Sony HDR-CX12 High Definition Memory Stick PRO Duo Handycam Camcorder With 12x Optical Zoom | 
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| Brand: Sony
Category: Photography
List Price: $899.99
Buy New: $798.00
You Save: $101.99 (11%)
New (10)
Rating:  3 reviews
Media: Electronics
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 12
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 58.8
Minimum Focal Length: 5.9
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.1
Dimensions (in): 3.4 x 3 x 5.5
MPN: HDR-CX12
Model: CX12
UPC: 027242732438
EAN: 0027242732438
ASIN: B001BET2YY
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 1920 x 1080 Full High Definition video resolution; 10.2 megapixel still image capture | | • | Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization; Professional Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens | | • | Smile Shutter technology for still and dual capture; Face Detection technology for video and photo | | • | ClearVid CMOS sensor with Exmor-derived technology; BIONZ Image Processor | | • | 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display; Dolby Digital 5.1 channel recording; Built-in zoom microphone |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The ultra-sleek, palm-sized HDR-CX12 Handycam camcorder is the world's first camcorder with face detection and Smile Shutter technology. Face detection automatically adjusts focus, exposure and color for the most natural results. With Smile Shutter, the HDR-CX12 can detect smiles and automatically capture still images, even while recording 1920 x 1080 full HD video. You will also enjoy 10.2 megapixel still image recording to ensure your memories are preserved in stunning detail. Additionally, the CX12's small size and light weight make it an ideal travel companion, perfect for recording that special moment, wherever you are. Video and still images are stored directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo media for easy transfer to your computer or other compatible devices.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Excellent all-around video, audio, feature and build quality August 20, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have a Sony standard definition miniDV camcorder, and also bought the HF100 and the Sony CX12, both flash camcorders.
I found the Canon to be the better value: good to great video and audio quality in good lighting conditions, better user interface, and standard SD cards will save you money and hassle vs. the Sony CX12.
However, the Sony is the superior product IMHO based on the following features: much better low-light performance (by low-light I mean indoor night-time videos of kids with under ordinary incandescent lighting (without lots of halogens)). Sony DVD HD DVD burner is more flexible than Canon's, for example, you can shoot video in HD, and burn a standard DVD for people w/o HDTVs and Blu-ray. I understand to do this on the Canon burner, you need to record in standard definition to begin with. Build quality is a little higher (LCD joints stiffer, battery/inputs door covers more firmly attached). Slightly better audio (I noticed you could sometimes hear "clicks" from the Canon's zoom button).
The first 2 items (low-light & recorder characteristics) seal the deal for me. Generally, the camera is comfortable to hold, image stabilization is excellent (better than the Canon). Flash performance for still pictures is poor.
 Comments based on previous CX11 August 18, 2008
5 out of 15 found this review helpful
This HDR-CX12 is an update on the CX11 model which also took beautiful pictures but had several operational deficiencies.
The CX12 remedies one of the big ones -- it has a sleep mode so you can protect the lens between shots. (With the CX11 you had to power-off, and then it took about 10 seconds to power-on again.)
On the CX11 the 'optical image stabilization' (OIS) doesn't appear to work, at all. I haven't seen any reviews on the CX12 yet but unless someone says it's dramatically improved I would assume there's effectively no stabilization. On the CX11 it's very difficult to avoid noticeable shaking...
The other deficiencies remain:
- the position of the zoom switch is 'convenient' in that it's right under your index finger, but in practice this means that you accidentally zoom the camcorder. Countless times I've been watching the scene (rather than the camera screen) and then checked the camera only to realize I was zoomed-in on someones foot (or crotch, ha!)
- there are separate buttons for photos vs videos, so it's easy to confuse which button to push especially when you switch between video and photo mode
- you can buy 3rd-party batteries but they won't have the on-screen status; for that you have to pay the Sony premium for one of their own batteries.
FANTASTIC!! DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS!! July 29, 2008
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
If you are deciding between the Sony CX12 and any other camcorder I recommend the Sony CX12... HANDS DOWN!! I just got it today and it is AMAZING!! The still photos are beautiful, super high quality. And the smile shutter technology alone is worth the $$$. I have three little girls and it hasn't missed a smile yet, they smile for even a second and it is captured. How could we have ever done without it????? And it burns to disc at the touch of a button... Yes, it has an "easy" button, really! I bought mine with the Sony 16 gb memory card, I think the 4 gb card that comes with it is going to be too small. I have never been so happy with a purchase, I would have paid two or three times as much! How does it know we are smiling? AMAZING!! Sony has two other models that came out last month, the hdr-sr11 and hdr-sr12. This is the same camcorder as the hdr-sr12 PLUS smile shutter and it uses memory cards... in my opinion WAY BETTER FOR LESS! Thanks Amazon.com!
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