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Step-up Value
Here's a Sony feature that adds value to this digital camcorder and differentiates it from other models in the Sony lineup.
 | Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens: Famous for its superior sharpness and color accuracy, the Vario-Sonnar lens is the most advanced multi-layer optical coating system. The Carl Zeiss optical zoom brings the action close up from far away. In addition, precision digital zoom interpolation technology means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom. |
Image Stabilization
Sony's SteadyShot picture stabilization keeps your images smooth and steady without degrading picture quality. The technology uses motion sensors, which tends to be more accurate than most other systems used in the camcorder market.
Optics
The multi-coated Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens ensures light capture will be well-contrasted and clear. The 1/4.7-inch advanced HAD CCD sensor accurately records images in vibrant color and sharp resolution. The PC105 has a robust 10x optical zoom that fits most purposes, but for extra distance the camera can reach 120x through the digital zoom. You can choose from three focusing systems to keep your images sharp and in focus: full range auto, manual, and spot focusing.
More Features
You can record video in low to no light situations with Sony's NightShot system, which uses infrared light to capture images invisible to the human eye. With the function on, subjects up to 10 feet away can be seen in total darkness. You can also use the color slow shutter for color night shots instead of the regular green night shot hue.
Sony's Stamina power management system and InfoLithium battery give the PC105 a long operating time. To keep you informed of current battery life, Sony's AccuPower meter displays the number of minutes remaining right in the viewfinder.
You can take digital stills and record small MPEG EX movies using the included 8 MB Memory Stick. This is where the 1 megapixel resolution CCD really shines, creating images with vibrant color and detail. The intelligent pop-up flash keeps your images well-lit and visible.
The PC105 features an easy to see 2.5-inch color LCD and a color viewfinder. The screen's image can still be easily seen even in broad daylight with the use of the LCD backlight. The menu is accessed via a touch screen display on the LCD, reducing the clutter of buttons on the camera.
The USB port can be used to bring in your stills onto the computer or stream video to make the camcorder function as a video conferencing tool or webcam. The IEEE1394 (Firewire) connection can be used for digital video editing on a computer, and S-Video and AV connections are also present for direct viewing on a television or VHS dubbing.
MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the new preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
Contents
This package includes the PC105 camcorder, power adaptor/in-camera charger, InfoLithium rechargeable battery, 8 MB Memory Stick, wireless remote with 2 AA batteries, AV cable, lens cap, shoulder strap, USB cable, USB drivers, and LCD cleaning cloth.
The zoom lever is not particularly easy to use, but once you get used to it is not that bad. The focus ring is easy to use, though the autofocus is so good that I hardly use the manual focus (as compared to my old Hi8). Also, the image stabilization is way superior to the old D8 one, and does not seem to introduce extra noise as was the typical case. This is especially important on a small and light weight camcorder since it is harder to keep it still than with a heavier one.
But, the main advantage of this camera, besides its compact size, is the hybrid LCD touchpanel. Forget about those bright days when you had to stick to the viewfinder because you could hardly see the LCD screen under the sunlight. With this one, you can see it perfectly, whether under the direct sun or on a dark place... You can even save some battery power by switching off the backlight when using it outdoors. The 2.5" is a bit small, but I don't believe you can put a bigger one without making the camcorder bigger too. The LCD is high resolution and looks very sharp. The color viewfinder is not tiltable and resolution is not as good as the LCD, but helps extending battery life, which BTW is accurately measured and displayed.
I would have placed at least a scroll/select wheel for the menu system, though the touch panel is really easy to use. But the scroll wheel is faster to use for selecting things on a typical Sony menu. However, the most used functions have direct access from the LCD touch panel buttons, and the spot focus and spot metering, where you select the area of interest by touching it on the LCD, is a cool addition that you don't have in many cameras.
Overall, I am happy with it, I can put it on the same bag together with my 5Mpix digicam and I just hope it works fine for many, many years.
Transferring video to a computer is straightforward, but a FireWire cable is not supplied, only a USB cable for the USB streaming feature.
Speaking of awkward, that is where this camera loses some points. Because the camera is meant to be compact, you can expect some buttons to be placed in unfavorable areas but I know they could have set the zoom feature in a better place. The zoom switch is very small and therefore difficult to control the speed at which you zoom in. On top of that, it is place out of reach of where your finger normally rests while you are recording. What ends up happening is while recording, if you need to zoom in, you need to look away from your screen or viewfinder just to zoom and when you do, you end up moving the whole camera while it's recording. A lot of times I just try not to zoom unless it's necessary. That was my biggest gripe about this camera.
I definitely agree, the provided software is not nearly as intuitive or clear as the instructions for camera operations. In a way it is simplistic but yet confusing because there are so few options, you expect more and go searching through the help files only to realize this program doesn't have such options. Definitely consider third party software if you are serious about video editing. The software can take what you recorded on MiniDV and turn it into a VCD but the quality is really poor even on the highest setting that I don't recommend saving your recordings that way, use as a backup only.
The features I did like about this camera (besides those mentioned in the first paragraph) are the ability to not only record on your miniDV cassette but also on a memory stick, although the quality isn't as good, it works out perfectly if you want to record little clips and send to family members via email and best of all you cans use the functions such as zooming in and night vision. Being able to take still pictures is another plus, although don't expect high quality pics, they are nonetheless still decent and there is a flash built in. You can even take pictures in the middle of recording although the resolution isn't as good as when you have it in still camera mode.
The included remote is pretty useful when you're watching your movies and all the connections to plug it up to a TV are provided so that's another plus. The camera has a lot of upgradeability options such as longer lasting batteries or tripod, external light hookup. Camera also has a built in speaker to review your video or you can use the headphone jack. The display shows how much battery life you have left and camera recording time. Another great thing is if you leave your cassette in there and record stop and record, the transition from stopping your previous recording and starting your new is super smooth. The bad thing is that if you take the tape out, you have to do that process manually unless you have the special Sony miniDV's with memory.
Overall though, a good camera, minus those few flaws, it's solid and quiet when recording. I strongly recommend you get some type of lens protector (they are pretty easy to screw on), an extra rechargeable battery (the one provided doesn't last very long), more memory (they give you a useless 8mb memory stick) and a case because the last thing you want to do is drop this camera. As solid as it feels, the camera is also not light so a fall would not be too good.
I didn't touch upon the recording features such as adding text, background music or special effects because I haven't really tried them yet, but know that they are there. The instructions in the manual are clear with walking you through how to do that. When I get more time I will experiment with those.
as already mentioned, in my opinion, this is the best camcorder package around today. peace.
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.
-- Groucho Marx
For if there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in
despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the
implacable grandeur of this life.
-- Albert Camus
