bit-tech Shopping: Sony DCR-HC51 Mini DV Camcorder

• Built-in Speaker
• Fader Function
• Viewfinder

• A/V Output
• Firewire / i.Link / DV (IEEE 1394)
• S-Video

Rating: 10

Time with product: 40 Days

Strengths: Lightweight, small, compact, excellent video quality and superb camera for the price.

Weaknesses: The stabilizer doesn't work properly at times, thus the auto-focus seems to blur for a few seconds every once in a while (minor weakness).

Summary: This camera comes straight to ease of use and affordability including very decent video quality.This camera looks rather stylish, with the zoom-trigger at the above-right side, where your point finger is placed, to allow easy access without having trouble finding it or shaking the camera around.If you have the silver-version, you will notice it looks quite fancy for such a cheap device and that the shiny SONY sign is possitioned at the perfect place.Now the Ease of Use, and then the performance.So, the Sony DCR-HC51 is defenitely a user-friendly model, giving you a preinstalled 'Built-In THG'(Technical Help Guide) allowing you to choose whatever feature or mode you would like to know about.The included Guide Book is simply perfect, just what you would need, doesn't go slowly towards the end; but instead there is the Need To Read Section, which takes about 10 pages with coloured images taking up a heap of space.Then you can start filming quickly, not having to read a whole book, but only the 'Nead To Read Section' and then when you want to do some advanced-capturing simply go on the built-in THG or, for more details, read the Guide Book.Now, the Performance.Right this is what you mostly care for usually, and it's no problem with this camcorder!So, I had my camcorder delivered with charged batteries, and I took about 10 minutes to read the most important articles in the included Guide Book.Then, I started filming my home, things outside and made my own little comedy-movie; which I edited easily with WMM (Windows Movie Maker). Although this might get fussy at times, you have to wait as long as the clip you've been filming took, so I filmed about 24 minutes, and that takes 24 minutes to import on the computer (I have the 'I.Link E2 Pro', which takes 15 minutes instead of 24