Digital Camcorder News: A Hands-on Look at Sony’s HDR-HC3

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.digitalcamcordernews.com/posts/2006/03/139-a-hands-on-look-at-sonys-hdr-hc3' target='_blank'>http://www.digitalcamcordernews.com/posts/2006/03/139-a-hands-on-look-at-sonys-hdr-hc3</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I recently got to handle Sony’s new HDV digital camcorder, the HDR-HC3, very briefly. I didn’t have a chance to test out video quality, unfortunately, but I am going to tell you that this camera is pretty darn slick. I think the form factor is what got me most of all. When they say it’s 25% smaller than the HC1, they are being modest. Professionals probably won’t like the style as much, but the consumer market to which this camcorder is targeted will love the sleek, slim body. The first thing I noticed is that the battery sits in a recess in the camcorder body (image via SonyHDVInfo). No more having that 7 hour battery stick up against your nose while you’re trying to look through the viewfinder."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/114171425585_tn.jpg" /><br /><br />We recently <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,9866">reviewed the Sony HDR-HC1</a>. right here on Digital Media Thoughts, and now first impressions of the successor, the HDR-HC3 are starting to appear. Technology marches on!

[Philip Colmer]

So they fixed one of the main bugbears - having the battery right in your face. From the look of it, though, they've moved at least three sockets to the rear of the camcorder as well. I suspect that to get the size of the device reduced, the overall height has come down, so the sockets have either been moved or gone.

We know that the HC3 has HDMI, so I would think that the component video socket is no more.

As I suggested in my review of the HC1, as the first generation of prosumer HDV camcorders from Sony, it was going to have the bells and whistles. Subsequent models, like the HC3, will have compromises by comparison and it will be up to the purchaser to decide how they want their pie cut up, so to speak :-).

--Philip