After laboriously searching for several weeks, I chose this camera over all other models. As this is a complex unit, there are many long reviews here, and being succinct is very difficult. I will skip most features listed, and try to concentrate on the advantages (many), and shortcomings (few) of this camera compared to others: The picture quality is superb. It's like watching a television. Just one look and you'll be immediately impressed. The only way to get a higher quality picture is to go to a 3CCD camera (more $, and bigger). The only other 1 CCD camera whose picture is as good, is the Canon Elura (because of it's RGB filter), but the Elura doesn't do half what the PC100 does, and it is a lower res camera. The megapixel photo/stills are excellent. Especially when taken at the highest resolution (for simple web photos, several lower res sizes are available). Yes, a 4mb memory stick is not enough. Expect to spend the $125 or so for the 64mb stick.
I do not feel the low lux of 7 is not as much of a limitation as some others. ALL camcorders have problems in very low light, be it 7 lux, or 3 lux.
The size to features ratio is amazing. The camera fits pretty well in a jacket pocket. You can do more with this little camera than so many other cameras of larger sizes. It will do all most anyone will want. The size also fits well in your hands. The zoom feature is too sensitive, and it would be nice if there were a way to lock it into slow/med/fast settings. I occasionally find myself bumping the back lit button, and sometimes hitting the still/photo button, but otherwise all the controls are easy to reach and get used to.
If you buy an extra battery, do not buy the NPFM90. Buy either two 50's, or a 70. The 90 is simply too big. The 70 is pushing the size limit. The good news is that the batteries seem to have a lot of stamina, even with the 50. The Sony batteries seem to last longer in this unit than the old PC1 or PC10 or PC3. And in general more than the Canon or JVC batteries. Something to consider if you are travelling a lot (how I use the camera) I should also note that I have taken this camera mountaineering (in pretty bad weather) and rock and ice climbing. While I did not expose it to the elements for very long, it has proven to be very tough.
Do not complete any order, or leave any store, before also purchasing a UV filter to cover the lens, a wide-angle lens attachment, and case for the camera. The wide-angle is very reasonably priced (less than $100) and you'll use it a lot. If you use the wide-angle attachment, take off the UV filter first, or it will vignette while taking stills in bright light.
The biggest negative I have about the camera is the sound quality. Sony put the microphone right on top of the unit, instead of in front of it. This creates two problems. First, if someone in front of the camera is talking, and there is any ambient noise, their voice is weak. Second, and most annoying about any aspect of the entire unit, is that in some situations the camera picks up an extremely annoying oscillating sound from the camera's motor. How audible is it? Barely, but just enough to drive you mad. Sony does make a few microphone attachments that fit on the hot shoe (great idea here, as flashes and other toys can use the shoe as well) that eliminate this. The best microphone however, is a large shotgun mike that makes the camera a little hard to handle, pick up and put away, or fit in the case (or pocket) with the mike attached. But there are a few other mikes that will at least improve the sound quality. What I have found is that if I am taping someone talking, I make sure I use an attachment mike. If we are out and about, I keep the camera in my pocket and just shoot, worrying about the sound later (during editing it mostly gets wiped, voiced over, or scored over with music and subtle sound effects).
As soon as you buy this unit, if you don't already have a computer that can edit your video, you will want one. There is a world of difference between having good video footage clunked together on a VCR tape, and slickly edited footage on a computer then put to tape.
I gave this camera only 4 stars out of 5 because of the sound quality, and other minor shortcomings listed. It should however be noted that I am quite strict in this grading, thinking in terms of the entire star scale, while many reviewers use only stars 3-5 to rate things, with anything good being a 5. Most other cameras I looked at would probably rate in the 3 star range. Very few cameras rate 5 stars, and if Sony made a better microphone (or supplied one for recording voice) this camera would probably rate 5 stars with me.
All in all, this is a pretty amazing little gizmo. A great unit for the size to features to quality ratio.
The small size makes this an excellent camera to bring with you in a sport jacket pocket, briefcase, or even jeans pocket (if you're into those large raver-style pockets, that is). While many of the buttons are small, I don't mind much, because the few I use (start/stop, exposure control) are logically placed and easy to push. I don't use any of the digital effects or fade functions, because I transfer the video digitally to my computer and edit tape there -something I never got around to with the old clunker.
I also don't use the still image capture much at all, because I have a separate Kodak digital camera for that, and the memory stick reader that comes with this camcorder is S-L-O-W (because it's serial-only). If you have one of those VAIO machine with a built-in memory stick reader, I suppose it would be OK. Transfer of video using the built-in FireWire (1394, i-Link, DV-gate, ...) port works very well, and I haven't had any problems getting this camera recognized by my computer.
The battery life is also amazing. The standard (slim!) battery lasts for more than two hours -the larger medium-sized battery (which I use most of the time) gives you FIVE HOURS of running time. If you can *at all* afford this camcorder, and don't need the extra image quality of an (expensive, bulky) three-CCD camera then get this one.
Buy Sony DCRPC100 Digital HandyCam Camcorder Now
We bought this camera a couple of months ago to take on a trip and to put in an underwater housing for video taping while scuba diving. It was fantastic! The clarity, colors and lighting were of no comparison to our older Sony Hi-8. My only complaint is the limited time to tape with the mini-DV tapes60 minutes. When extending to LP mode(90 min), there was slight compromise in picture quality apparent when trying to print captured shots from our computer. The cost of the mini-DV tapes is still high, and is astronomical outside of the USA(when you can find them). The microphone still has a lot to be desired (slight breezes should not be that noisy). It takes a little getting used to the zoom featurebut the Carl Zeiss lens is great. We hardly set the camera to digital zoom because we preferred the quality of the CZ lens. A few times we ran out of film at 60-100 feet underwater, but all was not lostjust set the camera to memory shot mode and we were able to take some fabulous stills on the memory card. We filled up two 64MB cards. We took the camera to school, taped special events, taped some demolition derbies, racesSomething we would not have done with a regular sized camcorder. It fits nicely in a jacket pocket. I highly recommend this camera. --Consider getting the Infrared receiver to play back your videos to TV or VCR, as well as a UV filter to protect your lens. And of course, a 64MB Memory stick and a larger battery. (I wouldn't get the largest, unless there is a reason you cannot recharge your battery for several hourstoo bulky).Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRPC100 Digital HandyCam Camcorder Here
I needed to buy a video camera before my son was born about 6 months ago. The criteria I had, was that I wanted a camera that was small which did both digital still pictures and video. I didn't want to carry two cameras everywhere we went. But, I wanted the best video/still pictures I could get (These moments are precious, and I wanted to remember them as best as possible) The DCR PC100 fits this criteria to a tee. I've been very happy with Sony products in the past, but I did my research on this camera, and at that time, this was the best camera for the above criteria (It also seemed to have some features that I may grow into). I've now had 6 months to play with the camera and feel comfortable giving suggestions about my experience with the camera (I've been concentrating more on the still pictures, since my son is a newborn, they don't move that much yet :-):1) Definitely buy the flash attachment! Still photos without it in low light situations just are not very good without the flash. You'll be very disappointed without it.
2) If you buy the flash attachment, you might want to think about an extra battery. Batteries go faster with the flash on.
3) The zoom button is very sensitive. This took a little getting used to, but wasn't a problem after a little practice.
4) Definitely buy a 32M or 64M memory stick. I bought a 32M memory stick which holds a little more than 50 pictures at maximum resolution. It comes with a 4M memory stick, which is good for only 4 or so pictures (not real useful).
5) It doesn't come with a carrying case, so you'll need to buy one of these.
So far, this camera has performed extremely well at Disneyland, his Baptism and Christmas. Not to mention, it is really fun sending out weekly pictures of my son to friends and family.
Want Sony DCRPC100 Digital HandyCam Camcorder Discount?
Sony produced an overall good camera. The built in megapixel still camera makes this a great combination. There are a couple things you should know though. low light performance is marginal (7 lux) the mic placement is poor and picks up motor noise the memory stick supplied is almost to small to be usefull so plan on buying a 32 or 64M stick the camera is almost too small, if you have large hands try it out first. there is not a built in flash for the digital still camera. If you can forgive these short comings you'll love this camera.
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