| Sony HDR-HC5 4MP MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom | 
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| List Price: $1,199.99
Buy New: $799.50
You Save: $400.49 (33%)
Buy New/Used from $575.12
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 11 reviews)
Sales Rank: 16552
Category: Photography
Publisher: Sony
Studio: Sony
Brand: Sony
Label: Sony
Media: Electronics
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 10
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 51
Minimum Focal Length: 5.1
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.1
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 6.9 x 5.2
MPN: HDRHC5
Model: HDR-HC5
UPC: 027242701472
EAN: 0027242701472
ASIN: B000M3EP4W
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor; choose between HD & DV recording formats | | • | 4-megapixel still image capture; Super SteadyShot image stabilization | | • | Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens; 10x optical zoom/20x digital zoom | | • | 2.7-inch widescreen Clear Photo LCD Plus | | • | Memory Stick Duo media slot |
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Product Description
Sony's HDRHC5 HD DV Camcorder makes it easy to capture perfect digital video, every time. Capture high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) video to a MiniDV cassette. Record every detail of every moment, with the 10x optical/80x digital zoom and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens. As you record video, you'll also take still pictures at the same time with the 4.0 Megapixel still image feature. Snap spectacular 2.3 Megapixel photos while filming in dual record mode. The HDR-HC5 even slows down the audio. Get it all and get it in high definition with this amazing camcorder. Professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens - advanced optical multi-layer coating, with less glare and flare with increased contrast 2.7 widescreen 16 - 9 hybrid LCD touch panel -- rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles Smooth Slow Record - Increase the frame rate from 60fps to 240fps, capturing smooth slow motion Record an audio track to narrate what is being seen in the video Multiple scene selection modes, plus fader and picture effects One-touch wide angle shooting; manual focus; on screen zoom & record buttons Dual Recording - While you record high definition video, you can also capture 2.3 Megapixel still images directly to a Memory Stick(R) Duo (up to 2304 x 1728 resolution) Super SteadyShot(R) compensates for camera shake without compromising picture quality Cinematic Mode adds a frame film-like effect to video -- perfect for creating home movie masterpieces Tele Macro Function handles close-ups without casting a shadow on your subject i.LINK (IEEE1394) interface for easy connection to camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards and PCs Active Interface Shoe for adding accessories while directly providing power & two-way communication InfoLithium battery with AccuPower(TM) Meter System Multilanguage m
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Good, not as good as hoped August 9, 2008
I bought this while living in Hawaii and sold it a little before moving. The whole process of getting it from dv to file format was just too annoying for me. The quality of the video was pretty good, not as high as hoped. The slow motion capture was a nice feature, but was pretty restrictive.
The compact size was great and it was relatively easy to handle on the go.
I'd definitely say at this point to avoid DV even at some quality loss and go with something that is recording straight to file for ease.
Works quite well August 6, 2008
This camera works
With ideal conditions, the camera can capture very impressive HDV footage,but with less light... it can be, well... not so good
I got this camera for home use, I own professional Sony HD cameras, so Sony is always my top choice.
For home use, its ok
Note: The deck transports are very good for a camera this cheap, and the lens is above average.
see ya!
f3
 Outstanding camera January 25, 2008
I am extremely pleased with this camera. I have been shooting and editing video as a hobby for about 10 years and am thrilled with the image quality of this lens and the processor. If you are going to buy it, my only recommendation is to make sure your computer can handle editing HD video. It is MUCH more data than standard "Mini DV" or Digital Video and will be extremely taxing on your computer's processor.
As compared to similar products in the same price range that I tested in stores, the Sony seems to be slightly better built in terms of its casing. The only potential flaw I noticed was the plastic "door" for the ports. This thing could break extremely easily.
This Sony camcorder gives great high definition video for an affordable price January 23, 2008
This Sony hi-def camcorder (filming in 1080i) provides a lot of value for the price. The key to "home movies" is always going to be the quality of the media on which you are putting your recording, and on to that end, this camcorder delivers very, very well for a relatively inexpensive price.
I bought it for about $1,000 in NYC in March 2007 just before a family trip that was to include the Grand Canyon. When I came home and played the recordings on my HDTV, I felt like I had just produced something for the Discovery Channel HD! (I'm talking about the audio and video quality combined with the scenery, of course ... NOT my "skills" as a cameraman!)
Here are the major PROS:
- HDMI output port included, which allows you to show video straight to HDMI-equipped HDTV in the highest quality available (HDMI has become the HDTV standard cable for delivery of digital video and audio in one cable, and all HDTVs made in the last year or two have at least one HDMI input -- current ones have 3 or 4, for other sources like HD cable boxes, HDMI-equipped DVD players, game consoles, Blu-Ray DVD players, etc.);
- Component output ports also included (one for audio, one for video; special cables included), in case you do not have an HDMI input on your (likely older) HDTV;
- Firewire and USB (albeit 1.1) output ports included, for easy upload of video to your PC or Mac;
- You can take pix while filming;
- Low light filming is very good;
- The Night Vision works VERY well (albeit in green, but that comes with any infrared illumination);
- The "shoe" on top allows for a Sony zoom microphoneSony ECM-HGZ1 Shotgun Microphone for DCR-PC55, DCR-DVD305, DVD 405, DVD 505, HDR-HC1, HC5, HDR-UX1, UX5, DCR-SR100&SR200 Camcorders, which I highly recommend for anyone shooting any outdoor footage (the sound actually "zooms in" as you zoom in on the video subject, minimizing distracting noise made by others near the camcorder!);
- The playback features are AWESOME, in that they allow for super slow-mo and zoom, and you can also record a 3-second sequence (golf swing, baseball pitch or swing, basketball shot, etc.) in high-speed filiming (120 frames per second, versus the normal 30 frames per second), so you can dissect that activity to your heart's delight; and finally (not really, but I have to stop somewhere),
- You MUST invest (not much $ for the value) in a Sony tripod with remote control on the tripod handle; this allows you to zoom in and out; start and pause recording; take pix; even turn the camcorder on and off ... all from the main handle of the tripod!!! Sony VCTD680RM Remote Control Tripod for Sony Cameras & Camcorders (I'm not sure if the one I just featured is the one I own. The one I own includes a balance bubble, removable base (for quick removal of the camera from the tripod) and a tilt that allows you to turn the camera 90 degrees to the side - such as when you want to use the camera function in portrait mode.) That works out really well at kids' activities (sports, recitals, etc.), as you ELIMINATE camera shake (see CONS, below). Also, you can change tapes while the camcorder is on the tripod (the inability of which is a common design faux pas on too many other camcorders).
Some CONS:
- The image stabilization is not great, especially at zoomed-in distances, resulting in noticeably shaky video when you record by holding the camcorder with one hand and then plug and play the results on your HDTV (see recommended tripod, above, to fix that most times);
- No microphone or headphone jacks (which don't matter much in regular use); and
- the mini-dv tapes are more expensive than any off-the-shelf-at-CVS/Walmart/etc. types, although you can buy them in small bunches on Amazon for less than $10 each all-in NOT REFURBISHED, NEVER USED, NEVER OPENED.. It is said that the hi-def tapes have a better metallic coating on them that make them better-suited to hi-def recording. I have never done a side-by-side comparison of regular versus hi-def tapes, so I can't opine on that.
In the end, you want to get the best MEDIA for your priceless memories, and this camera (in the hi-def mini-dv format) delivers, as the video and audio are less compressed than on hard drive or DVD hi-def camera, and thus more revealing. And since Blu-Ray seems to have won the High-Def DVD race (defeating HDDVD, if you are to believe the papers), then buy this camera, record your priceless memories before they go to college and convert then to Blu-Ray DVDs when Blu-Ray DVD recorders get to a reasonable price!!
Whatever you choose, first go to a bricks-and-mortars store and try out and compare this camera and a few others. Good luck!
HDR-HC5 Review December 5, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
So far I have found this to be a great camera. Here are a few of my observations so far.
Video Quality: The video quality this this takes is great. However, there must be sufficient lighting. In a dimly light room, for instance, the video accumulates a fair bit of grain. But by adding a few more lights, or taking it outside on a nice day, your videos will rival that of broadcast HDTV.
Sound: Like most all camcorders the sound is very average. And the only mic's available are proprietary Sony mic's. One must upgrade to the HC7 to get the real mic inputs.
Features: This camera comes pretty packed. There are manual settings for exposure, focus, white balance, and a few others as well. And all of these, for better or worse, are adjusted through the touch screen interface that I personally love. Some of the buttons on the screen are small, so those with bigger fingers may have trouble navigating the camera.
Battery: I get about an hour of real recording time with the built in battery. It's enough to get through a Mini-DV tape, but not much more.
Other: The "Smooth Slow Record" is garbage. Yes, it does record 3 seconds of video extremely slow. But the video quality makes YouTube look like HD... It is bad. The Night Shot is pretty cool and works just as described. The effect is only as good as the built in IR light, so you can see maybe 15' in the dark. The touch focus feature is really cool. Just touch on the screen where you want the camera to focus, and it does it automatically.
Recording on Mini-DV tapes seems quite antiquated, but it does get the job done. It is a proven standard and pretty much any decent video editing program can handle it. The hard drive camcorders out there that record in AVC-HD do not currently enjoy as much compatibility as HDV, so that is why I when the tape based route.
Overall, this is a great camcorder. It could use some "real" manual features, like a dedicated focus ring, but those kind of features seem to be reserved for cameras in the 4 digit area. The video quality is also great in the right conditions. Definitely recommended.
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