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Sony Handycam HDR-HC1

Sony Handycam HDR-HC1

320 reviews

Jun, 2013

Positive
Viewfinder (12)
Build quality (8)
Connectivity (5)
Usability (3)
Image quality (2)

Negative
Features (11)
Battery (1)

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

alaTest has collected and analyzed 320 reviews from magazines and websites. Opinions about the usability and connectivity are overall positive. The build quality and viewfinder are also mentioned favorably. There are some mixed comments about the memory. There are some less positive views about the battery and features.

design, viewfinder, build quality, connectivity, usability

features, battery

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 82/100 = Very good quality.

See all Sony Camcorders

Review analysis

(Based on 320 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(45% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (41% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (7% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (4% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (3% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

Design
Show positive (31%)Show negative (20%)(Show all)

Viewfinder
Show positive (65%)Show negative (6%)(Show all)

Features
None yetShow negative (79%)(Show all)

Build quality
Show positive (67%)None yet(Show all)

Connectivity
Show positive (14%)None yet(Show all)

More features

Showing 210 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 210 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (113)

Editor's Choice!

Expert review by: Terry Sullivan (pcmag.com)

Sony HDR-HC1 HDV 1080i Handycam Camcorder

Video Recording Format: DV Tape, CCDType: Single CMOS Chip

Incredible video quality. Great sound.

Expensive. Most users will need to invest in new hardware to store and play high-definition video. No software included for HD video editing. Image stabilization isn't powerful enough.

Though it certainly isn't perfect, Sony's HDR-HC1 puts HD in your hand and takes home movies to a whole new level.

Sep, 2005

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Expert review by: Marc Perton (engadget.com)

Sony HDR-HC1 HDV camcorder reviewed

Sony's HDR-HC1 - the company's smallest and most affordable HD camcorder - is about to hit the street (er, not literally, we hope), and the lucky devils at Camcorderinfo.com got their mitts on a review unit. What did they think...

Jun, 2005

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Expert review by: Jennifer O'Rourke (videomaker.com)

Sony Camcorder Review: Sony HVR-A1U HDV

Out of the box, we first noticed, in our Sony camcorder review, that the HVR-A1U was much smaller than expected. Weighing just a pound and a half, this is just about the tiniest HDV camcorder out there. But attach the sharp lens hood, the audio jack...

True crisp color and detail Adjustable SPMTE timecode and color bars XLR jacks and stereo shotgun mic

Bottom tape loading On/off button easy to trigger accidentally Manual controls buried in menus and not on camera body

Streamlined easy to use camcorder with a Carl Zeiss lens and XLR mic; a big pro HDV camcorder in a small affordable package.

May, 2006

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Expert review by: Jennifer O'Rourke (videomaker.com)

Sony HVR-A1U

Streamlined easy to use camcorder with a Carl Zeiss lens and XLR mic; a big pro HDV camcorder in a small affordable package.

True crisp color and detail, Adjustable SPMTE timecode and color bars, XLR jacks and stereo shotgun mic

Bottom tape loading, On/off button easy to trigger accidentally, Manual controls buried in menus and not on camera body

May, 2006

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Expert review by: Frank Völkel (tomsguide.com)

Sony HDR-HC1: A Quantum Leap For Video Buffs

Sony's smallest HD video camera costs upwards of $1,200, but is the way to go for serious amateur videographers looking to raise the level of their game.

The quantum leap in quality between standard video and HD will be immediately obvious to nearly every viewer

Mar, 2006

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Expert review by: Frank Völkel (tomshardware.com)

Sony HDR-HC1: A Quantum Leap For Video Buffs

Sony's smallest HD video camera costs upwards of $1,200, but is the way to go for serious amateur videographers looking to raise the level of ...

Mar, 2006

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Expert review by: Douglas Spotted Eagle (studiodaily.com)

Sony HVR-A1U

Sony's Second Offering In Its PRO HDV Lineup Is The HVR-A1U. Thiscamcorder is squarely aimed at the budget HDV'er, and for the price isa surprising offering. I recently had the opportunity to work with thecamera for a few weeks as my company, VASST,...

Sep, 2005

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Expert review by: Morgan Paar (videomaker.com)

Camcorder Review: Sony HDR-HC1 HDV

When Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer, announced 2005 to be the year of HD while on stage at Macworld in January, he told the overflow, Mac loyal crowd at San Francisco's Moscone Center, "you guys gotta get one of these," referring to the Sony HDR-FX1...

Relatively low price ; Small ; Beautiful HD image and sound ; Many pro features

Tape door and battery release in bad places/li ; Doesn't ship with stand-alone battery charger/li ; Audio levels adjusted in the menu

A great HDV camcorder for beginners and intermediates at a surprisingly low price.

Aug, 2005

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Expert review by: Douglas Spotted Eagle (digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com)

Sony HVR-A1U HDV Camcorder

Bringing its fourth HDV camera to market, Sony is about to start shipping the second in their professional offerings for the HDV shooter. The HVR-A1U is the latest addition to the HDV market, and is a dynamite camcorder both for DV shooters and HDV...

Spot takes a first look at a pre-production model

Aug, 2005

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Expert review by: Robin Liss (camcorderinfo.com)

Sony HDR-HC1 HDV Camcorder Review

CAMCORDERINFO.COM EXCLUSIVE

Jun, 2005

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Product Specifications

Sony introduces the world's smallest and lightest high definition consumer camcorder with full HD resolution based on HDV 1080i, the Sony Handycam HDR-HC1. The ultra-compact HDR-HC1 Handycam camcorder fits comfortably in your hand, while delivering high-definition picture quality and lighting detail on both video and digital still images.The HDR-HC1 features Sony's CMOS imaging sensor technology, designed to deliver faster image processing speeds for richer colors, more vivid detail, and significantly less glare from reflected light. The Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens further enhances image clarity and richness, even when shooting in low light.The HDR-HC1 also features a 2.7-inch wide hybrid, touch-panel LCD screen1 to access menu options. You can switch between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios (in DV mode) to see exactly how your content will be viewed on television. Other convenient features include fully automatic controls, a built-in microphone for audio quality, an intelligent pop-up flash, and Super SteadyShot image stabilization. You can even record your own high definition video in complete darkness with Sony's Super NightShot Infrared System, which adds the greatest amount of range and detail to your images in low- to no-light conditions.This HDR-HC1 Camcorder comes with Vegas Movie Studio + DVD 6 and Super Duper Music Looper.Vegas Movie Studio+DVD 6 is a real-time nondestructive video editor. No matter what changes you make to your video and photos in the software, your original files are never affected!Super Duper Music Looper is a fun, easy way for children to learn the basics of music making and recording. Kids don't have to know how to read or play an instrument to make their very own songs.