Sony Camcorder - High Definition review

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SONY - Camcorder | High Definition HDV 1080i Handycam | HDR-HC3
Camcorder - High Definition
product code; part number; part no; model number; model no HDR-HC3

Camcorder - High Definition ▪ Sony ▪ HDR-HC3 ▪ P/027242000038
1 year limited warranty

Updated 10/7/2008 6:27:39 PM UTC (409 days, 10 hours, 6 minutes ago)

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Market Data

Product Release Date: August, 2007
Time in Market: 2 years, 3 months

This product is old (available used/aftermarket)

In product area: Personal / Gadgets

Pricing

MSRP: n/a
Retail:
Units purchased: 2
Prices (Ave/High/Low): $200.00 / $200.00 / $200.00

Used:
n/a

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Product Specifications/Details

Sony Camcorder | High Definition HDV 1080i Handycam | HDR-HC3

Capture moments with true-to-life realism when you shoot with the HDR-HC3. Small and powerful, this Handycam® camcorder makes quality high definition filming easy.

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Access SONY® Product Features & Overview (Capture moments with true-to-life realism when you shoot with the HDR-HC3. Small and powerful, this Handycam® camcorder makes quality high definition filming easy.). SONY Accessories.

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News and Reviews

News

Pope gets a Sony HandyCam
	Here! Now I'm all good with the Big Guy, right?(Credit: Sony Insider) So let's say you're a type of head of state, a prime minister. And you're going around Europe on a tour of the G8 nations. And you're Roman Catholic. Why not ...
	7/08/2009 11:02 PM (135d 5h 31m ago)
Samsung's SMX-C14 camcorder now beautifying stores in Korea
	Samsung's SMX-C14, with its "ergonomic" design, touch of color, and Active Angle Lens, stole our hearts the moment we saw it. Learning that it only shoots 720 x 480/60i video was like a slap in the face, but we'd forgive it if only it graced us and our retailers with its presence. Sadly we're still left wanting, with the camcorder giving all its love and availability to lucky Koreans, who can pick one up today for the price of 399,000 won -- about $314. There it's apparently destined to "travel around to filming sex" according to the press release at the read link, which seems boastful, but surely it'll find time for those of us elsewhere in the world... eventually.Filed under: Digital CamerasSamsung's SMX-C14 camcorder now beautifying stores in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read \| Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	6/19/2009 6:14 PM (154d 10h 20m ago)
Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders get US price, release date
	Right, so these two may not actually be the world's lightest HD camcorders without qualifications, but hey, they're still amongst the least burdensome on the market today. Speaking of which, Panny has just let loose details on US pricing and availability, though it looks as if you'll need to hunt elsewhere if hoping to capture all those summer vacations in 1080p. Indeed, both the half-pound HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 won't hit American shelves until September, when they'll be available for $549.95 and $599.95, respectively. If you're curious as to what the extra $50 buys you in the TM10, it's an 8GB internal flash drive, whereas the other guy requires you to rely solely on your own SD / SDHC cards. Full release is after the break.Gallery: Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders get US price, release dateContinue reading Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders get US price, release dateFiled under: Digital CamerasPanasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders get US price, release date originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	6/08/2009 3:31 PM (165d 13h 2m ago)
Panasonic's latest pro AVCHD camcorder
	(Credit: Panasonic) Adding to its SD-card-based AVCCAM series--not to be confused with its P2-card-based and seriously more expensive P2HD series, which includes the AG-HVX200A--the AG-HMC40 joins the AG-HMC150 and its shoulder-mount cousin, the HMC70 in the ranks of Panasonic's pro AVCHD camcorders. Smaller and lighter than either of ...
	5/22/2009 8:31 PM (182d 8h 2m ago)
Sony's Flip killer not so lethal
	(Credit: Sony) Sony's first entry in the mini-camcorder arena was 2007's NSC-GC1 Net-sharing Cam. That model didn't fare too well in our review, but Sony seems to have learned from that experience and made some improvements to its new line of YouTube-friendly budget camcorders, dubbed "Webbie HD" ...
	5/22/2009 8:31 PM (182d 8h 3m ago)
Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10: nearly the world's lightest Full HD camcorders
	"World's Lightest*," says so right in the Panasonic press release. What's that? It's a qualified statement? Oh we see it now, it's the world's lightest Full-HD AVCHD camcorder. Well, that'll make Sanyo's lawyers happy. Anyway, the new Panny's bring SD/SDHC card support, touch-screen control, intelligent auto scene selection and AF tracking along with Panasonic's optical image stabilization to keep the shake under control while zooming in at a 16x optical max. The TM10 differs from the SD10 in that it records to 40GB of internal storage before automatically switching to SDHC/SD cards of up to 32GB. The cameras also feature a 3 second Pre-Rec function that continuously pre-records content into an internal buffer which is then added to the beginning of the clip as soon as you hit record -- never miss a goal again. Pricing in the UK is set at £529.99 for the HDC-TM10 and £499.99 for the HDC-SD10 with June availability.[Via Pocket-lint]Filed under: Digital CamerasPanasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10: nearly the world's lightest Full HD camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read \| Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	5/19/2009 4:43 PM (185d 11h 50m ago)
Sony posts $1b loss, first in 14 years
	Here's the good news: Sony's ¥98.9b ($1.03b) loss is slightly less than the $1.1b the company told us it would lose in January. Sadly, all of the other news is bad, starting with the fact that the company just lost a freaking billion dollars, its first loss in 14 years, and it's predicting a similar $1.1b loss next year. Electronics sales were down 17 percent, the Sony-Ericsson phone partnership is struggling, and game division sales dropped 18 percent primarily due to Sony's continued reliance on falling PS2 sales. As for the PS3, it's actually a dim bright spot: hardware cost reductions and increased game sales slightly stemmed the tide, but Sony's still expecting the division to lose money in the coming year. Sony also says it has "extensive measures" in store to try and turn things around after that, so we're hoping Sir Howard's plans to embrace open formats and listen to consumers are kicking into gear, but we'll see.Read - Sony financials [Warning: PDF]Read - Reuters reportRead - MarketWatchFiled under: Misc. GadgetsSony posts $1b loss, first in 14 years originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	5/14/2009 3:55 PM (190d 12h 38m ago)
Sony's tiny HD camcorder geotags, for a price
	Sony Handycam HDR-TG5 photos View the full gallery About a year ago Sony introduced the Handycam HDR-TG1, a painfully pricey pistol-grip camcorder with relatively decent specs for its tiny, titanium, travel-sized body: 1920x1080 AVCHD video, 2.7-inch touch-screen LCD, 10X zoom optically stabilized lens and a 2.4-megapixel ClearVid Exmor CMOS sensor. Now Sony's replacing it with ...
	4/20/2009 9:26 PM (214d 7h 7m ago)
Panasonic's AG-HMC40 does 1080p24 on something of a budget
	Panasonic's latest camcorders have been well-liked by the masses, but haven't quite had enough features to appease those consumers with higher expectations -- or professionals on limited budgets. To captivate the eyes and ears of that prosumer market the company has announced the AG-HMC40, a 2.2 pound semi-pro cam that will do 1080i or 720p at 60 frames-per-second, but more important for many can manage a cinematic 1080p at 24 frames-per-second, all written to SDHC cards. With 10.6 megapixel stills and a 12x optical zoom on tap it sounds like a very well-rounded offering, and, while $3,195 may not fit into every budget, it should do well for modestly funded aspiring filmmakers when it ships in August -- just in time for capturing some back-to-school teen angst drama.Filed under: Digital CamerasPanasonic's AG-HMC40 does 1080p24 on something of a budget originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read \| Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	4/20/2009 4:31 PM (214d 12h 2m ago)
Samsung's tiny DMX-R10 Full HD camcorder lands in Korea, US next month
	Samsung's impressively small HMX-R10 HD camcorder has finally been set free to dance upon Korean retail shelves. The mini cam is just 12.5-cm long and 4-cm wide (4.9 x 1.5-inches) and records 9 megapixel stills or 1,920 x 1,080 pixel video (courtesy of its 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor) to SDHC memory cards up to 32GB in capacity. The cam also brings a 5x optical, electronically stabilized zoom lens angled at a unique 25-degrees which, according to Samsung, makes for a more natural shooting angle. The 2.7-inch touch-screen LCD features Samsung's Magic Touch UI that automatically focuses on any point that you touch. Sounds sweet but in practice this type of tech is a novelty requiring two handed operation that will just slow you down in the field. It'll also shoot super-slow-motion at 60, 300, or 600 fps at decreasing resolutions most assuredly (Sammy doesn't say). Fortunately, Amazon has this shooter listed at $500 for a May 15th release Stateside and beyond.Filed under: Digital CamerasSamsung's tiny DMX-R10 Full HD camcorder lands in Korea, US next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read \| Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	4/14/2009 5:05 PM (220d 11h 28m ago)
Electronics innovation on track, despite the recession?
	The Wall Street Journal is out this morning with an analysis showing that, as major U.S. companies are cutting jobs and wages, many (including many consumer electronics companies) are still spending on innovation. Big U.S. companies spent nearly as much on research and development in the dismal last quarter of 2008 as they did a year earlier, even as their revenue fell 7.7%, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. (Registration and a subscription is required to read the Wall Street Journal article online.) The sampling looked at 28 of the largest U.S. R&D spenders, excluding deeply troubled auto makers and the drug industry, where R&D spending is dictated by government requirements. The takeaway: On the one hand, the study suggests the flow of innovative new electronics products may not diminished by the recession as much as feared back in January, when electronics editor Paul Reynolds posted that "it's hard to imagine that the many job cuts announced by electronics sector, and the rumors of more to come from the likes of Sony, won't in some way affect development of new products." The WSJ analysis, which begins on page one of today's paper and turns to a full inside page, points out that many companies have “learned from past downturns that they must invest through tough times if they hope to compete when the economy improves.” It includes a cautionary comparison from the last major recession, when Apple boosted R&D spending even as their sales dropped while Motorola cut theirs by 13 per cent. The result: Apple launched the first iPods in the midst of the recession, and later saw its sales soar, while Motorola lost ground in developing sequel products to its hit RAZR cellphone, eventually losing ground. However, the piece also cautions that "the robust R&D spending may be temporary," and may in part reflect how long it can take to cut corporate budgets, including those for innovation. Also, the WSJ notes that some R&D is being retooled to deliver safer, short-term...
	4/06/2009 4:03 PM (228d 12h 31m ago)
Sony HDR-TG5 makes world's smallest Full HD camcorder smaller, adds GPS
	The problem with Sony's previous world's smallest pistol-grip Full HD camcorder -- the HDR-TG1 aka, the TG3E -- wasn't size, it was usability. So we're happy to hear that Sony's TG5 counts a tweaked UI among its updates. And although Sony doesn't say in the press release, the TG5's touch-panel looks far more sensitive (capacitive maybe?) than that of the previous generation's finger bender. The other improvements are GPS to geotag your media (assuming your software supports it), Navteq maps, improved image processing, smile shutter technology, and 16GB of built-in storage (up from 8GB) all riding inside a slightly smaller and lighter chassis. Other specs remain unchanged: 1920 x 1080 AVCHD video, 2.7-inch touchscreen display, and a 10x optically stabilized zoom exposing a 2.4 megapixel CMOS sensor. Expensive? Oh most definitely: ¥120,000 or $1,217 starting in May. Check the video after the break.Gallery: Sony HDR-TG5 makes world's smallest Full HD camcorder smaller, adds GPS[Via CNET]Continue reading Sony HDR-TG5 makes world's smallest Full HD camcorder smaller, adds GPSFiled under: Digital CamerasSony HDR-TG5 makes world's smallest Full HD camcorder smaller, adds GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read \| Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	4/02/2009 3:44 PM (232d 12h 49m ago)
Sony 2009 line show: Complete coverage
	Consider yourself invited: CNET pulls back the curtain to Sony's Vegas event.(Credit: Sony) Most companies use the January Consumer Electronics Show to show the world their product lineup for the new year. But Sony deliberately holds back on its CES announcements; that's because the company waits about eight weeks before returning to Las Vegas to have its own Sony-centric launch event, where it touts its new products for dealers, retailers, and journalists. Photos: Sony hauls cameras, electronics to Vegas ...
	3/04/2009 5:39 PM (261d 10h 54m ago)
GPS-equipped Sony HDR-XR520V camcorder now available to order
	We already knew that Sony's GPS-equipped HDR-XR520V camcorder (and the slightly lower-end HDR-XR500V and HDR-XR200V models) would start shipping in March, but you'd be rightly skeptical if you thought that meant it'd be arriving closer to the end of the month than the beginning. Sony looks to be bucking the usual trend, however, as the camcorder is now in stock at Amazon and selling for the not-so-discounted price of $1,499 (SonyStyle itself, meanwhile, lists the camcorder as shipping on March 8th). It seems like quantities may be a tad limited to start with, however, as Amazon lists only four left in stock as of this writing. A handful of sellers also appear to have the HDR-XR500V and HDR-XR200V available, which each pack 120GB of storage as opposed to the 240GB on the HDR-XR-520V.[Thanks, Dave] Filed under: Digital Cameras, GPSGPS-equipped Sony HDR-XR520V camcorder now available to order originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read \| Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	3/02/2009 5:06 PM (263d 11h 27m ago)
Hitachi DZ-BD10HA Blu-ray camcorder: Three formats, lotsa waiting
	It's not that the Hitachi DZ-BD10HA is a bad HD camcorder. Its video quality, for one, is good--exactly what you'd expect from a $1,000 HD camcorder. Even in low light, the video was decent. Then there's that hybrid part. The BD10HA records AVCHD files to your ...
	12/04/2008 2:54 AM (352d 1h 39m ago)
TechForward - future proof your gadget’s value
	As we all know, every high-tech piece of equipment you buy will decrease in value as it gets further out of date. Well TechForward reckon that one person’s used gadget is another person’s treasure and they’re doing something about it. When you purchase your new gadget (MP3 player, notebook, TV, GPS etc) you can sign [...]
	9/03/2008 9:16 PM (443d 7h 18m ago)
SONY INTRODUCES THE WORLD’S FIRST CAMCORDER WITH SMILE SHUTTER TECHNOLOGY
	SAN DIEGO, June 18, 2008 – Sony is taking the lead in the camcorder industry by introducing the first high-definition camcorder with both Smile Shutter™ and face detection technologies.The HDR-CX12 Memory Stick® Handycam® camcorder can record full 1920 x 1080 HD video and 10-megapixel photos on Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and any Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media cards. Roughly the size of a soda can (2.8-inches wide by 5.3-inches tall by 2.8-inches deep), this ultra-compact model will allow for easy transfer of video and stills from media cards to a compatible PC to share via email, uploading to the Internet or burning to disc.With Sony’s unique Smile Shutter technology you can capture smiling photos and record video at the same time. When activated the technology will detect and automatically take a photo when your subject smiles - without having to switch to photo mode or press the photo button.It also features child and adult prioritization so you can capture photos when your intended subject group smiles. This camcorder can even detect and capture a smile while in standby mode – just aim the camcorder and you’ll capture smiling moments.“Advanced technologies such as ‘smile shutter’ make memory capture automatic so you can relax and enjoy the moment at hand,” said Kelly Davis, director of camcorder marketing at Sony Electronics. “Leveraging these key technologies across multiple product lines is another example of Sony’s commitment to anticipate consumer needs by making video capture more seamless, easy and fun.”Advanced Features and PerformanceIn addition to face detection technology, the camcorder is packed with powerful features such as ClearVid® CMOS sensor with Exmor™-derived technology for stunning video detail and clarity, a BIONZ™ imaging processor, an advanced Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* 12x optical zoom lens and Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization for smooth video and clear photos.The model has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus™ screen,...
	6/24/2008 10:37 PM (514d 5h 56m ago)

Reviews

Flip Video Ultra HD video review
	What better way to give you a look at Flip Video's new Ultra HD camcorder than by reviewing it on video... shot with the Ultra HD. The specs are simple: 720p / 30 FPS, 8GB of storage on-board, HDMI out, and pretty much nothing else. Still, a camera this cheap ($199.99) and this small definitely has its uses. Of course, you'll probably be distracted (like we were) by the bad, bad image stabilization issues. But don't just read about it -- take a look at the gallery below to scope out what the thing looks like, then watch the videos after the break to hear (and see) our thoughts, and catch the cam in some heavier -- shakier -- action. Needless to say, both videos are available in HD. Gallery: Flip Video Ultra HD video reviewContinue reading Flip Video Ultra HD video reviewFiled under: Digital CamerasFlip Video Ultra HD video review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink \| Email this \| Comments
	4/30/2009 3:47 PM (204d 12h 46m ago)

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