Sony Digital Camcorder Unboxing and Shopping Experience on Bo'ai Road

In my previous article, “Shopping Experience and Advice: Which Digital Video Camcorder Should You Buy?”, I shared some initial thoughts on purchasing a new camcorder. In the end, I acquired the Sony HDR-XR500, a consumer-grade model supporting optical zoom and 1080p Full HD resolution. This unboxing post details the camcorder and how I ended up buying it.

Anyone studying the 2010 camcorder market might wonder: why does this purchase seem a bit out of place?

Indeed, this camcorder was released by Sony in 2009. Sony’s mainstream marketing in 2010 had already pivoted to newer, more capable models such as the HDR-XR150 (CX150), XR350 (CX350), and XR550 (CX550).

As the saying goes, when stepping into Taipei’s famous Bo-Han camera district (Bo’ai Road and Hankou Street), if you do not hold firm to your convictions, you will almost certainly be sweet-talked or misled by the merchants there—a golden rule of the local camera market.

And how this camcorder ended up in my home definitely carries that kind of flavor.

Originally, my primary target was the CX350. I had repeatedly reminded my family that we must shop around and compare prices across at least three stores. Yet in the very first shop we entered, the proprietor talked to me for two solid hours until my head was spinning, and before I knew it, I had made the purchase (gazing into the distance).

The main reason for buying the HDR-XR500 was that its price tag was roughly equivalent to the CX350, while its feature set was closer to the flagship XR550, just released one year earlier.

As for what the shop owner and I discussed during those two hours, repeating it here would be too tedious, so I will spare you the details. However, I deliberately asked him a multitude of questions—many of which I already knew the answers to. My reason was simple: it allowed me to observe the seller’s integrity.

Consequently, I would hardly call the shopkeeper honest. There were several questions he clearly did not know the answers to, yet chose to bluff his way through. For instance, the XR500 does not support direct backup to an external hard drive like the XR550 does, but he insisted it did. Still, I will not publicly expose the store’s name here; let us just say it was the shop on the right right after exiting a certain parking lot (wink).

Supplementary note from October 2018: I recently visited the Bo-Han camera district and found that this shop has permanently closed down.

Returning to the topic: after unboxing the outer Sony carton, inside were two separate smaller boxes (inner voice: is this a surprise gift box?).

One of the boxes contained the genuine Sony carrying case. The top compartment was originally designed to comfortably accommodate the camcorder body along with the standard bundled battery (NP-FH60). The lid and the bag fit together snugly. However, because we purchased an additional high-capacity battery (NP-FH100), placing the camcorder inside caused the bulky battery protrusion to prevent the lid from closing properly. Fortunately, Sony had anticipated this: the top cover features an adjustable design that allows you to change its height, ensuring the camcorder can still be neatly zipped up inside the case even with the extended battery attached.

Sony also included a separate battery pouch that clips onto the side of the carrying bag, making it convenient to carry spare batteries—a thoughtful touch from Sony.

The other box in the package held the true star of the day: the retail box of the XR500 itself. Upon opening it, you are greeted with dense manuals, utility discs, and the warranty card. Remember to register on the Sony official website to get several extra months of extended warranty.

However, for some unknown reason, my online registration failed. Perhaps there was an issue with the retailer who sold it to me (gray market, second-hand stock, or other irregularities). During the purchase, I noticed some unnatural mannerisms from the vendor, as if he were trying to conceal something. But knowing this, as long as the cosmetic condition was pristine and the price was below average, I found it acceptable.

Inside the box were various original accessories. The smaller bundled battery is a genuine Sony lithium battery. The seller claimed it held zero pre-charge, but according to common knowledge and interactions with tech manufacturers, factories usually leave a nominal charge inside for storage and transit stability. When I asked the shopkeeper about this, he replied smugly: “That is precisely what makes Sony so superior.” His facial expression instantly reminded me of the scheming eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty’s Eastern Depot in historical cinema.

Because this is an XR-series model with a built-in mechanical hard drive, the body volume is slightly larger. As for that extended high-capacity battery, thinking carefully about it now, it might not have been entirely necessary. Having such a huge battery jutting out of the camera’s rear makes the entire setup look rather awkward and unwieldy. Additionally, on the lens barrel, you can see Sony’s proud “G Lens” branding. In practical shooting tests, the optical image quality is indeed quite impressive, though it felt slightly different from my personal taste—perhaps almost too sharp and clinical.

Overall, setting aside the dealership quirks, this camcorder remains a very respectable choice. Although gray market imports could be found at even lower prices, for a high-ticket item, warranty peace of mind was still my priority—no matter how careful one is, unforeseen accidents are beyond one’s control. Of course, after purchasing the camcorder, in pursuit of smoother video rendering and editing, I ended up buying a dedicated PC video capture card as well. Video production truly is a bottomless money pit.

References

1. Product: Sony HDR-XR550 Digital Camcorder.
2. Note: The unboxing photos originally accompanying this article were lost during a past blog migration. Interested readers can visit the official product specifications via the link above for detailed specifications.