Sony HDR-CX405

The Sony HDR-CX405 was released in 2015 and is still being sold today — something that’s hard to believe in a time when smartphones are, without a doubt, the preferred tool for recording home video. So why is this camera still so popular?

First of all, camcorders are making a comeback. It’s hard to say whether this resurgence is driven by nostalgia or by people realizing that smartphones have limitations, many of which camcorders easily overcome.

While this camera doesn’t offer 4K, it delivers decent quality 1080p video at 60fps, along with a very good 30x optical zoom.

You can find more information about this tiny camcorder here.

You can buy this camera at Amazon for around $350 but if you look around you can buy it used for as low as $180!

Compared to an iPhone 16 Pro, If you want long zoom, traditional camcorder handling, and straightforward 1080p video, the Sony HDR-CX405 still holds its own for simple use cases like family events, wildlife, and hobby filming.

If you want top-tier image quality, 4K/8K recording, powerful stabilization, smart editing, and easy social media sharing, the iPhone 16 Pro is the clear winner.

The choice comes down to: dedicated zoom & simplicity (Sony) vs. all-in-one power & convenience (iPhone).

Here is a short video that I made testing this camera, outdoor and indoor. 

 

 

This is a very simple camera, the equivalent to a point and shoot, and I’m still learning how to set the exposure properly, but I’m pleased with the sharpness and overall video quality. It’s not a professional camera, but it gets the job done. I’m planning to test it more thoroughly over the weekend.