DCR-PC350 MiniDV Handicam Camcorder review

The PC350 also provides some cameralike features in its still-photo mode, such as flash, continuous-shooting mode, and exposure bracketing. One feature you're bound to hate, at least at first, is the use of the Memory Stick Duo. It's about half as long as a standard Memory Stick and requires an adapter for compatibility with any of the current crop of media readers. On the bright side, the Memory Stick Duo is being incorporated into the new breed of smaller still cameras, video cell phones, and music players, so we expect prices to come down and capacities to rise.

The Sony Handycam DCR-PC350's zoom is silky smooth and works at either constant or variable speeds, as you need it to do, using the slide switch on the side. The zoom buttons on the LCD panel are a fixed speed, neither fast nor slow but some comfortable spot between the two. The autofocus tracks with zooms and pans unnoticeably under normal light conditions. In low light, and especially with the camera's NightShot or Super NightShot enabled, you will notice some drag. It also has some problems focusing on objects within about 15 feet of the camera when it's fully zoomed. Day, night, light, or dark, the focus tends to wander and, in relative darkness, almost never settles. Using the manual focus cures the problem but kills a certain amount of shooting spontaneity. Likewise, while image stabilization works well under the usual conditions, consider a tripod if you intend to use the digital zoom.

Sony claims two hours from its 780mAh lithium battery. That's just about right for nonstop video shooting with the viewfinder. Use the LCD and you'll still get through your marathon hour of taping, except you'll have merely 44 minutes of battery time left. You can turn off the LCD's backlight entirely and pick up an extra few minutes but only if you're in good ambient lighting and can tilt the panel just right to see what's there. More useful, Sony also lets you dim the backlight.

If you thought it was impossible for a video camera to produce good stills, change your mind quickly. The Sony Handycam DCR-PC350 snaps excellent, highly detailed, 3-megapixel stills in Fine mode. There's also a Standard mode--don't go there. Further discussion of it would be redundant and as dull as the images themselves.

Video quality is also very good. While not quite able to pick up the eyelashes on a bug, we were easily able to record an insect hovering about the eyelashes of a dog in excellent detail.

Darkness also trumps quality unless you're overly fond of grainy, green footage when using NightShot or Super NightShot modes, though it shoots in conditions that would totally stump other camcorders.