Check out the reviews, deals, product features of Sony DCR-HC52 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x optical Zoom online.
Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features
- 1/6" Advanced HAD CCD Imager, 680K Pixels (Gross)
- 40X Optical / 2000X Digital Zoom
- 2.7" Touch Panel SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels)
- Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
- InfoLITHIUM Battery with AccuPower Meter System
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Technical Details
- Brand Name: Sony
- Model: DCR-HC52
- Media Type: Mini DV
- Lens Type: Zoom lens
- Optical zoom: 40 x
- maximum_aperture_range: F/1.8-4.1
- Shooting Modes: Spotlight, landscape, portrait mode, sports mode, twilight mode, sunset, beach, snow, sunrise
- Video Input: Camcorder
- Display Size: 2.5 inches
- Optical Sensor Resolution: 680000 Pixels
- Optical Sensor Technology: Advanced HAD CCD
- optical_sensor_size: 1/6"
- Viewfinder Type: LCD
- Audio Input: Microphone
- microphone_operation_mode: Stereo
- Height: 3.5 inches
- Weight: 0.9 pounds
- Depth: 4.5 inches
- Width: 2.5 inches
Product Description
The DCR-HC52 puts exceptional quality, versatility, and affordability in the palm of your hands. The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens and Super SteadyShot image stabilization capture clear, sharp video. Powerful 40x optical/2000x digital zoom brings you close to the action, and Super NightShot Plus technology keeps your video bright when shooting in dimly lit environments. The 2.5-inch touch panel SwivelScreen LCD display puts control of everything at your fingertips, or use the Easy Handycam button to simplify your recording options when the action just won’t wait.
DCR-HC52 Highlights
1/6-inch Advanced HAD CCD imager 1/6-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance.
40x optical/2000x 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 zooms.
2.7-inch touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD The 2.7-inch LCD screen provides exceptional viewing clarity with 123K pixels resolution. The display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.
Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses are designed specifically for compact camcorders, and utilize precision ground optics to maintain the sharpness and contrast found with larger lenses.
i.LINK interface (IEEE1394) Quickly transfer images from the camcorder to compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs, using this high speed, bi-directional digital video/audio connection.
InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system Unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect," so you’re free to charge the battery at any time. Additionally, Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.
Stamina Battery Power Management System When using the Sony InfoLithium Battery, the Stamina Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.
Easy Handycam button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," letting you focus only the buttons essential for recording.
Fader effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black and White.
Manual focus Manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.
Multi-language menu Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, or Brazilian Portuguese
NightShot Plus Infrared System In low-light environments, the NightShot Plus Infrared System lets you shoot color video with a less greenish tint than previous infrared systems.
Picture Effects Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia.
Scene Selection Modes Scene Selection modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach, Candle, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, and Sunrise & Sunset.
Product Description
The DCR-HC52 puts exceptional quality, versatility, and affordability in the palm of your hands. The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens and Super SteadyShot image stabilization capture clear, sharp video. Powerful 40x optical/2000x digital zoom brings you close to the action, and Super NightShot Plus technology keeps your video bright when shooting in dimly lit environments. The 2.5" touch panel SwivelScreen LCD display puts control of everything at your fingertips, or use the Easy Handycam button to simplify your recording options when the action just won¿t wait.
4.0 out of 5 stars Reason for no Firewire cable, April 25, 2009
By Richard E. Hanson "hansrich" (Mill Creek, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This is a great beginner camera, and has some higher level features at an entry level price. It has a great picture and fine sound. The major complaint made in the reviews I've read was that there was no firewire cable included. Of course Sony likes to sell their proprietary iLink which is their name for the ieee 1394 cable. The reason I believe it's not included, is because they don't know which cable to include. If you have a laptop with built in firewire, you will probably need a 4 pin-4pin, if you have a PCI card in your desktop, you will probably need a 4 pin-6pin. Then there is the question of length, 3', 4',6'.etc. Everyone's needs are different so it's best to order the cable separately. Cables run from 5.00 - $45.00 so a good online search is recommended.
Some fault the camera for not haveing a still capture, but most of the camcorders that do have them are such low quality poor resolution that they are worthless. I use a separate digital camera of my choice for that.
My disapointment with it is that is does not provide a bridge between analog devices and my computer. For the price, I can live with it and just buy a bridge. I do miss my old camcorder but it cost about $2,000 when I bought it and this little camera has most (but not all) of the features I used.
For computer editing, I was able to connect and capture and edit using Nero 7, U-Lead Visual Studio 8 and Windows movie maker.
I would recommend this to a friend.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great little video camera., April 15, 2009
By Terry Morris - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
The overall positive reviews on this mini-dvd camera are warranted. This is a great little camera for the money that produces some very good video. I have a Panasonic DVX100B, and I initially purchased this camera as a low cost video deck alternative, so I wouldn't wear out the motor on the DVX while downloading video footage into my computer...and this camera serves that purpose very well. But, I found that this camera is just a fun overall camera to have just to shoot video on the run without the need to set up a bunch of other equipment.
I highly recommend this camera.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Very user friendly, April 5, 2009
By d.n. (CA USA) - See all my reviews
I bought this for my daughter to shoot video with her friends. It is very easy to use and thus far has had no negative issues. It has features exactly as described by Amazon and the price was right for us. This is an upgrade from our last Sony DCR-HC. Handycams from Sony have always been "handy" for us!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Decent Camera, But Horrible Color Saturation, March 2, 2009
By Father of Two (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
I bought this product to replace one of the first Sony Digital8 Camcorders that ever went on the market (DCR-TRV510). I've had that camera for 9+ years and have loved it. I bought this camera because because the reviews were decent, the price was good, and I like Sony products. I've had the camera about two months now and I'm very disappointed with the color of the videos. They are very dark compared to what they should be.
My most recent project was filming a basketball game where I had four different Sony digital camcorders in use on the same court (I film a complete game once a year). The other three Sony camcorders (all older, different models) produced far better color than this one. The colors produced by this camera are, quite simply, terrible. The one caveat to that is outside on a bright, sunny day will produce a rich color saturation. Other than that, though, you're out of luck.
I originally thought it was maybe just my camera, but another reviewer also talks about bad color saturation in his review, so I guess it is product wide problem. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great little camera, February 22, 2009
By Pedro Cortes "book worm" (NY,NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Great bang for the buck.....you can't go wrong. Great clarity and I like recording directly to my hard drive via the firewire port,,,these way there is no need to waste time rendering to make your DVD copies.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!!!!!!, January 29, 2009
By J. THOMPSON - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I love this camera, the touch screen, the fit, the effects. This is a great camera especially for the price.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars good camera but need extras, January 25, 2009
By ethep (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
This is an excellent camera but you will need to buy an i-link or equivalent (mini firewire) cable if you want to edit video on your PC computer. Actually the manual does not indicate that connection to a computer is possible. The instructions in the manual indicate that with the optional cable you can import video from a VCR but references the next model up (HC54) if you need to export to a PC.
Once I purchased the cable I was able to capture video without problem. Windows computers have the appropriate drivers preinstalled. Just connect the cable set the camera to play/edit and select capture in your favorite editing program (this assumes your PC has a mini firewire port-not all do).
Although Mini DV cameras have older technology, they take better movies than SDHC (card) or harddrive camcorders because the pictures have far less compression. Also the format used .avi is much easier to edit than MPEG-4 which the other formats typically use. They do use more power so look for a "kit" deal that includes an extra battery.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Last SONY product I'll ever buy, January 17, 2009
By Patrick H. Crean (Southwest Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I purchased this camera last fall, along with a firewire interface card. Had a problem with the interface card and exchanged it. Replacement card had the same problem (it was a usb/firewire combo card that the computers I tried it in failed to recognize). I then ordered another firewire card that seemed to work. Note the qualifer, 'seemed'. No matter what computer I installed the card into or what OS that computer was running, or which of the several cables I tried, the camera was never recognized. Obviously, the firewire port on the camera was either defective at the time of manufacture, or the design is defective, causing it to fail in NORMAL usage.
In and of itself, this problem probably wouldn't warrant a one-star rating. However, when I finally decided (well within the 12 month warranty period) that the problem was with the camera's ilink port, I attempted to contact SONY for service. It turns out that the 12 month warranty covers only parts, labor is only covered for 90 days (which was pretty much used up ordering alternate interface cards, cables, and testing). Since the fixed cost to repair this camera that's absolutely worthless for its intended purpose (under warranty!) is just slightly less than the cost of replacing it, that is the route I will take. Needless to say, that replacement will not have the name SONY anywhere near it (and when my SONY TV, VCR, DVD players, and monitor need replacement, they will also be manufactured by somebody else!)
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1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars MR. ERNST MENTOR, January 12, 2009
By Ernst Mentor (NEW YORK /USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I bought it as a gift for a friend and she likes it and did some
great videos
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Sony Camcorder, January 12, 2009
By Wife Pleaser (South East) - See all my reviews
Great simple product. Perfect for the grandparents or those wanting just to record quality video without all the bells and whistles.
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