Sony DCR-HC96 Camcorder Review by James Murray Published on Mar 10, 2006 2:15 PM

The one huge improvement this year is the battery placement - rear-mounted rather than internal. This means the possibility of expanded battery packs - a godsend to those who spend the whole day out shooting. This just about makes up for the fact that the body is larger and heavier than the HC90, despite word from Sony that all the MiniDV cams were smaller and lighter.

Aside from the battery, little has changed. If battery life is rarely an issue for you, the HC90 is a strong contender. Video and still performances were similar, with the HC96 showing slight improvements in all areas.   

Panasonic PV-GS300
The Panasonic PV-GS300 offers a compelling alternative. It gives users the ability to record to both SD cards and MiniDV tape, the former of which is a less expensive and more universally accepted memory card format. The Panasonic PV-GS300 has 10x optical zoom, a 1/6-inch, 3 MP CCD and a 37mm lens in comparison to the 30mm lens found with the HC96. The Mic-in port for this camcorder is not proprietary and although it’s a 1/8th inch jack, it is far more adaptable for video users who are adamant about audio possibilities and customization. Manual controls on the PV-GS300 are comparable with controls on all the camcorders in the Panasonic consumer camcorder line, which means far more options in comparison to the HC96. There is included software for basic editing options although the camcorder won’t be able to engage in analog to digital pass-through, a great feature that is possible with the DCR-HC96 (Review, Specs, $516). The PV-GS300 has an optical image stabilization feature for shooting in situations that are less than stable. Winner: the GS300.

Canon Optura 600 (Specs, $1099)
The Canon Optura 600 features an impressively large 1/2.8-inch, 3.5 effective MP CCD which outdoes most of the comparison camcorders as well as the HC96, although at a distinctly higher initial price. Controls are accessed via the external interface and users won’t find it necessary to slog through a poorly designed default touch screen interface. The Optura 600, like the PV-GS300 and the HC96, comes with 10x optical zoom. Manually, the Canon Optura 600 does offer more control over imaging features and does so with a menu system that is both logical and simple to navigate. The still image mode records photos to SD/MMC media that, as mentioned in the PV-GS300 comparison section, offers far more options than the proprietary Sony format found with the HC96. The Optura 600 has a smaller LCD of 2.5 inches. It also has a Mic-in jack; this is normally a benefit, but it is poorly placed in the LCD cavity and has no shoe attachment when shooting. One of the major benefits of the HC96 compared to the 600 is that the former is top-loading, which lets users change tape while their cam is still mounted to a tripod. Also, the 600 falters noticeably with handling; the matchbook design is hardly comfortable or easy to maneuver and the more traditional HC96 body is a superior option. The Canon Optura 600 has a current street price of around $799. This is a neck and neck finish, but we're leaning towards the Sony in all regards but manual control.

JVC GR-X5
Although visually untraditional ("ugly" is the word on the street), the GR-X5 produced some impressive video quality that should surely make this camcorder a competitor with the HC96. The GR-X5 has 3 1/4.5-inch CCDs that help achieve these results, and a swiveling, tilting 2.5-inch LCD screen on the back face of this square bodied camcorder. This is the only viewing option, and its less than stunning image compromised the ability to manually set focus and other image parameters that rely upon the view from a quality image device during adjustment. Manual controls are positioned externally and are accessed quickly, unlike the endless menus scrolled through on the HC96. However, the GR-X5’s menus by comparison make the touch screen of the HC96 a seemingly pleasurable experience. Once again, like the Canon and Panasonic offerings in this comparison section, the GR-X5 records still images to the more universally accepted SD memory card format. Unlike the Canon, this model does come with a cold accessory shoe so that the user won’t need to hold microphones when external audio recording devices are connected to the Mic-in port. The GR-X5 has a current online price of around $950. Our choice goes to the HC96.

Sony DCR-HC46
Announced at the same time as the DCR-HC96 at CES 2006, the HC46 by Sony is the less expensive little brother to the HC96. With a much lower MSRP of $500, this camcorder also has a smaller 1/5.5-inch, 690K effective CCD and although the physical lens is smaller at 25mm, the HC46 does have a 12x zoom lens. The camera can shoot still images at a lower resolution although recording will be done to the same MemoryStick Duo format. This camcorder has the same 2.7-inch LCD screen, although there is no accessory shoe or Mic input option available when recording. If you have the money, get the HC96.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (8.0)
The point-and-shoot user will find the Sony DCR-HC96 to provide a mode which is entirely automatic without any worries about controls or settings beyond zoom levels. The more learned point-and-shoot user may find this mode eventually limiting while finding the menu structure of regular mode to be too intimidating and complicated.

Budget Consumers (3.0)
This camcorder has an MSRP of $800. While this isn’t terrible considering the 1/3" imager, options by manufacturers like Panasonic can be found with similar imager sizes and far more manual controls for around $699.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.5)
The HC96 will appeal slightly to the hybrid camcorder user with its inclusion of an in-camera flash, hot shoe and a maximum image resolution of 2016 x 1512 and control over focus, exposure and white balance. Like tape mode, the MemoryStick mode suffers from a poor menu structure and the need to unearth controls from within numerous other menus. The use of Sony’s MemoryStick Duo Pro will limit the media options of the user, especially if this format is ever phased out from the Sony production line.

Gadget Freaks (4.0)
For the gadget freak, the Sony DCR-HC96 doesn’t really provide features that set this camcorder apart from previous years or competing manufacturers.

Manual Control Freaks (2.0)
The manual control is going to be nothing but disappointed in the HC96. But then again, we don't look to Sony for manual controls in the consumer market. Not until the prosumer and up do they give you so much as shutter speed control. Chances are, the manual control freaks are steering clear of Sony altogether.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (4.0)
With the menu structure as convoluted as it is, this group is the most likely to actually be able to navigate the obtuse menu system. Nonetheless, the pro and serious hobbyist will find the digital interface for manual controls, lack of external zoom or focal ring and “Handycam Station” disappointing enough to overshadow the HC96’s impressive 1/3" CCD status.

Conclusion
The DCR-HC96 takes great video, of that we have no doubt. The 1/3" chip really packs in the quality. And low light performance was excellent. That alone might be worth of cost of purchase. But if the HC90 is still available (and it must be found somewhere), you'd have a hard case to make that the HC96 is the better buy. Not only did they remove all the ports from the body, but by putting them on the Handycam station, you now have one more thing to lug around in the camera bag. And despite Sony's claim that the body shrunk on all their MiniDV cams, the new model is actually larger and heavier than its predecessor. This is not what we would call "progress."

Not much has changed this year in the target market for Sony camcorders, including the DCR-HC96. These camcorders have a single (albeit large) market of ease of use consumers, who put point and shoot ability above performance and control. That's not our typical user here at CamcorderInfo.com. The DCR-HC96 isn't a good choice for people who want superior manual control, or want the top performance. We still are very upset about the lack of microphone input, and the lack of a real accessory shoe on the top MiniDV model in a line. Because of these shortcomings we unquestionably recomend the PV-GS300 by Panasonic for most of our readers.