Customer Reviews
Buy Sony electronics at your own peril
As an owner of the Sony DCR-HC30 model DV Handicam, I want to warn everyone about my horrible experience with this product line. Design and feature-wise, these Handicams are great. The problem is, they are built like junk.
From the day I opened my box, I got a message that told me that the heads were dirty and needed to be cleaned. In retrospect, I should have returned it for a replacement then and there. But being a basically optimistic guy, I decided it just got dirty in transit, and I got a head cleaner and cleaned the heads. It worked fine for about 30 days - just about the amount of time in Sony's crappy labor warranty. And from that point forward, I have gotten dirty head messages constantly, which at first could be `cleaned away,' but now, even when the message is gone, problems persist.
I often get bars across the screen during playback, and I have already determined that I have lost many a precious memory of my infant children. Sony's solution to this situation is their standard "flat rate" repair program, truly a bargain for $250 or so - more than half what I paid for the camera in the first place.
And Sony wonders why their brand value has all but disappeared? They are just another electronics brand now, and one with sub-par quality and service at that. Guess I'll be buying Samsungs or Canons next time around.
Are you listening, Sony?
CCD Imaging problem not present in this model
Just an FYI for some of the previous reviewers: the problem of CCD failure that affected earlier versions of this Sony camcorder line is not an issue in the 2005 models. For complete information on the Sony CCD problem, see;
http://www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html
Functionally, this is a great camcorder for the price. The ergonomics are particularly nice - very comfortable and easy to use. Good low light performance. Just wish it had a colour viewfinder and that Sony had included a small Memory Stick.
If you buy this, do yourself a favor GET EXTENDED WARRANTY
If you get a year of use out of this camera, you will be lucky. Sony is notorious for faulty camcorders, specifically the faulty ccd board. You can do a search and find a recurring theme about the horrible quality and poor customer service from Sony. There are plenty of other companies that make a qualitiy camcorder, but Sony isnt one of them. If you MUST get a Sony, make sure to factor in the 3 year extended warranty in the price, since you WILL need it.
