VIDEO. The Sony HDR-AS20 takes good video, at a quality like nearly all high-definition models. Pictures were a bit soft, which means it will be difficult to make out tiny details and very subtle patterns in the image. In low-light situations, the video was good: quite viewable but not as bright or clear as the better models. It captures full HD video at 1920x1080.
AUDIO. It captures good audio in stereo, better than most.
PHOTO QUALITY. In Photo mode it captures 11.9-megapixel stills with good quality.
LENS. The lens has a fixed focal length; it has no zoom capability. The lens also has a very wide-angle (15.3mm) capability that's very useful for landscapes and group portraits, although you may notice a bit of distortion when you're shooting faces up close, for instance.
IMAGE STABILIZER. Shooting in well-lit scenes, this model did a very good job of minimizing the effects of camcorder shake.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. It survived our repeated-drop test. This model passed the manufacturer's claim, which states that it can survive up to 16 feet underwater. This model is smaller and much lighter than the average action camcorder.
