Sony's first rugged Handycam
The Sony Handycam HDR-GW77V was announced for Japan in May, but is headed to the U.S. in June. Though indistinguishable from a typical pistol-grip minicamcorder, the GW77V nonetheless is powerful and rugged. It's waterproof down to 16 feet, shockproof from drops up to 5 feet, and dustproof.
10x optical zoom
One of the main features that sets it apart from smaller pocket video cameras, such as Sony's Bloggie line, is its 10x zoom Sony G lens that starts at a relatively wide-angle 29.8mm focal length for photos and video. It also records in AVCHD at 1080/60p (or 60i) and has built-in GPS letting you view your current location on the LCD map display, automatically geotag your shooting locations, and view the geotagged content using a Map Index function on the camcorder.
Flash
Yep, it's got a flash for those times when stuff is just too dark.
Pocket friendly
Though it's bulkier than your average smartphone, considering its capabilities the device is compact. Small enough to stick in a large pocket or small bag for sure.
Controls
Everything's pretty straightforward for controlling the device.
Touch screen
If you're over physical controls, the GW77V has a 3-inch 921K-dot-resolution touch screen that can be used to control everything.
Storage and ports
The minicamcorder has 16GB of internal storage and can also record movies and photos directly to Memory Stick Micro (M2) and microSD/SDHC cards. There is a Micro-HDMI port for connecting to a display and a Micro-USB port for charging and connecting to a computer.
Told you so
In case you wanted proof of the ports and dual-card slot.
Despite the big gasket and promise of 16 feet of waterproofing, I'd have a tough time getting in the water with a $700 camcorder.
More Galleries
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?