Sony Handycam DCR-SX85

96 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
usability (23)
portability (19)
size (10)
zoom (4)
price (3)

Negative
image quality (8)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 96 reviews of Sony Handycam DCR-SX85. The average rating for this product is 3.5/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. Reviews about the price and zoom are generally positive. The size and portability are also mentioned favorably. Comments are divided on the battery. Some have doubts about the image quality.

usability, portability, size, zoom, price

image quality

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony Handycam DCR-SX85 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 79/100 = Good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 96 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(39% of reviews)
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Showing 1 - 85 of 92 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (4)

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony Handycam DCR-SX85

alaTest has collected and analyzed 75 user reviews of Sony Handycam DCR-SX85 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.6/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. Views about the battery and price are generally positive. The size and portability are also appreciated, but comments are divided on the image quality.

usability, portability, size, price, battery

75% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Joshua Goldman (cnet.com)

Sony Handycam DCR review

The Handycam DCR-SX series is Sony's flash-memory-based standard-definition ultracompact camcorder. It's made up of three models that differ only by storage amounts: the SX45 has no internal memory; the SX65 has 4GB built in; and the SX85 has 16GB of...

The Sony Handycam DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 are easy-to-use ultracompact camcorders with good active electronic image stabilization and a built-in USB cable for quick uploads.

The DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 produce very soft and noisy video with noticeable fringing on subjects even at small sizes. There are no mic or headphone jacks, and the electronic image stabilization won't help you with the lens fully extended.

Sony's Handycam DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 standard-definition camcorders pack a megazoom lens at a reasonable price; one look at the standard-definition video, though, and you might regret not spending a bit more for an HD model.

Jun, 2011

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Consumer review (cnet.com)

"Terrible Quality Video!"

I don't know how Sony could have realeased such a poor quality product on the market.

Small compact camera with extended zoom.

Worst quality video ever.

Sep, 2012

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Consumer review (cnet.com)

"Disappointed!"

I am very disappointed with this camcorder due to the video quality. I was expecting much better. It's awful in my opinion and I'm ready to get rid of it and go with another brand like Canon. Sony dropped the ball on this one!

Compact, easy to carry in purse. Nice touch screen, good USB connector onboard

awful video, very grainey, zoom lens doesn't make a smooth transition while zooming out and back in.

Jun, 2012

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Consumer review (cnet.com)

"Poor video. I expected more from a Sony product."

I have had several Sony products over a period of 20 years so I felt this would be a good purchase. It wasn't. It looks good on the tiny screen, but what a mess when it's enlarged. I got better video with my old Kodak Z712 IS camera in movie mode. I...

Zoom, ease of use.

Video!!!! What use is a camera with great zoom and ease of use if the video is terrible. As was posted before, it may be good for rendering low quality video but that's about it.

Apr, 2012

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Consumer review (cnet.com)

Five thumbs down for this epic fail.

This is a far far inferior product to other Sony cameras I have owned. Im surprised that Sony would actually put out less worthy products instead of improving what they already have. I wouldn't recommend it and I will not be returning to Sony. I tried...

It looks good and is easy to use but that is pointless with such poor quality, grainy video.

Grainy very poor quality video from this product in any lighting. I have camcorders and video from 1998 that are crystal clear. I feel totally ripped off.

Jan, 2012

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Consumer review (newegg.com)

sony dcrsx85

great pictures outside but inside the house not so good might be the lighting/great zoom/very compact and light took it to amusement park and had a great time with it

inside picture taking no so good

Aug, 2013

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Consumer review (newegg.com)

sony dcrsx85

great pictures outside but inside the house not so good might be the lighting/great zoom/very compact and light took it to amusement park and had a great time with it

inside picture taking no so good

Aug, 2013

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Consumer review (sony.com)

Pleased so far

Bought camera approximately two weeks ago. It replaces a sony cam we bought in 2000 that would have cost more than a new one to fix the prob. Person at Sony told me that. Video quality is good. Really just used it for an extended time on 8/31/12,...

small and compact, good video quality

pics grainy, battery life to short

Sep, 2012

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Consumer review (sony.com)

Not very pleased

I'm disappointed with the video quality. I've been using a Flip video which has poor sound but good video. This camera gives me just the opposite. It makes no sense at all that I should pay nearly double the money and get poorer video resolution on a...

Good sound

Poor video quality

Jul, 2012

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Consumer review (sony.com)