Sony NSC-GC1 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Jul 20, 2007 3:23 PM
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A new type of camcorder is on the rise. Anyone who has stepped into a big-name pharmacy in the last few years could tell you that. They’re small (very small), they’re cheap (as low as $99), and for once, they’re not trying to convince you of their video quality. The talking point here is their ability to sync up with online video sharing sites. The phrase “YouTube” springs forth from a PR person’s mouth more times than you would believe. Sony is no stranger to trends, having created quite a few on their own. Hence, last week they delivered the new NSC-GC1 ($199 MSRP), an unbelievably light camcorder that has virtually no manual controls and poor handling. This is as stripped down as a camcorder gets. Nevertheless, it delivers on a simple promise: instant recording and uploading to online video sharing sites. If Sony can do that well, they will have a winner on their hands.
The Front
The façade of Sony’s NSC-CG1 is relatively sparse. At this view, it’s blatantly apparent that the camcorder is a string bean in the width department. Unlike most camcorders, the NSC-GC1’s 4x digital zoom lens hides behind a plastic filter, rather than glass, a sign that Sony is opting not to break the bank with their first generation model. As you may have guessed, there is no filter thread for attachments. The lens is f/3.5 and has a fixed focal distance of 6.95mm (35mm equiv = 48.3mm in video mode). The horizontal rectangular flash is the only other feature on the front to accompany the lens, and it’s mounted in a spot where the index finger will most likely obscure it.
The Right Side
Here you’ll find nothing but a meticulously centered Sony logo and a wide angle/telephoto switch located in the top right corner. The switch is miniscule and contains a fingernail groove for better grip.
The Back
This is the NSC-GC1’s central control panel. At the top is a circular touchpad that is segmented into four quarters—mode, self timer, menu, and flash. In the middle of the circular panel is a severely stunted joystick that rivals a mosquito bite in size. Between the surrounding touchpad and tiny joystick, manual thumb operation will require a whole new level of patience. Below the round navigation panel is the 4x digital zoom control, which consists of two buttons—the left for wide angle and the right for telephoto. Beneath the zoom control is a set of two buttons—the left one records stills while the right one starts/stops video recording. The new “Sharemark” button is located below the video button. This feature marks a clip for future uploading. All of the aforementioned buttons are cheap and difficult to press due to their minute size. At the bottom is a rectangular port cover housed by a thin sheet of plastic connected via two slender plastic strips. The USB terminal, A/V out jack, and DC power jack live here. Finally, at the top left is a series of three lamps to indicate video/camera mode, playback, and flash settings.
The Left Side
This is the NSC-GC1’a sleek shiny side. There’s nothing here until you open the 2.4 inch wide LCD screen. A row of three buttons is revealed within the LCD cavity, including power, histogram/display, and delete. There are no controls on the LCD panel.
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Left side |
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The LCD cavity |
The Top
The top hosts the plus-shaped series of holes, underneath which lives the built-in microphone.
The Bottom
Underneath the NSC-GC1 is the MemoryStick Duo / PRO Duo slot.
After all this description, you may be asking yourself where the battery port is. (Hint: iPod owners will be familiar with this quandary.) The answer is: there is no battery port. The battery is internal and not accessible. It can be recharged via the DC power port.
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