Sony DCR-SX63 Handycam Test and Review 

I still use this because I love the nostalgic effect it has

Finally a decent review with examples and someone who knows how to talk. Thank you, much appreciated.

do you recommend this camcorder?

This looks like a really good camera. I've been looking around for a small video camera and this looks to be one of the best I've seen so far. How do the still photos look?

So vintage and very nice to capture the moments.

@SkipperMare I find that I use youtube more and more to help me make shopping decisions. Its great to be able to see a product and how well it may or may not work. Thanks for watching.

@eastcoast78 The problem is probably that this camera is NOT HD ...... there is nothing you can do to upconvert it. On youtube it will see that its 16x9 but only 460 lines of resolution. Don't confuse 16x9 with HD. One is aspect ratio, the other is resolution.

Menu settings. There is a place in the menu where your can set the camera to record on internal memory or to external (chip memory). Also, you can plug your camera into the computer using a usb cable, it will ask you on camera display which memory, tap that cue and the camera will act as your car reader.

I use handbrake at work for difficult video files, no problem. But I downloaded it a year ago. What are you editing with?

@WSOC2010 MPEG2 clips would need to be converted for your apple gear. I had no idea how much of a mess mpeg2 is until I posted this video. For your apple, the new i-movie is native h-264 i believe, so you can just drag and drop. In final cut you may need to convert h-264 files. I don't have an HD camera to recommend, I would just say you should get a camera with an external mic input so you can plug the camera into the board, so we can hear you clearly.

thanks for excellent and precise review, I saw this cam today and was confused about should i got for HDD one or flash memory one. I am not convinced and going to buy this one this evening. Its 6:30 AM here and i need some nap, and I'll come back to thank you again with this cam in next 12-14 hours from now. I hope i am making nice decision and this would fit my home video needs. thanks again

its in the menu, you can select internal or external memory for both video and stills mode. for SD you would select external memory

What a great review. I might buy this camera. I found one on Facebook Marketplace for $40. Seems a good deal.

Great test footage of the bees! Is there an external mic input in the camera?

HQ can be set in the menu. It may take a few minutes to find it, the menus are very easy on this camera.

@1fastcat243 This model does not accept screw on wide angle lenses. I don't think there is a way to put other lenses on this camera.

@DarronTV Do what? Can you play back your footage in the camera? If so you are probably not selecting the right things in the menu to connect to the computer. When you connect the usb to the computer the camera menu will give you three options use the top left or usb connect with the "ram" chip symbol try that

@DJMANNY10 No that is not normal, unless you are in a very hot climate or you let the camera sit in direct sunlight for hours. I have run this camera for several hours and at most it got warm. Your camera has probably got a defect, is it out of warranty?

@rightwing8877 No, this camera does not have the nightshot feature of many old sony camcorders.

@Getawaymoments I'm getting lots of questions about the SX-63, I gave mine to my brother so I can't check it myself. Does it have threads to put a wide angle on? The SX-83 does but I can't check the sx-63 because I don't have it anymore.

@cooldude100ism OK, I have not uploaded anything from this camera in a long time but I think each clip the camera creates has a thumbnail with the video file, see if you can break it down and find only the video file to upload.

were you recording HD/HQ when you shot your SX63 videos at the end? looks awesome.

@cj64films interesting .... Play back the clips in the camera .... do you hear audio coming out of the camera? If so it must be an import setting...

@LifeOfConner It can zoom while filming. And I'm sure it would do fine shooting ducks.

Nice review, thanks for the sample videos at the end!

@ourhappyfamily4 Since this is not a tape camera, you don't "pause" anymore. Each time you hit the record button you create a new "clip" that ends when you hit the record button again. When your done, you hit play and the video plays just like tape, it just jumps to the next clip seamlessly. By what you described, this would probably be a good camera for you.

@A7XFan7314 It does not have what you might traditionally call a "pause" button. Only a record start and stop button, because it is a clip based camera every time you stop or pause the camera it creates a clip.

@MattCurtice I don't think so. This model does not have filter threads

@clmco what feature? We are moving away from tape media and headed to clip or file based video recording. The file based solid state cameras are faster to start recording and since there are no moving parts (tape deck) these cameras should last a long time. The only limitation of these cameras is the battery and SDHC memory has a life span of a couple thousand uses.

@elsanchoalex Total yes, but i don't think the camera can "see" or use all of the media at the same time. You have to switch the settings from internal to external.

@cj64films yea, check import settings, or the playback settings on your edit software

I looked at one today. Your review was helpful in my decision making process. Thanks

@ArcanineTheGreat The question should be, where can I find? I don't think this model is being sold new, its been discontinued. It does share many features with the newer sony models.

Got mine today..WOW love it. Love the HD option in the Vid settings.

@Filmyism No firewire, but it does have usb and yes it works with newer versions of macs. I-movie 9 and 11 for sure.

@Luismelgar2009 Yes the models i mentioned below shoot HD and take pictures.

What buttons do you push to see the pictures and videos right from the camcorder?

@wii770 I think I shot the highway video with an old mini dv camera. Any camera will do, just keep shooting.

@cooldude100ism My sister in law has that camera now, but it is in the menu. Look for HQ or high quality. Unfortunately, I do remember that Sony did not use the quality descriptions many of us are used to now, like 480, 720, 1080, ect ect.

@sergio300098 No, this camera does not have the threads to screw in any filters. I guess you could tape one on but that would not work well.

@cooldude100ism O.K. I don't know after effects but i'm wondering if your grabbing a thumbnail instead of the full resolution file. Check that.

@801Current I get this question often, this camera DOES NOT have threads for a wide angle lens. There are some other products out there that use magnets but I don't know if they work well. sorry.

So just one quick question if I bought this camera does the videos that you record save to a tape or a memory card? And then can you transfer the videos straight to your computer through the USB?

@ShelburneSkateFilms "wide angle adapters" is a broad term for any lens that you attach to your camera that widens focal length, they come in many sizes for example 0.5 or 0.6 I have never seen a true "fish eye" adapter for a consumer camera the best I have found is a bower 0.38. it looks like century has a 0.3 but its pricey

@gopescool I don't know, the camera light is an led not a flash.

@frizzyfry19 I'm not a mac person, I think you may have to use a conversion program to edit on i movie.

@cooldude100ism No secrets, any particular questions? I could talk all day about how to make your videos look good, any specifics?

@xHunnyxBunniesx No, this camera does not have threads to screw a wide lens on. Sorry.

@1ach13 I don't have that model but CNET reviews says it uses a 30mm thread so you should be able to get filters and or a wide angle adapter for it.

@XxDaGaMeRgIrLXx10 Yes and no, These new memory based cameras don't really "pause" everytime you hit the record button it starts or stops a video clip. When you play the video back you don't see the stops and starts, so in that way it is like pausing but not really .... understand?

awesome. i just got this camcorder. though i got a question: If you get it at Walmart, should i put the warranty from those little booklets they give you to call or go online, or should i put Sony's limited warranty? plz help since walmart's warranty thing is quite confusing.

@grahambo7 Go into the menu, into media settings, then choose movie media set, then choose memory card.

@Canon1dm4 no, it's a good little camera but its lacking some higher end features. no external audio input

@eastcoast78 Nope, post here if you have any information to share with other sx-63 users ..... have fun!

what kind of camera did you shoot the review with? Is it a head/hat or glasses camera (attached to your head/hat or glasses somehow). Thanks in advance and the review. Great Job.

Hi! I have a question i don't know if you ever had this problem before but why when I record for a long time or not even...lets say one 30min to one hour.....the image becomes blurry...the camera gets hot also...i have to blow some air or shake it a little bit so the image becomes better...is that normal?

@WillDCunningham I gave the sx63 to my brother so I don't have it anymore. CNET says it has a 30mm thread, B&H says it has no thread. You need to check it out in person, sorry, I still have the SX-83 and its a 30mm thread.

Have you tried Handbrake?

@DarronTV your pictures are in internal memory with the video clips , if you use the windows uploading tool the video should be uploaded with the still pictures

@Getawaymoments oh ok. i really like the older version better :( well i might need a video converter. do you recomend any?

@AzraeiSk8Vids No, this model does not have filter threads to screw a wide eye into.

@musicisme10102 Not sure, other youtubers have told me that it does work with newer versions of windows movie maker .....

@BestSuperHighlights Yes, but every time you start or stop the camera it makes a new video clip. It does not work like old "tape" cameras

@moviemakergc it has 16 gig internal memory and you can use additional external sd or sony chip memory. you can attach wide angle lenses i believe its a 30mm thread,

@emericaskater951 No, built in mic only. No external mic input.

Thanks man for this review now thats how a review should be done also i been looking for a good review and i found the right one thanks dude

This camera uses either internal memory, or memory stick or SD card. You connect it to your computer via USB. Where are they selling this camera? Its a few years old.

thanks for the quick response! Do some of the more expensive camcorders offer that feature?

@DaMoo5e Not really, this model does not have threads to mount a wide angle.

@clmco no, every time you hit the record button your starting a new file. This is very different then the old days with tape, but the upside is that if you don't like the first clip you can go in and delete it.

@theearlyoffspring No question is dumb if you don't know the answer, the pictures are thumbnails of your video clips ... tap on them and that clip will play ... when you want to delete them there is an icon in the lower right corner press it while the clip is playing and it will prompt you if you want to delete it .... If you want to get rid of all the clips you can dive deeper into the menus and find the format function ..... formatting erases all the data on the flash memory

@01ck24 True, this macro feature works on the telephoto end of the lens not on the wide end as some other macro lenses do.

@DarronTV No, should have nothing to do with it. Make sure you have the camera set to internal memory when you try to upload the clips. If you plug in your camera using the usb cable it should populate like a usb drive. They should pop up in a folder.

@9481bdaybeyonce Not sure, does not work on old versions, but other youtube users have posted here that the newer versions can use this camera.

Probably on the computer, you may need to go into system settings, check all audio output settings, and make sure they are not muted.

Sounds like a setting in your editor or player. You should make sure your camera is set to record in its highest quality setting.

Hey .. Can you please tell me that how to send video in Mobile from this camera .. Please ...tell....

@AhmedDurakovic B&h says no, cnet says yes. I don't think it can. I tested the camera and then gave it to my brother so can't check it now. I also have the sx-83 and it does hold external lenses

@TheTam180 I don't really do recommendations, everyone is different with different needs. I will say I got the sx-63 for family and they are happy with theirs.

@ItsRennyy This camera does not have a "pause" Its always on pause, kind of, every time you hit the record button, you create a video clip, when you hit it again it finishes the clip.

Great review, but what camera do you use to film the review?

@shindelion This model does not have slo mo capture and does not have a cmos sensor ..... check out my video review of the sony sx-83 ..... it has both.

Thank you. I think I might buy this today.

@MrGaryg7 The background blur is a function of depth of field. With these consumer video cameras its hard to get unless your zoomed all the way in. The manufacturers make these cameras very light sensitive and give them wide angle lenses, both of these features in an all auto camera make the depth of field very wide which makes the blur your looking for very hard to get. So the short answer is zoom in.

@MuffinBakers Did you watch the video? ....... This camera is NOT HD, You do not really pause these cameras, every time you stop or pause the camera it creates a new video clip. The battery is good, bigger ones are available. record times vary depending on quality setting. (4 hours on high quality on internal memory) I have heard from other youtubers that it does work with newer versions of moviemaker.

Sounds like the camera and the files are fine. You need to check the computer your playing on, some playback setting is turned down.

Hi, just bought this item and have a quick question....when you begin recording a video, is there a way to pause for a moment and then continue without having to start a whole new video file?

@InpulseHD It may or may not work, a screw in or snap on wide lens has to be a certain distance form the cameras lens to work. Too close or too far away and your out of luck. I'm afraid you just have to experiment to find the sweet spot.

I enjoy filming my horses and making them into videos for youtube, do you think this would be a good camera for that?

@saiyukiotaku It used to be harder, but the newer versions of most editing software can handle it now. I don't know about your version of movie maker.

@robinmorningstar1 you can do time lapse with any video camera, ie just speed up raw video. But this camera does not do high quality time lapse ..... that is usually done by assembling thousands of individual frames together .... typically done with a still camera .... however there are some video cameras that have a dedicated interval timer built in .... not this one ..... many older motion picture .... film cameras could do it but they also had to have a built in interval timer.

@SerbianFunTrick No, very similar. I think the only difference is that yours is PAL format and has 4gigs internal memory instead of 16 gigs.

@oldredneckranger90 Tripod. This camera also has some stabilization capability built in, called steadyshot.

@ArcanineTheGreat Looks like the DCR-SX85 is the comparable new model and its going for $248.00 USD on B&H

@Spathola Stills are OK but not huge. Good enough to post shots on e-bay or facebook but if you want great stills get a dslr.

They are solid state cameras, the only moving part is the lens. If it is cheap get it. I have one and its still working great.

This camera is significantly cheaper than the SX83. Do you think it's worth the extra money to get the SX83 instead of this model?

@sk8kid1926 plug in the usb, i think it will prompt you, if not you need to do an import. I do not use i-movie so for more specific instructions you may need an apple genius

@AgonizedCandle It looks to be the same other then the internal memory. If you can get it cheaper do it cause you can buy sdhc cards to shoot on.

@eastcoast78 The zoom is great, it has quite a reach. The one thing I have had a problem with is the auto focus can be sluggish.