Sony DCR HC27 or Canon MD101

[PennyWillowbrae]

I'm almost about to get a Sony DCR HC27 having read many favourable reviews on Amazon (apart from battery life and apparently you can only use Sony batteries which are apparently expensive).

Looked at MD101 and there are many comments about noise picked up by built in mic. Is this worse than the Sony?

I see that the Canon has an input for an external mic which I would find useful but this should be a feature in its own right and not to compensate for a less than adequate internal mic.

I'd like to know the experts' opinions...

Thanks

[redsox_mark]

MD101 has better video quality, especially when shooting widescreen (it is true widescreen).

With any compact DV camcorder it will pickup some motor noise from the built-in mic. I haven't found the Canon to be any worse than others, though maybe it varies from batch to batch, as some people have found it an issue.

[PennyWillowbrae]

Thanks Mark.

As a matter of interest, should I find the quality of DV camcorders in this price range better than my 12 year old JVC GR-HF700 (records VHS to mini VHS tapes. And has a mic input...) - which I always thought had excellent picture quality?

[redsox_mark]

The DV camcorder should be better, with the possible exception of low light. Often analogue camcorders can do a bit better there.

[bigbaz]

I was in the same position two weeks ago, HC27 v MD101 in the end I purchased the Sony. The main reason being IMO the build quality of the Sony is far superior to the Canon ( Plastic feel ) also I like the HC27 touch screen and dual zoom feature. Good luck.

[JamieBee]

What is your verdict on the Sony baz ?