Sony HDR-HC3 Camcorder Reviewby Robin Liss and David KenderPublished on Apr 17, 2006 8:00 AM 
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Widescreen/16:9 Mode (9.0)
Switching between format modes on the Sony HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99) isn’t the overly simple process it is with the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 (Review, Specs, $499.99), which had an exterior button as a format toggling control. Users will have to enter the P-menu structure before accessing the administrative menu and navigating to the rec. format sub-menu. Only then will they be able to switch between HDV and DV formats. To switch between 4:3 and 16:9 in DV format, the user will need to enter the DV set sub-menu listed directly beneath the rec. format menu. With this many menus and controls to navigate through, it seems like a wise idea to move these features to the P-menu structure, where quick access is actually possible.
When shooting in DV 4:3, the camcorder’s LCD will display the 16:9 image with nearly opaque bar overlays on the left and right sides of the screen. These overlays represent the amount of information lost when the camcorder is switched from the widescreen to 4:3 format. This can certainly be helpful when trying to gauge which format is more appropriate to a shooting situation.
Scan Rates/24p (0.0)
The Sony HDR-HC3 normally records footage at the standard 60 interlaced fields per second, and does not support any alternate scan rates such as 24p.
Other Features (5.0)
Camera Color - The Camera Color feature is comparable to the saturation control found on the camcorders of other manufacturers. The display produces a horizontal scale across the center of the screen. Users will notice changes in saturation levels as they scan the length of this scale, thanks to the live view capabilities of the Camera Color feature. The ability to both increase and decrease saturation levels with this camcorder is a great inclusion, considering the tendency of Sony camcorders to produce overly saturated video quality that can sometimes be a bit too saccharine.
Smooth Slow Record - Smooth Slow Record is a new feature on some Sony camcorders that enables HDR-HC3 to shoot three seconds of footage at a rate of 240 fields per second. This feature can be found in the administrative menu within the Pict. Appli. Menu. Once captured, the three second clip is converted into a twelve second file for playback, and is evidently great for golf swings, bar fights, and other fast moving situations
Burn to DVD - The Burn to DVD feature, available with the Sony HDR-HC3, is only possible with Sony Vaio computers that have the Burn to DVD feature included in their systems upon purchase. This option is handy for users looking to transfer footage onto DVD without having to purchase expensive and often complicated software.
SteadyShot - This camcorder does include a SteadyShot function, which is intended to compensate for the handshake that becomes noticeable with higher zoom levels. Unfortunately, the SteadyShot feature is an electronic image stabilization system instead of the more accurate, less compromised optical image stabilization found on camcorders in this price range by manufacturers like Panasonic.
Zebra Striping - The zebra striping feature is an in-camera option that warns users when the brightness levels of the footage are too brilliant and will result in compromised video quality, a problem most prevalent with whites that will appear blown out. Diagonal striping appears across overly bright sections of video; users can immediately compensate for this problem by adjusting exposure settings or other controls. The diagonal bars do not appear on the final video.
Histogram - The Sony HDR-HC3 does contain a histogram feature and, while undersized for really nuanced gauging of possible brightness levels in postproduction editing, it will at least provide some users with a visible diagram for evaluating their highlights, mid-tones, and shadows in a rudimentary live time format.
Conversion Lens - The Sony HDR-HC3 is capable of accepting two conversion lenses, both available through Sony's online store. Both the 0.7x wide angle and 2.0x telephoto conversion lenses are currently available for $189.99 each and, while not for everyone, certainly provide a more tailored shooting experience for advanced users.