10.3.2006

I really didn't have a clue about what would be a good buy but I wanted a small & lightweight video camera that would be easy to use and give good results. Based mainly on reviews on Amazon I went for the Sony Handycam DCR-HC22E.I am delighted with my purchase & think I made a good choice. You can comfortably hold and operate the camera in one hand and then press the record button with your thumb and the zoom lens with you index finger.There is a strap on the side of the camera which your hand fits tightly under leaving your fingers free to operate the controls whilst the camera feels like it is strapped to your hand and you don't even have to make an effort to hold it.I'm generally a little on the clumsy side but I had no problem quickly gaining good control of the zoom, panning in and out easily whilst filming. All the while the LCD screen which opens outwards provides a good sized viewing area although you can view directly through the lens if you prefer. On the side of the camera is a button which says 'easy'. You press this before starting and then most of the camera settings are adjusted optimally and automatically. It's possible to fairly easily do it all manually via the touch screen on the LCD. but for beginners like me you can get started easily without this. The results are excellent. So far I've only used the optical zoom which is x20. With digital zoom you can actually get x800 but this reduces quality whereas optical zoom doesn't.What I had been worried about was the ease of transfer to my computer & I took the advice of others on here to purchase a firewire cable which only cost a few pounds. This has proved to be a very good move. I have not even bothered to load the supplied software from Sony. When I connected the camera to my computer via the firewire cable a box appeared on my computer screen asking which program I wanted to use to 'capture video'. I could use Windows Movie Maker or Nero Vision Express which I also have on my computer. I opted for Nero Vision Express because I have greater familiarity with it & it couldn't have been much easier. I pressed 'play' on the camera & 'record' on Nero Vision Express and it produced a Mpeg file on my hard drive & then asked if I wanted to make a DVD which I did. So at the end I have a mpeg file on the computer which I can watch or play the DVD disc on my DVD player and watch it on my TV. I should add that if you want you can simply plug your camera into the TV using the supplied AV cable and watch it on the TV without even bothering with the computer if that is what you want. Doing it this way you would have to keep buying supplies of the cassette tapes that the camera records onto if you wanted to keep what you have done. Doing it my way you can keep recording over the top of the cassette knowing you already have a permanent record on the computer and/or DVD disc.In the handbook it says something about needing a Sony computer to copy to DVD. Didn't really understand this but as I have described you can make a DVD on any computer if you have software like Nero or Windows Movie Maker.The HC22E model comes with something described as a Handycam Station. It is a docking station which the camera sits in. Essentially it means that the various connecting cables, mains leads etc. are attached to the docking station rather than the camera itself. I notice some have said this isn't really worth having (you can buy a cheaper model without it) but I don't really agree. I have got my Handycam station set up near my computer already connected to the mains supply and to the computer via the firewire cable. So when I am not using the camera it just sits in the station and the battery is automatically recharging. Also I just switch the camera on and the Nero program starts up for me to capture what I have recorded. So although the Handycam station is not essential it does add a good measure of ease and convenience. You are not messing about with wires & cables everytime you want to charge the battery or capture to the computer. Instead you just sit the camera in the Handycam station.By the way I almost forgot - the quality of what you record is really really good!I must stress I know nothing about other similar products so I can't make comparisons I can only talk about this one. If you are like me and don't know much about these things I do not think you will be disappointed if you buy this camera in fact I think you will be delighted. Do what I did and order a firewire cable at the same time and also some mini DV casettes which are what the camera records onto. Surprisingly these are not included with the camera, not even one, and that is my only, very minor complaint.

16.9.2005

I have used this camera on a number of different occasasions, and whilst i do not own this particular model, i am looking to upgrade in the very near future, and i can guaruntee that this will be in my shopping basket within the next month. Speaking as someone who uses camcorders on a pretty regular basis - this is certainly a very good model. The features on this will please any casual user, and even higher end users such as myself. Motor noise is not even noticible, whilst the microphone is of high quality. The 'NightShot' mode is superb, and allows very good recording in darker locations. For any higher end users, i would recommend buying a microphone (should you not already have one).

7.7.2005

Firstly, let me set your mind at rest. This is a GREAT digital camcorder, it will do all you want it to.I was looking for one for a while, shopping around for the best deal and specification. Amazon offered this product for £100 less than anywhere else, and I'd decided it had everything on my list.I mainly wanted it to make short films. To do the amateur video stuff (you know, on holiday and that) and make top quality animation or film, when I wanted to.It will cover the average user extremely comfortably, with all the features and easy of use you would ever want. Top build quality aswell. The steady shot is brilliant, the night shot also top notch, no motor noise (not the case with all digital camcorders)

14.11.2005

I really like this little camera. It is the third camcorder I have had: I still have a compact hi8 Sony. This is so much smaller and lighter that I will want to take it out and about regularly, when my hi8 would have been too much hassle and stayed in the cupboard. It performs well, at a very good price. I like the neatness of making permanent connections between my PC and the base station, just putting the cam on the base for it to be instantly recognised, ready to transfer and being charged. USB and firewire work fine. My gripe is that the software, and the installation of it, is miles behind most products, and of limited use. Also the camera doesn't have a memory stick/card option for stills which I think I would have preferred,

19.7.2005

I won't wasting time with its positive parts as mentioned by other reviewers or always exaggerated Manufacturer's Description. What I want to mention here is that the software provided it not easy to use with the USB cable provided for most users, I tried several modes and got my system crashed. If you want to transfer the content to your PC or Laptop, it is worth to buy a firewire (or IEEE1394 or i.LINK or whatever) 4 pin to 4 pin cable. You can get a much better, faster and more stable transfer than USB and you don't have to install any driver, Windows can recognise it automaticlly as a sony camcorder, so that you can store your video to a pc anywhere without taking the disc.

4.9.2005

I have been really pleased with this product, since buying it 2 weeks ago. It was very quick to set up and, having whizzed off to buy some tapes, and charged it up I was using it within an afternoon! Something I couldn't find out (and having little knowledge about these things) is that you can take still photos with it, but actually its quite a good idea to not take stills whilst videoing - you can "freeze frame" when your recording is on the computer and get any photo you like.The charging station is wonderful as it means that your HandyCam is always ready for use. It's probably a good idea to get a case - I got the grey one which is featured on Amazon - which holds the remote control or spare tapes.Lastly,

7.7.2005

Just received by Sony DCR-HC22 Handycam MiniDV Camcorder from amazon. Delivered in 2 days after ordering. Thank you Amazon.The reason I bought this was to take to malia in Greece and take it clubbing as its so small and light. I love it!The first thing is that it's even smaller than I thought it would be. It's the same size as a chunky digital camera. The quality of the product is typical Sony, but the best thing is the touch screen. At first I didn't know it was there. It took me about 2 hours before I realized this!The only problem is I only have a video cam recorder to compare it by which is 4 times as big and heavy. Also so far I have also only had it for a day.

17.10.2013

We needed to replace our old camcorder which we only use for family memories, i.e holidays and Christmas etc. but did not want to spend hundreds of pounds on something that we will only use occasionally. After reading good reviews for this model we saw this one as "used" and were very apprehensive at first but are so glad that we decided to purchase it. We spent a holiday in Cornwall where we used it for the first time and the zoom is fantastic. When we returned we had the tapes transferred to DVD and the colour, sound and quality is perfect. VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PURCHASE.

17.8.2005

I'm a bit of a ditherer when buying something for the first time. I haven't bought a camcorder before, and so I looked at all the options and pros/ cons of various models. I quite fancied one of the new, even smaller, Sony DV models, but what swung me in the direction of this one was that 'What Digital Camcorder' awarded it 'Best Family Buy'. I have a baby daughter who's 6 months old, and this Sony has so far proved excellent. Both myself, my wife, and my mother have easily used it, the picture is great, it's compact and above all very easy to use.

9.3.2013

I purchased this camera many years ago, and while im not using it to this date as technology has advanced, i must point out the hours of fun i had with this camera.For the time it was released it was of excellent quality, and had everything you needed to shoot simple home movies, or try your self at something abit special.The camera is still working to this day, which can not be said for newer products of a higher price which often do not last.

19.7.2005

We wanted a camcorder for family pictures but were somewhat bemused by the dazzling array of makes, models & features.We fired this up in seconds and had it playing back on the TV in minutes. Easy to transfer to tape or DVD, excellent sound and picture quality. It's nice and small, what more could you ask for? (Probably worth investing in a carry case and definitely need some tapes!)

11.9.2005

A cracking camcorder that does exactly what is says on the box.However, the battery that it comes with only gives you an hours worth of shooting with the lcd finder before needing to be charged again. Tip - buy a spare.Delivery was fast 2 days for free, price in the shops was between £350 and £400 when I bought it in Sept 05

11.11.2019

Brought to replace the one I had that did'nt work any more, so very happy with it.

2.9.2014

Exactly what I wanted. Performance cannot be bettered.

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