The Cheapest Camcorder that I have - The Sony CX405
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Affiliate Links:
Sony CX405 - amzn.to/3ml9xzX
Gear Used in my Video:
Sony AX53 - amzn.to/2KrQ6YS
Manfrotto Tripod - amzn.to/2Wfl2y3
Falcon F7 Light - amzn.to/2IRXSej
Ulanzi VL49 - amzn.to/3oUcY23 and the RGB Version - amzn.to/34h5AG9
Manfrotto Mini Tripod - amzn.to/3mjJs43
Beachtek Preamplifier - amzn.to/2JY6kt6
Gear Used in my Video:
Sony AX53 - amzn.to/2KrQ6YS
Manfrotto Tripod - amzn.to/2Wfl2y3
Falcon F7 Light - amzn.to/2IRXSej
Ulanzi VL49 - amzn.to/3oUcY23 and the RGB Version - amzn.to/34h5AG9
Manfrotto Mini Tripod - amzn.to/3mjJs43
Beachtek Preamplifier - amzn.to/2JY6kt6
This is the cheapest Camcorder that I have. I bought it for half the price of a GoPro Hero 5 and it actually has some advantages over the GoPro in some areas. The only thing I can't do with it is go underwater but it is so light and easy to use, while having a little more control than the GoPro as far as exposure goes that I actually prefer using it for vlogging than the GoPro. I also find the picture less contrasty and it actually is more easily manipulated in post.
So this video is a demo of me just walking around with it and recording the audio on the camera itself; not via an external mic. The audio is also better than the GoPro. In post, I just chose one channel and normalised it.
In my opinion, these cheapo cameras are ideal for beginners to learn on since they only partially hand over exposure details for the operator to tweak. There's less to go wrong. However, you still learn the basics of good video taking and more importantly, it's a cheap way of learning how to create something that 'tells a story' without all the worrying about whether the picture will come out!!
The freedom of having just this lightweight camera on a stick/tripod is great. No mic or even audio controls to mess up!! Although it is 'auto' as far as audio goes, this one doesn't keep ramming the audio to and actually sounds pretty good!! It never overmodulates!!
If you are considering buying anything that I feature, please consider the affiliate links below. The cost you no more but help me to get another video together!!
The CX405 isn't really around these days but there are others from Panasonic. This is the closest I could find... the CX240E (E stands for European)
CX240E - amzn.to/3fzyCUs
The terrific Sirui grip/tripod - amzn.to/3fzyCUs
If you buy the Sirui tripod, then get spare plates here. These are good and cheap - amzn.to/3fzyCUs
Sometimes you get lost on UA-cam and it could be very annoying. But this time I was lucky. I found a real human being. Thanks Ian Craig.
Thank you Mario. What I hate about some UA-cam videos is that they are made just for viewing figures and not because the op is really that interested. They also try to sell everything through afilliate links so their main driving force is money. For me, I really enjoy making the videos and the financial thing really doesn’t bother me that much. I often make videos as a personal ‘video experiment’ while making a demo for others to watch, so I have a great time doing them.
same!
Same!
Why is this actually making me tear up? I guess it's the simplicity of it. Everything in the video seems so.. normal. Like everything is nice and natural. I can't believe I'm getting emotional over a handy-cam review but here we are.
I’m so lucky to be able to walk out the door and that’s what I’m in. The obsessive sheep hasn’t been around for a while. He was lovely. Tried being a hard man at first by butting me, but soon calmed down. Then he followed me everywhere. The local animals recognise me because I’m retired and often out there, so they see a lot of me.
Simplicity is great! Like Apple
clicked on the video to know about the camera. stayed because of the tour around the neighborhood. this is so pleasant. thank you, sir.
Thanks Jogie. Just trying to show it in a ‘normal’ use context!
I have watched this video several times over many months. After the first time I ran out and bought one of these little CX405 camcorders and I love it. It is a marvel at making really nice videos. BUT, I have come back several times to re-watch this video, not because of the camera, but because it is so relaxing and calming to watch. Your video is so much more than a review, you have a great talent my friend!
Thanks Phil. Actually once I’ve sharpened and added LUTS to the footage, you wouldn’t know it was so cheap. This footage is the raw stuff that came out of the camera.
If you want something a bit more lively, I’ve just sent up a lutted video for people to see differences. Made it in a town called Tenterden.
I just stumbled into quaint rural Britain youtube and the world is now so pleasant. Great atmosphere! This lifted my spirits.
It's a lovely part of the world.
Really neat and clean and quiet and beautiful place.
What a beautiful video! It really made my day better. I came for a review of the camera and I got warm feelings and a friendly stroll in nature. Thank you for the experience!
Thank you Thanos. I just thought a wander taking video would show people what it did. They're really not bad for the low price.
Fully agreed.
Great work Ian. I bought a CX450 based on your videos and couldn't be happier. Many thanks!
Thank you. Glad the video helped you make a decision. It's not always easy to decide.
I think that your cheapest camcorder model has just become my most expensive camcorder model. Ah, the legendary "entry level"--I have finally arrived ;)
What do you normally use..... a Box Brownie? ; )
The footage looks great. Color really seems to pop. I was also impressed with how smooth the footage stayed while you walked. Thank you for this video!
I love how you react with animals what a gentle soul you are much respect it shows how pure your heart is.
Thank you. I love the animals around me. I’m surrounded by farms all around my home so they are a big part of our lives. Even the sheep start to recognise you after a while!
What a great little demo. Things to expect from the camera were well represented with a warm natured lifestyle and temperament. A real credit to both the camera and presenter. Nice! A+
Thank you Wil. It just started as a walk up the road ……
This is one of those videos on UA-cam that you enjoy watching simply because it is enjoyable.
A still tiny puddle in the vast, roaring ocean that is the internet.
I think I will buy this handy cam in the future.
Thank you for making a video that respects the audience: not yelling and asking for subscription. You earn a new subscriber mate! Have a good day!
A big 'Thank you' from 'little drip.'
I've spent all night watching videos on this camera and your footage looks the best! Ordered one for myself online now.
The nice thing about this camera is its real ease of use. One thing I wish that it could do is switch between Pal and NTSC though. For me that would be handy. Being able to switch between 25/50/and 30/60 fps.
Watching this video was so heart warming and enjoyable, I came across it because I’ve just bought a Sony camcorder. Thanks for example footage and such a lovely watch Ian!
Thank you Sabrina. Don’t expect miracles from it, but they are nice little camcorders. I’ve had mine for years now plus the cx450 and ax53.
Great review along with the scenery and peaceful energy you give in the videos/narrations. Recently purchased this camcorder for the gym and outdoors! Cant wait to try it out.
Thank you.
Alight Ian. The picture looks great on my iPad. On my phone you can’t really see the difference between this and a more expensive camcorder. It just proves that a proper camcorder, even a cheap one like this, is great for UA-cam videos bearing in mind that most UA-cam videos are viewed on small screens. The audio is good as well, better than many of the actioncams for their internal mics. Great video. Cheers, Dave.
Hi Dave. The audio is surpring on the cx405. The description stuff in this video was done on the ax53 and I felt that it might make the cx405 look bad, but not really. I think Sony got a bit greedy at one point and raised the price of the cx405 but I bought this at half the price of the Hero 5. It’s price at the time was £175 but I think I got a deal on it at £125. Later, I think it went over £200. I also got a fantastic price (from Amazon would you believe) for the cx625!
In a way, it’s a pity these types of video camera went out of fashion and Sony moved on. They made very good value cameras which were designed for video rather than photos. So they were efficient at getting a good video without getting hot, crashing, or limiting how long you could video for. They’re great to use on the move as well because they’re so lightweight.
I just bought this camera from Best Buy for my You Tube channel 2 weeks ago.I am glad you posted video about this camera.I am retiring in 2 years & I want to document videos & post them for people in work that what to know how I am spending retirement ,because I am 60,now !!!
Welcome to the club. I’m 69.
The bits with you and the sheep are so cute and wholesome I'm legit about to cry rn 😆🥲
The worst part is that he became a little friend to me because I take a walk down there nearly every day, so he knew me. Then he suddenly disappeared so I’m guessing he’s gone. He was like an overgrown dog to be honest. He always moaned when I walked off. He was a lovely little sheep and lived just up the road from my house in that field for a few years.
Thanks for the tour of your village! I enjoyed your take on the features of the Sony CX405
Thank you Julie.
What a great review. I think this camera is great for someone who likes simplicity and has less than good eyesight. I have a GoPro but it's a bit difficult to operate in the sun because of glare on the screen. I love how well the Zoom looks on the Sony. I honestly liked how you included animals and other interesting footage in this review. Awesome narration as well. 💯❤
Thank you ARC. I had a bit of fun making it.
Thank you for the review. I might get this cam. Also, what is a dottal?
I don’t know…. Have I mistyped something?
what warm and calming character you have sir :)
hopefully i find rewiew videos to other cameras i could need
Thank you DZ. I can assure I’m not really!!! ;)
So I've decided to pull the trigger and buy myself the CX405. I have a Canon T3i and a GoPro Hero 6 but both of them are quite oposite and I want the equivalent of their love child which I think is the Sony CX405. It combines the simplicity and size of the GoPro with some extra settings from the Canon.
Not going to lie, since I was a kid I wanted a videocamera but unfortunately my family couldn't afford it. Now that I have a job I think I will give my child self this gift and enjoy it.
Thank you for this informative review! Also this video is just super relaxing, it makes me want to move to the countryside.
The downside of living here is that there isn’t a single shop!
The cx405 is virtually a point and shoot camcorder. You just need to make sure it doesn’t over expose and blow out highlights. I still enjoy using it because of its simplicity.
Nice mini reportage/hands on Ian. Didn`t mention it`s stabalizer but no worry. Cheap and handy films are dandy. Thanks Ian.
I love it. Very quick and straight to the point.
I was looking for a good quality, but affordable camcorder, thanks for posting this.
You should be a narrator on wildlife programs, as you have a great voice and seem good with wildlife such a shame we don't see enough nature programs on TV
I was here for the review but I appreciate you as a person, thanks for the review and for the video :)
Thank you. You’re very kind.
Thank you very much. The video helped me a lot. I loved it, I liked the camera, and I also liked that you put the translation in Arabic.💗💗💗
I’m glad that it was useful. It’s quite an old video now.
What a lovely place to live. Great video & review. Made me smile as you were playing with the animals 😊
The animals get to know you, although being farm animals, they tend not to be around that long…….
What I like most about this video is that it keeps filming naturel. I cannot tolerate all those fancy, artificial visual effects - and btw you hardly see them on commercial films, only on short TV-ads, intended to last 15 seconds. Nor can I stand all that noisy music that obliterates what the message really is. I agree that talking heads tend to be boring but the very opposite is so nerve wrecking that my patience does not last 10 seconds. Thanks for making a video that looks like a video and explains the key points!
Thank you. Tbh, I’m happiest making videos like these than doing reviews.
Still available as of 4/25/2024 via Amazon. My only complaint is its dedicated right hand use. I know southpaws are only 10% population but I would be willing to pay more for it. Otherwise, this camera does a fine job. It creates crisp video despite its lower resolution.
This got to be the most relaxing video I've ever watched!
Great review, Sir!
So laid back, it’s flat eh? The place I live in is very relaxed. Not a single shop here. Just a pub and a church to apologise for drinking in ….
It’s vastly different from Australia. Looking at the pond my first thoughts were of snakes and mosquitoes, then I realised they wouldn’t exist there. This is the best review I’ve seen. Thank you. I just bought a used one on EBay rather than a cheap new one & it seems I’ve landed a beauty. They’re still available new for $AUD500+ . On a tripod it should fine for filming football for the local club. Thanks again!
Great for football with the huge zoom on it. Yes, in the UK, the only thing we fear the most is the neighbour. A very ferocious breed.
@@iancraig Good fences make good neighbours. We’ve been very lucky.
Just bought the Sony CX 405 and waiting till it gets warm before I start using it on a puppet music video. Thanks for showing me how nice the videos look.
It’s a great little camera. Generally, in post, I add a touch of sharpening and sometimes a litlle more saturation. For puppets, you might want a bit more depth in the colour, but the 405 will work nicely for that.
I made a 12 part music series for kids in the last lockdown here. Each 25 minutes long. For that I used three cameras - the ax53, cx450 and that cx405 for external shots. Worked really well.
Thanks for the video. They still make the CX405 in 2024, I just bought one!
It was quite an old camcorders when I made this too. Great pity that camcorders became less popular because I would have liked them to develop into full blown cameras because they are so quick and easy to use.
I know it has everything to do with the sensor size (minuscule 1/5.8in or 3.1mm), but it is very interesting how well the built-in stabilization works when walking. Not wanting to sound like Captain Obvious, but I think if someone can't make interesting content with this low-resolution camera, it doesn't matter if they buy the latest and greatest equipment. Thanks for posting
I think making at least a half decent video is most of the battle tbh.
They’re a really cheap way of getting into making videos and learning how to actually put a video together. That’s what I think the real value of these cameras is. You really don’t have to worry about technical stuff like exposure so you can concentrate more on structure which is a good thing in video. You can even get blurry backgrounds!
A great alternative to the GoPro if your main usage is general videoing.
you’ve convinced me !! thank u so much for this honest review
I hope that it suits your purpose Yumika.
@@iancraig im aiming to make a short film for my media project in school! i really want to have that vintage, grainy look like mid90s (if you search up the screencaps, youll understand the inspo) soim trying to find a camera that is affordable, becasue what i can do is just film on my phone and edit the exposure and grain for each frame.... so im trying to find a camera that is cheap, but still gives off that vintage look.
Nice video Ian. After watching this, I may get one of these for a back up to my ax53. Very relaxing video, and you have a great voice to go with this video. For the price, this camcorder is an excellent value.
Thanks Sean.
I have the pj405 I picked up the other week from cash converters. For something to put in your pocket for walking videos it’s great. Not having a mic input was a plus. Bang for buck can’t knock it. Perfectly useable.
I use the cheaper ones exactly the same way too. Great for quick shots.
I love seeing your little piece of heaven. I just unboxed and made a video for one of these. I'm taking notes on how you use this. Thank you for the diversion. My traffic is much worse 😁
This is the best review of this camera I've watched on youtube till now
Thank you Shuvo. Funny thing is how many views it got when I just made a simple demo video!
Love this camcorder! It was affordable and easy to use.
Exactly. Quick to use and actually capable of some lovely footage. I often have mine with me in my pocket.
Nice video. Lovely footage from such an inexpensive camcorder. Well done!
Thank you.
I bought it because it's got clean hdmi out for livestreaming. And it works with a usb powerbank or brick. Great zoom too
That’s good to know. I’ve never used one for live-streaming.
Bought the same camera 2 years ago. It's a nice inexpensive camcorder that has good image stabilization. Thanks for your review. Cheers!
I use mine a lot as well. No fuss. Long battery. Good picture. Good colour. It’s actually a great buy.
@@iancraig right. I wanted to also buy a Sony Ax700, but it's just too expensive. Can't afford it. Hehe
I have the ax53 and also couldn’t afford it.
@@iancraig hahaha. Do you have clips of that camera here?
Virtually every video I make!
ua-cam.com/video/g5npOSgD0Qs/v-deo.html
Great video!!! Your video looks so much better than the other reviews that I have seen. Very encouraging!
Thank you.
Hi Ian, have enjoyed your vids on the CX405 and other topics. I've been using a CX405 for a few years now and completely agree with you about its ease of use and its secret power (optical zoom). My two tips are to put a couple of little stick-on lavalier furry windshields on each of the mics. The wind noise without them makes the audio almost unusable, with anything more than the most gentle of breezes. With the little lavalier windshields the audio is magnitudes better! Other thing I do is to use a small powerbank with a usb extension cable. I velcro it to my tripod or just leave it in my pocket. That little village btw is just so quintessential England! Where is it? Surrey/Kent maybe?
Hi. Yes, great ideas.
I’m in a village called Crockham Hill, which is right on the border between Kent and Surrey. On the path where those old Canterbury monks walked and apparently, stopped in our pub which was then an inn. I’m surrounded by farms which is fantastic, but there isn’t a single shop here, so if we get snow, it’s freezer time!
@@iancraig ah ha, my wife's parents were in Smallfieid. I'm a Kiwi in NZ, but for some reason figured it was close by. Lovely part of the world. :) Do try the furry windshields, they really work well for this camera.
Actually, I use do use fluffies on them normally if it's windy! I love it here except for no shops. Smallfield isn’t far from me.
Thank you for your review and tips on settings. Just got one.
Hope it helped.
you look like a very calming and good person, very good video too ❤
Thank you. My wife might not agree though! ;)
Nice review of the Sony camcorder. Enjoyed the tour of your neighborhood. Awesome.
Man if this thing had a mic input and shoe mount. I'd be sold. The built in mic is okay I've heard. I think I'll mostly use it for vlogging and b-roll footage.
It’s a cheapo though. The sound is ok and can be massaged in post. Great for quick vlogs though…..
By another UA-cam I found out right behind the battery compartment is a second holder to put a battery there and all you have to do is unscrew one screw from the side the door to close the battery compartment shows the indication for the empty compartment
Oh ….. a secret compartment!
This was lovely and very helpful. Thank you for making this video!
Thank you. I enjoyed making it.
I just brought one of these cameras. if you get a 2 amp 4000 milliamp power bank and use the charging cord and plug it into the charging usb cable and then into the power bank you can run the camera till the SD card runs out of space. No need to carry extra battery's. I got mine for filming at night time in low lux mode with a low shutter speed at 25 frames per second so I can capture the stars. Yes you can still buy these cameras in 2022.
Yes, I sometimes use mine as a security camera! I’m surprised it can capture stars though. They are great value. I’ve had mine for a long time now.
Thank you for this review! I'm so excited to get this for Christmas ❤
Blimey …. Christmas video coming up ……
this video made my entire year. I hope you're doing well sir
Thank you. I’m doing fine thanks!
Great review Ian! You know what this webcam is a bit technologically old, or rather smartphones have replaced it, but there is this aspect of filming that you showed and it's great - you can show the beauty of nature and that's the most valuable thing we have..
The end result is an mp4 at 50fps so the age of the technology doesn’t really worry me that much. Certainly, the ax53 gives as good a picture as my canon m50 most of the time and to get a zoom on the canon costs a lot of money in lenses.
With phones, to get close, you need a pretty good phone really. That’s expensive as well and tbh, I hate carrying an expensive phone around with me in my pocket. The cheaper phones only give 30fps with little control over exposure. The frame rate is often slightly variable too. The more expensive phones are much better though and are easier to carry around I guess.
I showed the cx405 just because of it’s cheapness. A third of the price of the Canon M50. Not the sharpest camcorder I have (I have 4) but great fir running around with no mic getting quick shots.
Thank you so much for all of your information. I just bought mine today and am so excited to use it.
I truly enjoyed all of the beautiful scenery and animals in your video. And of course your amazing accent ☺️. Many Blessings
Hi Helen. It's funny that my accent stopped me speaking on video and even making them for UA-cam. UK accents can be 'class' based and mine is definitely not posh!
Cheers
Ian
It's quite incredible for the money, as long as you have a lot of light.
I'd much rather have that camcorder than a GoPro.
Definitely. The Sony is way more stable. My GP9 plays up all of the time.
@@iancraig Interesting! I've had this little camcorder for about two years. Overall, a great camera for the money, especially with the zoom. I've NOT been happy with the stabilization and use a DIY stabilizer made out of PVC pipe. That helps a lot but not perfect. I am looking at the GoPro Hero 10 for the stabilization. Sound like you do not agree and would be interested your expanded opinion. Thanks
The GoPro stabilisation is the best in the business. When I first bought it a year ago or so, on first use out of the box, it locked 4 times in 10 minutes. The camera started recording on its own twice. The picture froze once. The colour made skins look plastic in some lighting conditions. Stabilisation was brilliant though.
As I said, the GoPro played up all of the time. (Not the stabilisation!)
Since then, I haven’t touched the GoPro until this week actually. I installed the recent update and it worked fine!
Personally, I think the GoPro 9 is the worst camera they released. The 10 is really what the 9 should have been. I think it’s more stable.
I don’t know why the Sony stabilisation should be so bad. It has both digital and optical stabilisation and that has worked well for me. Digital stabilisation May not be so good in low light perhaps, but optical should be ok.
Very good cheap camera and nice village, I like Britain… I live in a small town in northern Italy but there are a lot of villages with rice fields around me…
This place is tiny and situated on what are called the ‘North Downs’. A raised area that faces the ‘South Downs’ which is towards the south coast of the UK. It’s a beautiful place that is stuck in time. I feel as though I am living in the 60’s here. Only a church, school and a very old pub. Not a single shop so in the Winter, if it snows we get stuck in here! Not easy to get out.
This is so wholesome oh my gosh I love it
If only the truth were out .........😉
Thank you Ian, i just came across your video, I like how you talk to the animals/birds, i do that all the time, you got a good heart! I just got one of these camcorders today, a you tuber guy i reached out to recommended it, telling me they were cheap and tough, he makes all his videos with his, anyway i got a computer too for editing, im trying to "build" a YT channelthanks again for the tutorial on the camcorder.
Thank you for watching it, Len. I have 4 camcorders plus other cameras! It soon gets a grip on you! UA-cam is a very slow, hard slog. I often wonder whether it’s worth the time making them for such low views. This one did well for some reason, but isn’t typical of my videos as far as numbers go.
The cx405 is a great little camera. You might want just a little sharpening in post.
@@iancraig , Ian, UA-cam is all i know, and i heard it takes time, i don't have facebook either, back in 2015 when i got my first smartphone, everybody said FB was old, and all the young people were using Instagram.....
Have a good one thanks for your reply!
@@iancraig hi Ian, sorry to bother you, but you said i might want to be a little sharper in post, i dont understand that phase, what did you mean? Thanks for you time.
In your editor, there is probably a switch that allows you to sharpen the picture. The cx405 lens can look a bit soft on tiny detail, so a little bit of sharpening in post production can help the picture a lot. Just a little trick I sometimes use if the picture has a lot of tiny things in it, like twigs and leaves.
Yes this was a very calming video with great music and Ian's relaxing style/accent and was fun to hear him talking to the sheep, yappy dogs and the curious chipmunks.
I personally enjoy waving at dogs in the back seats of cars at a red light, just to see their ears perk up and the owner wonder why the dog looks so anxious:)
Sure...I've been known to let out quite the energetic "MOOOOOOO" while passing a farm field full of reclining bovines and you need to hear my Canada goose call to believe it!
On the topic of cameras...too bad you can't get that 405 new in 2022 January and I'd like to know whats comparable in price as of now.
Years ago I had a Sony vx3 3 chip dv camera which i bought used for about $2,500 but nowadays i'd rather not spend $1k if I can avoid it.
The zv1 jumped up $200 in price since December and I'm too lazy or unmotivated to learn how to use a dslr Sony a7 or 3 or whatever its number is.
Hi Mr. Craig,
Just wanted to say THANKS for your impressive, informative and entertaining content.
Am purchasing an old CX440 and CX405 tomorrow 10/24/2022 and your videos have really motivated me to transition from my NIKON DSLR Cameras.
In America Camcorders are considered archaic and "not cool" instead, people always prefer Smartphones, Go Pro, Dashcam. The huge Dinosaur DSLR have long being antiquated and only used by wedding photographers.
Thanks again Ian.
Greetings from USA 🇺🇸
Malik Martin.
I just subscribed to your channel. Best Regards
Martin, if you are USA, these camcorders don't do 30 or 60 FPS. They work in 25 or 50 only.
@@iancraig
According to the US reviews and the one am looking at they are spec'd at 60FPS. I Believe SONY has a huge presence in USA and the American products are of higher superior quality than the rest of the world. Thanks again
Ah …. Ok Malik. Just wanted to make sure that you had checked because we are stuck with 25 and 50 over here!
Beautiful review, is just what I needed. I want to make videos of hands on demostrations for my dental students and I decided for this camera and your video is the only one that I really liked, think you
Great. I'm glad it was useful to you. The zoom will really help to focus on the mouths of patients; especially with dentist lights!
Great demo. Love the UK even if I live in the USA.
just came across Ian what a joy... informative & interesting, excellent job
Thank you Jane. Really appreciated.
Thank you dear sir. I was planning to buy my first ever camcorder and was confused between Panasonic HC-V785W-K and SONY HDRCX405.
After watching the video till end, I guess I will go for Sony. The video quality is really great and sharp and doesn't pixellate at all. Although I am still curious about how it performs in dark nights or especially in moonlight and artificial lights inside a room
To be honest, none of these camcorders are great in low light. Their sensors are too small. My Sony AX53 is better, only because I can stop the ISO from going to high, but you can’t do that on these cheaper camcorders.
Great video Ian, thanks for sharing its a feel good video. I was looking for a review on a camcorder and this seems to fit the bill perfectly. Thanks again it made change to have such a lovely video.
I thought that it might make a change from a straight review type video. The CX405 is ok for the money. Not the sharpest but as long as you can get a little story going, it allows you to film it pretty easily.
Yes i love this little camera for the price i bought it for $60 on offer up and love how the stability works way better then some expensive canera recorder and the images that delivers for being low budget camera not bad blew my mind for not having 4k it looks great for this little sucker highly recommend those want a light weight camers to travel take some photage cant go wrong with this one.thats my opinion
Blimey….. that was a bargain!
You know, this is the review that's convinced m to get this camera, and to subscribe! Sony indeed, does still make this camera, it's still listed on their website as the cheapest camcorder. I'm blown away with the zoom on that camera, I've been getting into electronic repair (or at least filming it, I've been repairing things for years) and I'm tired of not having access to my phone when I'm recording, if someone calls me, my recording stops and I have to edit yet another clip into the video, id rather have a decent, standalone camera for my videos, and sure I could pay more for a 4k version, but I don't need it to be 4k, if I need 4k then ill use my iPhone for that scenario.
Thanks for subscribing, Hunter. I guess with cheap camcorders, many overlook them. As far as 4k goes, the differences imo aren’t as huge as many describe between 1080 and 4k really. If your video is that boring so that people are trying to work it out, then I guess the video needs improving in content! I find with the cx405 that a little sharpening in post makes it go really crisp to; especially if you’re videoing small bits, that really might bring everything up.
@@iancraig agreed, thanks for the info 😊
They still make the CX405. I bought one new a few weeks ago. Fedex destroyed it in shipping so I have to wait for a replacement to arrive. Grr!
It’s been going for quite a long time now. Such a good buy really. It would be nice if the stuck 4K in an updated version though.
@@iancraig I don't know. 4K seems an awful waste of resources. 1080p is pretty close to 2K and the cinemas use 2K and 4K
I use 4K on my TV though and footage does look sharp on it when it is truly 4K rather than upscaled.
@@iancraigI suspect there's a fault with the TV in that case.
Such a nice little video. I have the Canon Legria HF R606, which is a few years old. It was dirt cheap at the point of purchase, and, even though I suspect that the image quality is not as good, and the lens is not as sharp as yours, it also has a great zoom range and - a filter thread! I have just purchased a 43mm UV filter for general protection for this camcorder. These long zoom range gadgets are great for filming nature on a budget, as you said, because the animals aren't aware that you're filming them.
Thanks Nic. I think many videographers don’t understand that the video is what we’re making and very few people look at videos and say things like .... I wonder what camera they used? Unless the video is really boring or exceptionally clear or something ..... Sometimes, you just want something that’s light and convenient that just captures the moment and at other times, you want precision. It just depends. I have 11 cameras and choose according to what is needed! No one notices except me, the guy lugging gear around!
You can make great videos on a phone.
Nice Shirt Mate👍🏻
Great video! Sometimes the UA-cam algorithm takes you to places you looked for deep inside your heart. Really nice video, nice person, a blast to see and hear. Subscribed, coming back for more! Stay healthy, greetings from Germany !
Thank you Phoenix.
I've just started my UA-cam channel, and I use the very camera you reviewed here. As an artist, I use it for recording my paintings en plein air. My current challenge is how to get my little camcorder to shoot better video of the Utah Desert landscape that I paint in so much. Thanks for what tips you shared here.
With landscapes, I often underexpose by half to one stop so that highlights don’t get blown out. In post, a little sharpening and saturation added. I might also use a polarised filter to saturate colours on the sun and bring out the sky when it’s bright and sunny or a graduated grey filter when overcast.
ha - that's exactly why I'm here - looking for a cheap camera for outdoor painting trips - will checkout your channel.
Looks like a great camera for close-ups and b-roll. Great price!
These are great value for money with good audio and acceptable image quality with a fantastic zoom.
But then again you can buy action cameras used on eBay for a similar price or even cheaper, and I think the image quality of these action cameras is better and variable resolution, wider view, and audio options abound.
If I was going down the handycam route and I wanted a 1080p handy cam I think I would go for the Panasonic cheap version, because it has sharper image and better stereo microphone.
One word of caution is some of these handy cams have batteries that are unfortunately expensive.
There's no doubt about it that these handy CAMs definitely have their own great points and that is affordability and the zoom, which is perfect for nature videos etc. Something the others can't do.
The worst thing about action cameras other than GoPros is the oversharpening. Can’t fix it. You can buy some really tastey camcorders second hand as well sometimes. Handycams also have great battery life on the whole as well, with shutter and iris control. Action cameras are fixed focus and fixed aperture. Many people overlook this.
So fixed aperture, massive depth of field that can’t be changed, wide angle look, very often auto shutter so jaggy movement, over sharpened images are the downsides of the action cams.
Each type of camera has its own downsides. I find the handycam a nice ‘in between’ solution between action cams and dslr’s. These ones are small enough (just) to get into your pocket and have some of the characteristics of dslr’s. Whatever make you think best!
@@iancraig Well said Ian.
Good points. Yes the images from Smartphones also tend to be over sharpened.
Cheers.
A lot of UA-camrs oversharpen everything!
BTW, I love your channel. Jersey is gorgeous. I loved it there. A friend of mine went there for a holiday, like I did and ended up moving there. He loved it so much. Unfortunately, he died at a fairly young age from cancer, but he certainly had a good time there. A guy called Alan Herbert. You never know, with it being a small island, you might have known him!
I had the scare of my life on a bus. The driver was all over the place and going so fast, I spent most of the journey holding my breath!!!
@@iancraig Thanks for the compliment Ian.
Jersey has beautiful nature and Coastline.
I'm just starting out making videos. Learning as I go along. I would love to show more of the Island but I rarely venture far from town.
Your Channel is great too. It has given me a good insight into Camcorders, etc, and you explain things well.
Cheers.👍
Great review, nice video and beautiful country scenery.
Thank you Adea.
That's a great video, Ian. Thanks.
Thanks Pau. Had fun making it too.
Great review. I own one of these and never use it. That changes today. England is certainly a beautiful country with wonderful people. I am in Los Angeles. Not so wonderful. Lol . Thank you sir.
Thanks Alan. The more cameras I own, the more important I think the putting together of a video is. It’s not the camera but how it’s used to portray something. I find more often these days, that I just want to return to one of my camcorders because they do the job so quickly and efficiently. Of course, if I want a strong bokeh, then I would use the Canon camera that I have but I always end up going back to a camcorder for a lot of things.
There are too many videos on UA-cam about fancy cameras that have capabilities way above what most people really need. Sure, they are dead sharp and offer strong bokeh effects with the right lens, but ultimately, we are all telling a story and if the audience starts to pick out picture quality, then I reckon the video must be pretty boring.
If I need quick ‘b roll’ or vloggy type shots where audio isn’t a main focus, then the cx405 is light, quick to use with reasonable picture and audio. Fits in a pocket and gets the shot in seconds.
So for that, it’s a great little camera.
Los Angeles has a different story to tell in comparison to Crockham Hill, that’s all. Wonderful orchestra and quite a history with landmarks that foreigners would find fascinating. There’s a lot going on in Los Angeles! ..... like, why is it called ‘The Angels’?
Think that you have convinced me. Sony HandyCam it is for me. Will be my 1st ever camcorder. PS. another great vid. 👍
Thank you.
It's the camera operator, not necessarily the camera. I have the older, cheaper model yet, HDRCX-240 which is still available, $189.00 Just use what ya got, go out and do it! Great video.
Spot on. No one worries about what camera you used these days. Only if the video is boring …..
THIS IS SO ADORABLE
Thank you. Really appreciated.
Una excelente videocámara.
This video made me smile!
I ordered mine today. Let's hope it's as good as it seems!
It’s as good as the videos you take and edit. Try under exposing slightly when you get it. That helps to avoid burned out areas.
@@iancraig when you say under expose do you mean setting exposure to manual and then using the + - to adjust?
Great video btw!!
Thanks Paul. Set shutter to 1/50th or 1/100th. In the menu, there is an 'exposure' compensation (At least I think on the cx405) I generally go a little under there.
You'll get slightly more depth to colour and less chance of picture burn out. If need be, brighten in post.
@@iancraig Thanks for the quick reply. Ive had a look and can’t find exposure compensation anywhere in menu. Maybe it isn’t on the 405 or my firmware is not up to date .. I’ve only just got the camera, can you tell me what firmware is the latest, I’ve looked on Sony website but doesn’t give any info on latest firmware version.
I don't think there is a firmware update. I'm not home so I can't check it. Sorry, but I think the others have exposure compensation.
Amazing zoom videos. Exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you.
I'm glad it was useful.
Excellent video, I appreciate the info, very informative, what would you recommend for charging extra batteries while filming?
Thanks Steve. It’s not the ultimate in sharpness, but it can take nice videos. With regards to extra charging, the batteries are very small and it’s easier to keep a few in your pocket rather than a power unit. Being a camcorder, battery life is quite good so a few extras in your pocket will easily see you through a lot of videoing.
2:22 I didn't know semi-automatics were legal in the UK!
Great video thanks for reviewing this 😊
Thank you.
Hi Ian! I know it's been a while since you posted the video, I love your energy.
Do you think that with a higher MB/s per second SD memory the video quality could improve?
I've heard that was the case with some Panasonic handycams.
Best regards, I really liked the video, your voice, the things you highlighted, the ducks, the dogs, everything very nice ^_^ 💖.
Hi. I guess a higher bitrate would be nice. It might improve the picture, but for me, it does what it needs to fairly well. It’s not the sharpest but a great tool to learn video basics and allow you to just concentrate on video making without fussing over too many settings. Slow the shutter down and it really starts to look more ‘film’ like and actually, because it lacks that razor sharpness of DSLR’s, it can be really nice to watch on large screens. You don’t get distracted by the often ‘brittle’ quality of DSLR footage. More often than not, I’m softening footage from my mirrorless cameras up!
@@iancraig Thanks Ian! I like these "keep it simple" or minimalist concepts and the idea of focusing on what we are looking at.
You make good points :)
It may sound silly but I feel like it would make me very happy to record day to day stuff with this little camera haha. I may end up buying it, I was also thinking about the Panasonic “HC-WXF991K”.
It’s not so much the camera, but the shape and direction of your video that is important. What I like about these camcorders is the speed and ease that they allow you to capture footage. But for really good video, really, it’s the assembly of the clips that count for more.
I’ve just spent three weeks in Florida with just the Action 4. I came home with 4 full sd cards of footage. I made 20 detailed videos of our time there and then cut the best of each video into one film of 25 minutes. That is the one that my family watch. Three weeks of footage with 4 full cards to make a 25 minute video!
No one cares what the camera was, but as long as you use the best footage and shape your video to tell a story, people are hooked!
@@iancraig Excellent and totally true, at the end of the day the only thing people remember is what they felt, if you connected with your audience they will never forget if you touched something in them....
If you're a bit of a nerd about these things you get obsessed with the technical details and in the end nobody cares about that hahahah.
There are so many things that can distract you, it's important to get back to the basics, to combine shots to make sense, to make meaning.
I want to get back to what's important and stop messing around.
Thank you for taking the time to answer, you have made me think, I appreciate it very much.
Greetings from Argentina, you are great! 😊
PS: Sorry if my English is indecipherable, I'm using a translator haha.
So very happy for you Justro, so proud of you for sharing this and blessing us with the good news, and as a Christian myself, I can feel the love and excitment of being a new man in Christ bubbling up thru you. Thank you so much for sharing this, I am proud of you, and Jesus is too.
Completely Loved this Video 📹 👏🏻
Hi Ian. I used the same settings you used for this, xavc s HD, frame rate 50p, and 100 shutter speed.
I was wondering what the best settings are for when exporting? I use the app VLLO, and there are plenty of options, like for resolution is medium HD (1280 x 720), high full HD (1920 x 1080), qhd (2560 x 1440). The frame rate options for the app are from 18 and go up to 60, video codec h.264 and h.265.
I would appreciate your help. I don’t know much about these settings.
Hi. Export your video using the same settings that you used when videoing and set up your editor the same way. So export at 1920x1080 at 50 frames per second. You can have a lower bitrate if you need to save space, but I export mine close to the bitrate of the video clips sometimes. Check ‘properties’ and details to see what bitrate your clips have been saved in. You can go as low as 12 but I think the cx405 gives 50mbs clips.
Always edit and export at same frame rate as the clips.
50fps will look very lifelike. Not film like. If you want it to look more like a film, try 25fps at 1/50th shutter, but try to keep the camera still. You can’t run around as much with it at 25fps.
@@iancraigThis was very helpful. Many thanks Ian!!
@@iancraig what about video codec? It’s between h.264 and h.265 and I’m not sure which one to use
The Sony saves in h264. Only difference between them is that h265 makes files smaller. However, some computers find h265 more difficult to play and can become choppy. Try h265. If choppy, then h264.
@@iancraig okay, thank you for your help!!
Thank you it's the kind of video I was looking for 👌👌😇😇
Great video..many thanks…I have the gopro…after watching your video have purchased the 405 great video thank you
Glad it was useful. I really like the ease of use of the cx405.
Video& sound is good. Great no bull video. Do more videos.
correction. it has 350*** times zoom. I found one of these in a park. great little camera
That’s ‘digital’ zoom though so quality of picture takes a hit. Actually, 350 x is a bit excessive for practical use. I wouldn’t even use 60 tbh.
You made a beautiful video my friend.
Many thanks.