So I picked up the brand new Sony lowest end mini-DV camcorder. Why? Because it is amazingly portable, takes great video for its price/size, and is something that I wouldn’t worry about carrying around pretty much everywhere I go.
Actually my desire for a little camcorder started when I found out that I wouldn’t be able to pick up the VX2100 until the end of the month. I was so hoping to have it this week so I could shoot the Chinese New Year festivals this weekend. I figured there might be some really great stuff to shoot there, what with all the people, the colors, the foods, the dragons… etc… and I was really bummed out that I wouldn’t be filming it. I then realized that there would be lots of times (the festival would not really be one of them) when lugging the VX around would be a pain, or dangerous, or just not worth it… and it would be great if my ZR worked. This includes daily walking around, working, and my various outdoor backpacking, mountain biking, camping, snowshoeing, etc… trips. Sometimes the VX would be too big, too conspicuous, too expensive or otherwise too inconvenient to bring along and use. I then started thinking about the HC20, which Lan recently had for a short period of time, and how great of a little camera it was. It was really tiny, could literally fit in the palm of your hand, yet delivered decent video. We actually shot the entire Survivor video and all its audio (which really isn’t that great) on that HC20. So I figured that would be perfect. It’s cheap enough that I won’t be too afraid to bring it into some tough spots, but delivers footage that is decent enough for me to use for pretty much anything I’d use it for anyway.
Then I saw the new HC21, which is pretty much an HC20 with a 20x zoom and a few extras, priced just $30 more. Not bad. So I checked it out and picked one up. It’s charging up as I type this. I will buy exactly 2 accessories for it, the wide angle adapter for $50 and and extended battery which will cost either $70 or $100, depending on which one I get. That will pretty much be the setup I want/need for this little camera, which will probably do most of the work for my video journal/video blog/vlog/vog.
So how have you liked the HC21? I’m looking into digital video for the first time. I’ve been looking at the HC21. After shooting the Chinese New Year (I’m assuming it was on HC21) how have you liked it. Any reason not to purchase it or do you recommend another entry level camera?
Rob
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I love the HC21. For the money I haven’t seen anything I would like more. It takes decent video for its size, and the audio is workable for simple things like vlogging or home movies… etc. You can also use it as a webcam through the supplied USB cable. Even though the whole unit is tiny, it still fits quite well in the hand, and the tiny zoom rocker works much better than you might think just by looking at it. Night shot mode comes in very handy on camping and backpacking trips and the like, which is one of the main reasons I chose it over any of the Canon ZRs.
The only thing I really wish it had was a mic input. It would be great to have more flexibility with audio… but this camera wasn’t really designed for that kind of flexibility. It was made mostly as a point and shoot, and in that respect it does great. I picked up the Sony wide angle adapter and the second longest lasting battery for it, the NP-FP70, which I chose for its size. With the viewfinder extended fully it comes flush with the battery… the FP90 would protrude even further than the viewfinder and would make it much less useful. Oh, and the built in sliding lens cap is awesome… this will be the first camcorder that I won’t be losing the lens cap for.
The only other feature you might miss (or not, since this is your first foray into digital video) would be analog to digital passthrough, but I have that on my VX2100 and will have it on the deck I buy, so it’s not a concern for me.
Good luck in your choice, and let me know if you have any more questions!
Vu
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