Sony HDR-HC3 Camcorder Reviewby Robin Liss and David KenderPublished on Apr 17, 2006 8:00 AM
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Comparison
Sony HDR-HC1
The HDR-HC1, Sony's the first foray into the sub-$2000 HD camcorder price range, produced quite a stir upon its release. This camcorder features an external ring that can be switched to control zoom and focus, actual manual control over shutter speed, a 1/3 inch CMOS imager, and less saturated video quality than the HC3. The HC1 had interesting in-camcorder microphone placement on the sides of the lens barrel to complement the same Active Interface shoe set-up found on the HC3, although the inclusion of a stereo mini mic-in jack makes this camcorder a far better option for anyone who feels constrained by the HC3's audio options. Sony used a far superior pivoting design when it came to the electronic color viewfinder on the HC1, allowing users to position the viewfinder away from the camcorder body and making it a functional feature.
The HC1, like the HC3, has a 10x zoom, a touch-screen interface, and a 2.7 inch LCD screen. The LCD screen is, however, vastly inferior to the HC3 in terms of pixel count, providing its users with a mere 123 K when using this monitor. The wide angle results were better, with a field of view measuring 49 degrees.
For still images, the HC1 has a number of features not found on the HC3, including exposure bracketing, a pop-up flash unit, a burst mode, and other features that set this camcorder apart in terms of hybrid functionality.
The HC1 is a prosumer-focused camcorder, and prosumers who want to save money should certainly buy HC1 units while they remain available. Many people are upset with the HC3, believing that Sony "dumbed it down" and alienated their original customer base, and we agree that Sony made some big mistakes with the HC3 by taking away options. However, the HC3 is a great choice for those seeking ease-of-use and simplicity.
Sony HVR-A1
The professional version of the HC1, the HVR-A1, is expected to still be available alongside the HC3. The A1 has 50+ features over the HC1, including balanced XLR support via an audio module, DVCAM, traditional cold shoe as well as the Sony AIS adapter, an assignable button, lens hood with automatic lens cap, and numerous internal features such as Black Stretch, Peaking, CinemaTones, Full Scan mode, a color / black & white viewfinder, and many others.
The HVR-A1 is aimed at more professional users, setting the bar too high for the HC3 to compete. Like the HC1, the A1 offers mic-in and headphone-out jacks, 123K 2.7” LCD display, tilting viewfinder (with a larger eyecup than that of the HC1), and the same 49 degree field of view.
By stripping so many of these features away from the HC3, Sony has put forth clear options for the market: high-end performance and features with the A1 or affordable quality with the HC3. The HC3’s higher resolution LCD, superior low-light performance, and smaller size and weight might appeal to some consumers, but serious hobbyists and professionals should look at the HVR-A1 instead.
Sony DCR-DVD505
The Sony DVD505 uses the same 2100K gross pixel , 1/3 inch, Advanced HAD CMOS sensor and produced comparable saturation and color balance to the HDR-HC3. These camcorders also share manual control options, and users will once again not have access to shutter, aperture or gain.
The one feature which is impossible to overlook when comparing these two camcorders is the DVD505’s massive 3.5 inch, 211K pixel LCD screen. Users will also appreciate the ability to pivot the electronic color viewfinder away from the camcorder body when using the 505, while audio enthusiasts will find that the DVD505's Active Interface shoe is slightly different, allowing 5.1 Surround Sound Creator and external microphones. Finally, playback mode in DVD camcorders is better, in terms of efficiency, due in large part to the thumbnail menu interface for both video files and still images.
However, the DVD505's slower bit-rate means that its images are far less sharp than those of the HC3. Additionally, the HC3 performed with greater success in low light when compared to this DVD camcorder. The internal microphones are on top of the camcorder, which isn’t a great position, and the frontal position of the mics on the HC3 should produce better results. The DVD505 does not have the camera control dial for singular manual control, and users will have to entirely rely upon the touch screen interface. If editing footage and video quality are important to your video practice, do yourself a favor and hold off on buying a DVD camcorder, even if they are in the $1100 price range.
Canon Optura 600
This is definitely a smaller bodied camcorder, great for transportation but at the cost of handling and layout. 
The Canon Optura 600 produced overly saturated colors when compared to the more balanced HC3, which also performed with greater success in low light. The Optura doesn’t shoot in HD format, and users will only be able to shoot SD footage at a rate of 29.97 fields per second. It also comes with a 2.5 inch non-widescreen LCD, which is definitely a setback for the user really looking to shoot with confidence in 16:9 format.
This camcorder is certainly lower priced, however, at $1100 and does come with a massive 1/2.8 inch CCD with 3.5 effective MPs. Despite terrible in-camera mic placement, the Optura also comes with a stereo mini mic-in jack, which makes it a good option for users concerned with audio quality. Wide screen gives users a one degree field of view difference over the HC3, and the 10x optical zoom is identical to the Sony model. For manual control users, the Optura 600 definitely comes with a greater list of options, including shutter speed control and an aperture priority mode.
Panasonic PV-GS500
The Panasonic PV-GS500 suffers from worse in-camera sharpening than the HC3, struggled to suppress noise levels when shooting in lower light situations, and turned in sub-par low light performances. This 3 CCD camcorder has 1/4.7 inch chips and the ability to record 4 MP still images to SD card. While the PV records SD video footage to MiniDV tape, it does not have the ability to record HD footage. The PV-GS500 has a wealth of manual control options, such as focus, exposure, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and zoom, giving the manual control lover a good reason to select this camcorder over the HC3. The LCD is 2.7 inches, and the camcorder has a total optical zoom range of 12x. It is PictBridge compliant, and users will also find that it is equipped with a stereo mini mic-jack, enabling many options which are unavailable with the HC3.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (8.0)
For the point and shoot user, the Sony HDR-HC3 does provide a compelling, albeit expensive, way to access HD video quality without needing to engage manual controls or menu structure. This is due primarily to the Easy Mode switch and the strong reaction and performance of auto controls.
Budget Consumers (3.0)
This model is certainly less expensive than other HD format camcorders on the market, and is definitely an alternate option to the HDR-HC1, since the HC3 is definitely meant more for the auto-centric consumer. Sanyo released the least expensive HD camcorder on the market at $800 this year, but with better results for video and resolution when compared to the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1, the HC3 seems like a wiser investment.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (4.0)
For the user seeking hybrid functionality with their HD video camcorder, the Sony HDR-HC3 can record 4 MP still images to Memory Stick Duo Pro memory cards. This camcorder has a well placed in-camcorder flash, as well as the ability to accept external flash units which connect to the camcorder via the Active Interface proprietary hot shoe.
Gadget Freaks (8.0)
While the HC3 doesn’t have full manual control, and it isn’t covered in unique or innovative features, it does present users with a $1500 camcorder that produces HD video, which may grab the attention of the gadget freak on a budget.
Manual Control Freaks (6.0)
The HC3 lacks gain, aperture, and shutter speed control, all three essential settings for the manual control obsessed. Adding to these shortcomings is the unfortunate touch-screen interface system, which must be engaged to access the focus, exposure, and white balance manual options, and the ability to save only one manual control to the cam. ctrl. dial feature.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (7.0)
The serious hobbyist may be initially attracted to this camcorder due to both price and HD status, but with some interaction, the lack of manual control options, the touch screen interface, and other detractions will muddy the water.
Conclusion
The changes to the HC3 are certainly not the type we typically like here at CamcorderInfo.com, but we review in the context of a whole model line and industry. What allows us to love this solidly-built tiny camcorder, which has gorgeous video performance at incredibly high resolution, great low light performance, and other nice features, is the fact that it has a big sister which provides the manual control we need. The HC3 is going for a target market, losing many features in the process, and certainly has some design flaws. But you can’t accuse Sony of not giving you the option for these controls --you’ll just have to spend $700 more to get them on the pro A1.
To be honest, we don’t know if there’s ever been a model line with such a good and clear choice. On the one hand, you have the HC3 for the typical consumer who wants to set it and forget it. On the other, the more expensive A1 is packed with the great features and manual control that prosumers and indie filmmakers demand. While the HC3 is dumbed down, the A1 is feature rich.
The HDR-HC3 features a single 4:3 aspect ratio CMOS chip. This is a CMOS chip different in aspect and type from the one featured on the HDR-FX1, Sony’s second most expensive HDV camcorder. The HDR-FX1 features three, native 16:9 CCDs, each 1/3-inch in diagonal and including 1.12 megapixels gross. The CMOS chip on the HDR-HC3 measures 1/3 inches and features 1.49 effective megapixels in legacy 4:3 MiniDV video mode and 1.98 effective megapixels in 16:9 HDV video mode. CMOS sensors have only been used once on Sony camcorders—the DCR-PC1000--(read our article here), and, while we were initially skeptical about their performance, we were pleasantly surprised. In our testing lab, under our controlled environment conditions of 3000 lux, the equivalent of a bright sunny day, the HDR-HC3 performed wonderfully.
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