SONY DCR-HC1000 Camcorder September 2004 Review
Written: Aug 29 '04
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Pros: 3 CCD chip/picture quality/battery life/LCD screen size.
Cons: Warranty/weight/Memory Stick Duo Pro/fit-to-user.
The Bottom Line: Superior Picture Quality, Better Than Most. Carl Zeiss Lens Ultra Quality. A solid choice for prosumers looking for 3 CCD chip production.
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| benicia's Full Review: Sony DCR-HC1000 Mini DV Digital Camcorder |
This is my fifth (5th) Sony camcorder to date. That must mean I really like Sony quality, performance and reliability for some of their products.
I mention 'some' of their products and those being the finest televisions ever, the wonderful VAIO laptops and Sony camcorders. I continue to dislike their audio, MP3 and most of their digital cameras. I've always disliked Sony's format wars being VHS vs. Beta or the current Memory Stick vs. Memory Stick Duo Pro. Canon runs circles around Sony on memory format and digital still cameras.
Having said that, I recently purchased the newly released Sony DCR-HC1000. For complete specs go to WWW.SONY.COM because as a reader of Epinions, I'm going to assume you're here reading this because your curious about the camcorder and have already researched its basic specs and details. If not, the above website will lead you to those specs!
I struggled between this camcorder and the also newly released Sony DCR-PC350 (1/3 CCD, 3-Megapixel digital still/video combo unit). The Sony DCR-HC1000 replaces Sony's DCR-HC950 with a few improvements but mostly a model change with some enhanced features.
One great new feature and reason enough to purchase this camcorder is Sony's newly designed ECM-CQP1 optional ($199) microphone for 5.1ch Surround sound recording and playback! Allowing you to record in 5.1 if you have Sony's software ('CLICK TO DVD' 2.0 or higher) or simply allowing you to record in 4 channel sound without the software. A major feature enhancement indeed!
Another positive note here is the large 2.5 LCD swivel screen for playback or shooting. This LCD screen though is also a touch-screen control panel for nearly 90% of ALL FUNCTIONS for this camcorder. Oh Sony... Oh Sony... Bright sunlight means difficult setting changes and the touch-screen format itself limits your imaginative talents in that you'll have to surf this difficult and poorly designed menu. Analog buttons are essential on any camcorder or digital still camera as is a 6-speed gearbox on a BMW or Porsche. Performance is compromised with this touch-screen LCD.
Another visionary issue on the DCR-HC1000 is the electronic viewfinder which I use almost always while shooting film/movies/tape. This the-the-lens (electronic) viewfinder is so small that the human eye is just a bit larger than the viewfinder. With eyeglasses, it's near impossible to use so the real option here is to return to the LCD screen for filming yet that will also consume nearly twice the battery life and time available. Another issue is that Sony made the viewfinder 'FIXED' with no extension in any direction.
Optical on the DCR-HC1000 comes on the Carl Zeiss lens at 12X zoom for true or 'optical' zoom and 150X for digital zoom (which at all cost you should try and avoid anyhow...use your natural optical zoom to avoid compromising the picture quality). Carl Zeiss lens are ultra quality anyhow and there are many filter and lens applications you can add to this 37mm threaded lens.
The Mini-DV tape (format) compartment that houses your tape runs outside of the cameras body in what I would call a 'Side-Car' attachment to the camera body. This is awkward and not comfortable in handling without both hands. This is not a one-hand camera ever. The compartment does swivel allowing you some freedom of fit and I appreciated that. This is in fairness a 3CCD chip camcorder in a very small package and weighing in at just over two pounds when one adds the battery and tape.
Placed very well this time is the PHOTO button that performs the function of this camcorder becoming a digital still camera as well. Yet, at just 1 megapixel of quality you'll hardly use it and it reminds me of the silly cell phones that have seen fit to include a digital still camera. The PHOTO button is housed next to the REC button for filming as is the SHIFT key that changes this camcorder into one of three main functions that include TAPE/MEMORY/PLAY-EDIT. The only other analog buttons on this camcorder are FOCUS, ZOOM, BATTERY DISPLAY INFO, BACK LIGHT and AUTO LOCK. Everything else is via the LCD touch-screen menu.
Worth note here is the brick-sized and two corded battery charger. Leave it in the box! Sony ships this item that is so user-unfriendly in size, style and fit that they know you'll just have to go out and purchase their real compact charger that should have shipped with it anyhow (BC-TRF). It will cost you another $99 but is so small and petite and even the plug/outlet folds into itself so that it is about half the size of a pack of cigarettes. That's all you will need when you travel or even at home.
Extra batteries are $99 and make sure you use only a true Sony battery that will not leak or burst into your investment. One size is all that is currently available and it's the NP-FF71 by Sony (Made In Japan) and this is the battery that ships with the camera (yes, there was a NP-FF51 but it is weaker and being phased out).
A moment of being negative here is Sony's insistence on creating foolish and often soon to be obsolete formats and with this camcorder you'll get the privilege of being able to use Sony's exclusive Memory Stick format for your digital still photos (remember, just at 1 megapixel). Lucky for you is that you probably have seen these Memory Sticks on sale in the newspaper or you might even have a few already from your other Sony products that you can use. Right? Wrong... Sony has taken its Memory Stick and created a smaller version called MEMORY STICK DUO PRO. It requires a supplied adapter to use with your other Sony products and of course your older Memory Sticks will not fit into this camcorder. New Memory Sticks will be required and they are expensive.
Made In Japan (and not China) means ultra quality control and whenever Sony ships from Japan, you can expect exceptional quality, fit and workmanship. Everything in the box that houses the DCR-HC1000 is from Japan except the supplied battery charger.
The picture quality is stunning! Stunning! Stunning! Did I mention stunning? With the 3CCD chip you're going to get near broadcast quality and Sony has kept all the well-known features such as SUPER STEADY SHOT (image stability) and NIGHTSHOT standard as they do on so many of their camcorders. The reason you are buying this camcorder is for its picture quality and you'll be impressed beyond your expectations...
It retails for $1699 as of September 2004. There are some online merchants selling it for less but beware of 'B' stock or refurbished models or models that don't have a USA warranty. Using an online merchant is fine but check and be sure they are an authorized Sony dealer. Check here on Epinions as well for ratings on these merchants.
Sony provides you with its sub-standard warranty of just 90 days labor and 1 year parts so an extended warranty on this high-ticket item might be worth considering if it comes from a source worth the warranty if ever needed. Extended warranty contracts are a high and expensive risk/investment.
I like this camcorder for its picture quality above all. Yet, take a look at Sony's DCR-PC350 as well for a superior fit, less expensive, 3 megapixel digital still quality and superior thru-the-lens viewfinder. In any event, it's a Sony and you'll be impressed and satisfied.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1699.00
Recommended for: Professional Videographers - Broadcast Quality Videos
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Epinions.com ID:
benicia
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 65
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