Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 14 x 10 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M3IND6
• Item model number: DCRHC28
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,790 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 18, 2005

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

With Super SteadyShot image stabilization and NightShot Plus technology, the DCR-HC28 reduces blur and the negative effects of low-light environments to create high-quality video every time. Affordable, durable and powerful, this Handycam camcorder does it all.

DCR-HC28 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/noise ratio, to provide spectacular video performance.

20x optical/800x 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 Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 123K-pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

i.LINK DV interface A digital, high-speed bi-directional interface which provides audio/video communication between two compatible 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 anytime 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.

Stamina battery power management system Using the optional NP-FH1000 InfoLithium battery, the DCR-HC28 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.

Program AE (Auto Exposure) modes Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach & Ski, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight or Sunset & Moon modes.

Picture effects 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.

Fader effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Mosaic, Monotone and White.

Battery information At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is charged, in 10-percent increments and the recordable time left when using the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

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.

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.

Picture Motion browser Easily organize still images and video, and turn them into stunning music videos using the supplied software.

Product Description

With Super SteadyShot image stabilization and NightShot Plus technology, the DCRHC28 reduces blur and the negative effects of low light environments to create high quality video every time. Affordable, duraable and powerful, the DCRHC28 Handycam camcorder does it all.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

106 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice little camcorder, April 23, 2007

By 

Amazonster (US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I purchased this camera as a replacement for Canon Optura 20 which was dropped and when estimate for repair exceeded price of this camera, I decided to move on. After using DCR-HC28 for several weeks, I believe this is a very neat package. Overall, I am very satisfied with this camera. One of the first things that I noticed is that color representation in low light conditions is much more accurate than that of Canon. I grew accustomed to adjusting Optura's white balance indoor in order to get accurate color tones. Now I am finding, that automatic settings work just fine and, in fact, I didn't have a reason to play with presets as of yet. This camera is more of a "point and shoot" type than Canon. It provides you with manual controls, but they are not easily accessible. Still, I have not found a reason to mess with these. Besides, for those, who would claim that manual settings are necessary for advanced/professional type of filming, I would point to the price tag and ask where and when did they last see an advanced/professional camera for under $300?
This camera is also about half the size of Canon and combined with low price and weight, produces a package that I can drag with me while going to the beach, bicycling, hiking, etc and not having to worry about ruining expensive piece of electronic gear, as was the case with my Optura which, at the time when I bought it, cost me about 2.5 times of what I paid for Sony.
So far, I've used this camera in about all of the lighting conditions that I would expect to ever having to consider. I have NO COMPLAINTS about its performance. Picture seems to be sharply focused and color tones are correct. Focus is fast enough to keep up with little kids or to shoot some sports/action. Sound quality of the microphone is quiet acceptable. There seems to be very little noise from drive motor and it is not picked up by the mic so it is not transferred to your recording. All of the essential controls and menus are within easy reach.
There are few negative points that prevent me from giving this camera 5-star rating. Lack of any kind of accessory shoe or external microphone input is a drawback. It would be nice to have these, as it would increase range of conditions under which one can use it. Still, among my friends, who actually have a camcorder, about 90% don't own an accessory light or external microphone, so if it was possible to lower camera cost by omitting these features, it is not a criminal move on part of Sony. The LCD display could have been a bit larger and it would not hurt if Sony would provide it with more freedom of motion - it only swings out to 90 degree angle and in certain situations it is a limiting factor.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DCR-HC28 and Mac and iMovie, December 22, 2007

By 

Daniel R. Sullivan (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Thought I should chime in because I am always looking for info on a product's interface with my various computers. I love to play around with iMovie (for fun, not pro) and this camera made it easy as pie. I bought a four-pin to six-pin firewire cable for $15.00, recorded video, plugged the camcorder into my computer, opened iMovie, opened a "new project"...and it asked me if I wanted to import the video. I clicked "yes" and it began importing it all perfectly in real-time. Awesome. I hated my old way of having to convert files in order to play in iMovie. With this, it imported in mpeg4 and I needed no conversion or fancy software. I'm psyched.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good value, easy to use and very portable, May 13, 2007

By 

R. Pathak "ryan" (london) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

i bought this handycam while on holiday in the usa, mainly to video my little cousin who is 18 months. the exchange rate meant that i saved £100 ($200).
its extremely easy to use. the minidv tapes are very cheap and if you have a dvd burner you can get very good quality video's directly. the battery life is sufficient but one of the best things is the sound quality and microphone pic up. i was 10 metres away on a wind swept beach but the camera picked up my voice perfectly. did nt give it 5 stars because it does nt come with a firewire cable and irritatingly i have to buy to different cables to use it on a sony laptop and a apple mac