Help & Opinions required - Sony DCR-PC350

Shakey21

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Hi Guys,

I'm thinking about purchasing this Camcorder as on paper it looks very good. I'm new to all this and have never owned a camcorder but there are a few big events happening that make me want to buy one (baby due in January and a holiday to take in October) so I want to take the plunge and get up to speed before then. So I basically know very little apart from what I have read on here and my own limited research. Howver, I think this camcorder looks pretty near the mark with features, not bothered about bluetooth, I can connect it to the PC via USB (I assume this is USB2.0 and I'm not sure if it has firewire - if anyone knows I'd appreciate your input).

Here is a list of features of the Sony site:

Audio
Audio Dubbing 12bit YES
Audio System PCM (12bit / 16bit)
Built in Microphone Stereo
Built in Speaker YES


Bluetooth
Basic Imaging Profile NO
Dial-up Network Profile NO
Gereric Access Profile NO


Camera
14bit DXP YES
Advanced HAD technology YES
Backlight Comp. YES
Camera Noise Reduction YES
Fader Black, White, Mosaic, Overlap, Wipe, Monotone, Random Dot
Focus: Full Range Auto YES
Focus: Manual YES
Image Device: Size (CCD) 1 / 3.0
Image Device: System (CCD) Interlace
Interval Rec. NO
Manual Focus Key Ring
Minimum Illumination (lux) 5
Minimum Illumination with NightShot (lux) 0
Number of Pixels Act Camera mode (K) 2048
Number of Pixels Act Memory mode (K) 3048
Number of Pixels Gross (K) 3310
Program AE Portrait/Beach & Ski/Sports Lesson/Landscape/Spotlight/Sunset & Moon
Shutter Speed 1/3-1/3500
Spot Focus (Touch Panel) YES
Spot Meter YES
SteadyShot Super (Electronic)
White Barance Auto / Outdoor / Indoor / Onepush


Dimensions
Depth (mm) 106.7
Height (mm) 107.3
Width (mm) 57.3


Flash Light
Automatic Pop Up NO
Flash Mode: Recommended Distance (Memory Mode) (m) 0.3-2.5
Hologram AF NO
Night Framing NO


Jacks
Audio In YES
Audio Out YES
i.LINK (DV) In YES
i.LINK (DV) Out YES
i.LINK (MICROMV) In NO
i.LINK (MICROMV) Out NO
S-Video In YES
S-Video Out YES
USB Terminal YES
Video In YES
Video Out YES


Lens / Zoom
Color Slow Shuter: Camera Mode YES
F 1.8-2.9
f (35mm conversion): Camera mode (mm) 45-450
f (35mm conversion): Memory mode (mm) 44-374
f (Focal Distance) (mm) 5.1-51
Filter Diameter (mm) 30
Lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*
Nightshot: Camera mode Super
Precision Digital Zoom YES
Zoom Key Lever / Button on LCD frame
Zoom Ratio (Digital) 120
Zoom Ratio (Optical) 10


Memory
Burst Record High Speed
Burst Record Auto Exposure Bracketing YES
Burst Record Multi 9 Pictures NO
Compression JPEG
Format MPEG1
Image Size: Max 2016 x 1512
Image Size: VGA 640 x 480
Index Playback YES
Max. Number of Recording Pictures (Supplied Memory Stick) 240
Memory Mix YES
Memory Stick PRO Compatibility YES
Memory Stick R Compatibility NO
MPEG Movie EX
Number of Recording Pictures in Best Mode (Supplied Memory Stick) 10
Progressive Scan NO
Progressive Shutter System YES
Recording Media Memory Stick DUO
Recording Mode Presentation(320x240)/Video Mail(160x112)
Still Image Recording Mode Fine 1 / 4
Still Image Recording Mode Standard 1 / 10


Network
Album Function NO
Email Function NO
Network Function NO
USB Network Function NO
Web Browser NO
Wireless Communication with Bluetooth Function NO


Others
16:9 Wide (Full) YES
Accessory Shoe YES
Battery Info YES
Built in Light NO
Continuous Recording Time with Supplied Battery and Viewfinder (min) 110
Demonstration Mode YES
Digital Picture Effects Still,Flash Motion,Luminance Key,Slow Shutter, Trail,Old Movie, Delayed Motion effect / Cinematic effect
InfoLITHUM System YES
Max. Continuous Recording Time with Optional Battery and Viewfinder (min) 205
Picture Effects Mosaic, Solarization, Monotone, Sepia, Neg.Art, Pastel
Power Consumption : LCD (W) 3.2
Power Consumption : VF (W) 2.9
Progressive Recording Mode YES
USB Streaming YES
Weight without Tape/Battery (g) 410


Supplied Accessories
21 Pin Adaptor YES
AC Adaptor AC-L25
AV Cable Stereo AV
Lens Cap YES
Memory Stick (MB) 16
Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-FF51
Shoulder Strap YES
Software Picture Package
Stylus Pen NO
Tape / Cleaning Tape NO
USB Cable YES
USB Driver YES
Wireless Remote Comander RMT-831
Wrist Strap NO


View Finder / LCD Monitor
Hybrid LCD Screen YES
LCD: Pixels (dots) 123200
LCD: Size (inch) 2.5
Touch Panel YES
Viewfinder Color
Viewfinder: Pixel (K dots) 123.2


VTR
Cassette Memory YES
Dubbing and Editing Digital Program Editing
Format DV
Hi8/Video8 Playback NO
LP Recording YES
NTSC Playback on PAL TV NO
Playback Zoom YES
Signal Convert Function YES

It is currently availble to buy for £770 so I think it looks not bad but I would appreciate your input on any pros and cons.

Many thanks.
 
Hi,

Firewire = IEEE1394 = i.LINK (DV)

So, yes ! This cam has firewire.

Best regards,
 
Ahh thanks, tld you I didn't know anyhting about this lot.

Cheers
 
What do you want to do with the camcorder when you connect it to your PC?
If you want to put still images onto the PC or even use the cam as a webcam then USN (1.1 or 2.0) is good enough, but if you want to edit the footage in full DV quality then you can only do this with firewire.

Mark.
 
Mark,

I want to do editing and burn some DVDs, I am thinking about this also as a replacement for my Nikon Coolpix 775 (2.1Mpixel) as it does 3MP stills until I get one of those Canon digital SLRs after Christmas.
 
Or as an option, would it be worth going for a Panasonic NV-GS200B?
 

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