Sony Reviews

Pros: Incredible small size; can literally be carried in your pocket;

Cons: Video quality mediocre at best (740x320); transferring data files from IP7 to PC has been a nightmare. Literally 25-30 hours of work with varying degrees of usefull tech support (Sony drops the ball on this one) - Formats available are MPG1 and a form of MPG2 called TR - File must then be translated- this is explained in the following website http://134.102.55.200/haupt/SonyIP7_to_MPEG2-PS.htm

In summary, I would wait at least another year or two, when the kinks have been knocked out. This leaves to much to be desired.

You can't beat this camera for portability! I have owned this camera for almost a year now and have been pleased with its performance. I chose to buy this camera for its small size because I was going on a trip to Europe with my best friend. I kept this camera close at hand in my purse the whole time. It was great to be able to take out this camera and record at the drop of a hat!

I had traveled to Europe before with another friend and he took a normal sized camcorder. When I travel to Europe, I don't like to stick out as a tourist and I was constantly embarrassed when he would take out his regular camcorder and take video because it was so obvious that we were tourists.

With my Sony DCR-IP7BT on my most recent Europe trip, I was able to take tons of video without anyone noticing! When people did notice that I had a camera out, they thought it was only a still camera because it was so small.

I have used the video editing software with much success. :) Granted, it takes a while to edit your video, but it is so simple and there are so many effects you can add, I don't think the average person will be disappointed. I have edited our vacation video and really enjoyed being able to do the editing on my laptop computer and adding in the special effects.

I have really enjoyed owning this small camcorder. It was so useful and I will never again take a normal sized camcorder on vacation. I'm sure you could get better video and still picture resolution on another camera; but because this camera is so delightfully compact, I can't complain.

This camera is perfect for someone who is concered about size and portability. It is not cheap, but I have no regrets when I watch video of priceless memories from my trip to Europe.

All of the negative reviews are un-warranted. If you want to buy this unit, make sure you understand what it was designed for.

I saw a Sony Exec talking about it at a marketing show; she was discussing their ad strategy for it. The Exec stated that it was designed for a business traveller who wanted a TINY camcorder to take some "hobby" shots while on the road.

I bought this unit for a BUSINESS trip to Hong Kong. For this purpose this camera was PERFECT. It easily fits in your briefcase. Until you own this thing, you have no idea what a leap it is in terms of size. On my trip, I would routinely just stick it in my (bulging) pocket.

For this size comes a tradeoff. The camera opeates on MPEG2. The CCD has a lower than normal resolution. Both of these are okay; the larger problem is, at this size, you can get a lot of camera shake (even with the stabilzer feature). Overall, the picture quality is fine.

I would not own this as your only camcorder. I would not use this for any "movie making" or run of the mill home vidoes. I would however HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to anyone that wants to take videos on a business trip and not look like a tourist; or needs to grab some video to show their spouse who didn't get to go.

Please sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/osxmicmv/ requesting Sony support this camera (and other MicroMV camcorders) on Mac OS X.

This is a great camcorder, but it is impossible to use because you cannot get the video onto your Mac. For those of you that use a PC for video editing (yeah, right...) and don't mind using Sony's proprietary Movie Shaker program to do your editing instead of something like Premier (again, yeah, right), you will find this camera wonderful. But for the rest of us, Sony needs to take steps to open up this format or support the camcorder on the most popular digital video platform (Mac).

This camera seemed ideal for my needs and although I spend most of my time in Europe I opted for an NTSC format as I know that I am able to access this format in Europe whereas I cannot access PAL in the US, thus it being much more universal.

I bought this camera and after 40 days it developed a fault. I contacted Sony Service Centre in London, who after keeping it for 5 weeks explained that they could not repair NTSC Models in the UK and I would have to send it to the US for repair. I suggested that they should do that but no. I returned to the US and took the camera to one of their service centres who said that I would have to pay $216 labour charges as it was now over 90 days old.
After a great deal of hassle they eventually agreed to give me a work order to have this charge waived. I then sent it to Sony in PA and although I have been informed that it has been repaired I still am awaiting its return over 6 months after purchase. Just be sure you realise that the 12 month warranty only applies to parts, the labour warranty is 90 days, it is in the small print but easily overlooked. This review may not be helpful to everyone but if one person is helped then great.

Pros: Stylish and amazingly compact; innovative design; built-in flash and low-power video light; flexible low-light shooting.

Cons: Limited choice in editing apps for MicroMV video format; lens has fairly narrow angle of view; no accessory shoe or external microphone jack.

It has been a week after I bought this camcorder and so far it is great. The super night vision comes really handy if you go on camping or some other interesting dark places. The controls are very easy to reach and the picture quality is really good. Some people say that they do not like the cassette to be ejected from bottom, but I have no problems with it. I think it is fine. The movie shaker software that comes with the camcorder is not a very professional one. It can handle basic editing and it has great effects. Very easy to use and to set up. You can export the movies you capture in different formats such as real audio, quicktime, etc. It really takes a long time to export though. It is the same with other digital cameras. So, it shouldn't be a concern for you to decide if you should buy the camera or not. You can use the network function to email the photos to a website.If you have a bluetooth cell phone, it is very easy. But if you don't have one, you will have to buy the sony bluetooth adapter for the camcorder which costs about $199. It is better to buy a new cell phone than buying the adapter. This little device is top of the line. It has manual focus for better capturing. It has a smart flash which pops-up automatically when you hit the photo shoot button half-way down. One downside of the camera is that it does not have an input for external microphone. But the built in one does a good very good job. All in all, you should not miss this camcorder. It is affordable, small, cute, and it is SONY. You would never mind carrying it to everywhere you go. And if you are a guy, you'll make a lot of "female" friends. You'll become the center of attention. GRAB ONE! HAVE FUN!

Bought it last year! Nice and small, but even Pinnacle Studio 8 can't handle the compression. No voice, can't burn to DVD, blah, blah, blah. You name it I had a problem with it! And now, come to find out, Sony has stopped production AND will no longer pursue MicroMV. They are moving back to MiniDV! ARGH! Pinnacle won't support their product any longer with this compatibility issue and Sony abandons it.

I bought the Canon Elura 50! Great with stills and video. Inexpensive, only 1 ounce heavier and about the same size!

As my wife called it...... I bought Beta instead of VHS! Never be an early adopter.

Mark

the dcrip5 is for the early adopters among us. it has "wow" written all over it but make sure you're ready for the limitations of the microMV format.

pros:
- small size, and lightweight: 1.88"W x 4.0"H x 3.13"L weighing 12 oz. this is the main selling point of this camcorder.
- 10x optical zoom.
- Super SteadyShot image stabilization - and sony's system works.
- delivers vibrant colors when shooting in daylight.
- connectivity options: firewire, S-video, composite.

cons:
- microMV format is proprietary and may go the way of betamax.
- microMV video quality is noticeably worse than MiniDV.
- microMV also uses a different data-compression scheme than MiniDV, which means that it may be incompatible with your DV-editing software.
- no still photo capability.
- no video light.
- not Mac compatible.
- very bad ergonomics - a small camcorder will have small buttons and consolidated controls.
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- battery life could be better.
- only 2.5" LCD.
- non-intuitive menu system.
- no headphone or mic input jack.
- no accessory shoe.

given the limitations of the microMV format, a smaller camcorder is the only reason to use it. and a tiny camcorder is what sony has delivered and that's why this is a four star product for me. but if you can stand a slightly bigger camcorder, check out other miniDV options. these are more affordable, better supported, and almost as portable.

i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.

I am writing this information here because I found the reviews of the DCRIP-5 at Amazon.com's site helpful when I was considering the purchase of the camcorder. It is a great camcorder because it overcomes the one obstacle that people encounter when they want to record something in their life on video tape. That obstacle is the bulkiness of most camcorders, which makes using them a major preduction. The DCRIP-5 fits in a pocket. You can carry it with you anywhere with no hassle at all. It is about the size of a digital still camera.
Today I installed Pinnacle's Studio 8DV, the software that Sony recommends for use with their Micros DV camcorders. It works great and there is an update available at the Pinnacle web site to allow Micro DV users to capture video directly from the camcorder.
I recommend this combination, the DCRIP-5 and Pinnacle's Studio 8DV to anyone who wants no hassle video taping and computer editing.

on paper, the IP220 looks like a winner. but after a close look and i'm not as sold...

pros:
- delivers vibrant colors when shooting in daylight.
- 10x carl zeiss vario-sonnar T* lens.
- 2MP still capability.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
- has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
- steady shot and night shot.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- top-loading cassette.
- boatloads of optional accessories.
- manual focus/zoom ring on lens.
- has NightFraming which allows you to focus and compose your scene in total darkness with the aid of the infrared emitter, then shoot a full-color still with the pop-up flash. very cool.

cons:
- microMV format is proprietary and may go the way of betamax.
- microMV video quality is noticeably worse than MiniDV.
- images emerge washed-out when shooting indoors.
- uses an mpeg version that may not be compatible with your current video editor.
- Super Night Shot, Color Night Shot very choppy in low/no light.
- not Mac compatible.
- very bad ergonomics - zoom and photo shutter controls are poorly positioned.
- LCD can't tilt backwards - if you've had it before, you'll miss the ability to show kids themselves as you videotape them.
- the advantage of microMV is size but that's not reflected in this camcorder. this is the biggest microMV camcorder out there: 3.9"W x 3.0"H x 5.3"D, weighing 1.5 lbs. you can get smaller camcorders like the panasonic's gs70 or sony's trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- the included 8MB memory stick (for a 2 megapixel still camera!) is unacceptable. you'll need at least a 64MB memory stick with if you want to take full advantage of the higher resolution pics you'll be taking.
- although bundling the camcorder and still camera together means you only have to carry one piece of equipment, it also means that if one breaks, you have to replace both.
- as an alternate to this bundling strategy, you can get a gs70 or trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera and still save money in the process!
- battery life could be better.
- only 2.5" LCD and it's not as crisp as others in the sony line-up.
- non-intuitive menu system.
- bottom loading battery so you can't replace this while mounted on a tripod.
- the accessory shoe is not a hot shoe.
- no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

in the end, the microMV format is a deal breaker for me. it is sony proprietary and not widely supported. and the main reason for even using microMV (size) is not really reflected in this camcorder. if you're looking for a camcorder/camera hybrid, i'd say wait a couple more years (hopefully). the still quality is just not there yet. your best bet is to get a decent camcorder and complement it with a stand-alone digital camera.

i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.

I bought the Sony DCR IP220 because of its 2.0 Megapixel capabilities and while I love the resolution that it displays on the TV, I am not impressed with the quality of footage after capturing to computer. Here are the pros and cons that I have found:

PROS:
1.Great resolution and great quality video produced (530 lines and 2.2 megapixels). (5 star quality)
2. Digital zoom (X700) works fine using a tripod and produces somewhat clear images. Any zoom magnification up to X120, produces very clear moving images.
3. The still pictures are compatible with any 2.0 megapixel camera.
4. Low light video never appeared grainy.
5. Touch screen menu-Many options are available & can be reached quickly. It has a similar feeling to a PDA Palm pilot.

CONS:
1.Video Editing or video email is only possible if your computer system is Windows ME, XP, 2000, and above. If you have Windows 98/98SE and below, then you need to upgrade.
2.If you are into serious computer editing, then this is not the camera for you. The Micromv format is supported only by Sony's Movie Shaker (included), Ulead's MediaStudio Pro 7, and Pinnacle's Studio Deluxe 8.1 . MovieShaker captures with the best quality, but it produces pixellated moving images and stores the files as .mmv. After capturing, the file must be exported to mpeg/avi/etc format. To render 1min 46secs of mmv footage, it took me about 30 mins for mpeg 2 and 8 mins for mpeg 1. MediaStudio 7 captures micromv footage very easily (after downloading the patch) and offers the quickest,most compatable options (direct output to avi/mpeg). Capture is instantaneous (as is cpaturing from most DV camcorders). However, the quality is also somewhat pixellated and the playback is jerky in moving areas. I have not tried Pinnacle.
2. No microphone input jack! It is hard to record a speaker's message if you are in crowds of people. If you have large hands, you may end up covering the bulit in mic and receive no sound at all.
3. Tiny Buttons!It is very difficult to zoom using the very tiny zoom button. Also,the record button is sticking out and you can accidently knock it.
4. Touch screen menu. If for any reason the touch screen is damaged, then it is dificult to command function of the camcorder.

If you are not into Computer editing or emailing video, then this camera deserves a "5 Star Rating". However, considering that I bought the camera with the intentions of editing, I have to say that I am a little upset with the finished quality.

Pros: Small size. Good ergonomics. Screen on back. Still photos. Compact tapes & batteries.

Cons: Expensive. MicroMV format may or may not equal MiniDV. Lens could be more wide-angle.

I found the camera easy to carry, though I kind of wish it had a neck strap. I think the size is about right - not too small to handle, but still very easy to carry. One complaint/frustration was that its lense doesn't seem to be as wide-angle as I'm used to - trying to tape inside buildings, etc. I found myself constantly backing into corners and still cutting people off at the waist, etc. - I may have to look into getting a wide-angle lense for this. Of course, I was trying to tape inside 150 year old houses with small rooms, so that didn't help. As for video and still quality, all I can say is that they look fine to me - I watched for pixelization or other artifacts reported as being problems with MicroMV, but haven't noticed any even in dark areas. I will say that experimenting with the night shot and super night shot, I don't see much use for them - I could hardly distinguish what I recorded in these modes. I was impressed by the ability of the still camera and flash to take decent photos of buildings from around 50 feet away in near total darkness. I didn't expect the flash to work at such a distance, but the photos came out quite well. One reason I selected this camera was that I thought it was better designend for use in underwater housings than the PC120BT I was also considering - primarily because the screen is on the back rather than flipping out to the side (which requires a much larger housing, or not using the screen). I didn't get a chance to try the camera in an underwater housing on this trip, but I still think the design will lend itself to this application. Ergonomically I prefer the IP220, but I have lingering questions about whether I sacrificed video quality by going with this model. But that's based on others's comments on previous MicroMV camcorders - not on any problems I've seen with my own camera or video. I haven't yet loaded video or stills onto my PC for editing, so I can't comment on that.

If you use iMovie your forced to use analog input. Why? Sony won't release the compression scheme to developers.

If you have an Apple, skip MicroMV.

I've owned an unit for 4 months now, and it's everything I expected it to be, plus a little bit more.

What I loved:
- Portability: if you aren't taking your camera with you, you aren't making those memories. I needed something that I would want to (or at least, not mind) carrying everywhere. And this one is perfect. Till the next 'world's smallest' camcorder comes along!
- Image quality: I have a regular television and this has more than enough resolution for that. The DVD's do have lower resolution than you'd ideal want (especially if viewed on a laptop screen), but I found it easy to live with that flaw
- Battery life: Pleasantly surprised. I'm getting a full day's output out of this on a single charge. Like another reviewer put it, you likely won't need another battery

Not-as-bad-as-I-thought:
- Noise: A little whirring as you record, but isn't loud enough to be a problem
- MicroMV compatibility: The supplied software (especially Movieshaker) is really good. Last I checked, two of the biggest software editors (Ulead and Pinnacle) supported this format. Sony's support for this format continues to be a little suspenseful - they've denied abandoning it, but haven't committed to supporting it in the future either

the low points:
- Still image resolution: Less than 1 MP! Why, god, why?
- Low light photography: Doesn't really exist. Neither does a flash for the camera

Video nuts may not like the artifacts that this unit produces. If you are outputing to VHS tapes, it won't matter, but if you are into capturing the highest fidelity possible for future generations, or for display on a large flatscreen TV, you should try this out in the store before buying. Just play the output hooked up to a large flatscreen. Now compare to another camcorder you are considering. I'll bet the DCRIP1 comes up short, but it is a judgement call if it is significant enough. The camera I use for family shots is a Triple CD Sony TRV950- and it produces near HDTV like quality, far outstripping the DCRIP1.

Near HDTV quality means zipideydoodah if you miss the shot because the camcorder is not always available in your pocket. Because of this, 3 times as much video is being taken with the DCRIP1 in my house.

I haven't had any problems converting the tapes to DVDs. I used the Sony provided MovieShaker app to rip them to disk, then MyDVD to shoot them to DVD. More hassle because this unit isn't automatically recognized by standard Video applications due to it's nonstandard driver. (Gee- what a shock that Sony often ignores standards). It is nice the MicroMv tapes have memory to store the stop points and recording date/time of the clips, but the feature is only a nice to have. If it was more taken advantage of my software programs I use, it would be a relevant feature.

This extreme portability might not be worth the price premium. After all, there are some good Mini tape camcorders that though not pocketable, are very close to this unit in size, and probably have better video output quality.

My unit quickly had a problem with lens cover not opening completely. It is an annoyance and probably coverred by warranty but I don't think I'll send it back, since it is easily slid open manually. This sort of think may be an inherent risk due to the hairy mechanics on minature cameras. Might be something to consider if you are in a more dusty or marine environment as I am.

The integrated camera is what you'd expect for a 1Mpixel. I took some snapshots- but there are many very decent >4Mpixel pocketable cameras so don't rely on this one for being an all in one. Maybe in a few years we will get a true all in one camcorder/ digital camera. We aren't there yet.

I'll echo what someone else said about low light. It is ok, but not like the ones that take shots in utter darkness.

If you decide to buy- get some extra tapes off the net because the local stores charge a fortune for the MicroMVs- that is, if they even have them. I bought both tapes and camera from Amazon. Very fast delivery, no complaints or hassles as usual.

One last thing- The battery life on these puppies is a lot better than the old days. My habit was to buy two extra batteries. I didn't for this unit and probably won't need an extra. If you are going to be shooting a lot before getting to another outlet, that's another thing but I shot for a full day at disneyland and still had plenty of juice.

Well, after a bit of a wait I finally replaced my Sony hi-8 camcorder with this hc85. It is amazing the amount of features that are packed into this package. I've had it for 48 and here's what I like so far.

Very sharp stills (in still mode) and obviously very sharp video. It works well in low light and the touch screen is very cool. I thought it would show a lot of finger prints from touching it but they're not that noticeable. The ability to do a still capture while shooting video is nice but the resolution is only 640x480 & is kind of lousy (haven't figured out how to change that one's resolution...or even if you can). As for still captures, it has all of your typical controls (red eye, forced flash, etc). I also like that the lense size is the same size as my old camera so I can use my old filters & wide-angle lense. There are a lot of capabilities & features which almost feels somewhat overwhelming when you're trying to capture images so I'm not so sure about the various modes & usefulness. I do like that it has the ability to take in an analog input and convert to digital so I'll be transferring my old hi-8 stuff to digital for storage on DVDs.

As for any weaknesses, I haven't found it yet, and I look forward to several years of use. Some items to note: It is twice the size of the PC line but then again you get a better lense & more features. The memory stick w/ it is useless (8mb) as well as the battery (it has a 1 hr & I have done several recharges already). These last two items are why I'm only giving 4 stars instead of 5. I don't even know why they give you an 8mb stick when they know it'll be tossed as soon as you open the box!? It can only hold 8 pictures @ max resolution!

Good luck & enjoy.

I bought this camcorder about a month ago after I bought the DCR-TRV70 which was not working properly. This Camcorder is so much easier to use than the TRV70 and I like the larger LCD screen. I'm still learning about the camera but, I don't like the still pictures. My 8 month old is always drooling and the stills have silver dots on all his wet spots. Also you have to have very good lighting in a room to make the videos bright enough. the video always seems very, very dark indoors. The only time this does not happen is in the mornings and early afternoon. I'm going to try a video light for 40.00 to see if this will correct the problem. I'm also having problems streaming my video into my computer but the memory card goes right in and it's tons of fun to take my mpg video's and e-mail them to family. Nobody has had a problem opening any of these videos on there end. I love the video but, if your used to really sharp 4x6 or 3x5 from a 3 or 4 megapixal camera you won't like the photos from the DCR-HC85.

I'm quite impressed with the new Sony DCR-HC85. I had been looking at some of the Panasonic 3CCD cameras in this price range as well as the Canon Optura Xi (which is a little more expensive). In the end I chose this camera for the following features:
* very large (and sharp) CCD for the price
* 0lux night shot mode, though somewhat gimmicky. grainy, and green in practice, is very effective for taking sleeping baby shots
* reputedly much higher reliability and better repair services (vs the Panasonic)
* large reflective/transmissive LCD that's highly visible in both dark and light
* many videophile-oriented features (more on that below).
* can operate as a webcam

Upsides:
* Though many online reviews have questioned whether or not the touchscreen-based interface is a good thing, I found it to be more than adequate for my needs. One of the first things I did was rearrange the menus with my favorite features up front. Very easy to do and makes the camera feel "customized". If the camera weren't capable of these customized personal menus, however, I'd imagine the somewhat slow and bulky interface would get pretty annoying.
* True anamorphic 16:9 widescreen functionality works great and is easily understood by video importing tools.
* Nice shape, easy to hold. I have shaky hands and prefer a slightly larger camera to hold onto.
* Its optical image stabilization is amazing. Once again, I have shaky hands and was worried about getting steady video. Exceeded my expectations on this point.
* Setting it up as a webcam was straightforward and the quality was great.
* Nightshot Plus is eerily effective. The video ain't gorgeous, but it sure does do the trick. I'd imagine that the accessory shoe-based IR light that Sony offers would improve the functionality of this feature even more.

Downsides:
* Camera comes with an 8MB card that can only realistically hold 8 photos. Kinda pointless unless one is just test-driving the feature.

* Camera comes with just a single FP50 lithium battery which doesn't hold enough power to record an entire 60min DV tape (unless, possibly, you turn off the LCD, use just the viewfinder, don't use anything on the accessory shoe, and film straight through without stopping). I guess that's what keeps the price down.
* Camera doesn't come with a FireWire cable. I was not able to use Windows Movie Maker 2 using just the included USB cable (although USB streaming with MSN Messenger worked great with that). I had plenty of FireWire cables in my bin of extra computer parts, but just don't see how you can get professional results without one.
* Though the camera supports both progressive scan and true anamorphic 16:9 widescreen (both features helpful in acheiving a film look with a digital video camera), you can't use them both at the same time.
* Some default settings are questionable (but easily changed). Why default to 4-track 12bit audio vs 2-track 16bit? Why default to beeping melodies on key presses? Some odd buttons on the default Personal Menu (which is what you customize).

Overall, I'm a big fan of this camera and would recommend it highly.

I recently purchased this cam for a trip to Japan. I wanted something I could put in my pocket (trousers) with good video resolution, easy to use and decent resolution on zoom. This is my second digital Cam. previous one was JVC GR2000, an excellent cam. This cam exceeded my expectations. Very light. It easily fits in my pants pockets. I can reach in pants , retrieve it, turn it on and activate recording with one hand and my thumb, while walking without breaking stride. This helps to not miss shots. I easily took 90 minutes of tape of different entertaining clips. The resolution is good. Zoom, although digital , is very good. At full zoom, it pixilates very badly, as all other digital zoom cams, however, zooming up to 75% gives great telephoto with no pixilation. Steady shot is very good. Night vision at first I thought was a gimic, but on the first night of my visit, I went to a club (very dark) and was able to take some great shots of our group of people in action. Highly recommend.

I primarily bought this little thing for family archival records and digitizing my HI8 tapes from years past. so far it works well. I connect my Canon HI8 seamlessly to the HC40.

I feel that the LCD Screen has fine clarity and while SONY has packed alot into this Camcorder it acts logically.

It would be nice to see the HC50 (or whatever) to have the 20X Zoom!

The HC40 is not especially easy to 'Palm' and my hand's aren't that large. There is a ridge at the top of the Camera that is supposed to be cupped by the edge of your fingers to balance the camera. You have to work at holding onto it in this manner.

No, complaints otherwise. It's a 'Keeper' for a few years!

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I bought this camcorder last night. After charging the battery and attempting to use it for the very first time there was a warning on the screen "Dirty Video Head". How could that be with a brand new camcorder? I turned off the power, turned it back on, and the warning was gone. So I started filming, about 15 minutes worth, and then hooked it up to the TV to watch it back. Half of the recording did not even work~ all I had was a blue screen! The 2nd half that did record had thick grey lines running horizontally across the picture, as well as sound distortion (including the very loud motor noise others have mentioned!). I checked the troubleshooting section of the handbook and found that these lines indicate "Dirty Video Head" (again!) and that I would need to use an optional (not included) cleaning cassette!

This is unacceptable in a brand new product. I have sinced checked other review sites and found another consumer who had the same problem with their brand new Sony! This really makes me lose confidence in this company. I returned my camcorder today and will keep looking.

In short, this is a medium quality camcorder. The picture quality is not great, the recorder is picking up the motor noise and still images are completely useless.

The AUTO mode takes the picture or video very dark. You need to adjust the exposure for better picture or video.

You cannot do anything about the recorded motor noise. it is always there

You cannot print the still images taken with this camcorder (even in 4x6). So if you buy this for the still image,dont wasteyour money and choose with better or theonew/o still pictures.

The features are very limited per the canon zseriesof camcorders. Optical zoom is 10x, which is very limited in compare to 20x (Canon)

The software works but the VCD creation is very slow with the provided SW.

So in short, this camcorder does not deserve what is costs.

i bought this camera a month back, and found video quality is uncomparable but stills are not upto mark. i am a professional vidographer and editor in INDIA and purchased this camcorder for professional use but disappointed in stills.
software supplied are a total waste excluding still transfer from cam to PC with USB cable. i dont heard any motor noise as others had.
for night picture quality is not very good.
in total the camera is good for daylight but not for nights.
manish, Ranchi, Jharkhand, INDIA.

I owned Sony analog camcorder for long time. Recently I bought this one for digital storage and compact size.

I am suprised to see very poor quality video compare to my old analog camcorder. video is really dark and not worth taking in home(Even on bright day). I continue use old analog camcorder for family video.

I bought this camcorder based on the high rating on this site and Circuitcity ratings and it's on the way back to the store after two days trial.

I want a good simple Cam to tape my baby and HC20 got my attention due to price, Sony brand, sony famous lowlight performance, digital transfer and specially small.

Pro:
- USB, Firewire video/audio transfer to PC
- Small, easy to carry around.

Con:
- Video and video quality.
- Low light performance is useless.

I taped my baby in the bedroom and living using whatever light available but I don't consider low light especially I expect low lux performing but when I play on the TV, the picture is dark, too much noise and soft. the sound is ok. that is a little disappointed.
Then the next day, I try to tape during the day time, around 6pm in Cali. and play back in the tape, quality is just alright, but once the digital zoom kick in, you can't see any more, all blur. If you happen to see a bad VCD thenyou know what I am talking about.

Think about it, small CCD will cause quality suffer.
I have used the TRV27 in the past so I am going to get the TRV38.
Update:
I got my TRV38 and I am happy with it however keep in mind I paid $200 extra for this one: and what I get more:
- Better in low light, very low noise in a dim room
- Super image stablizer: very stable when play back.
- Brilliant 3" LED display and Color view finder.
- 1MP and 690K affective video resolution, so you can do a little digital zoom w/o suffer video quality.
- Quality build.
I read a lot of reviews so I chose TRV38 (old model) rather than HC40 or TRV65 as newer.

i picked up one of these 2 days after they hit the stores and i'm really happy with it. my intention was to buy an older floor model--i didn't realize these were even out yet-- but the second i picked this one up it blew the competition away. it's very intuitive, which is great for lazy people like me who can't be bothered to read manuals.

when i bought it i was really worried about lighting indoors and motor noise which are often reported problem with so many video cameras. since i bought the camera to record acting monologues this could have been a deal breaker but all i need is an adequately lit room, i haven't heard any motor noise. it's also been a trooper at graduations and other more usual camcorder duties. if you buy one you're gonna get a lot of envious stares and more than a few questions so be prepared.

i can't imagine there's a better deal unless something earth shattering has been released since february. i'm happy with the battery life, it feels solidly made. the only cons are that 1) the still photos aren't that great but they're good enough in a pinch and 2) the zoom is sensitive and takes some getting used to. i'd but another one in a second, it was worth every cent.