Digital Video Camera & Camcorder Review

The HC3 sets the industry standard in resolution quality with its ClearVid CMOS Image Sensorâ„¢, capturing precise detail and superior color reproduction.

Engaget has news on the Sony HDR-HC3 and writes - “At $1700, the new cam will retail for $300 less than its predecessor, the HC1 (although the latter can now be had for around $1600), and improves on some features while seemingly falling short on others. Like the HC1, the HC3 records up to 1080i onto standard mini-DV cassettes in HDV format, but it ups the ante with stills up to four megapixels (and even simultaneous widescreen 2.3 and 4:3 1.7 megapixel stills while shooting video), although it has a lower gross pixel count, no manual focus ring, and we’ve heard grumblings of a “noisier” picture. Still, the 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD plus-powered touchscreen display, HDMI output, and relatively compact size (26% smaller than the HC1) may actually help this cam live up to Sony’s hype and become the first consumer-oriented HD model to the gain a foothold in the coveted soccer mom demographic upon its April debut.

CamcorderInfo about the Sony HDR-HC3 writes - “It is clear that Sony is going after a different target market with the HC3. While the HC1 was the most affordable high definition camcorder ever when it was introduced, it included many features that were clearly targeted at prosumer users. The HC3 drops those features as well as the price and focuses on Sony’s core market of point-and-shooters seeking ease of use.

Those feature choices could alienate many of the users who made the HDR-HC1 such a popular camcorder. However, Sony is continuing the HDR-FX1 and sources close to the company stress that this replacement isn’t an abandonment of prosumer users. Rather, they stress that Sony is attempting to satisfy the needs of a greater number of camcorder users who are interested in HD with a more utilitarian model.

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Sony, camcorders, camcorder, review, reviews, HDR, HC3, HDRHC3, HRD-HC3