Sony HDR-HC9 6MP MiniDV High Definition Handycam Camcorder 10x Optical Zoom
Record your memories in HD brilliance. The HDR-HC9 MiniDV HD Handycam Camcorder delivers high definition quality and versatility with a professional grade Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, 10x optical / 20x digital zoom, and a 3.2 megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor for stunning video and 6.1 megapixel still images. Use the Dual Record Mode to capture still images and video at the same time, while Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization helps ensure clear images. View everything you shoot on the 2.7" wide Clear Photo LCD Plus display featuring touch panel technology. Even save your still images directly to a Memory Stick PRO Duo media card (sold separately) to easily transfer and share your photos.
Sony HDR-HC9 6MP MiniDV High Definition Handycam Camcorder 10x Optical Zoom Accessories
 Sony High Definition Minidv Videocassette (2-Pack)
Sony NPFH70 H Series Actiforce Hybrid InfoLithium Battery for most Sony Camcorders
Sony NPFH100 H Series Actiforce Hybrid InfoLithium Battery for most Sony Camcorders
Sony BCTRP Battery Charger for DCR-HC, DCR-DVD, HDR-HC3, HC5, HC7, HDR-UX5 & UX7 Camcorders
Sony ACCFH70 Accessory Kit w/NPFH70 Battery & LCS-VA30 Case for most Sony Camcorders
Sony DVC-60 PR/5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack)
Sony LCSVA30 Soft Camcorder Carrying Case for DVD & MiniDV Camcorders
Sony MSMT4G 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) Media
Sony MiniDV Cleaning Cassette
Sony MSXM8GS 8 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Retail Package)
Sony HDR-HC9 6MP MiniDV High Definition Handycam Camcorder 10x Optical Zoom Reviews
Had a heck of a time getting the film into my Mac, and I do this for a living, so it shouldn't have been this hard, but once I got that figured out (put the tapes into a stand-alone deck) everything else came up roses. Not bad audio. I've only dinked around with the camera so far, but I'm about to take it to India on a shoot, where it will be my backup camera, and kick around town camera. I can attach a wireless lavaliere microphone, which works pretty good. Would be nice to be able to control the audio in levels of the mic. Will post again if anything significant emerges from that shoot. Great picture quality. So far, I'd say it's a great little rig.
I haven't tried taking pictures yet but I'm not that picky and I'm sure it's going to be just fine for me. Maybe it's just because it's my first HD camcorder, but I do a lot of video editing and dvd burning of youth sports videos (for my kids teams) and this is the first camcorder (including borrowed from other parents) that I've been able to actually get really good quality DVDs burned. I think I'm getting a little better at it though, it just takes a bit more caution for me. I touch it a little and it doesn't really move, than I add a little too much pressure and it zooms in too far, too quickly. It's hard for me with my big hands and fingers to do a nice, slow zoom in and out during a shot. I know I'm converting the HD tapes into DV to burn but the end-result has been a much better quality DVD than the mini-DV tapes on DVD.
As for battery time, it seems pretty typical to me, as far as the batteries that always come with the camcorders go.
I also prefer to shoot thru the eyepiece not looking at the LCD so that saves a ton of battery power.
I always like to have two batteries so I'm covered anyway.
I like this a lot.
Also, though it's not a big deal, I wish the eye-piece rotated up like my old hi-8 handicam does.
Old VHS-C, Hi-8 and other DV camcorders (including hard drive and mini-dv) always look fine on my tv when plugged in directly from camcorder to tv, but once all the compression and burning and whatever is done and it's on DVD it never plays nearly as good.
I like pretty much everything about this camcorder, especially all of the outputs and the placements and ease of the the battery, but the zoom is the one thing that I wish would feel a little better.
I firmly believe that HDV is THE way to go still for many reasons. at Costco or Sams club. You can now burn a Blu-Ray Video disc on a regular DVD using Toast 9 and playback on your PS3. Video is stunning to say the least. This means you can get up to 9GB of 1080i video data on regular DL DVD. No analog passthrough. Amazing price.
The only connections to this camera for input are digital. I wish I had known this before I sold my old regular Sony DV camcorder. I wish it had a 25X optical as the 10X seems a little weak. I picked up this camera back in March 2008 for a one day Amazon sale of only $[.]. Of course you can also downrez to 480P if you wish and burn to regular DVD to send to the grandparents. They will last forever if you take care of them. Other than that one problem this is a great camera. Tapes are easy to archive as well.
The detailed reviews are spot on. The flash chips are expensive and editing software still hasn't caught up or on to either hard drive or flash based cameras. This camera worked perfectly with iMovie HD for editing.
Here is my one major complaint about this camera. Highest bit rate of all HD Camcorders, The tapes are CHEAP these days and you can use regular tapes just fine, no need for any expensive HD tapes. Very highly recommended.
That means if you wanted to use this camera to passthrough any old VHS tapes so you could edit and burn to dvd on your computer your out of luck. If you have a hard drive based camcorder or flash based and you run out of room on your vacation in the middle of nowhere, your out of luck. The build quality is solid, it doesn't feel cheap in your hands and the controls (at least for me as I have had 3 Sony camcorders now) are easy to learn and simple to use.
An 8 pack of DV tapes can be had for less than $[.].
I would recomended. The image is good quality and the colors are vivid. I love this camera. The only thing is that the battery doesnt last long, only about 1 hour so I would recommend a second battery but they are expensive.
I've been holding out until such a camera comes on the market at this price range. I couldn't have done better. Justin Paxton's review is right on the money. If you want a miniDV tape format camera (for all the right reasons such as image quality, editing capability, shelf storage) then read his review carefully. I also agree, that this camera needs a 20x-25x optical zoom lens. A 10x is basically useless to me.
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