Sony's HDR-TG5V is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080P video in the AVCHD format to 16GB worth of internal flash memory or an optional Memory Stick Pro Duo card. The $1,000 camcorder features a built-in GPS receiver, a 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization and a 2.7-inch touch screen LCD display. (Full specs here.)
HDR TG5V At a Glance
The Good: Portable unit, built-in GPS, good low light performance.
The Bad: Slightly cumbersome operation, pricey.
Solid Video Quality
The TG5V captures HD video via a 1/5" CMOS sensor. The camcorder delivers above average video quality both indoors and out. Colors reproduced accurately and even as you move indoors and into lower light, you'll find the TG5V continues to perform well, with very little visible "noise."
Still photos can be snapped at 4-megapixel resolution via interpolation. The camera is fairly responsive and there is a flash to aid in low light photography. There's also a nice selection of photo features including face detection and Sony's smile shutter.
Design
The upright, compact TG5V is fairly lightweight at 9 ounces with battery but sturdy enough not to feel flimsy. Sony kept the exterior controls to the bare minimum: the camcorder is turned on by opening the LCD screen, there's a shutter button and a wheel to zoom and that's it. To turn on the GPS, you'll have to flip open the compartment that hides the battery and memory card.
This minimalist design has its virtues - space is at a premium and fewer buttons means fewer accidental button-presses. But it also forces you to dive into the on-screen menu to adjust settings. The zoom wheel helpfully lets you adjust the speed at which you zoom. Occasionally the zoom can be a bit awkward, particularly because the record button is smack in the middle of the wheel.
The bigger issue with the design is the shutter button - it's small and wedged in tight by the zoom. Not a big deal if you're strictly focused on video, but it can be a bit of a bother when you jump into still photo mode or want to snap a still during video shooting.
Nice Feature Set
Image courtesy Sony
Since you won't find many buttons on the exterior of the camcorder, the TG5V's internal menu has to do most of the heavy lifting. Fortunately, Sony improved the touch-screen menu from what was available on the HDR-XR520V and CX100. You still need to drill around a bit to find everything, but that's partly the result of the TG5V's wealth of features.
The TG5V is packed with a nice array of features including face detection, manual focusing, exposure control, several scene modes and a slow motion recording mode. The unit features a very useful spot focusing function, which allows you to select a focus point in the frame simply by touching the LCD display. The touch screen can also be used for manual focusing.
Storage Capacity
With 16GB of internal flash memory, the TG5V can hold about 110 minutes worth of HD footage at the highest quality setting. You can add recording time by using Sony's Memory Stick Pro Duo flash memory card.
Built-in GPS Receiver
Like the XR520V, the TG5 offers a built-in GPS receiver, which helps you locate where you were when you filmed a particular video clip and lets you organize your videos using a map-view application (both on the camcorder and on your computer with included Sony software). GPS also enables the TG5V to automatically set the correct date and time for you as you travel the globe. You can also pull up a map of your current location on the camcorder's LCD screen.
Camcorders with GPS are still very much a novelty, so how useful is it? If you're a frequent traveler, it could be fairly useful - particularly the automatic date/time functionality which will save you the trouble of constantly updating your camcorder as you roam. The map view is a nice way to graphically plot and organize your video adventures on a map.
Viewing your current location on a map on the camcorder's display, while novel, isn’t terribly detailed. This isn't a navigation device. For my New Jersey neighborhood, the best detail I could bring up was the nearby highway. So if you’re bringing the TG5V on your European vacation, don’t expect it to lead you around the back roads.
Considering that you're paying a bit of a premium to purchase what is a pretty straightforward HD camcorder, the GPS functionality needs to be weighed accordingly. If you're not on the road much, you may want to find less expensive alternatives. (See here for more on GPS Camcorders.)
What's Missing?
For a camcorder at the $1,000 mark, the TG5V does not include manual control over aperture or shutter speed.
The Bottom Line
The TG5V is a solid, if pricey, HD flash camcorder. Frequent travelers may value GPS over manual control over aperture and shutter speed, but others may not. If you don't, there are less expensive models that deliver similar quality or others of equal price that deliver more video controls. Still, it's pocketable and portable, even if the design is a bit sparse.
