Sony HDR-HC3 HD camcorder reviewed

Sony's HDR-HC3 high definition camcorder just got the once over by the IDG crew in Tokyo. Remember, this is a consumer-based device that is both lighter, smaller, and more tightly spec'd than its HC1 sib. In fact, it's compact enough now, that it fits in a coat pocket or bag without weighing the reviewer down -- something not possible with the HC1. IDG was well impressed by their ability to shoot at better quality than the "majority of broadcast TV" fed into their HDTV setup. Controlling the camera could be a bit difficult, especially if held at chest-height. And the lack of feedback on the manual focus thumbwheel meant they kept the device in auto-mode most of the time. Bottom line: IDG calls the HC3 the "best camcorder at present" for consumers looking to get into High-Def home video. So now you just have to scrounge up $1700 before these drop next month.

[Steven @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:49AM]

This will be a "must have" device! I need a high quality cam for shooting roller coaster videos!

[Karthik @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:01PM]

Yay, now people are going to be recording the movies in theaters in HD.... instead of grainy ole camcorders...

[JT @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:18PM]

I want one so badly it hurts.

[Jay @ Mar 2nd 2006 1:11PM]

For accuracy, HD can't, gotta say it again, HD can't be recorded on mini-DV tapes. this camera is not HD but HDV which is a simulated codec

looks like a nice toy camera though

[Wry Cooter @ Mar 2nd 2006 3:12PM]

Where exactly do the specs differ between HD and HDV? Pixels? Framerate (interlaced or progressive?) Gamut? Compression (visible or not?). Yeah, there are probably further flavors within Pro HD land, but how close is HDV?

The thing that was cool about DV was, that it was better than NTSC, and good enough, that is, practically as good a signal that a DVD could provide in many cases, given a good camera. How is HDV going to stack up, with HDTV?

More like a VHS camcorder on NTSC, which was not necessarily up to snuff?

[Jay @ Mar 2nd 2006 3:42PM]

#4 check out this article. i think it will answer some of your questions.

http://www.technologyevangelist.com/2005/12/hdv_why_i_hate_it_bu.html

[nemi @ Mar 2nd 2006 3:44PM]

there is agood primer here on HDV format and how it comares to DV:

http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/article.php?filename=Explanation-of-the-HDV-Specification


In short HDV is either MPEG 2 720p 30fps at 19Mbs or 1080i 60fs in MPEG2 format at 25MBs.

Audio is 48kHz 16 bit at 384kbs data rate.

[EatingPie @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:34PM]

HDV is not full-resolution 1080i HDTV. It's 1440x1080 rather than 1920x1080. Apparently this is an HDV limitation, not a "hardware" limitation in the camera -- any HDV camera will shoot like this.

I have the HDR-HC1. If you wanna shoot a movie theater, you gonna see grain! That's the CMOS talkin. Very grainy in low-light, very nice and clean in bright light. Oh and bit torrent? Forget it. Your scammed movie will run you about 25-30 GB in the end.

OTOH, for legal uses, a 25mbps data rate rocks! No motion artifacts or macro blocking whatsoever!

-Pie

[EatingPie @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:37PM]

Oh forgot to mention. HDV uses a "rectangular" pixel, so it resolves out to an 1920x1080i image. It's just that's not the resolution it was really recorded at.

-Pie

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:13PM]

I love this statement:
"The sensor also has a greater number of green pixels for each red and blue pixel and that means better color, Sony claims."
Wow. That's almost like... any other Bayer sensor.

[sdwells @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:22PM]

when this kind of camera drops below 1000 it will sell like hot cakes, what soccer mom wouldn't want to capture the highest resolution of their kids

[Dave C @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:19PM]

Actually, just to correct one point. This product is LOWER spec'd in some areas than the HC1, for example, pretty sure there's no external mic socket or headphone socket, which pretty much rule it out for prosumer use.
It's a weird mix - better LCD screen, top loading tape, but no mic and headphone socket...Hmmmmm

Dave

[Sp1n @ Mar 3rd 2006 3:41AM]

what is the battery life of this beast? and how long can u record on this beast till u run out of space?

all these specs are really hidden from the consumer. i tried looking up on sony site...and nothing tells about the battery life

[jem @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:04AM]

TO #9 the reason why green pixels be more greater is that there is more green light coming into the camera than red or blue light, it is the most common light source.

To #5 Have a look at Cine ALtas range of XDCam range, guess what! they also Use GOP. So Cine Altas aren't pro cameras?

[Spectral Flagellum @ Mar 3rd 2006 3:16PM]

I got my complete HDR-HC1 package for 1400 shipped, with some free stuff(lens cleaner, mini stand, head cleaner, free tapes, 2 memory sticks) and I did that a whopping 3 and a half months ago. This thing'll be way cheaper than 1700 if you actually care about saving you money, ie. searching the net and not going to best buy.

I got mine from http://www.bwayphoto.com

[CapWKidd @ Mar 3rd 2006 9:22PM]

#15 - wow broadway photo has a VERY low rating on reseller ratings.... just FYI...

[Spectral Flagellum @ Mar 6th 2006 2:58PM]

#16 - yeah I noticed that before I bought it. I was too intrigued by the low price to just blow them off though without forming my own opinion, and they were shipping via trustworthy UPS, not some FedEx fiasco. I called and spoke directly to somebody who knew what they were talking about, and had him read the info off the box to me. I just made sure it was legit and in stock before I ordered. They were quick with emailing me the tracking info, and it got here just when bway said it would, and with an extra memory card to boot! Maybe it's supposed to come with both 16 and 64 mb Sony Memory Stick Duos, but Sony doesn't say so, and they were stuck together. I love the cam, and bway was good to me, so I'd refer people to them. $1400 is a lot, so I'd suggest to anyone to be sure of who your giving it to.

[Shahryar @ Mar 8th 2006 4:23PM]

Any comments on the pop up ads on this page which have it at $949 here:
http://thecamerapros.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=271

and $999 here: http://www.pcandplasma.com/shop/Product.asp?ProdTypeList=1000&Sku=SonHc1

[The Banjonut @ Mar 13th 2006 10:19PM]

#15 and #16...Oddly enough, bwayphoto is already selling the NTSC? HC3. How can this be?
http://www.bwayphoto.com/product.asp?id=snhdrhc3

[Jacques Bouvard @ Mar 14th 2006 10:42PM]

OK, so now you can shoot HDV with the HC3 without going broke. But then what? How do you edit your footage? Adobe Premiere PRO 1.5 has an HD plug-in. Does it work with the HC3 output? And what about burning the edited program into a DVD? Will my DVD-RW drive on my computer handle the HDV format? And will my DVD player handle the HDV format? In other words, is the HC3 only the tip of the HDTV iceberg?

[El Stingo @ Mar 15th 2006 10:06AM]

Jaques: I can cut HD in iMovie on my Mac since last year... no problem here. Free (and best consumer-) app, comes with any Apple system. Burns DVDs. :-)

[chris @ Mar 28th 2006 1:46PM]

can anyone help me better understand what editing HDV would entail. Can i cut it together seamlessly with footage shot at 24p from the panasonic AG DVX100?
or regular dv for that matter. I work with Final Cut HD. thanks!

[Swinga @ Mar 31st 2006 8:01AM]

Well..I just paid $1873 US for the HC3 PAL (Im in NZ), and got the wide angle lens and 5 hour battery, and i have to wait until the 30th of april for it get here dammit. Right now all I have is the va6 bag and tripod...

[Sam @ Apr 4th 2006 11:19PM]

I'm sold on HDV. Is it too naively optimistic to wish Sony come out with a 100 GB hard disc version of their HDV camcorder by this X'mas? Can't see myself replacing my old camcorder with one that still uses tape at this point.

[geoff @ Apr 12th 2006 2:07PM]

hey swinga
where did you buy from? i'm in nz too, but new to the game. any hints?

[ron @ Apr 15th 2006 12:35PM]

ECM-HGZ1 Shotgun MicrophoneECM-HGZ1

There is an external microphone compatable with the HC3, the ECM-HGZ1. Look it up.

Ron

[Scott @ May 24th 2006 1:57PM]

The ECM-HGZ1 is *not* compatible with the HC3 (only the HC1).

However, the ECMHST1 *is* compatible with the HC3.