Japanese digital technology manufacturers have recently been actively using technology from Germany. Sony was no exception, which often installs Carl Zeiss optics on its cameras and camcorders. Especially it concerns an inexpensive and average segment of the market. One of the most successful such products from this manufacturer was the Sony DCR SX45e camcorder, which was introduced to the general public several years ago. More details about it and will be discussed later.
General Description
In general, the model is an inexpensive, elegant and compact entry-level device. According to representatives of the manufacturing company, the main target audience of the camcorder are novice users who want to film any significant events in their lives for a personal archive. The size of the Sony DCR SX45e is 123.5x52.5x57 millimeters. At the choice of a potential buyer, Japanese engineers offered several options for the color of the hull.
Ergonomics
As noted above, the model is quite compact,therefore, with its transportation, the user cannot have any difficulties. The weight of the device is only 230 grams (excluding battery). The Sony DCR SX45e can fit into a handbag or even an inside jacket pocket. There are no problems with model management either. Feedback from owners of the device indicates that the camcorder fits comfortably in the hand and does not slip.
Key Features
The 60x zoom Carl Zeiss lens is considered the highlight of the Sony DCR SX45e. The characteristics of this device allow you to shoot objects at a distance without changing the position of the video camera. It should be noted that even with a strong magnification, the images are very clear. This is achieved largely due to the use of high-quality stabilizer SteadyShot in the camcorder. It functions throughout the entire zoom range and performs superbly even under conditions such as hand shake or motion shots.
Camera control
Management is mainly carried out through the rotary, tilting display of the Sony DCR SX45e camcorder. The instruction that comes with the device will greatly help the user with its operation. The display itself has a size of 3 inches and also plays the role of a viewfinder. On it, if necessary, the user can view the footage. So there's no needconnect the camcorder to a desktop computer or laptop. Many owners note that pointing to the subject of focus through the touch screen is very quick, simple and convenient. What's more, there is no need to interrupt the process to make adjustments to the video recording process or change the mode.
Interface and settings
As noted above, amateurs are the main target audience of the camcorder. In this regard, in order to simplify operation, Japanese developers have installed the most simple and intuitive interface on the Sony DCR SX45e model. The reviews of most camera owners indicate that it will not be difficult to figure out the controls even for a person who uses this kind of equipment for the first time. This is largely due to the fact that most of the settings here are automatic.
The iAUTO intelligent mode deserves separate words, the peculiarity of which is that when it is activated, all shooting parameters are set based on external conditions - distance, lighting level, and scene mode. In addition, it is impossible not to note the function of face recognition in the frame. In this case, the camcorder adjusts the settings on its own so that the faces remain in focus in any background, regardless of how they move around the picture.
Recording and storage of material
The Sony DCR SX45e model shoots 25 fps movies in 50i, 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. The standard resolution is 720x576 pixels. Thanks to the presencebuilt-in microphone, recording is accompanied by stereo sound. It should be noted that with the help of the device, the user has the opportunity to take photographs as well. They have a resolution of 640x480 pixels. According to user reviews, the photos are characterized by a fairly high definition, a decent level of detail and almost no noise.
All footage is recorded on removable media. The camcorder comes standard with a 4 GB memory card. If desired, the owner of the device can install a more capacious drive on it. The device supports cards of different formats. Quite original can be called a connection to a laptop or computer. In particular, this is done not through the usual wire, but through a retractable usb port. The kit also offers a utility with which the user can send footage to Internet resources. It should be noted that you do not need to install special drivers on your computer to connect the camcorder to it.
Finishing
As of today, the Sony DCR SX45e has been discontinued. However, you can still buy this camcorder in some home appliance stores. Its cost is about 250 US dollars. In general, the device is a very successful development of the Japanese company, which is able to plunge the novice user into euphoria. First of all, this is due to the ease of management and the rather high quality of video materials that can be obtained forpretty modest price. As for the main drawback of the model, most users call it a short battery life of only a few hours.
