
Review Summary
The Sony HDR-CX260V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black) shoots Full HD 1920 x 1080/60p video and can capture 8.9 megapixel still images as well. It features 16GB of embedded flash memory, which provides up to five hours of recording. The camcorder is equipped with a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor that's ideal for low-light situations. Plus, it features a wide angle Sony G lens that supports 30x optical zoom and 55x extended zoom. There's also a 3.0" touch screen Clear Photo LCD display for easy recording and instant playback.
The HDR-CX260V comes outfitted with several video enhancing features. It has Face Detection with voice enhancement and noise reduction. The Tracking Focus function follows selected subjects as you record and the Geotagging with built-in GPS receiver and NAVTEQ maps is great for travelers. There's also a microphone and headphone jack for connecting alternate mics and monitoring equipment. The camcorder even supports Golf Shot for analyzing video frame by frame and Intelligent Auto, which supports 120 different scene combinations. It has Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode as well.
Sony added a few playback and connection conveniences as well. The HDR-CX260V features Event Browse, which groups video and stills by each particular recording session automatically. It also has a Highlight Playback function that creates movies with transitions and soundtracks. Plus, with the HDR-CX260V, you can use the Direct Copy feature to transfer your HD footage directly to a hard drive without even using a PC. However, if you do want to upload videos onto Facebook and YouTube, the camcorder comes with a built-in USB cable, as well as editing and application software.