The Sony HDR-XR520V (MSRP $1499.99) is a camcorder that will delight some and disappoint others. Sure, most camcorders can't please every kind of user, but the XR520 is particularly divisive: its viewfinder and control dial are alluring to videophiles, while the touchscreen, GPS, and 240GB hard drive will catch the eye of many a beginner. Unfortunately, there are key ingredients missing: experienced users might bemoan some missing controls and first-time users could be intimidated by the jumble of buttons and layered menus. Before you buy the XR520, you better know exactly what kind of camcorder you're looking for... and choose accordingly.

Let's start with the features that might be an irresistable siren song for beginners. The built-in GPS lets you add a geo-tag to your video clip so you can keep track of exactly where you were at the time of filming. Most of the XR520's controls are handled with Sony's tried and true touch screen technology, which is notoriously attractive to novices. The touch screen lets you do spot metering to select just the right exposure and spot focus so you can pinpoint the most important part of the scene. Combine all that with 240GB of internal hard drive memory, and you've got a winning formula for vacationing families that want an easy way to document their travels.

However, this Sony has some real drawbacks that first-time camcorder buyers should keep in mind. First of all, the menu system is not very intuitive, with options spread across a couple different menus and submenus. Sometimes there are tool tips to explain a feature, but sometimes you're left to decipher a cryptic series of icons. There is an Easy mode, but that will just lock down some of the menus; it won't do anything about the intimidating clutter of buttons and switches inside the LCD cavity, nor the occasionally unintuitive playback interface.

What if you're a more experienced user? The most compelling strength of the HDR-XR520V is its manual control, including the great manual control dial. This little dial up at the front of the camcorder makes manual focus a breeze—plus, the function of the dial can be changed on the fly to control other options as well. There's a viewfinder, headphone and microphone ports, and very solid optical image stabilization. The real down side for power users will be what's missing: these high definition Sony cams don't offer direct control over aperture, shutter speed, or gain. They also don't offer any alternate frame rates, like 30p or 24p. All these omissions are a double-edged sword: advanced users might lose interest, but beginners will have an easier time transitioning into manual image control.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The strongest part of the Sony HDR-XR520's performance is its pristine, noise-free footage. The new Exmor-R sensor may be the savior here; tucking the circuitry below the light receiver probably decreased the interference. It did not, however, do much to improve sensitivity: the XR520 still required a lot of light to produce acceptable footage in our low light testing labs. Where does that leave us? Well, in bright light you have an incredibly clear image with decent color accuracy and sharpness. In low light, however, the image is a darker than it should be and the colors lose their vibrancy. No matter what the lighting conditions are, however, you'll always have less noise than you get with a lot of the competition.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
The XR520V is dificult to compare to other camcorders. The enormous 240GB hard drive pushes the retail price well above anything you might see from other manuafacturers. So, value is hard to judge. If you want to pay $200 less, you can always opt for the HDR-XR500V, which has "only" 120GB of internal memory. Whichever model you choose, you will get phenomenal video performance, with smooth motion and beautiful colors. You also get the excellent control dial and some nice manual image adjustments. The Canon HF S10 and HF S100, however, have a control dial, plus manual aperture, shutter speed, and 24p/30p frame rate options. Meanwhile, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 has a lens ring for manual controls, provides superior low light performance, and is easier to use.

When it comes down to it, there is a lot of personal preference in consumer camcorders. This year's top models from all the major manufacturers offer something compelling that the competition might lack. For Sony's HDR-XR520V, that something is a huge 240GB hard drive and some bare bones manual controls that novices will find easy for first-time experimentation. For the best low light performance, the most streamlined user experience, or the most robust manual controls, you'll need to look elsewhere.