Sony DCR-HC90 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom
- 1/3-inch CCD imager with 3.3-megapixel resolution
- MiniDV recording format offers up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution
- 10x optical zoom with SteadyShot picture-stabilization system
- 2.7-inch widescreen (16:9) touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD
- Super NightShot Plus Infrared System captures natural-looking video in low light
Rating: 2 of 5
Regular
Tuve este camara por año y medio, la usa bastante. Cualquier dia simplemente dejo de funcionar. Se daño el bus de datos que esta al lado del carro del cassete. Se daño simplemente por "mucho uso" o mas bien falta de calidad. Además la camara tiene problemas cuando enfoca fotografias. Es muy linda pero muy, muy delicada. No volvere a comprar filmadoras Sony me pase a Canon, que son menos lindas pero mas fuertes.
Rating: 5 of 5
Pricey but excellent. You will be proud 2 own one
This is one of the best camcorders in the market today & I would definitely recommend it 2 anyone planning 2 buy a Mini-DV camcorder
Positive factors:
- Very small & easy 2 hold with one hand. Can be easily attached even 2 a mini-tripod with ease.
- Excellent widescreen video & hi-fi audio. Your videos finally get that "Hollywood" feel when you shoot movies in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format). Even if you don't have a widescreen TV currently, you will very soon have one as more & more people are buying them. So its better 2 buy this camcorder & shoot in 16:9 format 2 enjoy your movies later in widescreen format.
- Includes widescreen rotatable LCD so what you see is what you get when you shoot in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format)
- Good battery life. One extra battery is enough. You can easily manage a day's worth of shooting with two batteries before recharging them again
- Includes docking station making it easier 2 connect 2 computer or TV. If you have a good computer with a firewire port, please buy a firewire cable 2 connect the camcorder 2 your computer. You can download your movie in excellent clarity in .avi format & edit it as required
- Make sure 2 change the audio setting 2 16 bit (instead of the default 12 bit) 4 very good hi-fi audio
- Touchscreen menu system is great. You don't have 2 search 4 any buttons as they are all available in the touchscreen menu itself.
- 10X optical zoom is more than sufficient 4 ordinary home videos. Anything more produces more "shaking" & would necessiate the use of a tripod. When you shoot without a tripod, 10X is the best zoom you can achieve without worrying about shaky videos
- Widescreen still photo. The photo clarity is OK not too good. So please don't expect great shots. Since the photo is in 16:9 format, you can take panoramic photos & cover more people in group shots
- Nightshot: Cool feature that records using infrared light. Useful 4 shooting at night as you can record a video even in 100% darkness
- Color widescreen viewfinder - Very useful when you are running down on batteries & need 2 use the viewfinder. The color widescreen viewfinder gives an excellent picture & is as good as the LCD in clarity
Negative factors:
- Outdoor videos especially in bright sunlight are overexposed. So please adjust the white balance when shooting outdoors. Add the white-balance menu 2 your shortcuts so that you can easily access it & return 2 default once you start shooting indoors
- Sensitive microphone may pick up button clicks (best 2 turn off the button click "beep" sound).
Notes:
- Use a fresh cassette after recording 2 or 3 times on the same cassette. The head tends 2 get dirty if you re-record on the same cassette more than 3 times
- You can edit movies in Windowx XP using Windows Movie Maker, but beware it does not support 16:9 ratio video. Hence your videos look ugly as you shot them in 16:9 but Movie Maker converted it 2 4:3. Invest in Pinnacle Software version 9 or 10 4 better movie editing capabilities. Pinnacle is the only software, I am aware of, that preserves teh 16:9 ratio. Even Roxio could not allow 16:9 format.
- You can also invest in wide-angle lens as it gives excellent coverage
Positive factors:
- Very small & easy 2 hold with one hand. Can be easily attached even 2 a mini-tripod with ease.
- Excellent widescreen video & hi-fi audio. Your videos finally get that "Hollywood" feel when you shoot movies in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format). Even if you don't have a widescreen TV currently, you will very soon have one as more & more people are buying them. So its better 2 buy this camcorder & shoot in 16:9 format 2 enjoy your movies later in widescreen format.
- Includes widescreen rotatable LCD so what you see is what you get when you shoot in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format)
- Good battery life. One extra battery is enough. You can easily manage a day's worth of shooting with two batteries before recharging them again
- Includes docking station making it easier 2 connect 2 computer or TV. If you have a good computer with a firewire port, please buy a firewire cable 2 connect the camcorder 2 your computer. You can download your movie in excellent clarity in .avi format & edit it as required
- Make sure 2 change the audio setting 2 16 bit (instead of the default 12 bit) 4 very good hi-fi audio
- Touchscreen menu system is great. You don't have 2 search 4 any buttons as they are all available in the touchscreen menu itself.
- 10X optical zoom is more than sufficient 4 ordinary home videos. Anything more produces more "shaking" & would necessiate the use of a tripod. When you shoot without a tripod, 10X is the best zoom you can achieve without worrying about shaky videos
- Widescreen still photo. The photo clarity is OK not too good. So please don't expect great shots. Since the photo is in 16:9 format, you can take panoramic photos & cover more people in group shots
- Nightshot: Cool feature that records using infrared light. Useful 4 shooting at night as you can record a video even in 100% darkness
- Color widescreen viewfinder - Very useful when you are running down on batteries & need 2 use the viewfinder. The color widescreen viewfinder gives an excellent picture & is as good as the LCD in clarity
Negative factors:
- Outdoor videos especially in bright sunlight are overexposed. So please adjust the white balance when shooting outdoors. Add the white-balance menu 2 your shortcuts so that you can easily access it & return 2 default once you start shooting indoors
- Sensitive microphone may pick up button clicks (best 2 turn off the button click "beep" sound).
Notes:
- Use a fresh cassette after recording 2 or 3 times on the same cassette. The head tends 2 get dirty if you re-record on the same cassette more than 3 times
- You can edit movies in Windowx XP using Windows Movie Maker, but beware it does not support 16:9 ratio video. Hence your videos look ugly as you shot them in 16:9 but Movie Maker converted it 2 4:3. Invest in Pinnacle Software version 9 or 10 4 better movie editing capabilities. Pinnacle is the only software, I am aware of, that preserves teh 16:9 ratio. Even Roxio could not allow 16:9 format.
- You can also invest in wide-angle lens as it gives excellent coverage
Rating: 1 of 5
Buy Sony products at your own risk
As an owner of the Sony DCR-HC30 model DV Handicam, I want 2 warn everyone about my horrible experience with this product line. Design & feature-wise, these Handicams are great. The problem is, they are built like junk.
From the day I opened my box, I got a message that told me that the heads were dirty & needed 2 be cleaned. In retrospect, I should have returned it 4 a replacement then & there. But being a basically optimistic guy, I decided it just got dirty in transit, & I got a head cleaner & cleaned the heads. It worked fine 4 about 30 days - just about the amount of time in Sony's crappy labor warranty. And from that point forward, I have gotten dirty head messages constantly, which at first could be `cleaned away,' but now, even when the message is gone, problems persist.
I often get bars across the screen during playback, & I have already determined that I have lost many a precious memory of my infant children. Sony's solution 2 this situation is their standard "flat rate" repair program, truly a bargain 4 $250 or so - more than half what I paid 4 the camera in the first place.
And Sony wonders why their brand value has all but disappeared? They are just another electronics brand now, & one with sub-par quality & service at that. Guess I'll be buying Samsungs or Canons next time around.
Are you listening, Sony?
From the day I opened my box, I got a message that told me that the heads were dirty & needed 2 be cleaned. In retrospect, I should have returned it 4 a replacement then & there. But being a basically optimistic guy, I decided it just got dirty in transit, & I got a head cleaner & cleaned the heads. It worked fine 4 about 30 days - just about the amount of time in Sony's crappy labor warranty. And from that point forward, I have gotten dirty head messages constantly, which at first could be `cleaned away,' but now, even when the message is gone, problems persist.
I often get bars across the screen during playback, & I have already determined that I have lost many a precious memory of my infant children. Sony's solution 2 this situation is their standard "flat rate" repair program, truly a bargain 4 $250 or so - more than half what I paid 4 the camera in the first place.
And Sony wonders why their brand value has all but disappeared? They are just another electronics brand now, & one with sub-par quality & service at that. Guess I'll be buying Samsungs or Canons next time around.
Are you listening, Sony?
Rating: 5 of 5
Great camera
I shopped around 4 a while before I bought this camera. I checked out many reviews & I have 2 say, I'm VERY happy with this camera. I wanted something that worked in low light. This was the most important feature I was looking for. I had a Canon video camera, & I now have very few videos of my daughter growing up because if there wasn't enough light it would make interference on the tape. This camera works very well with normal indoor lighting. You don't have 2 turn on extra lights. (It also has nightvision which works in very low light)
The only complaints I have are 1) the battery doesn't last more than an hour - but I don't video that long anyway 2) the memory stick doesn't hold many pictures - but I'm spoiled with my digital camera holding lots.
In general, I would highly recommend this camera. You can download the video 2 you PC really easily & burn it 2 DVD.
Oh, & in some reviews it mentions that the zoom is hard 2 use. I don't find that 2 be true at all. It is sensitive, but not hard 2 use.
The only complaints I have are 1) the battery doesn't last more than an hour - but I don't video that long anyway 2) the memory stick doesn't hold many pictures - but I'm spoiled with my digital camera holding lots.
In general, I would highly recommend this camera. You can download the video 2 you PC really easily & burn it 2 DVD.
Oh, & in some reviews it mentions that the zoom is hard 2 use. I don't find that 2 be true at all. It is sensitive, but not hard 2 use.
Rating: 3 of 5
Great video, so-so camera when it works
Like other reviewers, I researched this purchase carefully & was very pleased with the overall performance of this combination video/still camera. Video quality is great.
Some issues - buttons are designed 4 holding the camera eyepiece 2 the eye. The secondary controls on the screen are ok, but otherwise it is awkward 2 use the camera at waist level. Still camera focus is slow & unreliable. Stills can take "forever" 2 snap - especially #2, 3.
Finally, the camera has completely shut down on me twice in 6 months & I am sending it back again 4 service - just before the holidays when I would really like 2 have it. This unreliability is unacceptable.
Some issues - buttons are designed 4 holding the camera eyepiece 2 the eye. The secondary controls on the screen are ok, but otherwise it is awkward 2 use the camera at waist level. Still camera focus is slow & unreliable. Stills can take "forever" 2 snap - especially #2, 3.
Finally, the camera has completely shut down on me twice in 6 months & I am sending it back again 4 service - just before the holidays when I would really like 2 have it. This unreliability is unacceptable.
This Sony DCR-HC90 MiniDV Handycam(R) Camcorder puts you in control of the show. Direct your own personal movies - the on screen Zoom & Record buttons give you flexibility & convenience. The new 3.3 Megapixel Advanced CCD imager enhances digital video & still photographic performance. Video is always crystal clear, & the 10X Optical/120X Digital Zoom brings the action close up from far away. Progressive Shutter System & high-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lenses produces vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation & subtle tones. Onboard USB port supports USB Streaming i.LINK DV Interface New accessory shoe Compatible with Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo Touch panel exposure (24 steps) Dimensions & Weight Pending
($400.00)
Buy Sony DCR-HC90 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Now!
