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

This was a used purchase because Sony hasn't sold these for years. It works great though. Stellar camera and the built in projector was my primary motivation for purchase. It works surprisingly well. It's not the brightest, but it really is effective for convenient immediate playback.

I love it

For a modestly priced video camera, this little gem is outstanding. My main reason for purchasing this camera was because it has external audio input and I sometimes use a mixer or shotgun mike. It also has a headphone input for monitoring the recording. The feature that I like the most on this camera is the optical image stabilization. Ideally, you should always use a tripod when shooting video but that is not always practical. When hand holding the camera, and having a slight movement, the lens moves in the opposite direction, making the shot more stable. Pans and zooms are also much smoother. The built-in projector is handy when travelling and you want to review the footage on the wall in a hotel room. The 1080p image quality is excellent. The hot shoe on the top is recessed and most lights or mikes will not fit without a special adapter. I have shot over an hour continuously using a 3400 mah high capacity battery which can be purchased separately. The 30X optical zoom is good, but the zoom control is very touchy and it is difficult to control the speed. It would be nice if the speed could be preset. The manufacturer claims a 60X zoom using both optical and digital, but who uses digital, which merely magnifies the center of the picture resulting in loss of resolution? The 30X optical zoom is enough. The storage media is a micro SD card but I would have preferred a standard SD card because I think that they are more reliable.

Bells and whistles aside, the main joy of the HDR-PJ540 is that the video comes out crisp and lifelike. Skintones are vibrant and not washed out, and though I haven't tried any true night shooting, sunny days and cloudy days alike make for great video with this camera. (It seems easier to use than my previous unit, which was a Panasonic). I have found the 32GB internal storage to be enough for my needs, so I haven't even had to bother with a memory card. Yes, the built in projector lets you screen your video on any wall or white surface -- and that's truly a plus -- but the main reason I'm in love with this camera is that the end result looks fantastic (unless you're shooting someone gutting a fish, in which case it would probably look appropriately revolting).