Sony DCR-HC52 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom
by Sony
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: SonyRelease Date: 2008-01-31
Model: DCR-HC52
Color: Silver
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
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony DCR-HC52 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom
Customer Review: very suitable beginner camera (from a video and television student)
Summary: 5 Stars
let me start by saying, Canon and Sony are two of the big name cameras used in the television station I have worked at.
Second of all Firewire and digital tape (DV) have been one of the most ideal standards for dealing with professional digital video for years. It's just lately I think solid state cameras are really coming into play here. As a consumer level camera canon, sony and others such as panasonic, jvc have solid reputations, but as with any company and mass production these days lemons show up.
Anyway I wanted to address a couple of the reviewers here and their complaints.
First of all Firewire was mainly developed for macs by apple and texas instruments. and I think sony had a hand in it too. as a rule of thumb windows computers do no have firewire out of the box. Of course it's possible to add or even buy already present on any computer these days. As for the reviewer who complained about no audio in wmp. Windows as a whole does not play nice with DV support the dv standard. so if you're a windows user you'll want an editing suite that supports DV. Macs have quicktime by default which gives DV support at a system level as that's why mini DV camcorders work so well in the apple world with little to no hassle.
For the Mac user who commented on his/her mac not recognizing the camera, I had to work in the port so to speak meaning I had to put my cable in and out a few times and put slight pressure on it at first to make sure it was firmly in then it worked fine and has since.
Now for the camera itself, it's a big step up in options from the canon ZR600 i had which was reliable the only reason i got this new sony was the canon had an accident a couple years ago and fell over on the tripod causing it's slow death. and I don't have the mony to buy a professional camera either right now.
I just wanted to leave a note for those of you who use macs and are either professionals or well versed camera operators and editors. For macs, maybe for windows too, if you are going to do in house filming. you do not need to use the mini dv tape deck you can connect and record directly to a computer's hard drive via a video capture app such as quicktime player. I am not sure if final cut supports camera mode, or just vcr mode, but this is a big advantage of a dv camcorder it can be stand alone or a hd camera in conjunction with a computer. Also, a dv camcorder can also work like a vcr too. If you have a video clip or animation etc on your hard drive and you have the right software (final cut again) or other major suites will let you print on tape so you can put it on your camera and use the camera to present it on a tv or just have a portable video player if you so desire etc. Anyway just some tips for the advanced users.
Overall This is a good camera for the beginner if you're a video student or film, someone who wants to do video for a career. I would recommend this as a good starter camera, but also I would say if you can afford 3,000 or more get a professional camera instead, consumer camcorders do not have the correct type of sensors to produce broadcast quality video. (this was the case in analog days) with everything digital now I myself need to play catchup and see if this is still true or not.
Description of Sony DCR-HC52 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom
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.Camcorders
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