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7.7 out of 10

Sony HDR-CX12

First seen: 20 june 2008

Information found in: from 23 sources in 12 countries.

Great Deal: $821.99

  • User Score (51)
    9.0 9.0 from 51 reviewers
  • Expert Score (5)
    7.7 7.7 from 5 reviewers
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Pros & Cons

  • 10mp digital photos, good photo stills, not the sr11 12, quality perfect combination, quality of recorded video
  • need base for usb, not final cut compatible, need avchd player, video output format, only 12x optical zoom

Big performance in a compact package. Record Full HD video directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media with the palm-sized HDR-CX12 high definition Handycam® camcorder.

  • Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full High Definition 8 resolution.
  • Carry only one compact camera for both video and still. Capture up to 10.2 megapixel still image for high resolution digital photos.
  • Capture still images directly onto Memory Stick PRO…

Sony HDR-CX12

The Sony HDR-CX12 is a digital camcorder that measures approximately 2.75 x 2.75 x 5.13 inches (W x H x D) and weighs roughly 1 pound with the battery. It has 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensors with Exmor technology. The camcorder, which has a BIONZ image processor, records videos in full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and captures images up to 10.2 megapixels. The camera is equipped with Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar optics with TTL contrast detection and a built-in lens shield. The HDR-CX12…

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Sony HDR-CX12

The Sony HDR-CX12 is a digital camcorder that measures approximately 2.75 x 2.75 x 5.13 inches (W x H x D) and weighs roughly 1 pound with the battery. It has 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensors with Exmor technology. The camcorder, which has a BIONZ image processor, records videos in full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and captures images up to 10.2 megapixels. The camera is equipped with Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar optics with TTL contrast detection and a built-in lens shield. The HDR-CX12 offers optical zoom up to 12x with 150x digital zoom.

The camcorder captures HD videos in AVCHD and SD videos in MPEG-2, while still images are saved in JPEG format. It shoots at a minimum shutter speed of 1/30 seconds and a maximum of 1/250 seconds.

The HDR-CX12 features a 2.7-inch wide touch panel Clear Photo LCD Plus screen with a 211,200 pixel resolution. Apart from this, the camcorder also has an integrated Dolby Digital 5.1 channel Electret condenser zoom microphone with surround sound settings. The zoom microphone records sounds from the front, rear, and sides of the camcorder.

The Sony HDR-CX12 comes with a 4-gigabyte Memory Stick Pro Duo. Depending on the mode used, it can record anywhere from 25 minutes (FH mode) up to 160 minutes (LP mode). This memory capacity can be expanded by replacing the included Memory Stick Pro Duo with up to 16 gigabytes.

The Sony HDR-CX12, which is powered by an infolithium battery with AccuPower and Stamina Battery Power Management System, features a number of terminals. Apart from an HDMI output with Bravia Sync technology, it offers other connectivity options through its AV Remote Terminal. These include an analog AV output, a component video output, and an S-Video output. It also has a USB port and a headphone jack.

Other features of the HDR-CX12 include face detection, face indexing, and PictBridge compatibility. It is equipped with technologies such as SteadyShot Image Stabilization, Super and NightShot Infrared.

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Reviews of Sony HDR-CX12

  1. Reviewer: Camcorder Info
    3 September 2008

    The Sony HDR-CX12 is a very strong performer in all kinds of light. For that alone, it merits as a solid choice for an all-purpose camcorder. If you plan on limiting your operations to point-and-shoot recording, take comfort in the CX12's Easy mode, which couldn't be simpler. Read more

  2. Reviewer: Reviewed.com
    15 October 2008

    All this aside, however, the HDR-CX12 is a quality camcorder in a market with some very strong competition. Read more

  3. Sony Handycam HDR-CX12

    Reviewer: PhotoReview
    30 November 2008
    Overall 9
    8.5
     

    The Handycam HDR-CX12 is similar in size and styling to the HDR-CX7 model, which it replaces. One of a rapidly-growing class of camcorders that record exclusively to flash memory (in this case Memory Stick Pro Duo), it's also the first camcorder with Smile Shutter technology. This feature already appears in some digital still cameras that, like the CX12, are designed primarily for point-and-press shooters. Automatic Face Detection technology is also provided with the... Read more

  4. Sony Handycam HDR-CX12

    Reviewer: CNET
    12 February 2009
    Overall 8
    8.0
    Design 8
    8.0
    Features 8
    8.0
    Performance 8
    8.0
     

    The bottom line: As the flash-memory-based equivalent of the HDR-SR11, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX12 serves up the same pleasing performance and quality as its hard-drive cousin. Read more

  5. Sony Handycam HDR-CX12

    Reviewer: CNET
    12 September 2008
    Overall 8
    8.2
     

    Should space and weight be your priorities, and you're willing to fund the camera's memory card habit, then the CX12 is the high-def camcorder to have, otherwise the SR11/SR12 twins get our vote every time. Read more

  1. great!! I love it!!

    Reviewer: Hoo Hean Ee, Amazon
    21 October 2008
    Overall 10
    10
     

    I got this digital HD camcorder because I prefer having SSD storage media(no moving parts)such as memory stick to store my video footage. I feel that memory stick and should be more robust and resistance to shakiness when I shoot the video.( I also own a PSP so the memory stick should be able to work too) The features worked very well as advertised but there are some thing to take note, there are additional purchase to get full out of the device: 1. Get a new lithium... Read more

  2. Nice package if you want HD video

    Reviewer: ABT Electronics
    6 October 2008
    Overall 8
    8.0
     

    Recording home movie footage and taking digital photos primarily. Compact design that's easy to hold and use as one device for HD video and Hi resolution still shots. Still getting used to not having a view finder to point and shoot like my older MiniDV Sony Handicam. Wished this camera had a slightly better optical zoom like 20X versus 12X. Accessory lenses help, but they are expensive and take time to screw on and off. A quick disconnect lens mount and release system,... Read more

  3. "EXCELLENT camcorder image, quality and stabilization"

    Reviewer: CNET
    20 May 2009
    Overall 10
    10
     

    Sony is leading HD technology. They invented AVCHD (with panasonic) and Blue-Ray. Canon beat them to the 24Mbps limit; but there is barely any improvement in image quality. When Sony can take advantage of 24Mbps I'm sure they'll release another camcorder. Competition: The only competition in this price range is the Canon HF20 or the better older HF10/11 (soon to be discontinued). Sanyo FH1 records in 60p; but requires a new $800 computer to process this video file. Also... Read more

  4. Not compatible with Final Cut Pro

    Reviewer: B&H Photo
    23 November 2008
    Overall 6
    6.0
     

    Ease of use - AFTER the shoot - is as important for me as during the shoot - I didn't like the workflow to get the footage into Final Cut Pro - so I returned this item and exchanged it for the Canon VIXIA HF10 AVCHD Dual Flash Memory Camcorder. Furthermore, I never did find the 24p frame rate in the menu - whereas the Canon was easier to locate. I also didn't like the "proprietary" (Sony Only) everything and the lack of an Audio Input jack AND no headphone jack?... I... Read more

  5. Sony HD

    Reviewer: Shopping.com
    11 December 2008
    Overall 8
    8.0
     

    I bought this camera six months ago, and the only true complain I have is that sony has made it a tr Read more

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