Product Description

The Sony DCR-HC38 MiniDV HandyCam Camcorder makes trasnferring digital skills and mini-movies to your PC faster and more convenient. The powerful 1/6-inch HAD CCD provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video, and the 40x optical zoom brings the action close up from far away. The Super SteadyShot(R) feature removes camera shake, while Super NightShot(R) captures natural film in the lowest light. The attractive 3D Menu System lets you see menu options clearly. SteadyShot Image Stabilization - picture stabilization system uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera ?shake? without compromising picture quality 5 Lux + 0 Lux Nightshot low illumination modes USB Streaming - Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio 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) Dimensions - 2-5/8 x 3-1/8 x 4-1/2-inch (65 x 79 x 113 mm) Weight - 15 ounces (430 grams) with tape & battery Sony USA Warranty 1 Year Parts; 90 Days Labor Not PictBridge compatible

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8774 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DCRHC38
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .1 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; 40x optical/2000x digital zoom
• 1/6-inch Advanced HAD CCD imager
• 2.5-inch touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD display
• NightShot Plus technology and Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system
• USB streaming; i.LINK DV interface

Manufacturer Description
Simple controls and crystal clear quality let you call the shots with the DCR-HC38. Features like Super Steady Shot image stabilization and NightShot Plus technology make sure your video looks stunning and clean as you record to a MiniDV cassette (sold separately).

DCR-HC38 Highlights

1/6-inch Advanced HAD CCD imager The 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.

MiniDV recording Offers up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution, 3x the color bandwidth and a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio, to provide spectacular video 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.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Tessar lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera "shake" without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems.

2.5-inch touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels) Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 123K-pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles and provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

USB streaming Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio over the internet using the USB interface. You can even play back your favorite recorded scene on the camcorder's tape. It's like having your own video conferencing system .

i.LINK DV interface A digital, high-speed bi-directional interface which provides communication between two compatible A/V devices. This connection allows for pure digital transfer between devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, such as camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards, and PCs.

InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system Charge the battery at any time because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries are not subject to a life shortening "memory effect." Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

NightShot Plus infrared system With Sony's NightShot Plus infrared system, you can capture natural looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 10 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

Manual focus Allows the user to 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.

On-screen zoom and record controls For additional control of the camcorder, the DCR-HC38 features zoom and record buttons on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low-angle shots.

Stamina battery power management system Using the optional NP-FH1000 InfoLithium battery, the DCR-HC38 can continuously record for up to 14 hours (viewfinder) or up to 12 hours (LCD) on a single full charge, providing extra-long battery life.

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.

Picture Effect modes Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Mosaic and Pastel. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Negative Art, Sepia and Solarize.

Easy Handycam button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people, so with a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.

Customer Reviews

Great camera, bright videos.
i own this camera after upgrading from my first sony: a HC21. I like it a lot. It takes clear outdoor videos, Indoors i have to turn on the "back light" features to get a clear pictures. Besides, i edit the video on pc. I love the firewire port for best video quality. I make my home video look like a profesional just with this non-profesional camera.
i have 2 extra batteries and an extra wall charger, for a serious amateur like me it is worthy ti get what i need. I dont want to run out-of power in the middle of an event.
So far i am satisfied. I can also do color correction if need it. digital efects and titles, then i burn in DVD.
I preffer Mini DV than HDD. In HDD every pause you do while recording, makes a thumbnail, when you transfer the video you may get about 200 thumbnails in a 2 hour video. It takes a headache to drop every thumbnail in the storyboard for video editing.
But using firewire you get just one thumbnail. altought it takes longer to transfer the video, you have to play it to transfer it, and it takes that long.

Sony DCR-HC38 Review
Great value, easy to use. Good quality video, can't beat the 40X and features. I would recommend this camcorder to anyone looking for a quality, easy to use product on a low budget. But don't be fooled by the price, this camcorder has a better quality picture than my JVC that I paid $700.00 for three years ago.

Great quality and compact size
This is my second Sony MiniDV camera (my dad dropped and broke my first one). It works great and provides good quality.

There are lots of great comments and reviews out there, and I won't repeat all that stuff. Here are a few quick comments:

- It's small enough to fit in a belly-pack or fanny-pack. That means it's easy to bring along. Cameras left at home don't deliver very good results!

- I thought having the 40x optical zoom would be awesome. It is, but here's my caveat - it's virtually impossible to hand-hold the camera at full zoom and get a decent picture - even with the great image stabilization feature turned on. When you get past about 25x, you'll need a tripod or to brace the camera on a ledge or something.

- Night vision (using an infra-red emitter to illuminate in total darkness) is a great feature, which most people overlook.

Great stuff, as expected, from Sony!