Sony still sells a budget HD video camera, how good is it?

[@ReviewTechUSA]

This channel is magical.

[@Alitar1212]

That’s so weird, going into the comment section, the last thing I expected was to see RTU commenting

[@shapman280]

always has been. Forever underrated

[@hudson_orr]

been here since the start, didnt expect RTU either hey, forever underrated channel

[@thefilmdirector1]

Rich has good taste in birds, men, nipples, and tech channels.

[@kazi1]

yup

[@JohnSmith-wj2wd]

Something no phone or regular camera could ever do better is simply the ergonomics. I normally always have a camcorder like this with me on holidays, and I could easily shoot hours of footage. Last year I forgot to bring it, and despite carrying other camera's that could film, I barely filmed anything. That convenience of taking it out, flipping open that screen and immediately recording something just makes it a joy to use.

[@tonystechrepairs]

There comes a time when we reach the glass ceiling of technological advancement, devices of yesterday will always prove to hold their own potential and purpose to be lovingly explored and shared. Cheers to you, mate, on another excellent video!

[@makemake9247]

It may sound weird, but a question we ask ourselves too little is "does using this spark joy?" when talking about technology. Thank you, GHG for showcasing exactly that kind of tech :)

[@tomgrbavac8237]

Been watching your vids since i was 15. I'm now 23...... Still one of the best youtubers. Green ham vids just hit different

[@MechPrime]

Boy am I glad to have notifications enabled for this channel, it’s great to see you’re back!

[@PlatinumGamingg]

Had mine turned on too

[@NamAim1991]

Always happy to see you upload, Tim! I originally came to your channel because I was interested in budget builds, but I really enjoy your appreciation for technology that's often overlooked or discarded. There's something really comforting about your presentation and cinematography. I'm always excited to see more.

[@alyxgraff9121]

Whenever Tim uploads a new video it feels like an event. In this case it does since it's a short film collection. It also helps that Tim's voice has this ASMR-like quality that is pleasant to listen to. Overall, I'm glad that Tim out out this video & I hope to see more in the future from him.

[@mostunicorn]

It's amazing how after all these years the video quality doesn't change. I have a camcorder from like 2014 and it looks almost the same. Daylight, low light, sharpness... oh the memories.

[@Akahigep]

I enjoy the HD camera aesthetics, very moody and nostalgic to me as a person from 90s. Now phone cameras can do miracles even in low light situations but kinda kills the realism or any mood from the video

[@nuallen255]

zoom test is really amazing

[@someboringperson9359]

Whenever I see GHG notification on my phone, I always get excited like a little kid who received a present! Glad to see that you didnt forgot us and the channel.

[@ravinair6195]

This was one of the most enjoyable video which made me hug my SONY CX 405 which had been neglected for a few months - You demonstrated with actual footage - the capability of this extremely powerful video camera - your voice was so natural and modulated when explaining the way to handle this camera that I know now that I have a dream gadget with me more so since I used to use a video cam extensively over 35 years and your video has rekindled my interest - and believe it or not - I going to get a case for the video cam and have signed up for a video editing tutor - And all after watching your Video - Thank you immeasurably.

[@Healtsome]

It's always a special occasion when Tim uploads. Absolute legend.

[@JardiHardi]

Always a great day when tim uploads!! Keep up the amazing work my man!!

[@luckyshot5135]

This channel is like southern comfort food, it could be about anything and i'll still watch the video.

[@RandomFandomOfficial]

Don’t forget the southern sweet tea!

[@haiderjaffar6820]

There is a vibe that comes from your channel: serene , classic and such.

[@jeramey3914]

You know it's going to be a good day when it starts with a GHGTV video

[@ElliotShayle]

What an excellent video! I watched every second of it at "normal" speed, which sounds strange, but reflects the fact that I wanted to savour every moment

[@venusvevo2854]

Glad to see ur still putting out bangers after all this time man, been here since the ram video. Ur tech content is so quaint and has more of a quite beauty to it, keep it going!

[@lordhapax7414]

You have to love that this camera is still producing better videos than any security cameras I've seen. Is always good to see you upload, Tim.

[@mega4488]

This is like a really common misconception but security camera footage is deliberately low quality so storing it doesnt become impossible

[@deanchur]

@@mega4488 The cameras at my work record at something like 6FPS in something I'm sure is around 480p. Mind you, there's over 20 feeds to record at once...

[@prebenjaeger]

@@mega4488 Bringing up the comparison to security cameras is basically just a way for people to brand themselves as clueless

[@jonessperandio]

Then you haven't seen many security cameras. If you only pick the cheapest hardware available and compress the hell out of it to fit in a tiny hard drive like most people do, of course it will look like crap. Pick some decent 4MP and above IP cameras and give them a good space, and they will certainly look better than the camera from this video, specially in low light.

[@shrimpfry880]

the test videos have that 2000s midnight tv show vibe and i'm all in for it

[@hyperturbotechnomike]

I do use a video camera sometimes, because of the true optical zoom, large sensor, swapping an SD card is easier and better image stabilisation. Phones also often use some weird software tricks in the background to "improve" the image quality.

[@oglack6137]

I've had many tumultuous years since I discovered this channel and I find it so special that once in a while, as a treat, I can take a load off and just bask in the warm excellence and calming presence of Tim. These video releases are like bookmarks for my life

[@eltanodelcassa]

I didn't believe my eyes when the notification appeared, but it was certainly a happy surprise. Nice yo see you back!!!

[@Extreme660DragRacing]

Started using this for my drag racing videos this year. Picked it up at a pawn shop for $60. Zoom is amazing.

[@fran2911]

I miss having more frequent uploads, after years of following you, I can say you're a master at filmmaking, your channel always feels so cozy.

[@yukinoshita3057]

Very happy to see you're back

[@raevod6361]

It has the exact same quality of a TV transmission via satellite. The low light scenes remind me of 2016 for some reasons it looks nostalgic and I really like it

[@kalebmaxwell5725]

Tim, your channel over all other channels, has made the biggest impact on my life. Much like Steve Jobs, you have perfectly melded the worlds of technology and art. When I was 12, your videos (the supercharged gateway video in particular) showed me that computers are not something to fear and that you can change them and make it yours. That lesson which you taught me has made ripples all throughout my life. Thank you, for everything.

[@EmaCr_]

I legit came back to your channel yesterday to check out any new videos but no luck.. but today' this is a nice surprise!

[@PastPreserver]

Cool I have been using one on and off for the last few years I find my phone easier to make videos with anymore. It took a hard fall off the tripod a couple years ago and broke the lense cap mechanism still works and I do recommend it. Guess I'm going to have to make a long term update video on it now 😆 Great video I like the way you have presented it.

[@shoraz]

Just got a cup of tea and some biscuits ready to just watch this masterpiece of a video

[@joelconolly5574]

This is actually few of the products I wish to see redone for 2022 and beyond. Would like to see what companies can do with current tech to improve products such as handycam to be more modernised and powerful. Hopefully we can see one final leg stroll before pulling the plug.

[@DJEylisium]

Well this was unexpected. Always great to see you mate, hope you're doing well.

[@Saxon_TAG]

It's a crazy good 1080p video camera. I used to have one (I said this before watching. KZbin butchers the bitrate of video's and the video wasn't in the best lighting conditions.)

[@bluebandit5586]

Omg I was looking at this camera the other day!!! I’m definitely considering it now. Glad to see you again mr James and thank you for your hard work

[@wspyderr]

you're back!

[@dylanf4826]

I’ve been watching this channel ever since the beginning always loved the content , I hope one day you get back to posting more! Life is busy though, wish you the best in the meantime!

[@burtiq]

i feel like the camera has a specific character. it doesn't have the best color, the best sharpness, but videos somehow feel a lot more unique

[@justinw3279]

I was just wondering about this channel a couple days ago. Glad you are posting again!

[@kacperbenio5235]

it's by far the most relaxing tech contact in existence. Absolutely love this video

[@TH3C001]

The tidbit at the beginning about setting the playback resolution to 1440p or higher blows my mind. At 1080p, the same resolution as the camera, I was getting weird checkerboard patterns on the waves at 8:58, but once I set the video to 1440p it all went away and all I had was crisp video. I don't know why that is, but it worked. That's so strange. I don't know how you knew about that, but you were right.

[@martysusanf]

One of the problems with most manufacturers of camcorders these days is they do not include a remote control. The majority of people who buy camcorders today want them for vlogging purposes, which requires a remote control. That is one reason why many who want to use their camcorders for vlogging are purchasing those made in China. They offer camcorders that you will be given a remote control with. Now the video quality of course is not as high as Canon or Sony. But it does give you the option of a remote control which is a necessity these days. You can then use a good video editing software to improve the picture and sound.

[@SomeRandomPiggo]

God I love this channel, so glad you haven't given up despite the falling view counts (from what I've seen). There will always be a group of people who will stick around, cheers!

[@Jamesaroni]

Man. A late night gaming for me, unable to catch any sleep. These are nights when I used to binge watch some ghg. I randomly think of your content, just to be greeted from a video none other than 1 day ago. Thank you for sharing your passion.

[@user-td8xg5zc2i]

Feels like i've waited a lifetime for a video, hyped to see this :3!

[@lemonlime5332]

great to see you back! Missed having new content from you!

[@rhymeswithcigar]

I made it about half way through this video before I pulled the trigger and finally purchased this camera. Thanks for the thoughtful and thorough review!

[@laneharder9993]

I didn't realize how much I missed seeing Tim until the video ended. I'm glad he's well :)

[@randomreviews9016]

I found in an old drawer at work a Handycam SX22, so I can't wait to see this video ! I was really impressed by the overall quality (even of it's 480p) but the best feature was the 70x zoom ! Too bad it didn't have any good stabilization because you could take pictures of the moon really easily. Great little device !

[@julian23561]

What's up Green Ham! Anyway, I still use a Sony handycam to record meetings and events at the government office I work for, the office bought it second hand too for like less than $200.

[@julskechap]

I like your appreciation and enthusiasm on these not so old tech and the proper respect you give them. This is the first time i saw a video from this channel and im glad youtube algorithm suggested yours, im subscribing!

[@misterpigman]

What an experience. Incredible review of this camera man! Makes me want to buy one right away. I love your format.

[@thewritinglefty4889]

FIRST , WE MISSED YOU!

[@zappy595]

Glad to see you still around! Much love to this channel, I've always enjoyed these well-crafted videos about "regular" tech.

[@jsok128]

Seeing you upload is always an amazing surprise. Your videos are amazing.

[@lordsomniferous]

Great video! The atmosphere is so true to the original ghgtv. I love coming back to this channel for the laid-back reviews it is like talking with a friend about the cool gadget that they found. Only thing missing is the computer smoking a cigarette haha.

[@ivi_]

Emma Chamberlaine used this same camera last year for her evolution series, it is great!

[@aviationrambler]

I have this camera and have quite a bit of time with it. It's honestly a pretty good camera, filmed airshows and tornadic storms with it. The main issues I find is the firmware as it will let you control one or two things manually but never everything. So you can control shutter and ISO but not aperture, or aperture and ISO but not shutter. The other major drawback is the inability to attach an external microphone. That said, I really think this camera would be a hacker's dream as with some custom firmware it can punch way above its weight. Lot of unexplored potential in this thing.

[@mySeaPrince_]

Have you found the second battery compartment? To access it's easiest to remove one screw, remove cover to unlock the levers. This gives space for mic jack's... I intend to fit separate L & R 3.5mm jack's .. the advantage would be an external mic on one channel and one on the camera.. I may fit a stereo as well. I use the X not A setting so I get MP4. Real thing is to properly go through Every setting and also switch on some of the settings.. zoom mic.. electronic zoom.. low light 🕯️ etc.. I've bought a UV threaded filter.. but as you know there's no thread.. I think it's 40.5mm, it fits in the ridges and I'm about to glue it on with a MS? Rubber (no toxic plastic damage) which will stick (sort of like silicon) but will peel off. Then will get ND and Polarisation filters. There is a thing with controls that can be plugged in by the hand strap which I need to find out more about.

[@Lanternamagika]

Most enjoyable "review", made with competence and sense of humour combined, which is a rare mix

[@wileymanful]

Why didn't youtube give me a notification for this???? I'm glad to see you still making videos Tim, they're only getting better and better

[@xhgcommentaryarchive]

The amount I would give to have a beer with Oxter and you in Sydney. Glad to see you back Tim. :) What a fantastic video about a great little camera.

[@kiliandjfilms]

This reminds me a lot the camera i used for youtube between 2012 & 2016, it was a sony handycam cx200. Cost me about 400€ back then, and boasted a lot the features this one does, with the exception that the cx200 was 1080i and this one is likely 1080p. I really enjoyed how easy it was too use, it allowed me to focus on the content, quality was pretty good for a time when most where still using crappy 720p from some 300€ samsung phone or a webcam. (bitrate was way higher then any of those, and the sensor way bigger) It even had a flip around touch screen to see yourself while recording yourself, and touch to focus or adjust lighting. It did need a good piece of video editing software to deal with the interlaced to progressive conversion though, otherwise you would get pretty annoying glitches. Nowadays it does not impress anyone, and truth be told for most situations a 450€ phone will do as good a job as this 300€ camcorder will. BUT far away zoom, comfort of holding and almost limitless recording capabilities are still things almost only found on camcorders. Most photo camera's can only record for 30minutes at a time, a big limitation for a lot of situations, and need BIG lenses to match the zoom. Phones can almost match the recording time, but have little zoom, are uncomfortable to hold, and do you really want to drain your phone's battery that much to record for hours? These things still have their place.

[@mirek190]

...I do not think keeping hand with the old camcorder up all the time is handy and comfortable ... every nowadays smartphone over 200 euro has far more better video quality...

[@boomerdoom69]

NEVER CLICKED THIS FAST BEFORE! Missed you so much! ❤️

[@GuitarListen]

Gonna have to wait for this one to fully upload to fully enjoy it.

[@theadamtron]

No idea how I came across this video, perhaps the algorithm was smiling on me today. Great camera review so different and unique compared to others in the camera review genre. Liked and subscribed. Glad I found this.

[@sebeiibrahim2833]

Nostalgia, good to see u back

[@Scooterfanboy15]

The legend is back!! ❤️

[@YogeshwarVaithyanathan99]

The bar behind the fire door was the absolute highlight!

[@emdotrod]

It's a solid budget video camera, no question about that.

[@johnathonhytry6651]

Another amazing video as always!

[@timpouliot1430]

Please don’t stop making videos these are so comforting during crazy times

[@TeamTeddy666]

I literally binged all the videos I missed in the last couple of years 2 days ago wtf

[@Ares14]

Always a treat seeing a new video.

[@JanusCycle]

Sony's engineers and designers make products from their heart, that's why we love them.

[@Christo_glenn]

Great to see you making content still, Tim. Hope you're well mate. Cheers from Canada.

[@abex701]

A little bit of the lost soul of KZbin is reborn when you upload, now if we can bring back classic game room, my happiness will be even closer

[@mastracu66207]

Man, this will be my respite from midterms. Thank you

[@JackStavris]

This camera looks like a slightly updated version of the Handycam HDR-CX240 I bought in 2015, which was an older model then and was discounted, it was about $250 AUD from Dick Smith from what I can remember. I've done KZbin videos for 12 years now and I've used it for all the videos I've made since 2015 and to this day I have never had one single complaint about video or audio quality, in fact I've actually been praised about it's audio quality in compairson to modern smartphones that I've had since then, which is why I keep using it and will continue to do so as I see no value in getting something better. Given that Google has now made 4K video a KZbin Premium feature, 1080p is more than enough. It does 1080p50 video, has great audio, and takes microSD cards which make it super convinent to extract the video from as well as get large capacity cards for, as I have a 256GB SanDisk Class 10 card for it which I got cheaply a couple of years ago. My only complaints about it are the battery life is really short so for my long-form type of content I always have to plug it in, as well as it's build quality isn't fantastic. It's well put together but the outer casing feels cheap, at least compared to the old standard definition Handycam DCR-SX65 I used prior to it. Other than that, it's been an awesome camera and I'm so glad Sony is still making a version of it. There's just something about using a dedicated camcorder for KZbin videos that I prefer rather than just using my phone. I'm sure the video out of my Google Pixel 6 smartphone is better, but there's just something I love about the Handycam. The way it feels in the hand, the real optical zoom lens, and I can natively use it with any tripod without getting some stupid phone mount.

[@skyangelthefan]

I bought this camera 2 year’s ago and only used it for family video’s. I’m a FA ✈️ and I also take this camcorder on my trips. I am old school and grew up when camcorders came out and they just have a special place in my heart.

[@KieranAtkins]

Hi Tim, I've missed this, I've missed the way these videos make me feel!

[@bluelivesmatter8502]

Came for the camera, stayed for the asmr.

[@PresidentKony]

tech/electronics smoking cigarettes is absurdly iconic to your channel.

[@bronwaith]

Omg!! You are back!! 😍😍😍

[@Terraphice]

I really hope we get a few more uploads in the next year. :)

[@Bryien]

I'm so glad your back Green!

[@1_ElFox]

That Sony CRT almost took the entire show, what an excellent display!

[@xtrmelyxtreme6187]

Thanks for the upload, been watching for years and years and love your relaxed style that’s so hard to find on KZbin

[@PsyceBorneo]

This video really speak for me truthfully. i was and always a fan of camcorders although i cant afford to own one decade ago but recently i bought a second hand camcorder a Sony HDR-Xr500 for family video and documentation purpose. First its a worth purchase because for its always convenient to have a device that is purpose for video shooting not from a phone. Yeah kinda weird for today but still its relevant to me. Those big company should a litte bit more of attention with this segment and start giving an option for everyone that cant afford to buy flagship phone with camera and yes there is people out there just have a simple smartphone just for sake of calling and texting and if they can polished a bit the feature this budget segment surely they can gain more profit for sure.

[@kimjonsson-laplandhusky9624]

And you proved with this video that the content and the story are most important. Thanks and all the best.🙂

[@imoutodaisuki]

I haven't watched the video. But to answer your question at the beginning: the thing I love most about handycam is its zoom capability.

[@microcolonel]

Camcorders should be magical today. They should have many options for framerates and shutter angles and all that, for those who want them. In general though, very satisfied with these. As for codecs, would really love to see an AV1 encoder at some point; high bitrate is one thing, but today's codecs can do a lot more with that, and more than that with fewer bits. That zoom is stupendous. Personally I'd just shoot in 720p, with a camera like this. Definitely a good choice for your church live streaming circumstance.

[@lucabeckr]

23:52 That slowed down Windows 95 startup sound background music 😍👏🏻

[@Barry_Mmm]

Full Grandma FTW. Thank you for the upload. Your videos always make me smile.

[@DoesntHurtYet]

I owned one of these, some 720p CX-*something* in 2017 very cheap and second hand. Might even have been this exact camera. I really loved how much it seemed to impress lighting and movement differently to my phone camera.

[@blakedmc1989RaveHD]

always nice to see another vid from ya! i'm a proud owner of a Sony Handycam HDR-CX330 which has a way better battery than tha CX-405 sure great quality but what drove me away from a CX-405 was tha battery it uses compared to my CX330 but still great camera tho i still find it way better than a smartphone especially in tha audio department plus it alot more convenient than a smart phone well when it comes to not sacrificing between video and everything else around a phone in terms of memory, and especially if u value phone battery lifespan for emergencies like me despite a battery pack

[@yasminannagloria9860]

I really enjoyed this review! Thank you for the care you put into the video, it's helping me with making a decision what camcorder to buy!

[@Ryftrr]

the simple but aesthetic ghg design never fails to take my breath away. thanks for the new video !!!

[@firisrozley5768]

I missed the golden era of Sony Handycam Camcorders. Back in the day, I could not afford buying one even with low-end models. Given the advancement of video technology these days, definitely no reason to buy one unless you are planning to go off-grid with your phone. What amazes me is the camcorder does not stutter & jitter throughout recording, which is something that even the most expensive flagship phones cannot compete.

[@keithwiebe1787]

My S22 phone will blow it out of the water. Your comment on stutters though are a pet pieve of mine. I have found if I leave the stabilization off it doesn't stutter. May do more experiments this weekend. Took it on a trip last week and am amazed at what came out at times.

[@blakedmc1989RaveHD]

@@keithwiebe1787 yea except on mic sound