5 comments about Sony DCR-DVD92 DVD Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom.

1. Every time I turn on the DCR-DVD92 if I'm not using a Sony dvd I get a annoying message asking me to use Sony dvd's. This message lasts for about 15 seconds and blocks the entire lcd screen and view finder. If I'm trying to make a quick shot I can forget it. This message is something that Sony should have left off. I feel it's simply an attempt to make you buy Sony dvd's. I have found viewing still pictures also to be a problem.
   
   I haven't found a way yet to view them on anything but the DCR-DVD92. Unless I use the the handycam when I select still pictures to view from the menu it rapidly goes through them not allowing me to make a selection. I do mean fast (blink of the eye).
   
   Had I known these things pryor to purchase I would have never bought this Handycam.



2. This camera is small enough to carry around "just in case." And the small DVD's are easy to duplicate quickly onto larger DVD's so I can easily share them with others.



3. i love this camera i hear people are having problems editing on this but you can edit right from the camera and use rw disks this thing is awesome and you can record over them



4. 
   This is truly a remarkable dvd camcorder, until you go to make a copy of your dvd-r that you recorded. What? Sony won't let you make a copy of your own recording? That's correct, if you use a dvd-r, you can't make a copy for friends and family. also, you can't rip it to your hd for editing on your pc, combining multiple discs etc. here is your solution.
   
   Honestly, I searched over the net and finally found one person with this answer and I wanted to share it with more that are having problems. If you use a dvd+rw mini dvd, your problems are solved. The original problem with the dvd-r comes when you finalize the dvd, as sony puts some unreadable copyright protection of some sort on the dvd. If you use a dvd+rw, there is no finalize required. Just pop it in your pc and copy or rip it to your computer. Just wanted to put that out there. although, if you don't plan to make copies of any of your footage ... ever, you won't have any problems. Hope this helps.
   
   Railey Marie (11-25-06 to 12/10/06



5. This camera has served me well for over a year with no technical issues or defects.
   
   I purchased it because my digital camera died while on a road-trip, and I had always wanted a video camera. I had the money, so I thought what the heck.
   
   I should have done my research on this camera before buying, since I didn't notice that the camera was not equipped with a fire-wire port until after getting it home.
   
   However, using a simple DVD Ripping program (ImTOO DVD Ripper), I am able to convert my videos, directly from the discs to the computer for editing.
   
   I do recommend this camera, as it is small enough to put in a cargo pocket or backpack and takes beautiful home-videos.

No comments about Sony DCR-SR62E Handycam(R) 1.0 Megapixel PAL Camcorder.

5 comments about Panasonic VDR-D300 3.1MP 3CCD DVD Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. When it works, it's great. However each time I go on a research trip to Europe or N America (ie. costing me a lot of cash) an intermittent fault occurs where the image (in still mode or video)drops out the red range, so the recorded image has a blue cast. I am an art historian, so bringing back faulty data is not good for my research. And dealing with Panasonic Australia is a nightmare. Neither the shop, or the repairer, or the company will take final responsibility. I have sent it away twice, and today send it back for another test. Even when you provide them with the hard evidence of the fault, the camera comes back just as it was. Next stop the small claims tribunal...



2. purchase this for christmas gift 12/6/06. not used unitl 12/26/06. camcorder eject door stopped working 04/06/07. emailed Panasonic for warranty repair- no reponse 3 wks-called 800# in manual and was told to ship to Bigston Corp for repairs-BIG MISTAKE-DO NOT SHIP ANYTHING TO THEM-
   Bigston rec'd camera 5/10/07. 5/14/07 Bigston called and said repair not under warranty- would cost 207.50 to repair expect repair 2 wks., i okd that and they charged my cc 5/16., 6/4 called Bigston, no idea regarding repair, now they say add'l 85.00 for rear assby, i okd-then they charged my card 119.23, said 3-4 days for repair. June 18 i call Bigston no idea why my camera still is not repaired, could not get manager to call me back
   6/19 they called said they had to order part!!!then they shipped camera back with an invoice that says i am due refund of $12.50. when i called them they said the invoice was wrong/mgr changed it after shipment!!!!!
   i paid $ 326.73 for repairs on a camcorder that cost 500.00 4 months ago!



3. If one takes a fairly good video that needs no editing, a TV presentation is very simple but limited to about 18 minutes, which is the capacity of one side of the mini DVD-RAM disc (which I prefer to use!).
   
   Computer download, editing and ultimate burning to a normal-sized DVD is done with the bundled, two-part Pacman-style software whose manual is large but not very explicit or user friendly.
   
   I recommend that one use only re-writable DVDs for the in-camera media as for burning presentation discs unless one is in need of shiny coasters...
   
   I teamed up with another user and we help each other with computer-related problems. The quality of the camcorder's video output itself is excellent.
   
   This is a five-star device with three-star software.



4. The camcorder came from the manufacturer, broken....and the company I purchased it from, was not customer friendly....as of today, I am still waiting for it to be fixed.



5. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RH769ADHN9DGW Here's a sample of what this little camera can do. Believe or not, I shot my daughter's recital from about 30 yards (using the zoom feature, of course) and in a dark auditorium. Notice how the lens picks up all available light and the sound is clear. I had the camera sitting on my knee and the video (even with the zoom maxed out) is very smooth. I LOVE this camera...imagine how bright and clear the picture is in the broad daylight! It really is a clear picture.
   I like the option of burning immediately to a DVD. Sometimes if I'm at my family's house I will shoot some footage and now I'm able to burn it and leave it with them.
   I've had no trouble getting the video files from the camera to my computer...because I'm using the USB cord that came with it. I'd rather use my own video editing software, as I didn't like what came with the camera. I use AVS Video Editor, which does a superb job. I can create videos in just about any format. As with any new piece of technology, it takes some getting used to. I've used the camera with both Windows XP and Vista and I've had no compatibility issues. Enjoy!

5 comments about Canon ZR80 MiniDV Camcorder w/18x Optical Zoom.

1. I took it to europe thinking I would get great video, instead I arrive at London and it says SORRY NO LIGHT SOURCE FOUND. Ever since then it has been pitch black vido and picture. Even though it says it has a warranty, they say I broke it no refunds. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY, GET JVC!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. Canon recalled this item for a faulty CCD, the symptoms of which are static or no image at all recording to the tape. After about 15 hours of use I ran into this problem and was pretty bummed out, but after checking the Canon website I noticed that they had recalled the product and were offering free repairs (and free shipping). So, if it breaks, check the site, and send it in!
   
   I've used this camcorder for home movies, school projects, and short video profiles. I now use a more professional 3CCD camcorder for my projects, but I keep this little one around as a backup, or use it for situations where portability is important. It has served me very well in the 4+ years I have owned it, but does have a few drawbacks.
   
   Pro's:
   -Good picture for a 1-chip portable camcorder
   -Decent audio for an internal microphone (zoom out and get as close to your subject as possible for better audio, or get a wide-angle lens for best results)
   -Feels solid
   -Manual modes; white balance, focus, shutter speed
   -Decent night shot
   -Syncs and imports perfectly with editing software (like iMovie)
   
   Con's
   -No external mic input (this is my only "real" complaint)
   -Loud bass records static (doesn't do concerts very well)
   -Lens cap falls off way too easily
   -Faulty CCD, but free repair
   
   They sell on eBay for about 50 bucks, and even 4 or 5 years after its release, it's an overall good buy.



3. We got this camera 3-years ago as a baby shower gift. The camera does not have high quality video indoors, the battery life is really short (lasts only about 30 minutes after being fully charged), and we ended up with the black screen of death (see reviews for Samsung SCD23 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5 LCD). I would expect a video camera to last much longer than 3-years. I'm very disapointed with this camera and would not recommend it to anyone.



4. I bought a ZR80 about 3 years ago. It really seemed the perfect camera for me, new mommy who wants to record all the baby stuff. I got lovely videos and everything worked perfectly for almost 2 years. Suddenly, the screen started to appear black. It would record only the sound but not the image. It worked randomly, sometimes it would record the image, sometimes it just wouldn't..... very frustrating and disappointing! I have read other reviews stating similar problems. I will never get another Canon camera, as I don't plan to replace it every 2 years!!



5. I purchesed this camcorder 5 years ago. Haven't used it a lot but when I have I have bee happy with it. The only thing is the batterry. It only last 25-30 minutes. It sopose to last an hour. The tapes are 1 hour so you have to find a plug that you can use and are not in the way while shouting. The quality is great.

5 comments about Aiptek DV4100M 4.1MP MPEG4 Pocket Digital Camcorder.

1. Hi, I bought this camera and installed the driver from both the CD and then the web. It caused my computer (a good, modern, fast computer) to crash both times. The camera worked without interfacing with the computer, but, then, what's the point? Also, the pictures and movies were VERY grainy and low quality. The tech support when I had these problems was HORRIBLE. They really didn't stand behind the product AT ALL and to me that's the most important thing! Maybe I could have gotten it to work, but not without SOME input from Aiptek.
   I've never written one of these reviews before, but this really got to me. Don't buy this camera is my advice.



2. so i get my camera and first off they basically lie because they act like you have a lot of memory on it to start off but you dont.Then after a week it just stops working.dont get it, theres no flash whatsoever



3. ok ok in the beginning when i got this camera i loved it but then I found myself wishing it had a freakin light on it or somethin and i got it on sale for only 50 so i mean i couldnt have expected so much ya kno? so now im lookin for a new video camera(one that specifically says good in lowlight situations)....maybe this time ill get one over 100 dollars ha.
   i took some great outside pictures and videos with it tho if that makes you feel any better



4. I ordered the original item, used it for about a week, then sent it to my son in New Hampshire. He used it less than fifteen minutes and it locked up, never to function properly again. I ordered a replacement, checked it out and sent it on to him, with the same result -- less than 15 minutes of use, it quit working.
   I thought the unit was nice, compact and fairly easy to use, but with two malfunctions in two cameras, I don't think I would recommend this Aiptek model to anyone.



5. I bought this camera for my granson and he has alot of fun and is learning alot about how use it . I also saved about 25% thru Amazon

5 comments about JVC Everio GZHD7 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. The camera saves files in .tod format instead of .mpg which is unrecognizable to most every video editing software forcing you to pay to download conversion software and codecs. I spent several frustrating hours trying to just get my computer to recognize the camera and still couldn't import the files to imovie, final cut, or on windows vegas 6. Apparently a lot of people are having problems with this camera just google it and read all the posts on help forums. What a waste of money!



2. My first impulse when I saw it and read about the features was to buy it, then a friend showed me the bad reviews and i ended buying a different one (Panasonic HDD)... this last one is great but i am an enthusiast and I'm used to have more control over my Cam (exposhure, sensitivity, backlight, sound recording rate, etc... that JVC everio GZ-HD7U has) so.. i ended bying it (Everio HDD)...
   
   Good things
   -I like the idea and flexibility of this 'new media recording system' HDD (LOVE IT).
   NOTE: for those concerned about HDD versus tapes, tapes get old and after afew years can't read it or recover (i'm not saying it is bad, i love my Sony D8 that in some manner is still superior to these HDD cams generation)
   NOTE: need place where to save your shooting, get a Terabyte!
   
   -The quality of the image is superb, magnificent, excelent... better than any... o yes, i do video editing on 5 different formats... and this is it! (Good for everio)
   
   -Good manipulation and control features, much, much better than the majority of other brands... but be aware it means more responsability on your hands, so learn more, study more about cam video possibilities, manipulation and controls... sorry but i like it this way...
   
   -Compare to others, JVC everio has Very good sensitivity to low light situations if you know how to use the MANUAL controls for diafragm, exposhure, sensitivity settings... you'll get better results if you learn MANUAL mode than leave it all to AUTO mode... can't be lazy!
   
   -Much better hardware features and conectivity than others in this range (USB, fire wire, AV, S-video, componet, HDMI and microphone)
   NOTE: fire wire (ilink or 1364)not compatible with many video capture & editing software... yes i got in contact with JVC support and could not give me a straight solving answer... nore the software support that comes with it!
   Any way you'll end up using more your USB, AV, S-video and HDMI than the other two connections.
   
   -JVC everio has a shoe to connect accesories (others don't)
   
   -Sound recording quality its good, better than others...
   
   
   Be aware
   -Steady cam? well it's not bad or so umbelivably terreble as many say... the trick is to USE YOUR TRIPOD... or lean to a fence, wall, column, etc, try not to walk arround to much when video shooting, if you use only your hands with this cam you need to start thinking like a pro cameramen, hold it very still, if you could use both hands, better...
   NOTE: i understand that the technology on this cam is very good for getting amazing good quality film that the steady cam system fall behind... not that is not good...
   (for example: other cams SEEMs to have better steady cam, but it is a trick, because they are handling a much LOWER RESOLUTION - lower quality image... you see?) so be more carefull holding your JVC everio while filming... have this in mind and will be ok.
   
   Not so good things (sorry i have to say)
   -For those that would like to edit your video from JVC everio, brother & sister, this format ".TOD" is a pain in the A, can't have a codec to handle it... I finally got in touch with JVC (yes again) who could not give me an answer, they send me to the software that comes with it who made me buy an actualisation for Windows Vista but did't work, then said i needed a new software, that a bought but didn't work either... (i solved the problem using a pro editing software... and works terrific, wou! love it)
   
   For those who use Fire wire (ilink or 1394)
   -Fire wire incompatibility to many software aplications and interface.. only one way connectivity - OUT (what happened to IN?)
   
   Very Bad!
   -what happened to 'AV in' connection? (amazing my old VHS and cheap web cam has 'AV in', i can connect a TV, VHS, directly to it but JVC did leave this feature out, incredible!) - (so the other brands, say what?!)
   
   Conclusion:
   -if you need a Camcorder you just want to take out of the box and go... i wouldn't recomend this JVC everio... get a simpler one... on this JVC everio you need a little bit of more knowledge than the average person to really get the 'meat' out of this JVC Camcorder... so maybe this could be a reason to very bad reviews from customers for this pruduct... but at the end the quality with JVC everio is superior than the ones in the market at this point (9 march 08) when i say market i mean what you regularly see on the majority of stores when you walk in and what actually is there to buy... not professional spetialized stores.
   The technology for camcorders generation at this moment is still growing, and on these HDD camcorders of different brands, it still has to get better... it is not good enough for me at this moment (i'm not a pro as i said before)... needs to get better spetially on the area of connectivity and software that comes with it that should support this media ...
   
   Hope this help.



3. We have been delighted with the results we have had with this HD camera!
   
   If you have the patience and are willing to follow the guidelines in the operations manual you will also be just as happy!
   
   We use a vast array of software and video plugs to produce HD duel layer dvd's that look just as good as anything hollywood can put out! And thats also the trick to producing the type of quality that the video cam can produce! Learn how to use your video and sound edit or prduction software!
   
   We have great results using Pinnacle Studio 11 to Avid Xpress Pro as well as Avid Liquid 7.0, plus all of the Adobe video software. We have also found very good results with Sony Vegas Pro 8 and DVD architect pro 4.5. All for High Definition video files.
   
   We have 4 of these Everio's. All mounted on professional high quality video tripods with fluid heads. We also use high quality stereo wireless mics on our tallents or on a sound boom to produce outstanding sound reproduction of up to 300 feet away. So this is a nice option as well.
   
   The only draw back we have found is that they the (GZHD7) do not have XLR mic inputs! But if you know what your doing your sound quality should be acceptable for the average consumer.
   
   If you use long runs out at 20 feet with a shotgun mic you will notice some hum and buzz with the 3.5 mini input mic. The mic shoe mount on this cam will accept any shotgun mic as another option.
   
   We would suggest the RODE VideoMic 2 - Shotgun mic 2nd Gen Model with Pad.
   They sell for $149.00 and produce sound quality in the $500.00 range!
   
   With the Rode mic you won't be let down!! And these units are now affordable for just about anyones tight budget!!
   
   HAVE FUN!!! :)
   AXION Studios Inc.



4. I purchased this camcorder in May of 2007. I took a two week road trip and found the anti-stabilization to be very lacking. To over come this, I purchased a Velbon fluid head tripod, a Manfrotto 560B Monopod, and the GlideCaM 2000 Pro. Now the images I shoot are very pleasing to the eye.
   
   One of the primary reasons I purchased this camcorder was it had external audio inputs at microphone level. I have also purchased a Sennheiser shotgun microphone as well as the Sennheiser wireless camera set. I also purchased a "V" adapter that mounts on the shoe of the camcorder to accommodate the Sennheiser wireless receiver and shotgun microphone. I now have professional clarity audio on my recordings.
   
   The Everio software that comes with camcorder is a must use in my experience to convert camera footage from on board hard drive to be able to edit MPEG2 1080i footage with my Sony Vegas 7.0 nonlinear editing software.
   
   I have three Dell P4 desktops that are not able to play high def footage as the files are too large for these computer to play them without choking. I recently purchased an inexpensive HP dual core AMD 64 running Vista computer and it seems to do the job for me out performing the three other computers I have.
   
   I am amazed at the quality this little camcorder delivers. The automatics seem to work pretty well. It seems to work very well in low light as well as bright outside light. The auto-focus seems to do very well also. I have not used the manual features as of this posting.
   
   I have recently joined the www.Vimeo.com high def contributers. I have one video test recording I made on Saturday April 26, 2007 posted at http://vimeo.com/947085 and I will upload another video I shot this week while on vacation. Yesterday I took the JVC GZ HD 7 camcorder to Descanso Gardens with the fluid head tripod, monopod and professional audio for a test run. I produced a movie file in Power Director (Software that came with the camcorder) and am now editing in Sony Vegas 7.0. I am impressed how well this camcorder performs for what I am wanting to do. I hope also to include another video of the footage I shot yesterday at the http://vimeo.com site.
   
   Final thoughts: I would buy this camcorder again. If you want professional results, be prepared to invest in additional equipment if you want very good results. 1080i video requires a computer with sufficient horsepower to process large files. High def 1080i video is about four times more information per frame than standard def NTSC video. The really great item about this camcorder is I do not have too buy video tape or worry about a tape clogging in the field.
   
   Do look for my videos I have posted at http://vimeo.com Enter my name Lisa Kassner in the search engine to see the product I have made with this camcorder.
   
   Kindest and sincerest warm regards,
   
   Lisa J.Kassner
   Los Angeles CA



5. Despite many hours or work and attempts to get assistance from JVC I have not been able to get this Camcorder to copy files to my well-resourced, high-speed vista computer. The JVC customer support system doesn't help either. Right now they're directing customers to send emails and I just sent another one this morning. It says the average turnaround time is five days.
   
   This is a very expensive product and it should be supported and shoud work with systems without much effort.
   
   Earlier as I worked periodically on this problem, they had a phone number to call and I was able to get through to someone, but that seems to have disappeared.

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC90 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. Like other reviewers, I researched this purchase carefully and was very pleased with the overall performance of this combination video/still camera. Video quality is great.
   
   Some issues - buttons are designed for holding the camera eyepiece to the eye. The secondary controls on the screen are ok, but otherwise it is awkward to use the camera at waist level. Still camera focus is slow and unreliable. Stills can take "forever" to snap - especially #2, 3.
   
   Finally, the camera has completely shut down on me twice in 6 months and I am sending it back again for service - just before the holidays when I would really like to have it. This unreliability is unacceptable.



2. I shopped around for a while before I bought this camera. I checked out many reviews and I have to say, I'm VERY happy with this camera. I wanted something that worked in low light. This was the most important feature I was looking for. I had a Canon video camera, and I now have very few videos of my daughter growing up because if there wasn't enough light it would make interference on the tape. This camera works very well with normal indoor lighting. You don't have to turn on extra lights. (It also has nightvision which works in very low light)
   
   The only complaints I have are 1) the battery doesn't last more than an hour - but I don't video that long anyway 2) the memory stick doesn't hold many pictures - but I'm spoiled with my digital camera holding lots.
   
   In general, I would highly recommend this camera. You can download the video to you PC really easily and burn it to DVD.
   
   Oh, and in some reviews it mentions that the zoom is hard to use. I don't find that to be true at all. It is sensitive, but not hard to use.



3. As an owner of the Sony DCR-HC30 model DV Handicam, I want to warn everyone about my horrible experience with this product line. Design and feature-wise, these Handicams are great. The problem is, they are built like junk.
   
   From the day I opened my box, I got a message that told me that the heads were dirty and needed to be cleaned. In retrospect, I should have returned it for a replacement then and there. But being a basically optimistic guy, I decided it just got dirty in transit, and I got a head cleaner and cleaned the heads. It worked fine for about 30 days - just about the amount of time in Sony's crappy labor warranty. And from that point forward, I have gotten dirty head messages constantly, which at first could be `cleaned away,' but now, even when the message is gone, problems persist.
   
   I often get bars across the screen during playback, and I have already determined that I have lost many a precious memory of my infant children. Sony's solution to this situation is their standard "flat rate" repair program, truly a bargain for $250 or so - more than half what I paid for the camera in the first place.
   
   And Sony wonders why their brand value has all but disappeared? They are just another electronics brand now, and one with sub-par quality and service at that. Guess I'll be buying Samsungs or Canons next time around.
   
   Are you listening, Sony?



4. This is one of the best camcorders in the market today and I would definitely recommend it to anyone planning to buy a Mini-DV camcorder
   
   Positive factors:
   - Very small and easy to hold with one hand. Can be easily attached even to a mini-tripod with ease.
   - Excellent widescreen video and hi-fi audio. Your videos finally get that "Hollywood" feel when you shoot movies in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format). Even if you don't have a widescreen TV currently, you will very soon have one as more and more people are buying them. So its better to buy this camcorder and shoot in 16:9 format to enjoy your movies later in widescreen format.
   - Includes widescreen rotatable LCD so what you see is what you get when you shoot in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format)
   - Good battery life. One extra battery is enough. You can easily manage a day's worth of shooting with two batteries before recharging them again
   - Includes docking station making it easier to connect to computer or TV. If you have a good computer with a firewire port, please buy a firewire cable to connect the camcorder to your computer. You can download your movie in excellent clarity in .avi format and edit it as required
   - Make sure to change the audio setting to 16 bit (instead of the default 12 bit) for very good hi-fi audio
   - Touchscreen menu system is great. You don't have to search for any buttons as they are all available in the touchscreen menu itself.
   - 10X optical zoom is more than sufficient for ordinary home videos. Anything more produces more "shaking" and would necessiate the use of a tripod. When you shoot without a tripod, 10X is the best zoom you can achieve without worrying about shaky videos
   - Widescreen still photo. The photo clarity is OK not too good. So please don't expect great shots. Since the photo is in 16:9 format, you can take panoramic photos and cover more people in group shots
   - Nightshot: Cool feature that records using infrared light. Useful for shooting at night as you can record a video even in 100% darkness
   - Color widescreen viewfinder - Very useful when you are running down on batteries and need to use the viewfinder. The color widescreen viewfinder gives an excellent picture and is as good as the LCD in clarity
   
   Negative factors:
   - Outdoor videos especially in bright sunlight are overexposed. So please adjust the white balance when shooting outdoors. Add the white-balance menu to your shortcuts so that you can easily access it and return to default once you start shooting indoors
   - Sensitive microphone may pick up button clicks (best to turn off the button click "beep" sound).
   
   Notes:
   - Use a fresh cassette after recording 2 or 3 times on the same cassette. The head tends to get dirty if you re-record on the same cassette more than 3 times
   - You can edit movies in Windowx XP using Windows Movie Maker, but beware it does not support 16:9 ratio video. Hence your videos look ugly as you shot them in 16:9 but Movie Maker converted it to 4:3. Invest in Pinnacle Software version 9 or 10 for better movie editing capabilities. Pinnacle is the only software, I am aware of, that preserves teh 16:9 ratio. Even Roxio could not allow 16:9 format.
   - You can also invest in wide-angle lens as it gives excellent coverage



5. Tuve este camara por año y medio, la usa bastante. Cualquier dia simplemente dejo de funcionar. Se daño el bus de datos que esta al lado del carro del cassete. Se daño simplemente por "mucho uso" o mas bien falta de calidad. Además la camara tiene problemas cuando enfoca fotografias. Es muy linda pero muy, muy delicada. No volvere a comprar filmadoras Sony me pase a Canon, que son menos lindas pero mas fuertes.

5 comments about Panasonic VDR-D100 DVD Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom.

1. This camcorder is awesome!! Easy to use and the instruction manual breaks things down for you Barney Style:)
   
   The battery only lets you record continuously for about 2 and a half hours (more than I need) so you may want to have a standby battery waiting if it's nessasary.



2. You can do better for the money. The image quality is below average and low light is really bad, even for a novice camcorder. I'm glad to see the price has come down. The camcorder did not come with the software needed to capture video or even play the dvd on my computer(it really should have). I would do more research and choose a camera that is right for you. I found many online camcorder review sites very helpful. I returned it and bought another panasonic with 3ccd technology. It has much better picture quality. If you want really good night vision go with sony. I would not recomend this camcorder to anyone.



3. Very nice DVD camcorder. Silent operations, great zoom and a very good LCD. I'm enjoying it in these first days.
   Positive points: A large amount of editing features inside.
   Negative points: Movie edition software and DVD-RAM drive aren't available in the box (you have to get them separetly). Record functions like Fade-in and out are available only by a menu option (some movements to access).



4. Oh, I cannot believe, spent about $500 or more for this and it became unusable exactly after its 1 year warranty period. The disc eject does not work any more and Panasonic says it would cost me $260 or more to repair it, and of course now you can buy a new one now with that money since electronic items get cheaper with time so much. This is the last item for me from Panasonic. I thought it was a good brand and that is so wrong!!!



5. I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera. I am very disappointed with it. I have had it for several years. The vdr-d100 model does not come with software (the vdr-d200 does come with software) I purchased the software seperately. It is a HUGE hassel to import the video to the computer and then to burn a DVD. I do digital editing with pictures and video so I am pretty good on the computer and I have such a difficult time getting the video imported. The picture quality is good and the camera is easy to use but I would not purchase this camera again.

5 comments about Sony DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. I have had this camera for over four months. I bought it primarily to record my daughter's various performances. I was concerned about recording in low light, the sound quality and ease of downloading, as well as the actual quality of the video. I would give it 5 stars for everything, except the sound quality, which is good, but not great. I don't think you can expect the quality to be great without separate recording equipment. "High quality" footage is surprisingly filmlike. The camera is very easy to use - I've only had to refer to the documentation a couple of times, for instance to download. Making a DVD is a snap. I like the touchscreen and don't mind the docking station. I'd rather have the camera be as small as it is so I can throw it in my purse. And it is light enough to shoot a two hour show without a tripod if you have a steady enough hand. I never thought it would substitute for my point and shoot digital, but the pictures are good enough to do that, as well. I would definitely spend the money again, if I had it to do over.



2. Camera is easy to use. Takes great pics and video. Pics during filiming are not as clear as choosing to take pics only. The 6.1 pix pics look great. Shutter speed is good. Transfers media easily to the computer. I have not used the camera DVD burn option yet. The software the comes with the camers looks like it will make the burning easy.



3. Excellent choice
   Video - great
   still photos - very good
   40GB Hard Disk - Cool
   Display, Touch Screen - nice...
   Battery could have given which can last bit more. Currently it lasts for 100 - 120 mins



4. I have been using my Handycam for a year now and I still love it. Just like most Sony products, it has great sound quality. I would never buy a camcorder based on its ability to take still pictures (because I have another camera for that) but I have to say that the still shots are pretty good. Transferring video to my laptop is simple and the 40 Gig is a huge hard drive! This has been a great camcorder for home videos. Only problem I have had is if I put it on a tripod and try to leave it to shoot on it's own, it does not refocus quickly leaving some scenes blurry for up to a full minute. Because of that I dropped a 'star' from the rating.



5. I've had this camcorder for 6 months now. Video is excellent even on my 52inch LCD HD TV!! Pleasantly surprised. Sony does not sell them anymore, not sure why. I paid under $800 for mine.
   
   You wont regret the quality. Easy to author dvds (NO CONVERSION needed). Takes me 20 min to make a FULL dual layer dvd.
   
   The new HD camcorders are tough, the new HD form at needs to be converted which takes HOURS/DAYS to make one Video DVD.
   
   You wont be dissapointed.

No comments about Sony Handycam HDR-HC5E - Camcorder - High Definition - widescreen - 2.1 Mpix - optical zoom: 10 x - supported memory: MS Duo, MS PRO Duo - Mini DV (HDV).