Sony FDR-X1000V

VIDEO. The Sony FDR-X1000V takes good video. Pictures were sharp though not as much as the better models, which means you can see much but not all details and 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 Ultra HD video at 3840x2160 at 30 frames per second (fps), progressive-scan (p). It has an above-normal frame-rate mode 1920x1080 at 120p fps.

AUDIO. It captures good audio in stereo, better than most.

PHOTO QUALITY. In Photo mode it captures at best 8.8-megapixel stills with very good quality.

LENS. The lens has a fixed focal length; it has no zoom capability. The lens also has a very wide-angle (17.1mm) 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 an excellent job of minimizing the effects of camcorder shake.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. It survived our repeated-drop test. This model is about average in size and average in weight among all action camcorders.

The Sony FDR-X1000V is an 8.8-megapixel camcorder with no optical zoom has a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 17.1mm (fixed). It lacks an LCD. The camcorder has a maximum aperture of f/2.8.

The Sony FDR-X1000V stores video and photos on MicroSD, MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC memory cards. It captures ultra HD video as H.264 files at a resolution as high as 3840x2160 at 30 frames per second and 8.8-megapixel resolution stills as JPG files. The image stabilization system for this camcorder is electronic. The Sony FDR-X1000V measures 1 inches wide by 2.1 inches high by 3.6 inches in length, and weighs 0.3 pounds. With its included enclosure it measures 1.6 inches wide by 3 inches high by 3.8 inches in length, and weighs 0.4 pounds.