Sony Reviews

This camera was given to me for Christmas a couple of years ago. It has good video quality, and the ability to play back the tape using an S-video jack. The fade options are limited when compared to other Sony products, but for an entry level camera it is a good value. I recommend this camera to anyone who just wants to record special occasions and for playing around. If you are a serious shutterbug, I would recommend something with more bells and whistles.

Overall this camera is a very good quality at a reasonable price.

i dont know what the guy befor me wanted but this is a camera NOT a VCR, but if u REALLY want to put ur analog tapes on ur computer or camera, then buy a SONY VCR with an I-link or IEEE 1394 compatibitily. I am more than an ameture videographer, i do alot of DV editing, and this camera has ALL the features that i need, its I-link IN/OUT compatibility makes for an easy hook up to your PC (if u have a fire wire card), a remote controle, and several Picture effects as well as some digital effects, including oldmovie, and u can superimose a nother picture onto a live feed.

I've had this camera for almost a year now, and it's the first movie camera of any kind I've ever used. I have a digital still camera (an olympus 2100cz) so I'm not a neophyte.
I'm finding it easy to use. I use to film my wifes speaking engagements. So i've used this camera in a small room with only 5 or 6 people in it, or in very large auditorium with 200 or so people in it. It worked beautifully. The remote helps a lot when using a tripod. It does an especially nice job picking up audio even at distance.
I had to get a special cable to do transfers to my Macintosh, but once on the mac everything gets really easy.
I guess it doesnt have all the bells and whistles of the more expensive cameras, but if you look over the stats in the discription above, you should be able to figure out this one is for you.

I am way impressed by the PC101E as this is my first handycam. Having upgraded from a Sony Mavica FD-7, this gadget packs more gimmicks than I am usually accustomed to. Below are the top ten features that I personally find interesting :

1. Got to be the USB streaming/webcam mode (do remove the cassette first, else it'll auto-shut off in 5 mins).
2. 10x Optical (420mm. With my 2x lens, goes up to 20x! 840mm)
3. Nite-shot mode (comes with built in IR booster light).
4. Bundled 8Mb memory stick (Good for 25 shots at a decent 1152x864 fine mode).
5. LP-long play mode on the MiniDV cassettes. 1.5 times longer recording time.
6. Time delayed recording mode. Good for those clouds moving/ flowers blooming footage.
7. Touch panel controls.
8. Backlight feature, brightens your subjects even more. Is not limited only to sunsets, use it anytime u need a bit more gamma in your images.
9. Remote control!
10. Comparatively cheap (RM3,600 is about US$950).

Followed by my top 5 complaints :
1. New 30mm filter ring. Sony just attempted to kill the filter market by introducing a new filter size. Luckily there is a thing called the step-up ring. Get a 30-37mm ring, and all your old 37mm filters are usable once again.
2. No still picture shots while using Color slow shutter/Super nite-shot mode. Deliberate design ?
3. No shoulder strap. Not even the holes for a shoulder strap. Plus the hand strap is not removable (unless forcibly cut off).
4. 5 hour(QM-71) and 9 hour(QM-91) LiON batteries looks and weighs like bricks! Effectively making your compact camera bags obsolete.
5. Digital zooms are not that useful. The results are so pixelated that I wonder whether the "120x" is just used to fool the consumer.

Overall I am still very satisfied with this Handycam. Ease of use, even for rookies, just plain point-and-shoot. Highly recommended.