handycam

Announced back in January, Sony's Handycam DCR-SR45 standard-def camcorder is the entry point for the company's hard disk drive-based (HDD) camcorders. As I mentioned Friday we're wrapping up our review of the DCR-SR45, but I wanted to give you a quick rundown of what to expect from this compact camcorder in case you're in the process of picking out a camcorder with a street price around $400 (far be it for me to hold up your summertime video recording).

So far, what I like about this camcorder is its size (3x3x4.4 inches), weight (12.3 … Read more

Last year Sony introduced the NSC-GC1 Net-Sharing CAM, a pocket-sized camcorder that captures video at up to 640x480-pixels and 30 frames per second. Now, they've introduced a high-end version called the Handycam HDR-TG1 that can capture full 1920x1080-pixel high-definition video in AVCHD format, which it records onto MemoryStick Pro Duo flash memory cards. Its $900 price tag left my jaw on the floor, but there are some nifty features included for a camcorder this size and it does include a 4GB Pro Duo Mark2 memory card in that price.

Though it measures 1.3 x 4.7 x 2.… Read more

Sony just revealed four new standard-definition DVD camcorders for the new year, including a camcorder with a solid-state drive for discless video recording.

The Handycam DCR-DVD610 and DVD710 present Sony's budget-priced DVD camcorders. The DVD610 features a 680,000-pixel sensor and a 40x optical zoom lens, while the DVD710 features a 1-megapixel sensor and a 25x optical zoom lens, just like its miniDV counterparts the DCR-HC52 and HC62. Both camcorders can record still pictures to a Memory Stick Duo. Besides the higher-resolution sensor, the DVD710 features an accessory shoe and supports 5.1-channel audio compared to the DVD610's … Read more

Sony's camcorder lineup might be very DVD- and hard-drive-heavy this year, but budget-minded tape lovers are still getting some love. The company just announced two new miniDV camcorders, offering inexpensive alternatives to its myriad DVD and HDD camcorders.

While the Handycam DCR-HC52 and DCR-HC62 don't seem nearly as impressive as the upcoming high-def HDR-HC9 DV/HDV camcorder, their much smaller price tags and simpler designs should appeal to frugal users. The HC52 uses a 680,000-pixel CCD and a 40x optical zoom lens, while the HC62 uses a 1-megapixel CCD and a 25x zoom lens. Though only $50 … Read more

The next iteration of Sony's DVDirect--the VRD-MC5--is already on its way, even though we just recently reviewed the VRD-MC3. The new version adds some features and loses some, but in the end, it's ultimately a gain.

Unlike the VRD-MC3, the VRD-MC5 doesn't work as a PC-attached burner. In researching how people were using the product, Sony noted that PC-attached burning fell to the back of the list. After all, the VRD-MC3's burn speeds couldn't compete with those of standalone burners, as verified by CNET Labs' tests. But it does add support for AVCHD videos. The … Read more

Sony delivers its annual update for consumer DVD camcorders with four new models: the Handycam DCR-DVD108, DVD308, DVD408, and DVD508. These compact DVD camcorders replace the current generation and run the gamut from the inexpensive DVD108 to the full-featured DVD508. While most of these upgrades seem minor, the new DVD Handycams offer an important new feature: dual-layer support. These camcorders can now write to both dual layer DVD+-R/RW, offering twice as much recording time on a single disc.

The DVD108 and DVD308 also offer newer, more powerful lenses than their predecessors. Aside from the 40x optical zoom lens, … Read more