Hand-Size Handycam

Sony's newest digital camcorder elicits plenty of oohs and ahhs when people see it: The DCR-IP7BT Handycam is so tiny it can fit in a shirt pocket. That's because its 2-by-4-by-3-inch case--a smidgen larger than two packs of playing cards back to back--holds Sony's new MicroMV-format tapes. By far, it's the smallest camcorder we've ever used.

MicroMV tapes are smaller than the more widely used MiniDV tapes, but they still hold an hour of video because they compress it more. The compression doesn't seem to have much effect on the video quality: In my informal tests, images were sharp and had strong, accurate colors. The $1699 DCR-IP7BT can also take still images or short video clips and store them on the included 8MB Memory Stick media. You can then transfer images and video from the media to your PC through the USB port. The camcorder has an I.Link port (Sony's version of the standard IEEE 1394 port, aka FireWire), as well as a composite port and S-Video-in and -out ports.

I found the DCR-IP7BT relatively easy to use, but a few of the buttons are rather small, and not all are located where your fingers naturally fall. The unit lacks buttons for controlling video playback: You must use either the included remote control or the on-screen menu. Battery life was acceptable--about 1 hour in my tests.

The downside of the MicroMV format is that you can't use it directly with any video editing programs other than Sony's MovieShaker (which comes with the camcorder). Unfortunately, because only Sony employs MicroMV, most video editing programs can't read the video. If you want to use another program to edit video from the DCR-IP7BT, you'll have to import it into MovieShaker first, and then save it in another format. Fortunately, MovieShaker is a reasonably good program.

The other big feature of this camcorder is its built-in Bluetooth adapter. You can use it to send still images or short videos to a Web album on Sony's ImageStation Web site via the included battery-powered Bluetooth modem. Sony also offers a similar model (the DCR-IP5) without the Bluetooth capability for $1300.

The DCR-IP7BT is an excellent camcorder, but you are limited in your choice of editing software. The ability to upload pictures is interesting, but of limited practical use. And the camcorder is expensive. If older technology and larger size don't bother you, consider opting for our March Best Buy, the $650 Panasonic PV-DV701 camcorder, instead.

SUMMARY

Sony DCR-IP7BT Handycam List: $1699