Sony - HDRCX405 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder (black)

Was about to buy an very expensive camcorder until I heard about this one. It's exactly what I needed as someone who doesn't need all the super fancy things and at a decent price. It is really beginner friendly. If you can work on a phone camera, you can work this camcorder really easily.What was most important to me was the zoom and keeping the integrity of the quality while zoomed in. I just really want to film nature and birds. I don't really need super high quality as it's just a hobby. It zooms in a lot better than my galaxy S21 phone, so that was good enough for me.I also love the size of it, very portable and light. It fits in my jacket pocket. The length of the whole camcorder is shorter than the length of my galaxy S21 phone. I have small hands, so the controls were easy for me to navigate through. It maybe harder for people with larger hands.And as someone who gets overwhelmed with too many options, I really like how there's minimal number of switches and buttons.- There's 1 button to easily start/stop recording.- 1 button to press for photos (even during recording you can take pictures with this button)- The zoom switch next to the photo button on the top of the camcorder.- There's also a switch you can manually flip to close or open the lens cover. I like that this is a manual feature. There's comfort knowing I know for sure I won't capture something accidently when I have the lens cover on.- To turn it off and on, you simply need to open and close the screen flap like a flip phone. It's only bad if you are afraid to waste battery to access the HDMI port and micro SD card slot. You have to open the screen to access it.- Then there's only two controls on the screen itself. Not in a touch screen way but on the left of the screen there is one analog stick to move and make selection. To make the selection, you just press down on the analog stick. Underneath the analog stick is a button to access the menu/playback. I do not like touch screens so I really like this simple navigational tool right next to it.Oh and you can flip the screen around 180 degrees so you can do vlogs.Lastly, it has a built in USB cord (connected to the handle strap) to easily transfer files and charge the battery (with an included adaptor). You can adjust the strap, it's Velcro, and there's a loop you can add a lanyard to it if you wanted.The battery is removable. It comes with one battery. I recommend getting an extra battery and charger so you can save time on charging and have a back up.The possible deal breaker is that it doesn't allow you to input an external mic, but it has a pretty good built in mic. I haven't tested it in noisy areas yet. Sound quality isn't super important to me so I've been fine with it's built in mic.Also, it talks about an app or program for desktop to download to use with your camcorder. It has been discontinued since Feb. 2024 so that sucks. It's not required to access/transfer files though. I just wondered if it made looking at your files easier. You have to go through lots of folders to find your stuff. But at the same time, that is similar to finding your files when you plug in your phone to your computer (android & PC).Overall, I love this camera. Simple features for a simple man, with pretty good picture quality.

I've given this five stars because I really do think this is a dandy little camera, but it wasn't the right purchase for me, and I gave it away to a friend for an early Christmas present. I think you should know:1. This is a very small camera. It is not the size of a Coke can, think more the size of a little V-8 can. It is entirely plastic and it weighs practically nothing at all. Really, it weighs less than my television remote. That can be good or bad. You can shove it into the pocket of a jacket and forget you are even carrying it, so it's always with you. Like a TV remote, you can probably drop it without damaging it because it has so little mass. But, if you have unusually large hands, like mine, or arthritis, like me, or your hands have become insensitive through age or manual labor, also like mine, you may have trouble picking it up or holding onto it. I can only get three fingers of my hand through the strap up to the middle knuckle, and that is with the strap adjusted all the way out, as loose as it will go. The menu button, a four-way rocker with an "enter" or "OK" button in the center is about the diameter of a garden pea. Not only will my big thumbs not operate this button, but the switch that changes from "video" to "playback" is directly below the rocker switch, and my thumb covers them both and I end up pushing both at the same time. If you leave this sitting on a restaurant table, you may not even notice that it is no longer in your pocket, because it only weighs a few ounces.2. If I am reading the display correctly, a 64GB micro SD will hold 7+ hours worth of video. The batteries last about 2 hours and a dead flat battery will take the better part of 3 hours to recharge. Get the Powerextra 2 pack replacement Sony NP-BX1, also sold on Amazon. It has two extra batteries, and a charger that you can charge from a wall socket or from a car 12v outlet. I can testify that it charges faster than the wall charger that comes with the camera, and if you are at an all day event you will need those extra batteries.This is a very nice camcorder. It has an excellent lens, the digital zoom is just spectacular. It will take still pictures as well, even while you are making a video. I gave it to a gal who is very small, has small hands, and can text on a mini keyboard cell phone with both thumbs. She navigates menus within menus like it was second nature. She loves it. It just wasn't made for a fella like me.