Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV Handycam with X40 Zoom

Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV Handycam with X40 Zoom Reviews

Good camera, Good price!
the picture and sound is very good, also if you want to audio dub you can, connects to a pc easily if you have firewire.
The zoom is probably the best ive seen so far on a small camera, low light picture isnt too bad, some grainyness but what do you expect,there is also nightvision which is pretty good!
all in all a good camera

picture not good
The camera is cheap, the zoom is impressive but the picture quality is not. Good to give to your six year old kid so 2 stars.

very disappointed
Due to my JVC dx 57 finally giving up the ghost and
on the basis of reviews here I ordered the unit 05/08.

Taking some test footage of foreground panning to landscape outside in bright summer sunshine. I then transfered via firewire to my PC and was very disappointed with the results. Specifically the unit really struggled focusing (an issue I could perhaps understand in low light) and footage looked like it was shot in soft focus. Note this is not apparent when replaying footage on the unit itself (which I assume is the reason why this has not been raised in other reviews or perhaps this is the first camcorder the other reviewers have experienced).

You can manually focus the unit but try doing that when your toddler subject is running about and its definitely not recommended.

I suppose I was asking for trouble with a unit boasting 40X zoom, sounds great until you try it and find you're reaching for a tripod. Sony would have done better concerntrating on the basics.

Top marks to Amazon in their returns policy as I was dreading this but turned out the best part of the purchase (the reason why this review got a star).

I then joined Which (I only wish I'd done so before) and my experiences tallied with their review. I've subsequently up'ed my budget and bought a Panasonic nv gs330eb (again from Amazon) and I'm delighted with the quality of the footage taken.

The main lesson I've drawn from this it don't solely trust these reviews.

Sony Handycam DCR-HC51E
I got this product in the box new complete with AV cables,charger etc.
This product is amazing and its for an exetremely low price!!
I highly Recommend Sony they make amazing products including this one.
When i discovered that it can do loads of good special effects I Was so Amazed. It is so lightweight you would not belive it!!
I also Recommend these Sony accessories :- Tripod,LCD Cleaning kit,lenses,sports pack etc.

So If You Need A Camera Recorder Get This One!!

Doesn't do what it says on the tin
Amazon say it has USB connection. (Still, now, 3 months after I bought mine)

It does not, the 53 and 54 do. it is not just the cable that is lacking as I thought at first - there is no connector socket for USB on the camera.

This was the only reason I bought this model!