| Digital Camera Store Navigation | |
|
|
|
Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom | 
| Brand: Sony
Category: Photography
List Price: $379.99
Buy New: $329.95
as of 9/2/2010 22:30 PDT details
You Save: $50.04 (13%)
New (8) from $329.95
Seller: rareitem
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 504
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 20
Display Size: 2.5
Battery: 1 Lithium
Maximum Focal Length: 46
Minimum Focal Length: 2.3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.3
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: DCR-HC36
Model: DCR-HC36
UPC: 027242688667
EAN: 0027242688667
ASIN: B000E0DU62
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | 1/6-inch CCD imager | | • | MiniDV recording format offers up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution | | • | 20x optical zoom with Super SteadyShot picture-stabilization system | | • | 2.5-inch high-resolution touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles | | • | Super NightShot Plus Infrared System captures natural-looking video in low light |
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
CL) MU) SONY DCR-HC36 DV CAMCORDER
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
 The Sweet Spot August 23, 2006
William H III (Southern California, USA)
111 out of 115 found this review helpful
After having used an old bread-loaf-sized Sony 8mm camcorder with great success for many years, I felt it was time for an upgrade. Modern feature-packed MiniDV cameras have become very reasonably priced, as the DCR-HC36's barely $300 price tag attests, so it was only a matter of which features I wanted - I prefer a powerful telephoto lens, and Sony has a curious habit of reducing zoom power the higher up the product line you go, so even though the HC36 is middle-of-the-road in the Sony camcorder lineup, its full 20x optical zoom made it a natural choice.
Modern MiniDV cameras are also very reasonably sized; occupying less than half a cubic foot, the HC36 weighs in at less than a pound even with the battery and tape. That's about large cheeseburger size, or the size of a digital camera from a few years ago. Despite toy-like dimensions, the sculpted duo-tone exterior and handsome chrome lens bezel lend to a quality look and finish.
Those of you intimidated by the arms-length list of features who "just want to hit record and go" will be glad to know that the HC36 has an Easy button. Located right next to the Sony logo on the left side of the camera is a blue button labeled - yes, really - "Easy". Pressing this button puts the camera into everything-automatic mode, and also increases the size of text on the display (very handy for the reading glasses set), allowing the old-school and I'm-not-technical school alike to record full quality video. You don't even have to know how to flip out the LCD screen, the Easy button literally makes the camcorder point-and-shoot.
The more technically inclined are accommodated with tailored personalization. Nearly all the camera's functions are controlled by the touch screen LCD's menu system, but Sony uses a clever shortcut; A personalized menu which you can set to display the features you want - any camera function, such as exposure, white balance, etc., can be set as a menu button; A single touch of the LCD brings up the menu of buttons you've set to display. No scrolling through menus to get to some deeply-buried function, just press the screen and there's the menu that you made with your functions. This system is in some cases faster than physical buttons on the camera itself!
And there's no shortage of functions to play with. The HC36 features two different levels of night vision; "Nightshot Plus" employs an infra-red lamp on the front of the camera providing a fully lit view up to about ten feet even in total darkness, while "Super Nightshot Plus" bumps up the light sensitivity by slowing the shutter speed - great for distance viewing in low light, or shots of the night sky (night vision can see stars that you can't). A Tele Macro function captures close-up sharp images from a few feet away, and the Spot Focus feature makes focusing a breeze - just touch what you want focused on the touch-screen and it focuses to that object.
There's the usual basic palette of picture effects and faders included, but the true video editor will of course want to use the computer, which is what the MiniDV format was made for. An i.LINK jack (i.LINK is Sony's name for Firewire/IEEE1394, they're one and the same) is provided for a quick and quality connection. A note to the uninitiated: *DO NOT use a USB connection to export video to your computer.* The USB format is slower and will result in poorer-quality video. Connecting by Firewire provides a better-than-TV image using the right software - I avoid using bundled software when possible, and would recommend using Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 or Sony's own Vegas DVD program, both of which offer free trials to see which you prefer.
The HC36's still picture feature is a novelty; you must purchase/provide a Memory Stick Duo for the function to work, and while 640x480 VGA size images are nothing compared to a digital camera, it can be entertaining when combined with the camcorder's other features - using the digital zoom and NightShot for example, you can capture an image from several hundred feet away in near darkness. Fun, but a real digital camera is still the way to go for photographs.
Connections are the HC36's weak point. The aforementioned Firewire jack is there, but the cable is not included. An analog video/audio jack (out only, no in) is provided along with RCA-ended cable to connect to your television or analog source, but because the jack and cable are non-standard and unique, should you lose the cable, you'll have to go to Sony to get another. And there's no mic input. The built-in stereo mic can record 16-bit high-quality audio, but a camcorder with this many features should have this one more.
Overall, the HC36 is the sweet spot in the Sony camcorder lineup, a big-quality features-heavy camcorder in a small, lightweight package, with a tiny price to match. Five stars for Sony's movie-making multi-tool.
(Addendum: Why not DVD? DVD camcorders offer similar features, however you must pay hundreds more for a DVD camera than a similarly-featured MiniDV cam. They're also noticably larger, and DVDs aren't nearly as easy to work with - You must format a DVD before using it, which requires setting the camera on a steady surface and waiting several moments. Recording at the highest quality setting, a camcorder DVD will hold only 20 minutes, and then you must "finalize" the disc before playing it in any other DVD player. Should you need to replace the DVD during an important timely event, or forget to finalize the disc before giving it to someone or storing it, you're pretty much out of luck. Because the DVD camcorder system is set up to just play the DVD as-is, editing or getting the video on computer can be a long and very complicated process. Whereas MiniDV tapes last an hour, were made for editing, and offer slap-it-in-and-go convenience. If you have the extra money and just want to play back video as you shot it, a DVD camcorder is a possibility, but at a fraction of the price and complication, the MiniDV cam is the bang-for-the-buck convenience-is-king winner.)
Good bang for the buck. March 29, 2006
Spawn (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
I bought this camera tonight, and after a little confusion, I am pleased. There are other reviewers out there that state you can only transfer the video to VCD. The problem is that the documentation is unclear about this. All you have to do is go to Start Menu>Picture Package>Handycam Tools>Video Capturing Tool.
I shot a small test video, transferred it, and all is well. I will recommend getting a Firewire cord when you buy the Camcorder, as it does not come with one. The quality on the firewire vs. USB video is more than noticable.
All in all, a good starter cam with more than enough features to keep you playing for some time.
excellent camcorder. April 1, 2006
hughsie
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
This Camcorder has excellent features for the price...most important is the quality of video both in daylight and night use and it tops the canon and samsung brands as I have tried both...just in answer to the guy in new york with software issues...it clearly states in the manual that to use the "click to DVD " feature you can only do this with Firewire (sony calls it I-link) and not with a USB connection.
Nice Camcorder with Great Features January 9, 2007
S. Shoals
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
We replaced an older JVC miniDV camcorder with this one. I'm impressed with the Carl Zeiss Lens it comes with. It is pretty small but I'm getting used to that. I'll get another Sony when I'm ready to upgrade this one but it won't be for awhile because this one is more than adequate for what we're using it for. (Family movies).
excellent transaction. October 24, 2009
Daniel R. Clark (murrieta ca usa)
the first camera sent had problems. the seller assisted me in a hassle free return for a new camera.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
|
|
|
Disclaimer: This is an Amazon.com storefront - the products referenced
on this site are manufactured and sold by parties other than
AeronauticPictures.com
AeronauticPictures.com makes no representations regarding either the
products or any information vendors offer about their products.
Any questions, complaints, or claims regarding the products must be
directed to the appropriate manufacturer or vendor, or to Amazon.com |
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. The Discount Digital Camera and HD Video Camera Store From Aeronautic Pictures. | |
