Sony HDR CX240 Review – Shoot Everything In High-Definition
Have you been thinking about buying a good quality camcorder but don’t know where to start? Consider yourself lucky as you have come to the right place. Camcorder models are aplenty in the market and choosing the right one from the bewildering number of options can be quite a daunting task.
To make things more confusing there are also cheap camcorders that you may be tempted to buy in the name of saving a few bucks. You are better off not buying them as they will hardly last a few uses. We bring to you the Sony HDR CX240 in our review below as an affordable yet high-quality entry-level camcorder that packs quite a number of features for its price point.
Sony HDR CX240 Features and Specs
- A Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 for high-quality videos
- An optical zoom of 27x and an enhanced clear image zoom of 54x
- Dual record modes for shareable videos
- Steady Shot image stabilization for shake-free videos
- Seven different scene selection modes
- Backed by a limited 1-year warranty
Is the Sony HDR CX240 the best entry-level camcorder?
Today High-definition videos have become the norm what with even smartphones having HD recording features. But unless you own a flagship model, it won’t be possible to take high-definition videos using your phone. That is why a camcorder is still the best way to record all your fun and important life moments in high-definition but without breaking the bank.
The Sony HDR CX240 comes with Full HD resolution, image stabilization, advanced zoom, picture preset modes and much more to let you take professional videos and photos even if you are just a beginner. Below we will see each of the features of the HDR CX240 in great detail so that you can decide if it is the right one for your requirements.
Resolution
Shoot videos in high definition as the HDR CX240 comes with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. You can also freeze your memories into high-quality 9.2 MP images. It comes with an Exmor R CMOS sensor that gives crystal clear videos even in low light conditions. At the core of the camcorder is a BIONZ X processor that is not only fast and powerful but also reduces image noise to give you sharp and clear pictures.
Wide angle shots
Never miss any part of the fun as the HDR CX240 comes with a wide-angle Carl Zeiss lens that ensures full coverage of a scene. The 29.8 mm lens also lets you capture everything in high-definition and sharpness.
Image stabilization
No matter how experienced you are camera shake during recording is inevitable. This can happen if you are walking and recording a video or using the zoom button. But the HDR CX240 comes with SteadyShot Image stabilization technology that reduces shake in your videos to give you smooth professional videos. In addition to this it also employs a 3-way shake-canceling technology that further reduces shakes for completely shake-free videos.
Size
Not only is the HDR CX240 a palm-size, compact camcorder, it is also super light weighing a mere 7.6 ounces and hence it is easy to shoot videos for extended periods of time without any fatigue. It comes with a handy strap to let you easily hold your camera while recording. You can also easily take your camcorder with you wherever you go as it will fit into even the smallest of bags.
Zoom
The HDR CX240 comes with an optical zoom of 27x and a Clear Image zoom of 54x to view your fun moments up close. You won’t miss even the finer details when you shoot using the HDR CX240. Unlike some other camcorder where the images are cropped to get the desired zoom, the HDR CX240 uses Clear Image Zoom technology wherein the processor mimics patterns of adjacent pixels. The resulting pictures are sharp and provide a true zoom of the scene.
LCD display
Source: 123rf.com
You can see what you are shooting with crystal clarity on the 2.7” LCD screen as it comes with a resolution of 230k. The screen also comes with a wide viewing angle to let you see it from any angle. Not only can you preview your shots but you can also replay your recordings instantly on the LCD screen.
Modes
If you are a beginner or don’t want to be fiddling with the settings you can simply make use of the intelligent auto mode. This will automatically choose the right settings depending on the shooting environment.
The intelligent auto checks the shooting environment and chooses from ten different scene settings. Some of the scenes include portrait, tripod, baby, landscape, backlight etc. What’s even better is that the intelligent auto feature also takes care of wind noise reduction so that any conversation is clearly heard.
A very interesting mode that will be useful to new parents is the baby mode. It comes with a face detection feature and voice enhancement to capture the important moments of your baby.
Face detection
Face detection is not only part of the baby mode but the HDR CX240 comes inbuilt with this feature and it can differentiate up to 8 faces. What’s even better is that it can even identify adults and children faces accurately. The face detection feature ensures that the right settings are chosen to give you the best possible output. It combines voice enhancement and wind noise reduction to give you high-quality videos that also have a clear audio.
Picture effects
Add stunning effects to your photos and videos and make them look extraordinary with the different picture effects. There are a total of seven different effects such as watercolor or partial color giving you enough options to choose from.
Dual-recording
If you want a high-quality recorded file that you can edit later then the AVCHD format is ideal but these files are large and cannot be easily shared. But that shouldn’t be a problem with the HDR CX240 as it has a dual recording feature.
What this means is that by choosing the dual recording mode you can simultaneously record videos in both AVCHD and mp4 formats. You can use the AVCHD file for adding effects or editing later while you can easily share the mp4 format with friends and family on social media.
Connectivity
Transferring files is super-easy with the HDR CX240 as it comes with a built-in USB cable. Now you can forget looking for misplaced USB cables just when you need to transfer your files. The same USB cable is used for charging the camcorder’s inbuilt battery. USB charging is so quick that you can charge for an hour and get a battery run time of 30 minutes.
In addition to the USB port, there is also an HDMI port and an included HDMI cable which you can use to view your videos on a large screen such as your high-definition TV or even your computer screen.
Battery runtime
The camcorder is equipped with an NP-BX1 type battery which gives you long recording time of up to 130 minutes for uninterrupted recording. So you can forget about running out of charge when you are in the middle of an important shoot.
Editing software
You can have fun editing your videos and adding special effects to them after you have recorded them with Sony’s editing software. The HDR CX240 comes with Play Memories Home and the Music Transfer software for PC and Mac. Not only can you edit your photos and videos using these software but you can also organize them and easily share them on social media. You can find download them for free from Sony’s official website.
Storage
You can store your recorded videos and photos on a variety of memory cards as the CX240 comes with a memory card slot. The types of cards that are compatible are Memory stick, Micro SD cards, SDHC and SDXC cards. You can also store your media on hard disk drives or your personal computer by using the inbuilt USB cable to transfer them.
Pros
- High-definition video recording
- Shake-free videos and photos
- Dual recording for two output formats
- Long battery run time of 130 minutes
- Portable and easy to use
Cons
- The display is smaller than those found on comparable camcorders
- The LCD display does not have a touch screen for changing settings on the fly
Conclusion
Whether you are new to camcorders or want a budget-friendly camcorder to record all your fun and important moments in life, an entry-level camcorder such as the Sony HDR CX240 will be a good choice. This is because even though there are some top camcorder models with some high-end features built into them, it makes no sense if you don’t want to spend your money on features that you don’t even want to use.
That is why the HDR CX240 is a great pocket-friendly camcorder that does not compromise on quality or features due to its affordable price point. It is not without a reason that it is one of the best-selling entry-level camcorders on the market and has some positive customer reviews.
It also comes from the house of Sony, a name that is synonymous with high-quality and high-performing electronics. So you cannot go wrong with the purchase of the Sony HDR CX240. Go get one yourself and store your memories forever.