Sony Handycam HDR-CX12 Expert Reviews

alaTest has collected and analyzed 129 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the color. The usability also impresses, but many are less positive about the viewfinder.

Color, Usability, Image, Appearance

Viewfinder, Zoom, Interface, Battery

Experts rate this product 77/100 and users 91/100. We analyzed these ratings, the product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX12 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

The Sony HDR-CX12 has so much potential-great image quality, manual control, and great extras-that are marred by serious shortfalls-camera dock requirement, lack of external audio in, and no progressive modes. If you can get over these, you'll enjoy ...

Excellent image quality ; comfortable and easy to use ; works with iMovie '09 without a hitch ; cool Night Shot and super slow motion shooting modes ; good photo stills

External mike input available only through Active Interface Shoe ; no headphone jack ; requires cumbersome docking base to connect to Mac ; no progressive video mode

Overall, the shooting experience with the HDR-CX12 is quite comfortable. For manual adjustments as you shoot, Sony thoughtfully included a great control wheel. Generally speaking, it's much faster and more natural to use an analog wheel than it is to ...

The Sony HDR-CX12 replaces last year's HDR-CX7, another AVCHD camcorder that records exclusively to removable memory cards. While the two models look similar on the surface, Sony's improvements under the hood, as well as the addition of a "Cam Control ...

, the 2.7-inch screen is less than ideal for power users. With a simple push and twist, the Cam Control dial allows you to make smooth, fine-tuned adjustments to focus, exposure, AE shift, and white balance. Most importantly, it offers an alternative ...

The Sony HDR-CX12 replaces last year's HDR-CX7, another AVCHD camcorder that records exclusively to removable memory cards. While the two models look similar on the surface, Sony's improvements under the hood, as well as the addition of a "Cam Control ...

, the 2.7-inch screen is less than ideal for power users. With a simple push and twist, the Cam Control dial allows you to make smooth, fine-tuned adjustments to focus, exposure, AE shift, and white balance. Most importantly, it offers an alternative ...

The Sony HDR-CX12 is the company's second-generation high definition camcorder that records solely to MemoryStick cards, replacing last year's HDR-CX7. The handling has improved immensely with the addition of a "Cam Control dial" that frees you from ...

The compact Handycam HDR-CX12E flash-based camcorder offers impressive high-def video quality, good still photos and a decent feature set. You might miss some of the perks that you get on larger rivals, such as an eye-level viewfinder and bigger LCD ...

Excellent video performance ; impressive still photos for a camcorder ; decent manual controls

No wind filter ; USB on dock only, not on camcorder ; no viewfinder ; relatively small LCD

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX12E, the flash-memory-based equivalent of the HDR-SR11, serves up the same pleasing performance and quality as its hard-drive cousin. Some trade-offs have been made to achieve such a compact design -- for example, the LCD ...

Sony's HDR-CX12 HD camcorder is in the top tier of the company's consumer camcorders lineup.

The Sony HDR-CX12 is a classic Greek tragedy. It has so much potential - great image quality, manual control, and great extras - that are marred by serious shortfalls - camera dock requirement, lack of external audio in, and no progressive modes. If ...

THIS is such a brilliant high-definition handycam that is almost impossible to find fault with it.

Excellent AVCHD video quality, good performance in dim lighting, 10.1Mp stills mode, Smile Shutter technology, camera control dial for "hands on" adjustments

No inbuilt memory, not as compact as other flash memory-based models, inclusion of superfluous buttons

The HDR-CX12 is a brilliant high-definition handycam that is almost impossible to find fault with. It improves on its CX7K predecessor in nearly every area and is easily a match for Sony's high-end HDR-SR12 model. If you don't mind the lack of an ...