Camera record

SonyHDR-CX550E

A PAL Full HD Handycam with 64 GB flash memory, a 10× Sony G Lens, infrared NightShot, optical SteadyShot and a 3.5-inch touch LCD.

Camera details

Recording media & formats: AVCHD / Memory card / Internal storage
Era: 10sThe next chapter
Market introduction: 2010[4][1]
The CX550 series was introduced in 2010. Sony announced early-March availability in Hong Kong under the HDR-CX550 family name.
Rental availability: Available to rent

Verified features

LCD screen: Yes
3.5-inch widescreen colour touch LCD; 921,600 dots.[1]
Flip-out screen: Yes
LCD opens 90° and rotates 180° toward the lens for mirror-mode filming.[2]
Night vision: Yes
Infrared recording at 0 lux using NightShot.[2][1]
NightShot: Yes
NightShot with a switchable infrared illuminator.[2]
Manual focus: Yes
Manual focus through the touch screen or MANUAL dial.[2]
Manual exposure: Yes
Manual exposure, iris-priority and shutter-priority adjustment. Selecting one cancels the other two.[2]
External mic input: Yes
3.5 mm stereo microphone input with plug-in power; Active Interface Shoe.[1][2]
Headphone output: Yes
3.5 mm stereo headphone output.[1]
Optical zoom: Yes
10× optical Sony G zoom lens.[1]
Image stabilization: Yes
Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode.[3][2]

Technical specifications

Recording format: HD: AVCHD (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264). SD: MPEG-2 PS.[1]
Video system: PAL colour, CCIR; HDTV 1080/50i[1]
HD recording modes: 1920 × 1080/50i in FX/FH; 1440 × 1080/50i in HQ/LP. FX: up to 24 Mbps; FH: 17 Mbps average.[2]
Internal storage: 64 GB flash memory; approx. 63.6 GB available for recording[1]
Memory cards: Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) / PRO-HG Duo; SD / SDHC / SDXC, Class 4 or faster[2]
Verified card capacities: Sony tested Memory Stick PRO Duo up to 32 GB and SD cards up to 64 GB[2]
Image sensor: 1/2.88-type Exmor R CMOS; BIONZ image processor[3][1]
Sensor pixels: Approx. 6.631 million gross; 4.15 million effective for 16:9 movies[1]
Monitor: 3.5-inch 16:9 Xtra Fine colour touch LCD with TruBlack; 921,600 dots[1][3]
Viewfinder: Colour electronic viewfinder[1]
Lens: Sony G Lens; 10× optical; 3.8–38 mm; F1.8–3.4; 37 mm filter thread[1]
35 mm equivalent: 29.8–298 mm for 16:9 movies with Active Mode off; 26.3–263 mm for 4:3 stills[1]
Digital zoom: Up to 120×[1]
Minimum illumination: 11 lux at 1/50 s; 3 lux with Low Lux at 1/25 s; 0 lux with NightShot[1]
Still image size: Up to 4000 × 3000 (12 MP equivalent processed output); JPEG[1][2]
Audio: Dolby Digital 2-channel stereo or 5.1-channel surround; built-in zoom microphone[1][2]
Digital connections: HDMI mini output; USB mini-AB[1]
Other connections: A/V Remote Connector for component/composite video and audio output; 3.5 mm stereo mic input and headphone output[1]
Accessory shoe: Sony Active Interface Shoe[2]
GPS: No; GPS is fitted to the HDR-CX550VE variant[2]
Internal-memory recording time: Approx. 6 h 5 min in HD FX; 7 h 45 min in HD FH; up to 26 h 55 min in HD LP with stereo audio[1]
Dimensions (W × H × D): Approx. 66 × 74 × 143 mm[1]
Body weight: Approx. 430 g; 480 g with the supplied NP-FV50 battery[1]
Power: 6.8/7.2 V battery; 8.4 V adapter. HD recording: 3.4 W with LCD or 3.2 W with viewfinder.[1]
Battery and remote: InfoLITHIUM V series; NP-FV50 battery and RMT-835 remote supplied[1][2]

Sources & documentation

Follow the numbered references for the original documentation and page notes.

Sony HDR-CX550E / CX550VE / XR550E / XR550VE Operating Guide
Sony 4-170-539-12(1), PAL models. Pages 67–68: video system, storage, sensor, lens, illumination, connections, LCD, dimensions, weight and power. Page 69: battery and CX550E recording times. The exact CX550E entries are used.
Sony HDR-CX550E / CX550VE / XR550E / XR550VE Handycam Handbook
Sony 4-170-535-12(1), PAL models. Page 4: GPS only on VE models. Page 19: card types and tested capacities; 23 and 31: LCD movement; 28: HD recording modes; 29–30: audio and NightShot; 31–32 and 73–74: manual controls; 77–79: stabilization, zoom microphone and infrared light; 80 and 105: still-image sizes and BIONZ; 120–122: shoe, microphone, headphones and controls.
Sony Overseas Models — 2011 product catalog
PDF page 6 (printed page 10) shows the HDR-CX550E(JE) PAL model, original product photograph, Exmor R CMOS, 10× optical zoom, Optical SteadyShot Active Mode and 3.5-inch TruBlack Xtra Fine touch LCD. Source of the photograph above.
Sony Hong Kong Handycam announcement — 13 January 2010
Page 3 gives early-March 2010 Hong Kong availability for the HDR-CX550 family; page 4 gives the preorder period. The notice omits the regional E suffix and covers both PAL and NTSC specifications, so the profile uses only the 2010 introduction year. This is market-introduction evidence, not a factory production-start date.