Sony Handycam DCR-PC5

Looking for my first camcorder last week, I was presented with a wealth of options from traditional Digital 8 Video cameras to the new modern Digital Video camcorders. After some preliminary research on the Internet, I found that the general concensus was that Sony offered both superior picture quality and sound. I can whole heartly agree with this assessment, the picture is cystal clear in comparision to other camcorders, and while the microphone is placed on the top of the camcorder, it is remarkable how is manages to pick up sound (although on occasion a little too much background sound). I opted to the PC6E, an evolution from the highly acclaimed ...  Read the complete review

I bought this camera after trawling around the Internet and various shops for opinions and advice. I wanted a decent quality camera but it needed to be small - the theory being that I would far more be likely to carry around a small camera than a big one. I am happy to say my choice has been excellent. Although the zoom doesn't match up to some of the bigger cameras, it is plenty good enough and can do really close up work. The output quality is brilliant, whether it is straight to TV/video or to a PC. The zoom is slightly fiddly, but easy enough to use even with my banana fingers. The still photos are only 640x480 so not brilliant but okay ...  Read the complete review

don't buy it unless you what small - Advantages: small, still pictures, light - Disadvantages: zoom button is awakard, drinks to much battery powe, touch screen marks

Update: I can now say that I made the right choice. The camera is a delight to use. Digital stills taken on the memory stick are brill. Video quality is excellent even in max zoom and as good as anything else on the market. The humming noise I refer to below cannot really be heard on playback at all. The only drawback is battery life with the standard battery. Use it with the screen open and you'll be lucky to get 30mins usage. However, the small size pays off time and time again. I've even dropped it onto a (thinly carpetted) floor from two feet up and it works no problem. Great! **************************************** I bought our ...  Read the complete review

We bought this camcorder especially for our holiday in Florida, we needed one that was small so that we could take it on rollercoasters etc. and be able to hold onto it! The Sony DCRPC5 was the smallest we could find. For £1000 (from www.unbeatable.co.uk) this camcorder has everything. Great zoom, clear picture, stills capable and of course it’s really tiny. My favourite part of the camcorder is the still picture facility. You can store digital photos (like a normal digital camera) on a memory stick which is supplied with the camera. They can then be downloaded to a PC from the camcorder. All of the leads and software are supplied with the camcorder ...  Read the complete review