Sony DCR HC62 1MP MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom

Editorial Review
The DCR-HC62 miniDV Handycam(R) camcorder is a high quality, versatile, and highly capable device. The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens and Super SteadyShot(R) image stabilization capture clear, sharp video. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses are designed specifically for compact camcorders, and utilize precision ground optics to maintain the sharpness and contrast found with larger lenses. Powerful 25x optical, 2000x digital zoom brings you close to the action, and the 2.7" touch panel Swivel Screen LCD display puts control of everything at your fingertips. 1/6" Advanced HAD(TM) (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 690K effective pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution and still image performance. In addition the Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms. The display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio over the Internet using USB interface. When using the Sony InfoLITHIUM Battery, the Stamina(R) Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge. 35mm Equivalent - 43 - 1075mm (4 - 3 Camera Mode), 41 - 1189mm (16 - 9 Camera Mode) Aperture - F1.8 - 3.2 Filter Diameter - 30mm Focal Distance - 2. - 62.5mm Shutter Speed - Auto, 1/2 - 1/4000 (Scene Selection Mode) Minimum Illumination - 8lux (1/30 Shutter Speed) Video Signal System - NTSC color, EIA standards White Balance - Auto, outdoor, indoor, and One Push (Touch Panel) Picture Effects - Mosaic, Solarization, Monotone, Sepia, Neg. Art, and Pastel Dimensions - 2 1/2 x 3 3/8 x 4 5/8 (63x85x115mm) with Battery Weight - 1 pounds (455 grams) with tap
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Customer Reviews

Good point and shoot

2008-04-04
We wanted a compact, easy to use camera with a reasonable optical zoom and this camera is just that. No bells and whistles (no audio inputs, no manual controls) but easy, nice pictures, and most important it's small. You must get a longer-life battery.

DCR-HC62 - USB Download Problems

2008-03-29
Sony does not tell that you can't download your videos from the camera via the usb port. You have to us the Ilink / Firewire port; which ment I had to buy an $80 computer card and a $50 Sony cable. I regret this purchase.

Shirley

Great camcorder!

2008-03-01
Although this is my first camcorder, i am very impressed with this model. For $300, you get a lot, night shot plus, image stabilize, 25x zoom, many available accessories that will make your productions profession looking. The video quality is really good, along with audio, the colors are true and the camcorder focuses well. The battery they give you lasts a while, but i would recommend the FH70, it lasts a lot longer. Overall i am pleased with my purchase, it got here on standard shipping in 2 days, thanks amazon!

No video cable to transfer to computer

2008-02-19
USB is only for still pictures, for video need to buy other cable (i-link also known as FireWire). Sony should have included this cable.
Other wise it's pretty simple and good camcorder.
I really don't see any difference between HC-48 and this one.

Great camera, excellent time lapse feature

2008-06-26
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PRFAYV4K81ZL A big part of the reason I bought this camera was for its smooth interval recording (time-lapse) feature. Strangely, Sony's higher end high definition camera HDR-SR5 does not have this feature. I have been quite satisfied with this feature's flexibility and user-friendliness. For some reason, the smooth interval recording has a 12 hour time limit, so if you want to do time lapses longer than 12 hours you have to stop the recording a couple times a day and re-start it and it will go for another 12 hours.

For regular video usage it's a good camera. The 2000x digital zoom, if you haven't guessed, is comically useless (not that I expected anything more). The tele-macro capabilities are pretty impressive.

As others have mentioned, it does not come with a firewire (IEEE 1394) cable that is required if you want to download video to your computer. I knew that before buying it and picked up a standard 4-Pin/6-Pin FireWire cable from Amazon through a third party seller (Phoenixgold) for under $1 plus shipping, so not a big deal. I could see how that would have been annoying had I been unaware that this cable was not included.

P.S.
The "audio sample in an outdoor environment" clip was shot with an Opteka .43x fisheye converter not included with the camera. Also, the audio was significanly compressed after I uploaded the video so it's not quite what you would hear straight out of the camera.

Great product

2008-06-09
It's a excelent camera, as I read in last review you need the iLink cable to copy the video to the computer, and I order one at the same time I order the camera; and Amazon it's great, even I order with the super saving shipping, they ship the order the next day and arrive me 4 days after.

Great Camera

2008-04-21
The video quality is great as is the audio. I use this camcorder for blogging and drum videos and it has not disappointed. Importing footage via firewire (sold separately for 10 bucks on Amazon) is seamless via Windows Vista.

Other than a minimal battery life that comes with the camcorder, it's great.

Cheers

Sony Customer Service AWFUL

2008-04-19
I have had an awful experience with this camcorder worse yet with Sony Custome Service. I shot multiple tapes of irreplacable content and discovered that the transport was defective and that the mic pics up a constant rumble. Sony customer service was completely unresponsive and refused to replace the camera but insisted a service call of indeterminate length was what was in order. They had me appeal to their "Executive Review Board". Their answer was a curt "Service take it or leave it" I won't ever buy another Sony product. I urge you to do the same. P.S. The cameras performance wasn't anything special either.

Sony should have included the iLink cable

2008-04-06
I dont understand why Sony did not include the firewire/iLink cable with this as without it you cannot transfer video to a computer. I had to shop separately for the cable once i discovered this. that's painful..

Cameras & Photography Products and Books

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PC Magazine Guide to Digital Photography

Editorial Reviews from Book News, Inc.
A couple of digital photography experts weigh the advantages and disadvantages of film vs. digital photography, and explain the basics underlying both types of photography. The Grottas provide reality checks on such issues as whether the number of megapixels really matter, and tips on camera selection, use, and e-mailing and organizing photos. The handbook includes color and b&w images, a glossary, and sidebars and Web links for further technical details.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland.

From the Back Cover The megapixel hype
The fact is a camera’s megapixel rating is only a measure of how many pixels (photosensitive sites) an image sensor has…. An image sensor is simply one component of an entire system that produces a digital photograph… So resist buying into the megapixel hype when you’re choosing a digital camera. From Chapter 1

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