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If you look around the Internet, you'll see TONS of Sony HDR-TD10 reviews. Do you know what 95% of them are? Relentless promotion of a product they've never even used, all in the name of making a quick buck. What kind of reviewing is that? My goal for this post is to give you my honest HDR-TD10 Review, without all of the hype. Similarly, my goal for this site is to provide reviews by others who own or have used the product so that you can get an accurate idea of whether this video camera is right for you.
I want to go further than that though. I plan on showing you where to buy the Sony HDR-TD10 (near the end of this article) if you want to get the best deal. And you know what? It's probably not from where you'd expect. Most sites will send you off to buy it on the Best Buy website, or maybe at Nextag. But the fact is, you'll be overpaying. I'm going to show you where you can buy it for less. And best of all, it's probably somewhere that you've purchased from before. A site that you're both familiar with and comfortable with buying from - not some spammy looking sales page with yellow highlighter and fake crossed out prices.
My Complete Sony HDR-TD10 Review
Since I live in Las Vegas and attended the 2011 CES trade show, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Sony HDR-TD10 3D/HD Handycam before it was even released. I've been using it for awhile now, and although my general impression is positive, I do have a few complaints. But since this is such a complex device, let's break this review up into a few different sections.
1)Physical Features
If you compare this handycam to one of those old video cameras from the 90s, it's tiny and compact. On the other hand, when you compare it to another Sony HD camera like the HDR-CX700V, it's positively enormous. But then, those other cameras don't have full 3D like the TD10. The reason for the added size is the fact that the TD10 has side-by-side lenses in the front (see the picture over to the right) that are necessary for capturing a 3D image.
Aside from that, this camcorder is stylish and relatively sleek. It's got a padded hand strap and a textured surface that's nice for extended use. I held onto this camera through my daughter's entire high school basketball game (which went into overtime) and it never hurt my hand.
It's got a ton of ports on the back, as well as the battery compartment. You'll also find the switch to jump between 2D and 3D recording on the back.
It's got an 8.8 cm LCD screen, which is pretty standard for handycams in this price range.
2)Manual Controls
If you're a handycam novice, you might not use these much. But if you're an AV geek like me, you'll want to get down and dirty with them. The upside is that the Sony HDR-TD10 has plenty of options for manual control. The downside is that most of them are unavailable in 3D mode. (What do you expect from a product that is the first of it's kind though?)
Auto Mode - No complaints. Worked about the same as other Sony cameras from the last few years. The Intelligent Auto controls, which automatically select a scene mode for the user, are even functional during 3D shooting.
Low Light Mode - Lowers the shutter speed to 1/30 of a second, and works well as long as there is some light to work with. It's not night vision, though, so don't try to film where it's pitch black.
Zoom - Best performed using the top-mounted zoom toggle. Other methods were touchy. Up to 10x zoom in 3D mode, and 12x in 2D. Also has an option for extended zoom at 17x. Seemed very steady, even at high zooms. Getting the zoom just where you want it takes a little practice.
Focus - Sony has a great autofocus tracking feature where you tap on a subject in the picture, and the camera then automatically keeps them (or it) in focus no matter where they move. For most people, this will be as advanced as you need to get. However, this feature is not available in 3D mode. To fine-tune 3D focusing, you can use the touchscreen or the control-dial on the front. The touchscreen seemed easier to use, although you can more easily "fine-tune" with the dial on the front.
Other advanced features include Exposure, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, and advanced Color settings. All of these work in 3D mode, with the exception of Aperture and Shutter Speed.
3)3D Features
Let's be honest here. The 3D features are the whole reason that you're interested in this camcorder. And who could blame you! After all, the Sony HDR-TD10 is the first consumer grade camera with a built in 3D/HD lens.
Pros: The 3D feature is simple. No lens calibration. No swapping out lenses. You flip a switch, and you're in 3D mode. No need for special glasses to watch the video in 3D, although it looks unbelievable if you DO watch it with glasses on a 3D enabled HDTV.
Cons: Less control and versatility in being able to fine-tune settings for advanced users.
Conclusion:
If you're in the market for a 3D/HD camera that doesn't require an engineering degree to operate, this is the one. As far as modern handycams go, the Sony HDR-TD10 is a bit bulky. If you don't plan on using the 3D features, then you might consider opting for a similar camera that isn't as large. On the other hand, it's not like the thing weighs 20 pounds. The full weight is only 3 pounds, and it measures out at 6 x 4.1 x 9 inches. The 3D picture is incredible. It's possible that you'll never go back to recording in 2D.
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