Sony DCR-HC18E Digital Camcorder Studio SonyLabel Sony

Closer Look From: Sony From: Sony Model: DCR-HC18E Salesrank: 34736 Released: 2004-02-05 Lowest New Price: Click Here  Format: Electronics Customer Rating: Also Shop International: (Not all items available internationally)          Accessories: Sony 3 Pack 60 Min Mini DV "Colour" On Brick Sony DVD+RW (4X Speed) 10pk spindle ByteStor USB 2.0 Memory Stick Card Reader Sony DPW 120A - 10 x DVD+RW - 4.7 GB 1x - 4x - jewel case - storage media Sony LCS-HCB Soft Carrying Case for HC Series Camcorders (DCR-HC40, HC30, HC20, HC18, HC16) Customer Reviews: Excellent! This is an amazing camcorder. I haven't had a camcorder in the past, so this is my first. I have used it on a few occasions now, recording my bro's band at gigs etc, and the quality is amazing - visual and audio. A very nice touch screen feature makes it very nice to use. Compact with many features on it. battery life is very good, along with all its visual effects like Sepia, Negative art, B&W... One this I would suggest to any one buying one, that you would also buy a Mini DV Head cleaner, as I found, when I came to record a gig, I couldn't as the head needed cleaning, and it wouldn't let me record...so have that in mind. Besides that, it's a top notch camera! Disappointing software The HC18 is easy to use, can fit in a pocket and produces good images. Great stuff... But the software that comes with it for tranfering from the mini DV tapes to PC is so hopeless, and the customer back up so unhelpful, it would make we think twice about buying Sony again. After many hours I still have not mananaged to sort it out, and looking at the large volume similar messages on bulletin boards, getting onto a PC in order to edit files is a very common problem. If you are fairly proficient at getting smooth images, fades, zooms etc this may not matter. But assuming you want to edit your tape on PC you should be ready for much irritation. It should not be difficult for any reputatable manufacturer to provide clear instructions, even if on-line. Shame they are not yet sufficiently bothered about their client base. May, Kent Good Intro CamCorder A pretty good camcorder for learning the basics but a couple of points to make. Firstly, use windows movie maker for getting picture streams onto a PC that you can then edit. I found using the Sony software meant I either burnt everything onto a CD-RW that I then couldn't read, let alone edit, or it tried to jumble my pictures up into some random mess which looked awful and only allowed me to download about 10 mins worth of footage. Secondly, you will lose definition putting this onto your PC but, if you just want to play a tape direct use the supplied A/V cables to link to a tv - I have a 32" widescreen and it came out near perfect. Enjoy!!! VERY GOOD LITTLE CAMERA I was amazed when i got this camera because it was so small and compact. As a person who uses this camera in many different conditions i was very impressed. It fits in ur pocket very easily and there are no silly little things sticking out to get caught on anywhere. The lens cap is built in so u won't lose that and it tells u if u have left it on so u won't film a blank screen. A bad point was the head cleaning!!!!!!!! U need to purchase a sony head cleaning tape. Do not try and get a universal cleaner for a couple of quid coz it won't work. u need the sony one. You have to use this every few hours of use but the cleaning tape last for ages. i found it hard to find a case for this camera that fitted tightly around it. in the end a bought a digital camera case because it is about the same size as one. It says u can tape still photos. This is true but complicated!!! when u take a picture it takes one like normal at low resolution!!!! but also records 7 seconds of sound to go with it. i also haven't found a way to get them of the camera. the next model up i think has a SD card slot which my mums camera has and makes life a lot easier. The camera itself i haven't found any faults. it is great. the quality is excellent, better than my mums new panasonic that is more expensive. The bottom opening tape loader is a bit annoying but not really a big problem. The night vision REALLY WORKS!!! but only up to a few metres. it is not a torch inside!!!! proper infra red thing! i use pinnacle studio version 9 which works very well except u have to pay more money to unlock all the features. you need a firewire card and lead to get full DV quality, USB is only good for webcams (which by the way work very well) i have also used the microphone on it for audio conversations through msn and other online chat services. The zoom is fast unlike other cameras so u don't have to wait for it to go in and out. It is sensitive though. The battery lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. it tells u exactly how many minutes of battery life u have left. There r few buttons and the on screen menu is very simple to use, u can't c finger prints on it and the display is bright and clear. It comes with a very small and useful remote control for playback and recording when the camera is set on a tripod. ideally u need to try it out urself to see if it is comfortable. i went into Dixons and Jessops to try them out. They were very helpful. Buy now before they go away!!! Over all, This is a very decent camera especially because of the price. look around though. Nice I already have a Sony recorder but it is several years old and somewhat larger and bulkier than this one. I wanted one I could take to the US to Walt DisneyWorld to video the parades and fireworks for my parents to see. I needed one to be small, light, easily portable and easy to use. This did everything I wanted it to do. I have watched the tapes back and everything has come out very well indeed. I was extremely impressed with the picture quality, sound could be slightly better but for what it is it's very good. I'm not a technical whizz but this camera is very easy to use. Related Categories: >> >>Electronics & Photo >>Categories >>Photography >>Camcorders >>Digital Camcorders >>General AAS