Sony DCR-HC26 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

Box Contents: DCR-HC26 Camcorder, AC-L25 Power Adapter/In-Camera Charger, NP-FP30 InfoLithium(R) Rechargeable Battery, Stereo A/V Cable, Lens Cap, CD-ROM with USB Driver
The Sony DCR-HC26 MiniDV HandyCam Camcorder delivers the right mix of versatility and quality. Its compact and stylish design makes filming movies easy and convenient. The a/6" CCD Imager provides stunning detail and clarity, and the 20x optical and 800x digital zoom brings the action up close, with less distortion. Super SteadyShot(R) compensates for camera-shake, while teh NightShot(R) system captures natural video in the lowest light. The large 2.5" LCD screen lets you review your pictures and video to make sure it's the best. USB Streaming SteadyShot Image Stabilization NightShot Plus for low-light filming - minimum of 0 lux Auto Exposure Modes - Beach & Ski, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, Sunset & Moon Picture Effect Modes - Monotone, Negative Art, Sepia, Polarize Fader Effects - Black, Mosaic, Monotone, White White Balance Modes - Auto, Indoor, One-push, Outdoor Aperture - f1.8-3.1 Focal Distance - 2.3-46mm Full Range Auto and Manual Focus Built-in microphone USB and i.LINK(R) ports S-Video connection Shutter Speeds - Auto, 1/60-1/4000 sec. (1/4000 in AE mode) Supplied Software - Picture Package 1.5 Operating Systems - Windows Me, 2000 Pro, XP Home and Pro Battery Type - InfoLithium(R) with AccuPower(TM) Meter system (NP-NF30) Battery Life - Up to 9 hours (viewfinder) or up to 8 hours (LCD) Dimensions - 2-5/8 x 3-1/8 x 4-1/2 (65 x 79 x 113 mm) Weight - 14 oz. (420 g) with tape & battery

Customer Reviews:

LCD Display broke within 6 months & labor costs $129.00
I purchased this camcorder in July of 2006 because of all of the great reviews. The LCD display just stopped working (greyed-out, on-the-blink, the bottom of the picture/display is partially now on top, etc.) and I now need to send it back to the "Sony Factory" for repair. Even though the unit is under warranty for one year, it's only under warranty for parts -- not labor (which is the most expensive part of fixing something!!!). I'll now have to pay $129 just to have the display fixed.

I liked the camcorder otherwise, IF you don't have problems. Not sure if an extended warranty would make a difference since you still have to pay labor -- that's ridiculous!
--2006-12-10

Sony Camcorder
This sony camera is a nice, but exspensive, camera. It has an easy touch pad, along with an 800x digital zoom. This camera also has a quick battery charger that can charge the battery much faster that an anolog camera. This camera also has its down side, if you are doing a video with quick moving objects, maybe do't get this, because I do lightsaber battles and when I have them move fast, I see a faded shadow type thing following it. But the object has to go FAST! Please get this camera along with the Sony DV Mini Tapes, they make a good couple!
--2006-11-20

Nice camcorder but poor delivery
I ordered this camcorder directly from Amazon with 1-day shipping. My package did not arrive on the promised day. The next day I checked the DSL tracking and found that the package was marked as delivered. After calling DSL and complaining, the DSL driver returned to my house within a few hours and magically appeared with my camcorder, which he then dropped with a loud thump on my front doorstep! Thankfully, the camcorder appears to be working just fine. So much for next-day delivery and DSL!
--2006-11-19

If only the Video quality was better....
There is no doubt this is a beautifully small, lightweight and otherwise feature-packed camcorder for its price. I ordered one from B&H after doing a lot of research and comparing models. Although some reviews (which have mysteriously disappeared now) on this site did warn about the video quality, I decided in favor of the Sony vs the Canon ZR-600 and Canon Elura because of the (reportedly) better battery life and low-light performance. It seemed all camcorders at this price range have one deficiency or the other, so I figured the Sony would fit my bill the best.
Here's what I found though-
The good:
- The looks, size and weight. Very lightweight and "cute" according to my wife.
- The very-low light performance with Nightshot plus (be prepared for Ghost like images though)
- The battery life. Charged up in about 30 mins and was going strong even after 40 mins of shooting and fiddling around.

The bad:
- The Manual. Crappy is a good description for it.
- The controls
1. The touchscreen menu. Especially the "x" button for closing windows is so tiny, I had to use my pinkie fingernail to click it. Also with 95% of the controls on the touchscreen panel hidden behind arcane descriptions like "P feature", it was impossible to keep the video cam still while I used the panel.
2. The zoom button on top of camera is placed so non-intuitively, I had to use my middle finger to control it and even then my finger overshot the control.I had to slip my hand out a little from the grip to use my finger tip instead of the middle of my finger.

The ugly:
- The video quality. This is what did it for me. I received the camera in the evening and tested it indoors with lots of light and without. With very dim lighting and nightshotplus, I got decent video otherwise not possible without Nightshotplus. But without it and with all the lights turned on Indoors- the video was very grainy on the LCD, on my computer (transferred using firewire and Pinnacle studio) and on TV. This was still ok with me as I knew not to expect anything great indoors or in low light. But the very next morning I took the camera out into the backyard in the beautiful morning light and shot scenery. I was aghast when I saw the playback on the LCD and on TV - the edges of buildings were jagged (like when you have a very low resolution picture) and anything remotely white was washed out. I changed the White Balance to "Outdoors" while everything else was Auto- still the same.
I returned this camera and have ordered a Canon Elura 100 instead which had glowing reviews everywhere. For 30 more bucks the Canon seems to have double the CCD size and a lot more going for it.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy this camcorder!!
--2006-11-10

Great little cam
Love the touch screen and this little unit provides for an excellent image quality in a very portable unit. Wish there was a neck/shoulder stap included, but very easy to purchase seperately. Great purchase!
--2006-11-03

- Sony