Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10E

CONDITION: 9.2/10

THE CAMCORDER IS IN NEAR MINT CONDITION WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF USE. THE BLACK BODY IS FLAWLESS WITH NO SCRATCHES, MARKS, OR WEAR. THE 2.7-INCH LCD SCREEN IS PERFECT AND CLEAR. THE CARL ZEISS VARIO-TESSAR LENS IS PERFECT AND CLEAR. THE BUILT-IN LED PROJECTOR FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY. ALL FUNCTIONS WORK PERFECTLY INCLUDING 1920×1080/50P RECORDING, EXMOR R SENSOR, OPTICAL STEADYSHOT, 16GB INTERNAL MEMORY, PROJECTOR, AND ALL CONTROLS. BATTERY AND CHARGER INCLUDED. AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF SONY'S 2011 PROJECTOR-EQUIPPED HANDYCAM.

Sony's HDR-PJ10E launched in early 2011 as something genuinely unusual—a Full HD camcorder with a built-in LED projector embedded into the back of its LCD screen. The party trick was immediate: shoot your video, then project it onto any flat surface up to 60 inches diagonal, turning the camcorder into a mobile theater complete with stereo speakers. It was a novelty feature that paid homage to the Lumière Brothers' original camera-projector hybrids, though you'd mostly use it as a camcorder since the projector worked best in darkened rooms.

THE LOOKS

The PJ10E looks like a traditional Handycam at first glance, but the LCD screen is noticeably thicker than most camcorders due to the projector embedded in its reverse side. A tiny projector lens and focus slider sit on top of the LCD. The camcorder uses a 3-inch touchscreen for navigation and control. The built-in USB cable tucks into the hand strap when not in use—a practical detail borrowed from pocket Internet camcorders. Available in black with Sony's traditional Handycam silhouette.

THE SPECS

The PJ10E uses a 1/4-inch back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor with 4.2 effective megapixels for video. Records Full HD 1920×1080 at 50p (28Mbps), 50i, or 25p in AVCHD format, plus standard definition options including MPEG-2 PS at 9Mbps. Sony G lens covers 29.8mm wide angle with 30× optical zoom, extending to 42× in Extended mode and 350× digital. Built-in projector: 640×360 resolution, 10 lumens, projects up to 60-inch diagonal. 16GB internal flash memory (75 minutes at highest quality), plus SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick PRO Duo slots. 3-inch touchscreen LCD (230k dots), Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound recording.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• Built-in LED pico projector: The 640×360 projector integrated into the LCD's reverse side could throw a 60-inch image in dark rooms—a genuinely unique feature echoing early cinema's camera-projector combos.
• Back-illuminated Exmor R sensor: The 1/4-inch sensor's back-side illuminated construction maximized light gathering for impressive low-light performance with minimal grain, even if detail wasn't as sharp as higher-end models.
• Integrated USB cable in hand strap: The built-in USB 2.0 cable with its own housing in the hand strap meant you never forgot cables—just pull it out to charge or transfer files directly.

THE VERDICT

The HDR-PJ10E is a mid-range Full HD camcorder with a built-in projector that's more novelty than necessity—you'll use it as a camcorder far more often than a projector. The Exmor R sensor delivered excellent low-light performance for its class, though footage could be slightly soft even at the highest 24Mbps mode, and the autofocus hunted after zooming. The projector worked reasonably well in darkened environments but couldn't match the quality of just connecting to a TV via HDMI. A curiosity from the era when manufacturers were trying everything to differentiate consumer camcorders.