Review of Sony DCR-HC52 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom

To begin with, this is an excellent camera. It has the basic features most people will ever need. Very easy to use.

This camcorder has an excellent weight - not too heavy and not too light.

The video and audio quality are very good. Night vision mode works well in low light! With a fully charged battery and a new tape, you can expect about 60 minutes of record time.

Five other reasons why this is an awesome buy are: 40x optical zoom, ability to record in 16:9 widescreen, touch screen LCD, manual and auto focus and ability to control exposure.

It fits perfectly in one hand. The touch screen is a nice feature; it reduces the number of physical buttons.

The major complaint made about this camcorder is that there is no firewire cable included. You will need to buy an i-link or equivalent cable if you want to edit video on your computer.

The best thing about this camcorder is that it doesn't require the manufacturer's software that you must install in order to use the camcorder with your computer! You can upload the videos straight into any software program that supports DV video uploading.

Another small disadvantage is that the optical view finder is very poor, and too small to use.

For the money, you can't do better than with this handycam camcorder if miniDV format is what you want. This is perfect for home use and short videos to be published on YouTube.

This camera is good for people who just want to pop in a tape and start recording. However, if you want DVD quality video, try something else.

P.S. A very fun way to record your favorite activities is using camera glasses.