Sony Camcorder LCD

johntea · 19-11-2005, 8:55 PM

I hate the fingerprint operation! Not because it is hard to use but because the screen gets so full of fingerprints it just looks ugly! (Not helped by such a small surface area). Got most of the marks off using the edge of my shirt, now I'm also using my shirt to touch the buttons also

Can one use a PDA stylus without any issues on the screen? Also can it get scratched or is it designed to resist it? (None yet and I was rubbing quite a while).

vonhosen · 19-11-2005, 9:07 PM

Some Sony cams come with a PDA style stylus so shouldn't be a problem.

stupidboyjj · 19-11-2005, 9:10 PM

Do you HAVE to use the LCD or can things be set using proper buttons as well? Just asking because I'm probably going to buy a Sony.

johntea · 19-11-2005, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stupidboyjj

Do you HAVE to use the LCD or can things be set using proper buttons as well? Just asking because I'm probably going to buy a Sony.

I haven't really read the manual yet, but it seems you do have to use the touchscreen for quite a few things (There are buttons for "Record" etc).

Which is a bit of a pain in the you know what because if you just want to use the viewfinder and need to set the time and date you can't without using the LCD!

laser · 19-11-2005, 11:00 PM

I have a HC42E and you have to use the touch screen. No navigation buttons are provided on the camcorder body.

It does make the LCD look messy but after several months use I now find the touchscreen great. It's so much quicker to select the camcorder options than my Panasonic DS28 using button on the camcorder body.

In time you will get used to it and like everything it has it advantages and disadvanges. In this particular case I feel the advantages i.e. quicker selection of options to out way the disadvantages i.e. a LCD with finger marks.

stupidboyjj · 20-11-2005, 6:10 PM

Hmm. I very nearly bought the HC90E but this might be a reason not to. I'm not sure.

Dammit I'll have to go back to the shops now to look at more cameras!

Applespider · 21-11-2005, 10:03 AM

The HC90 has the Nightshot, the Backlight, the 16:9/4:3 on the outside.

The other controls are done via the LCD. You can set up a personal 'quick access' list which you can get to with one press. I've done this so that things like Spot Focus, AE Compensation, Program Select are on that screen. I quite like having them them in the LCD. Things like Spot Focus by touching the part of the screen you want to focus on are very intuitive.

stupidboyjj · 21-11-2005, 1:22 PM

Another thing I read was that the 'autofocus' wasn't very good at keeping up with things, have you found this to be the case? Or is it ok as you move the camera around? I'm now veering back towards the HC90!

21-11-2005, 3:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonhosen

Some Sony cams come with a PDA style stylus so shouldn't be a problem.

My Sony HC42e I'm sure didn't come with a stylus

If it did, where can I find it? Would it be on the camera itself? Or as it an addition in the box? Im currently making sure I don't cut my nails in order to use the touch screen

johntea · 21-11-2005, 7:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stupidboyjj

Another thing I read was that the 'autofocus' wasn't very good at keeping up with things, have you found this to be the case? Or is it ok as you move the camera around? I'm now veering back towards the HC90!

It does take its time I have to admit

vonhosen · 21-11-2005, 8:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alps

My Sony HC42e I'm sure didn't come with a stylus

If it did, where can I find it? Would it be on the camera itself? Or as it an addition in the box? Im currently making sure I don't cut my nails in order to use the touch screen

Not all some. The TRV950 does for instance.

Applespider · 22-11-2005, 3:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stupidboyjj

Another thing I read was that the 'autofocus' wasn't very good at keeping up with things, have you found this to be the case? Or is it ok as you move the camera around? I'm now veering back towards the HC90!

The only time that I've found this to be a problem is in very low light (not really surprising) when I was shooting some video in a fairly dark street during a Halloween street party - just a few streetlights and shop fronts giving light to lots of people. It handled surprisingly well but it coped better standing still with people walking past than lots of panning around to spot costumes which isn't terribly unsurprising.

I used it at an American football game too which is pretty fast and reasonably far away. It coped fine with that even when I got over excited and jumped up so got the crowd rather than the catch.

I haven't noticed it being a particular problem although it is my first camcorder so I'm no expert.