We finally got the hot new Sony flagship into our labs for a test drive. Don't be dissuaded by the price tag... most of that covers the gigantic 240GB internal hard drive. There are plenty of reasons to rejoice, especially for fans of the Sony interface. Unfortunately, there were some disappointments too...

As usual, our conclusions can be read in disgusting detail over at CamcorderInfo or in bite-size nuggets at The Washington Post.


The Sony HDR-XR520V (MSRP $1499.99) is a camcorder that will delight some and disappoint others. Sure, most camcorders can't please every kind of user, but the XR520 is particularly divisive: its viewfinder and control dial are alluring to videophiles, while the touchscreen, GPS, and 240GB hard drive will catch the eye of many a beginner. Unfortunately, there are key ingredients missing: experienced users might bemoan some missing controls and first-time users could be intimidated by the jumble of buttons and layered menus. Before you buy the XR520, you better know exactly what kind of camcorder you're looking for... and choose accordingly.