Introduction
Update: The JVC Everio GZ-MG670 was selected as our 2009 Standard Definition Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.
Product Tour
The Sony Handycam DCR-SX60 has a simple Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with a minimum focal range of 1.8mm and 60x optical zoom. There are no filter threads and the lens is protected by a manual lens cover, which can be opened or closed by a switch on the right side of the lens.
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In the Box
Color & Noise Performance
The DCR-SX60 showed us something in our color test that we commonly see with Sony camcorders—a decent color error score, but one that is slightly lower than other manufacturers. The SX60's color error came in at 4.11, which is not a bad score, but it is worse than the other three camcorders we compared it to in this review. The Sony also had a lower saturation level, 77.26%, than the competition. (More on how we test color.)
As you can see in the color test chart above and the color sample image below, the Sony DCR-SX60 didn't render colors poorly by any means. Its image looks good and the colors are fairly strong for a standard definition camcorder. In the error map above you can see the Sony did the best with certain red, brown and blue colors, while purples and greens gave it the most trouble.
The Sony DCR-SX60 does not have any color modes or image effect controls. The above image is a still frame from our color sample testing in which we used a manual white balance and automatic exposure settings. Below, you can see the Sony DCR-SX60 produces colors that appear quite similar to the Canon FS200 and Panasonic SDR-S26. The Samsung SMX-F34, on the other hand, shows some significantly different tones, particularly on the left portion of the test chart.
Even though the Sony SX60 may have slightly worse color accuracy than the other camcorders shown here, its color reproduction still looks quite good. Of course, the quality of produced colors is mainly a matter of personal preference. Some people may like the Colors captured by the Canon FS200, while others may find the Samsung SMX-F34 to be the best. All we can say for sure is that the Sony DCR-SX60 managed slightly less accurate colors according to our testing.
The DCR-SX60 averaged 1.0575% noise in our bright light test, which is kind of high. In fact, the Sony measured the highest noise levels among the standard definition camcorders we tested. Now, this isn't an outrageously high noise level, but it is still higher than average for a camcorder of its class. The good news is the Sony SX60's noise levels didn't get much worse when we tested the camcorder in low light. (More on how we test noise.)
The 100% crop images above give you a better idea of how each camcorder's bright light image compares. You can really see the color differences with the Samsung SMX-F34 when you look this close, and you can also notice the brighter green tones on the Canon FS200. It is difficult to get an idea of how sharp an image the camcorder is capable of capturing with these crops, but these four camcorders didn't show much of a difference in that arena. They are all standard definition models, which means they all struggled to capture a very sharp image. You can read more about our video sharpness results in the next section of this review.
Motion & Sharpness Performance
Low Light Performance
**Low Light Sensitivity***(3.77)*
The Canon FS200 and Samsung SMX-F34 did better than the Sony DCR-SX60 in this test, but the Sony didn't do as poorly as the Panasonic SDR-S26. The Sony SX60 required 15 lux of light to register 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, which is a fairly average score for a consumer camcorder. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)
To improve its low light performance, the Sony SX60 does have an auto slow shutter feature, but using it will make motion look choppy (due to the camcorder using a 1/30 of a second shutter speed). None of these standard def camcorders offer alternate frame rates for recording video—a feature found on many HD models. We often see improved low light results when shooting using a 24p or 30p frame rate.
The DCR-SX60 showed a huge drop in color accuracy when we ran the camcorder through our low light testing. Not only did the SX60 earn a mediocre color error of 7.11, but it also managed a very low saturation level of 42.82%. It is normal to see a drop in color accuracy in our low light testing, but the other camcorders in this set did not see their numbers fall as drastically. (More on how we test low light color.)
You can see in the comparisons below that the Canon and Sony camcorders have similarly dark images, but the Sony's colors are very bland compared to the Canon. The Panasonic SDR-S26 also has a very washed-out image in low light and it was the worst performer in our low light sensitivity test. At least the Sony maintained much of its sharpness in low light conditions, while the Panasonic did not. The Samsung SMX-F34 had a decent low light performance overall and its image below looks quite good.
The SX60 averaged 1.1675% noise in our low light testing, which isn't much worse than the camcorder managed in bright light. This is a good sign for the Sony DCR-SX60 as it means the camcorder doesn't have a severe noise problem in low light. The Canon FS200 showed a bit less noise in its low light image, while the Samsung SMX-F34 had more. The Panasonic SDR-S26 registered nearly the same noise percentage as the Sony. (More on how we test low light noise.)
In the crops above you can see the Sony SX60's low light image does appear faded compared to the Canon FS200 and Samsung SMX-F34. The Panasonic SDR-S26, however, is the worst of the set with its very fuzzy low light image. The Samsung appears to retain the most detail in low light, but it also registered the highest noise levels. Overall, the Canon FS200 was probably the best low light performer in this set as it put up decent numbers in each of our low light tests.
Compression & Media
The Sony DCR-SX60 records standard definition video in the typical MPEG-2 video format. Unlike the competition, Sony actually outputs these files with the .mpg extension (instead of the annoying .mod you see on Canon and Panasonic standard def camcorders). However, there's a catch: the .mpg files created by the SX60 seem capable of being dragged, dropped, and played on any old media player, but that's not always the case. Many media players will require a plug-in to play these files and most will not play the files with audio attached. This comes in handy if you just want to watch a quick preview on your computer, but it can be confusing too. If you want the whole video (with audio included), you'll need to use editing software to import your footage. (See Editing section, below.)
Video recorded by the Sony DCR-SX60 is captured at a 720 x 480 resolution. The camcorder has three recording quality options—HQ, SP, and LP—each of which uses a different bitrate (HQ is the highest quality setting). You can also change the frame size to record a 4:3 aspect ratio.
The Sony DCR-SX60 records primarily to 16GB of internal flash memory. This is the largest capacity available for Sony's standard definition flash camcorders. The SX60's sister models, the DCR-SX40 and SX41 have 4GB and 8GB, respectively. Sony also manufactures similar products in its hard drive line: the DCR-SR47 and DCR-SR67 have 60GB and 80GB hard drives. Though hard drive models like these currently have the potential for higher capacity, they are more expensive and slightly less reliable than internal flash memory camcorders. They also have a less compact form factor, since the hard disc drive requires more space inside the camcorder than internal flash memory.
For added flexibility, the SX60 can also record to removable Memory Stick Pro Duo cards. Unfortunately, this type of memory card is a proprietary Sony format; Memory Sticks can only be used in Sony products.
The DCR-SX60 comes with the same software as previous Sony models. The recently released CX500V has an updated version of Picture Motion Browser (version 4.2.14), but it doesn't appear that you're missing any noteworthy upgrades with the 4.2.00 version. The software is not compatible with Macs, but it will work on Windows XP or Windows Vista.
We like Sony's PMB software for its versatility, but it isn't the easiest program to use—particularly when dealing with its more advanced features. Thankfully, Picture Motion Browser does do the most thing pretty well: it can copy footage from the camcorder to your computer fairly seamlessly. There are also some simple DVD creation options that are fairly easy to use, and the clip organization and YouTube upload options work well.
Despite the fairly simple importing process, the editing interface is not intuitive. Each time you start a new task, a new window opens up, making the software seem more complicated than it really is. The layout for more complex function—like trimming—is just a little convoluted. If you plan to do extensive editing, we advise you to use a more fully featured editing program.
Manual Controls
The DCR-SX60 has a clearly labeled Easy Mode button inside the LCD cavity. In easy mode, the text and buttons on the LCD increase in size and decrease in complexity. Most noticeably, the Option menu is gone—users in this mode are not able to perform any manual image adjustments. The Home menu is also condensed, with only a handful of selections in each tab.
To make things even easier, the SX60 has the same tool tip features as the rest of the Sony lineup. Whether you're in Easy Mode or not, there is a Help function, which allows you to tap on items for slightly more involved descriptions. In certain submenus (and in the Option menu, if you're not in Easy mode), many options appear with an explanatory description at the bottom of the LCD. Unfortunately, none of these tool tips and descriptions are particularly thorough. However, we greatly appreciate the effort that Sony makes to give consumers something navigable.
As for how the camcorder handles automatic image adjustment, there are some features that work better than others. You'll experience a bit of a delay just about any time you make a sudden shift in recording subject. Exposure is particularly noticeable: going from a dark to bright background definitely takes a moment. Focus and white balance shifts are usually more subtle.
Low Light Modes
The DCR-SX60 does not have any true low light modes. There is an auto slow shutter option (called Low Lux on higher-end Sony models), but this simply allows the camcorder to record in a slower shutter speed. You'll find a similar option on dozens of camcorders and, honestly, we don't think it's a very good way to boost low light performance. When the shutter speed decreases, it only results in painfully blurry motion trailing. A true low light mode combines aperture, shutter speed, and gain to brighten your footage. We do, however, appreciate that Sony gives us the choice to turn auto slow shutter off, since there are plenty of consumers that prefer dimmer video to blurry video.
Scene Modes
There are number of scene modes on the DCR-SX60: Twilight, Candle, Sunrise & Sunset, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports, Beach, and Snow. Some of these scene modes change the shutter speed, while others alter the white balance and color tones. All scene modes are available in photo mode as well.
Zoom is controlled via a traditional zoom toggle. The toggle is actually quite good: it offers a decent amount of resistance and allows finger pressure to achieve variable zoom speeds. It's quite easy to get a slow, smooth zoom. The only difficulty can come in getting a fast zoom, which can be frustrating if you're already zoomed in and need to get back to a wider angle or risk missing some of the action.
Unlike the Sony's higher end models, the SX60 does not have LCD touchscreen buttons as secondary zoom controls. We can hardly say we miss this feature, since the LCD buttons are always slow to respond and offer only a single zoom speed.
The SX60 is equipped with a powerful 60x optical zoom. This can't quite compete against the impressive 70x optical zoom boasted by Panasonic's SDR-S26. However, many other camcorders in this category have more modest zoom ratios, including the Samsung SMX-F34 (34x), the Canon FS200 (37x), and the JVC GZ-MS130 (35x).
If you want to use the SX60 as digital binoculars, you can also employ the camcorder's digital zoom, which can be capped at 120x or 2000x. For practical recording purposes, we don't recommend using any digital zoom, as this degrades image quality.
The standard definition lineup from Sony does not give users the luxury of a smooth control dial for making manual focus adjustments. Instead, you use the touchscreen by tapping (or holding down) on two different buttons. One button brings the focus closer, while the other allows you to focus on subjects further away. We really don't like this method of focus adjustment; touchscreen icons aren't very responsive and it's hard to determine whether your subject is in focus when icons—and your fingers!—are covering half the screen.
There's another touchscreen focus setting that is easier to use and works surprisingly well. Spot Focus allows you to tap the portion of the screen you want to bring into focus and the camcorder does so automatically. You are limited to tapping within a given box on the screen, but the box extends to cover a reasonable portion of what's being recorded. Spot Focus can also be used in conjunction with exposure in an option called Spot Meter/Focus.
Like focus, exposure can be set manually on the SX60 using the touchscreen. You simply tap one of two touchscreen buttons to make the image darker or brighter. We found this system a bit easier to use than the camcorder's manual focus—mainly because the screen produces a graphical display that shows you how much you've adjusted exposure. (On the other hand, there's no numeric display, so you'll have to count finger taps if you want to remember a particular exposure setting.) The camcorder offers 28 increments to choose from.
Spot Meter is exactly like Spot Focus except it adjusts exposure instead of focus. The Spot Meter/Focus option will make adjustments to both focus and exposure when you tap the LCD.
Aperture*(0.00)*
The SX60 does not offer manual control over aperture. That doesn't mean that it's a fixed aperture camcorder (like the Flip and other ultracompact camcorders)—only that internal processes select the aperture for you automatically and you can't see what f-stop is selected. Of course, we're not surprised by this omission. Sony's top-of-the-line HDR-XR520 and HDR-CX520 are both conspicuously missing this feature.
While Sony camcorders are missing this feature whether they cost $300 or $1800, Canon includes its Aperture Priority mode only on its high definition lineup. That means the standard definition Canon FS200 (like the Sony DCR-SX60) lacks aperture control. However, several models from the competition do offer the feature. Standard definition camcorders from Panasonic, JVC, and Samsung all have direct aperture control with a large range of options available.
The SX60 also lacks any kind of shutter speed control. Again, this is the case with Sony's high definition lineup as well—so, no surprise there. Standard definition Canon camcorders offer shutter speed control via their Shutter Priority mode. The competition from Panasonic, JVC, and Samsung offer direct control over shutter speed, which can be adjusted independently from a manual aperture adjustment.
Sony has provided the same short list of white balance controls on the SX60 as you'll see on the entire Sony line. There are two white balance presets (indoor and outdoor), an auto setting, and a One Push manual white balance. The list of presets may seem quite short, but these presets rarely are as effective as a good manual white balance—no matter how many there are. The One Push feature is very similar to what you'll find on most consumer camcorders, and is relatively effective. Unlike the Sony HDR-CX500V,the SX60 does not have any kind of white balance shift.
There is no manual gain control on the DCR-SX60. Of course, very few consumer camcorders offer this feature—and even fewer standard definition consumer camcorders.
**Color & Image Controls***(0.00)*
The SX60 does not have any substantial means by which you can adjust the color or image of your video—aside from the sparse controls described above. This comes as no surprise, since even high definition Sony models tend to skimp when it comes to color and image controls. However, most standard definition cams are in the same boat, so we can't complain much.
**Other Manual Controls***(2.00)*
Still Features
The SX60 is a mediocre choice indeed if you're looking for something to replace a dedicated still camera. Most standard definition camcorders so not take good still photos, since their sensors are comparatively low in resolution. Perhaps Sony knows that this won't be a primary use of the SX60, for it gives the user very few options in still photography.
There is, in fact, a dedicated still mode, but only 640-pixel wide photos can be taken (in one of two aspect ratios). The limited manual controls that are available in video mode are available here too, but that isn't saying much. There's no aperture or shutter control—and certainly no ISO options. There aren't any quality options and there is no flash. The only additional feature that still photography grants the user is a ten-second self-timer.
You can also capture photos from video during playback.
The Sony DCR-SX60 had average still performance for a standard definition camcorder. As we mentioned above, no standard def camcorder is really cut out for still photography—even a cheap point and shoot camera will do the job better. In a pinch, however, the SX60 will at least reproduce fairly accurate colors. Its 4.0 color accuracy was dead average, though the 86.56% saturation is low, even for a camcorder. (More on how we test still color.)
In the still photos reproduced below, you'll see that the SX60 portrays accurate colors, though the image is quite washed out. The Canon FS200 produced the best-looking color of the bunch, with strong, accurate hues.
The 1.16% noise measured during our still photo testing isn't very good—even for a standard definition camcorder. Again, the SX60 simply isn't meant to replace the most basic dedicated still camera. Even the Canon FS200, which fared well on other photo tests, turned in a poor performance here. The models from Samsung and Panasonic were slightly better, but still mediocre. [(More on how we test still noise.)
](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/camcorders/content/How-We-Test-Camcorders-36180.htm#stillnoise)
Still sharpness is the one area in which all standard definition camcorders fail to live up to expectations. Even the most basic point-and-shoot camera can capture more detail than the photo modes of these camcorders. Still, if you're in a bind, the SX60 is not the worst option available. (More on how we test still sharpness.)
Handling & Use
Playback & Connectivity
Playback mode is entered via a standard LCD touchscreen button. The default playback screen is a series of thumbnails (six displayed at a time). You can also view thumbnails by date or by using the deeply flawed Face Index feature—described below. From any of the three thumbnail views, you can touch the thumbnail of the video you wish to view and it will play in full screen. There is a tab at the bottom of the playback screen so that you can toggle to still photo playback.
When the video is in playback, controls are available as LCD touchscreen buttons. This includes volume, fast-forward, rewind, next/previous clip, play/pause, and stop. LCD buttons aren't the easiest way to advance through a video clip, but they are certainly functional. It's unusual to have volume mapped to the LCD; usually that can be controlled by the zoom toggle.
There is an option in the home menu that lets you select what information is displayed during playback. You can add the date/time to the display or imaging information, such as the aperture, shutter speed, white balance setting, and gain setting.
In addition to the normal playback functions listed above, the SX60 has the unique Face Index feature, which organizes clips according to the faces detected within. This is more than just face detection—it's facial recognition. So, if you have one long clip, it'll automatically mark where certain faces appear in the clip. That way, you can jump right to the part of the clip you want to see. Unfortunately, Face Index doesn't work very well. The SX60 does not have proper face detection (which puts a frame around a face or allows you to use the touch screen to select your own face), so faces are very rarely identified as such. We recorded dozens of clips—all with clear faces in them—and only two people were identified as faces... very briefly.
You may as well rely on the Film Roll feature, which is much more effective. It simply breaks each clip into a series of thumbnails so that you can quickly jump to any part of a clip. It's much easier than playing the whole clip and fast-forwarding to the part you want. And, unlike Face Index, Film Roll works perfectly every time. And why shouldn't it? This is essentially the same thing that many editing programs do; the video is stored as a single large clip, while thumbnails are generated to represent approximately every three seconds of video.
As a standard definition camcorder, the SX60 doesn't include much in the way of connectivity. In fact, you'll find just the bare minimum when it comes to ports and jacks. There is no accessory shoe, no mic/headphone ports, and no HDMI interface.
Inside the LCD cavity is a single USB port. It is not covered by a door or rubber covering, which is unusual. The LCD panel itself will protect the USB output, but only when it's closed. With the LCD panel open, the port is exposed to the elements.
Fortunately, the DC power input and AV output are more well protected: a hinged door on the right side of the camcorder protects these vital ports. It is a bit inconvenient to have the ports tucked away beneath the hand strap, but your default hand strap setting will probably leave plenty of room to open the door and access the ports. Note that the AV output is a proprietary connection; only Sony cables will work with the port. Fortunately, the SX60 does ship with a composite AV cable to fit this jack.
One final connectivity option will be of interest to many users: the Memory Stick PRO Duo card slot. This can be used to record either videos or photos and is an easy way to transfer files to your computer, Sony television, or PS3. That's in addition to the 16GB of internal flash memory.
Audio & Other Features
The Sony DCR-SX60 features a built-in 2-channel Dolby microphone. This mic is placed at the front of the camcorder, beneath the lens. This is a decent location, tucked away from interfering fingers. Most standard definition camcorders (and many high definition camcorders) record 2-channel sound.
The SX60 doesn't have much when it comes to extra audio features. You can't manually set microphone volume and there's no meter for displaying audio levels. The microphone level can be switched between normal or low (for when you're in particularly loud situations). You can also use a zoom mic option, which allows the built-in mic to focus the audio according to the action of the zoom. There's no wind cut feature—at least, not one that you can turn on and off—but we never think those do much good anyway.
Fader
You can put a white or black fader at the beginning or end of your clip.
Canon FS200 Comparison
The story of the Canon FS200 is all about performance. Quite frankly, the FS200 knocks the SX60 out of the ballpark in just about every test. The only areas in which the two performed similarly were video sharpness and stabilization. That doesn't leave many compelling reasons to purchase the SX60 over the FS200. Both are easy to use, but the Canon has the advantage in features (including manual controls), performance, and—in our opinion—aesthetics. The SX60 does have 16GB of internal flash memory, but so does the FS200's sister model, the FS21.
If you strongly prefer touchscreen navigation, you may opt for the Sony, but do so against our recommendation.
Update: **The Canon FS200 was selected as our 2009 runner-up for Standard Definition Camcorder of the Year (behind the JVC GZ-MG670). To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.**
Samsung SMX-F34 Comparison
The Samsung doesn't quite outclass the SX60 as the FS200 does (see previous page for a comparison), but it does outperform the Sony in a number of important areas. Color and noise performance in bright light are superior and low light performance in general is far better. Admittedly, the motion of the F34 shows more evidence of compression artifacting and the Samsung's digital image stabilization is practically useless, but the performance in general is impressive enough to warrant serious consideration by those shopping for standard definition camcorders.
What we really like about the F34 is its usability: it's even easier to navigate than the SX60 and has a great swivel hand grip that makes it comfortable to hold from a variety of shooting positions. This is all $60-$100 cheaper than the Sony Handycam. For us, that makes the Samsung SMX-F34 a clear winner.
Panasonic SDR-S26 Comparison
While the Panasonic SDR-S26 does have a slight edge over the the SX60 in terms of performance, the advantages aren't as clear cut as they might be with some of the competition. The S26 beats the SX60 when it comes to color and noise in bright light, but the SX60 boasts better scores in sharpness and, more importantly, low light sensitivity. The S26 simply is not a winner when you turn the lights down, and that includes a lot of indoor shooting conditions where camcorders are often used. The one major advantage that the S26 has is an optical stabilization system, which fared much better than the digital systems of the Handycam and most other standard definition cams. If stabilization is important to you, the Panasonic S26 is a clear choice.
However, in all other aspects, we're not sure there's a winner between these two. Both are relatively easy to use and both have a substantial optical zoom ratio (60x on the Sony and 70x on the Panasonic). The Panasonic has more manual controls, but the Sony is more compact and has a good touchscreen interface. It's a close call, but we would probably pick the Sony DCR-SX60 to win in this battle. Or neither. Competing models from Canon, JVC, and Samsung all give you more for your money.
Conclusion
Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings
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Meet the tester
Vice President of Editorial Management, Kaitlyn oversees the editorial departments of Reviewed.com’s various sites. She has been writing about technology since the turn of the century. Outside of her Reviewed.com home, Kaitlyn is also a theatre director and avid gamer.
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