Customer Reviews
A good camera for the price! 
2008-01-07
This camera is easy to use, easy to handle. I have small hands and it is lightweight, fits snugly in the palm of my hand and takes great videos. The instructions are simple and, although the camera is capable of alot more complicated uses, for a grandmother taking videos of grandchildren just for the fun of it, it works extemely well. I would recommend this highly to anyone who, like me, is a novice. I can't imagine I will ever outgrow it!
Very average Camcorder 
2008-01-01
I purchased this camcorder to replace my 8yr old Sony Hi-8 video recorder as the Sony was failing. I also wanted to "digitize" my videos
so I could download onto my computer and back them up via DVD. I read that mini-DV tapes were the best value for recording, so I opted for this unit.
This is a very average, easy to use camcorder. Controls are easy to understand. All play or record controls are on the LCD. Here's my assessment:
* Image quality is fair- no better or worse than my older Sony unit. Being a digital camera, I expected the image quality to be much improved.
* Image quality under low light is fair to poor. Very grainy and sometimes hard to see.
* Convenient "Backlight" button is very useful. If you are filming a subject with a bright background, the camera's aperture senses the bright light and gets smaller- causing the subject to appear dark. This backlight button will open up the aperture and allow more light in-- providing a more balanced light on the subject.
* There is no easy way to "date-stamp" your videos. On my older camera, I could push a button and it would show the date & time on the video. This is a very useful option. To put a date stamp on the HC38, you must go thru a menu of items on the LCD. This is inconvenient when filming.
* You can NOT download videos from the camcorder to a computer without a firewire port on your computer. This is a major limitation as other camcorder mfgrs don't have this restriction. The camcorder does not come with firewire cables. You have to purchase them separately.
* Image stabilization seems to work well.
* High level Zoom isn't very stable. Don't expect to get stable videos using the 40x zoom
If you want a very easy to use and very average camcorder, this is it.
Do your research. For the money, I think there are better camcorders on the market than this one.
No Remote? WTH ? 2007-12-25
This is a third MiniDV Camcorder I've owned, after Samsung and Canon brands. Ironically, the last one I got has the least features. I was aghast when I didn't find any Remote Control in the box. You have to go to your camcorder every time you want to forward or rewind your tape. Simply Lame!! Had I known, Would've never bought.
Besides, If you're planning to use it with your Wide-screen HDTV, This ain't the right choice. You gotta get an HD camcorder.
Menu system is totally touch-screen based, which is pretty awkward. You have to keep pressing your tiny LCD all the time. Not so user friendly.
Solid Camcorder 
2007-12-23
This is the second camcorder I've owned and third I've used. I am amazed at how lightweight the unit is that it's possible to record a whole fifth graders band concert without feeling one's arm will fall off!
I also use Linux at home on my personal computer and the camcorder just worked via the "firewire" (IEEE 1394) connection. This is a very important feature for me.
So far it has performed flawlessly. I've used the 16:9 widescreen mode so the video fills our HDTV display in the proper aspect ratio (no ugly stretching).
Good, But Upgrading! 2007-11-25
Well, I purchased this product refurbished around a month ago. I carried this baby around with me and made multiple films in the breif period of time. I could not love a human child more than i loved this camera. But about a week ago, the camera would no longer turn on. I hope this does not discorage any potential buyers, i think that it may have been a problem with a refurbished product. I am just going to upgrade top the DCR-HC96 because of the Hot Shoe ability and so i can have a more versitile camera.
The best feature of the DCR-HC38 is the 40x optical zoom it retains great clarity and can see farther then most home binoculars. All and all a very good camera, and would recomend to anyone who wants a very good cheap camera.
Sony DCR-HC38 Review 2008-03-30
Great value, easy to use. Good quality video, can't beat the 40X and features. I would recommend this camcorder to anyone looking for a quality, easy to use product on a low budget. But don't be fooled by the price, this camcorder has a better quality picture than my JVC that I paid $700.00 for three years ago.
Great quality and compact size 2008-03-24
This is my second Sony MiniDV camera (my dad dropped and broke my first one). It works great and provides good quality.
There are lots of great comments and reviews out there, and I won't repeat all that stuff. Here are a few quick comments:
- It's small enough to fit in a belly-pack or fanny-pack. That means it's easy to bring along. Cameras left at home don't deliver very good results!
- I thought having the 40x optical zoom would be awesome. It is, but here's my caveat - it's virtually impossible to hand-hold the camera at full zoom and get a decent picture - even with the great image stabilization feature turned on. When you get past about 25x, you'll need a tripod or to brace the camera on a ledge or something.
- Night vision (using an infra-red emitter to illuminate in total darkness) is a great feature, which most people overlook.
Great stuff, as expected, from Sony!
LCD Blows out 2008-03-02
I have an HC32 camcorder and my LCD display just died without much notice (it flickered one day and became dark with red hue and died). I searched the problem and it appears that a lot of people have shared a similar story on the net. It happened to my when my camera was about two years old. Similar problems have been reported on HC42 model as well. You may want to research this problem. I am not going to buy another SONY camcorder (it was my 3rd Sony Camcorder in 17 years...one of them still works). I was very happy with it till it worked. But, the LCD problem appears to be a widespread problem. Once the LCD display dies, you can't do much as most of the controls are through the touch screen.
Good Camera for the Money 2008-02-13
I bought this camera as I wanted one that was easily carried because I travel a great deal. I read all the reviews prior to buying it and it has lived up to my expectations and the quality of the videos taken is excellent. I had second thoughts about it not having a light but it takes good videos in low ambient light conditions and the "night shot" feature works well.
It is a very user friendly camera right out of the box. The only negative feature would be lack of a remote control but for a little more money, Sony makes a model with this feature. All around good camera for the price. You won't be disappointed.
Not a bad deal 2008-01-08
I had researched for 2 weeks before I made a purchase on this video camera. I was started to look for one using USB connection but the picture quality is not what I wanted. I came across with the HD type as well but according to what I read it may not have the quality I wanted and the disk space usually save up to only 30 mins of good quality video.
Anyway I back to the basic and get a Mini DV. In short I brought this according to all different review.
I'm satisfy with the camera. It's not really a snap to use. I had to read the manual a little bit before I know how to do play back and get it connect to the PC. That part could be because I'm not a Sony person.
By the way, I also brought the fire wire card along with this camera in Amazon. My PC don't have the interface and that's the only way you could transfer the video into the PC.
The only draw back I had on this camera is the software come with the camera. It's not that user friendly but I was warned by others so I'm prepared for that. It's a kind of struggle. The software isn't easy to use but I get by it. I able to view the video in the PC and save as AVI that could be just viewed with Windows Media player. I wish the software is a little more user friendly.
One more thing I wish is a little more people will talk about on the accessories. I didn't know there are any accessories could be purchase until I got the camera. On the box there is a leaflet about spare battries, universal charger, light, etc. I think that's alright though because after I registered the product with Sony they gave me a 15% off coupon.
Another thing to note is on still picture quality. I know there are millions of people wishing to get a DV to take still picture as well. As far as my knowledge there isn't any DV able to do any high quality still picture. I tried on this one and it only able to make 640 x 480. I really think if people want good quality still picture they should get a Digital SLR instead of a DV to do the job.
The overall rating isn't bad for this camera in my opinion.
