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Thursday April 2, 2009
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 Sony unveiled an irresistible compact video camera today, the HDR-TG5V. It combines the small shape of Flip cameras that have changed the consumer video market with high-end features previously found only in larger cameras.
The HDR-TG5V shoots 1920-by-1080 high-def video and can snap 4-megapixel photos. You can save your work to the 16GB of internal flash memory (enough for 6 hours of high-def video). If that's not enough room, you can add a Memory Stick PRO Duo to more recording time. Naturally, it offers a Carl Zeiss Vaio-Tessar lens with 10X optical zoom.
I love that the HDR-TG5V also offers GPS for geotagging your work. The camera's 2.7-inch screen can display a map interface with pushpins showing every location that you've shot. Tap one of the pins to call up that video.
When you're using it for still photos, built-in smile shutter technology takes a picture only when your subjects have a nice grin. You'll also get face detection, to make sure your subjects are in focus.
This camera just rocketed to the top of my wish list, but it isn't cheap. It will be released in May and will sell for $999.99. Sony will also offer a travel kit, including a battery, travel charger, and pouch, for $100.
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April 2, 2009 3:44 PM
Irresistable? Not even close.Not when I can buy a top of the line Canon HD camcorder for less than half that.Typical Sony,charging gold prices for potmetal quality.
April 2, 2009 3:52 PM
The camera does some nice things besides taking video.
However, the price means it does not compete with the Flip Mino which is one fifth the price! That means you can buy 2 Flip Minos and a GPS and a 10 Megapixel still camera, plus have enough left over to rent a car to drive to your favorite photo spot!
June 21, 2009 4:15 PM
This is an extremely convenient, easy to use digital camcorder and camera. It fits very nicely into both my pants pocket and small pockets on skirts, and the controls are very easy to use. It has good zoom control, is easy to switch back and forth between movie and photos, and allows photographing while also filming at the same time (which used to require a high degree of coordination with camera in left hand and video in right). Best of all, it is fully compatible with Macintosh OSX (at least with iPhoto and iMovie 09), working seamlessly once it is USB connected. This is no thanks to Sony, who had terrible documentation that actually misled me into thinking the video was not compatible and that only photos on the memory stick would be compatible. I am very glad I decided to just hook it up anyways, and Mac OS X came through to the rescue! The GPS tags worked perfectly with iPhoto (you just have to make sure it has found its location before shooting, as the movies and photos taken before this is done remain untagged). While it lacks night vision and is less resolution than my old Canon 7 megapixel camera, it makes up for it with manual focus and automatic optimization of focus and exposure on faces. Recommended for its compact all in one and convenient use.