While EVFs are a disappearing breed and I find them essential no matter how bad, I'm disappointed with how small and low magnification the CX550V's is. The electronic viewfinder has a higher resolution than its predecessors had, as well as those on several of its competitors, but it is smaller. In addition, though it has a mic input, the camcorder doesn't have any recording volume controls except for the reference level with two choices: Normal and Low. Toward the front-top of the unit is the five-channel mic for the gazillionth time, I'll say I'd rather see Sony use that space for a stereo mic with good separation. However, this is how all of the prosumer models operate and is a trade-off for their relatively small sizes. I've always liked the dial for its feel, but if you use the manual focus, shutter speed, and iris controls a lot, it gets annoying bouncing around the options with only the single control. As for manual functions, the CX550V has options for focus, exposure, iris, shutter speed, autoexposure shift, and white balance shift. Pressing the dial's center button toggles the operation to the currently selected option holding the button in lets you select which manual function you'd like it to have. The manual control dial has long been a staple on Sony's top-end consumer models, but Sony expanded its capabilities a bit. However, this seems to be a popular place for manufacturers' to stash the connectors.Īt the front of the camcorder, you'll find a big-barreled lens with electronic lens cover and a flash on top-there's no built-in video light-as well as manual dial to the side. Also, its location makes it awkward to hold and move the camera around when you connect it to a TV. I don't like the location of the latter connectors, since I hate to leave the LCD open with cables running out of it.
The camcorder has a sliding door on top for the accessory shoe another slider near the lens on the right side covering the mic and headphone jacks two separate covers underneath the record button for the proprietary AV out and DC power in and one inside the LCD hiding the Mini-HDMI and USB connectors.
All of the camcorder's door covers are solidly attached. However, if you've got larger hands, the hard disk's protrusion on the XR550V might give you a more comfortable grip. Though Sony changed some of the controls, the camcorder's design is fundamentally the same as last year's models.
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