Review: Sony’s HDR-PJ10 Handycam™ camcorder with built-in projector

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Permalink Reply by Jennie on January 2, 2012 at 1:33pm

I received this product to review it and LOVE it. It was super easy to use, first of all, which was great. The projector feature was especially interesting to me, because I've never seen that before on a camera, and we had so much family in town over the holidays, it was nice to show the videos that way, versus 8 people crowding around the screen on the camera itself, or having to pass it around. I also like the playback that merged it into a little movie right away. I am looking forward to exploring more about the editing capabilities, as I have not had time to get into that aspect yet. The battery seems to last pretty long as well! The only con really, for me, was that after using my iPhone to take video for the last year, it felt a little bulky strapping the camera on to my hand - not a dealbreaker by any means, just something I have to get used to doing again. All in all, a great camera!

Permalink Reply by Susie L on January 2, 2012 at 4:54pm

I was thrilled at the opportunity to try out this new Sony camera. We last purchased a camcorder 10 years ago for a much higher price than this one retails for. It is very compact, very intuitive to learn to use (didn't need to read the manual or watch the instructional DVD). Great features include the touch screen, record button at your thumb, ease of swtiching between picture & video modes, surround sound & microphone, the built-in USB cord to connect to a computer. Once plugged in to a computer, the software loaded automatically within a short time. Nice that it also takes an SD memory card + 16GB built-in memory. The built-in projector was fantastic, especially for the holidays when we wanted to watch special moments right away. The 'Highlight' feature was great too, where it compiles highlights from pictures & videos and sets it to music. Each time the 'Highlight' video plays, it is a slightly different compilation which is nice. The camcorder records a very steady image, no shaking noticed. I look forward to learning more about the editing features that I know the camcorder is capable of. Another great feature is the ability to take still pictures from already-recorded videos. The battery charged quickly and seems to last a long time. One slight downside is the sensitivity of the touch screen. Sometimes you have to touch the screen several times to get it to perform the desired function.

Permalink Reply by Erika, Star Mom on January 2, 2012 at 6:05pm

When I first got his camera, I admit, I was just a bit overwhelmed, I get that way with technology sometimes, but I was so excited for the opportunity to test this product! I'm SO glad I have it! It got used so much on Christmas, and it was so nice to record all of those memories. When we went to visit others, we turned on the projector to show videos of our son opening his gifts.

As far as uploading videos goes, it's MUCH faster for me than uploading videos off my digital camera, and the built in USB is so convenient!

The sound is amazing. I took a video of my son talking on the phone with his Daddy while he was on the road, and on the video I could even hear him on the other line!

The picture quality is very sharp. I didn't try the camera in super low lighting but the lighting in my house is pretty dark and the videos are very nice. 

With the software, videos are very easy to edit. You can go through them frame by frame, delete any parts you want, it's wonderful. The camera takes still pictures during filming as well which is pretty nice. I love the touch screen feature also. 

Overall, there is nothing about this camera I don't like. I hope it lasts a long time, and we can capture many more amazing memories on it!

Permalink Reply by Alex's mama on January 4, 2012 at 8:56am

We loved using this camera!  My husband can be timid towards new technology but this camera is simple and easy to use.  The touch screen helps elimitate guessing what buttons do what.  As said in other reviews, reading the manual isn't necessary to just jump in and start using it which was great for us traveling to see family this year.  We were able to film our son opening his presents and share the video using the projection feature with our family when we arrived.  No uploading, fiddling with cords to the tv or computer, etc.  The focusing on the projection was very easy too.  They only catch is you have to stand there holding it or find a shelf or table to set it on.  The built in usb cord is only a couple inches long and gets plugged into a longer cord for connecting to the computer but was still easy to use since it uses a usb connection versus a specified cord.  Uploading the videos and pictures to the computer was very easy and almost done for me as soon as the camera was plugged in.

 

The in-camera highlight was great but we didn't get to use it to the max since we didn't take a lot of pictures, we had other family taking pictures while I was doing video.  It will be helpful when returning to the camera after the holidays for a quick reminisce of that joyous time and also for identifying Christmas versus birthday pics/vids as our son's birthday is not far away. 

 

The quality of picture in a very low light video was fantastic!  We were able to capture my son opening a momentious present, his first tricycle with the Christmas tree lights on in the background.  I will cherish that memory forever because of the superb quality of picture. 

 

All in all, this was a very light weight, easy to use, camera with very little steps from capturing the video to sharing with friends and family.  Every family loves to capture the beautiful smiles of their children and funny moments and this camera makes is more possible than any product I have seen on the market yet.  As a family who lives far from the children's grandparents, this is a great way to share the memories.

Permalink Reply by cjdoosmom on January 4, 2012 at 9:17am

What a great opportunity to get our hands on some cutting-edge technology! Our first thought was "wow", the camera is surprisingly small and compact. Just a little more bulky than a cellphone but a good bit smaller than any other video camera we've ever held, it fits quite nicely in the palm of your hand. It also slides right into my (winter) jacket pocket, perfect for running around NYC for the holidays (or any other time). No one else will know it's there.

This camera has a really nice balance of functionalities without being too complex, like the focus for the projector is in an intuitive spot (above the touchscreen), the photo capture and record buttons are also well placed, and everything just slides and glides exactly as you think it should. Some limited poking around will really give you a great sense of capabilities (great for those with no time or interest in reading the manual)! The attached USB cord that folds into the handle is a great convenience. The battery life is phenomenal! I can't even think of the last time I was impressed by a machine's battery time, it's usually the downfall of modern technology, but this Sony Handycam really raises the bar.

The only criticisms I have of the camera are pretty small ones: I would have preferred the power button to reside elsewhere, tucked away inside is a pain. Navigating some of the menus on projector mode are not as intuitive as I would have liked. While the Highlight mode is great, brought the whole family smiles each and every time, there is no way to stop mid-highlight mode and that is just a personal peeve of mine (when a device will not do what you want it to do for unknown reasons).

The Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam records (and takes photos) in low-light is surprisingly well. That low-light video option they tout is no joke!
We put the motion sensor to the test while filming our toddler and it was really impressive, kept up with each and every one of his bounces without later inspiring viewers to feel seasick! 

Overall, this camera is a really impressive machine. My husband, an aspiring, fledgling photographer, can't keep his hands off it.  We look forward to getting to know it better and capturing many low-light and bouncy memories to come!

Permalink Reply by Genevieve Rudy on January 4, 2012 at 9:35pm

Receiving the Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam around the holidays was the greatest present I could have ever asked for.   The video camera is easy to use because the buttons are self-explanatory. Not only can you take video with the Sony, but you can also take pictures which was as easy as the click of a button.  I am grateful that I won't have to lug around a camera and a video camera on our next family vacation! 

One amazing feature of the camera is the wide-angle lense.  I took a video of my daughter laughing and playing in her crib and you can see what is going on in the rest of the room.  When I look back at these memories, this feature will help me to feel like I am "right there again!" When I take photos of my daughter in our apartment (not lots of light), there are often shadows in the background and the pictures don't come out right.  Thanks to the "Exmor R" CMOS sensor on this video camera, though, I was able to take video and you wouldn't even know that our lighting was so bad because the lighting was bright.

The built-in projector is cool, too.  We were definitely the envy of everyone at Christmas.  We could playback our gift opening in an instant.  We were also able to use the "Playback," feature which instantly turned our memories into a professional-like video with music and all! The movie reminded me of some of the professional short videos my friends had done for their weddings, but it was done by the camera in an instant! 

This camera is all around wonderful! I would recommend it to anyone on the market for a new video camera.  

The only cons? 1. The price point is slightly high, but I would say that it is worth it especially since you have a lot of fancy features you can play with (the movie option is my favorite!) 2. The camera is a tad bit heavier than others you may find, but definitely not undoable.  

Permalink Reply by sneakierbiscuit on January 4, 2012 at 10:27pm

Oh boy, where do I start? 
I was a little intimidated when I first received this, because the only video-taking I've ever done is on my iPhone.  I'm one of those "read the manual" people, so I did that.  The manual is clearly written and served to reduce my anxiety, rather than increase it with confusing instructions.

I'm used to the iPhone, so this seemed much heavier in comparison, but it's actually pretty compact and the payoff is worth it - no shakes!  All my old videos have the picture jiggling all over the place because I can't hold a camera steady to save my life.  The videos with the Sony HDR-PJ10 were impressively smooth.

We live on the ground floor of a N.E. house built in the 1920's, with the little windows our apartment is pretty dark, especially in winter.  That wasn't a problem for this camera - the picture quality even in low light is great.  Sony didn't lie! 

The projector feature I thought would be fiddly, but it was actually really easy, and my toddler was totally THRILLED to be able to see his little adventures on a "big screen" (we don't use our television, so he's only ever seen very short videos on our iPhones.)  Since it's so easy to do, he'll be getting that treat more often. 

The editing tools are super-easy to use.  So much better than transferring the files to our computer and then using my husband's video-editing software.  If you are transferring the files to your computer, the process if surprisingly quick (not my experience with the iPhone or our compact digital camera, although, ok it's the iPhone 3G and the digital camera was bought pre-2008.) 

One of the best things about this handycam is that you can choose stills from the video to make as photos.  It's so much easier to get a good "shot" that way, without having to snap away like mad or miss a great expression because by the time you pressed the button the shutter delay too too long.  This is going to make my digital scrapbooks look so good, people might think our family is naturally photogenic!  heheheh

Since I have a touchscreen smartphone, I really appreciated that this handycam mostly uses a touchscreen too.  The buttons and complicated button-functions on some of my friends cameras makes using them so fiddly.  This was easy and the quality of the picture so good. 

I've already recommended it to my friends and family (and random people I meet at the supermarket.)  I guess this review makes it official.  It has my mommy stamp of approval.   :)

Permalink Reply by Irishgirl23 on January 5, 2012 at 10:40am

I received the Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam to review and I was so impressed!  I really think it has some of the easiest features to use on it.  The built-in projector worked flawlessly in showing the grandparents our family opening gifts Christmas morning.  I just aimed it at the wall and felt like a million bucks because my family was so impressed with how tech savvy I was!  I have to admit, I was skeptical of the Exmor R sensor actually picking up the video of our Christmas Eve festivities due to the low lighting.  Usually it grainy and it has this aweful rose hue to it, not anymore!!   The HDR-PJ10 picked up the recording just as if it were really happening.  No diffused lighting, no struggling to figure out what was going on in the video, it was crystal clear!  I also loved that you can make a feature reel about your videos, eliminating the boring, stuff for your audience is priceless.  Nothing is worse than watching people fumble around while you are trying to get them to do a certain thing for the camera.  This feature eliminated that feeling that I was loosing my audience.  Highlight reels are amazing!!  I have to also add that I love that the HDR-PJ10 also has a great feature to steady the picture while you are walking.  Believe me with little ones totting around, this is priceless.  Thank you so much for choosing me to be a part of this amazing experience. I am a Sony fan for life!  Thanks Mom365.com!! Review will be up on my blog shortly. Click here to read the review. (I received the Sony HDR-PJ10 as a free sample product. All opinions are my own statements and feelings about this product.)

Permalink Reply by sarah buehrle on January 5, 2012 at 11:14am

I love this videocamera, with a few small caveats.

I was really impressed with what a slick, multi-featured  videocamera the Sony HandyCam appeared to be, while still fitting neatly into my medium sized hand. Then I saw the five different clusters of cables, DVD tutorial and thick instruction manual and closed the box back up for another day.

A week later I pulled out the manual and sat down to set my video camera up. I identified all the parts, inserted the battery, and charged it. It took me about 20 minutes to get it ready to charge - but only because I was trying to be methodical, not because it was hard.

Two days latter I set the time/date and chose my recording quality. The latter was difficult for me, as I had a hard time reading the chart provided because it seemed to repeat itself. Finally, I just put the manual down and started shooting photos and video.

It was very easy and intuitive once I put the manual down! I figured out quickly how to record and play back, how to toggle between movies and photos and how to project onto the wall (though it took me three sessions to figure out how to focus the projector because the zoom button for the projector is not the same zoom button as for the recording.)

Today, when I went to review last week's videos and photos, I saw all the photos that the Sony HandyCam took using the  "smile shutter" feature. This feature automatically takes a still photo of a smiling person's face while you are shooting video. I love this feature! It gets great stills which you can share more easily than video.

I also like how the photos/video are grouped together into "events" which seems to be everything you record in one day. I like how you can press play on a still and it goes into slide show mode, running through all photos and video without any further button touches.

The two little caveats I have are the price - googled $530-$650 - and my own personal inability to get the camera to play on our TV. I tried for 20 minutes then gave up.


Final summary -
I have an iPhone that I use constantly to take impromptu video and photos. It's easy to carry, and is like a technological Swiss army knife because I get a computer, video camera, camera and phone all in one easy-to-carry package.

That said, the Sony Handycam is definitely better at taking video and photos at special events because it's easier to hold and point, the command buttons are easier to reach, and it's easier to hand off to another person, rather than, in this case, the awkwardly thin iPhone on which you have to be careful not to touch the screen while recording.

The Sony HandyCam built-in projection feature is great for parties. The recording sound and picture quality are fantastic. The extra features such as the Smile Shutter are a fun bonus.

I would recommend the Sony HandyCam.

Permalink Reply by CJoy on January 5, 2012 at 9:50pm

I received the Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam to review and am very pleased with the product. We did not previously own a video camera and mostly shot our videos with cell phones and digital cameras.

 

The Handycam adjusts very well to different lighting. The picture is amazingly clear. While shooting indoors or out I was able to capture shots that were not grainy or pixilated even when filming fast moving kids.

 

The touch screen was easy to use and navigate. Uploading the videos was a breeze with the built in USB and using an SD card, which fits right into our computer. The projection feature was great. I liked the option of playing a highlight reel of our day that was put together for me. Being able to watch back our video without having to first find the TV cables or hook it up to the computer was a great plus. Our son loved watching himself on the wall and the whole family was able to replay Christmas without having to take turns around the camera. The picture from the projection was incredibly clear and easy to adjust as we made it bigger or smaller.

 

My only critiques are that the auto focus takes a minute to adjust and that the video editing software was not compatible with my Mac, only for PC. The Sony Handycam however was able to upload the video into my built in software which previous Sony cameras we have used have not been compatible at all, that was a major plus.

 

I would highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for an affordable, high quality device. The still photos are clear, easy to take and very high definition. Videos come out great in any light and capturing varieties of movement. The projection is a wonderful and unexpected plus that you may not expect to use but when you have it you can’t get enough of it. :)