Sony DCRPC9 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [4.05mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005M1V4
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,116 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony DCR-PC9 is a quality consumer-grade compact MiniDV digital camcorder. Packed with a 10x optical zoom and 120x digital zoom, the camcorder also features digital image stabilization. You can shoot and watch your video using either the color eye viewfinder or 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder. The unique vertical design makes it compact enough to hold within your hand without any strain.

Like most digital camcorders, the DCR-PC9 is equipped with an IEEE 1394 connection (also known as i.Link and Fire Wire) for digital image transfer, allowing video editing on a properly equipped home computer. In addition, all analog ports on the DCR-PC9 have analog to digital converters built in. With this feature, anyone upgrading from older analog equipment can transfer their old memory to new digital tapes.

If you own a TV equipped with Sony's Super LaserLink feature (or purchase an optional Super LaserLink attachment for your TV), playback is especially easy. You can just aim the DCR-PC9 at the TV from up to 26 feet away, press "play," and enjoy your videos without having to connect any wires.

The DCR-PC9 also doubles as a digital still camera, recording photos onto an included 4 MB Memory Stick at a resolution of up to 640 x 480 pixels. You can also record up to 60 seconds of video directly to the memory stick with the MPEG movie mode. Digital program editing allows for easy dubbing of 20 selected scenes from one digital camcorder to another, or to an analog VCR. Three different white-balance settings help optimize color. The DCR-PC9 includes a microphone input, as well as an accessory shoe for extra lights or microphones. Also included are an AC power adapter, lithium-ion battery, remote, stereo AV cable, lens cap, and lens hood.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small, small, small, July 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony DCRPC9 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder (Electronics)

I bought this camcorder for it's size and video quality. I did a good deal of research on it through CNET.com and other sites that had both customer and expert reviews. I own a Fuji Finepix 4700 digital camera so I did not buy this camcorder for its digital still quality, but rather for it's video quality and I am thoroughly amazed. It's capability in all light conditions is astounding. Whether filming your children sleeping using the night-shot or super night-shot feature or outside at a picnic at high noon, this camcorder does it and does it well. It's slow motion feature when playing a tape back is amazing, and it automatically records the date and time you shoot your video, so no more fumbling for the date/time button while filming. In the reviews I read the three drawbacks to this camera I found to be only partially true in my case. Most reviews claimed that the zoom button was awkwardly placed so you had to use your pinky or ring finger on your right hand to use it. If you hold the camera according to the instruction book and like the third picture in the group of three snapshots on Amazon.com's site, this is not a problem and can be done with your right index finger. The touch screen menu was a problem for some reviewers but not for me. I think it is a great idea to be able to scroll through my menu on my lcd screen, because my framed shot is in the background and I can stay focused on that while setting my fade type or other digital effect. The third problem for reviewers was the image quality on stills. This I would have to agree with and for a all in one camera I would make the ...extra plunge and go with the Sony DCR-PC110. But again I have a digital camera so this was not a concern. The size of this camcorder is perfect and I can't wait till our next trip to Disneyland to take it on every ride and catch my children's faces, something I couldn't do with my hi-8 because of its cumbersome size. I do recommend getting only up to the NP-FM50 battery, if you go with the more powerful NP-FM70 or the NP-FM91, the battery sticks out too far on the side of the camera, this does not affect your grip or filming, but it does make finding a small case difficult and putting the camera in that case even tougher. So, if SIZE and VIDEO quality are your concerns, I can't see any camcorder beating this one. Now if Sony would just make a mini-van.

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Compact Camera - Highly Recommended!, February 7, 2002

By 

R. Kodama (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DCRPC9 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder (Electronics)

I originally did extensive research on the "vertical palm size" mini-DV camcorders and narrowed my decision down to the Sony DCR-PC9, the Canon Elura 20MC and the JVC GR-DVM75. Let me tell you that this was an extremely difficult evaluation because all three cameras have their strengths and weaknesses and there was no clear choice. The digital video technology found in all three of these compact cameras is absolutely amazing. I originally purchased the JVC but I had concern with the workmanship and the quality of the hardware - I had read several reviews where the owner eventually experienced problems and the cost to service the camera was extremely steep. I ended up buying the Canon Elura 20MC and did a side by side comparison against the JVC. Not being completely satisfied with either camera, I finally purchased the Sony camera as well. This ended up being an involved process but it was the only way to really evaluate the cameras.

Although you can make arguments that one camera had slightly sharper images or another one handled colors slightly better, overall all three cameras produced crisp, accurately colored images in outdoor sunlight settings. Under outdoor overcast conditions, the colors can be on the dull side but the video still was of decent quality. All three camcorders performed poorly under low light conditions. The low light video taping was indoors at night with single or double lamp lighting with light bulbs between 60 and 100 watts. The Cannon Elura produced the poorest quality video (even with the low light setting) - very dark and grainy and the quality was actually poorer than an 8mm analog camcorder. The Sony and JVC with standard auto-shutter settings produced about the same level of video quality which was less grainy but still on the dark side. The lower shutter speed settings on the JVC and Sony improves the image but the video becomes very choppy. As stated in other reviews, the Sony Night Shot (IR based) feature is impressive and works relatively well under "no light" conditions but creates the greenish monotone image. I am not sure how much video I will actually keep with the Night Shot but it is fun to use.

Sound quality is good on all 3 cameras but I do agree with the other reviewers who have commented on the problems associated with having the microphone located on the top of the camera. All the camcorders pick up some motor noise but the noise seemed to be more prevalent on the Canon. I also thought the sound was a little muffled on the Canon when compared to the other two camcorders. The Canon and JVC have wind screen options but I found them to be of limited value.

Not surprisingly, the digital stills from all 3 cameras were extremely poor. Even with the XGA resolution and built-in flash, the JVC stills were only marginally better than that of the other cameras. The best field stills (captured from video) came from the Canon and then the JVC. If you want to produce "print quality" digital stills, my recommendation is to purchase a separate dedicated digital camera instead of spending extra money on a higher CCD count.

You can read about specific features and functions in other reviews for the 3 camcorders but here is a summary of my side by side comparison:

For the Canon Elura 20MC
Pros: Quality Video, Progressive Scan, extended Recording Modes, good ergonomics and design, well constructed, the smallest of the 3 camcorders, manual exposure and shutter speed settings
Cons: Poor low light quality, short battery life, too small for large hands, microphone picks up the most motor noise of the 3 cameras, poor stills, no software, requires a shoe for external microphone and head phone, no USB support

For the Sony DCR-PC9
Pros: Quality Video, NightShot, the most features/functions of the 3 cameras, battery life was about 30% better than the other camcorders, lens ring for manual focus
Cons: Construction feels cheap, Poor Ergonomics, poor stills, cumbersome menu system, uses Sony's proprietary memory stick, limited remote controller functions

For the JVC GR-DVM75
Pros: Quality Video, High Band Processor emulates progressive scan, Built In Flash, well designed remote controller, good number of features/settings
Cons: Construction feels cheap, Poor stills, short battery life, poor viewfinder resolution, requires a shoe for USB connection,

Here are a couple of general observations for purchasing a camcorder. Most sales people only know the specs of each camera but have limited (if any) "actual use" experience outside the store. The image quality on the LCD screen is not a good indicator of the actual quality of the recorded video - you really need to view the video image on a TV screen. Finally, you cannot fully assess the quality of a camcorder within the confines of a store.

Because I am planning to do quite a bit of indoor video taping I decided to keep the Sony. I really hated to give up the Canon progressive scan. I originally thought I would keep the Canon (see my review under Elura 20MC) but the poor quality video in low light eventually prompted me to evaluate the Sony. The bottom line is that each camcorder is an excellent product and the best camera for you is dependent on your needs. If you are on a budget, the JVC offers the best overall value, performance, features for your money. Although I only had limited, the hardware quality of the JVC seems to be on par with the Sony. If you are primarily video taping under good lighting conditions and want to capture stills from video, then I would recommend the Cannon. The Elura was also the most compact, most comfortable and best designed. If you need a camera with many digital effects, options and special functions and are video taping in low light/night conditions then I would purchase the Sony. Good luck!

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PC9 vs. Other Digital Camcorders, July 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony DCRPC9 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder (Electronics)

After long and painstaking research, I settled on this camera. But try to find any comparisons, and you turn up very little. So here's my few words of thought.

The JVC GRD-VP3u is the next best contender in this price range. It wins for size and still images, but not much else.

The Canons did not have the resolution in the viewfinder or LCD panel quite like the Sony (best) or JVC. They also had a cheaper feel when hefted. The feature set was not bad, but overall I couldn't get the comfort level with them as with the other two.

The Panasonics also came across lacking. Great feature sets, but the size, build, picture quality, viewfinder and LCD resolution, and style didn't work for me. The prices were good, but little else.

I quit comparing much else. It really came down to the PC9 and the DVP3u. Now, the JVC boasts a few features that would have taken the cake, but they didn't seem to work very well. NightAlive didn't seem to make a significant difference, if barely noticeable. It certainly didn't work well enough in low light to overcome the advantage of Sony's NightShot, even with the lacking color in NightShot mode.

Sony further beefed up NightShot with a Super mode that produces a choppy picture. However, it provided an exceptionally good image in total darkness -- whatever that may be worth to those who can get over the choppy picture.

The Sony touchscreen is a real winner in my book. It made the system very intuitive and easy to use. One criticism is that in the menu mode some of the abbreviations were a little too cryptic at first. However, this touchscreen system gets high marks for being well designed, functional even during recording, and easy to use.

Both the Sony and JVC are light and small. This has made use a desire and more common than my older camcorder. I consider both brands good quality builds, but Sony seems to be the better brand for overall equipment features, quality and performance.

I prefer JVC's lens cap (a sliding panel) to the cap that covers the Sony lens. It is a minor nuisance to have a cap dangling around while using the camera.

The video quality of the Sony is fabulous. It produces wonderful video, even better in dark than I expected. As everyone says, bright light produces the *best* video, but don't let that suggest that the video is bad in lower light.

The Sony connects easily to the computer and actually transfers pics and video clips from the memory card very quickly via USB. While USB is a relatively fast bus, many devices cannot provide the throughput, in and of themselves. However, the Sony does well.

I have not tried a Firewire transfer yet, but I expect this to be handled just as well by Sony and JVC alike.

In summary, I believe that the few features on the JVC that are seemingly better than on the Sony do not perform well enough on their own, nor overcome in total the features of the Sony camera.

Good-luck.