Sony NSC-GC1 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Jul 20, 2007 3:23 PM
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Ease of Use
The NSC-GC1is a total internet video production solution for bloggers and budget consumers. Even those who are brand spanking new to the internet video craze will have no problem uploading their videos online. The NSC-GC1’s built-in Picture Motion Browser software is actually easier and less time consuming than going straight through YouTube. It automatically starts up when the camcorder is connected to a computer via USB. Within Picture Motion Browser you can select the video clips you wish to upload, pick the website to upload them to, and paste the file directory name into the upload bar. There is no need to import footage into an editing program and export, altering the video size and quality. The NSC-GC1 includes a web-ready 320 x 240, 30fps QVGA setting, which is the compression recommended by YouTube for maximum quality. The Sharemark feature expedites the process even further by batch-uploading videos with one press of a button. Though the Samsung VPC-HD2 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $585.36) and Canon TX1 (Specs, Recent News, $365.54) both support quick drag and drop MPEG4 operation, they do not offer an immediate upload solution.
Sony made a valiant attempt to simplify the NSC-GC1’s control interface, but it will take time to acclimate yourself to its randomness. On the plus side, the video/camera record buttons are separate, abolishing the need for a mode dial. The video/camera icons are even assigned to their own half of the LCD screen in a fairly organized configuration. However, the small icons are hard to read and the rear of the NSC-GC1 is cluttered with buttons. It’s easy to accidentally hit mode or self-timer while attempting to navigate with the stunted joystick. You’ll also have to cope with the fact that this Sony does not have a touch screen menu or Easy button, which seems almost inseparable from the Sony name. Thankfully, its simplicity means that the NSC-GC1 shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to learn.
Handling
The Sony NSC-GC1 is the lightest camcorder we’ve seen thus far, weighing a feathery 5 ounces. It’s also exceedingly compact, measuring 1-3/16” x 4-1/8” x 2-1/4”. The NSC-GC1 could fit inside the Sanyo VPC-HD2, however it would loom over the Canon TX1 by about an inch. Nevertheless, the NSC-GC1’s dimensions and weight rival many cell phones, and you can easily pocket this bad boy. As ultra-mini camcorders grow in popularity, movie theater and concert security guards will have a new target to occupy themselves with.
Now let’s talk about the way the NSC-GC1 handles. The verdict? Tolerable. This pistol grip flaunts a tall, thin body that allows the three middle fingers to wrap around the front. Most index fingers will obscure the built-in flash, leading to uneven lighting. The pinky falls underneath the camcorder and the thumb encompasses the entire vicinity of the control panel in back. The NSC-GC1 is significantly more comfortable to hold than the TX1, but you’ll miss the broader real estate found on the VPC-HD2. Most users will brace the LCD screen with their left hand to provide more stability. Luckily, the NSC-GC1 does not mount its built-in microphone to the outside of the LCD screen like the TX1 and VPC-HD2, so two-handed shooters won’t have to worry about inadvertently muffling the recorded audio.
The NSC-GC1 is severely lacking in the joystick department. Their microscopic plastic nub sits almost flush within the circular control panel and is difficult to shift without hitting a surrounding button. We’d even prefer the VPC-HD2’s larger joystick, despite its jittery and inaccurate operation. The zoom controls are equally disappointing. There is only digital zoom, not optical, and rather than mount a zoom lever or slider on the NSC-GC1, Sony chose to outfit the camcorder with a cheap pair of tiny plastic buttons. \
LCD/Viewfinder
The NSC-GC1 features a 2.4” wide LCD screen with a 112,000 pixel resolution. The LCD flips up at a 90 degree angle to the body and rotates up to 270 degrees. There are no controls on the LCD panel, such as zoom or record start/stop, but what would you expect on such a cheap, pocket-size camcorder? In that case, it’s no surprise that the NSC-GC1 is devoid of a viewfinder. An LCD backlight can be applied within the administrative menu.
Unlike nearly every Sony camcorder for the past several years, the NSC-GC1 does not have a touch screen interface. This was likely cut to keep the unit cost down.
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