- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 26 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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15 out of 15 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Excellent camera"
Pros: Easily the sharpest picture I've ever had
Cons: Mpeg compression format makes "dropouts" quite long
Summary: This is a great camera. Unlike some of the reviewers, I actually HAVE one and have USED it, so this is not a "theoretical" review.
The picture quality is significantly sharper than any of the 7 cameras I have previously owned, including the digital video cameras. I used a Panasonic PVGS400 for a while and, although the colors were splendid, the sharpness wasn't enough sharper than my previous DV camera (also a Sony) to make it worth the cost, to me. This camera is much sharper, in HD mode, and does regular DV quite well, also.
The biggest drawback that I have seen is that, because it encodes to Mpeg2, "on the fly", and records that to the tape, if there is a "glitch" on the tape, the entire GOP (group of pictures) can be affected. This can cause a 1/2 to 1 second gap in the video and audio. Apparently, "special" DV tapes are now made that are supposed to be "reduced dropout" tapes, but they run about $16 each (I've read).
Other than an occasional gap, I've loved this camera. My video buddy was amazed at the picture quality, too.
For a professional, making wedding videos, or whatever, the dropouts would, obviously, pose a major hurdle. For me, missing 1 second of my daugthers playing in the yard is a small price to pay for the improved picture quality. I have a 62" DILA TV and a 120" projection screen and, especially at that size, it's nice to have this resolution. I just can't justify the $16 for the "super tape" unless I'm filming something critical.
- 3 replies to this review
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Many people speak about the drop-out problems when using standard mini-DV tapes on this great HD camera, but there is one standard mini-DV tape that does not experience any drop-outs during recording. That mini-DV tape is the one manufactured by "TDK." The best deal on these tapes is the TDK 8-pack sold at Costco. They come in the orange wrapping. These tapes are also sold in places like Walgreens, but the "TDK 8-pack" sold at Costco is your best bet.
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Many people speak about the drop-out problems when using standard mini-DV tapes on this great HD camera, but there is one standard mini-DV tape that does not experience any drop-outs during recording. That mini-DV tape is the one manufactured by "TDK." The best deal on these tapes is the TDK 8-pack sold at Costco. They come in the orange wrapping. These tapes are also sold in places like Walgreens, but the "TDK 8-pack" sold at Costco is your best bet.
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I also own the HDR-HC1. With this being the only consumer HD camera on the market I bought with the future in mind HD quality and 16:9 aspect ratio. Recording the family album at the highest quality available at the time is extremely important. look back and compare VHS recordings with DV most people would wish that DV had come along sooner! The picture qaulity of the HDR-HC1 is superior to DV and I wish this product had come out sooner. Excellent pictures on 42' plasma, easy to operate and very portable.
