...Used it today for the first time. I was shooting a project that lasted 3 hours. Battery still hadn't died! Also, screen will let you know how many minutes of battery it has left. It has a mic jack and headphone jack so you can add an external mic and listen to your audio while you record. Picks up sound very easily so if you need to interview someone I'd suggest a lavier mic or shotgun mic as well. Camera is user friendly for basic consumer uses but still allows you some manual options to enhance your image. Zoom is pretty good but you do lose a little but of quality from far away. Has night shot option. Allows you to take pictures while recording if you add a memory card. It's not as front heavy as people make it seem.
I was looking for a nice hd video camera to start filming mys...elf hunt and didn't want to pay the high bucks that the TV quality cameras cost. I got on ebay and started looking and ran across tha Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 camera. I took it to Texas and videoed myself shoot a 130" whitetailed deer and the quality of the video was amazing and the ease of using the camera was unbelievable. The remote was pricelsess because it cut down on unnessesary movement. The footage will be aired on Stayin Safe tv show next July on the pursuit channel. The size of the camera was another plus because it weighed only 4 pounds and all the accesories that came with it fit into the same case, which made carrying it to the hunt sight very easy. I am going to buy myself another one when I can just so I will have a back up camera. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants to get into filming their own hunts. The quality of the video that comes from this camera would go on any hd tv channel. Leonard Chambers, Dallas Georgia
AMAZIN...G CAMERA!!! The HD picture blows me away. It takes amazing video and the integrated mic is very good at picking up sound and isn't muffled in any way. with this camera you can record HD quality right to MiniDV tapes and don't need expensive HDV tapes. this camera also has an input for a mic and an output to headphones to hear what exactly the mic is recording. this camera is a little heavy but it is definitely worth the weight for looking and working like a professional camera. It takes great video and i am very happy with this camcorder. and by the way I am writing this review in 2014 as MiniDV takes AMAZING quality video!
The camera is compact and has a good quality image for bei...ng such an old camera. It is easy to use and looks great when used on a tripod. Considering this camera can be found relatively cheap these days because it is so old, you do get a lot of bang for the buck if you are willing to use mini DVS.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I am posting again to correct a strange proble...m. The previous review which appears under my name for this product was SUPPOSED to be for a different Camcorder. This particular camcorder, the Sony Handycam HDR-HC1, is a fine unit, not at all burdened by being a DVD based unit. I recommend it over ANY DVD based camcorder. There are also other nice Sony units available. See also the V1, which is even better.