- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 27 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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25 out of 27 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Detailed Review of the Sony Handycam HC-32"
Pros: Easy to record straight from box, Easy to use and understand features, hotfoot, good price, I like the touch-screen...
Cons: Software is terrible, No memory stick supplied w/camera, still shots are awful -- must be edited down to about a 4x4 plus brightness/contrast editing to get anything decent (and they are still bad)
Summary: For the price, this is a great little camera. It is very easy to use straight out of the box. If you have a TV with the 3 jacks in front, the camera is VERY easy to hook to the TV. My wife had recorded stuff and hooked it to the TV to view before I got out of bed the day after we bought the camera and she hadn't looked at the Operating Guide at all.
After reading reviews, I wasn't sure about the touch-screen, but it isn't as bad as I thought. Actually, I kinda like it. The hotfoot is a great feature (many of 'extras' from Sony are made only for the HC-42). The black & white viewfinder is lacking. I only use the LCD screen. The zoom is great. I do wish the fader was easier to use; however, you will get used to it in no time.
I wouldn't even bother installing the software (I made the mistake of installing it). The memory stick is easily retrieved but it is nearly impossible to get the video to your computer. Editing is impossible (actually it is pointless with this software). Save yourself the frustration, Pinnacle has a bundle of awesome software with the firewire PCI port for $99 ($79 for software only; so, it's a good deal). You will need a DVD Burner, too
I didn't know what I needed when I first got this camera. Here's a list so you will have an idea. So total, you have a $499 camera, minimum of $50 for a new battery (up to $100 depending on size), $60 for a battery charger (so you will always have 2), $30 camera case, $17 for 3 Fuji tapes, $54 for a 256 meg memory stick (which is useless b/c the still pictures are worthless -- but you may find a use at some point), $99 for Pinnacle software with PCI firewire port (firewire included!), $100 for internal DVD Burner (add another $100 for an external DVD Burner)... So you are looking at around $900 before taxes to get everything you need to actually USE the camera you just bought.
- 2 replies to this review
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I would like to make one recomendation, try SONY Vegas. Pinnacle software is pretty bad.
I do agree its a nice cmaera, I enjoy mine a great deal. -
How is the night shots with this camera? Thanks.
