Sony HDR-TG5V

Sony HDR-TG5V Review

Based on the HDR-TG5V’s diminutive size, some folks might be tempted to think of Sony’s new ultra-compact HD Handycam as being little more than a Flip with an inflated price tag. But that’s just not so. This little marvel of consumer-grade camcorder engineering has most of the same features found in Sony’s portlier high-definition video cameras, including SteadyShot image stabilization, manual focus, and even a relatively large internal solid-state drive capable of holding hours worth of gorgeous, highest-quality 1080p video. Plus, it’s got at least one trick up its sleeve that you’re not likely to find in any other HD camcorder, ultra-compact or otherwise: GPS geotagging. Tantalized yet? Roughly the size of three iPod Touches stacked on top of each other, the HDR-TG5V is perfectly jeans friendly. We carried it around in our front trouser pocket for hours and only occasionally noticed its presence. It’s also pretty. The brushed titanium casing is cool and smooth to the touch and remarkably resistant to scratches—it shared space in our pocket with a key ring and showed nary a scratch at the end of the day. What’s more, a pair of snap covers conceals the power and video out jacks, the memory card port, and even the battery, keeping the HDR-TG5V’s lines sleek and tidy.