Sony HDR-CX230/B High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

Bought this to use outdoors, so far have used it at lakes to record RC boats. Does the job for me, videos come out very nice in bright clear conditions, have not used it in low light conditions yet. Will not be using the picture taking feature, prefer my DLSR for that. Taking me a while to get use to the menu navigation, the more I use it the better I get at it. There are not many buttons on the whole camera which seems to simplify navigation. Comes with built in memory and I bought an Extreme 32 GB card by SanDisk. You need to go into setup to tell the Camcorder which one to use. Does not come with an AC Adapter (optional purchase) and it needs to be charged via the USB cable connected to a computer. It does come with a USB extension cable. I use a spare Apple iPod USB charger. Not interested in using the digital zoom as the closer you get to the subject the video tends to be shaky. I thought I read on the Sony site that this model came with an adapter ring which will allow you to add a wide angle lens, but now I cannot find this info. And the lens area does not have threads for add-ons. Maybe that was for another model. I have big hands and it feels awkward to have my hand in the strap since this thing is so small. I tend to hold it with my right hand with my thumb on the zoom button and sometimes with both hands to keep it steady. When connected to my Mac and using iMovie, it recognizes that camera to import movies. Supposedly if you set the camera to mass storage you will be able to browse the movies in the Finder, but have not gotten that to work yet, if it does. Still learning. Videos have come out great so far when editing with iMovie. Overall I am happy with purchasing this Camcorder.

I find this camera to be a great upgrade from my older camera from a few years ago. This camera works a lot better in lower light settings. This camera does in fact record in full 1080p 60fps videos, and the quality of them in normal lighting is pretty great. What I found to be an amazing surprise is that I took this camera for a test run while in a car going 50mph, I recorded and took pictures. Those pictures I took WHILE going 50mph in a car were amazingly clear, almost as though I was standing still and took the picture right there. I was pleasantly surprised compared to my older camera where it can't even take a clear shot unless you stand perfectly still. My ONLY problem with this camera is that in lower light indoor settings (usually when there are both dark and light objects in the same section the camera is pointed to, while it being in low light), there are these particles that show up in the video that make the video look slightly grainy. Don't get me wrong, it's still much better than my previous camera, which in the same lighting would look like I was taking 240p video even if I had it set to 720p 60fps or 1080p 30fps. But no matter what setting this camera is at, it still beats it, so I can deal with these grainy looking particles, especially when they only pop up in really low indoor lighting settings, and especially for the cost of this camera. Overall, this camera is VERY MUCH worth it for the price compared to other camera around the same price point.

I only am giving 1 star because I have had such a hassle trying to get this product. I am almost going to give up. I waited for a while to get the Sony HDR-CX230 from Amazon, since it had the lowest price, and Amazon usually has great customer service. When I first went to order it, after having it in my cart for a few days it was no longer available from Amazon, so I called customer service and found out it would be available again in a week. Since that meant it would be ready for Christmas I waited. Once it was available again, I purchased it, I paid $195, and by the time I got my package, the price dropped to $129 (I say my package instead of the camcorder, because when I opened the shipping box there was a box for a CX220 not a CX230, so I didn't bother opening it). I called Amazon and they said they would send a replacement, and have UPS pick up the return. That was days ago, and UPS still hasn't come to pick up the package so I can be refunded. Amazon's customer service was good to an extent, I know that they don't have control over UPS, and they did say they would refund me the difference since the price dropped. I will write an update to my review after I get the replacement and have a chance to test it out. It is just unfortunate because I needed a camcorder immediately, and usually with Amazon, since I am a prime member, I don't have to worry about delays. I would hate to have to pay more and buy it from Sony or somewhere else, but it looks like it might be coming to that..