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But I like to use the knob for white balance control - too bad, it can only be used for one function at a time. For me, yes. If you are ok with the easy button, you can't go wrong with this camera.Pinnacle Studio Ultimate Version 12Vegas Pro 8 [OLD VERSION]Sony VCL-HGA07 HG Wide Angle Conversion Lens 0.7x for 30/37mm It doesn't. I've been relegated to the "easy" button. 5 stars for this.The view screen (/touchscreen). Isn't that the point of face recognition - to focus on the subject.
You will get much more from your vidz if you take the time to learn the software (pinnacle is great for newcomers) and edit your movies to make them enjoyable - get rid of all the jittering and out of focus shots, and the 10 minutes of the same thing. Why, you ask. That is one reason I decided on this camera - it is one of the few with a viewfinder. I have to bump my camera several times while recording to change something. You don't see touch screens on those, it's buttons and knobs.Another function that most consumer camcorders now lack is the viewfinder. Trying to change settings while recording is just a joke. Maybe it would be okay for post-recording or playback functions. But for grins I thought I would just see what "picture motion browser" could do.
I use Vegas 8.1 for my editing. Not sure why features like this are being removed as time goes on.Picture quality in good lighting (when focused) is phenomenal. Plan on adding another 2K to the cost of this camera for a new computer. Then of course you are going to want a monitor capable of view 1920 x 1080 HD, add another 400 minimum.
Big 'ol thing that recorded on VHS tapes. Yeah it's neat for about the first five minutes, but you get over this "novelty" really quick. Even if it's on a tripod, the camera shakes all over the place. Sony is the only one who that I know of that still has this as a standard feature.
Does nobody see how ridiculous this is.This brings me to:Lack of easy to use controls - very cumbersome to stumble through multiple menu levels to change simple settings while recording.In case you haven't picked up on it, I'm not a fan of the touchscreen. FYI Vegas 8.1 works great, but it has a high learning curve. Hint: Record Night Shot in B&W for a much better pic quality.Autofocus: struggles to find a focus point and stay there - very irritating. Throw in some still shots and pan across them. That camera had more functionality than this one that was made 20 years later by the biggest and supposedly most innovative electronics company. But the main point is: HD. I don't even try to change anything anymore while recording - very disappointed in this. Pinnacle works good too, much better for the less-technically inclined user.Hint for home movies: Edit, edit edit.
Are some things irritating. I think Samsung had it on a couple cameras. Because my 90's camcorder had BUTTONS AND KNOBS. Nobody wants to watch 20 minutes of an unedited birthday party. Then you can't see the image b/c the screen is covered with it's menu options. But to use manual focus, you have to change the setting via the touchscreen menu to dedicate the ONE KNOB on the front of the camera for focusing.
Seems nothing is easy these days.However, with all that said, you can play your videos straight from the camera directly to any TV - Standard or Hi-Def.In summary, I'm very glad I purchased the camera - it really is a good buy. Expected More. Really. Take advantage of it. A note on computing.
I used this a lot. Froze up every time I tried to use it. Even with that, there is still some (very little) stuttering when editing in Vegas 8.1 Also, you will want a Blu-Ray burner drive, and Blu-ray discs for your finished videos - more cost. However, my last camcorder (not 90's) had a telescopic viewfinder.
But it's not just sony, ALL consumer grade cameras are like this. But still worth the price.-Low light picture quality: vey grainy - pointless to shoot in low-light, must use a light, or the night shot.I am very happy that sony continues to incorporate the Nite Shot feature in to their cameras. My computer is quad core 64 bit with 8 gigs of ram, powerful Nvidia Graphics cards (SLI), a 1.5 TB HD, running vista x64. 5 stars for this.Supplied recording software. I've tried changing all kinds of settings to rectify - it still has this problem. The easy button works pretty good, but not always how I want.
This has been a sony staple almost since they started their Handycam line. Never got it to work on my brand new powerful PC. And if you want to adjust white balance (or ANY other setting for that matter (well, not focusing)) you must do it via the touchscreen menu. You can take some awesome HD vidz with it - something unheard of only 5 years ago (at anywhere near this price). Unless you have at minimum a fast dual-core processor with a ton of ram, and a large hard drive, you will be frustrated. 5+ stars for this.Audio quality is top notch.
It seems features get taken away as time goes on, but I'm glad Sony decide to keep this great feature. And very time consuming). gives an incredible picture during recording and playback. You can make some great quality movies with the tools available to anyone these days. Or you on the beach over and over and over. You must burn your videos to Blu-Ray in Hi-Def.
This one does not have a telescopic viewfinder. The solution is to use manual focus (or a lot of unnecessary editing, which makes the video cut in an out too much on one scene.
Some like the lack of knobs and buttons - understandable. If you are only going to downgrade the video to standard quality and burn to DVD, then you are wasting your money on this camera to shoot in Hi-Def.
Doesn't work on my camera. Don't just burn your vidz straight to DVD/Blu-ray.
But it would be nice if there was a consumer priced camcorder that had buttons and knobs for those who like more controlThe only way to get buttons and knobs is to buy a $12,000+ professional grade camera. Yes that's right you do.
I had a camcorder in the early 90's.
Anyone knows the reason behind the raise, recession. I checked with a friend who purchased the camcorder late 2008. He said the camcorder is good, but not worth $1500.
I will stay with my Hi8 for a while. Now the MSRP is $2000, and sale price is $1500. I have been watching this product since December last year when the prices came down to $700. At that time the MSRP was about $1000.
I think I would rather stay with my old hi8 camcorder now. The price of it now is even two hundred dollars more than it was two months ago. I don't own this product. I have been watching the price of it for a couple of months.
You can use other 3rd party software to convert the files from AVCHD to avi or mpeg2 and get better results, but it is a bit of a drag. However, it is very slow to process this format. The newest Adobe suite, CS4, can now ingest these files.
You can shoot and shoot and shoot with no tapes. Touch screen interface works well.Picture quality is fabulous. This is a wonderful camera.
As stated in other reviews, 3rd party software is still catching up with this format. This should resolve itself over time.Overall, though, well worth the trouble converting for the freedom of tapeless operations and HD clarity. Review your clips with a visual thumbnail index.
Lots of options to customize settings via menus.
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