Sony DCR-HC21 Camcorder Review

Comparisons
Panasonic PV-GS31
Available for a price comparable to that of the DCR-HC21, Panasonic’s PV-GS31 is available. The PV-GS31 offers Panasonic’s new navigational and menu system as well as an enormous amount of manual control and better handling ability than the DCR-HC21. While, like the DCR-HC21, the PV-GS31 camcorder lacks a mic port or S-Video port, it does include SD card capability and a 26x optical zoom, making it more appealing. But overall, the PV-GS31 and the DCR-HC21 are worlds apart. The PV-GS35 is for manual control lovers, and the DCR-HC21 is for those who want an simple camcorder to shoot decent video without having to touch a thing. That's nice, but the DCR-HC21’s more advanced brothers, the DCR-HC32 and the DCR-HC42, offer a more complete package--one that seems a bit overpriced compared to the PV-GS31 and its ilk.

Canon ZR200
The Canon ZR200 is similar in CCD and price to the DCR-HC21, and the ZR200 sports a similar 20x optical zoom. The main differences between the two camcorders are the available ports, manual control options, still capabilities, and widescreen modes. The ZR200's capabilities are far superior to the DCR-HC21’s letterboxed widescreen mode; it offers the same high resolution 16:9 mode found on last year’s Optura 400 and 500. It also includes manual shutter speed control and selectable focal points for still capture, which can happen onto a SD card at a resolution of 1024 x 768. But unlike the DCR-HC21, the ZR200 does not have an accessory shoe, cold or hot. Then again, the camcorder lacks the necessary port for a microphone, so you probably weren’t going to hook up a microphone anyway. It will be interesting to see how these two camcorders perform in the low light tent. Last year’s ZRs performed pretty poorly, and with no major improvements to the imager, the new models may do the same. High resolution 16:9 mode may be the deciding factor.

Sony DCR-HC32
One step up from the DCR-HC21, the DCR-HC32 maintains the DCR-HC21’s 20x optical zoom. The main changes on this model are the upgrades of a 3D touch screen menu system, which is much easier to operate, and the relocation of the camcorder’s ports (aside from LANC jack and A/V out) to an external Handycam docking station. While this addition may make connecting the camcorder to external devices easy, it may also make it less easy to travel with. The DCR-HC32 also adds a MemoryStick Duo media slot, enabling photos to be captured at a resolution of 640 x 480.

JVC GR-D250
For thirty dollars more, JVC’s GR-D250 is available. It includes a similar imager to all the above camcorders, and records stills to tape like the DCR-HC21. It offers manual exposure and shutter speed, but unfortunately this camcorder features no USB port or S-Video port. Worse yet, the 3D noise reduction technology found on last year’s JVCs in this price range is not included on the GR-D250, making it unlikely that we'll see anything like the brilliant low light performances seen on last year’s models. Either way, stay tuned and we’ll find out for you.

Who It's For
Point-and-Shooters (9.0)
The DCR-HC21 is definitely for point-and-shooters. It features an easy mode as well as fantastic automatic functions, making it a breeze to operate for those and looking to let the camcorder do all the work.

Budget Consumers (8.0)
While the DCR-HC21 is Sony’s cheapest MiniDV camcorder this year, it is more expensive than comparable lower-end MiniDV camcorders from other manufacturers. For instance, Panasonic’s PV-GS31 and Canon’s ZR200 are similarly priced and middle range in the lower-end MiniDV bracket. Another drawback: the DCR-HC21 doesn’t offer non-tape still photo media, like a Memory card or SD card. Just something to think about.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (1.5)
The DCR-HC21 cannot be recommended as a hybrid camcorder as it only offers still capture onto tape--there is no card. Stills can only be captured at 640 x 480 are recorded to approximately seven seconds of MiniDV tape.

Gadget Freaks (4.0)
I suppose the touch screen menu system might count as a gadget, but the DCR-HC21’s menu is less advanced than the 3D menu systems found on the DCR-HC32 and DCR-HC42.

Manual Control Freaks (2.0)
The DCR-HC21 cannot be recommended to the manual control freak as it includes probably the lowest amount of manual controls on any MiniDV camcorder this year. There is no independent iris or shutter speed controls on the DCR-HC21, nor audio level controls.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists (1.0)
The DCR-HC21 cannot be recommended for the pro or serious hobbyist. It lacks the requisite manual control interface and the microphone jack needed by such a person.

Conclusion
The Sony DCR-HC21 is a camcorder for the point-and-shooter - but if you have even the slightest suspicion that you might want something more, stay away. With its horrible low light performance and lack of manual control found on comparable camcorders, the DCR-HC21 is all around a very bad camcorder. Also, the camcorder’s menu system is discouragingly hard to use. On the bright side (no pun intended) the camcorder does perform well in bright light, has great automatic controls, and offers one of the best low-end zoom toggles this year—-which is really the only manual control the point-and-shooter needs. It also has an easy mode to help out the mechanically disinterested. And the placement of the camcorder’s ports on the camcorder, as opposed to a docking station, makes the camcorder a bit easier to travel with than the more advanced DCR-HC32 and DCR-HC42. But what's really sad about the DCR-HC21 is that just two years ago, the DCR-HC21's predecessor, the DCR-TRV19, was considered an amazing camcorder. In an effort to dumb down their products for a broader audience, Sony has wound up ruining some of them. It's very difficult for us to recommend the DCR-HC21 for anyone accept the surest point-and-shoot users.