Frame worthy

One of the joys of the great Indian wedding is the thrill of watching the video along with the family. But this communal watching is seldom attempted within days of the event,thanks to studios taking their own sweet time with the editing and processing. This is why I thought the Sony HDR-PJ50 Handycam will be a welcome addition to all Indian family functions.

The handycam comes with an in-built projector that can instantly beam footage directly from the camcorder. The high contrast projector can project up to a 60” image from a distance of three meters independent of plug-in wires or cables attached to a computer or television. If need be,you can project the image on your cousin’s forehead,but for best results,ensure that the room is dark — the bulb in the projector is not powerful enough to kill daylight. The projector is built into the rear of the handycam’s flip-open LCD with the focus controls in a slider on top.

Keep in mind that the projector is just an additional feature for this handycam,which can record 1920 x 1080 HD videos with 5.1 sound. I liked the indicator on the LCD screen,which shows the sides from where the sound is coming. There is a 12x optical zoom — one of the smoothest I have used — and a 17x extended zoom,neither of which compromise on the HD quality. The camcorder can also double as a 7.1 megapixel still camera. The user-interface on the LCD is touch enabled and has no boring menus to choose from.

The only drawback I noticed was that the built-in speakers cannot quite live up to the expectations of the 60” projected image. Plus,the touchscreen is disabled when the projector is on and you have to toggle the zoom button to navigate the menu,while looking at the wall. Not so easy if you ask me.

Still,the HDR-PJ50 is a great handycam with a very special feature. Price Rs 59,990.

Cybershot DSC-HX7V

A camera with 3D still image and 3D sweep panorama? Well,I had to see this one. The Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V looks like any high-end point-and-shoot,but has 3D and other features that really set it apart.

The 3D shooting capabilities are built into the setting and can be accessed by the dial on top. Once you select the 3D mode (still image,sweep panorama or multi-angle) that you want to use,the camera will tell you what to do next. The 3D still image is a simple click away,though the camera takes some time to process the image. Once done,you can make out that the image is different,but the real effect will be discernible only with the help of a 3D TV.

The products of the other two modes are not that subtle and you can easily make out an extra dimension. The camera guides you on how to sweep through and at what speed to get the panorama right. The third dimension of the results are also more visible in the camera playback itself,but don’t expect the image to jump out at you. There are no separate shutters for the 3D and the extra dimension seems to be the handiwork of the 25mm wide angle Sony G lens. This feature will be really useful if you have already invested in a 3D TV at home,otherwise it’s nothing more than fun for the kids.

The other really standout feature,no pun intended,of this Cybershot is its 10x zoom which moves like a hot knife through butter. And when you get to the end of the spectrum,there is a hardly any pixilation to put you off. The same is the case in low light,and the results are some of the best I have seen for a camera in this segment. The camera also has full HD movie recording,background defocus as well as a built-in GPS and compass. The Cybershot DSC-HX7V sells for Rs 15,990.