Sony DCRPC109 Compact MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

Other products by Sony

Product Details

Data Sheet [347kb PDF]

|

Product Manual [4.20mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0001DB3HU
• Item model number: PC109
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,314 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 7, 2004

Product Description

Product Description
Compact and feature rich, the Sony DCR-PC109 MiniDV Handycam is the perfect camcorder for people who demand quality and convenience. Featuring a large 2.5" hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display, Super NightShot Plus infrared recording system, Super SteadyShot image stabilization, and a big 1.0 megapixel Advanced HAD imaging device, the DCR-PC109 provides all the punch of a camera twice its size. Combined with Memory Stick DUO media, it even doubles as a digital camera, able to take pictures as large as 1152 x 864 pixels.What really sets it apart from the competition, though, is its innovative Handycam Station, which provides quick and easy connection between the camcorder and your TV, VCR, or computer. Now, viewing your footage is easier than ever before. Plus, it provides power to the camcorder and charges the battery while you wait, assuring you a full charge whenever you use it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good camcorder for certain needs, March 15, 2004

By	RICHARD DIBONA (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I pre-ordered the PC109 and received it a week ago, so this review is not able to be extensive through all usage scenarios.

It is a very small camcorder. To relate just how small, if you hold a metal tin of Altoids over it, you only see about 1/2" of the camcorder sticking out. Of course, this means the buttons and controls are commensurately small as well.

Finding a good position to hold it and control the zoom will take some trial and error since the zoom button is located near the lens, on the opposite side of where your index finger will be in the most natural holding position. It's right next to the still photo button, which kind of slides down, too, so you may find yourself snapping photos when you really want to zoom.

The color display is nice, and shows up well enough that you can use it to get an idea of what you're shooting outdoors. The actual video is a little larger than what is displayed during capture. The lens has a little switch to open and close it, and it is something you will have to remember to do when you're done filming. I have forgotten a couple of times.

There is a little press switch/slider thing that lets you choose the three modes: regular camcorder mode, memory stick mode, or playback mode. The playback mode gives little VCR controls on-screen that you touch to FF, REW, Pause, etc. I have not used memory stick mode as I do not intend on using my camcorder as a digital camera.

The DC-IN plug right on the camcorder is somewhat difficult to access right below a tiny plastic door. The door doesn't stay out of the way of the plug too well when open. There is another DC-IN plug on the docking station (discussed below), so fortunately you won't have to access this door very often.

The recorded picture quality is quite good and very sharp. It is quite impressive given the size of this camcorder. Please refer to other reviews for objective discussions of the picture quality. I think it looks great, but I don't have anything to compare it to.

Now to the Handycam Station. The unit ships with a mini docking station which contains the USB/Firewire/S-Video/DC/etc. ports on it. It is topped with this thin white plastic that at first I thought was packing material and almost tried to pull off. The feet on the docking station, at least on my unit, are sticky so they are hard to dislodge if you are moving the station around a lot. Which brings me to the biggest reason why this camcorder is not right for me. I have a little Sony Vaio TR laptop which I want to hook the camcorder into via iLink/Firewire so I can show my kids the videos right after I shoot them even if we're on the road somewhere. The problem is that in order to hook up the camcorder to anything else (TV, laptop, etc), you need the docking base, meaning that if you plan on using the camcorder in a mobile environment like me, you have to carry around the docking station, which is a pain. I would rather have the camcorder be a little bigger and have the plugs right on it.

That being said, if you intend on having the base permanently next to your TV or desktop computer and just bringing home the camcorder and plugging it in, then this may be the camcorder for you because of the ultra-portability of the camcorder itself and the nice picture quality.

I personally do not need an ultra small camcorder so I will be sending mine back and paying the extra money for a DCR-HC85, which has better video resolution and the ports right on the unit.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice little camera, March 31, 2004

By	R. whitman "r777" (NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've had this camera for a several weeks so far, and so far, so good.

The good:
It seems to do everything well, including low light video. Moreover, if it is so dark that Night Shot is required, Sony seems to have improved it -- colors are pretty realistic (no longer overly green).

The camera is very small and compact. Sony's marketing pictures don't do it justice -- it is smaller than it looks. I have found this to be the best feature of the camera because we never hesitate to take the camera along, which has resulted in many more shots.

The camera body itself is very clean and uncluttered. It contains only a few buttons -- on/off, zoom, snap-shot picture, lens cover, and special effects. Everything else is accessed through an intuitive menu system displayed on the touch-screen LCD panel. Also, even though the zoom and snap-shot buttons are in close proximity on the camera, I have never confused them (due partially to the fact that the zoom is a lever switch and the snap-shot is a button.)

No motor noise.

The LCD screen is bright and can be back-lit. I have no problem seeing the screen in sunlight.

The camera offers true widescreen mode (16x9).

The docking station is nice, conventient and easy to use -- dock the camera and it charges and is connected to the computer at the same time.

The standard battery is good for about two hours of shooting and the battery retains its charge in the camera (you never have to take the battery out of the camera).

Turning to the bad:
The LCD screen is on the small size. This is made worse in 16x9 mode because the display is letterboxed.

Although the camera itself can be charged without the docking station, and the camera itself has analog video outputs (it lacks a digital output). The docking station is required for a digital output. So, if you are travelling and want a digital output, you'll have to lug the docking station around (this isn't so bad because the docking station is pretty compact).

The lens cap is not electric or automatic. We occasionally forget to shut it.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Little Camera, July 3, 2004

By A Customer

I replaced a 7 year old Canon HI8 camcorder with this one. I've had the 109 for a couple of months now and here are my comments.

GOOD:
Size: It is really small and compact. Well built and solid.
Motor noise: My camera has no motor noise. Absolutely none. I have seen some reviews that say their camera has motor noise. My suggestion is, if you get one that does, replace it. Perhaps you got an early one or a gray market?
Battery life: I get about 2 hours with the standard, tiny battery. Interestingly, the same reviewer that said he had motor noise claimed to get less than an hour with his battery. There must be something wrong with his camera.
Low light: Seems to be pretty good and better than competition.
Simplicity: It is very easy to use as a point and shoot. There are only a few buttons. The LCD screen doubles as a touch screen for the menu.
Docking station: Makes it convenient to plug-in to the computer because the docking station is always connected to the computer, and to a wall outlet for charging.

BAD:
Small LCD screen: I guess this is a tradeoff with the small camera size (but if you have seen Sony's new T1 still camera, they know how to put a large LCD on a small camera). Also, the LCD can wash-out in sunlight, like most other cameras.
Docking station: Although convenient, the only way to recharge the battery is to plug the camera into the docking station. This means, for trips, you have to take the camera, the cord, and the docking station with you. This is inconvenient and bulky. Sony could have easily made the cord plug into both the camera and the docking station for recharge, but Sony instead has elected to release an optional "compact" battery charger for around $70. Typical Sony. Similarly, the camera itself has analog video outputs. To get digital outputs, you have to go through the docking station.
Microphone: It is placed on top of the camera, so it does pick up some non-directional noise (from places other than directly in front of the camera). It seems to be somewhat directional though because it doesn't really pick up noise from the shooter.