Sony DCR-HC52E Mini DV Camcorder
- Recording System: NTSC
- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Mini DV
- Optical Zoom: 40x
- Weight: 0.81 lb.
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Does The Job Efficiently and Nicely
Pros
Low asking price, decent picture quality. Easy to use.
Cons
Feels cheaper next to older Sony models, some basic features missing, No USB connectivity.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Cheap and cheerful. Buy it as your last MiniDV camcorder before you upgrade to HDD or Flash memory. Great for beginners.
The DCR HC52 is one of the entry level models from Sony's 2007 line of MiniDV camcorders.
Personally, with the move towards HDD and eventually solid state storage for video cameras, DV tape is quickly becoming a dying breed and this is reflected in the lower prices for this latest batch of camcorders from Sony. The advantage is that with the newer technologies still being a bit on the immature side, MiniDV is the safest bet since in theory at least, it is a well proven storage method if a bit old. The media is now very cheap, and tapes are probably still the best for long-term archiving purposes. You can guarantee that your old tapes will still play back in 20 years' time….whilst doubts still permeate about whether a DVD-R will still be readable even just 5 years sitting on a shelf.
LOOK AND FEEL
Sony's cost reduction team have done a good job on the HC52 – and it shows with many features that we used to take for granted (even on an entry level camcorder) actually having been deleted. So there is no remote control, no S-Video outputs, no headphone socket; not even metal loops on the casing so you can tie a neck strap around (not that I've been able to find one anyway….), and unforgivably – no USB connectivity. The camera still has the unmistakeable Sony look, but the plastics used for the casing also feel cheaper next to Sony camcorders of old. And despite this entire cost cutting exercise, they haven't forgotten the old trick of changing the battery design so that whatever Sony model you had before – those expensive lithium cells you bought for the old one won't fit anymore. I can't complain about the size and weight of the unit – it is at least 20% lighter than the TRV14 model that I bought 5 years ago, and a fraction smaller which makes all the difference when carting the thing around, nor can I gripe about the colour viewfinder.
FEATURES
We'll start with the CCD sensor. This is rather basic at 800 kilopixels, which is fairly typical for an entry level machine such as this, but bear in mind that because the camera can record in widescreen 16:9 format this is going to hurt picture quality. But the optical zoom is generous at 40x. The digital zoom is quoted at 2000x, but with the meagre specification of the CCD it is going to be of little use. Annoyingly on the HC52 there is no dedicated pushbutton still image facility – your only option is to capture frames on your PC once you've downloaded the footage. Camcorders are historically useless for doing decent stills for this very reason, but having the feature is still handy if you've forgotten to bring your still camera.
Speaking of downloading footage, because there is no USB connectivity, your only option is the FireWire/IEE 1394 socket.
The flip-out LCD is a wide-screeen format, meaning that you don't have to suffer black bands at the top and bottom of the picture when shooting in widescreen mode. Sony of course have had the touchscreen LCD for controlling the camera's tape transport and other functions for a few years now, which has always been good from an ease of use point of view. On the higher series models such as the HC62, there is an all new Graphical User Interface with lots more colour icons and intuitiveness – but here on the HC52 we're stuck with the old interface which is now 5 years old. Not that it is bad or difficult to navigate your way around – it just looks dated now.
EASE OF USE
As mentioned before, the camera is exceptionally light and compact and fits into the palm of the average hand nicely. This time however, there is a useful "Easy" button on the side of the unit which limits the display of menu options on the LCD and hides the ones that only camcorder junkies will ever play with – a good feature for beginners. There is also a "Guide" function within the LCD interface that brings up tooltips to help describe the basic functions. For most people the default exposure settings will be where most time will be spent, but several programmed Auto Exposure for all the usual scenarios - sport, shooting in snow, dark areas. All the usual stuff such as the ability to record in Sepia, Black and White, and Mosaic are there too. Sony's super SteadyShot and Super NightShot are standard this year on all models.
OVERALL
As mentioned at the beginning of the review - MiniDV is arguably on its way out now, and you'd be mad to pay over the odds for it now. This camera is going to appeal to those who either need a basic model just to get started in the world of home videos and don't feel brave enough to spend $100s on the current state of the art technology, or prefer the old values or tape. The other band of buyers for the HC52 will be experienced users sitting with a broken or life expired MiniDV device and still need something basic just to play back and capture from those old tapes.
Experienced or advanced users should either opt for a top of the range MiniDV camera or jump ship to HDD. Either way I'd say hold out for the next generation of Flash storage for camcorders.
Personally, with the move towards HDD and eventually solid state storage for video cameras, DV tape is quickly becoming a dying breed and this is reflected in the lower prices for this latest batch of camcorders from Sony. The advantage is that with the newer technologies still being a bit on the immature side, MiniDV is the safest bet since in theory at least, it is a well proven storage method if a bit old. The media is now very cheap, and tapes are probably still the best for long-term archiving purposes. You can guarantee that your old tapes will still play back in 20 years' time….whilst doubts still permeate about whether a DVD-R will still be readable even just 5 years sitting on a shelf.
LOOK AND FEEL
Sony's cost reduction team have done a good job on the HC52 – and it shows with many features that we used to take for granted (even on an entry level camcorder) actually having been deleted. So there is no remote control, no S-Video outputs, no headphone socket; not even metal loops on the casing so you can tie a neck strap around (not that I've been able to find one anyway….), and unforgivably – no USB connectivity. The camera still has the unmistakeable Sony look, but the plastics used for the casing also feel cheaper next to Sony camcorders of old. And despite this entire cost cutting exercise, they haven't forgotten the old trick of changing the battery design so that whatever Sony model you had before – those expensive lithium cells you bought for the old one won't fit anymore. I can't complain about the size and weight of the unit – it is at least 20% lighter than the TRV14 model that I bought 5 years ago, and a fraction smaller which makes all the difference when carting the thing around, nor can I gripe about the colour viewfinder.
FEATURES
We'll start with the CCD sensor. This is rather basic at 800 kilopixels, which is fairly typical for an entry level machine such as this, but bear in mind that because the camera can record in widescreen 16:9 format this is going to hurt picture quality. But the optical zoom is generous at 40x. The digital zoom is quoted at 2000x, but with the meagre specification of the CCD it is going to be of little use. Annoyingly on the HC52 there is no dedicated pushbutton still image facility – your only option is to capture frames on your PC once you've downloaded the footage. Camcorders are historically useless for doing decent stills for this very reason, but having the feature is still handy if you've forgotten to bring your still camera.
Speaking of downloading footage, because there is no USB connectivity, your only option is the FireWire/IEE 1394 socket.
The flip-out LCD is a wide-screeen format, meaning that you don't have to suffer black bands at the top and bottom of the picture when shooting in widescreen mode. Sony of course have had the touchscreen LCD for controlling the camera's tape transport and other functions for a few years now, which has always been good from an ease of use point of view. On the higher series models such as the HC62, there is an all new Graphical User Interface with lots more colour icons and intuitiveness – but here on the HC52 we're stuck with the old interface which is now 5 years old. Not that it is bad or difficult to navigate your way around – it just looks dated now.
EASE OF USE
As mentioned before, the camera is exceptionally light and compact and fits into the palm of the average hand nicely. This time however, there is a useful "Easy" button on the side of the unit which limits the display of menu options on the LCD and hides the ones that only camcorder junkies will ever play with – a good feature for beginners. There is also a "Guide" function within the LCD interface that brings up tooltips to help describe the basic functions. For most people the default exposure settings will be where most time will be spent, but several programmed Auto Exposure for all the usual scenarios - sport, shooting in snow, dark areas. All the usual stuff such as the ability to record in Sepia, Black and White, and Mosaic are there too. Sony's super SteadyShot and Super NightShot are standard this year on all models.
OVERALL
As mentioned at the beginning of the review - MiniDV is arguably on its way out now, and you'd be mad to pay over the odds for it now. This camera is going to appeal to those who either need a basic model just to get started in the world of home videos and don't feel brave enough to spend $100s on the current state of the art technology, or prefer the old values or tape. The other band of buyers for the HC52 will be experienced users sitting with a broken or life expired MiniDV device and still need something basic just to play back and capture from those old tapes.
Experienced or advanced users should either opt for a top of the range MiniDV camera or jump ship to HDD. Either way I'd say hold out for the next generation of Flash storage for camcorders.
