Product Description

Capture high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) video to a MiniDV cassette with the HDR-HC5 high definition camcorder. Record every detail of every moment with the 10x optical/80x digital zoom and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens. However, you'll be capturing more than just video with the 4.0 megapixel still image feature. Snap spectacular 2.3 megapixel photos while filming in dual record mode. The HDR-HC5 even slows down the audio. Get it all and get it in high definition with this amazing camcorder.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5979 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: HDR-HC5
• Dimensions: 8.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• 2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor; choose between HD & DV recording formats
• 4-megapixel still image capture; Super SteadyShot image stabilization
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens; 10x optical zoom/20x digital zoom
• 2.7-inch widescreen Clear Photo LCD Plus
• Memory Stick Duo media slot

Manufacturer Description
Capture high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) video to a MiniDV cassette with the HDR-HC5 high-definition camcorder. Record every detail of every moment with the 10x optical/80x digital zoom and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens. However, you’ll be capturing more than just video with the 4.0 megapixel still image feature. Snap spectacular 2.3 megapixel photos while filming in dual record mode. The HDR-HC5 even slows down the audio. Get it all and get it in high definition with this amazing camcorder.

HDR-HC5 Highlights

2.1-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor The 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution in HD Mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD Mode) and 4 MP still image performance. Unlike traditional CCD imagers, CMOS sensors require less power and provide better battery performance.

Switchable HD/DV format recording The HDR-HC5 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on a standard MiniDV cassette.

Real-Time HD Codec engine Sony developed a Real Time MPEG Encode/Decode system with reduced energy consumption and compact size to fit inside a personal camcorder. This engine provides efficient MPEG2 compression, and recording and playback of clear HD images at the same bit rate of the DV format, so that high-definition video can be recorded on the same MiniDV cassettes as are used for SD recording.

x.v. Color x.v.Color can capture or display nearly twice as many (1.8x) viewable colors than currently possible. This provides a more accurate and vivid color range, for a more natural, lifelike overall experience.

10x optical/80x 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 zoom.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Sonnar T* 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 perfectg renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare.

2.7-inch widescren hybrid touch-panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display The 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 211K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback, and the widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier.

Smooth slow record By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 3 seconds allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight. In addition, record an audio track to narrate what is being seen in the video.

Memory Stick Duo media slot Capture still images up to 2304 x 1728 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo Media for easy trasfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick media compatible devices.

Dual record While recording video in high definition, you have the ability to capture a 2.3-megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick Duo media.

Super SteadyShot image 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.

Cinematic mode Perfect for creating your own movie masterpieces, the HDR-HC5 Cinematic mode lends 24 frame film-like effect to your recordings.

i.LINK interface (IEEE1394) A high-speed, bi-directional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, digital VCRs, and PCs.

Tele Macro function Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocused so that the subject stands out.

Active interface shoe Provides a location directly on the camcorder on which to add optional accessories while providing power and two-way communication to those accessories.

Additional Features

• Built-in Intelligent Flash
• Super NightShot infrared system
• Scene selection modes
• Fader effects
• Picture effects
• InfoLithium battery with AccuPower
• Meter system
• Multi-language menu
• One-touch wide-angle shooting
• Easy Handycam button
• On-screen zoom and record buttons
• Manual focus

Customer Reviews

Very impressive for home video use
I am writing this as someone who is not a true videophile, but who nonetheless pays some critical attention to picture quality and ease of use. I have no interest in making any videos other than reasonable quality family videos. I have owned a SD miniDV camera for 7 years before buying this one. The picture quality was observed on a Sony SXRD 60" HDTV using component cables. I didn't have the HDMI cable with the mini connector to try out a digital connection.

I bought this camera last week and tried it out during a Memorial Day trip with the family. The picture quality is extremely good. It's not quite as good as a top-notch HD feed (such as Discovery HD), but appears to me to be equal to most HD channels we receive over Comcast cable. Another poster said the quality is not much better than DVD, but for me this is clearly not the case--it's *much* better than DVD. Although in some detailed reviews online there are still images showing interlace artifacts, in viewing running video I have been unable to notice any effects of interlacing at all, even in fast-moving objects. Pans work well, with no objectionable artifacts or lagging. For outdoor scenes the picture is really stunning. Indoors at night, with ordinary light levels, the picture is not as good, with a graininess that is especially apparent on objects with a smooth texture, such as painted walls. Still, the picture is acceptable to me.

The camera has lots of features, mostly accessable from its touchscreen display. However, you can set the camera in "easy" mode, which selects a reasonable set of default settings. I confess that's the only mode I used, and the results were impressive. As I learn more about the camera I may fiddle with more advanced settings.

The camera can also take decent still photos, not up to par with a good digital camera but perfectly acceptable for when you don't want to lug around a separate camera. One cute feature is that it's possible to take still pictures in 16:9 mode while filming. This doesn't interrupt the filming, and the pictures are stored on the Memory Stick. Up to three such pictures can be taken in any filming sequence (from start to stop).

[Added 6/4/07] I have used the still camera some more. I compared the 16:9 pictures taken in video camera mode to those taken in the standard 4:3 camera mode, and I couldn't see any significant differences in quality (other than the 16:9 being wider). This in spite of the fact that Sony states the 16:9 mode pictures have an "effective resolution" of 2.3 Mpixels while those in 4:3 have a resolution of 4.0 Mpixels. (Note that, as far as I can tell, the camera doesn't actually have a 4 MP sensor, but uses some sort of interpolation to get 4 MP.) I also compared these pictures to ones taken with my 2001-vintage Canon Powershot digital camera; those from the Sony HDR-HC5 were clearly better. HOWEVER, the low-light capabilities of the Sony still camera modes is very poor, much worse than its low-light video capabilities. In ordinary indoor lighting the pictures are very grainy. Even in outdoor shots, faces that are in shade have a certain graininess. So in good light the stills are fine, but in low light they're not very good. [End]

The battery life was OK. I estimate I got an hour or so from the included battery. This was enough for shooting perhaps 30 minutes of video under real world conditions.

I was able to read in and edit the video using iMovie HD on my Mac. I couldn't send it back to tape because of a FireWire problem with my computer, but I assume it would look just as good as the original.

Overall, I can heartily recommend this camera to anyone who cares about picture quality, but is not an advanced videographer needing special features. For instance, there have been some complaints about the lack of a manual focussing ring, but in my daily use (and my 7 years with my SD camera) I have never felt the need for this. Now I'm waiting for inexpensive HD-DVD or Blu-Ray burners!

Exceptional HD Camcorder
If you have an HDTV at home and appreciate the HD quality channels, this camcorder is a must companion for your family and your HDTV. It is compact and user friendly with lots of useful features and the HD (1080i) video quality is stunning. We've just used it in an indoor birthday party at a kid's gym with typical indoor lighting and the HD video quality played back on our 42" HDTV was superb without an expensive HDMI cable even but with provided component video cables instead. Although it was not 5.1 surround sound audio quality but it had well exceeded our expectation of an HD palm camcorder under $1K. Normal operation can be easily controlled by either the hand holding the camcorder or the other free hand directly on the LCD touch screen. We haven't yet tried the 4MP digital camera function which uses Memory Stick Pro Duo. All in all, this is an outstanding HD compact camcorder and is what we had expected from a Sony consumer product.

HDR-HC5 Review
So far I have found this to be a great camera. Here are a few of my observations so far.

Video Quality: The video quality this this takes is great. However, there must be sufficient lighting. In a dimly light room, for instance, the video accumulates a fair bit of grain. But by adding a few more lights, or taking it outside on a nice day, your videos will rival that of broadcast HDTV.

Sound: Like most all camcorders the sound is very average. And the only mic's available are proprietary Sony mic's. One must upgrade to the HC7 to get the real mic inputs.

Features: This camera comes pretty packed. There are manual settings for exposure, focus, white balance, and a few others as well. And all of these, for better or worse, are adjusted through the touch screen interface that I personally love. Some of the buttons on the screen are small, so those with bigger fingers may have trouble navigating the camera.

Battery: I get about an hour of real recording time with the built in battery. It's enough to get through a Mini-DV tape, but not much more.

Other: The "Smooth Slow Record" is garbage. Yes, it does record 3 seconds of video extremely slow. But the video quality makes YouTube look like HD... It is bad. The Night Shot is pretty cool and works just as described. The effect is only as good as the built in IR light, so you can see maybe 15' in the dark. The touch focus feature is really cool. Just touch on the screen where you want the camera to focus, and it does it automatically.

Recording on Mini-DV tapes seems quite antiquated, but it does get the job done. It is a proven standard and pretty much any decent video editing program can handle it. The hard drive camcorders out there that record in AVC-HD do not currently enjoy as much compatibility as HDV, so that is why I when the tape based route.

Overall, this is a great camcorder. It could use some "real" manual features, like a dedicated focus ring, but those kind of features seem to be reserved for cameras in the 4 digit area. The video quality is also great in the right conditions. Definitely recommended.