Sony DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Digital camera Review: Almost perfection
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the only camcorder one would ever need. The picture quality is better than I expected even in low light. Without zooming, every face out of 40 was clear and you could tell who each performer was. The touch screen display keeps the user informed so that you know exactly how much disk is left and the battery condition, no guessing. This was a big event and the first time with hands on the camcorder. I wondered about the sound quality as I had not had time to order the accessory microphone. After the performance and a quick battery charge, I hooked up to the wide screen and theatre speakers. The results were amazing, clear, full screen movies and clean stereo sound, like having the orchestra in the family room. Next day I took some stills and discovered that the SR300 does as well as my 7.1 Olympus. The unit is light but takes some time getting the correct grip and finger position while recording or snappin shots. The touch screen is 100% ok. I had shopped on line for this model and found some suppliers playing price games. After wiseing up I realized that Amazon was very competitive and delivery was great, 2 days. Im satisified. Digital camera Review: Good image in poor light conditions
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm using my camera to record a festival in the night, and the quality of the image is excelent. It has low level noise and a very detalis scenes.
Digital camera Review: Great video, good stills; touch screen menu a little iffy
Summary: 4 Stars
I wanted a hard drive camcorder because I'm tired of messing with DV tapes. This is the camera for me. I bought and returned similar models by Sany & Panasonic because of blurry video quality. This camera's video quality is near-HD. In fact if someone told me it was HD I'd believe them. Operation is easy. Not so wild about the touch screen menu. I'd rather have the joy-stick button. But it takes OK stills and great video. The USB 2 interface is a dream and for that reason alone I'm wild about it. Digital camera Review: Worth every penny
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not a professional, so this camcorder is the best thing since sliced bread.
I'd rather write a review that someone can actually read and get some value from, so if you're one of those people that insists on comparing everything to an extremely expensive pro camcorder, just stop reading now and go away.
If you want something that will shoot crisp clear video footage of your family and life experiences, this is the camcorder for you. No, it's not HD but I honestly don't feel that it's worth paying 2x as much for the marginal (if even noticeable since this camcorder shoots video at 3.1 megapixels) difference in video quality. 6.1 megapixel stills are the icing on the cake, and I have yet to deplete the battery (if you're planning on shooting hours and hours of video, just get an adapter or the optional battery that will give you up to 6 hours of life).
Digital camera Review: Great Camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
Pros: Excellent picture quality! Ease of use, convenient 4 mega pixel still while in video mode, easy connect base, and mpg video format right from the camera!
Cons: Easy connect base (good and bad news), flash disabled with filters or lens, and a little slow to connect to the PC.
I wanted ease of use, high quality picture, and good still performance - I got it all.
I did the tech research on picture quality and the SR300 seemed to be rated the best by most of the experts. The CMOS capture device is what is used in very high end cameras, so I was expecting a decent picture.
Here is the non-tech evaluation of the picture: on my Hi Def TV the picture quality from this camcorder is much better than normal TV picture and not quite as good as a high quality progressive scan DVD. It is better than I expected and I am VERY happy with the picture quality.
The SR300 is easy to use and that is what I wanted. Point it and shoot. In video mode, it does 4 mega pixel pictures. While recording, you can capture 3 stills only. If you are in video mode and not recording, you can capture as many as you like up to the limit of the hard drive and/or memory stick. In straight still mode, it is a 6 mega pixel camera. If you are looking for super high quality still camera, this is not it. I went from a 2 mega pixel camera to this, so I am pleased with the quality and I don't have to always carry two cameras around. I am using this to capture kids and this is just what I need.
The camera will record stills to the hard drive, so you do not need to have a memory stick. I purchased a 2 gig ultra II, kind of a waste since the camcorder can't write to the stick as fast as the stick operates, I could have saved some $$ with a less expensive stick, or no stick at all. A 2 gig stick gives you 600 pictures at 4 mega pixel.
I like the base, it makes it easy to have the camera ready to use. The thing I don't like is that you must use it to transfer video and stills to your computer from the hard drive (cable included). This can be a pain. You can connect the camera directly to the TV to watch video (cable included).
When you attach a filter or an auxiliary lens, I bought a wide angle lens, the flash is disabled. This I do not like.
Video from this camera is in mpg format, the same used for DVDs, so your DVD software does not have to convert the files. Also, this camera will write directly to a DVD recorder. I created a DVD with my , directly from the camera using the Disc Burn button and it included both video and pictures.
I am able to quickly make DVDs using Nero without converting the files. This cam also connects directly to a printer using Pict Bridge feature.
This is an expensive camera that had everything I wanted: easy to use; good quality video; compact size; and good still pictures. Sometimes you need to spend the extra to get what you want.
I also bought the Sony ACC-FH60 accessory kit that includes a camera case and a second battery, check it out.