Sony DCR-PC350 Camcorder Reviewby Robin LissPublished on Oct 11, 2004 6:00 PM 
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If you're looking for a small, compact camcorder that's easy to use and shoots great looking video, look no further than Sony's DCR-PC350. Sony's 3.3 megapixel matchbox-style DCR-PC350 replaces the similar DCR-PC330, with the only major change being a reduction in size. The camcorder features a 10x optical zoom and a fairly large 1/3-inch CCD that delivers outstanding low light and video performance, reminding us of Sony's ability to make a quality camcorder.
Video Performance (8.5)
The Sony DCR-PC350 features a relatively large 1/3-inch, 3.31 megapixel CCD with 2,048K effective pixels for video and 3,048K effective pixels for stills. That's the same CCD as was included in the DCR-PC330, which the DCR-PC350 replaces. The DCR-PC350 includes a T* Carl Zeiss lens, which Sony reserves for its highest-end camcorders -- though I tend to think that has more do to with marketing than with anything else.
Under our testing conditions of 3000 lux, the equivalent of a sunny day, the DCR-PC350 fulfilled our expectations. It performed similarly to the DCR-PC330 in nearly all respects. Both camcorders produced distinct colors at 3000 lux. This is a lot of light, and it is not hard to believe that a 1/3-inch CCD camcorder can produce results this good. The grayscale at 3000 lux is excellent for both the DCR-PC350 and DCR-PC330, though the DCR-PC350's seems a bit more brilliant in the whites. Overall, these camcorders produce virtually identical results at 3000 lux.
Using the DCR-PC350's new CineFrame 24P digital effect, the user can achieve a digitally enhanced 16:9 aspect ratio and "24P look" as it drops frames from the 60i signal. This is an effect befitting a matchbook camcorder, and is unconvincing as a film-like look. It's inferior to the new 24P effects on the HDR-FX1 and the XL2, and is more of a quirky digital effect for home use than for professional use. However, under bright light, the CineFrame effect yields color similar to the camcorder's automatic mode at 3000 lux. It is only at lower light levels that the CineFrame mode and the automatic settings exhibit a dramatic difference-- besides the 16:9 aspect ratio, of course.
CineFrame 24P Mode at 3000 lux
The Front (8.0)
At the top of the front of the DCR-PC350 is the camcorder's lens, surrounded by a silver focus ring. Right below the lens is a black infrared receiver with a small tally light in its upper left corner. The rest of the front is consumed by a metallic plate with the Sony and MiniDV logos upon it. That plate falls right under the camcorder lens, and on top of a large plastic front in darker gray. To the left of the lens is a small vertical flash. On the DCR-PC330, Sony placed the DC in jack on the front, which made operating the camcorder while it was plugged in somewhat awkward. They've moved it to the side, which is a great improvement.
The Right Side (8.0)
The splitting of the DCR-PC350 between the lens barrel and the camcorder body is much less apparent than it was on the DCR-PC330. Sony has reduced the size of the lens barrel so it now sits flush with the rest of the camcorder's body. The barrel has a brushed-aluminum finish that almost has the look of wood grain. The camcorder's right-side buttons fall partially on the lens barrel and partially on the camcorder body. These buttons are on a black strip that runs along the camcorder's side, raised about 1/16th of an inch off the body. As the strip approaches the front of the camcorder, it rises about a quarter of an inch to accommodate the flash, which faces towards the camcorder's front. At the far back of the black strip is a plastic semicircle that covers the Mini A/V jack and the LANC/Control-L jack. Moving towards the front of the camcorder, we find a flash toggle button, backlight toggle button, and a focus auto/manual toggle button. In front of those is a silver photo button with a NightShot on/off switch below it. In front of those buttons, at about a 20 degree angle, is the silver zoom slider.
Sony has added a neat little "release belt" to the DCR-PC350's handle strap. The handle strap goes from the bottom right corner of the right side to about halfway up the left edge (back of the camcorder) on the right side. The new slider button unlocks the left attachment, releasing the handle and turning it into a short camcorder "leash" attached to the bottom right corner. It's a pretty cool feature; I imagine some people with a camcorder this small don't want to bother with the handle, and this lets you remove it and put it back on with ease.
The Back (6.0)
At the top of the DCR-PC350 is a color viewfinder. Unlike the DCR-PC330, the color viewfinder on the DCR-PC350 does not pull out, which makes me unhappy. Having the viewfinder virtually flush forces you to put your face right against the back of the camcorder, and it's quite uncomfortable. Below the viewfinder on the left side is a fairly large power switcher for changing between VCR and Playback modes. Below the power switcher is a blue Easy Handycam indicator light.
The Left Side (8.0)
The top of the left side of the DCR-PC350 is consumed by the 2.5-inch LCD screen. Below that is the battery slot.
The Top (6.5)
At the very front of the top of the DCR-PC350 is the focus ring. Moving back, you'll find the on-camera microphone, and behind that is a hot shoe.
Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (9.0)
If there is one area in which Sony is the hands-down winner, it's automatic control. The DCR-PC350 exposure and focus respond quite well in auto mode, with no noticeable lag. The DCR-PC350 really excels in its Spot Metering and Spot Focus functions. Touch an area of the 2.5-inch LCD screen, and the camcorder will automatically adjust the focus or the exposure (depending on what mode you are in) to that area of the picture. As much as I complain about touch screens, Spot Metering and Spot Focus are two good things that it has delivered to us. It's a nice in-between step for those less experienced users who don't feel their camcorder is performing perfectly in automatic modes, but aren't quite comfortable with full manual control.
Overall Manual Control (4.5)
The DCR-PC350 features the same 3D menu touch screen control as the DCR-PC330 does. I find that the touch screen makes it difficult to control manual picture functions. It's hard to hold the camcorder stable while adjusting picture functions through the touch screen, plus it's nearly impossible to adjust those functions when shooting with the viewfinder. While the DCR-PC350 does have a nice focus ring, the camcorder only gives manual control over exposure (not separate shutter speed and aperture control) and white balance. I really wish Sony had included a jog dial on this camcorder as an alternative to the touch screen.
Zoom (6.5)
The DCR-PC350 includes a slightly angled zoom control for its 10x optical zoom. The zoom control works okay. I was able to get and hold variable speed zooms. I really wish that they had made the focus ring a hybrid focus/zoom ring, as they did on the DCR-HC1000 (Review, Specs, $1199.89). Sony made a smart move in adding zoom controllers to the LCD screen, because you naturally hold the DCR-PC350 in your left hand by its LCD screen. Frankly, it makes operating a matchbox-style camcorder much easier.
Focus (8.0)
The DCR-PC350 includes a focus ring to manually adjust the camcorder's focus. The dial on the DCR-PC350 is much smaller than that of the DCR-PC330, as is the entire lens barrel. The focus ring allows a good level of control over the camcorder's focus. It's really the only manual control on the DCR-PC350 with which I'm incredibly happy. You can, of course, also adjust the focus through the Spot Focus feature.
Exposure (Aperture) (5.0)
The DCR-PC350's exposure is controlled through the 3D menu screen. The camcorder offers 24 steps of manual control, as well as the Spot Metering feature mentioned above. I really don't like the way that the DCR-PC350's exposure is controlled through the touch screen. It's pretty impractical to control on the go, especially if you are holding the camcorder in your hand. A jog dial on the DCR-PC350 would have made controlling the exposure and other functions much easier.
Shutter Speed (0.0)
There is no shutter speed control on the DCR-PC350.
White Balance (7.5)
Manual control for white balance on the DCR-PC350 is controlled via the touch screen 3D menu system. The DCR-PC350 gives you full auto, indoor, and outdoor options for manual white balance control. As with all the other manual control functions on the DCR-PC350, I wish that it were controlled through a real button instead of through the awkward touch screen.
Gain (0.0)
Like many Sony camcorders before it, the DCR-PC350 offers no manual gain control. Why, Sony, why?
Stills (8.5)
The DCR-PC350 offers the same high-quality still performance as the DCR-PC330, producing stills at a maximum resolution of 2016 x 1512 pixels. The stills on the DCR-PC350 are very impressive; this is one of the few camcorders whose stills are good enough to compare with dedicated digital still cameras. (Of course, you can find a camcorder with similar 3 megapixel performance for around $200.) The DCR-PC350 records digital stills to MemoryStick Duos, and the camcorder includes a 16 MB one. The DCR-PC350's Handycam Station includes a USB for transfer of digital stills from the camcorder to a computer. The DCR-PC350 also includes a flash, located on the camcorder's right side.
VCR Mode (6.0)
VCR mode on the DCR-PC350 is activated through the silver slider button on the back of the camcorder. All of the VCR control on the DCR-PC350 is done through the touch screen LCD. The buttons are superimposed on the video while you're playing it back.
Low Light Performance (5.5)
Low light testing environments of 60 and 15 lux were used to analyze the DCR-PC350's performance. 60 lux is within normal home light levels, which usually occur within the window of 140 and 30 lux. 15 lux is substantially darker; the naked eye can still discern color and form accurately, while most camcorders produce noise and grainy moving textures, and sometimes experience focal problems.
There are some differences at 60 lux between the DCR-PC350 and DCR-PC330. The DCR-PC350's spectrum is particularly brilliant in the violet and blue end of the spectrum, while the DCR-PC330 is particularly brilliant at the yellow and green end of the spectrum. Likewise, while the DCR-PC350 experiences a bit of an orangish-yellow bleeding, the DCR-PC330 experiences a bluish-purple bleeding. The DCR-PC330 also shows a fuzzier and less defined gray scale at 60 lux than the DCR-PC350, with a bit more noise as well.
At 15 lux, both camcorders display the trends established at 60 lux within increased intensity, as these trends are mainly color-based. The DCR-PC330 displays a bit more grain than the DCR-PC350, but is in general a little brighter.
CineFrame 24P mode at 15 and 60 lux light levels
When using the CineFrame 24P effect on the DCR-PC350 under both of these low light levels, the colors are dulled. This is an intentional symptom of the effect, meant to simulate film's deeper, richer, woody texture. At 3000 lux, this isn't very noticeable, particularly because of the amount of light to which the camcorder is exposed. Grain increases when this effect is applied.
LCD / Viewfinder (8.5)
Sony has actually downgraded the LCD screen on the DCR-PC330 from the DCR-PC350. While both camcorders include a 2.5-inch hybrid LCD screen for sunlight and indoor-light viewing, the DCR-PC350 includes only 123,000 pixels, while the DCR-PC330 includes 211,000 pixels. Both camcorders have a color viewfinder; however, on the DCR-PC330, it extends out about a half an inch, while it's completely stationary on the DCR-PC350. I don't know why Sony downgraded the LCD / Viewfinder options so greatly on the DCR-PC350. While the DCR-PC350 includes virtually the same LCD screen (with the addition of hybrid technology) as the Optura 400 (Specs, $999), the Canon Optura 500 (Specs, $1199) includes one at a higher resolution.
Audio (7.0)
The DCR-PC350 includes a microphone in jack but, sadly, no headphone out jack. The DCR-PC350 also includes an "intelligent" (a.k.a. "hot") accessory shoe that can power an external microphone. In VCR mode, the camcorder also allows you to do audio dubbing. I wish the DCR-PC350 had manual adjustment of audio levels, and a headphone out jack. As a comparison, the Canon Optura 500 and 400 both include headphone jacks.
Handling (6.0)
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of matchbox-style camcorders, as I find them hard to shoot with. That said, I felt that Sony's DCR-PC350 was the best handling matchbox camcorder with which I've dealt, and I think Sony has continued in this vein with the DCR-PC350. I found I could easily access the zoom and record buttons on the DCR-PC350 while holding it still. The camcorder is much lighter than the DCR-PC330 was, making it much more practical to hold for long periods of time. I think they've made some major leaps from those original matchbox camcorders, and I think I could shoot a relatively stable video with the DCR-PC350.
As I've complained in the rest of the review, the touch screen makes operating the DCR-PC350 quite difficult. I really wish they'd put the option for jog dial control on this camcorder. While the zoom and focus control are easily accessed, and Sony should get credit for putting a focus ring on the camcorder, adjusting any other feature or picture component is nearly impossible while trying to hold the camcorder stable. The other major problem with regard to handling is that the viewfinder doesn't extend. Horizontal camcorders seem to be used through the viewfinder much more often than vertical style -- something in the shape lends it to this way of shooting. However, the viewfinder flat against the camcorder's back makes it hard to operate the camcorder and not have your nose in the way.
Ports (6.5)
While the DCR-PC350 includes FireWire and USB jacks, S-Video in/out and RCA composite in/out, it doesn't include a headphone out jack. The camcorder also includes a Control-L jack and a hot shoe for attaching accessories.
Other Features (8.5)
16:9 widescreen mode The DCR-PC350 features Sony's expanded 16:9 mode, which uses all of the available pixels on the CCD to produce a higher resolution 16:9 aspect ratio image. Sony's fake 16:9 mode is considered one of the best out there for their use of the expanded pixel area.
CineFrame 24P In an attempt to appeal to the independent filmmaker crowd, Sony has included a "fake" 24 frames progressive scan mode on the DCR-PC350. The bottom line is that it's not true 24P. Every fifth frame, the camcorder skips a beat; while it will give you that film effect, you're certainly going to notice this skip. (Though I think it's a really neat effect for home users who want to give their movies that video feel.) It doesn't compare to the real 24P modes on the XL2 or the AG-DVX100, and it's certainly not as good as the fake 24P mode on Sony's HDV camcorder.
Webcam You can use the DCR-PC350 as a webcam when it's attached to a computer through the USB jack.
Analog to Digital Pass-Through The DCR-PC350 can convert analog video to a digital signal on the fly. It allows you to turn any analog video into something you can digitally edit on a computer.
Zebra Pattern Sony has added a zebra pattern to the DCR-PC350, which will highlight an overexposed area of the image with a diagonal black-and-white striped pattern that only appears on the viewfinder or LCD -- it isn't recorded to the tape.
Easy Handycam Using Sony's Easy Handycam feature, the icons on the screen become much larger and the camcorder goes into full auto mode.
Comparisons (no score provided)
Canon Optura 400 and Optura 500 The DCR-PC350's biggest matchbox-style competitors are Canon's Optura 400 and 500. Both are similar to and carry street prices close to the Sony DCR-PC350. The DCR-PC350's 1/3-inch CCD clearly beats Canon in regard to video and low light performance, scoring much higher in both areas. As for features, the Canon certainly wins with regard to manual control, where the Sony DCR-PC350 is clearly lacking. It's a tough call. If you value manual control, and can tolerate poor low light performance, an Optura 400 or 500 is probably the better choice.
Panasonic PV-GS400 The Panasonic PV-GS400 beats the Sony DCR-PC350 in my mind. While the camcorders are tied on video quality, with nearly identical reproduction, the PV-GS400 slightly beats out the Sony on low light performance. The Panasonic offers superior manual control, handling, and options. While I would pick the Panasonic over the Sony, I really should note that they virtually tie each other when it comes to performance. If you are a point-and-shoot user, and you don't prize manual control and want a camcorder that's easy to use, the Sony DCR-PC350 is a much better choice.
Who It's For
Point-and-Shooters (9.0)
For point-and-shooters, and fans of the matchbook-style camcorder in general, this is definitely for you. Not only does this thing offer the ease of use that Sony's so proud of, but also great automatic control and performance that you can hold in one hand.
Budget Consumers (5.0)
The DCR-PC350 costs more than the Optura 400 or 500, which are a lot to begin with. For a couple hundred more, some great 3 CCD camcorders are available. But, if you're looking for the best in Matchbook-Camcorder-Land, this daddy does offer some things that are worth the price difference.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (6.0)
The DCR-PC350 is above average in the still photo department, yet nothing really compares to a solid digital camera for a high still quality to price ratio.
Gadget Freaks (7.0)
This camcorders yields some gadgetry, including the 24P effect as well as an operation bay. Matchbook camcorders, especially this one, appeal almost solely because of their size-to-feature-quantity ratio, which is usually very small.
Manual Control Freaks (8.0)
The inclusion of a focus ring makes this matchbook stand out. And while Sonys usually don't offer many manual control vanities, this little guy does his best.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists (5.0)
I would be hard pressed to find someone shooting a movie with the DCR-PC350's CineFrame effect. That, coupled with the price, makes this camcorder not very appealing to the filmmaking crowd. However, if you're serious about small camcorders with a lot of love to give, the DCR-PC350 is small and has plenty of love, even though it is digital love.
Conclusion
The DCR-PC350 reminds us of how good a camcorder Sony can make, with regard to performance. The DCR-PC350 continues the outstanding low light and video performance of its predecessor, the DCR-PC330. Furthermore, Sony's dropped the price by $200, making this a very good buy for its image capabilities. Where the DCR-PC350 fails, however, is in regard to manual control and other shooting options. Panasonic's PV-GS400 offers much better manual control and shooting options; frankly, the two don't even compare. However, Sony balances out this poor manual control with shooting options like Easy Handycam and Spot Metering and Spot Focus. Of course, I wish Sony gave the option to control shutter speed, aperture, focus, and zoom in the focus ring up front, and added a jog dial. I don't think the choice in the $1,000 - $1,250 (street price) range could be more clear. If you are an experienced user who wants great control, options and handling with a beautiful picture, buy the Panasonic PV-GS400. If you want something that is compact, easy to use, and produces the same truly excellent video, go with the Sony DCR-PC350. The DCR-PC350 has to be one of the best compact easy-to-use camcorders I've ever seen.