Sony Handycam Digital Camcorder - 2.5" LCD - CCD

The DCR-HC21 from Sony gives you a full-featured, compact MiniDV camcorder at an entry-level price. Highlights include the Advanced HAD CCD imager, which captures stunning detail and clarity, and the Digital Zoom, which focuses on distant subjects providing clear close-up images with less distortion. The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens offers less glare and increased contrast for vivid, more life-like color and tones.

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• Reviewed by: cmsony

  02-04-07

  Duration of ownership: 1 Days

  Strengths: Small size, ease of use, price

  Weaknesses:Audio, lack of controls on body, low-light operation

  Overall Evaluation: For the money (I paid approximately $350 about a year ago), this is a pretty good, basic camcorder for the point-and-shoot crowd. The picture quality in bright indoor light and outdoors is clear, with very good color saturation and little noise. But when the light indoors is weak, the image quality degrades a lot, with a lot of graininess. A cool feature is the Nightshot Plus (IR) feature, which allows you to shoot in total darkness. It's not perfect (only a 10-foot range, records things in a green cast, and the recorded video looks like someone was shining a flashlight at the subjects) but it's cool to be able to sit on a beach while fishing in pitch black darkness and still be able to prove that you really did catch and release that big one! One big problem I have with this camcorder, and one that might push me away from one like it should I be in the market again soon, is the audio quality. This camcorder records at 16-bit, which is CD quality, but the unit's small size and the placement of the microphone tends to result in the recording of the tape mechanism and the zoom motor. A lot of the things I have recorded in quiet settings are ruined by a pronounced, and highly distracting, buzzing sound. The biggest problem, however, is the LCD touchscreen. All of the major controls (menu settings, VCR playback, FF, and REW) must be accessed on the touchscreen. There are no major controls on the body of the unit. Why is this a problem? LCD screens break, as mine did this morning when a toddler pulled the camcorder off a table onto the floor. Even though the LCD screen was closed, it still cracked. And now I am unable to do much of anything other than record. I can use the remote to play, FF, and REW video, and I can watch what I shot in the unit's very small, b&w viewfinder, but there is no way for me to access the menu. If I need to change the time or date, or turn the IR light on (it is currently off), I can't. I am stuck. To get it fixed, since it's not a warrantied repair, would cost me $211 plus tax and shipping to Sony. It hardly seems worth it, since I paid so little for it in the first place. I guess I'm kind of stuck. So, if you don't mind your CD quality audio being compromised by the recorded buzz of your camcorder's tape mechanism, and you are confident that you will never break your touchscreen, this might be a good entry-level, basic camcorder for you. For the baby's birthday and the annual family camping trip, this basic camcorder would certainly fit the bill. Just be careful with it!

• Reviewed by: eolson22

  12-22-05

  Duration of ownership:

  Strengths: Easiest to use video camera I can imagine

  Weaknesses:All video is reversed left-to-right when downloading via Firewire

  Overall Evaluation: We bought this Handycam after seeing a Handycam in the Apple store. It was easy to learn to use - in fact we only had a day before going on vacation - and has good zoom features and the ability to record "still" photos, that is, it freezes a frame of video for many seconds. However, upon returning home from vacation, and buying another cable, I was unable to get video onto my Titanium Powerbook G4. All of the video is reversed left to right. So, in the end, this camera is of dubious value. Back at the Apple store, they declined to demonstrate the camera again.

• Reviewed by: slanger21

  12-20-05

  Duration of ownership: 3 Weeks

  Strengths: Small...Easy to use....Simple operation

  Weaknesses:For it's price...NONE

  Overall Evaluation: For the price of this Camcorder this is probably the best buy. It has very high resolution compared to models in it's same price range...IE Canon ZR300.Touch screen is fantastic...(to avoid fingerprints just press it with you nail) and contrary to the ealier review the data transfter rate and resolution are great...but you want to use the firewire do maintain the digital quality.I love it!

• Reviewed by: Seek Help

  07-25-05

  Duration of ownership: 5 Days

  Strengths: 20X optical magnification, very light, touchpad easy to use.

  Weaknesses:Low battery capacity.

  Overall Evaluation: Easy to use. A lot of things can be done using the touchpad. 20X optical magnification is great--you can take a good look at the moon, especially when it is full moon and it was great. Very light.A major shortcoming is the very low capacity of the battery--it came with a P30. You almost have to immediately buy a spare battery and I recommend a P70 or P71. I ordered a generic P70 at about $20. Not bad.Another shortcoming is the buzzing noise when recording which is the same as a HC 20 I bought last last year. At that time I thought that it was a defect so I called tech support who told me it was normal--so it is a normal shortcoming. I do not remember hearing it in a Hi8 Sony camcorder I had quite a few years ago.

• Reviewed by: angelahelms

  07-19-05

  Duration of ownership: 4 Months

  Strengths: Small & lightweight, battery remaining time disp., great pic & sound, swivel LCD screen that folds into camera, NO dangling lens cap to annoy.

  Weaknesses:LCD a bit small, (but so is the whole camera), rec/pause button is easy to accidentally hit.

  Overall Evaluation: LOVE it!!! We've bought a new camcorder each time one of our kids was born, this being our 3rd & definitely our favorite. (camcorder, that is) This is the keeper, & I'll stay with Sony when I do have to shop for a new one. It's amazingly small. It fits easily in my purse or diaper bag, so no more "wish I had the camera" moments. Pic/sound quality is great--played back on the unit, Computer, or TV. Hubby loves firewire connectivity. I was worried it'd be fragile, with the touchscreen & built-in lens cover being "new" features, but it seems quite sturdy. "End Search" feature finds end of last recording, so you can go back to review and not worry about it. Screen shows time left on tape as well as time left on battery. I think the battery life is very good, and it recharges quickly. Haven't needed a 2nd. battery, but nice to know they come in different sizes, and even longest life isn't very heavy. Nightshot allowed me to tape my baby sleeping in complete darkness...I even used it to walk into the room so I could see where I was going without turning on a light & waking him. Amazing.

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