Sony Handycam HDR-CX6EK

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http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/camcorders/0,39029967,49292156,00.htm

Reviewed 18 October 2007

Reviewed by Philip Ryan

Join me, if you will, along the slow march toward the obsolescence of tape in video. We've definitely got a long road ahead of us, but it's fun to notice how much camcorders have changed already.

Though it's been on the market in various camcorders for a while now, the AVCHD format has been slow on the uptake in software for editing and playback. Ultimately, the easiest way to watch your HD video is still a direct connection to your HDTV, but there is a modest, and slowly growing, list of software out there if you like to watch on your computer or edit your footage.

For an AVCHD camcorder, this Sony Handycam HDR-CX6EK does produce very nice video, and will likely blow your socks off if you're used to a standard-definition camcorder. Be ready to pay for it, though, as the HDR-CX6EK retails for around £800.

Design
Sony's designers definitely made the most of the fact that the HDR-CX6EK records its video to MemoryStick Pro Duo cards. The camcorder is little more than a lens and LCD screen in terms of size, though that's both a positive and negative thing.

The main interface is an LCD touchscreen

Sure, you can fit the CX6EK into almost any bag, and even a large jacket pocket, but the ergonomics of the grip are a little off. It's certainly more comfortable to hold than Panasonic's SD-based HDC-SD1, but since there's no eye-level viewfinder, we held it higher than we would some camcorders, and at a slightly odd angle.

Also, since your hand basically covers the right side and top of the CX6EK, Sony was forced to put a handful of buttons on the left side, behind the LCD screen. That's never a very good move, since you can't readily see that spot when you're shooting, and if you do need to use one of those buttons while capturing video, you'll likely shake the camera horizontally while pressing it.

Of the buttons placed there, the backlight compensation button is probably the most worrisome, since it's highly likely you'll use it on the fly, while most of the others would be used before or after shooting.

As usual, the HDR-CX6EK's main interface is its LCD touchscreen. Even though the LCD is 69mm (2.7 inches) in size, it still felt a bit small as a touchscreen interface.

The main virtual buttons are big enough, but ancillary buttons, such as the OK button in the upper-left, or the X (cancel) button in the upper-right of some screens are rather tiny.

On more than one occasion, we accidentally hit one of the bigger buttons when trying to hit the tiny ones. Combine that with the fact that the touchscreen requires such an extensive tree of submenus, and the thrill of a touchscreen interface starts to wane pretty quickly. Still, some people say they like this kind of interface, so make sure you try it out in a store first to see if you like it before you buy.

Features
Following a recent trend in camcorders, the CX6EK doesn't include a minijack microphone input. If you want to add an accessory mic, you have to use one of Sony's in the CX6EK's Active Interface Shoe -- aka proprietary hot shoe -- which provides an interface and power for accessories.

You have two options to send video to your TV directly from the camcorder. You can either use a mini-to-full-size HDMI cable, or use the composite AV breakout cable included with the CX6EK. Given that they are rather rare right now, it would've been nice for Sony to include the special HDMI cable, as Canon does with the HG10.

A third option is to use the dock, which has the same composite AV out as the camcorder, as well as a component output -- also via a breakout cable, and a mini USB jack to connect to your computer. We were surprised that Sony didn't include a normal-size HDMI jack on the dock. It would've been a really nice touch.

Sony did include some great features though, such as the automatic lens cover, flash for still photos, and a nice complement of manual controls. While it doesn't include the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7E's shutter speed control, the CX6EK does have the same exposure shift; manual, indoor, outdoor and auto white balance; Spot Focus and Spot Metering; Super SteadyShot optical image stabilisation; and Super NightShot infrared mode for shooting in the dark.

Since the CX6EK doesn't include Sony's CAM CTL dial -- as the SR7E does, you have to adjust focus on the touchscreen, which isn't quite as nice as the dial, but works well nonetheless.

As the HDR-CX6EK records its video to a MemoryStick Pro Duo card, you should plan on buying at least one high-capacity card. On a 4GB Pro Duo card, the HDR-CX6EK can fit 32 minutes of best-quality, HD video. At an 8GB Pro Duo, that's up to a little more than an hour. By contrast, the HDR-SR7E can fit up to eight hours of the same level footage onto its 60GB hard drive.

Performance
Footage from the CX6EK is very nice. The camcorder's Zeiss T lens is very sharp and Sony's Super SteadyShot does an excellent job of taming hand shake. Its 10X optical zoom might seem tame next to the 30X-plus zooms now finding their way into lower-end models, but at a 400mm 35mm-equivalent on the telephoto end -- in 16:9 mode, it's got plenty of reach. Plus, by keeping the optical zoom range within reason, you get more reliable stabilisation across the entire zoom.

Both the autofocus and metering systems perform quite well, adjusting quickly to changes in subject, lighting, and environment. We were particularly impressed with the autofocus' ability to keep up with changes in zoom and quick changes between near and far subjects.

Image quality
The camcorder's white balance does a very good job. While colours aren't quite as neutral as we've seen in some other models, it's still very close and colours are well saturated and look realistic. Still images are definitely above average for a camcorder. Depending on the shooting conditions, you should be able to get pleasing letter-size or smaller prints.

Conclusion
As long as you don't mind the limited software compatibility and added cost of buying a few high-capacity Pro Duo cards, Sony's Handycam HDR-CX6EK is a really nice AVCHD camcorder. As software catches up and flash memory prices continue to drop, it will only become that much more attractive, and the smaller physical size that goes along with a flash-based camcorder will wow your friends and make it more practical to have your camcorder with you when you want it.

If Mini-DVDs appeal to you more than flash-memory cards, Sony also makes the Handycam HDR-UX7E, which can record AVCHD video onto 8cm DVDs and is very similar to this model, though not quite as small in size.

Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday