Rating: 
Summary: Great Cam.
Review: Absolutely beautiful picture in a tiny package. I love this camcorder.
Rating: 
Summary: fine camcorder, terrible customer service
Review: After receiving this camcorder, which is fine, I read a lot of reviews about the poor battery camera. I was especially concerned about reviews of the battery lasting only 8 minutes.
So, I contacted Sony asking if the issue had been resolved or if there are any proactive steps I could take to stem the issue. I got nothing but the runaround and never a straight answer. I eventually returned the camcorder for another brand.
I never had the chance to extensively use the camcorder, but I did tape about 10 minutes and it seemed fine and easy to use.
However, I would be leary about a company that will not stand behind a product nor give a consumer a straight answer.
Bottom line: fine enough camcorder and terrible customer service. I find it extremely unlikely I will ever purchase another Sony product again.
Rating: 
Summary: So so effort
Review: Camera is light weight and has plenty of functions, however, the softward to burn the tape to CDR or edit the tape is terrible. Basically, I can only hook up the camera to the TV to watch the video.
Rating:
Summary: yes!
Review: Excellent camera for an excellent price! Way to go Sony!
Rating: 
Summary: Tiny and great camera, but..
Review: Have had this camera for 2 months now and it is the best video camera I have owned. Edited the video clips with imovie and pleased with the results. I would have given it 5 stars but, unlike the instructions state, I cannot upload any VHS tapes or 8MM tapes from the VCR or my old video because Sony does not make a 3 plug AV to 1394 adapter cable. I can download from the camera to the VCR or DVD recorder fine. This is a major disappointment as I have many VHS tapes that need editing.
Rating: 
Summary: Good when it doesn't brake for no reason
Review: I bought this camcorder 8 months ago and I have been pretty happy with it until my i-link port just burned from the inside and stopped working for no special reason. I called Sony and explained them the problem, they asked for $216 labor cost repair. I'm very disappointing by Sony and their product the DCRHC20. Plus, I felt I was talking to a robot when on the phone with Sony... You won't find me buying Sony anytime soon.
Rating:
Summary: It's completely a joke
Review: I bought this camcorder based on the high rating on this site and Circuitcity ratings and it's on the way back to the store after two days trial.I want a good simple Cam to tape my baby and HC20 got my attention due to price, Sony brand, sony famous lowlight performance, digital transfer and specially small. Pro:
- USB, Firewire video/audio transfer to PC
- Small, easy to carry around. Con:
- Video and video quality.
- Low light performance is useless. I taped my baby in the bedroom and living using whatever light available but I don't consider low light especially I expect low lux performing but when I play on the TV, the picture is dark, too much noise and soft. the sound is ok. that is a little disappointed.
Then the next day, I try to tape during the day time, around 6pm in Cali. and play back in the tape, quality is just alright, but once the digital zoom kick in, you can't see any more, all blur. If you happen to see a bad VCD thenyou know what I am talking about. Think about it, small CCD will cause quality suffer.
I have used the TRV27 in the past so I am going to get the TRV38.
Rating:
Summary: Great for a beginner
Review: I bought this camera for my sister -- she had no camcorder experience. This camera is designed with that customer in mind, although it also has features that appeal to the amateur cinematographer. Perhaps the best feature is the hybrid touch-screen LCD. Instead of clustering a hopelessly confusing array of buttons next to the LCD (where you can't see them) Sony made the LCD viewscreen touch-sensitive. Depending on what you're doing (play/record) there are different options on the screen to touch. This is not only good for beginners, but also extremely convenient for people who are experienced. Additionally, Sony made the camcorder super-easy to turn on and record- press the "on" button once for record, twice for play. Other manufacturers have an assortment of little icons on a miniature wheel you have to turn to select functions. This makes it difficult (especially at night) to see what you're selecting. No such problem. In fact, there are only 6 buttons on the whole camcorder. And if this elegantly simple design isn't enough for grandma to use the camcorder, Sony thoughtfully included an "Easy" button. This button enlarges all the text on the screen ("Play", "Battery life", etc.) so that people who have poor eyesite can use the device with ease. In making it easy to operate, Sony didn't nix all the features that amateurs moviemakers want, though. The camera still has a Program AE mode, full manual focus control (via touchscreen buttons) and NightShot Plus for filming in complete darkness. It also has a built in lens cover- a nice feature, as many other camcorders have a snap off cover, resulting in a clicking noise as it slaps against the side of the unit while you record Little League games. Picture quality is good, and the camera does a good job adjusting between lighting and motion situations. Color is particularly well saturated for a camera in this price range. Overall I would say this product is extremely well designed, easy to use, and provides satisfactory picture quality (above average for the pricepoint). I would recommend it to any family as a good choice for family movies.
Rating:
Summary: Haven't spent much time with it, but...
Review: i figured i would review it since Amazon's reviews have always helped me in the past. I am going from an old Canon 8mm, so this is my first DV camcorder. First, it is very small, in a good way. It feels solid, but not bulky. The controls are very responsive and fast. The LCD uses a touchscreen menu, i wasn't sure i would like it, but it's great. Since the menu can change with every screen, you aren't limited by a few buttons. It also has an integrated manual lens cover. The charger plugs directly into the camera, so no bulky chargers either. The quality is good, but again, i haven't done anything more than a few test shots. I already have a 4MP digital camera, so i didn't care about photos and i didn't want to buy into Sony's Memory Stick scam. Apparently after a photo, it records 7 seconds of sound. Quite annoying. My goal is to shoot vids of my kids and burn them to DVD with my PC. The camera comes with all the cables you need, except the firewire/IE444?/I-link cable. You can do USB transfer, but i've heard its not as good as firewire. I am very happy with this purchase and plan on keeping it.
Rating:
Summary: My SONY Camcorder quit for no reason
Review: I had the same thing happen with my SONY DCR-TRV19 after exactly one year. So I called the Sony support number. After holding for 45 minutes they told me my warrenty was 12 months parts, 90 days labor. They were nice enought to wave the parts seeing it is a few days past a year but they want $219 for labor!!!!!
If you search the web this is a common problem with the SONY DCR-TVR19 / DCR-TRV22 / DCR-TRV33.
I realy wish I'd bought a JVC. They are rated beter and less expensive. I do know that's the last Sony product I'm going to buy. 90 day warrenty for $500 dollar product is terrible.
Mine doesn't have a single scratch and has NEVER been dropped.
This years models are:
DCR-HC20 / DCR-HC30 GARBAGE DCR-HC65 / DCR-HC85 CHEAPJUNK
It appears the first to use the same 680k CCD. A likely culprit for this problem.
Check your warrenties.
JUNK JUNK JUNK
Mike Grimm, IL.
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