Shoot it and show it with Sony's new handycam

VIDEO cameras have a limited lifespan but Sony is trying to save it by creating an all-in-one camera and home cinema.

Switched On Sony Handycam

VIDEO cameras have a tough road ahead, but Sony has come up with a cunning solution: turning camcorders into all-in-one shoot-'em-and-show-'em home cinemas.

The second of its kind, the Handycam HDR-PJ260V features a projector built into the back of its screen.

When flipped out and operational, it is able to put on a show, displaying video on any blank wall at a size of up to 100 inches - more than enough to impress bystanders and show off your hard work at a moment's notice. This projector is also more powerful than the last, with a brightness of 15 lumens, up from seven.

But this Handycam is no slouch when it comes to recording video. The PJ10's replacement can capture video in full high-definition and 50 frames a second with its Exmor R CMOS sensor that is designed to deliver clear picture in low light.

It also comes with a 30x optical zoom and 350x digital zoom. The latter lets you see insects crawling on leaves metres away, and optical image stabilisation helps you keep the camera steady enough to enjoy it.

The PJ260 can also capture 8.9-megapixel photos - an upgrade on the 3.3-megapixel stills of its predecessor - and also features GPS geotagging, a three-inch touchscreen for quick menu selections and automatic wind noise reduction.

Users can record moving images to a memory card or the camera's built-in 16GB flash storage. Despite this addition, the camera weighs 320g - only 10g more than the last - without its battery.

The PJ260 doesn't arrive with a remote control, but it's an otherwise fully featured camera and a step up from its predecessor.

-- Sony Handycam HDR-PJ260V, $899

Sony.com.au

Four and a half stars