Excellent video quality and performance; geotagging videos is fun
Irritating menu system; no wind filter; no manual shutter-speed, iris or audio controls; relatively big and heavy; pricy
Despite the fact that its geotagging capabilities are mostly a novelty and its interface could use a complete revamp, the Sony Handycam HDR-XR500VE's top-notch video quality, performance and consumer-friendly feature set make it a worthy camcorder option. It's also a better deal than its sibling, the Handycam HDR-XR520VE, which sports a 240GB hard drive -- the XR500VE's 120GB of storage will be plenty for most people
7.9 Very good
Reviewed by Lori Grunin
Sony's Handycam HDR-XR500 series constitutes a pair of hard-disk-based AVCHD camcorders that integrate the dual firsts of built-in GPS and a new Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Although the GPS aspect isn't quite ready for prime time, the new sensor and G-series lens combination deliver great video quality. Toss in some improvements to Sony's SteadyShot image-stabilisation system, as well as a solid feature set, and you have a winning combination -- albeit one dragged down by the awkward touchscreen interface and high price.
The two models in the series are identical except for the size of their hard drive: the £930 HDR-XR500VE has a 120GB drive (storing 14.5 hours of best-quality video), while the £1,100 HDR-XR520VE doubles that to 240GB (storing 29.3 hours of video at best quality). To get the lowdown on the XR500VE, check out our in-depth review of the XR520VE.
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