Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV Camcorder Review
The creator of handycam brings forth another innovation – Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV. Being the world leader in entertainment, electronics, and gaming industry Sony is the name often used interchangeably with handycams, camcorders. This high-end Sony camcorder truly incorporates Sony’s motto of “like no other”.
In spite being affordable and easy-to-use this fun device is a great choice if you’re into movie-making or video-editing.
The Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV Camcorder is a perfect tool to capture flicks that never go fuzzy or dazed.
Indulge into still photography or video recording, this Mini DV cam has it all including handycam quality video shooting features, a super powerful 40x zoom, and Carl Zeiss lens. With Sony DCR-HC51E Handycam you can have non-stop video shooting capability and it is made possible due to 14 hours long battery life that is pre-packaged with the cam.
With Carl Zeiss lens and an 80x digital zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD screen you can have an 800k pixel CCD for greater sharpness and transparency in image quality.
Super Lightweight!
Weighing just 390 grams, the Sony DCR-HC51E MiniDV is a small camcorder but is an efficient and effective cam for personal and professional use. Brushed metal finish body hemmed in greyish black finish makes this handycam look attractive.
Easy-to-use and light enough to move around, this Sony Camcorder is a great device for video as well as still photography.
Uninterrupted Flickering!
One of the major highlights of Sony HDR-TG7VE Digital Camcorder is its 16GB of memory offering full six hours of uninterrupted recording. But if you think that it is not enough for you than just add 32GB of memory stick to continue recording up to 12 hours. Non-stop movie making feature never quits rather it is made available all the time with the help of a lithium-based ion rechargeable battery pack, which is capable of shooting up to 14 hours.
Amazing Features
The lens that comes with this camcorder is Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 1.9mm to 76 mm of focal length and between 1.8 and 4.1 of aperture range. The lens offers both manual and automatic focus. It features video resolution of 800000 pixels CCD with powerful 40x optical zoom and 2000x of digital zoom.
The resolution remains firm and steady with a help of an in-built image stabilizer called Super Steady Shot which offers improved video stability, especially in low light (night mode), and reduces any undue vibration or shake.
While filming videos you can choose from the available shooting modes, such as portrait, landscape, and sports. ‘White Balance’ of an image is taken care using by presets feature.
Other feature include Colour viewfinder, Start, Stop and Zoom buttons on LCD screen frame, DV (i.LINK) connection for video editing when connected to PC (output only), and DV (Firewire).
Easy-to-operate Sony DCR-HC51E CCD Camcorder has a 2.7-inch LCD panel with touch screen option for quick access to its menus that allow you to easily record your video to optical discs or to the DVD tape. The camcorder supports both PAL analogue recording format and also digital recording format of MPEG-2.
Accessories that are bundled with the cam are AC Adapter, AV Cable, Battery Pack, and USB Driver. The entire package comes with one year warranty.
Add Ecstasy to your Snaps!
Add special effects, like pastel, sepia, solarisation, mosaic, negative art, and monotone to append an artistic feel to your video. Shooting modes like spotlight, landscape, portrait mode, sports mode, twilight mode, sunset, beach, snow, sunrise, and Pictbridge options provide greater flexibility.
Sound factor of this camcorder is taken care by in-built microphone which has adjustable volume controls, digital noise reduction options, and Dolby Digital 2-channel AC-3 recording.
Apart from video recording you can use this camcorder as a still camera which stores images in the JPEG format.
Connecting your cam to a desktop or laptop is made easy with a help of an IEEE1394a and i.Link cables or an A/V cable to connect to a TV monitor.
The Sony DCR-HC51E Mini DV, thus, features a surfeit of exciting features and all wrapped up into one 8.5×6.3 cm package.
Unbeatable Performance
The Sony DCR-HC51E HD Camcorder can easily be compared to any all-in-one PCs considering its features and options available. Quick navigation panel makes access real easy.
40x Carl Zeiss lens with exceptional zoom quality undoubtedly captures high quality video. Extended shooting hours are backed up by 14 hours battery life. This makes the cam an ideal device for professional use.
Saved videos and still picture retrieval are faster than any other cams. If you have loads of videos or photographs saved up on your camcorder Sony Picture Motion Browser software makes life real easy. The software not only provides quick access to all your footage but allows you to connect to your PC to import, trim, copy and burn your files onto a DVD. Even if your cam is loaded with hundred of movies transfer to external device is pretty fast. The Sony DCR-HC51E Mini Camcorder is truly a mini powerhouse.
The Carl Zeiss lens zooms in perfectly with outstanding precision and reduces any unwanted glare.
Since Sony DCR-HC51 is a miniDV tape-based camcorder it transfers DV the same way.
But while connecting the camcorder to your PC use DV port and connect it to the firewire400 port of your computer with a firewire cable not USB. Note Firewire, IEEE1394a and i.Link and DV – are all the same thing. USB-to-firewire converter will not work.
One small tip, when you capture videos using MovieMaker (Windows) or iMovieHD (Macintosh), it creates one big file with different clips. That means each time you start/stop it creates a new clip in the existing file. If you want individual clips, just drag the individual clip to the desktop. Or import the clip you want so Movie Maker or iMovie file creates only that clip.
Sony DCR-HC51E Handycam – Technical Specifications, Features
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Model Name | DCR-HC51E |
| Camcorder type | Mini, HD Camcorder |
| Dimensions | 6.3 cm x 11.4 cm x 8.5 cm (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 380 g rams without Tape/Battery |
| Colour/Finish | Silver |
| Monitor | 2.5-inch LCD display – TFT active matrix |
| LENS AND ZOOM DETAILS | |
| Lens | Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens |
| F | 1.8 – 4.1 |
| f (Focal Distance) (mm) | 1.9 mm – 76 mm |
| f (35mm conversion) | 4:3 Mode ; 36-1440 / 16:9 Mode ; 39-1560 |
| Zoom ratio | Optical: 40 Digital: 2000 |
| Precision Digital Zoom | No |
| Zoom key | Lever / Button on LCD frame |
| CAMERA DETAILS | |
| Minimum illumination | 11 (1/50 Shutter Speed) |
| Focus | Automatic Manual |
| White balance | Custom / Automatic / Presets |
| Scene Selection | Twilight / Sunrise & Sunset / Landscape / Portrait / Spotlight / Sports / Beach / Snow |
| Fader | Black / White / Mosaic / Monotone |
| Image Device: Size | 1 / 6.0 |
| Number of Pixels (K) | 800 |
| SteadyShot | Super (Electronic) |
| Features included | Digital Zoom : 2000 x
Image Stabilizer : Electronic (Super Steady Shot) |
| CARD DETAILS | |
| Recording Media | miniDV tape |
| RECORDING DETAILS | |
| Movie Format | Standard Definition, DV |
| Recording Media | miniDV tape |
| Movie Quality | SP / LP |
| Compression of still image | JPEG |
| Still image recording features | Memory Stick PRO™ Compatibility |
| PRODUCT SPECIFICS | Standard Definition video recording on affordable DV tape 800k pixel CCD sensor Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 40x optical zoom / 2000x digital zoom Super SteadyShot for improved video stability, especially in low light 2.5” LCD touchscreen Colour viewfinder Start / Stop and Zoom buttons on LCD screen frame Up to 14 hours STAMINA continuous shooting time (with optional battery) |
| Battery | Sony NP-FH30 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( included ) |
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