Sony HDR-HC7 6.1MP MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Lots of noise issues in low light situations. Sony's customer service isn't the best either. Their uncooperative reputation is starting 2 bite them or so I hear. My personal experiences with them have been frustrating 2 say the least. Cannon has much better customer service & their HD products outshine Sonys. This HDR-HC7's low-light performance was a disappointment.

When I encountered a defective internal lens cover I went 2 their website about getting it fixed & they state there is a minimum $250 charge. Their warranty only covers parts, not labor. I sent the camera in anyway & they called 2 say they would charge me $600 2 fix it because of "corrosion" which was not covered by the warranty.

I only had the camera about two months when the lens cover started 2 fail when I was on a week's vacation at the beach in Sanibel, Florida. The camera will not start when the internal lens cover fails. When it fails, you get a message on the screen that says "lens cover failed 2 open, turn camera off then on." I did that several times & it usually did not resolve the problem. But sometimes it would. Ironically, here in dry Arizona it works most of the time, but at the beach or near the Colorado River it jams up.

However, this had 2 be a known manufacturing defect if they have an error message 4 when it occurs! I had ordered the camera with a lens filter & the filter was always on the camera, so it is highly unlikely anything entered the camera through the lens opening.

So now I have an expensive camera that works sometimes & sometimes it doesn't. When it works it works great, although the autofocus can be off at times. And the still photos are gorgeous. I think its a good camera when it works, but I'm a little miffed that they want me 2 pay over 50 percent of what the camera cost 2 fix their defect.

I would advise not buying their 1.7x teleconverter because it doesn't improve the zoom that much & if you zoom out your videos vignette so badly it looks like you filmed it through a pipe. I also bought the Sony wide-angle screw on, which vignettes if you put a filter on it. I suspect these may be because the internal lens cover requires the real lens 2 be recessed quite a ways.

I am very pleased with the video quality & the comfortable feel of this HD camcorder. Unfortunately, the camera began 2 intermittently auto-focus erratically in the third month & failed in the fourth month of use. Sony offers a one year parts & 90 days labor warranty on this camera. The labor charge after 90 days is a flat rate of $249 regardless of the repair required (25% of purchase price). Since I had contacted Sony within in the first 90 days about the auto-focus problem I was able 2 convince the fourth person I spoke with 2 waive the labor charge 4 the failure.

Got the camcorder back from Sony today & the repair ticket states "reconnected power flex". I suppose a connector must have come loose. Hoping that I get several years of use out this camera before any more failures occur...

The Sony HDR-HC7 has features that you would not expect in a Handy cam. I once asked a Professional at a local retailer, why HD Tapes are 63 minutes instead of the traditional 60 minutes tapes. He said that the additional 3 minutes were 4 professional Camcorder 2 save there settings. I wondered what settings would a camcorder need 2 save! Well I did not ask any more question because one again I figured that the setting were 4 the "Big Boy". Well one day I was playing with my HDR-HC7 & I ran across "Color Bars", so I call the retailer & asked what were "Color Bars", & he reminded me about the 3 additional minutes on the tape he told me about, was 4 "Bars & Tone". The next time I talked 2 him, he had sold his Canon HV20, & purchased the Sony HC7. He loved the feel, the ability 2 do so many things in manual mode, that he "now says that the Canon felt like a toy in comparison". I think you get the point. I would like 2 see 24p on the Sony HDR-HC7, but I would not even think about giving up my ability 2 use all of the great manual features available on the HDR-HC7. If you look at the Sony HVR-HD1000U HDV camcorder, it is the HDR-HC7 repackaged in a Professional looking body, 4 twice the price.

I've had this camcorder 4 about 8 months now & I've been using it enough, I feel, 2 give a pretty accurate review.

I've been using the camera in a number of different environments (outdoors, studio, in the home, etc) & the only thing I've noticed it consistently stumble with it nighttime shooting, but considering this is camera is on the prosumer end of things, this is 2 be expected. Day time shooting has been flawless & the camera holds up in the studio as well. Even using the standard miniDV settings, the image is pretty superb.

The camera can be outfitted with SCORES of different accessories--lenses, filters, mics, etc. I haven't used the hotshoe at all because I have a lot of "cold-shoe" accessories which can be mounted with a video bracket with universal mounts (search online--they're about $10-$15 & totally worth it). I feel it's the way 2 go instead of shelling out more money 4 hotshoe accessories. Just carry some batteries around.

On the topic of mics; the build in one is actually pretty good (most camcorder ones are), but the problem is that, usually, the camera is too far away from the action 2 accurately pick up good sound. That said, it's totally reasonable 2 invest in a small shotgun mic ($50) if you're serious about your audio quality. A big plus with this camera is the mic input in the front of the camera. It seems today most consumer cameras are losing this option, but it's a great one 2 have.

The camera accepts all standard 37mm lens accessories (filters, lenses). Filters (polarizing ones, especially) are great 2 have if you plan 2 do a lot of outside shooting. As 4 lenses, the 37mm wide angle lenses I've used (the cheap ones, at this point) have really messed with the image quality, so I resorted 2 using older, larger lenses (49mm). To do this, all you need 2 do is pick up some adapter rings & you're set. If you choose 2 do this, watch out 4 vignetting--this is where your image gets rounded at the edges because the adapter ring/lens is cutting off the actual camera image.

The touch screen is pretty useful except there are a lot of menus 2 go through if you want 2 know EVERYTHING the camera does or is capable of. It's hard 2 see in bright daylight, but there are hoods you can buy (or make out of cardboard...) that will help you out.

The one thing the camera lacks is a real focus ring. Sure, there's a dial on the side near the lens, but it just doesn't feel right & focusing becomes a somewhat daunting task. You can set the dial 2 do a number of things, like exposure, 4 example, but I would've preferred an actual focus ring.

The still photo quality is pretty decent & now that my old digital camera has crapped out on me, I've been using the camcorder 4 still shooting.

All in all, the camera is pretty versatile--if you're using this 4 leisure, it's great as is with some menu-tweaking, but if you're looking 2 do some amateur work, it can be tricked out with more accessories than you can imagine.

Sony's HDR-HC7 High Definition Handycam(R) Camcorder places the pinnacle of high definition in your hands. It's never been easier 2 capture the highest quality, high definition video possible on a MiniDV cassette. View the world through a professional grade Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens with 10x optical/20x digital zoom & a 1/2.9" ClearVid CMOS Sensor. Take command of your pictures as you manually control focus, exposure, shutter speed, auto exposure shift & white balance shift. View everything you shoot on the 2.7" Touch Panel Swivel Screen. Super SteadyShot(R) technology & the Super NightShot(R) feature will help you capture videos you'll want 2 share with the world. 2.7 widescreen 16 - 9 hybrid LCD touch panel -- rotates up 2 270 degrees 4 multiple viewing angles Smooth Slow Record - Increase the frame rate from 60fps 2 240fps, capturing smooth slow motion Super SteadyShot(R) compensates 4 camera shake without compromising picture quality Record an audio track 2 narrate what is being seen in the video Cinematic Mode adds a frame film-like effect 2 video -- perfect 4 creating home movie masterpieces Tele Macro Function handles close-ups without casting a shadow on your subject One-touch wide angle shooting; manual focus; on screen zoom & record buttons Dual Recording - While you record high definition video, you can also capture 2.3 Megapixel still images directly 2 a Memory Stick(R) Duo (up 2 2304 x 1728 resolution) i.LINK (IEEE1394) interface 4 easy connection 2 camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards & PCs Built-in intelligent flash InfoLithium battery with AccuPower(TM) Meter System Manual focus Multilanguage menu Measurements - 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 x 5-1/2 (82 x 82 x 138mm) Weight - 1 lb. 6 oz. (650g) with tape & battery