Sony Handycam DCR-HC52

Summary: I have a pro camera (Canon XL2) The firewire went on the fritz. I bought this so I could switch the tape from the XL2 to this just to use the firewire so I could capture tapes (generally shot on the pro camera)

Don't worry about zoom - everyone seems to be concerned about that but quality goes down when you zoom too much and you cant hand hold it. Forget about digital zoom - thats where the camera digitally zooms the actual picture - waste of time & money.

If you are zooming more than 10x anyway, you need to be closer. this camera has 40x optical zoom, but you don't really need more than 10x. If you do, you need to be on a tripod - with no wind.

after I bought it, the store only had 15 day return policy, then I realized that it did not have some of the features that my past home camcorder had (which was also Sony)
another good feature would have been Line In -- thats where you can record to the camera from a "video input" rather than recording through the lens. My last home camcorder had that too. Guess Sony is trying to save some money.

my 2c... if your going to buy a camcorder, make sure it has an external mic jack.

best, Phil

www.WiseGuyProductions.ca