Sony DCR-HC48 1MP MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom (Handycam Station Included)

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M3IM00
• Item model number: DCRHC48
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,968 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

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  Camera & Photo > Camcorders > Digital MiniDV

• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 8, 2007

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The DCR-HC48 contains a 1-megapixel CCD for enhanced detail and clarity along with exceptional analog video performance. Capture high-quality video and easily transfer it via Memory Stick Duo media slot on your PC or the included Handycam Station. It’s never been easier to share all your moments.

DCR-HC48 Highlights

1-megapixel Advanced HAD CCD imager 1/6-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 690K effective pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance. The Megapixel technology enhances your digital videos and digital still photography performance.

MiniDV recording Offers up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution, 3x the color bandwidth and a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio, to provide spectacular video performance.

25x 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.

2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Hybrid LCD display Provides excellent viewing clarity for both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios, 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.

One-touch wide-angle shooting Easily switch between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios for shooting with just the touch of a button.

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.

Handycam Station included The supplied Handycam Station cradle provides quick and easy connections to a compatible TV for viewing or to a PC for editing and sharing video. Just placing the camcorder on the Handycam Station instantly makes the connections. No need to search for cables or wires when charging or playing back.

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.

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.

Digital Still Memory Mode with Memory Stick Duo media Capture still images up to 1152 x 864 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo media and easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices.

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.

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.

Super NightShot Plus infrared system With Sony's Super NightShot Plus infrared system, you can capture natural-looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

On-screen zoom and record controls For additional control of the camcorder, the DCR-HC48 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-HC48 can continuously record for up to 10 hours (viewfinder) or 9 hours (LCD) on a single full charge, providing extra long battery life.

Product Description

With a 1 megapixel CCD, the DCR-HC48 MiniDV Handycam camcorder captures every detail of every frame. And you'll get everything in the frame with the 25x optical/2000x digital zoom through the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens. The 2.7" wide hybrid touch panel LCD displays your video in vivid detail while allowing you to easily control the camcorder's features. You even have better control over your video clarity with Super SteadyShot image stabilization and Super NightShot Plus. And with the built-in Memory Stick Duo media slot and the supplied Handycam Station, it's quick and simple to share everything you've recorded.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Camera for the Price, beware accessory creep, April 12, 2007

By	James Gallogly (Orlando FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The DC-HC48 is a great camera very nicely sized and easy to use. I chose this version instead of the HC38 due to the support for stills and the improved CCD.

The picture quality in good light is great. I actually displayed it on my 60 inch TV and the picture was as good as normal television. I was very impressed with the picture. It was also nice how easy it was to switch aspect rations to either 16:9 (wide-screen) to 4:3 (standard). However as it got darker outside and the light got lower inside I notice much of the "color" from the picture began to fade and the picture became somewhat mono-tone. This seems to be a common complaint for cameras in this price range with low-light.

I took the camera into a dark room (I couldn't see a thing) I turned on the night mode and was very impressed. People and things showed up great in the pitch black. The IR light emitted by the camera was picked up nicely and acted like an flashlight that only the camera would pick up. The subject had to be 5-10 feet away and of course the image was best in the center. The effect was very much like Survivor's night shots, or the Blair Witch Project.

The camera has two modes of operation. Normal node , which allows you to custom set settings like set Focus, Exposure, White Balance, or Effects like Old Film etc or set the settings to Auto. And Easy mode, which lets you basically turn beeping on and off and leaves all settings set to Auto.

The issue I found is in Easy mode the Still Pictures did not work. Also you have to stop recording to switch between Easy and Normal mode. The still photos are a fine quality for considering its a 1 Mega-Pixel camera. I wouldn't recommend using this as your primary still photo camera though its nice to have the option.

The touch screen I found to be somewhat cumbersome since you have to scroll through looking for the choices that you want. So if you want to make a setting change quickly and if you are unfamiliar with the camera it might take a while to find. I also tend to shake the camera some when I use the touchscreen. A nice feature is that you can create your own custom activity list so settings you set frequently are more accessible then those you don't use.

Where I was most disappointed was with the accessories. The standard battery it ships with lasts 1.5 hours, which seems like a reasonable time considering a MiniDV tape only holds 60-90 minutes depending on your setting. But like all batteries the 1.5 is ideal conditions and not real world turning the camera on and off and playing with the features and zooming in and out etc. Additionally the Battery takes an 1 hour and 40 minutes to charge which is surprising. Unfortunately the battery is not the newer ActiForce batteries which charge in approximately 20 minutes (with the actiForce charger).

Also to take still photos you'll need to buy a separate Memory Stick Duo card. (Not a Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo has a smaller form factor). The USB cable that ships with the camera lets you get the Still photos from the camera (attached to the dock) onto your computer. However it does NOT let you get the video. Instead you need a fire-wire cable which is not included. Sony sells this cable for around $40. Belkin makes that cable for around $12. The fire-wire (i.Link) cable only allows you to download video onto your computer (not the still photos). Again you must be attached to the docking station. If your traveling and wish to download to a computer you'll need to bring the docking station with you (it is pretty small but my be a hassle to bring with you). The docking station is one way to charge the camera or you can connect it to the wall with the supplied cables. Unfortunately there is only one power cable for the dock and the camera so if you plan to just bring the power cable you'll have to disconnect it from the docking station.

In short the camera is great just be aware you might be buying some more cables, batteries, chargers, memory sticks or other accessories that will end up affecting your total price of ownership. And that the Sony brand name versions of these accessories can be surprisingly pricey.

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Sound/Video quality - Like No Other - Sony, February 23, 2007

By	C. Shah "C. S." (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

my skill level: beginner

I picked up the latest Canon ZR800 from a local store and tried some shooting with it, since there were no reviews of that latest model - but i was totally disappointed with the quality - video had granulation & the worst part was - it has a motor noise which gets dubbed on the tape :(

so i ordered this Sony HC48 & i am really really impressed with the performace, great video quality (no granulation) & sound too. As some of you are curious, it has infrared light which is great plus point for shooting in night time. Infact, when i tried shooting in dark with the NightShot Plus turned on and i tried to put my hand in front of the infrared light, I could see a patch of light on my hand, i was really thrilled by that, seeing its actually a light coming out of the camera. Ofcourse you probably need to use a tripod to shoot in night light for better stability.

Also, it has various other features/modes that i didnt notice in canon. for instance, it has a color mode to bring out colors more effectively in low light, a shooting mode to capture minute objects like insects etc..
I am glad i returned the Canon ZR800 and bought this one

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEYOND WHAT I EXPECTED..., July 13, 2007

By	Anton Tobias (The vast cornfields of the Midwest) - See all my reviews

I picked up the Sony DCR-HC48 Handycam just three days before heading out for a southern California vacation (had to replace my Panasonic from 2002 because it just wasn't cutting it anymore).

I was expecting about the same picture quality I was used to with my old Panasonic DV-103, boy was I wrong. After returning home from a week in the sun and editing the footage with Premiere Elements 3.0 and burning the finished product to DVD I was astonished. I have never seen such detail in a home movie in my life. The colors were so vibrant I thought maybe I had hit a time warp and ended up back in Hollywood. Truly an amazing camera. Even the paltry sized battery that was included with the unit lasted a fairly reasonable amount of time.

As a general warning to those in the market for a new camcorder I'll include the follwing side note:

My friend, who was with me in Cali, was also shooting with a Sony camcorder. However the unit he was using was the Sony DCR-SR62 HDD Handycam. After attempting to edit the footage on his PC and burning a DVD, the scenes were of poor quality...very shakey with tracers trailing every movement in the frame.

This is (from what I understand) because of the MPEG 2 files HDD (and DVD) camcorders use. Apparantly these files are useless to edit with because of the degradation involved in encoding and transfering MPEG 2s on a PC.

Too bad...wish someone had told my friend that before the trip.

For now anyone who is intresting in editing their video footage on a PC should stick with MiniDV camcorders. I highly recommend the Sony DCR-HC48 Handycam as a quality consumer level camcorder with a decent price tag (especially online).

Neccasary Accessories:

- bigger battery (I recommend the Sony NPFH70 H Series)
- carrying case
- The Sony VF-30CPKXS 30mm Polarizing Filter Kit with protective lens cover (this may seem like an excessive accessory for some but when shooting at Santa Monica Beach I got a tremendous amount of sea breeze on the lens, which had me stopping at the local Office Depot for a lens cleaning kit. A bit frustrating considering I'd owned the camera for less than a week).