Sony Camcorder With 3 3 Mp Sensor

CL) U) Sony HDR-HC3 4MP High-Definition Handycam MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

Amazon Sales Rank: #7959 in Camera & Photo Brand: Sony Model: HDR-HC3 Released on: 2009-11-30 Dimensions: 3.10" h x 3.20" w x 5.50" l, 1.20 pounds Display size: 2.7 Records and plays back both high-definition (1080i resolution) and standard-definition video on MiniDV 2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS image sensor; 1.43K effective Variable-speed Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 10x optical zoom lens; digital zoom to 80x 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel LCD Super SteadyShot image stabilization

The HDR-HC3 is everything you've come to expect from the industry's smallest and lightest camcorder as of February 1, 2006, plus a few extras. Instantly switch back and forth between HD and SD recording modes, capture 4.0-megapixel still images, and enjoy unprecedented detail and color reproduction with the ClearVid CMOS sensor. The HC3's 1/3" ClearVid CMOS sensor provides stunning detail and clarity for both video and still images. 2.1-Megapixel (Gross) ClearVid CMOS Sensor 1/3" ClearVid CMOS sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution in HD Mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode) and still-image performance (4.0 megapixels). Unlike traditional CCD imagers, CMOS sensors require less power, providing better battery performance. HDV Recording Format From the innovators in camcorder technology, Sony's HDR-HC3 camcorder is the industry's smallest and lightest HDV1080i consumer-level camcorder and player (as of February 1, 2006). Now you can conveniently record all your memories in true high-definition video. Switchable HDV/DV Format Recording The HDR-HC3 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on a standard MiniDV cassette. Real-Time HD Codec Engine Sony developed a Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system with reduced energy consumption and compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. This engine provides efficient MPEG2 compression, and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format, so that High Definition video can be recorded on the same MiniDV cassettes as are used for SD recording. 10x Optical/80x Digital Zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom. A professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens reducesglare and flare and increases color saturation. Professional-Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare. A 2.7-inch vari-angle touch-panel LCD makesframing and filming a snap. 2.7-Inch Wide (16:9) Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD plus Display (211K Pixels) The 2.7-inch wide (16:9) LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with imporoved resolution. The 211K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback, and the widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier. Digital Still Memory Mode with Memory Stick Duo Media Capture still images up to 2304 x 1728 resolution directly onto Memory Stick Duo Media for easy trasfer to PCs for e-mailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices. Dual Record While recording video in high definition, you have the ability to capture a 2.3-megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick Duo media. Assignable Dial Built into the lens body of the camera, the assignable dial can be used not only for focus or exposure, but may also be customized by the user to control Auto Exposure (AE) Shift, Exposure, Focus, and White Balance (WB) Shift. In playback mode it allows you to control the volume. Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization System Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera "shake" without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems. Cinematic Mode Perfect for creating your own movie masterpieces, the HDR-HC3 Cinematic mode lends 24-frame film-like effect to your recordings. i.LINK Interface (IEEE1394) A high speed bi-directional digital video-audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs. Tele Macro Function Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocused so that the subject stands out. Active Interface Shoe Provides a location directly on the camcorder on which to add optional accessories while providing power and two-way communication to those accessories. Built-In Intelligent Flash For added clarity and detail when taking pictures in low-light situations, the built-in flash improves pictures and reduces shadows.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews 100 of 102 people found the following review helpful. Good video quality - especially in the open by D. Dwyer, I have this camcorder for about 2 weeks. All in all I am satisfied. Most of my video playback is done via a Pioneer 50 "plasma HDTV, so I have a very nice playback source to the recorded video quality assessment Disclaimer -. I am a novice photographer / photographer, so people think, to correct perhaps just a few gripes said: "If you only want to set the flux capacitor settings ...," but my review should also apply to people who operate the camera in" Easy "mode (all my pictures are either in 'easy mode' or made with the automatic settings - not entirely sure what the difference is other than 'easy mode' does not matter) Benefits: -. Incredible detail and excellent color reproduction when shooting outdoors. Seriously, it's almost (but not quite) as nice as watching cable / satellite HD when connected to an HDTV w / HDMI and / or component video connections - (I've tried both, not much noticeable difference between the two, while the HDMI is more convenient) I do not think (and I have the specs to read the format, so I'm pretty sure), the HDV format to produce true HD-quality video, but the right lighting conditions, which acquired is certainly better to watch a DVD in an anamorphic widescreen progressive scan player, I would say is somewhere between HD and SD quality (when lighting is ideal). - Easy to use. Menu system controls are large and easy to use. - Very nice LCD View Finder - Compact and ergonomic design fits in your hand - Very strong, sturdy feel the camera Cons: - image quality degrades quickly in low light conditions, including the interior lighting to the point that near-normal I 'm not sure if it's better than standard DV quality (with the exception of the beautiful widescreen format), I bought an external 3 watt Sony flash unit that allows very close, but even then, the color reproduction is not as good as the' outside and I noticed more artifacts (blur in some images and models, raster, etc.). I'd probably bet that if all the video recordings is inside, it might be better off with a 3 CCD camera that one - but outside , there is no comparison. - Images with light sources behind faded. I shot a sunset and everything except the sun, himself, was completely washed out. I imagine this is one of the things that the white balance or exposure can be corrected, but the easy / automatic mode, no luck (par for the course?) - The camera often takes two hands to maintain constant video to avoid nervous. Maybe it's just that the quality of this Sony is so stark, but even my POS JVC mini DV from 6 years ago seemed to have a better anti-vibration mechanism. The hands w / constant, should stand, or willing to use two hands, do not worry. - Sony seems to be hidden drivers / software support for video-camera and the HDV format. There is little or no help in the manual on how to upload a video to a computer in high definition unless "there is a Sony VAIO." I'm pretty turned off by it. In digging around, it seems that you are a PC user, you need Windows XP SP2 or have to jump through hoops to get it to work. Mac connect to my mother and had no problems capturing HDV with iMovie. I wonder what other commentators are using (hardware / software) to convert the video to standard DVD (MPEG-2) format - the others said they had very good results if I convert the results to see rough, grainy, and there are compression artifacts everywhere (it's not really the fault of the camcorder, though). - Battery life - this could be par for the course with camcorders these days, but I'm just out of the zoo where I had a lot of record / pause / record / pause recording for a few seconds and freshly charged battery only about 35 minutes of recording time of life. I will.