Sony Handycam DCR-PC9 Mini DV Camcorder
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- Recording System: NTSC
- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Mini DV
- Optical Zoom: 10x
- Weight: 1.06 lb.
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Sony DCR-PC9 Digital Camcorder / Still Camera With USB And MemoryStick
Pros
Compact, lightweight, excellent picture and sound, features, price
Cons
Too small to hold conveniently
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The PC9 is a good choice if you need a compact digital camcorder with good set of features.
The sleek and compact Sony DCR-PC9 digital camcorder combines digital video shooting capability with the ability ti take still digital pictures at 640x480 resolution.
LCD
With the PC9 you can use either a 2.5? LCD or (to conserve battery energy) a color viewfinder. The LCD has great visibility in sunlight and brightness control.
PICTURE
The CCD in this camcorder has 680K-pixel resolution and camcorder (in part due to this fact) provides excellent picture quality, with well-defined edges and great color reproduction. In contrast with analog processing, digital processing and recording allow for no video noise and ?color bleeding?. Still pictures at 640x480 resolution are suitable for emailing and posting on the web, but the resolution might be too small for other uses.
ZOOM & OPTICS
This model has Carl Zeiss lens with special coating for better picture quality. It reduces glare and increases contrast. The camcorder has 10x optical / 120x digital zoom, which is reasonable for such a small device.
SOUND
The camcorder employs Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), with similar characteristics to the PCM used in CD recording. Two modes are available: 16-bit mode with better dynamic range and 12-bit mode with two sets of stereo tracks. In 12-bit SP mode you can use Audio Dubbing that allows you to add a stereo track of music or narration. There is no ?background noise? introduced by the media itself.
FEATURES
As usual with modern digital camcorders, the PC9 has several modes of auto exposure. It features manual focus and manual exposure control in addition to automatic mode. You might want to adjust the exposure manually in low-light scenes so you can avoid overexposure (and video noise). The manual focus is controlled by the ring around the lens.
The camcorder has picture effects, several digital A/V fader modes, 16:9 and LP mode recording. The digital and picture effects can be used independently (some of them can be combined). You can also manually adjust shutter speed when needed. If you plan to edit the recording later using your editing software, there is no need to employ majority of digital effects or faders ? when you shoot, the camcorder records data code, which can be used later by the editing software to distinguish between scenes.
There is a 2x playback zoom allows you to zoom in during the playback and enlarged pictures can be copied to MemoryStick. I don?t think you will ever use this mode, because it is cumbersome to use.
The Sony?s Super NightShot? is also present here. It allows you to shoot in complete darkness up to 10 feet away. The system uses a built-in infrared light; the optional IR light can extend the range to up to 100 feet ? keep in mind that the picture looses color in this mode.
ADC & PASS-THROUGH
The PC9 has ADC (analog-digital converter), which allows you to convert analog signal from the analog input into digital format and either record it on the MiniDV tape or send it through the IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.Link) interface to your computer, compatible VCR or another device (this feature is called pass-through). So you can store your old important recordings without loss in quality and simplify editing if you decide so later.
INPUTS
The camcorder has analog A/V inputs and outs, including S-Video (see above for information on ADC and pass-through). It also has an i.Link? Digital Interface (FireWire, IEEE1394), which is a two-way input/output that carries digital audio, digital video and control signals to compatible digital VCRs, edit controllers and computers at about 4Mb/sec.
The i.Link allows to not only transfer video and sound information, but also extended information (data code, etc.) and control the camcorder remotely (i.e. by your video editing software). The PC9 also features an L (LANC) Editing Interface that provides standardized connection for synchronized operation of camcorder, VCR, and edit controller.
The USB jack can be used for transferring still images from MemoryStick to your computer. The camcorder also has inputs for a microphone and headphones and an intelligent Accessory Shoe.
You can get into digital video editing by getting a computer equipped with an i.Link interface and software. The solution I use is Pinnacle Systems? Studio DV. For less than $90 you get a 3-port FireWire PCI card (2 external ports and one internal), a FireWire cable and easy-to-use video editing software. A very good deal considering that Sony wants $40 for the short 1.5m cable only.
The software not only allows you to transfer your video form the camcorder to your computer and edit/convert it, but also to control the camcorder?s playback from your computer. The finished material can be written back to the camcorder, to a MPEG or AVI file or/and prepared for streaming over the Internet. See my review at http://dkozin.epinions.com/content_30718791300
STIIL PICTURES & MEMORY STICK
You can use PC9 as a digital still camera at up to 640x480 resolution. The pictures can be stored on a supplied 4Mb Memory Stick or tape. You can use the supplied USB cable and software to transfer images to your PC, edit and store/catalog them. The MemoryStick can also store short MPEG clips. 640x480 is adequate for email/web use.
BATTERY
The supplied InfoLithium? NP-FM30 battery lasts about 40 minutes if you use LCD or 55-65 minutes using viewfinder. You can see the approximate remaining power since the AccuPower? meter shows you the remaining battery time in minutes on the camcorder's LCD or viewfinder..
REMOTE CONTROL
The supplied remote control gives you access to advanced VCR functions as well as zoom, playback and shooting modes. You can perform photo search, slow motion, use audio dubbing, zoom using a rocker button, etc. It even allows you to take still photos remotely.
BOTTOM LINE
The PC9 is a good choice if you need a compact digital camcorder with good set of features.
LCD
With the PC9 you can use either a 2.5? LCD or (to conserve battery energy) a color viewfinder. The LCD has great visibility in sunlight and brightness control.
PICTURE
The CCD in this camcorder has 680K-pixel resolution and camcorder (in part due to this fact) provides excellent picture quality, with well-defined edges and great color reproduction. In contrast with analog processing, digital processing and recording allow for no video noise and ?color bleeding?. Still pictures at 640x480 resolution are suitable for emailing and posting on the web, but the resolution might be too small for other uses.
ZOOM & OPTICS
This model has Carl Zeiss lens with special coating for better picture quality. It reduces glare and increases contrast. The camcorder has 10x optical / 120x digital zoom, which is reasonable for such a small device.
SOUND
The camcorder employs Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), with similar characteristics to the PCM used in CD recording. Two modes are available: 16-bit mode with better dynamic range and 12-bit mode with two sets of stereo tracks. In 12-bit SP mode you can use Audio Dubbing that allows you to add a stereo track of music or narration. There is no ?background noise? introduced by the media itself.
FEATURES
As usual with modern digital camcorders, the PC9 has several modes of auto exposure. It features manual focus and manual exposure control in addition to automatic mode. You might want to adjust the exposure manually in low-light scenes so you can avoid overexposure (and video noise). The manual focus is controlled by the ring around the lens.
The camcorder has picture effects, several digital A/V fader modes, 16:9 and LP mode recording. The digital and picture effects can be used independently (some of them can be combined). You can also manually adjust shutter speed when needed. If you plan to edit the recording later using your editing software, there is no need to employ majority of digital effects or faders ? when you shoot, the camcorder records data code, which can be used later by the editing software to distinguish between scenes.
There is a 2x playback zoom allows you to zoom in during the playback and enlarged pictures can be copied to MemoryStick. I don?t think you will ever use this mode, because it is cumbersome to use.
The Sony?s Super NightShot? is also present here. It allows you to shoot in complete darkness up to 10 feet away. The system uses a built-in infrared light; the optional IR light can extend the range to up to 100 feet ? keep in mind that the picture looses color in this mode.
ADC & PASS-THROUGH
The PC9 has ADC (analog-digital converter), which allows you to convert analog signal from the analog input into digital format and either record it on the MiniDV tape or send it through the IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.Link) interface to your computer, compatible VCR or another device (this feature is called pass-through). So you can store your old important recordings without loss in quality and simplify editing if you decide so later.
INPUTS
The camcorder has analog A/V inputs and outs, including S-Video (see above for information on ADC and pass-through). It also has an i.Link? Digital Interface (FireWire, IEEE1394), which is a two-way input/output that carries digital audio, digital video and control signals to compatible digital VCRs, edit controllers and computers at about 4Mb/sec.
The i.Link allows to not only transfer video and sound information, but also extended information (data code, etc.) and control the camcorder remotely (i.e. by your video editing software). The PC9 also features an L (LANC) Editing Interface that provides standardized connection for synchronized operation of camcorder, VCR, and edit controller.
The USB jack can be used for transferring still images from MemoryStick to your computer. The camcorder also has inputs for a microphone and headphones and an intelligent Accessory Shoe.
You can get into digital video editing by getting a computer equipped with an i.Link interface and software. The solution I use is Pinnacle Systems? Studio DV. For less than $90 you get a 3-port FireWire PCI card (2 external ports and one internal), a FireWire cable and easy-to-use video editing software. A very good deal considering that Sony wants $40 for the short 1.5m cable only.
The software not only allows you to transfer your video form the camcorder to your computer and edit/convert it, but also to control the camcorder?s playback from your computer. The finished material can be written back to the camcorder, to a MPEG or AVI file or/and prepared for streaming over the Internet. See my review at http://dkozin.epinions.com/content_30718791300
STIIL PICTURES & MEMORY STICK
You can use PC9 as a digital still camera at up to 640x480 resolution. The pictures can be stored on a supplied 4Mb Memory Stick or tape. You can use the supplied USB cable and software to transfer images to your PC, edit and store/catalog them. The MemoryStick can also store short MPEG clips. 640x480 is adequate for email/web use.
BATTERY
The supplied InfoLithium? NP-FM30 battery lasts about 40 minutes if you use LCD or 55-65 minutes using viewfinder. You can see the approximate remaining power since the AccuPower? meter shows you the remaining battery time in minutes on the camcorder's LCD or viewfinder..
REMOTE CONTROL
The supplied remote control gives you access to advanced VCR functions as well as zoom, playback and shooting modes. You can perform photo search, slow motion, use audio dubbing, zoom using a rocker button, etc. It even allows you to take still photos remotely.
BOTTOM LINE
The PC9 is a good choice if you need a compact digital camcorder with good set of features.
