Sony DCR-HC38 Camcorder Review
By Michael Perlman
Reviewed.com Editorial Staff
Published on August 26, 2007
The MiniDV format is being ushered out of the camcorder world at an alarming rate as DVD and hard disk drive (HDD) camcorders rapidly take over the market. It appears Sony is aware of this trend, for its middle-of-the-road MiniDV model, the DCR-HC38, is nothing to celebrate. Sony offers upward of 13 different HDD models and only three MiniDV models. With an antiquated menu system, stunted set of manual controls, and meager video performance, the DCR-HC38 is simply an afterthought in a sea of new media.
The DCR-HC38 is equipped with a standard, low-end 1/6-inch, 680,000 pixel CCD. The video performance is subpar, displaying a dull color palette and noisy image. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find a camcorder in this price range that offers anything more than a mediocre performance. Last year’s Canon Elura 100 was perhaps the last hurrah of high quality, low-priced MiniDV camcorders. If users want to shoot in low light environments, the DCR-HC38 will not accommodate. Once the lights dim, the image is blurry, fuzzy, and suffers from a severe lack of color.
Manual controls are slim. This camcorder was designed to run in Auto mode. Sony offers manual focus, exposure, and white balance—that’s it. Only the white balance functions efficiently. The DCR-HC38 features a complex touch screen menu structure that is difficult to access because the screen is so small. Imagine making manual adjustments via tiny touch screen buttons on a 2.7-inch LCD screen. If you want to grow as a videographer, the DCR-HC38 will only take you so far. Most Canons, JVCs, and all Panasonics have better manual control suites.
Sony excels in Easy mode. A touch of the Easy button shifts the camcorder into total autopilot. The menu buttons grow in size and all manual controls are disabled. The shooter is required only to point, zoom, and press the record button. The auto controls respond quickly and accurately. For those looking to take their first step out of Easy mode, the DCR-HC38 includes a handful of one-touch Scene modes for specific shooting environments, including Sports, Landscape, and Portrait.
The DCR-HC38 records video to MiniDV tapes, which are cheap, widely available, compatible with almost any editing program, and easily archivable. A tape can be safely stored on a cool, dry shelf for years. Swapping MiniDV tapes during a shoot is easy, and the 60-minute recording time is much preferable to DVD camcorders, which can run as short as 18 minutes per disc. If playback on a TV is more of a priority than editing, then DVD or HDD camcorders may be a superior option. However, tape generally offers a higher video quality than an equivalently-priced DVD camcorder.
The extinction of the MiniDV format is near. It’s tough to find a good MiniDV camcorder these days. The Sony DCR-HC38 is, sadly, what to expect in the lower-end—fair video performance, a limited set of manual controls, and a touch screen to either love or hate. The Canon ZR850 will offer better video quality and more manual controls for the same price. Panasonic has some compelling models this year, and if last year’s Canon Elura 100 can be tracked down, so much the better. Loyal Sony fans have the option of springing for the more expensive DCR-HC96, but the price jump is considerable. Considering the destiny of the format, it’s perhaps best to wait until a suitable HDD camcorder comes down to this price range.For a more in-depth review, visit the Sony DCR-HC38 Review at our partner CamcorderInfo.com
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