Sony DCR-HC20 Camcorder Review

by Nathaniel Hansen
Published on Apr 6, 2004 12:00 AM



At the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show, Sony introduced three new camcorders under the DCR-HC line: the DCR-HC40, the DCR-HC30 and the DCR-HC20. The HC20 is on the bottom end of this line at $499.99 and has a few less options than its more expensive siblings. With the new HC line, Sony has reduced the CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) size to 1/6 inch or 3mm. Despite this reduction in size, Sony maintains that they have been able to preserve video capture quality, even at lighting levels that are less than optimal.

Video Performance (6.5)
The DCR-HC20 includes a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10x optical lens and 120x digital zoom capabilities. The HC20 is also equipped with a 1/6 inch CCD with 340K (effective) pixels providing up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution, putting the DCR-HC20 in a position to deliver great video images under optimal lighting situations.

We tested the DCR-HC20 under a controlled lighting scenario at 3000 lux and it performed just like the other Sony HC camcorders did at this level: really well. The colors are accurate and the balance in vibrancy seems to be preserved across the color spectrum. At this light level, there is no noise or grain to speak of. The HC20, and the HC30 and HC40, have an Easy button which puts the camcorder into full automatic. In this mode, and under varied light scenarios both mobile and stationary, the automatic response time was pretty good. The less light, or the faster you move, the more difficult it is for the processor to make quality video performance decisions.

The Front (8.5)
The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens is the most prominent part of the front of the DCR-HC20. It has a filter diameter of 25mm, or one inch, and the thin barrel in front of the lens is threaded for accessory attachments (filters, lens adapters, etc.). Next to the lens, on the right side of the HC20's body, is the lens cover open/close switch. This is a smart feature allowing the user to preserve/protect the all important lens, and eliminates the need for lens caps, which inevitably get lost, in the way, or end up broken…usually all three and in no particular order.

Next to the lens cover switch on the HC30 and the HC40 is the memory card slot. This feature is not available on the HC20 and still images are instead captured to tape. A bit of a downer if you are a user that likes to have a removable medium for transferring still photos.

Beneath the lens on the HC20 is the Sony logo and just below is the stereo microphone. The infrared sensor and the recording tally light are below the microphone.

The Right Side (7.0)
On the right side of the HC20, the user will find ports running horizontally near the front, the mode dial at the back and the thin Sony embossed strap along the side. At the top front of the right side, directly above the port cover, is the Night Shot Plus on and off switch. The port cover, which is opened with little effort by prying under the half-moon impression at the front, hides the LANC, AV out (the HC line ships with a proprietary cable that fits this port with the regular color coded AV extensions on the opposite end: yellow, red, and white), DV, and USB, from front to back respectively. The ports are intelligently placed and are usually only accessed during playback and editing. A nice addition for consumer model camcorders is the LANC (Local Application Control Bus System) terminal. Third party hardware such as a zoom/focus/record controller can connected to the HC20 via this terminal. The port cover color matches the rest of the right side and is hidden nicely by snapping tightly into place. Arguably on the front of the HC20, but sort of on the right side, is the "Mic plug in power" port. A little out of place at the front right bottom, this port is far away from the cold accessory shoe on the top rear of the HC20. It stands to reason that the creators did not place it with the other ports, mentioned above, as access would require removing the long port cover and having it hang open during recording. At the back of the right side of the HC20 the user will notice two small slots labeled, top to bottom, Camera and Play/Edit. Both slots light up and are indexical to the respective camcorder mode. These little green lights are a great "on the body" reminder of which mode the camera is set to function in.

The mode dial on the HC20, is directly below the before mentioned lights. The HC20 has two modes: Off/charge, and on (record or playback). To engage the camcorder, the user pushes and gently pulls down on the mode dial. Once the HC20 is on, this action can be repeated to change the camcorder's mode. By pressing in, and pushing up, the mode dial will lock into the Off/charge position. There is a small playback speaker beneath the mode dial labels and spanning the length of the HC20's body is the suede, nylon and Velcro strap. As far as straps are concerned, it's attractive and has a very functional flat metal piece at the end that might be used to assist the user in adjusting strap tightness. By all appearances, it is a little thin, but it manages to keep the HC20 snug while recording. The metal end on the strap is smart and I propose it will keep the nylon ends of the strap from fraying over time.

The Back (7.0)
On top of the back of the DCR-HC20 is the black and white viewfinder which, like the HC30 and HC40, can be pulled straight out about an inch and a half. Most of the back of the HC20 is taken up by the infoLithium battery port. Located at the top right of the battery port is the depressible battery release button. Next to the battery, on the right side, is record/start stop button. Above this button is the camcorder charge light, which is amber when the camera is plugged in to a power source with a battery also inserted. Next to the record start/stop button is the back of the HC20's mode dial. The tape eject slider is directly beneath the record button. The tape eject mechanism is engaged by sliding the button down (or up if you tip the camcorder upside down) towards the base of the camera (which unlocks the right side of the camcorder body) and then pulling away from the HC20 with the strap. On the bottom left of the backside, the user can make use of the intelligently placed DC port.

The Left Side (6.0)
The LCD screen is, for the most part, the entire left side of the HC20. The 2.5 inch (diagonal) LCD can be opened 90 degrees from the camera body, rotated counter clock wise 180 degrees and clockwise 90 degrees. Pretty much any practical position one might need the LCD screen to be in is possible. When the LCD is flipped open, there is an empty cavity left in the HC20 body. This seems like a waste of space, and considering that the HC line has no secondary navigation options (all functionality is controlled through the LCD) Sony might want to reconsider this prime piece of camcorder real-estate. Above the LCD (when closed) are three important buttons elliptical in shape and placed horizontally.

At the front is the Back Light, button, which provides illumination on the front of a subject whose light source comes from behind. Next, and in the middle, is the DSPL/BATT Info button which when pressed turns on and off the display on the LCD and Viewfinder, or when the camcorder is turned off, it will display the amount of battery life left in minutes both with the viewfinder and with the LCD. The last button, EASY, is a highly promoted button which throws the HC20 into a simplified automatic mode. By simplified automatic, basically Sony truncated the menu system so there are very few options available to the user in this mode. The Easy button lights up with a blue light when Easy mode is in use.

On the far left of the LCD, when flipped out, are the LCD Backlight button, and the Record Start/Stop button. The LCD backlight button is not the same as the Backlight button on the left side of the HC20, and instead drops the luminance of the LCD. The Record Start/Stop button is self explanatory.

The Top (7.0)
There are several features on top of the HC20 mostly at the rear: the cold accessory shoe port, a still photo button, and a wide angle/telephoto zoom toggle. The cold accessory shoe port comes with a removable plastic cover which should be left in place when a Mic or light is not attached. To the right of this port is the wide angle/telephoto zoom toggle. It is made of a hard gray plastic, and is quite small. However, the size of the toggle did not prevent me from obtaining several variable zoom speeds. Behind the zoom toggle, on a lower "shelf" is the reflective metallic photo button. At the front right on the top of the HC20, the user will be pleased to find a subtly placed lip or ridge which aids in gripping the HC20 in a point and shoot posture.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (9.5)
The DCR-HC20 along with the HC30 and HC40, seem to have been designed for the end user who wants a camcorder that does everything. For those who are searching for a camcorder with plenty of autopilot usability, this line will probably not disappoint. With the HC camcorders, the user can, at the touch of a button (Easy) put the camcorder into full automatic mode. However, this does restrict access to some of the menu options. It should also be noted that the user cannot switch to Easy mode while recording.

Spot focus and spot metering options are included on the HC20, and are a great addition for any camcorder. When recording, a user can touch any spot of a defined area and the HC20 will make necessary adjustments (the best it can) both with focus and exposure. This feature is a great addition and helps take the headache out of trying to fine tune these LCD Menu camcorders. These features were responsive in various settings, and with some practice any user could master the art of racking focus, and discreetly (sort of) adjusting exposure. The real down side to these new updates, is accessing them through the LCD menu system. Perhaps a button on the exterior that would engage these options on the LCD would be the way to go.

Anyone who has bought or used a Sony over the last few years will recognize the menu layout on the HC20. However, they might struggle to find their way around on the HC30 and HC40 which has an entirely new 3-D icon based layout.

Overall Manual Control (3.0)
The manual controls on the HC20 were on the bottom of the list of important features. While manual control over several features is possible, making adjustments during recording is problematic. The navigation system for the HC line is entirely within the touch LCD screen, and as such presents problems when accessing the menu to make adjustments quietly and discreetly while recording. Whether you have shaky or steady hands, it makes no difference on the HC camcorders. And it doesn't matter how much you paid for your tripod, making adjustments to focus, exposure, etc., while recording is going to be a problem. Manual control is there, sort of, if users are up for the search and the fuss, but a secondary method for navigating the menu system on the camcorder body would be a HUGE improvement. See the HC30 review for other comments regarding manual control issues on the HC line of camcorders.

Zoom (6.5)
With a 10x optical zoom, and a 120x digital zoom, the DCR-HC20 can handle a variety of recording scenarios. On the top back right of the HC20, the user will find the wide angle/telephoto zoom toggle. While a little small, the zoom toggle is easy to grip with both the index finger and the thumb depending on the recording posture. I found I was able to achieve variable zoom speeds ranging from very slow, slow, moderately fast, and very fast. Unfortunately, (and it may just be me) obtaining a medium zoom speed and repeatedly getting to that position was somewhat hard to pin down.

Focus (4.0)
Focus on the HC20 is adjusted through the LCD menu system, and can also be set to respond automatically. Focal response in automatic was quick but has automatic's accompanying lag as the processor tries to determine what to focus on. This is especially a problem in low lit settings, where depth of field, from a camcorder's perspective, is non existent. If the user records on a tripod or has a good steady hand held posture, the HC20 does a good job keeping up with the action.

The HC20 has a spot focus feature which allows the user to push a spot on the LCD and have that spot be the focal point of the scene. A really neat idea, but it's too bad spot focus has to be engaged by touching the LCD first. Overall the spot focus function works really well.

Focus can also be adjusted manually, through the LCD, by selecting Focus from the menu set on Page 1, and then selecting Manual. Two icons appear at the bottom of the screen, a mountain, and a person. To make focal adjustments the users just pushes the corresponding icon, depending on subject distance, and listen for the beeps (provided they haven't been turned off). There is no visual numerical reference to inform the user as to which focal setting they have selected, it's just sort of accomplished by deciding that the image looks good.

Exposure (Aperture) (4.5)
On the HC20, exposure settings can be set to automatic or to manual and, like everything else, can be accessed through the touchable LCD screen. Like the focus setting, there are no numerical associations affixed to the manual exposure setting. There is, however, a bar with - and + signs on either side. There are 24 different exposure steps, but there is no way to confirm which step the exposure is set to.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
There is no manual shutter speed control on the HC20.

White Balance (7.0)
Automatic white balance settings of outdoor and indoor are available on the HC20, in addition to the manual setting One Push. One Push allows the user to decide what true white is, and does so by accessing the LCD menu, selecting White Balance, and then selecting One Push. The "true white" object (usually a white piece of paper, or better yet a white balance card) is focused on so as that it takes up the entire screen. The user can then press and hold One Push, and the colors will be then interpreted in reference to that white as "true white". It's not to much a hassle having to access White Balance through the LCD menu, as white balance should be adjusted before recording begins.

Gain (0.0)
The HC20 offers no gain controls.

Still Performance (3.5)
The DCR-HC20 records still images, with 340K effective pixels, to tape.

VCR Mode (6.0)
VCR mode on the HC20 can be activated by using the mode dial down until the Play/Edit light is on. The LCD screen will show the standard VCR buttons when in VCR mode. The LCD can be swiveled around and folded into the HC20's body, transforming the HC20 into a decent play back machine.

Low Light Performance(4.0)
With shrinking camcorder sizes, its a matter of fact that the components that bring the moving images to life are shrinking too. With the HC line, Sony reduced the CCD chip size from 1/4 inch to 1/6 inch but insisted they were able to maintain decent low light performance. The HC20 was tested at low light levels of 60 lux (6 fc), and at 15 lux (1.5 fc). Most manufactures insist that the minimum optimal light level for good video performance is 100 lux. The HC20 manual states that the absolute minimum for performance is 5 lux. As a frame of reference, a window lit room with the lights on during the day measures an average of 90 lx. At 90 lux the images looked a little under saturated, but at or near 5 lux, there isnt much video shot on the HC20 that would be worth keeping.



The low light test did demonstrate that Sony managed to maintain a level of low light performance despite the reduced chip size. The HC line overall showed marked improvement over the Canon ZRs which were exceptionally grainy. At these light levels, even professional camcorders struggle to accurately reproduce color, and it should be made clear that the noise and graininess at 15 lux is almost unbearable on any one chip camcorder. At 15 lux, the HC20 and the other HC camcorders produce grainy somewhat dulled images. The grain/noise at 15 lux does seem to be maintained, despite chip size reduction, when judging with the naked eye. This is potentially great news for consumers who want smaller camcorders. Just how far manufacturers will be able to push the chip reductions is still questionable. Only upon publication of more reviews and tests of the rest of this years camcorders, will users be able to see how the HC20 measures up to the competition.

LCD/ Viewfinder(9.0)
The HC20 operation control center, so to speak, is the touch LCD screen. This is a neat idea, which relies on some pretty cool touch screen technology in order to work. However, the LCD screen is the only place that options and settings for the HC20 can be accessed. With the exception of the Easy button, all adjustments to picture quality are handled through the menu pages of the touch LCD.

Quite honestly, this is a total pain. However, the pain could be avoided if only there were a secondary way to make adjustments, or to even access options within the LCD without having to go through the screen alone. All three HC camcorders will loose points in this area, and because this one navigation system is relied on so heavily, it is seen as the HC's greatest weakness. It must be noted that the spot focus/spot meter functions are a great idea for the touch screen; however gaining access to them can be a clumsy adventure and could possibly detract from getting optimal video quality. The LCD on the HC20 measures 2.5 inches and features Sony's hybrid reflexive/translucent LCD technology. In a variety of light settings both indoor and outdoor, the LCD does remain visible. As an LCD screen the HC20 scores good marks for implementing this technology.

The viewfinder on the HC20 is black and white, and is located on top, at the very back. The viewfinder can be extended towards the user about an inch and a half, and has an accompanying focus adjuster on the right side. The viewfinder cannot be lifted up, a feature common on pricier models.

Audio (7.0)
The HC20 comes ready to record audio at both 12 bit (32 kHz) and 16 bit (48 kHz) settings. The microphone is placed in the front of the HC20 and is, for the most part, out of the way of intruding fingers. There is no headphone jack on the HC line, which is a bit of a disappointment for users who like to monitor audio levels.

Handling (7.0)
The HC20, like the HC30 and HC40 handles well. The HC20 is not as small as the matchbook style camcorders but is small enough to make you want to get comfortable using the strap. The plastic lip/ridge on the top right of the HC20 is a good feature and aides the user in holding the camcorder, in what ever posture. The few buttons that the HC20 does have on the camcorder body are well placed and within easy reaching distance of the thumb and index finger. There are no important buttons that are difficult to reach while holding the HC20, but the camcorder handles best in two hands.

In this section, the LCD screen menu system has to be listed as a flaw. Ease of use could be improved on the HC line if there was a secondary accessible navigation system outside of the LCD screen. In the end, the user is forced to refer to the LCD to accomplish anything. It would take a lot of recording hours to get acquainted with using the manual settings through the LCD discreetly, quietly and ideally without notice. I won't say it's impossible, just that the learning curve is pretty steep.

Ports(9.5)
On the right side of the HC20, the ports are hidden behind a long plastic cover. Under this port cover are the USB, DV, A/V out, and LANC ports. The addition of the LANC terminal earns some big points in this category. The ports hide away nicely under the cover, and are intelligently placed for post production accessibility.

Other Features (5.0)
Super Night Shot Plus The DCR-HC20 comes with Super Night Shot Plus which can be accessed on the front right of the HC20. Battery Information A great feature allowing the user to access precise information about the battery. Pressing the battery information button when the camcorder is off, displays for the user on the LCD a graphic representing overall battery power remaining in minutes. It gives minutes remaining with the LCD closed, and open. Picture Perfect Software Video editing software Sony is shipping with their camcorders. Easy Record Mode Covered in more detail in the Automatic section, "Easy" mode sends the HC20 into full automatic. Easy mode cannot be accessed while recording and the menu options while in Easy mode are limited. A blue light lets the user know when the easy function is active.

16:9 widescreen mode The HC20 has a digitally manipulated 16:9 mode.

MPEG MPEG format is not supported on the HC20.

Analog to Digital Pass Through The DCR-HC20 is not equipped for an analog to digital pass through.

Comparisons
A couple one chip camcorders in the same price range as the HC20, $499.99, are the Canon ZR85 and JVC's GR-D72US. For extensive information on both of these camcorders, either a first impressions review or a full review, can be found on Camcorderinfo.com.

The ZR85 struggles in the low light area, but does have the time tested Canon optics, which (as far as consumer camcorder optics go) in optimal lighting performs great. If low light is not an issue, then this is a comparable camcorder. It's not as stripped down as the HC20 as in comparison to the other HC models and the user is not confined to navigation by LCD screen only. The ZR85 has no touch screen options, so it's really a matter of preference and taste. If you like manual control, don't want to pay out the nose for it, and don't mind crummy low light performance, the ZR85 is a good choice.

JVC's GR-D72 was also designed with full automation in mind. The JVC GR-D72 has the same 10x optical range as the HC20, and the same size 1/6 inch CCD. The GR-D72 has several features that were removed from the HC20, such as the analog to digital pass through, and the removable media (SD card) slot for capturing stills. The GR-D72 outperforms the Sony in low light conditions.

Having just briefly compared these other camcorders, I find that it's difficult to compare camcorders feature for feature as there are always trade offs. The two camcorders listed above are the closest in price and overall performance.


Who's it For
Point and Shooter's (8.5)
The DCR-HC20 is for the point and shoot crowd. Automatic settings are quick and for the most part accurate, and the "Easy" button allows accommodates a worry free recording session.

Budget Consumers (3.0)
For what it is, the HC20 is moderately priced at $499.99, although it seems to me Sony probably removed more than $100 worth of features, in comparison to the HC30.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.0)
The HC20 is not the camcorder to pick if you are looking for a hybrid. It records still images to tape, and makes getting them out to your computer a little more time consuming and troublesome than just being able to remove a disk. Both the HC30 and HC40 are equipped for recording still images to disc.

Gadget Freaks (6.0)
Not enough gadgets on the HC20 to keep a true geek happy.

Manual Control Freaks (4.5)
Manual Control Freak should look elsewhere for their controlling fixes. As previously, noted all manual control goes through the touch screen LCD, which is probably the HC30's most notable weakness.

Pro's/ Serious Hobbyists (4.0)
If pros are looking for quality imaging in a low priced camcorder, this might be the option. However, most pros and serious hobbyists are used to a lot of manual control. These types of users might get annoyed with the limitations of the touch panel LCD menu system. It doesn't make a very good back up deck either, without the digital - analog pass through. If you want to go in from VHS, or any other AV source, you'll have to get the HC30 or HC40.

Conclusion
Sony's DCR-HC20 is a small and stylish camcorder with some intelligent features onboard like "easy" mode, and the closeable lens cover. The HC20 also has some image enhancement features such as Night Shot Plus, and spot focus/spot metering which are great functions to have on any camcorder. The HC20 is definitely for the point and shooter, or the consumer who wants to shoot decent video with the least amount of fuss.

As was mentioned in the HC30 review, Sony has managed to maintain a standard of low light performance with a reduced chip size when compared to last years DCR-TRV19 in the DCR-HC20. The biggest problems with the HC20, and where it looses points, are the touch LCD menu system. The HC20 holds it's own as far as automatically capturing decent video at optimal light levels, but if users are looking for anything by way of manual control, look elsewhere. This is a good camcorder, a smart design, even if it is a little small: I have to be careful where I let my long fingers rest. It has enough features to keep a beginner happy, but if you have ever owned a camcorder and/or you want to learn to use more features like the analog-digital pass through etc., still photos to a memory card, etc., the jump in price for an HC30 or HC40 may well be worth it.