocket camcorder like Sony's Bloggie series, but it has a simple user interface and a gradual learning curve for its more advanced features.

We do have a significant gripe, however, with Sony's placement of the dedicated auto mode (iAuto) button on the camcorder. The iAuto mode should be front and center on the PJ30V, but instead it is relegated to a tiny icon in the corner of the LCD. This is not good planning. We miss the days when Sony had a large button labeled "Easy" on its camcorders. You knew what that meant right away. We'd settle for a larger button that says "iAuto" on the PJ30V, but that button should at least be physically on the camcorder—not a semi-hidden touch-button in the corner of the LCD.

Other than this misstep, Sony did most of the right things in making the PJ30V easy to use. Its menu has information boxes that assist you when selecting various features, its touchscreen interface is easy to understand, and the button layout on the camcorder is sparse and uncomplicated. The addition of the built-in USB cable also simplifies things in terms of connectivity. Using the more unique features on the PJ30V, like the built-in projector or the slow motion modes, can be more of a challenge. The projector system is particularly confusing to operate, but we'll give Sony a pass on that for now. It is the first time this feature has been implemented, after all, and we like the projector feature enough to gloss over its confusing and awkward controls.

The first menu screen organizes the camcorder's various functions with icons.

The main menu screen has a traditional option-list setup.

Auto Mode

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Sony clearly developed the HDR-PJ30V with the use of automatic controls in mind. The camcorder offers little in the way of manual adjustment options, but the menu is sprinkled with different automatic modes and settings. The simplest of these auto modes is called iAuto (or Intelligent Auto). In this mode, the PJ30V functions with all controls set to automatic. You can still access the menu system, but if you change anything a message will pop up saying "turn off Intelligent Auto". All of this is hunky-dory to us, as we don't really like it when menus are blocked out of certain modes.

What bothers us, though, is that the iAuto button is rather hard to find on the PJ30V. It sits in the lower right corner of the LCD, and it actually disappears whenever the screen has been idle for a few seconds. You must tap the screen to get the iAuto button to reappear. This is very strange. Auto modes like this should be one of the easiest things to spot on your camcorder, otherwise you risk the chance of a beginner not being able to find them.

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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Even with iAuto turned off, you can still use the PJ30V with basic auto controls. Intelligent Auto simply makes sure everything is set to auto, and it also picks scene modes to use automatically while you are shooting. In regular mode, you can go into the menu system and set features to auto that you'd like to control automatically, or you can turn some things to manual if you want to change the auto control.

Of the basic auto controls, the PJ30V handled focus the best. The camcorder was quick to switch between macro and regular focus, and it would even focus on items held directly against the front of the lens. The only negative of the camcorder's autofocus was that it occasionally worked too quickly, as some users prefer a slower, smoother focus effect. Auto exposure adjustment was also quick, but looked rather smooth in our experiments with the PJ30V. At times, the camcorder did not do well with auto white balance, but we found the PJ30V would correct the color temperature automatically if you gave it a while to do so (10 - 20 seconds or so).

Handling

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As we said above, the PJ30V has plenty of good design traits. Its body feels durable, its touchscreen is responsive, and the camcorder is lighter than average for a mid-range model. What we don't like is the flimsy hand strap that Sony slapped onto the PJ30V. The strap is both thinner and less comfortable than what Sony offered in the past, and this cutback may take a toll on the back of your hand. The inside of the strap is very rigid due to the presence of a hard casing for tip of the built-in USB cable to snap into. While we do like the presence of this built-in cable, we wish Sony didn't have to make the hand strap so much worse in order to accommodate it.

The 3-inch touchscreen LCD on the PJ30V is adequate for general use, but we don't like the fact that the screen has a miserly 230,000-pixel resolution. This stands in stark contrast to the screen on the Sony HDR-CX700V, which contains over 900,000 pixels. We also noticed the camcorder had some performance delays after starting up and after recording has ceased. The menu button and other features can't be used until you wait a second or two after you've stopped recording. This is a minor issue, though, and many users will never even notice it. The menu system also worked rather sluggishly when we tried to change settings during recording. We see this problem a lot on camcorders, though, and it probably isn't as much of an issue with the PJ30V for the simple reason that it doesn't have many controls to adjust in the first place.

When it comes down to it, the controls on the PJ30V are more gimmicky than useful, but they are the type of features that should appeal to more casual users. There's no traditional manual control over aperture, shutter speed, or ISO, but the spot focus and exposure options are extremely easy (and kind of fun) to use. They certainly aren't as useful, especially if you want to maximize the amount of control you have over the recorded image, but they are simple and make good use of the touchscreen LCD. It makes sense that many manufacturers have copied this kind of touch-adjustment system.

The PJ30V appears to have a limited autofocus/exposure tracking feature, but we found the camcorder lost track of subjects who moved around a lot. The touch-focus and touch-exposure system works far better, so we recommend sticking with those features instead.

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

Portability

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Fully loaded with its provided battery pack, the HDR-PJ30V weighs 394g (13.9 oz.) and has dimensions of 58.5mm x 64.5mm x 128mm. This makes it roughly 100g lighter than the HDR-CX700V, 41g lighter than the Panasonic HDC-TM90, and 16g lighter than the Canon HF M41. This is all very surprising when you consider the PJ30V has a projector built into its LCD panel, which, by the way, does wonders in improving the overall portability of the model.

Just think, you don't have to worry about having access to an HDTV (or bringing any cables!) when your on vacation if you want to recap your video recordings at night. Just set up the projector on the PJ30V and you can have a large-screen viewing of your videos in seconds! This may sound cheesy to some users, but it is probably the best innovation in terms of portability that we've seen on a camcorder in years. Its something that makes sense and can be useful for a lot of people—and it doesn't have much of a drawback either (other than jacking up the price of the camcorder).

Battery Life

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Rarely do we see a consumer camcorder that can last much longer than 2 hours of continuous recording with its provided battery, but the Sony HDR-PJ30V did just that. It went for 154 minutes in our test, which is a good 30 minutes longer than the Canon HF M40 lasted. The Sony HDR-CX700V also did a good job in this test, but it too was surpassed by the PJ30V. This test was conducted by letting the camcorder sit and record continuously with the highest quality setting (with a 60i frame rate). Actual use, with zoom, adjusting settings, and turning the camcorder on and off, will likely result in a diminished battery life—but that doesn't mean these results aren't extremely positive for Sony. More on how we test battery life.

Sony sells two additional batteries that work with the PJ30V, both of which are larger and should get you even longer battery life. The camcorder has a simple, open-ended battery compartment that allows bulkier batteries to fit right in just like the provided battery does. If you're planning a long shoot away from any power outlets or recharge stations, buying (and charging) an extra battery is probably a smart idea.

LCD

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From a visual display perspective, the LCD on the PJ30V isn't that impressive. It has a 3-inch screen, uses touchscreen technology, and offers a meager 230,000-pixel resolution. The screen isn't any smaller than the one featured on the Sony HDR-CX700V, but it does have a much lower resolution (the CX700V's screen has 921,000 pixels). The PJ30V also has no viewfinder, which is something you do find on the higher-end CX700V.

On the back of the LCD panel, however, is where you'll find the PJ30V's built-in projector, which is a feature unique to Sony's line of projector-cams (the PJ10 and PJ50V are the other models in this series). If you have a good setup to project onto, you're unlikely to ever find yourself using the actual LCD to watch your videos on the PJ30V again. Why would you look at a tiny screen when you can see a much larger picture instead? Of course, you'll still have to use the LCD during video recording.

Stabilization

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The Sony PJ30V is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS), and the camcorder did an excellent job in our stabilization test. Running the camcorder through our low shake test, which is meant to mimic the movement of a shaky hand, the PJ30V's standard OIS setting reduced 77% of the shake. In our high shake test, which puts the camcorder through a far more rigorous motion, the regular OIS reduced 79% of the shake. Both of these are excellent numbers that place the PJ30V in the upper echelon of OIS camcorders, and it also represents a much better performance than what we got from the Sony HDR-CX700V (the Panasonic TM90 also did a very good job in this test). More on how we test stabilization.

Using the active stabilization mode on the HDR-PJ30V actually resulted in worse stabilization performance for the camcorder. The numbers weren't all that different—71% reduction in low shake, 73% reduction in high shake—but they were a bit lower than the standard OIS on the camcorder. Active mode also appears to use a combination of digital and optical stabilization systems, and when the mode is turned on the camcorder automatically gets a 5x bump in zoom (Sony calls this "enhanced zoom" because it isn't optical, but it shouldn't result in image degradation). We recommend sticking with the standard OIS, as it did a perfectly fine job in our testing.

Miscellaneous Controls

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Tele Macro

Allows you to focus clearly on close-up subjects when using a full optical zoom. When the feature is turned on, the PJ30V automatically sets the zoom to its full optical setting and changing the zoom will turn off the Tele Macro function.

Conversion Lens

A feature that is only meant to be used when a conversion lens is attached to the camcorder (e.g. wide angle converter, tele conversion lens). This setting will optimize the autofocus and stabilization settings to work with the attached conversion lens.

Guide Frame

With guide frames turned on, lines will 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.

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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Even with iAuto turned off, you can still use the PJ30V with basic auto controls. Intelligent Auto simply makes sure everything is set to auto, and it also picks scene modes to use automatically while you are shooting. In regular mode, you can go into the menu system and set features to auto that you'd like to control automatically, or you can turn some things to manual if you want to change the auto control.

Of the basic auto controls, the PJ30V handled focus the best. The camcorder was quick to switch between macro and regular focus, and it would even focus on items held directly against the front of the lens. The only negative of the camcorder's autofocus was that it occasionally worked too quickly, as some users prefer a slower, smoother focus effect. Auto exposure adjustment was also quick, but looked rather smooth in our experiments with the PJ30V. At times, the camcorder did not do well with auto white balance, but we found the PJ30V would correct the color temperature automatically if you gave it a while to do so (10 - 20 seconds or so).

Audio Controls

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There are a number of audio features on the PJ30V, but the camcorder does not have a full-fledged manual audio level adjustment option. You can change the mic level to normal or low, switch the audio record mode between 5.1-channel stereo and 2-channel stereo, turn on a wind noise reduction filter, or use a zoom mic feature. You can also see an audio level display on the LCD when the camcorder is recording or in standby mode, and we like the front-mounted position of the built-in, 5.1-channel surround sound microphone.

If you want truly crisp audio, you can hook up an external mic to the PJ30V's mic jack and use headphones to monitor your audio recording via the headphone jack. Of course, being a projector-cam, the PJ30V also has a set of stereo speakers on the LCD panel that produce louder audio than your average camcorder speakers during playback.

Editing

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The PJ30V comes with the same version of Picture Motion Browser (PMB) software that shipped with the Sony HDR-CX700V, which we reviewed earlier this year. The new version of the software is nearly identical to previous versions of PMB, except version 5.5 does allow you to import and work with 60p and 24p clips (something that is essential for the HDR-PJ30V). One big downside we noticed in terms of editing, is that the 60p clips recorded by the PJ30V don't always play nice with older editing software. Final Cut Express version 4.0, for example, crashed whenever we even connected the HDR-PJ30V to our computer if the camcorder had 60p clips on its internal memory. Older versions of iMovie did the same thing. So, if you want to get those 60p clips onto your computer, you best be prepared to use Sony's PMB software instead. 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.

Just like the HDR-CX700V, the Sony HDR-PJ30V is a tease when it comes to in-camera editing. There is an entire editing section in the menu system, but it only lists four options: delete, protect, copy, and direct copy. Being able to copy clips from the internal memory to a memory card (or vice versa) is definitely beneficial, but we wouldn't go so far as to call them "editing features".

Compression

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The Sony PJ30V has more compression options than your average camcorder. Most of its video is recorded using AVCHD compression, which is today's industry standard. AVCHD does not support 1080/60p recording, however, so when you shoot in that mode the PJ30V uses an original format based on the MPEG-4 codec. The camcorder also has a standard definition record mode, which uses MPEG-2 compression.

When shooting regular HD with a 60i frame rate, the PJ30V has a variety of quality options. The camcorder tops out with a 24Mbps bitrate for recording 1080/60i video, which is the highest bitrate allowed with AVCHD recording. The 1080/60p mode, however, uses a higher bitrate of 28Mbps, as it is not limited by the AVCHD standards. The chart below gives the basic details for all of the PJ30V's compression and record mode options. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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Today's camcorders no longer record to video tape, as was the norm just a few years ago. Instead, they record to nonlinear media, which usually comes in one of three forms: internal flash memory, memory cards (also flash memory, but removable), and internal hard drives. The Sony HDR-PJ30V has 32GB of internal flash memory built into the camcorder, and it can record to removable memory cards. The camcorder's card slot is compatible with all types of SD memory cards—regular SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards—as well as Sony's Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Having all this kind of compatibility makes the HDR-PJ30V one of the more versatile camcorders on the block (in terms of media, at least). It was only last year that Sony decided to the bold step of allowing its camcorders to use SD memory cards, and it is a decision we have applauded ever since.

Sony offers two other "projector-cam" models with different amounts of internal memory than the PJ30V: the PJ10 has 16GB of internal flash, while the PJ50V has bulky, 220GB internal hard drive strapped to its side. Both camcorders also have the same memory card slot as the PJ30V that works with a variety of card types. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The Sony PJ30V has a dedicated still image mode that lets you take photos at four different resolutions: 7.1 megapixels, 5.3 megapixels, 1.9 megapixels, or 0.3 megapixels (VGA). These various size options are only available in the still image mode, but you can take photos in video mode as well—at the 5.3-megapixel resolution only. You cannot take photos during video recording if you have the camcorder set to record 60p, 24p, or the highest quality option for 60i recording.

When looking at these various photo resolution options, keep in mind that the camcorder has a gross pixel count of just 4.2 megapixels, which means the two highest resolution options are interpolated (the image is as large as Sony claims, but doesn't have the amount of pixels Sony says it does).

The HDR-PJ30V also has a built-in flash on the front of the camcorder that can be used in conjunction with taking photos. Interestingly, the flash doubles as a video light in video mode (and it is one of the best video lights we've seen on a consumer camcorder). The flash menu options include red-eye reduction, and flash intensity options of high, normal, or low. Lastly, the PJ30V features Sony's smile shutter technology, which enables the camcorder to automatically snap photos whenever a subject smiles within the frame (even during video recording, if you want). You must have face detection turned on for this to work, however, and don't expect it to function perfectly all the time.

Lens & Imaging System

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The lens on the HDR-PJ30V has a 12x optical zoom, an automatic lens cover that retracts and closes when the camcorder is powered on and off, and it records with an angle of view of 63 degrees. This lens isn't quite as wide as the 71-degree view of the Sony HDR-CX700V, but that was one of the widest lenses we've seen from a consumer camcorder. The sensor on the PJ30V is of the 1/4-inch CMOS variety, which is the standard for a mid-range HD camcorder. Higher-end models, like the CX700V, tend to have larger sensors, while the Canon HF M40 and Panasonic HDC-TM90 both have 1/4-inch chips like the PJ30V.

LCD

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From a visual display perspective, the LCD on the PJ30V isn't that impressive. It has a 3-inch screen, uses touchscreen technology, and offers a meager 230,000-pixel resolution. The screen isn't any smaller than the one featured on the Sony HDR-CX700V, but it does have a much lower resolution (the CX700V's screen has 921,000 pixels). The PJ30V also has no viewfinder, which is something you do find on the higher-end CX700V.

On the back of the LCD panel, however, is where you'll find the PJ30V's built-in projector, which is a feature unique to Sony's line of projector-cams (the PJ10 and PJ50V are the other models in this series). If you have a good setup to project onto, you're unlikely to ever find yourself using the actual LCD to watch your videos on the PJ30V again. Why would you look at a tiny screen when you can see a much larger picture instead? Of course, you'll still have to use the LCD during video recording.

Connectivity

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For a fairly compact mid-range camcorder, the Sony HDR-PJ30V is loaded with a bunch of ports, jacks, and connectivity features. Lets start with the most basic features, which are found on the right side of the camcorder. A little door slides open to reveal the DC-input and multi-AV port, which works with Sony's included Component and Composite video cables. The multi-AV port also works with other Sony accessories—wired remotes, for example—that can be found on Sony's website.

Tucking into the PJ30V's hand strap is a small USB arm that is tethered to the camcorder by 1.5-inch cable. This built-in cable is very convenient, as it means you can always connect the PJ30V to a computer (even if you forget to pack a USB cable). The downside, though, is that the cable is really short. Sony's solution: the camcorder ships with a USB extender cable that makes it easier to connect to a computer or device. Another perk is that you can charge the HDR-PJ30V with this USB cable, which means you don't have to pack that bulky power adapter if you need to save some space. Just make sure you have access to a powered USB port you can plug into!

Opening the PJ30V's LCD panel, you should see a large flap that covers a collection of additional ports on the camcorder. Here you'll find a headphone jack, mic jack, HDMI terminal, and extra USB port. This additional USB port may seem a bit excessive considering the camcorder already has a built-in USB cable, but we like this additional port. Its small, so it doesn't take up too much space, and it does enhance the versatility of the camcorder.

On the top of the HDR-PJ30V you'll find a hot accessory shoe that is designed to fit (and power) Sony-proprietary accessories. A small panel protects the shoe, and it stays propped up by a hinge when you open it. The bottom of the camcorder also has a noteworthy connectivity feature—that's where the memory card slot is located. Additionally, the HDR-PJ30V is outfitted with GPS connectivity, although we had trouble getting the camcorder to detect and maintain a signal. GPS can be turned on and off in the camcorder's menu system, and you can read more about the setting in the Other Features section of this review.

Battery

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Sony sells two additional batteries that work with the PJ30V, both of which are larger and should get you even longer battery life. The camcorder has a simple, open-ended battery compartment that allows bulkier batteries to fit right in just like the provided battery does. If you're planning a long shoot away from any power outlets or recharge stations, buying (and charging) an extra battery is probably a smart idea. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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Today's camcorders no longer record to video tape, as was the norm just a few years ago. Instead, they record to nonlinear media, which usually comes in one of three forms: internal flash memory, memory cards (also flash memory, but removable), and internal hard drives. The Sony HDR-PJ30V has 32GB of internal flash memory built into the camcorder, and it can record to removable memory cards. The camcorder's card slot is compatible with all types of SD memory cards—regular SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards—as well as Sony's Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Having all this kind of compatibility makes the HDR-PJ30V one of the more versatile camcorders on the block (in terms of media, at least). It was only last year that Sony decided to the bold step of allowing its camcorders to use SD memory cards, and it is a decision we have applauded ever since.

Sony offers two other "projector-cam" models with different amounts of internal memory than the PJ30V: the PJ10 has 16GB of internal flash, while the PJ50V has bulky, 220GB internal hard drive strapped to its side. Both camcorders also have the same memory card slot as the PJ30V that works with a variety of card types. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The Sony PJ30V has a dedicated still image mode that lets you take photos at four different resolutions: 7.1 megapixels, 5.3 megapixels, 1.9 megapixels, or 0.3 megapixels (VGA). These various size options are only available in the still image mode, but you can take photos in video mode as well—at the 5.3-megapixel resolution only. You cannot take photos during video recording if you have the camcorder set to record 60p, 24p, or the highest quality option for 60i recording.

When looking at these various photo resolution options, keep in mind that the camcorder has a gross pixel count of just 4.2 megapixels, which means the two highest resolution options are interpolated (the image is as large as Sony claims, but doesn't have the amount of pixels Sony says it does).

The HDR-PJ30V also has a built-in flash on the front of the camcorder that can be used in conjunction with taking photos. Interestingly, the flash doubles as a video light in video mode (and it is one of the best video lights we've seen on a consumer camcorder). The flash menu options include red-eye reduction, and flash intensity options of high, normal, or low. Lastly, the PJ30V features Sony's smile shutter technology, which enables the camcorder to automatically snap photos whenever a subject smiles within the frame (even during video recording, if you want). You must have face detection turned on for this to work, however, and don't expect it to function perfectly all the time.

Other Features

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Built-in Projector

Yes, the HDR-PJ30V comes with a built-in video projector! It's a cool feature, for sure, but we weren't surprised to find an abundance of problems with the concept as well. For starters, the projector interface is terribly difficult to use—unless you are using Sony's provided remote control. The touchscreen doesn't work when the camcorder is projecting video, so the only way to navigate your clips (without the remote) is by using the zoom toggle to cycle through buttons on the screen and the photo shutter button to select things. It is awkward, annoying, and an ultimately challenging system to comprehend. Using the remote does make things a bit simpler, but we still wouldn't call it a good navigation system.

Despite its limitations, we had fun using the projector to watch video at a short range. Projecting your clips on a white background from about 5 feet away will result in video that looks rather good. It won't be nearly as sharp as watching it on an HDTV, but it will do for a simple recap. Looking at our sharpness tests, we found the video lost between 150 - 200 lw/ph when using the PJ30V's projector instead of watching on an HDTV. This makes sense, as the projector outputs at a resolution of just 640 x 360 (instead of 1920 x 1080 like an HDMI signal will give you).

We had our colleagues over at VideoProjectorInfo.com take a look at the PJ30V's projector to let us know what they thought about its quality. They weren't impressed with the projector's brightness—it measured an awful 7 lux when projected from 12 feet away—but they conceded that Sony's recommendation of a projection distance of 2 - 10 feet produced much better results. Ideally, you want to use the PJ30V's projector from about 5 feet away. This resulted in nearly triple the brightness of the image, although the picture was much smaller. At 2 feet away from a screen, the image projected by the PJ30V will cover a screen area slightly under one foot. At 10 feet away, this coverage increases to 5 feet. Neither of these sizes are very impressive, as most dedicated projects will give you a much larger image to work with (and you won't have to be so far away from the screen).

The built-in projector has no controls over keystone, zoom, image position, or color correction. All you can do is use the small focus slider on the top of the LCD to make your projections look crisp. The slider worked fine for the most part, and we did find you could tilt the LCD in order to position the image better. We just wish you could lock the LCD in place at various angles, as the panel kept shifting unless we kept it at a 90-degree pivot from the camcorder.

Video Light

The built-in video light on the HDR-PJ30V is one of the best lights we've seen on a consumer camcorder. Its range isn't great—it will only illuminate adequately a few feet in front of the lens—but the light does fill the entire frame of the camera (it isn't like some directional lights that only illuminate a certain point within the frame). The light also has two settings: normal and bright. The bright setting doesn't give a huge increase in light, but it's enough to sharpen up some text or the outline of a subject you're trying to illuminate in the darkness.

GPS

The PJ30V 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. Many Sony camcorders and cameras offer this feature, and you can usually denote which models have it by looking for the "V" at the end of the model name. The thing is, we haven't had good luck in getting any of the GPS-enabled camcorders from Sony to establish a solid GPS signal (the same goes with GPS camcorders from other manufacturers as well). We had to walk around outside for a long time before the PJ30V obtained a GPS signal, so don't expect this feature to work smoothly everywhere (even in major cities).

Fader

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

Smooth Slow Record

This is a basic slow motion record mode that captures 3 seconds of footage and turns it into 12 seconds of slow motion video (by recording with a 240fps frame rate). The video quality is not very good, so we recommend using this function sparingly, but it can create some cool effects. You also have to deal with the 3-second recording limitation, which can be a drag. In order to capture unexpected action sequences, you can set Smooth Slow Record to capture the three seconds of footage before or after you hit the record button.

Golf Shot

A record mode specifically designed to capture and analyze your golf swing. Turning on Golf Shot, you'll notice the screen is cropped on the left and right with a small white box in the middle of the frame. That's where you're supposed to position the golfer who is about to take a swing. A little message tells you to press the start/stop record button "right after impact", which we assume is a reference to the golf club hitting the golf ball. Obviously, this feature works best with the camcorder perfectly still on a tripod.

After recording the swing, the camcorder takes the footage and divides it into various still images. You can see a frame-by-frame analysis of the swing this way. Perhaps there are other actions that this mode could be useful in capturing, but the limitation on image size may make this difficult. We're hoping to see a baseball swing analysis mode on Sony cams in 2012!

Canon Vixia HF M40 Comparison

This year, Sony made great strides with its mid-range and high-end camcorders by incorporating alternate frame rate options (60p and 24p) on a number of its models. Canon also includes alternate frame rates on the HF M40, but the model lacks a 60p record mode (it has 24p and 30p in addition to 60i). For this reason, the Sony PJ30V may be the better camcorder for those looking to record cinema-like video or intense action sequences that would look great at 60p.

The problem, however, is that the PJ30V has little in the way of manual controls. Canon really takes the cake in this area, as the HF M40—while not loaded with controls—includes manual control over aperture, shutter speed, and gain, as well as a host of color and image controls with Canon's new cinema mode. Neither of these two models has a great control adjustment system, as both require the use of an LCD touchscreen (there are no lens rings or adjustment dials).

In terms of performance, the Canon HF M40 also had a significant edge. Most of its advantages came in our low light testing, where the Canon HF M40 stood out as one of the best mid-range models we've ever seen. In bright light, however, the Sony and Canon weren't far apart at all. The PJ30V does have more still image controls and features, but we doubt that matters much. Most camcorder owners already have a dedicated still image camera that they use to take photos anyway.

For better all-around performance, we have to recommend the Canon HF M40 here. But the Sony PJ30V has its perks, including the built-in projector, simple user interface, and 32GB of internal memory. The only problem is the built-in projector on the PJ30V does jack up its price. The MSRP for the Canon HF M40 is just under $700, while the Sony HDR-PJ30V retails for $950.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison

Like the Canon HF M40, the Panasonic HDC-TM90 is one of the best mid-range camcorders we've seen. Both models outscore the Sony HDR-PJ30V in our rankings, but the Panasonic and Canon mainly do better because of the presence of manual control options that are absent on the Sony.

In terms of performance, the Panasonic HDC-TM90 is like a jack of all trades. It succeeded in all of our testing, although the Canon HF M40 had better numbers in low light. Like the Sony PJ30V, the TM90 has a 1080/60p record mode and it produced impeccable results in our motion and sharpness testing. Also like the PJ30V, the 60p clips recorded by the TM90 aren't compatible with most editing programs. So, it isn't a good mode to use if you want to do a lot of editing (unless you are up for a challenge).

The HDC-TM90 has more manual controls than both the Canon HF M40 and the Sony HDR-PJ30V, but the interface for adjusting these controls isn't grand. Its touchscreen system is the worst of the three camcorders, although you could definitely find problems with all three (touchscreens always seem to be finicky like this). What the TM90 is missing is a simple interface and set of features geared to the beginner. Yes, it has a dedicated auto mode and AF/AE tracking, but the design of its buttons isn't very good and it has no unique feature like the built-in projector that you get on the Sony HDR-PJ30V. Well, actually that's not quite true. The TM90 is capable of recording 3D videos, but you must purchase an expensive conversion lens before you can make this happen.

The best recommendation we can give for the TM90 is the camcorder's list price of $599. Currently, the camcorder is available for even less than this price and it seems like Panasonic may even lower this price on its website. A camcorder like this for under $600 bucks is quite a steal, and we've been rather impressed by the prices on all Panasonic camcorders of late (the top-line TM900 is priced very reasonably as well). If you're looking for an excellent HD camcorder on a budget, the HDC-TM90 is the way to go.

Sony Handycam HDR-CX700V Comparison

The HDR-CX700V is the bigger, bolder, and more-expensive cousin model to the HDR-PJ30V. For just $300 more than the PJ30V, you get a camcorder with a whole lot more manual controls, three times as much internal memory (96GB), and a fancy adjustment dial that is used to make fine alterations to your video recordings. You do, however, lose the built-in projector, which is a feature reserved only for the Sony HDR-PJ30V, PJ50V, and PJ10 camcorders.

The HDR-CX700V also has a larger image sensor than the PJ30V, which is why it had a slight edge in our performance testing. Its advantage in performance was not as dramatic as we expected, though, so unless you're a stickler for high-quality performance, you'd probably be perfectly fine with the video quality from the HDR-PJ30V.

The HDR-CX700V is the better camcorder for someone who is looking for a prosumer-level model. If you want more control over your video image, and a slight edge in performance, it is the better choice over the PJ30V. The thing is, the Canon HF G10 and the Panasonic HDC-TM900—two prosumer-level camcorders in their own right—are both better models than the Sony HDR-CX700V. This leaves Sony currently in third place behind Panasonic and Canon in both our mid-range and high-end camcorder rankings for 2011.

Conclusion

The Sony Handycam HDR-PJ30V is a middling camcorder, and, while its built-in projector is a cool feature, we're not sure if it warrants the $950 price tag that comes with the model. The camcorder did well in most of our tests, and it really stood out in stabilization and motion, but its overall numbers weren't able to match what we saw from the competition. Mid-range camcorders from Canon (Vixia HF M40) and Panasonic (HDC-TM90) both did better in our tests—particularly in low light—and are available at much lower costs than the PJ30V. In fact, the PJ30V is closer in price to Panasonic's high-end model, the HDC-TM900. And if you can get a camcorder of that quality for the same price, then that puts the HDR-PJ30V in a dangerous limbo.

But there is the built-in projector. That feature, along with the ability to record Full HD video with 60p and 24p frame rates, make the HDR-PJ30V stand out from the crowd at least a little. The Panasonic HDC-TM90 can record 60p, and the Canon HF M40 can record 24p, but the Sony HDR-PJ30V is the only mid-range model of the bunch that can do both. So, if you are a lover of multiple frame rates, there is some incentive to go with the PJ30V.

While Sony did load the PJ30V with numerous frame rates, it neglected to include a variety of manual controls on the camcorder. There is no option for manual aperture or shutter speed adjustment, and most of the controls found on the camcorder are enhanced auto features. This stands in contrast to the Canon and Panasonic models, both of which give you some kind of control over shutter and aperture.

In the end, we were more impressed with the quality and performance of the Canon HF M40 and Panasonic HDC-TM90 over the Sony HDR-PJ30V. Unless you're in love with the idea of having a projector built into your camcorder, or you're looking for a mid-range model with the most frame rate options, the Sony HDR-PJ30V is not your best choice. It doesn't have a good set of manual controls, and it lacks the top-notch low light performance that we've seen from other mid-range models this year.

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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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