Brief Sony CX12 vs CX500V comparison
 

And now, comparing apples to apples (two successive models of the same lineage of Sony flash camcorders...)

Features/specs that are essentially identical are left out of this listing. The first two sections here show CX12 and CX500V specs that differ for matching features in the same order for comparison purposes. The two sections after that show things found on the CX12 and not the CX500V and vice versa. This is not a review and I tried to keep most opinions out of it - it's primarily echoing back what's in the manual and marketing spec sheets.
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1. CX12 specs that have CX500V equivalents but differ to some degree
1/3" sensor chip 5660K pixels
Video actual pixels 4:3 = 2860K 16:9 = 3810K
Image actual pixels 4:3 = 5080K 16:9 = 3810K (Note: interpolated up to 10160K)
LCD specs: 2.7" wide touchpanel, 211K pixels plus four physical buttons to left of LCD
Optics: 35mm equiv camera mode 4:3 = 49 - 588 mm 16:9 = 40 - 480 mm
Aperture: F1.8 - 3.1
Focal distance: 4.9 - 58.8 mm
Shutter speed (scene selections): 1/30 - 1/250
Lens type: Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T
Minimum illumination Low Lux (Auto slow shutter On 1/30) = 5 lux
Power consumption = 4.5 W
Large assignable combined dial and on/off button on left front of cam at 45 degrees below lens
Software: Picture Motion Browser 3.0.00 or later
Size: 3 3/8" x 3" x 5 1/2 " (83 x 76 x 138 mm)
Built-in flash is to right side of lens
Flash always suppressed if any filter screwed in fully via a mechanical "sensor"
Has three way mode rocker on top rear of cam (video, photo, playback)
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2. CX500V specs that have CX12 equivalents but differ to some degree
1/2.88" sensor chip 6631K pixels
Video actual pixels 4:3 = 3110K 16:9 = 4150K
Image actual pixels 4:3 = 6000K 16:9 = 4500K (Note: interpolated up to 12000 K)
LCD specs: 3.0" wide touchpanel, 230K pixels, no additional buttons to left of LCD
Optics: 35mm equiv camera mode 4:3 = 52 - 624 mm 16:9 = 43 - 516 mm
Aperture: F1.8 - 3.4
Focal distance: 5.5 - 66.0 mm
Shutter speed (standard): 1/60 - 1/725
Shutter speed (scene selections): 1/8 - 1/725
Lens type: Sony G
Minimum illumination Low Lux (Auto slow shutter On 1/30) = 3 lux (std settings, 11 lux)
Power consumption = 3.6 W
Small assignable dial and separate on/off button at upper left rear of cam body
Assignable dial on/off button will bring up selectable choices if you hold it down for a few seconds
Software: Picture Motion Browser 4.2.14 or later
Size: 2 1/2" x 2 5/8" x 5 3/8" (62 x 65 x 133 mm)
Built-in flash is above lens
Flash only suppressed via software [done if (a) using conversion lens or (b) you suppress it]
Has two-way Mode button on top rear of cam (video, photo) and playback button on left side
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3. Found in the CX12 but not in the CX500V
"Easy mode" button
Four picture effects (sepia, monotone, pastel, old movie)
Extra scene selection = Candle
Headphone jack
Docking station with power charging connector and USB connector
Once powered on, can put into "Quick On" mode with small button (sleep mode with fast recovery)
Plastic margin to left of LCD screen has four physical buttons on it (home, tele, wide, record)
Recording can occur with the LCD panel closed (closing the LCD fully powers the CX500 off)
Home button brings up top menus, then there are nested menus in addition to the Option menus
I generally had to relearn the menu choice locations each time I hadn't used the cam for a while
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4. Found in the CX500V but not in the CX12
32GB main memory chip (in addition to MS Pro Duo slot found in both the CX12 and CX500V)
Anti-hand-roll Electronic Image Stabilization (using extra pixels beyond what's needed for HD video output)
Exmor R sensor reorganized to yield approx a 2 times better low-light sensitivity versus earlier Exmor chips
In-camera connectors for USB and power recharging
Default is to power on very quickly with opening of LCD (can disable) - prob supersedes CX12 Quick On mode
"My Menu": can create 3 personal menus (video, photo, playback) and assign 6 std menu items to each
GPS sensor and recording of location using GPS; maps to support this feature and playback by location
Identify things to play back by touching pin on map (if GPS was on).
Most icons on LCD display for 3 seconds at power-on or mode switch and then disappear - reduces clutter
Bring up top menus by clicking on any empty space in the LCD and then clicking Menu button on LCD,
Menus not nested a la CX12, much more like HC7 or HC9 - 90% of menu choices in one scrollable loop
That menu loop will show the general category a menu choice fits into and four choices per "page"
Scroll bar for menus is vertical on left side of LCD and includes up/down arrowheads at ends of scrollbar
So you can scroll through virtually all the menu items easily - much less nesting of menu choices
Only a few menu choices bring up additional menu choices - most take you directly to setting something
Options menus still exist but seem much less important or useful except maybe during Playback
Low Lux setting between Nightshot and regular filming?
Playback has new Highlights and Scenarios modes (camera chooses highlights from clip; save to scenario)
Face detection & smiles - can assign priority to be automatic, adults first, or children first
Can write-protect individual clips and photos
Can copy clips and photos from built-in memory to removable flash memory chip
Send clips direct to DVDs in Sony burners (without going through a computer)
Can upload 8 music files to use as audio overlays when playing back clps
Maybe can create regular DVD with AVCHD content if play back on Blu-Ray device?
View Images can be accessed by a small button when LCD is opened, like GPS etc.
Can capture 2.1 MB photo from movie while in Playback mode. New?
"Empty" feature will completely zap all data on media for you if you decide to sell or recycle cam
There is a small lip just forward of the zoom rocker on top of the cam, presumably to keep the fingers near the rocker from accidentally slipping on or off it