The palm-sized Sony® HDR-CX12 Handycam® camcorder is the world’s first camcorder with both Face Detection and Smile Shutter™ technology. With Smile Shutter™, the HDR-CX12 can detect smiles and automatically capture still images, even while recording video. 1920 x 1080 Full High Definition8 video resolution and 10.2 megapixel still image recording ensure your memories are preserved in stunning detail. Additionally, the HDR-CX12’s small size and light weight make it an ideal travel companion, for recording that perfect moment, wherever you are. The HDR-CX12 stores video and still images directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media1 (4GB supplied) for easy transfer to your computer or other compatible devices.
Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full High Definition resolution.
Carry only one compact camera for both video and still. Capture up to 10.2 megapixel still image for high resolution digital photos.
Capture still images directly onto Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media (4GB4 included) for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick® devices (sold separately).
Smile Shutter™ technology lets the camcorder automatically take still photos when your subject smiles, even while shooting High Definition video. You can also set the Smile Shutter sensitivity and choose child, adult, or auto priority.
Face Detection for Video Footage and Digital Still Photos Made possible by the BIONZ™ image processing engine, Face Detection technology recognizes up to 8 faces anywhere in the frame and automatically controls focus, exposure, and color to help capture smiling faces brightly and clearly. Face Detection also helps make skin tones look natural without affecting other colors in the image.
5 Megapixel ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor (with Exmor™-derived technology) and BIONZ™ Image Processor
Sony’s newly designed CMOS image sensor delivers bright, vivid, and spectacularly detailed 5 megapixel (effective) video footage, as well as 10.2 megapixel still images -- all with prolonged battery life. Exmor™ technology captures images with high resolution and high sensitivity. In addition, the advanced Sony BIONZ™ image processor improves camera response time and screens out noise so the signal from each pixel is as pure as possible.
The advanced Sony BIONZ™ Image Processor uses hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry that improves camera response time, screens out noise before RAW data conversion, handles Dynamic Range Optimization processing, and prolongs battery life.
Exmor™ technology captures video and still photo images with high resolution, high sensitivity, and exceptional detail. Advanced on-sensor A/D conversion yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio.
2.7" Wide (169) Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD Plus™ Display (211K Pixels)
The 2.7" Wide (169) LCD screen provides exceptional viewing clarity with improved resolution (211K pixels). The display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. The widescreen format makes shooting in 169 mode and composing shots even easier.
12X Optical / 150X Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.
The Super SteadyShot® Optical Image Stabilization System from Sony reduces blur caused by camera shake and vibration, so your images stay crisp and clear. This optical stabilization system achieves an even higher level of smoothness without the image degradation that can occur with some digital stabilization systems.
Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lenses use highly advanced optics to deliver vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating further reduces unwanted glare and flare for increased contrast and color.
Record in Dolby Digital 5.1ch surround sound with the camcorder’s built-in microphone. Recording in 5.1 channel surround sound allows you to experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all directions, so you can enjoy your personal home movies the way you experienced them while recording.
Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1ch recording Featuring Dolby® Ditigal 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects in sync with the camera’s zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.
Dynamic Range Optimizer
Powered by the exclusive Sony’s BIONZ™ high-speed processing engine, D-Range Optimization preserves image data in bright highlights, such as suppressing "whiteout" in skies. When shooting in backlit settings, D-Range Optimization reveals more detail in shadows, preventing "blackout." As a result, the captured image appears as natural as the original scene.
Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode help your subject stand out by properly focusing the subject while leaving the background unfocussed. The Tele Macro Mode is useful for shooting close-up shots, especially when you need to prevent the camcorder from casting a shadow on the subject.
Switchable HD/SD Format Recording Record and play back both High Definition (HD)4 and Standard Definition (SD) video.
Sony’s proprietary hot shoe makes it easy to use Intelligent Accessories, such as external lights and microphones, by providing power and on/off capability directly from the camcorder.
HDMI™ Connection with BRAVIA® Sync™ (CEC) Technology
HDMI™ connectivity provides a simple, high-quality video and audio connection, with the ability to transmit HD video and 5.1 channel audio directly from the camcorder to compatible HDTVs via a single cable. With BRAVIA® Sync™ (CEC) technology, the HDMI connection also delivers the ability to control both the camcorder and HDTV using a single BRAVIA TV remote.
InfoLITHIUM® Battery with AccuPower™ Meter System
Unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect," so you’re free to charge the battery at any time. Additionally, Sony's exclusive AccuPower™ meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.
When using the Sony InfoLITHIUM® Battery, the Stamina® Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. When using the LCD screen or viewfinder, the display will show how much the battery is charged -- in 10% increments -- and the recordable time left.
Built-in Intelligent Flash For added clarity and detail when taking pictures in low-light situations, the built-in flash improves pictures and reduces shadows.
Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the Easy Handycam Button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," letting you focus only the buttons essential for recording.
Face Index makes it easier than ever to find and play back the right video scene. Using Face Detection technology, Face Index indexes your video footage according to the faces detected in each scene. When it’s time to play back video, simply search for what you want by selecting from among the detected faces displayed in the index.
Like chapters in a book, Film Roll Index helps you easily find desired scenes in video footage. When using this feature, the camcorder previews the beginning of scenes and can create scene indexes set at specified display intervals (3, 6, or 12 seconds and 1 or 5 minutes).
Manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.
Easily burn a DVD copy of your footage using the supplied software. Simply connect the camcorder to your PC via a USB cable and press the One Touch Disc Burn Button.
Missing an important scene can be frustrating, especially if the reason is because your camcorder is turned off. With the Quick On feature, the touch of a single button places that camcorder in Sleep mode. Another push instantly wakes the camcorder, so you’ll always be ready to capture special moments.
PhotoTV HD Viewing with HDMI™ Output
With direct HDMI™ output to your BRAVIA® HDTV and other compatible HDTV screens, so you can view and share photos in breathtaking clarity and detail. You can choose between standard 43 and widescreen 169 aspect ratio -- and with select BRAVIA® HDTV models, your photos are automatically optimized in sharpness, gradation, and color reproduction.
Progressive Shutter System
A mechanical shutter system that provides progressive scan performance while utilizing an interlaced scanning system. Digital still images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.
x.v.Color™ technologycan capture or display nearly twice as many (1.8x) viewable colors than possible with the traditional RGB color standard. This provides a more accurate and vivid color range, for a more natural, lifelike overall experience.