Sony DCR-HC36 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on May 5, 2006 12:00 PM
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Although it’s the major step up from the HC26, the HC36 has rather limited features. The HC36 does include a MemoryStick Duo port dedicated to still JPEG capture, unlike the HC26’s exclusively MiniDV recording capability, but the largest still size is 640 x 480, which is only 0.3MP. Besides having two quality settings – Standard and Fine – the camcorder has two modes of capture, Field and Frame.
The HC36's MemoryStick Duo slot, located in the LCD cavity.
The Frame mode captures stills in the way that most cameras and camcorders do; all the pixels in the chip grab the information at once. This method produces the highest possible quality. Sony recommends the other method, field mode, for subjects in fast motion. It captures stills the same way it captures video. Video is typically composed of two interlaced fields, wherein the alternating rows of pixels are refreshed one after the other (even rows are refreshed, then odd rows, then even, then odd, etc.) Using the Field method results in a lower quality still, but because it updates the information (or half the information) twice as fast, it is more likely to capture a fast moving object in detail.
Burst and bracketing modes are available on the next Sony models up, the HC46 and the HC96. The HC46 can capture stills up to 1152 x 864 (1.0MP). The HC96 goes up to 2016 x 1512 (3.0 MP). The entry-level JVCs, Panasonics, and Canons also shoot 640 x 480. The Canon Elura 100 shoots stills up to 1152 x 864.
Still Resolution (1.5)
We tested the DCR-HC36’s stills for their resolution, both the Field and Frame modes (see the Still Features section for a full explanation of these modes), by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. Both modes shoot at a maximum size of 640 x 480.
In Frame mode, the HC36 yielded an approximate resolution of 153702.97 (with an average 0.85% clipping). In Field mode, the HC36 yielded an approximate resolution of 154178.67 (with an average 1.3% clipping), a statistically identical result to the Frame mode. While our still performance tests showed that the Frame mode produced better looking results overall, but the resolution appears to be the same. We based the score for this section on the Frame mode results, as Field mode is additional feature that captures stills in a non-traditional way.
Clipping occurs when a portion of the information in the still cannot be read by Imatest, in this case because the information bottomed out (red, green, and blue levels all read as “0”).
You can see in the chart below how the HC36 compared to the competition. The camcorders that use a dedicated card media and shoot 640 x 480 have approximately the same resolution. The Elura 100, with a larger maximum still size, had a much higher resolution.
| Still Resolution | |
| Sony DCR-HC36 | 1.5 |
| Sony DCR-HC26 | 0.1 |
| Canon Elura 100 | 4 |
| Panasonic PV-GS39 | 1 |
| JVC GR-DF350 | 1.7 |
Still Performance (3.5)
Although the DCR-HC36 produces stills in only one size, 640 x 480, it takes pictures in both Frame and Field capture modes. We looked at both modes at 3000 lux, then compared the results to those from similar camcorders.
The HC36’s Frame capture had a decent color balance, though a little flat compared to video at the same light levels. Noise levels were higher than we’ve seen in comparative camcorders, and apparent sharpness was lacking. It’s important to remember, though, that 640 x 480 is only 0.3 MP, and not an overwhelming amount of information compared to dedicated still cameras.
Field capture, composed of two fields put back together in-camera, is meant to photograph faster moving subjects. Because it does not capture the image at once, as it does in Frame mode, image quality is somewhat lower. Noise levels increase and apparent sharpness decreases even more.
By comparison, the Canon Elura 100’s 640 x 480 still was much, much sharper, with virtually no noise. The colors did appear slightly washed out, however, and looked better in the Sony. Overall, the Canon comes out ahead. You can always play with color levels in Photoshop, but noise will remain.
The entry-level Sony HC26 can only capture stills to a MiniDV tape at 640 x 480. While it’s far easier to get stills off the HC36’s MemoryStick, the HC26 had more vivid colors, with a tendency towards more reds than the blues of the HC36’s stills.
Panasonic’s PV-GS39 also shoots 640 x 480 stills and produced an image with higher amounts of noise and less apparent sharpness. The Panasonic also produced colorful Moiré patterns in the resolution trumpets on the chart.
The JVC GR-D350 produced stills of exceptionally strong saturation. Every color was fit to burst right off the chart. This may be considered a strength , and it’s hard to deny that strong, bright images are a draw for some consumers. But these colors are not as accurate as the Sony’s, and accuracy counts.
In conclusion, do not buy this camcorder for its still capabilities. Still capture to MemoryStick is the only significant upgrade from the HC26 (in addition to a remote control), but 640 x 480 stills are not even close to the cheapest point and shoot cameras, which capture at 5 - 6MP.
| Still Performance | |
| Sony DCR-HC36 | 3.5 |
| Sony DCR-HC26 | 2 |
| Canon Elura 100 | 3.75 |
| Panasonic PV-GS39 | 3.25 |
| JVC GR-DF350 | 2.5 |
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