Customer Reviews

Sony DCR-PC101E PAL-Format MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder

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I am way impressed by the PC101E as this is my first handycam. Having upgraded from a Sony Mavica FD-7, this gadget packs more gimmicks than I am usually accustomed to. Below are the top ten features that I personally find interesting :

1. Got to be the USB streaming/webcam mode (do remove the cassette first, else it'll auto-shut off in 5 mins).
2. 10x Optical (420mm. With my 2x lens, goes up to 20x! 840mm)
3. Nite-shot mode (comes with built in IR booster light).
4. Bundled 8Mb memory stick (Good for 25 shots at a decent 1152x864 fine mode).
5. LP-long play mode on the MiniDV cassettes. 1.5 times longer recording time.
6. Time delayed recording mode. Good for those clouds moving/ flowers blooming footage.
7. Touch panel controls.
8. Backlight feature, brightens your subjects even more. Is not limited only to sunsets, use it anytime u need a bit more gamma in your images.
9. Remote control!
10. Comparatively cheap (RM3,600 is about US$950).

Followed by my top 5 complaints :
1. New 30mm filter ring. Sony just attempted to kill the filter market by introducing a new filter size. Luckily there is a thing called the step-up ring. Get a 30-37mm ring, and all your old 37mm filters are usable once again.
2. No still picture shots while using Color slow shutter/Super nite-shot mode. Deliberate design ?
3. No shoulder strap. Not even the holes for a shoulder strap. Plus the hand strap is not removable (unless forcibly cut off).
4. 5 hour(QM-71) and 9 hour(QM-91) LiON batteries looks and weighs like bricks! Effectively making your compact camera bags obsolete.
5. Digital zooms are not that useful. The results are so pixelated that I wonder whether the "120x" is just used to fool the consumer.

Overall I am still very satisfied with this Handycam. Ease of use, even for rookies, just plain point-and-shoot. Highly recommended.