Sony DCR-HC35 Handycam Mini DV camcorder [ Carl Zeiss, 20 x optical, 2.5" screen, DV in]

I'd read all these reviews and decided that yes, it sounded good, I'd take the plunge into video. I knew nothing about MiniDV or any other video formats come to that, but decided to have a go...

And having used it for about 2 weeks...

It's an amazing amount of technology for comparatively very little money. It will give you hours of memories simply due to its ease of use. Just over £200 barely gets you half-decent digital camera, let alone a camcorder. An excellent starting point for the likes of me, an innocent in the world of digital video.

PROS.

. Very easy to use. Very decent results.

. Video quality viewed through the tv when connected to the supplied 'Handycam station' using the supplied cable/scart adapter is very good. And the supplied remote control comes in useful here too.

. Good sound quality.

. Well designed and well thought-out throughout.

. x20 optical zoom is plenty, but also has an x800 digital zoom for filming moon landings and the like...

Along with the camcorder I bought a Hama Star 8 Monopod which is quick and easy to use, great for reducing camera shake generally and especially when using the zoom (the heavier the monopod the better, this camcorder is very small and very light).

The DCRHC35 is an amazing piece of kit for the money but it's not without its shortcomings.

How well or badly the Sony DCRHC35 fares in comparison to other camcorders on the market, I couldn't say. You get what you pay for?

CONS.

. Supplied software is not good. Very basic.

. Supplied user manual is not very detailed in some areas e.g. on transferring video to your pc. It suggests that using the supplied USB cable is a good way of doing this but fails to detail the very poor quality of video you'll end up with.

. No Firewire cable is supplied. You'll need one of these and also a Firewire port in your pc if you want to transfer video to your pc at best quality for editing.

. Firewire transferred video quality does deteriorate when saved as mpeg2 on a pc (This applies to all video format conversions regardless of thier source). Saving it as an AVI apparently results in no loss of original quality but very big sized video files, a consideration if you're thinking about later recording your footage to dvd.

. The normally very crisp and clear LCD screen is difficult to see in very bright sunlight.

. No Mini DV tape supplied. Buy a five-pack at the same time. And buy some bigger batteries... (shop around).

And be prepared for quite another learning experience once you start to get into editing your footage! I bought a copy of Sony Vegas Movie Studio video editing software and found it far too complicated. If you're new to it all like me, read software reviews and go for the one that says it's the most 'beginner friendly'. It'll probably have the same basic way of editing your footage as the more complicated programs, so later if you decide to 'upgrade' to a another program you won't find it such a culture shock! You possibly don't need to go any expense at all though (he said with hindsight...), Windows XP comes with built-in video editing software, Windows Movie Maker, which is perfectly adequate for knocking something half-decent together and it recognised the DCRHC35 and imported the video without any trouble.

PROS:
- Exceptionally Small
- Sexy Curvatious Design
- Image Stabilization
- 2.5 Inch Touch Screen LCD
- Carl Zeiss Lens
- Easy Mode
- Excellent Value

CONS
- May be too small
- Image Stabilization makes video unclear when zoomed in too much

Sony's has definitely outdone itself with its new batch of 2006 camcorders. It is very rare that you find a sexy little camcorder for just a little over £250 nowadays which is why I chose the DCR-HC35.

What I didn't realize was how small this camcorder actually is! It fits snugly into the palm of your hand and is great for portability, whether it be a childrens birthday or your next exotic holiday. This fitted with a 2.5 inch touch screen LCD and Image Stabilization makes this the perfect camera for its price. It also comes with a pretty nifty docking station which has usually only come with Sony camcorders above £300. Furthermore, the camera comes with a handy 'easy' mode that optimises the camera's functions to the bare essentials, allowing for ease-of-use for inexperienced users. The camcorder records with MiniDV tapes using the superior Carl-Zeiss lens and can also be connected to your PC via USB or Firewire, allowing you to burn video to DVD.
If I was to mention a negative aspect, I would say the camcorders small size may hinder its performance due to the fact that recordings may be prone to 'shaky hand syndrome'. On the other hand, there are much smaller camcorders on the market today plus this camera comes with a hand strap and Image Stabilization making this a picky minimal issue. Furthermore, I have found that the Image Stabilization causes an unclear picture when zoomed in too much.

Although image quality will never be HD quality, the features that come jam packed into the HC35 make it probably the best value camcorder on the market today.

This Sony DCR-HC35 camcorder is the size of my palm. The battery is about the size of a matchbox! A cup of coffee probably weighs more than the camcorder with everything attached.

Watch out regarding the bag to go with it. I mistakenly chose to buy the LCS-VA5 high grade soft carry case. The case weighs about twice the camcorder (yes it is high grade). The case is also far larger than this camcorder deserves.

Supplied battery lasts approx. 45 mins. So make sure to buy an additional battery like the NP-FP90 which should last about 250 mins. Times given with LCD screen so are usual for most people. I intend to use the high capacity battery and keep the other charged for emergency overruns.

I find that lack of DV cable annoying. You do get USB 2.0 cable but even though data rate should be suitable picture quality not as good.

Battery is charged on the camera. Either in cradle or without. Unlike other models I've had in the past. Depending on your needs you might want a separate charger back at base for the other battery.

Camcorder dosen't take lights, memory sticks, external microphones. Lens is covered using a lens cap. No automatic shutter style cover. Probably a good idea to get a UV or polarising lens as additional protection.