Pros: Easy to use, Sony, still capability, long battery life
Cons: Stills are grainy, hand-strap too thin length made for big hands (not many cons)
The Bottom Line: This is the best overall, easy-to-use, feature-full camcorder for family memories for now ('04), but wish the still shot feature was better - they're still too grainy.
sallygp's Full Review: Sony Handycam® DCR-HC40 Mini DV Camcorder
When I set out to buy a camcorder last summer ('04) to record our first child, I did a TON of research - partly because no clear "winner" quickly emerged among the Mini-DV newer camcorders. Being the type of person who wants to get all possible features and yet not spend a fortune, this is the camcorder we ended up choosing.
While it was not an easy decision (the final competitor being the Panasonic GS-120), after we got the camera home and were using it, I felt even better about it.
The positive features are:
1) Very easy to use if you just want to turn it on and go (it will focus, adjust lighting, etc. for you)
2) Also allows you to do spot metering, spot focus and other adjustments with a touch of the button on the LCD. (I actually wasn't sure I'd like having to use the LCD over buttons, but now I realize it is SO much easier than trying to reach around inside to use the buttons.)
3) Menus are very intuitive.
4) The LCD screen is a very good quality, and is supposedly better than most in very bright environments (like the sun beating down on it.)
5) Long battery life. We ordered a bigger battery, but almost don't need it!
6) Great in low-light and not bad in the dark!
7) Time counter which tells you how many minutes your battery has left on the left side of the LCD and how many minutes you've recorded on the right. This is an excellent feature so you don't have to estimate and remember battery life and have it end up dying in the middle of an important event!
8) There is a hot shoe to attach a flash, etc. (I'm pretty sure the HC-20 or HC-30 models don't have this feature.)
On the negative side:
1) Stills are pretty grainy and poor, considering the MP. Although everyone says not to get a camcorder for the stills, I figured it would be a great feature to use. I mean, how many people are videotaping and see their child do something cute and have time to run find the still camera and snap a shot? But unfortunately, this is just not a good time to be trying to get a great video camera and still camera in one. The technology and low price just isn't there yet. (You could still use the still feature and get something to send via email - and of course could print, but it just wouldn't be the greatest quality. I still use it for stills, by the way.)
2) This may be true of other camcorders, but I find it annoying that I have to switch it out of the "easy" mode to take pictures or use other features. (In "easy" mode, the camcorder does all the focusing, etc. for you. Normally, you'd probably keep it set here while recording.) I have to pause the recording, hit the "easy" button, then proceed. If I sometimes want to override the spot metering, for example, you'd think they'd let me touch the screen and override the "easy" button while recording instead of having to stop. It's not a HUGE deal, though.
3) People have complained about the clicking zoom button. If you are not careful, yes, you can let go of the button too quickly and cause it to click, but this is not a reason not to get the camera, as I've read in a few reviews elsewhere! And it doesn't click if you hold and move the button carefully.
4) The hand strap could be wider. Sometimes I feel like I'm losing my grip on the camera because the thin strap slides a little. The strap also runs out of velcro if you make it tight. I am a woman, but don't have particularly small hands, and the strap is really made for someone with bigger hands than me. Not a huge deal, though.
Other camcorder comparisons:
1) The Panasonic GS-120 has the 3 CCDs for improved color. However, I found that when I zoomed out pretty far, and definitely when I went into digital zoom (out of optical), the picture was so wobbly you could hardly see anything. It was awful! I tried both the Sony & Panasonic out in the store and while I did notice a better color spectrum from the Panasonic (going back to the Sony almost looked bland at first!), I just reasoned that it wouldn't matter if I had better color if I couldn't see the picture!
* I also found the menus slightly more difficult to navigate on the Panasonic and I had to reach to use buttons, which was more cumbersome. The Sony is really easier to use in my opinion.
* I've heard the stills are also not good on the Panasonic. There is really no comparable camcorder in this price range with good stills. (I really researched this feature.)
2) The Cannons (ZR Series)
I ruled the Cannons out early because while they have the cool 18-22x optical zoom, I was told that partially because of that, they are not good in low-light. One mother told me (and I read multiple times elsewhere) that it wasn't good at her son's birthday party and on other occasions indoors with low-light. Again, I'd rather be able to record my son and other important events indoors rather than have a little extra zoom that I probably wouldn't need too much.
3) Other brands, like JVC...
I was told by people at electronic stores that the JVC and perhaps others were decent, but really with the Carl Zeiss lens and other features on the Sony, they just wouldn't choose them over the Sony. (Now if the JVC goes on a big sale and is much cheaper, you may want to buy that. I'm just a perfectionist and like the have the best I can afford.)
Recommendations:
1) Buy a good sturdy bag for it. We bought the Sony one that was made for it and it has lots of great space and pockets.
2) Buy the available wide angle lens for around $30. It's really worth it, esp. for the price.
As I was doing way more research than I planned, I came across many features and details that I'm sure I've forgotten now. I also am not writing about how well I can download videos or pictures because we need more room on our hard drive and haven't done it yet! I will follow up with more later...
However, if someone has questions, feel free to post a comment or question. This is a big purchase and you may jog my memory about a feature that I could help you with.
Overall, we have been very pleased with the camcorder. It is so easy to use, small and fun. We even used it in the dark on Halloween and the nightshot feature isn't bad!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 600 Recommended for: Home and Families - Keep Memories of Family Vacations
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