Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Camcorder

This MiniDV camcorder has been well accepted within the camcorder market with many people shocked at the quality it can provide for such a small camera. The camcorder is not much bigger than the tape itself, it also offers a 10x Car Zeiss Vario Tessar lens, an active interface accessory shoe and an excellent 3 inch LCD screen.

The mini camcorder is available to buy in four colours and it also offers a very designer feel. The zoom controls are straightforward with a toggle at the back of the camcorder. At first, the size of the camcorder makes handling it a little tricky. Having big hands doesn't help this problem. Furthermore, you need to exercise caution with your index finger drifting into the bottom of your frame from time to time.

Feeling comfortable may take a few minutes. But once you have it mastered, you'll be ready to shoot away. A still photo mode allows you to take snapshots and movies recorded to a Memory Stick Duo. This mode features a progressive shutter system to provide more crisp details in still photos. Included with the Handycam is Picture Package Software. The software allows you to burn DVDs, create music videos/slideshows, save to CDR and view content on your computer. Other features include standard 4:3 or wide 16:9 format (squeezed) shooting, digital effects and self-timer.

A new intelligent accessory is featured on this camcorder, the smart shoe. Although it has not been well accepted by some Sony fans, the majority of the camcorder market seem to have accepted this product well. A 3- inch LCD makes viewing a whole bunch easier with brightness levels that compete well with bright sunlight. The LCD is the only option for monitoring video and it doubles as a touch-screen that drives the camcorders menu system. It will also rotate 270 degrees so you can mirror yourself in front of the camera.

There are several conveniently placed buttons along the frame of the LCD panel. The "Slideshow Plus" button plays stills and movies from the Memory Stick Duo. It will even apply zooms and pans to the slideshow. An "Easy" button will throw your camera into an automatic shooting mode. There are display, backlight, and record buttons too. The "Record Start/Stop" button is a favorite, allowing you to start and stop record with one thumb on the LCD while the other thumb can control the zoom.

Just like the majority of Sony products, this mini camcorder can be bought online or from numerous different high street shops. This product is operating in a very difficult market and there are numerous alternatives available. Buyers who contemplating this product should first try out the mini camcorder and test whether it meets their style. If it does not, potential buyers should try out the vast amount of alternatives available.