My little advice - Beware of Sony. The quality has decreased over past years badly and customer service and technical support is very bad too. Not to mention the warranty plans and costs to fix things. I just owned a nice handycam DCR-TRV19 that died after one year of seldom use. Something that is obvious factory defect (since many people experience exactly the same problem) costs more than half of the camcorders price to fix at sony service. I advise you to have a look at http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=59&threadID=53316&messageID=1064984 and see for yourself how Sony treats their customers.
Once again, don't be blurred by pretty design. The inside is piece of crap.
Sincerely.

After shopping around comparing several models, I purchased this camcorder as an upgrade/replacement for a Sony TR-101 Hi8 Camcorder. My TR-101 was working great after 10 years, which helped sway me towards another Sony, but I wanted to go digital.

I've had this camcorder for a few months now and it has been great. It's easy to use, the audio from the built-in microphone is descent, and the video is high quality. However, I've noticed lighting has a big impact on the video quality.

The on-screen menu for changing setting isn't bad, but it does get confusing, especially when you click down two or three levels. I prefer the multiple buttons along the side, but I guess this camcorder is way to compact to do that.

Most importantly, the camcorder's Firewire/iLink works great with my iBook and Final Cut Express as well as Vegas Movie Studio on my PC. I've had a great time making movies.

Also, I purchased this with or subsequently the Sony ACC-DVP Accessory Kit, Sony BCTRP Battery Charger, Sony ECM-HS1 Microphone, and the Sony HVL-S3D Video Light.

Realy it is a very powerfull Mini-DV camcorder but:
Positive Points:
Video Quality = High
Video Resources, like effects, editing,etc.= High
Battery duration = High (I will not buy other one)
Dummie mode operation = Very Cool

Negative Points:
Poor quality images when you take picture
Be careful to not loose the CD with Installation software, because you will not find this on the internet (Picture Package. If you have this software, please send to me at juliofabio@yahoo.com). (Windows XP all ready have the driver);

OBS:
Unfortunatelly I lost the remote control+ AV Cable (I still looking for it on the internet).

This is the best a person can have to capture his best momments

This is a great camera for filming! I love the size, the oh-so-easy-to-use lcd touch panel (nifty) and the auto-focus is not so bad. Of course, it takes pictures also, but keep in mind that the main purpose for this gadget is FILMING! It takes good enough videos with the memory stick, great sound!

Not so great pictures at night, but wonderful images during the day.
I recommend it.

Despite gentle use, the screen has broken after only 7 months. Unfortunately the 1 year warranty only covers parts. The labor costs $216 flat charge (half the price of the camcorder). I thought of Sony as a quality brand.... but no more.

This is one of the very good Camcorders I have used. I initially had a Canon camcorder and a JVC before that. After using them I got this one. There was a vast difference between Sony, especially in the Video Quality and usability.
It is sleek, Compact and very ergonomically designed. It is comparitively steadier to take Videos. The LCD panel has 180 degree swivel and that makes taking the Videos and Photos with Self-Timer very useful. You can see what is going-on. The Touch screen LCD panel is lot easier that messing around with 100 buttons in a small space.
The Video Effects are very good and the Auto Focus works wonderfully. 120x Digital zoom is very useful to capture videos at very long distances. Night Vision is very good.
Ease of Use and ease to hook on with computer make t one of the best Camcorders at affordable prices to capture the Best moments of your life.

I loved it when it was working. But watch out. This Sony DCR-HC40 began malfunctioning after 10 months -- colors were washed out, and transfer to and from the PC caused sound distortions. Then everything in the viewfinder appeared bluish, and it would not record. Parts warranteed, but the service fee is $269. We gave up on the unit. Bought another Sony. DVD format this time. Dumb to trust Sony again? We'll find out.

They give you this manual (actually two manuals). The first manual refers to you to the other manual. Then the other manual tells you in three places that the method for achieving USB stream (web cam and conferencing) is different depending on the model. That's all they tell you! Honest. The manual says "SET USB STREAM IN THE MENU SETTINGS OF YOUR CAMCORDER TO ON. The procedure of the menu settings varies depending on the model." Well, what's that supposed to mean? Then you go to the webpage and there's nothing in the knowledge base and when you try to email them it malfunctions after you spend all the time on writing the email.

Over the past 35 years that I have been shooting video, it has come a long way. Comparing this to the RCA TK-76 "Minicam" that I shot tv news with on 3/4" in 1977 is fun: 1/100 the cost and double the scan lines. Oh, and 1/80th the weight not including the 40 pound recorder. At first, I didn't think something this size could work this well. I needed something quick and inexpensive to do video cuts for inserting into PowerPoint. My boss was too cheap to buy equipment for the department and I needed training tapes. So I just bought a HC40, shot the material, edited it on my HP a622n and inserted into the PP. And then did it about a dozen more times on other training material. It looks surprisingly well 10' tall through a 2000 lumen projector. A handheld or wireless mic is a must. At least a key light, if not key, base and fill are a must. My Lowell Totalight kit works perfectly with a few scrims. Not broadcast quality of today although surpassing broadcast quality of 30 years ago. Just border line for industrial or PP if lit well with good sound. I am satisfied with it and it travels well.

The Picture Package software that comes with these Sony's is terrible - incompatible with most DVD/CD-R writers, meaning that you can't get your video off the MiniDV cassette tapes onto either your computer or a DVD or CD-R. I spent over 10 hours on the phone with Sony and Picture Package tech support, and ultimately learned that it is incompatible with my DVD/CD-R writer (in my Compaq Presario computer), and now am having to try to find some other solution for getting my videos off the cassettes to some other medium. The manuals are no help, and tech support is extremely time-consuming and ultimately found no solution other than telling me to use Microsoft Movie Maker - which takes FOREVER and I'm not even sure it really works. Before you buy this model - I highly recommend you seriously research whether it is compatible with your DVD/CD-R writer, and get some certainty about how you will be able to transfer the video tapes to computer or DVD or CD-R. I WOULD NOT buy this camcorder knowing what I now know.

if you think SONY is a quality brand....YOU ARE CORRECT

too bad i dont know how to use all the features....and you will use a camcorder less than you think....so dont spend too much....and buy a good still camera...the stills on this is low resolution

I just purchased this camera about a week ago and I received it a few days ago.

The camera is absolutely wonderful. Even though people say the bottom loading tape is bad, I think it is actually a good feature. It makes the camera less bulky and it is so easy to carry around because the tape isn't top loading.

I love the size and it's so convenient. I'm used to bulky cameras and this is way better.

The touch screen feature is great. People say it is inconvenient, but I don't think it is. I think it's because I'm used to having cameras with the controls in the LCD itself. The touch screen is neat, and it means you don't have to press a gajilion buttons like some cameras to control the camera.

Although people say the LCD screen looks "washed out" if you mess around with the LCD brightness and stuff light that, it'll look less washed out and it will look pretty good.

Also, I learned that if you used your middle finger to use the zoom toggle, you have more control over it and it doesn't make the "zoom toggle noise" that gets recorded if you don't control it.

The fact that this camera takes pictures is cool. Although they are not "digital camera" sort of pictures, what do ya expect? This camera is mainly used for recording, not pictures. But I love how you can take pictures with the nightshot on and it looks pretty awesome.

I bought this camera primarily for its analog through digital passthrough and its amazing. Its so easy to transfer your videos to the computer. (via firewire, it doesn't come with the camera, but you can find some on amazon that are under five bucks) The software that comes with the camera isn't that great when it comes to transferring. I recommend ArcSoft ShowBiz and its really easy to use. I haven't used Microsoft Movie Maker for transferring it yet, but it will most likely work.


It doesn't do well under low light, but that's what the super night shot plus is for. The supernight shot plus feature is awesome. I've never had a camera like this before that could do that. I went into a dark room to test it out, I could see almost everything that I couldn't see without the super night shot plus.

The problems I had with this camera is its instructions on using analog through digital pass through. I never used a camera with this feature, so I didn't know how to use it. I spent 2 hours trying to figure it out through the manual that came with the camera, which didn't help much. I was so frustrated that I looked on the net on how to do it. Guess what? In less then five minutes from looking, I found the instructions and it worked. If only I had looked on the net first instead of wasting 2 hours of my time on how to do it... But, when I finally digitized my old analog tapes, they came out perfect.

Another thing that I don't like about this camera is that the viewfinder doesn't tilt up, even though it pulls out.

Other than that, this camera is amazing. I like the the zoom because I've used it to watch and record a play. With the zoom up all the way, it was very clear and it felt like I was sitting close up to the stage with this useful gadget.

Sony is such a great brand and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another camera from them in the future.

I just needed a small camcorder for making video game movies and this fits that. My laptop recognized it right away. Transfer is good and I have not had any problems with this DV Camcorder. The only complaint that I do have is the touch screen. I prefer actual buttons, but the camcorder is still easy to use.