Sony HDR-PJ200

Sony HDR-PJ200

Consumer camcorders, caught between high-end cameras and smartphones that can shoot impressive HD video, increasingly need features to set them apart. The Sony HDR-PJ200 ($439.99 direct) manages to distinguish itself with a built-in projector for playing back your recorded memories without the need for a TV or a computer. When it comes to straightforward video performance, though, the HDR-PJ200 lags behind competitors like the less-expensive Canon Vixia HF R300 ($349.99, 4 stars). Design and Features Compact and comfortable in hand, the HDR-PJ200 measures 2.25 by 2.4 by 4.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 8.9 ounces, making it ever-so-slightly larger and heavier than the HF R300, which measures 2.2 by 2.1 by 4.5 inches and weighs in at 8.8 ounces. That bit of added girth can be attributed to the aforementioned projector, which makes for a fatter-than-usual LCD. All of the main controls lie in familiar spots along the HDR-PJ200's body: the Record button rests comfortably under your thumb, while the zoom rocker is within reach of your index finger. Behind the zoom rocker are Photo and Mode buttons, the former for grabbing still images on the fly, while the latter switches between still image and video modes.