Tag : minidv digital, handycam camcorder, optical zoom, sony dcrhc65, w 10x

Company : Sony List Price : $799.99 Amazon Price : Used Price : Average customer review :

Features

• Sleek, compact MiniDV camcorder and digital still camera with 1-megapixel CCD
• 10x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer
• 3.5-inch rotating LCD and color viewfinder
• Low-light recording settings, Memory Stick Duo slot, and intelligent accessory shoe
• NP-FM50 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery

Product Description

See the big picture with the DCR-HC65 MiniDV Handycam camcorder from Sony. The DCR-HC65 features a huge 3.5″ hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display, a 1.0 megapixel advanced HAD CCD imager, and a professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens which help you see your video bigger, brighter, and clearer than ever before. It also includes features you would expect from a camcorder twice its price, such as Super NightShot Plus zero-light video recording, digital photo mode on Memory Stick DUO media, and Super SteadyShot image stabilization. Why settle for less when you can have a Sony.

Customer reviews

Sony Dcr-hc65
I got this camera for $430 at circuit city. I don’t think its worth $800, but it has some great features if you can find it for a good price, since it is last year’s model. I love the big touch screen. Its really easy to use. The supernight shot plus works great. This camera can see better than me in the dark. Picture quality is good and if you get an upgraded battery (only $20 on ebay) the camera can run for a long time. It doesn’t have the built in lens cover, but I just keep my lens cover in a camera bag when I’m using the camera. The camera is a little bigger than some other models out there, but I think it makes it easier to hold and have control.

Not worth the $$$
I bought the DCRHC65 after trying out the DCRHC30 thinking the larger CCD unit would make a difference in low-light conditions. But I wasn’t able to see any difference.

The design of this camera sux. The input / output cable ports are located in difficult spots. The tethered lens cap is ridiculous. Too heavy. Consumes battery too quickly.

If you’re considering this camera, compare it with the DCRHC30. The only big difference is the pixel memory and CCD size. Both do analog to digital pass-through. But the DCR-HC30 is hundreds less.

Really good camcorder
My initial impression of the HC65 are generally very favorable. I like the feel and balance of it, and the controls are laid out nicely. The LCD display at 3.5″ is very nice, and the touch screen is nice as well, being reasonably intuative and requiring only a light touch which minimizes camera movement while filming. I tried some filming outdoors first, close to sunset, and had great results in the Easy mode. The focus and exposure adjust very quickly and give a good picture. The colors are vibrant, and the image is clear.

The manual focus is a nice feature as well, using a focus ring on the front of the lens, and also showing the focus distance on the LCD display. The zoom works quite well; easy to control the speed, and the button is well placed, although I wish it had just a little more than 10X. The 10X should be sufficient for most applications, and I would reccomend a telephoto lens adapter and tripod if you need extra magnification.