Sony Flash Memory Camcorders: CX500V and CX520V

Sony has just announced two all-new flash-memory camcorders, the CX500V and CX520V. Both include large, internal flash memory drives capable of holding large amounts of video.

Sony Flash Memory Camcorders

Available September 2009

Sony CX500V

MSRP: $1,100

Sony CX520V

MSRP: $1,300

The Sony CX500V and CX520V digital camcorders are high-end models aimed at serious consumers interested in high-quality video and some fun bonus perks. Both camcorders recording high-definition video at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution (1080p) to either internal flash memory or removable Sony MemoryStick memory cards. The camcorders also contain 12-megapixel still photo sensors, making them formidable devices whether you're shooting motion pictures or still photographs. They record high-definition video using the increasingly popular AVCHD format, which allows for small, high-quality files that do not consume excessive amounts of disk space.

The two camcorders are essentially identical, save for the storage capacity present. The CX500V contains 32GB of internal flash memory, while the CX520V contains 64GB. This difference accounts for their respective manufacturer's suggested retail prices. The CX500V has an MSRP of $1,100, and the CX520V has an MSRP of $1,300. Both will be available in September of 2009.

The Competition

The $1,000+ price tags on the CX520V and CX500V put them in league with camcorders like the Canon Vixia HFS10, Panasonic HS300, and Panasonic TM300. The Canon HFS10 closely aligns with the CX520 in specifications. Both utilize 32GB flash memory drives and can write to memory cards, though the HFS10 uses the much more versatile Secure Digital High Capacity format as opposed to Sony's proprietary MemoryStick, which works only in Sony devices. The Panasonic TM300 also has 32GB of memory, though it uses a hard disk drive instead of flash memory. Hard disk drives have moving parts and are susceptible to damage from bumps, drops, or rough handling. They aren't particularly fragile, but they also can't take a real beating. Flash memory, on the other hand, has no moving parts, and is largely immune to such damage. If you're concerned about durability and resistance to accidents like drops and large shocks, that's something to consider.

The Panasonic HS300 is roughly the same price as the Sony CX520V. Like the TM300, the HS300 uses a hard disk drive. Hard disk drives tend to be cheaper than flash memory, so the HS300 is capable of providing far more storage capacity than the CX520V despite their comparable price tags. The HS300 has 120GB of storage, compared to the CX520V's 32 gigabytes.

Geo-Tag Your Videos with GPS

One innovation included in the CX520V and CX500V is a built-in GPS antenna, capable of acquiring location information that can be appended to your videos. The camcorders can log location information about your videos on a map, so you can geo-tag your clips and remember where you filmed your video.