Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

180 reviews

Nov, 2024

Positive
image quality (66)
usability (65)
portability (52)
price (28)
size (23)

Negative
zoom (8)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 180 reviews of Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V. The average rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. People really like the design and size. The portability and image quality also get good feedback, but there are mixed opinions on the memory and price. Many are critical about the zoom.

usability, image quality, portability, size, design

zoom

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 88/100 = Very good quality.

See all Sony Camcorders

Review analysis

(Based on 180 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(59% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (25% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (9% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (5% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (2% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
Show positive (70%)Show negative (30%)(Show all)

image quality
Show positive (80%)Show negative (20%)(Show all)

portability
Show positive (74%)Show negative (26%)(Show all)

price
Show positive (51%)Show negative (49%)(Show all)

size
Show positive (58%)Show negative (43%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 139 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 101 of 139 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (41)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

alaTest has collected and analyzed 22 user reviews of Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.co.uk. People really like the battery and reliability. The portability and image quality are also mentioned favorably. There are some less positive comments about the price. Views about the size and zoom are different.

usability, image quality, portability, reliability, battery

price

86% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Nov, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

alaTest has collected and analyzed 69 user reviews of Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. Reviewers are impressed by the size and price. The portability and image quality also get good reviews, whereas many are negative about the memory and zoom.

usability, image quality, portability, price, size

zoom, memory

96% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Nov, 2024

Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V review: Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

Full manual feature set for video; geotagging for video is fun, if not very practical; autofocus system performs very well.

Annoying menu system; no wind filter or meaningful audio controls; relatively big and heavy; expensive; defaults to low resolution, not-full-HD video quality; cumbersome touch-screen interface.

The Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V fares well compared with the competition, though its video could be a bit sharper and the interface less cumbersome. Unless you absolutely need to store a lot of video on the camcorder--which I don't suggest--or if have...

May, 2010

Read the full review

Expert review by : Jeremy Stamas (camcorderinfo.com)

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V Camcorder Review

Sony's flagship 2010 model, the HDR-CX550V, is a larger camcorder than its predecessor, but it is loaded with a wide angle lens, new manual controls, and stronger performance. With a Sony049 price tag, the CX550 is also one of the cheaper high-end...

May, 2010

Read the full review

Expert review by : Jeremy Stamas (reviewed.com)

Sony HDR-CX550V

Larger than its predecessor, but loaded with features, controls, and stronger performance

Great control dial; Decent motion

Poor low light sensitivity; Color accuracy wasn’t great

With the HDR-CX550V Sony finally began to break down some of its longstanding policies regarding its Handycam camcorders. For starters, the CX550V is the first Sony Handycam to offer 24Mbps AVCHD recording, and it is the first to enable the use of...

May, 2010

Read the full review

Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com.au)

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

Against the competition the CX550V fares well, though its video could be a bit sharper and the interface less cumbersome.

Full manual feature set for video ; Geotagging for video is fun, if not very practical ; Autofocus system performs very well

Annoying menu system ; No wind filter or meaningful audio controls ; Relatively big and heavy ; Expensive ; Defaults to low resolution, not-full-HD video quality ; Cumbersome touchscreen interface

Via CNET US

Nov, 2010

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com.au)

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V review: Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

Full manual feature set for video; geotagging for video is fun, if not very practical; autofocus system performs very well.

Annoying menu system; no wind filter or meaningful audio controls; relatively big and heavy; expensive; defaults to low resolution, not-full-HD video quality; cumbersome touch-screen interface.

May, 2010

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.co.uk)

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V review

Given its accoutrements--a large G series lens, 64GB memory built in, 3.5-inch LCD and EVF, headphone and mic jacks, and shutter and iris controls--the Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V's price north of $1,000 may be a bit painful, but not much of a surprise....

Full manual feature set for video; geotagging for video is fun, if not very practical; autofocus system performs very well.

Annoying menu system; no wind filter or meaningful audio controls; relatively big and heavy; expensive; defaults to low resolution, not-full-HD video quality; cumbersome touch-screen interface.

May, 2010

Read the full review

Consumer review (cnet.com)

Not bad but not great.

Wide lens. Touchscreen easy to use. Viewfinder nice to have. Image stabilization top notch. Compact size and weight.

Lens cover mechanism. Image quality when played back on HDTV not as great as expected. Windcutter helped with wind noise reduction. Occasional infamous blue dot problem. Photos- eh. PMB software limitations. Could use lens hood accessory.

Apr, 2012

Read the full review

Consumer review (sony.com)

Best pro handy cam in the market, FACT!

i'v had this camera for a week and i have tried almost every setting on it, its perfect if you know what your doing and what you want, even if you new to filming this camera can still give you that pro look needed. so far iv done a lil music video with...

Great focus pull, Amazing HD quality pictures and film

zoom not that smooth, but manageable

Sep, 2011

Read the full review

Consumer review (sony.com)

Excellent non-pro camera

Since I've had this for only a week I can't say anything about reliability. It's an all-in-one package that takes great video and still pictures. However, if you're looking for pro camera with full manual exposure/F-stop/white balance/shutter (etc)...

Excellent resolution. Lots of file storage choices. Good battery life. Full auto mode in normal light works great for mo

No full manual mode. Setting one mode to manual generally resets all others to "Auto

May, 2011

Read the full review

Consumer review (sony.com)

Best option in the consumer camcorder category

The cx560v is a great camera in the consumer camcorder category. The image sensor on this camera is a 1/2.88" CMOS compared to a 1/4" CMOS in the cx160 and cx360 models and the effective resolution on this camera is also comparatively higher at 6.14...

High effective video resolution, great sound, hot-shoe for expandability

small screen considering it is a touch screen

Apr, 2011

Read the full review