I, like many, have been searching for a device that successfully combines the camera with the camcorder. We have an older point and shoot Sony camera, and a Canon MiniDV Camcorder and I’ve noticed over the last year the camcorder has been spending more time left at home, while the number of short clips from the still camera was growing. The new Sony T500 was delivered last week and it’s exceeding many of my expectations.
The large touch screen on the back allows the design to be simple and intuitive. I thought I would miss control buttons on the back, but don’t. There are smaller form factors out there, but the T500 easily fits in a pocket and is definitely on the sleek and compact side of things. Camera feels solid and well built. HD Video Recording: Simply toggle the switch to the right and you’re in movie mode. Outdoor shooting in good light produces some very impressive video. Displayed on a flat screen, I’d have to say this little camera easily out performs my non HD camcorder. Low light shooting was not as sharp and a camcorder probably does better in low light.
That said, I would still not hesitate in buying this camera. Zoom during video moves at one speed(unlike a camcorder where you can control the speed that you zoom in and out), but it’s a good, moderately slow speed. Audio is crisp and clean. Shooting video may take a little getting used to. Because the T500 is so much smaller and lighter then a camcorder, extra thought must go into keeping the camera still and keeping your motions smooth during panning. I haven’t come close to the 10 minute video limit. I know some will argue you need unlimited shooting time for weddings, birthdays, etc. but when I put movies together with iMovie, I’ve found that any clips over a couple minutes make the movie REALLY boring.
For those special occasions, I have no problem lugging around my camcorder, but for daily life and times you don’t want to shove a camcorder in people’s faces, the Sony T500 excels. Still Photos: Like video recording, outdoor and good lighting produce some beautiful photos. Indoor and low light are not as good but I’ve found the "Twilight Portrait" scene mode produces some decent photos. We primarily view our photos on a flat screen, and the 16:9 picture mode is great for landscapes and scenery shots. Even though it’s not an Ultra Wide 28mm lens, the wide angle is still wider then our previous camera(3-4 year old Sony). Sure a larger zoom would be nice, but considering the slim design, 5X is pretty good, and you better have a tripod if you’re shooting video above 5-10X. Not surprisingly, the still camera is a noticeable upgrade to our old 5 mega pixel camera. Battery life does seem a little short, but I’ve been shooting a lot of video and spending a lot of time reviewing on the large touchscreen.
Definitely need a back up, and I like the US version of the battery charger. Prongs fold out and you simply plug it in the wall(No Cord Mess). Overall, I’m very satisfied with our purchase. The video and photo quality are impressive. I’m not quite sure I’m ready to sell off the camcorder, but I know it will be spending even more time stored at home.