Sony DCR-HC21 First Impressions Review

by Matt Culler
Published on Jan 17, 2005 3:00 PM



Sony’s DCR-HC21 fills out the bottom rung of Sony’s new MiniDV hierarchy this year. Released at CES early this January, The DCR-HC21 shares many specifications with last year’s DCR-HC20, with a few upgrades. Most of these upgrades, however, are cosmetic rather than substantial enough to mark a forth-coming change in video quality from last year’s DCR-HC20. Like nearly all of Sony’s new camcorders this year, the DCR-HC21 is completely redesigned externally from last year’s model.

Video Performance
While we could not assess the DCR-HC21’s performance in bright light conditions, using the floor model at CES this January, the camcorder shares the same imager as last year’s DCR-HC20; this is a relatively small 1/6 inch CCD with 680K gross pixels (340K effective for video and still capture). Going by the DCR-HC20’s model, we can expect descent video performance from the DCR-HC21, considering its small chip size.

As far as other factors going into video performance go, Sony has doubled the 10x optical zoom of the DCR-HC20 to 20x optical on the DCR-HC21 and added Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization. Unfortunately, manual control remains the same: lacking manual shutter speed and trapped in a touch screen menu.

The Front
The front of the DCR-HC21 houses the camcorder’s lens, and lens cover open/close switch, located to the len’s left. Towards the bottom of the front reside the camcorder’s stereo microphone, with the termination of the camcorder’s strap mechanism to its left. Sony has continued with the ovular shape which graced the front of some of last year’s HC models.

The Top
The top of the DCR-HC21 is sparsely populated; towards the view finder which is located on the back of the top, the accessory shoe and zoom toggle are located. Also, in a recessed ledge behind the zoom toggle is the camcorder’s photo button. Sony has slimmed down their accessory shoes this year in an effort to make the camcorders smaller; this also helps with their ability to offer products that aren’t compatible with any other camcorder. The zoom toggle is the same as last year’s.

The Left
The left side of the DCR-HC21 is dominated by the camcorder’s LCD screen. Above the LCD screen there are external buttons for back light, display/battery info., and the camcorder’s Easy mode. There are no buttons underneath the LCD screen, though secondary buttons for record and zoom are located on the LCD margin.

The Right
On the right side of the DCR-HC21, towards the back of the camcorder, is the mode dial, switching between record and playback modes. The lower portion of the right side houses the camcorder’s strap and handgrip. Above the handgrip runs a long port cover, which, as the DCR-HC21 doesn’t include a docking station like the other HC models this year, reveals all of the camcorder’s ports. They include: Firewire, USB, A/V, and LANC. Above these ports is the NightShot Plus on/off switch.

The Back
On the back of the DCR-HC21, the black and white viewfinder resides. Unfortunately, it can only extend about an inch towards the user. Below the viewfinder is the camcorder’s battery pack. To the right of the battery is the camcorder’s record button, within good reach of the thumb, and the open/release switch for the battery compartment.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
Automatic control on Sonys is always pretty good, and with the DCR-HC21, there is no exception. Indeed, as all of the manual control is trapped within the Touch Screen menu system, running the camcorder with its automatic defaults for white balance, exposure, and focus might be the best way to operate this little guy. Sony is also continuting it's Spot Metering, Spot Focus and Easy Handycam features on the DCR-HC21 which make the DCR-HC21 an exceptionaly easy to use camcorder for the non experienced user.

Overall Manual Control
As automatic control on the DCR-HC21 is good news, the fact that Sony has continued to offer mediocre manual control is bad news. Not only does there continue to be a lack of shutter speed or gain for Sony MiniDV camcorders from the $400 to the $1500 mark, all the remaining manual controls are locked within the camcorder’s touch screen menu system.

Zoom
The zoom on the DCR-HC21 has been increased 100% from last year’s DCR-HC20, from 10x to 20x. There is also up to 800x digital zoom. The zoom control is the same as was on the DCR-HC20. The control is very small and somewhat difficult to use, and doesn't make holding a steady zoom, or achieving a variety of zooms very easy.

Focus
Manual focus on the DCR-HC21 is done in the same method as last year’s manual focus was, in that it is adjusted along a meter from shallow to deep within the touch screen menu. This year Sony has included actual focal measurements to help the user’s adjustment, though you still have to enter the touch screen menu system to make the adjustments.

Exposure (Aperture)
Manual exposure on the DCR-HC21 is adjusted through the touch screen menu, unfortunately. Also, similar to last year, exposure adjustment does not offer actual F stop or shutter speed values. Rather, a simple +/- meter is used.

Shutter Speed
There is no manual shutter speed on the DCR-HC21, only auto exposure presets for particular environments.

White Balance
Standard white balance options are available on the DCR-HC21, including automatic, indoor, outdoor, and one push (manual set).

Gain
There are no manual gain functions on the DCR-HC21.

Still Performance
Unfortunately there is no memory stick slot on the DCR-HC21. You’ll have to buy the DCR-HC32 to enjoy such an amenity. The DCR-HC21 can capture stills to tape at 640 x 480, using the photo button, located behind the zoom toggle, at any time during video capture. Though, don't bother, they'll look horrible.

VCR Mode
The VCR mode of the DCR-HC21 is controlled by t he camcorder’s touch screen menu system. Standard playback options are available. The on-camcorder DV in/out, A/V out, and USB port offer good connectivity for playback and capture for editing. Unfortunately, there is no S-Video port.

Low Light Performance
While we couldn’t assess the DCR-HC21’s low light performance using the floor model at CES, with the same imager as last year’s DCR-HC20, the DCR-HC21 can look forward to its own decent performance for a small one-chip camcorder. Stay-tuned for the full review for a more in depth analysis complete with full tests.

LCD/Viewfinder
The DCR-HC21’s LCD screen is only in the 4:3 aspect ratio. So many of Sony’s new camcorders this year have 16:9 LCD screen. In fact, this was the main feature in Sony’s redesigning of their old camcorder bodies. The DCR-HC21 has an LCD panel in the 16:9 ratio, but its actual LCD screen is still 4:3. There is a digitally manipulated 16:9 mode.

Audio
The DCR-HC21 can record both 12 and 16 bit audio. This can be switched within the touch screen menu and is identical to last year. It should be noted that there is no microphone input or headphone out on the DCR-HC21 or any of the new Sony camcorders for that matter. At this time, the only way to use an external microphone with the DCR-HC21 is to purchase a Sony branded microphone.

Handling
The new Sonys are fun to hold. They are slimmer, more streamlined, and generally look like little taser guns. Button placement is fine with the recording button within good reach of the thumb. The main problem with the handling, however, is, as it was last year, the camcorder’s touch screen menu which makes any sort of adjustment cumbersome, as it requires the LCD screen to be opened and tapped on.

Ports
The DCR-HC21 lacks the docking station found on all other HC models, and in many ways it’s more portable for it. The camcorder includes all the ports that are found on the docking station, on the actual camcorder. While this may cut down convenience as the user has to plug and unplug all the cords after every use, it also enables the user to not take up excess packing space during a trip. Ports include: A/V out, DV (firewire), LANC, and USB.

Other Features
Secondary buttons There are secondary record and zoom buttons located on the LCD margin.

Software Compatibility The DCR-HC21 is compatible with Click to DVD software.

Multi-Language Operation No matter where you’re from, the DCR-HC21 can speak to you.

Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization Included is Sony’s electronic image stabilization.

Super NightShot Plus Sony’s infrared night mode is included.

16:9 Widescreen mode A letterboxed widescreen mode is available.

Analog to Digital Pass-Through Analog to Digital Pass-Through is not available as there are no analog inputs on the DCR-HC21.

Conclusion
The DCR-21 is a bare bones camcorder. It lacks many of the amenities found on some of Sony’s more advanced, and pricey new camcorders this year, such as a 16:9 LCD screen, the ability to record Surround Sound, or an intelligent accessory shoe, the ability to record stills, though the DCR-HC21 does improve on the optical zoom of last year’s models, and it affordable. Adding insult to injury, it's a dumbed down camcorder with no microphone input, no manual shutter speed, no manual gain, and no headphone jack. As it features the same imager as last year’s DCR-HC20, we can make assumptions about video and low light performance, though you’ll have to wait for the full review to read more. Unless this camcorder ends up being a low light superstart (which we've seen out of some Sony cams), it's gonna be tough to hold it up to models by Panasonic and JVC.