Ok, so i just got the HC9 and let me say, so far i am enjoying it far beyond what i expected! It's my baby! This won't be a too detailed review since i haven't been with the cam very long but here's what you can say my first impression.

The camcorder is SEXY. I mean, the deffinition of HOTT. I honestly don't want the camcorder to be CX7 small, it's not comfortable for me. Anyways, the size is JUST RIGHT and the black glass and the overall look is just STUNNING! Something to walk around with and be proud! Yes, it's practically the HC7, but the HC9's black paint makes it look SEXY! I LOVE Sony's touch screen, always have, and i'm what you can say a pro at it and i zoom through the menus, so i still love the touch screen. If it gets to greasy, i have a LCD cleaning cloth with me, or i just use a stylus. Anyways, button placement and EVERYTHING is amazing! Super comfortable to hold, i LOVE this camcorder!

Now, video quality.

Honestly? From what i can tell, it's a little bit better than the standard def HC96. Colors are better, it's sharper, obviously resolution is better, and out doors colors pop (in a good way) and it just looks beautiful, but in doors it could be better. It's actually pretty nice, i mean, yes you can see some grain, but it's not THAT bad too the point of throwing the camera against the wall (DCR-HC42...nightmare)! It's low light is kind of like the HC96 only a tad better. So in other words, the quality indoors and out is almost like the HC96 but obviously better. So i'm extremely happy. I honestly expected better quality indoors in an HD camcorder, but it's honestly still very nice, i can live with it, and i love it. The quality on our HDTV is amazing, the whole family loves it. They say that this camcorder really lets you relive the moments. I love all the manual features, although i haven't tried all of them. And the 6MP pics are wonderful! Very colorful! I still use my main still camera, but nice for when you want quick and big pics.

What i wish was better:
:I wish the LCD was a little bit bigger, at least 3.2" like the SR12.
:Low light isn't the best but it will do, it's still very nice.
:I wish that the pop-up flash was just a normal flash built into the lense, kind of like the SR1.
:I LOOOOOVE the design, but i'm still always wishing for a HDV version of the HDR-SR1, that camcorder's design was beyond perfect for my needs; 3.5 LCD and focus wheel, and just, AH amazing! Still, i LOOOVE the design the HC9 has, it keeps it relatively compact!
:The cam-control dial is great, and i don't find it slippery like CCInfo says, but i agree, i wish it was a normal wheel on the lense barrel. But it still works.
:Other wise everythings amazing!

So anyways, i hope i'll keep loving this camcorder for many years to come. I'll still be sticking with HDV. Even when AVCHD gets the highest planned mbs and had nigh capacity but low costing media, i will still stick with HDV. Because you can archive it and it will last. If your SDHC card gets full and you dump it to your HDD and it fails, bye bye memories. I don't think any of us just want to keep getting a new SDHC card when one is full and keep it archived on the card forever, because that will be damn expensive! So HDV is convenient, easy, HQ, low costing and is compatible with my large musum of Mini DV tapes and is just the right size. I don't care for "the worlds smallest HD camcorder", i want quality, convenience, low cost, best archivable solution, and amazing build, and the Sony HDR-HC9 gives me all of it.

If you have any questions, please ask!

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Yes.....i'm an extreme Sony loyalist.....you got a problem? SONY ~ LIKE.NO.OTHER ~

great review! im teasing myself thinking about getting one with the tax return

how are the still photos on it? could you post uncropped samples of the resolutions?

when you say inside quality is lacking do you mean like a living room setting? have you tried it indoors in a gym setting?

do you think its worth an upgrade from the dcr-sr42 if its only purpose was to watch on a 22" widescreen computer and sharing over the net (compressed with wmv-hd @ 720x480)

my biggest complaint about the model is the 10x zoom. one way i could deal with it is that i could crop the middle out and render it as 720x480 (this is the biggest id wanna post online) so technically it has a 20x zoom

or

have you tried it with a 2x telephoto lens? if so, how is the quality?

thx for any answered questions

Great and honest review, Thanks!
I have read out three important points:
-the HC9 seems to have a very good design, I think I need to go in a shop and hold one in my hand.
-you have confirmed ccinfos bad low-light performance.
-the comparisson to the HC96. If one can accpet the low-light performance of the Hc96(which was rated good) then he should also be happy with the HC9, shouldn't he?

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Regards
Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

HELP please... I am confused. I am looking at purchasing a camera and I definitely want Sony. I know that HC9 is newer than the HC7 but everywhere I look the HC9 is cheaper...which one should I get? I am really confused and I would appreciate your input. I looked at the specs and I know there are minor differences...any advice???

sony dropped the price on the hc9. definately go for it

Thanks Fal I appreciate your input.

Thanks for the HOT review... The CCinfo review disliked the HDR HC9's manual focus and touch screen (which you operate with a stylus). As I novice, it sounds Sony's are easy to use; so how significant is the manual focus issue--in what types of shooting would it matter more?
Also--it seems thatt Canon's have more shooting rates, ie 30Fps, 24P, 60i .... How inmportant is that stuff?

Jim

It's an amazing design! It's so comfortable!
Yes, if you can accept the HC96's low light performance (which scored high), then you will be ok with the HC9's. It's not that it's super bad, it's just that it's a bit grainy, otherwise the picture is colorful, no artifacting, and it's pretty bright. The HC9 was just rated low because it's an HD camcorder. Otherwise it and the HC96 have a nice low light performance!

__________________
Yes.....i'm an extreme Sony loyalist.....you got a problem? SONY ~ LIKE.NO.OTHER ~