Great Video + Great Stills = Great Product!
Written: Sep 01 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great Video, Great Still Images, Wonderful features, Amazing Zoom, the list goes on.....
Cons: Costs as much as my first car did!
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| kam61799's Full Review: Sony Handycam DCR-PC100 Mini DV Camcorder |
I recently decided to take the plunge and buy a digital camcorder. After a bit of shopping around it became clear that even though the price tag on this little Sony was anything but compact, the value of of getting a high quality digital video camera and a multipixel still camera outweighed any doubts I might have had about the outlay of cash.
When I began the process of shopping I had very few preconceptions and requirements about the camera I was going to buy. Being a novice through and through when it comes to video recording, the factor that shaped my consumer behavior from the early stages was aesthetic appearance and apparent convienence of use. To put it frankly: I wanted one of those "cool" little cameras you see popping up here and there. Because of my desire for a small camera I did not even look at camcorders using the Digital 8 format and focused my attention on those using either DV or miniDV. Soon my focus was primarily centered on this little Sony. The DCR-PC100 is without a doubt an incredibly compact little thing, completely cool looking, and well engineered. At first I was afraid that the buttons would be too small for effective use and that to properly control the unit would require much head scratching and brow knitting. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Sony has produced a product that does not sacrifice useabilty and user friendlieness to the demands of a miniscule size. All the buttons are in the right place, making it easy for me to control the unit without having to remove my eye from the view finder. In addition the on screen menu (on the 2.5 inch fold out LCD) is easy to navigate and gives the filmmaker within the options necessary to spice up even the most monotonous soccer game.
Other extras this camera comes with makes the big spending easier to justify: night mode recording which can record in total darkness with amazing clarity at a distance of about 7 or so feet, a 10x optical and 120x digital zoom that is as crisp and sharp as the unmagnified image, overall video quality that is next to perfect, S-Video out for easy hook up to a TV, and FireWire out for computer editing, Steady shot image stabilization, etc. The list goes on.
The megapixel still image capabilities of this camcorder stand out as well and this was one of the main reasons I purchased this Sony instead of comparable digital video cameras that did not have the same kind of still image quality. The camera uses the Sony memory stick (4 mb) to record up to 16 high quality multi pixel still images and the quality of these images is better than the output of many standard multi pixel digital cameras. Another advantage to the two in one design is the ability to use your still images in videos, placing images anywhere throughout the video, or using the still images to create title screens,etc.
At first I felt that perhaps I should wait a little longer before writing a review of my latest toy (I've had the camera for about ten days now), but I have been so overwhelmingly impressed by this product that I just had to share my enthusiasm. Granted the the $1,500 price tag is probably more than you would pay for a moderate quality digital video camera and a moderate quality multipixel still camera combined; but you have to keep in mind all that you get for the money: an all in one design that makes sure you are prepared to recorded any memory at the drop of a hat; a top of the line digital camcorder that is surprisingly easy to operate and powerful in its capabilities for advanced users; a multipixel digital still camera that delivers better than film photographs; a tiny little camera that is just a comfortable in your coat pocket as it is in the palm of your hand; and a quality piece of merchandise that lives up to the Sony reputation.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kam61799
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Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 4 members
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