Sony HDR-HC7 High Definition Camcorder With 2.7” LCD Screen

Sony HDR-HC7 High Definition Camcorder With 2.7” LCD Screen
HIGH DEF. 1080I 2.7 W/S T/PNLV/S T*L 6.1 M/P1/2.9 NS

Customer Review: ‘An expensive Toy’
Sorry, but this is an overpriced toy, yes its apparently feature rich, but far too complicated for the average jo and therefore pointless. And the controls are also too fiddly and complicated to access for an aspiring pro. Put it on easy mode and can’t handle dark. The buttons are too small, and you will press the wrong ones on more than one occasion. I can’t comment on the results yet, but I am sure others can tell you the quality levels, I haven’t had a chance yet. I may try and take mine back I am that disappointed..

Customer Review: Superb
After my old JVC camcorder returned home faulty after my sister borrowed it I decided to treat myself to a shiny new HDV camera.

After spending several weeks reading reviews my short list came down to the HC7 and the canon HV20, and eventually decided on the Sony and have not been disappointed. Quite frankly the picture even on a normal def TV is stunning, lovely colours and a very sharp picture.

Its easy to use and I quite like the touch screen although it does get greasy quickly, I’d recommend the screen protectors you can find on ebay.

The manual focus dial is a bit fiddly, if only sony had included a focus ring the camera would be very near perfect, but that said if they did it would probably end up in the prosumer bracket.

The only drawback with Sony is they put their own hotshoe on the camera limiting it to the about 3 mics and a few camera lights, I’ve tried the mics and they are pants really. There is a solution though… you can buy an adaptor for the hotshoe which enables standard mics to be used, but at ?20 for a lump of metal a bit pricey(search on ebay for one).

I really cant fault the camera though, excellent in low light too.

Oh… dont believe the rubbish about HDV tapes, just use the sony premium ones which are about ?1/each.

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Canon MVX35i Digital Camcorder

Lowepro Clips 110 Bag For Digital Camcorder - Black
Amazon Price: ?23.15

Canon XH A1 Professional Digital High Definition Camcorder
The HDV1080i XH A1 is perfectly balanced for easy handheld shooting. Full control over image variables with new ultra-fast Instant AF makes the XH A1 an ideal digital filmmaker s tool. Number of Pixels Gross (K): 1.67MP x3 Microphone Terminal: Yes LCD: Size (inch): 2.8 Maximum aperture: f/1.6 Minimum Focusing Distance: 20mm USB: No 16:9 Wide (Full): Yes Optical Zoom: 20x Digital Zoom: N/A Image Stabilizer: Yes (Optical Lens-shift) Built in Flash: No Memory Stick Compatibility: Mulitmedia/Secure Digital Cards Supplied Accessories: Tbc Battery Type: Lithium-Ion Warranty: 1 Year.
Amazon Price: ?2,406.00