Sony Handycam DCR-HC28 Mini DV Camcorder

Pros: Small, good battery indicator, easy to use menus on the screen.
Cons: Would need a tripod to use the highest zoom settings

I originally bought this camcorder to work with my laptop and produce training videos. I have to say I am extremely satisfied with this purchase. The unit interfaces with a firewire cable (not supplied) which fits into a small port on the side. ...

Pros: tough and has great features
Cons: dont think you can find too many out there anymore

I got this cam last year for an overseas trip to India. I went there during the monsoons (very hot and very hunid). I needed a cam to be able to withstand a lot of abuse, easy to carry around in my pocket and yet deliver quality. after doing research i picked this one. this was a great buy.

the onyl thing you gotta do is buy firewire plus get a nice long lasting battery. the pics were nice and it also has a night vision (which works great). all the controls are touchscreen. i have never been happier abt a $200 investment.

here is a video shot on that cam (remember its on you tube - and they downgrade and convert everything to mp4) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQthubL4giA

Pros: Clear quality, and Incredibly easy to use.
Cons: A bit costly for a couple just starting out.

We received this as a wedding gift, seeing as how we were also expecting our first child. I have used this camcorder many times in the short week since receiving it as a gift, and we positively love the ease of use as well as the clarity of the picture. This has been the best video experience I have ever had, and I have had many supposedly "good quality" video cameras.

Pros: The camera is small and light. It's very comfortable for filming.
Cons: It's annoying to have to flip open the monitor to fade in or out.

I wanted a smaller video camera from which I could transfer video to our Mac and to take stills from time to time.
I bought this product because of the attractive price and positive reviews on CR and epinions about other Sony Handycams.
I love the size and the relative steadiness of the filming.
I only discovered after I bought it that it does not have a feature for capturing stills or for transferring data to a computer. My inadequate research did not find a web site explaining differences between the HC28 and HC38. Instead, I relied on the store I called, and the person was either ignorant or deceptive in telling me the HC28 had these features. I would gladly have plunked down an extra $60 for the HC38 had I known it existed.

Pros: Ease of use
Cons: A broken down toy right out of the box

Problems started after first 5 minutes of recording usage within 2 months. They occur regardless of which of 2 tapes are inserted or whether the location on the tape playing or recoding is to start:

1)Intermittently would not record demanding that its head be cleaned,
2)On playback, 5 alternating bands of gray across the image,
3)Occasionally demands the tape be re-inserted,
4)Most recently, will supposedly record without demanding its head be cleaned, will fast forward, rewind, BUT will NOT playback any tape under any circumstance.

I regard the camera as now completely useless. Sony should be ashamed of even telling me to get a head-cleaner. Heads don't get dirty or contaminated that fast, and is they did, it is even more a piece of junk than described. Sony should get out of the Camcorder business if that is so. At least it took 3 years for a comparably crappy Panasonic model to break-down.