An Exmor R CMOS sensor and a wide-angle Carl Zeiss zoom lens with 30x optical zoom are features of the Sony HDR-CX405 HD Handycam. The CX-405 records Full HD 1920 x 1080 video at 60 frames per second and 9.2 megapixel still photos on Memory Stick Micro and microSD/SDHC/SDXC storage cards, which are optional. Smooth video is produced with the Optical SteadyShot picture stabilization with Intelligent Active Mode, and the Exmor R CMOS sensor, which is optimized for enhanced sensitivity in low light conditions. With a resolution of 230K dots, the 2.7″ LCD allows users to view and replay video.
The camera has dual recording capabilities that allow you to record in high-definition AVCHD and web-optimized MP4 files simultaneously. It records at up to 50 Mb/s utilizing the XAVC S codec. With 60 possible combinations, the Intelligent Auto mode analyzes your shot and chooses the right settings automatically from 10 different scenario modes. Conveniently tucked into the hand strap, an integrated USB 2.0 cable allows you to connect to your computer for file transfers or charging while remaining out of the way until you need it. The rechargeable X-type battery pack can be used to power the camera.

Some of the Sony HDR-CX405’s most notable characteristics

The Sony HDR-CX405: What’s new?

At the January 2015 CES in Las Vegas, the Sony HDR-CX405 was unveiled alongside a few other new camcorders, the most notable of which being the Sony AX33 4K Handycam. Compared to the Sony CX240, it had two significant improvements: a new 1080p 30fps recording mode and optical image stabilization instead of digital stabilization, which is superior at maintaining image quality and resolution.
Moreover, the optical zoom was increased to 30x from 27x, which is an excellent range for most video work, in my opinion. The Canon VIXIA HF R40, a competitor consumer camcorder at the time, benefited from an SD memory card slot and an 8GB internal flash drive. Remarkably, Sony hasn’t released any updated models in the sub-$300/£300 pricing range since. Despite this, the CX405 is still available for purchase at major photo stores nine years later, making it one of the few camcorders available at this price range.

Designs and Handling of the Sony HDR-CX405

Simply told, the Sony HDR-CX405 is absurdly small. It weighs less than my iPhone 15 Pro (215g), and while being rounder and deeper, it is shorter in length. Since this is a simple camcorder, there aren’t many buttons or controls on the outside of the compact barrel shape. To capture a still image, you press down on the Photo button located in front of the rectangular zoom rocker on top. The Sony HDR-CX405 does not come with a lens cap or cover.
As you face the lens, a mechanical slider to open or close the lens cover is located to the left of the lens. Even though it’s low-tech, using it is enjoyable. The primary drawback is that there’s a chance of damage if you forget to cover the lens after use, which I did multiple times. The camcorder will detect a dark picture and prompt you to open it if you forget.

Performance of the Sony HDR-CX405

The Exmor R CMOS sensor and the BIONZ X image processing engine are the two main components of the Sony HDR-CX405 camera. According to Sony, you get gentle background defocusing, reduced noise in low light, and improved image clarity with this “large” sensor. I didn’t personally benefit from these advantages, though. Overall, the 1/5.8 type sensor lacks noticeable bokeh behind subjects and cannot match the video quality in low light conditions of the 1-inch prosumer Canon XA-75.
However, it’s important to remember that the Canon camcorder costs a lot more money. In most daytime conditions, the CX405 delivers good image quality, especially when using the highest XAVC S or AVCHD video codec. Speaking of formats, you may record two movies at once: one in the higher-quality XAVC S or AVCHD format for editing, and one in the smaller MP4 format for instant sharing. The ability to simultaneously record HD video and take high-resolution stills was another feature I liked, even though the 9.2-megapixel photos are not nearly as good as those seen on the newest smartphones.

SAMPLE VIDEO’s Sony HDR-CX405

I used the Sony HDR-CX405 for several weeks, going to friend’s weddings, exploring Bath, UK, in low light, and taking long walks in the countryside. These films were recorded in 25p and at the highest 1920 x 1080 px resolution as MP4 files, while I also utilized the 50p frame rate to compare the performance of the various video modes that I tested. I haven’t edited the video.

The final verdict on the Sony HDR-CX405

The Sony HDR-CX405 appears to be a good, straightforward camcorder at first look. However, the more I used it, the more I realized that, provided you already know the fundamentals of photography, you can adjust its manual exposure, white balance, and aperture to your specifications. If not, you can rely on the automated scene mode and focus of the camcorder to get clear footage. Smile Shutter works well for catching unscripted moments, and Face Detection is sophisticated enough to recognize faces when they come back into view. However, don’t anticipate eye detection or sophisticated action tracking at this price.
The video quality of Sony’s least expensive camcorder, the HDR-CX405, shows this, especially in low light. You may overlook its lack of Wi-Fi for convenient content sharing considering its age. However, content removal from the microSD remains a hassle unless you utilize the integrated USB adapter to move videos to your computer.