Quick Camcorder Review : Sony DCR-HC96

The DCR-HC96 represents the best of this year's Sony consumer MiniDV camcorders(aside from the high definition HDR-HC3), replacing the HC90. Once again, Sony has produced great video quality in an easy to use package. At $800 (MSRP), the HC96 is definitely not in the bargain basement, but the quality and extra features may be enough to catch your attention.

The HC96 offers a large 1/3” CCD with 3.31 gross MP. A chip this big captures a lot of information and light, which helps with low light performance.

In bright light, the camcorder has a good tonal range and avoids the washed-out appearance of the entry-level HC26 and HC36. As expected, low light performance was very good. Reported colors were bright and strong. The HC96 did not seem to rely too much on automatic gain, which sometimes produces high and uneven saturation levels. Noise was obviously present, but not overwhelming, and not as bad as last year.

Surely the best thing going for most Sony camcorders is their ease of use. Nearly all of Sony's models have a large Easy button, which sets its excellent automatic controls. If you have no desire to do anything but point and shoot, you’d be hard pressed to find anything better. Quick zooms and whizzing the camcorder all over the room don’t seem to phase the auto focus. Exposure and white balance auto control were just as good.

Most interface takes place in the touch screen LCD. Some people praise this control; we take a different stance. Touch screens are small things, relatively – only 2.7 inches. It can be hard to press the item you want. Also, the LCD is prone to picking up finger smudges. Since the LCD is also your main tool in determining picture quality, you’ll probably want to keep it clean, but it’s not really possible.

Manual controls are a different matter; there are precious few to be found on the HC96. Users can access manual focus, white balance, and exposure control (presumably in EV steps)  via the touch screen conttrols. There is no shutter speed or gain control, which you will find on Panasonics. A few Sony-standard semi-manual controls exist: Spot Focus allows you to point at any spot on the LCD and set the focus on that subject. Spot Meter functions the same way, but with exposure. Neither control is particularly sensitive, but for big disparities (i.e., wide variances in focal planes or a subject standing next to a sunny window) they can provide a quick fix.

Still features on the HC96 are very good. This camcorder captures JPEGs to MemoryStick Duo and MemoryStick PRO Duo card, at resolutions as high as 2016 x 1512 (3 MP), in 4:3 and 2016 x 1134 (2.3 MP) in 16:9 aspect ratio. It also includes a flash, burst mode, exposure bracketing, and all the automatic and manual controls available in video mode.

On the other hand, the HC96 lacks adequate ports, such as a microphone jack or A/V in; you will not be able to transfer your old analog video to digital. An A/V out does exist, as does a DV in/out, DC power jack, and LANC jack for wired remote controls. On top of the HC96 is a special Sony proprietary hot shoe, into which only Sony products will fit. Take this into consideration if you’re interested in adding on a mini shotgun mic or other appliance.

The DCR-HC96 produces some great video, that much is undeniable,  and the still features are an attractive bonus. If you want an easy to use camcorder with better picture quality than an entry-level model, the HC96 might be a good choice. But if you want a camcorder that allows some degree of manual control, this is probably not the one for you.The lack of analog or audio input and the non-proprietary accessory shoe are vexing. We strongly recommend considering the Panasonic PV-GS300 before you buy.

Sony DCR-HC96 THE BOTTOM LINE Rating: 225.67

Likes

-Easy mode is great for the beginner -Top loading tape compartment

Dislikes

-Placement of white balance controls within a labrynithian menu structure -Touch screen interface has a mere 123K pixel count and becomes smudged easily -No mic input -Proprietary hot shoe demands consumers only purchase Sony brand products that are able to connect to their specific accessory shoe design

JVC GR-X5 Rating: 224.73	Sony DCR-HC46 Rating:	Canon Optura 600 Rating: 230.33	Panasonic PV-GS300 Rating: 232.59	Sony DC-HC90 Rating: 205.91
Better	Better	Better	Better	Better
-No touchscreen interface  -Manually adjustable shutter speed  -SD memory card  -Unique design does break with tradition -Quickly accessed manual white balance setting  -Minimal manual gain control -Slightly wider field of view  -Non-proprietary mic-input option  -Ports aren't located on inane docking unit	-Lower price at just $499  -12x optical zoom	-Larger imager size  -Menu layout and navigation   -Aperture priority mode  -Manual shutter speed  -SD memory card  -Microphone input is not proprietary	-Lower price range -Better overall video performance score -Manual control over shutter speed, aperture, and gain with each having a large range of options -SD memory card -Non-proprietary mic-input -Optical image stabilization	-Lower price level  -Ports are all located on the body of the camcorder for actual functionality   -Lighter and smaller body size
Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal
-10x optical zoom  -Manual exposure control  -Comparable video performance  -Digitally controlled manual focus  -MiniDV format	-Manually controllable exposure setting  -Touch screen interface for manual  focus control   -Electronic color viewfinder as secondary monitoring device  -2.7 inch touch-screen interface for menus and manual controls  -Memory stick format for still images  -MiniDV format for video footage  -Easy mode for hyper-simplicity	-Manually controllable exposure  -Digital interface on manual focus  -10x optical zoom  -Video performance  -MiniDV tape  -Manual white balance	-10x optical zoom   -Side positioned in camcorder flash  -Digitally controlled manual focus  -MiniDV format for video footage  -Manual exposure control   -Top loading MiniDV tape  compartment  -2.7 inch 123K pixel LCD  -Optical Image Stabilization	-2.7 inch LCD screen  -1/3 inch CCD with 3.31 gross MP  -Manual exposure control  -Poorly designed touch-screen menu interface system  -Digitally controlled manual focus option  -In-camcorder flash is side positioned  -Manual white balance  -MiniDV format  -Proprietary memory card format  -Active Interface proprietary hot shoe  -Zebra patterning
Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse
-Slightly lower quality video resolution  -No viewfinder  -2.5 inch LCD screen  -No flash unit	-Smaller imager  -No analog to digital pass through  -No accessory audio options  -No proprietary hot shoe with this model	-$1100 price tag  -Slightly lower video resolution  -Smaller field of view for wide angle mode  -Bottom loading MiniDV tape compartment  -2.5 inch LCD  -Worse electronic color viewfinder design  -Handling struggles	-Video resolution   -Cold accessory shoe  -Non-true wide screen	-Video performance  -Slightly smaller field of view in wide angle mode  -Video resolution  -Internally positioned battery