Review: Sony HDR-CX6EK digital camcorder

Sony’s HDR-CX6EK records high-definition video directly to a removable memory card, making tape, DVD and even hard disk-based camcorders seem like dinosaurs in comparison.

Rather than using MPEG2, Sony has plumped for the newer AVCHD codec based on H.264/MPEG4. This allows the camcorder to store up to around half an hour’s worth of HD video (at top quality, 1,440x1,080 resolution) onto the supplied 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo.

That might not sound like a lot, but theoretically you could dump your footage onto a PC or DVD, wipe the card and start again. The only small problem is that the ACVHD format currently enjoys only limited support on the desktop.

Applications such as Pinnacle Studio 11 are beginning to demonstrate compatibility with AVCHD, but you need a monstrously powerful computer to realistically edit or even play back the footage.

Plugged straight into an HD-ready TV, the high-definition footage from the HDR-CX6EK looks amazing – sharp edges, vibrant colours and an incredible depth of detail are instantly noticeable compared to standard-definition DV.

The only problem comes when the camera is moved. There’s a rather exaggerated blurring evident in any motion, particularly when the camera pans horizontally. This is something we noticed while testing other AVCHD camcorders, such as the Panasonic HDC-SD1, and is less of a problem with tape-based HD models like the Canon HV20.

Our feeling is that this issue alone is enough to warrant holding off on AVCHD for now, which is a shame since the HDR-CX6EK is an otherwise excellent unit. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, optical image stabilisation, HDMI output and 6.1-megapixel photos all make for an attractive package – and that’s before you’ve taken into account how small, sleek and easy to wield the little black device is.