Sony DCRPC101 MiniDV Compact Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD, and 8 MB Memory Stick

This is my first camcorder and I've been using the Sony DCRPC101 for three months now. It's small size and light weight allows me to take it everywhere. Pictures taken outdoors (bright light, overcast), indoors (incandescent, fluorescent), while driving (day, night), are impressive. I use a Macintosh to download footages through iMovie. It came with a USB cable, but the Firewire cable (6 pin to 4 pin, that comes with the Macintosh) is more reliable.

In my experience, the battery life varies tremendously, depending on how you use the camcorder. With the LCD on, constant on and off, taking 1 to 2 minutes of footage each time, repeated standby and replaying previous shots, the battery won't last through half a tape (36 minutes). With LCD off, 15 to 30 minute shots, limited standby, the battery will last over 3 tapes (3 hours, 12 minutes). If you plan to shoot all day, buy the NP-QM91 battery. I did, and was able to record to 6 miniDV tapes (that's all I had). There was time left on the battery for one more tape. (FYI: 6 tapes equals 6 hours which translates to 51 GB of hard drive space.)

Using the camcorder for the first time, you have to get use to the location of the control buttons. They are small, and close together, compared to my friends DCRTRV25 and ZR50MC. After using it for a while, you'll notice how convenient the buttons are located. It's just a matter of getting use to the layout. The zoom is instant. From minimum to maximum, it takes less than a second. Not exactly what I wanted. With a little practice, you can achieve a smooth slow zoom.

I've read complaints about the cheesy plug cover hinges. I don't get it (not just yet). They are not hinged, but attached to the camcorder with what appears to be a nylon tether. I know hinges break, but unless you pick up the camcorder by these covers, I don't see how they can break.

As far as durability, my camcorder has been dropped (on carpet, twice, from waist height), ran over (radio control car), and toppled (on the driveway, mounted on a tripod, me tripping on the tripod). Besides a few scratches, the camcorder still functions like brand new.

I think all miniDV camcorders you buy today, have still image capture. The Sony DCRPC101 is equivalent to a 1 megapixel camera. I have a 3 megapixel Canon digital camera that is dedicated to taking still images, and I use it exclusively for that. Even though the digital camera can take video shots, it's image/sound quality is nowhere near that of a miniDV. And the same thing applies to the miniDV camcorder. The stills cannot compare to the digital camera.

If I have any complaint, that would be the built-in microphone. The microphone, and it is a good one, is mounted on top of the camcorder. It is omni directional, and picks up sound everywhere. Of course, the closer the sound source is to the camera, the louder it is. If you are the one taking the video, and decide to add your voice, you will definitely come in loud and clear. During silent passages, you can almost hear a humming sound, which is the motor noise. My friends old JVC 8mm, records some very obvious noise, something I've never noticed before, until I started making comparisons. The ZR50MC also picks up motor noise or whatever it is. Another friends DCRTRV25 is very quite. But it's something you have to focus on.

The best accessory to buy for your camcorder is a 30mm UV Filter. This is a must have. Think of it as insurance, it protects the lens. It's easier to wipe the dirt, dust, fingerprints off the filter than the lens. If the filter gets scratched, you can replace the filter.

I bought this for my wife for Christmas. She wanted a small and easy to use camcorder, so after some research I chose the PC101. When it arrived, I was shocked at how small it actually is. My sister has a larger model miniDV sony and it has MANY small buttons with crytic labels. The touch screen on the 101 is great and get's rid of the clumbsy buttons on the larger model. In the first 3-weeks of use, I have nothing to bad to say, and still can't beleive value in this model.

Buy Sony DCRPC101 MiniDV Compact Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD, and 8 MB Memory Stick Now

I bought my PC-101 from Sony Canada Ltd and in the first three months of use the touchscreen started becoming unreliable: there was a bad connection.

I sent the PC-101 in for repair three times in a row. After the second time, I thought it reasonable to expect a new camera from them, or at least a new full one year warranty.

They wouldn't budge on a replacement. The PC-101 was out in for repairs for a total of 3 months. They offered only to replace 3 months of the warranty.

I had spent 40.00 in courier charges sending out letters to them to get them to respond to me. The consumer relations manager said in a conversation on one day that she would reimburse me for the charges, and yet on another day she had no recollection of the conversation and wouldn't budge there either.

All of this boils down to a potentially great product, but buyer beware when it breaks down, because you're on your own.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRPC101 MiniDV Compact Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD, and 8 MB Memory Stick Here

First of all, thanks to all the other reviewers of this Sony PC101, you really helped me in my final decision. Being a first time camcorder buyer and researching all the different options, i.e.,1ccd or 3ccd, size, cost, image quality , which Manufacturer (Sony vs Canon endless debate) etc. can be a bit much. In the end it was all the rave reviews about how nice the Carl Zeiss optics were and what nice image quality it produces.

Anyone considering buying a 1 chipper camcorder can purchase the Sony PC101 with confidence. The camcorder also worked flawlessly with my iMac and iMovie as well.

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I bought this videocam as a new year present for my wife last week. She has not seen it yet but I had a chance to test it during the last few days. Superb technology but its size may prove to be a bit cumbersome to some of us with big hands (& I am a lefty too the camera is, of course, designed for right-handers). Not a big issue but worth noting. The camera is not terribly complicated for those who are comfortable with "technology" but may prove to be somehow irritating for tech novices. In this context, the manual requires serious studying to take advantage of most of the neat features. Picture quality is excellent (video & still) but would recommend to acquire a 128 Mg memory stick to give you more freedom. the supplied 8 Mg is a joke.Would I recommend this camera? Definitely. Great buy.