Name: Sony HDR-PJ540 32GB Full HD Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector, 30x Optical Zoom, Balanced Optical SteadyShot, 26.8mm Wide-Angle G Zoom Lens
Brand: Sony
SKU: SOHDRPJ540B
Price: 499.00 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 3.7 (10 reviews)

Sony HDR-PJ540 32GB Full HD Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector, 30x Optical Zoom, Balanced Optical SteadyShot, 26.8mm Wide-Angle G Zoom Lens

Sony HDR-PJ540

Sony

Sony HDR-PJ540 32GB Full HD Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector

Adorama

Video

Video Cameras

Consumer Camcorders

Sony Consumer Camcorders

Sony HDR-PJ540 

29% Off: Sony HDR-PJ540 32GB Full HD Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector, 30x Optical Zoom, Balanced Optical SteadyShot, 26.8mm Wide-Angle G Zoom Lens Buy now & save $200. Color: Black, Configuration: Camcorder Only

The Sony HDR-PJ540 32GB Full HD Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector captures Full HD 1920x1080 video at 24p and 60p, as well as 9.2MP still images. It features a 1/5.8" Exmor R CMOS sensor and a wide-angle Sony G zoom lens with 30x optical zoom plus 60x Clear Image digital zoom and provides 32GB of internal flash memory for up to 8 hours of video.The camcorder delivers smooth shots even on the move with its Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization technology with Active Mode. For enhanced connectivity and control, built-in Wi-Fi with NFC support lets you use your smartphone or tablet to control the camera, as well as wirelessly transfer files to your mobile device for sharing and back up data on your computer.The HDR-PJ540 includes a built-in 25 lumen projector that allows you to project video at up to a 100" diagonal size without having to connect to a playback device. You can also monitor and playback footage from the camcorder on the 3.0" Clear Photo LCD display with 460K dot resolution. For increased flexibility, you can choose to simultaneously record video in high-quality AVCHD or web-optimized MP4 files and the built-in microphone lets you capture 5.1 channel Dolby Digital sound.A built-in USB 2.0 cable provides a connection to your computer for charging or file transfer and fits conveniently into the hand strap, so it's out of the way until you need it.

I love this thing. Makes filming easy and enjoyable. The image quality cannot be beat for the price.

Great Camera

don't like the software

I bought this in September 2014 to capture videos of family events. I've only used it for about 10 hours of filming. It stopped working with an error that seems to be common according to message board posts; it can no longer correctly focus. I've contacted Sony's warranty servicer four times and they haven't responded. Bad product, bad service.

Stopped working after ~10 hours of use; poor warty

I am really bad at reviewing products but will give it a shot. This is our 6th Sony Camera. We take a yearly vacation, and weekend trips in the summer in Colorado, and I use Youtube. The Sony quality and performance, is the best we have found. Usable features are at a premium in this camera, and the Balanced Optical Steady Shot is why I purchased! The Steady Shot, is great but BOSS takes it too the next level. WiFI not needed, but we do use it! Memories Home Mobile actually is a useable app for our cell phone. We had a Sony HDR-PJ260V for 3 years, and I enjoyed it, but this Camcorder is worth the change. I am amazed how many people trust there Vacations to there cell phones, a cell can not shoot video, like this! Check out the videos we have shot at Garry Martin on youtube! ENJOY! USE your Camcorders!

Best Camcorder We Had!!

If they could just put a viewfinder on this 30x zoom camera, they would have the perfect camcorder.....

Would buy in a heartbeat if....

We work in Law Enforcement and needed a camcorder to record scenes without sound. This is so easy to mute for those times. We also record training programs, and this camcorder makes it easy to make copies for our members. If it works this well for such high profile reasons, I would get one for personal use.

Exactly what we needed!

great video easy to use definitely recommend it.

love it

The 30x optical zoom means I can still watch birds despite declining eyesight. If I record, then later I can copy to a computer to view birds in magnificent detail. Highly recommend for people in my predicament. Only drawback for bird watching is the slow start up time. Birds move so fast that if the camcorder has turned off, I miss the next bird that flies in. I'd buy this camcorder again, regardless. USB charging is very handy. Camcorder is lightweight and easy to handle.

Excellent for Poor Vision

We are huge Sony fans, but this camcorder tests our loyalty. We use several Handicams to shoot b-roll footage and to keep at hand for when something interesting occurs during our travels. We make frequent use of Sony's pistol grip/triods with controls and well as Sony pan arms adapted to our Sachtler and Miller tripods for our Z5U cameras. Since these camcorders get hard use in the field, they occasionally get destroyed, hence the purchase of the PJ540. We primarily bought the PJ540 is because it was the lowest price Sony with specs we needed and had threads for mounting filters (now 46mm rather than 37mm) and shades and covers. The picture quality is excellent for such a small sensor. The zoom control has a great, smooth feel and the variable zoom linear speed is pro quality.
One thing that is fun is to point the camera at your face and watch the lens track you as you move the camera body side to side and up and down. (Shades of HAL 9000) Optical stabilization hard at work. The stabilization system can be tricked by moving water (river, inlet,etc) and the lens will begin to drift, so beware and watch what's happening on the display.
The images look great and the projector feature is a nice novelty. This model has a lighter, cheaper, plastic feel to it more so than our other Sony handicams. Also, note the manual is woefully inadequate. Perhaps Sony will publish a real manual in the near future.

-We usually use audio captured by handheld or lavalier mics, but one of our editors happened to listen to the audio from a person about three feet distant into the PJ540's mic and was impressed. Not nearly as bad as other camcorders we've owned.
-The stabilization is strong. Once locked onto a particular target, it stays locked. We use a matte box on the the PJ540, but when the lens swivels to its left or right limits, we get slight vignetting at 11, 2, 5 and 7 o'clock positions.
-The 1/4"-20 mounting hole isn't deep enough for the 1/4"-20 bolts on any of our tripod mounting plates.
-Sony now has chat support for this product on their overall support page, but can't help with down in the weeds tech problems.

Good, but.....

I bought this at best buy at the suggestion of the sony direct rep that was there. I liked the image stabilization lens that moves as you move the camera. I specifically questioned about the view screen because I was concerned that it wouldn't be good in strong sun. I was assured that it would be perfect in the sun. He was wrong, you can't see anything on a sunny day which renders this camera useless in strong sun. I'm very unhappy about that.

Sony HDR-PJ540 32GB Full HD Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Projector, 30x Optical Zoom, Balanced Optical SteadyShot, 26.8mm Wide-Angle G Zoom Lens

Recommended Alternatives

Sony PXW-Z90V Compact 1" XDCAM 4K Camcorder with 3G-SDI Output

Sony PXW-Z90V Compact 1" XDCAM 4K Camcorder with Free Accessory Bundle