Sony DCR-SX63 Handycam Test and Review

[@no1weezerfan]

I still use this because I love the nostalgic effect it has

[@propfella]

Finally a decent review with examples and someone who knows how to talk. Thank you, much appreciated.

[@angelad599]

I know what you're talking about, one word, PACKASTINE. 😂😂😂😂😂 maybe misspelled but you know what I mean. 😂😂😂🤬🤬🤬

[@Ari-gm8bf]

So vintage and very nice to capture the moments.

[@TTN]

This looks like a really good camera. I've been looking around for a small video camera and this looks to be one of the best I've seen so far. How do the still photos look?

[@ghpk]

thanks for excellent and precise review, I saw this cam today and was confused about should i got for HDD one or flash memory one. I am not convinced and going to buy this one this evening. Its 6:30 AM here and i need some nap, and I'll come back to thank you again with this cam in next 12-14 hours from now. I hope i am making nice decision and this would fit my home video needs. thanks again

[@Getawaymoments]

Menu settings. There is a place in the menu where your can set the camera to record on internal memory or to external (chip memory). Also, you can plug your camera into the computer using a usb cable, it will ask you on camera display which memory, tap that cue and the camera will act as your car reader.

[@Getawaymoments]

HQ can be set in the menu. It may take a few minutes to find it, the menus are very easy on this camera.

[@Getawaymoments]

@LifeOfConner It can zoom while filming. And I'm sure it would do fine shooting ducks.

[@Getawaymoments]

@01ck24 True, this macro feature works on the telephoto end of the lens not on the wide end as some other macro lenses do.

[@Getawaymoments]

its in the menu, you can select internal or external memory for both video and stills mode. for SD you would select external memory

[@Getawaymoments]

@cooldude100ism My sister in law has that camera now, but it is in the menu. Look for HQ or high quality. Unfortunately, I do remember that Sony did not use the quality descriptions many of us are used to now, like 480, 720, 1080, ect ect.

[@Getawaymoments]

@wii770 I think I shot the highway video with an old mini dv camera. Any camera will do, just keep shooting.

[@brendiano17]

Nice review, thanks for the sample videos at the end!

[@Getawaymoments]

@1ach13 I don't have that model but CNET reviews says it uses a 30mm thread so you should be able to get filters and or a wide angle adapter for it.

[@Getawaymoments]

@Filmyism No firewire, but it does have usb and yes it works with newer versions of macs. I-movie 9 and 11 for sure.

[@Getawaymoments]

@WillDCunningham I gave the sx63 to my brother so I don't have it anymore. CNET says it has a 30mm thread, B&H says it has no thread. You need to check it out in person, sorry, I still have the SX-83 and its a 30mm thread.

[@eastcoast78]

Got mine today..WOW love it. Love the HD option in the Vid settings.

[@Getawaymoments]

@A7XFan7314 It does not have what you might traditionally call a "pause" button. Only a record start and stop button, because it is a clip based camera every time you stop or pause the camera it creates a clip.

[@iRemainNameless]

What a great review. I might buy this camera. I found one on Facebook Marketplace for $40. Seems a good deal.

[@Getawaymoments]

@clmco what feature? We are moving away from tape media and headed to clip or file based video recording. The file based solid state cameras are faster to start recording and since there are no moving parts (tape deck) these cameras should last a long time. The only limitation of these cameras is the battery and SDHC memory has a life span of a couple thousand uses.

[@AvenidaManolo]

Hi! I have a question i don't know if you ever had this problem before but why when I record for a long time or not even...lets say one 30min to one hour.....the image becomes blurry...the camera gets hot also...i have to blow some air or shake it a little bit so the image becomes better...is that normal?

[@Getawaymoments]

@ourhappyfamily4 Since this is not a tape camera, you don't "pause" anymore. Each time you hit the record button you create a new "clip" that ends when you hit the record button again. When your done, you hit play and the video plays just like tape, it just jumps to the next clip seamlessly. By what you described, this would probably be a good camera for you.

[@IneedtopromoteU]

I looked at one today. Your review was helpful in my decision making process. Thanks

[@Getawaymoments]

@ShelburneSkateFilms "wide angle adapters" is a broad term for any lens that you attach to your camera that widens focal length, they come in many sizes for example 0.5 or 0.6 I have never seen a true "fish eye" adapter for a consumer camera the best I have found is a bower 0.38. it looks like century has a 0.3 but its pricey

[@Getawaymoments]

@SkipperMare I find that I use youtube more and more to help me make shopping decisions. Its great to be able to see a product and how well it may or may not work. Thanks for watching.

[@Getawaymoments]

@801Current I get this question often, this camera DOES NOT have threads for a wide angle lens. There are some other products out there that use magnets but I don't know if they work well. sorry.

[@Getawaymoments]

@DarronTV your pictures are in internal memory with the video clips , if you use the windows uploading tool the video should be uploaded with the still pictures

[@CorvusRemalius]

awesome. i just got this camcorder. though i got a question: If you get it at Walmart, should i put the warranty from those little booklets they give you to call or go online, or should i put Sony's limited warranty? plz help since walmart's warranty thing is quite confusing.

[@Getawaymoments]

@cj64films interesting .... Play back the clips in the camera .... do you hear audio coming out of the camera? If so it must be an import setting...

[@Getawaymoments]

@cj64films yea, check import settings, or the playback settings on your edit software

[@Getawaymoments]

@ArcanineTheGreat The question should be, where can I find? I don't think this model is being sold new, its been discontinued. It does share many features with the newer sony models.

[@Getawaymoments]

@DarronTV Do what? Can you play back your footage in the camera? If so you are probably not selecting the right things in the menu to connect to the computer. When you connect the usb to the computer the camera menu will give you three options use the top left or usb connect with the "ram" chip symbol try that

[@kathynewburn2707]

What buttons do you push to see the pictures and videos right from the camcorder?

[@Getawaymoments]

@oldredneckranger90 Tripod. This camera also has some stabilization capability built in, called steadyshot.

[@Getawaymoments]

@moviemakergc it has 16 gig internal memory and you can use additional external sd or sony chip memory. you can attach wide angle lenses i believe its a 30mm thread,

[@eastcoast78]

were you recording HD/HQ when you shot your SX63 videos at the end? looks awesome.

[@Canon1dm4]

Great test footage of the bees! Is there an external mic input in the camera?

[@Getawaymoments]

@rightwing8877 No, this camera does not have the nightshot feature of many old sony camcorders.

[@Getawaymoments]

@DJMANNY10 No that is not normal, unless you are in a very hot climate or you let the camera sit in direct sunlight for hours. I have run this camera for several hours and at most it got warm. Your camera has probably got a defect, is it out of warranty?

[@MrLuis1199]

Thanks man for this review now thats how a review should be done also i been looking for a good review and i found the right one thanks dude

[@Getawaymoments]

@TheTam180 I don't really do recommendations, everyone is different with different needs. I will say I got the sx-63 for family and they are happy with theirs.

[@JJECKLE13]

Thank you. I think I might buy this today.

[@Getawaymoments]

I use handbrake at work for difficult video files, no problem. But I downloaded it a year ago. What are you editing with?

[@Getawaymoments]

This camera uses either internal memory, or memory stick or SD card. You connect it to your computer via USB. Where are they selling this camera? Its a few years old.

[@Getawaymoments]

@XxDaGaMeRgIrLXx10 Yes and no, These new memory based cameras don't really "pause" everytime you hit the record button it starts or stops a video clip. When you play the video back you don't see the stops and starts, so in that way it is like pausing but not really .... understand?

[@a.505.8]

would i need a docking station for this kind of camera?

[@Getawaymoments]

No. USB port or SD card.

[@a.505.8]

@@Getawaymoments thank you so much! i really appreciate this. ive been doing research and digging through a lot to find the best camcorder and i can't. this helps

[@Getawaymoments]

@@a.505.8 BTW, it is an old camera model. Not HD.

[@clmco]

thanks for the quick response! Do some of the more expensive camcorders offer that feature?

[@Getawaymoments]

@1fastcat243 This model does not accept screw on wide angle lenses. I don't think there is a way to put other lenses on this camera.

[@Getawaymoments]

@gopescool I don't know, the camera light is an led not a flash.

[@shristybeniwal7174]

Hey .. Can you please tell me that how to send video in Mobile from this camera .. Please ...tell....

[@Getawaymoments]

Sounds like the camera and the files are fine. You need to check the computer your playing on, some playback setting is turned down.

[@Getawaymoments]

@elsanchoalex Total yes, but i don't think the camera can "see" or use all of the media at the same time. You have to switch the settings from internal to external.

[@Getawaymoments]

@MattCurtice I don't think so. This model does not have filter threads

[@Getawaymoments]

@clmco no, every time you hit the record button your starting a new file. This is very different then the old days with tape, but the upside is that if you don't like the first clip you can go in and delete it.

[@TheTam180]

do you recommend this camcorder?

[@Getawaymoments]

@AzraeiSk8Vids No, this model does not have filter threads to screw a wide eye into.

[@Getawaymoments]

@sergio300098 No, this camera does not have the threads to screw in any filters. I guess you could tape one on but that would not work well.

[@Getawaymoments]

Sounds like a setting in your editor or player. You should make sure your camera is set to record in its highest quality setting.

[@Getawaymoments]

Probably on the computer, you may need to go into system settings, check all audio output settings, and make sure they are not muted.

[@AvenidaManolo]

@Getawaymoments Thats what i though...a defect...well i gotta check if i bought a warranty from best buy or im still covered with sony. Thanks for ur advice

[@mariyahoumard7951]

This was very helpful!Thank you so very much!

[@eastcoast78]

Just ordered one.cant wait too film Flying my RC planes...;) How sensitive it the Zoom.Do it zoom nice and slowly? Great review..

[@Getawaymoments]

@ItsRennyy This camera does not have a "pause" Its always on pause, kind of, every time you hit the record button, you create a video clip, when you hit it again it finishes the clip.

[@Getawaymoments]

@MrGaryg7 The background blur is a function of depth of field. With these consumer video cameras its hard to get unless your zoomed all the way in. The manufacturers make these cameras very light sensitive and give them wide angle lenses, both of these features in an all auto camera make the depth of field very wide which makes the blur your looking for very hard to get. So the short answer is zoom in.

[@Getawaymoments]

They are solid state cameras, the only moving part is the lens. If it is cheap get it. I have one and its still working great.

[@MrRonny213]

So just one quick question if I bought this camera does the videos that you record save to a tape or a memory card? And then can you transfer the videos straight to your computer through the USB?

[@Getawaymoments]

@ninjastudios1 Its buried in the menus, you press a button on screen for manual focus then adjust with two arrows ..... near or far. It does have face detection, so if you have it turned on, the auto focus seeks out faces to focus and adjust exposure for ..... nice feature

[@Getawaymoments]

@robinmorningstar1 you can do time lapse with any video camera, ie just speed up raw video. But this camera does not do high quality time lapse ..... that is usually done by assembling thousands of individual frames together .... typically done with a still camera .... however there are some video cameras that have a dedicated interval timer built in .... not this one ..... many older motion picture .... film cameras could do it but they also had to have a built in interval timer.

[@Getawaymoments]

@AhmedDurakovic B&h says no, cnet says yes. I don't think it can. I tested the camera and then gave it to my brother so can't check it now. I also have the sx-83 and it does hold external lenses

[@AgonizedCandle]

This camera is significantly cheaper than the SX83. Do you think it's worth the extra money to get the SX83 instead of this model?

[@SkipperMare]

Great information. Thanks. I especially liked the sample videos.

[@wii770]

GETAWAYMOMENTS did you record that paranormal highway vid. that you sent me? it was pretty cool. its cuz every year i got to mexico and i stay in this little creepy haunted house..so i just wanted to see what i can find out with the dcr sx 63.....(im kinda on a low budget)

[@gopescool]

I liked this handycam... and i have a doubt... while taking photo will the flash comes like digital cam or we have to put on the LED...

[@trissBarrelRacingINC]

I enjoy filming my horses and making them into videos for youtube, do you think this would be a good camera for that?

[@Getawaymoments]

@AgonizedCandle It looks to be the same other then the internal memory. If you can get it cheaper do it cause you can buy sdhc cards to shoot on.

[@clmco]

Hi, just bought this item and have a quick question....when you begin recording a video, is there a way to pause for a moment and then continue without having to start a whole new video file?

[@Getawaymoments]

@frizzyfry19 I'm not a mac person, I think you may have to use a conversion program to edit on i movie.

[@sauravbasu8805]

Does it record HD video ?

[@Getawaymoments]

No. SD ..... standard definition only.

[@ucastilo2]

what kind of camera did you shoot the review with? Is it a head/hat or glasses camera (attached to your head/hat or glasses somehow). Thanks in advance and the review. Great Job.

[@kishteru]

How to charge its battery? Do we need to charge its battery separately??

[@Getawaymoments]

It will charge on camera.

[@Getawaymoments]

Yes it does, and it works well.

[@Getawaymoments]

@Canon1dm4 no, it's a good little camera but its lacking some higher end features. no external audio input

[@Getawaymoments]

@ShelburneSkateFilms thanks for the info, the files won't work on my old computers movie maker .... I guess I need an update

[@Getawaymoments]

@BestSuperHighlights Yes, but every time you start or stop the camera it makes a new video clip. It does not work like old "tape" cameras

[@9481bdaybeyonce]

@Getawaymoments oh ok. i really like the older version better :( well i might need a video converter. do you recomend any?

[@Getawaymoments]

@ArcanineTheGreat Looks like the DCR-SX85 is the comparable new model and its going for $248.00 USD on B&H

[@Getawaymoments]

@9481bdaybeyonce Not sure, does not work on old versions, but other youtube users have posted here that the newer versions can use this camera.

[@eastcoast78]

ha yes i realize that now.:0(.. I was getting confussed when ic people put up Videos recorded with the SX63 and its 720P. I assumed it was HD. Im a noob so...lol So for the focus you you recommend leave it on Auto? I enabled the Digital Zoom,but was Still blurry .The distance was around 5 miles away. I need to get on a forum for the Camcorder and learn some tricks. lol

[@Getawaymoments]

@eastcoast78 The zoom is great, it has quite a reach. The one thing I have had a problem with is the auto focus can be sluggish.

[@Getawaymoments]

@tomyloveu I don't know of any editing programs that handle the mpeg2 format this camera records. I use avid, windows movie maker, i-movie and final cut ..... for all of these you must convert the files to edit with them. You may want to try sony vega forums or adobe premier forums to see if those programs will edit mpeg2 natively. For this reason I would consider getting the HD version of this camera, many of the editing programs can handle h264 mpeg4 file better than the older mpeg2 files.

[@Getawaymoments]

@theearlyoffspring No question is dumb if you don't know the answer, the pictures are thumbnails of your video clips ... tap on them and that clip will play ... when you want to delete them there is an icon in the lower right corner press it while the clip is playing and it will prompt you if you want to delete it .... If you want to get rid of all the clips you can dive deeper into the menus and find the format function ..... formatting erases all the data on the flash memory

[@Getawaymoments]

@InpulseHD Depends on your skill level. It would be difficult to do it easily, There are a couple models near this one that have the threads. The time you would spend modifying this camera you could buy an sx-83 or better.

[@eastcoast78]

@Getawaymoments Cool thanks. I was out all day recording While i was Flying my RC Glider, Snow on the ground ,nice warm blue skys,and WOW very nice quality. found it very hard too see the screen ,even with sun facing you? I guess that's norm for all LCD screens. I well be uploading video later. Great Camera!!.I glad i bought it. Yea i was playing with he manual focus, works great on the TriPod.

[@Getawaymoments]

Have you tried Handbrake?

[@Getawaymoments]

@tomyloveu I don't have an HD camera to recommend. Many of the newer cameras are coming out with CMOS chips which can be much better in low light. all I can say is get your hands on them and check youtube for video examples in the lighting conditions you will be shooting in. If I get my hands on a good consumer HD camera I will post samples here, for now I'm shooting all my personal HD projects with my canon 7d.

[@nerfdude96547]

Great review, but what camera do you use to film the review?

[@Getawaymoments]

There is a menu setting for internal and external memory. Your friend probably used external memory and forgot to switch this setting back to internal memory. Go through the menu, and check it. Good Luck!

[@Getawaymoments]

@DarronTV No, should have nothing to do with it. Make sure you have the camera set to internal memory when you try to upload the clips. If you plug in your camera using the usb cable it should populate like a usb drive. They should pop up in a folder.

[@9481bdaybeyonce]

@Getawaymoments Does it work for Microsoft Moive Maker or Windows Movie Maker? please answer pretty much the only reason im going to buy this.

[@grjjboy]

youve helped me so much just by showing me how to change from int mem to mem card