Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

Customer Reviews for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

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Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Model: DCR-HC28
SKU: 8205658
UPC: 027242701403
This camcorder's InfoLithium battery features the AccuPower meter system which displays remaining battery life, so you won't miss precious moments because of a dead battery. Picture and fader effects let you add artistic flair to your home movies.249.99
Average Customer Rating:
4.692 out of 5
4.7
 out of 
5
(26 Reviews) 26
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Snapshot 26 reviews
5 stars
21
4 stars
4
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
96% of customers would recommend this product to a friend 
(
25 out of 26
)
Customer Reviews for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor
Review 1 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Worth The Money

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Funlovr
on 10/10/2008
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Features
5.0 out of 5
5.0
got it for Christmas, LOVE IT! I really wanted a video camera, and I got this. I thought,"WHAT! This can't hook up to the computer, but then I realized that you had to buy the PC Cable separately. It took me 10 months to figure that out. My friend and i made a AWESOME music video of Disturbia, so get ready to watch it on youtube! I just figured out that you could do sepia, and I still don't know how/if you can take pictures, but that doesn't stop it from being totally awesome!
I love you Sony for making such an awesome video camera!
What's great about it: EVERYTHING!
What's not so great: NOTHING!
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Absolutely Worth it!

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Zeriya
on 04/05/2008
This is a great camcorder! I got it 2 or 3 years ago and it was great! I lost the batery charger for the camera and it lasted for the longest time! It is really nice and easy to use! I am a very picky person and usually like to pick out my own stuff and usually do alot of research about it and look at alot but i got it for christmas one year and i loved it! You should really buy this camera if your looking for a long lasting, clear, and everything camcorder. Good for kids also me being 10 or 11 at the time i got it. Why waste money on real expensive ones when you got everything right here
What's great about it: Batert life, clear, durable, longlasting...everything else
What's not so great: the cords used for it arnt sold in stores. you have to order them
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

AWESOME CAMCORDER!!!

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Momof2girlsand1boy
from Massachusetts
on 02/11/2008
I had an older Sharp camcorder that was so large and clunky compared to what's out now. I ordered this item based on the price and on-line reviews. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. The camera is so small it fits in the palm of my hand. It's perfect for videotaping my three small children. I told them I was going to be videotaping them every day now! I love everything about this camer. Couldn't be happier with it and the price was perfect.
What's great about it: EVERYTHING!
What's not so great: NOTHING
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 4 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Affordable, quality camcorder

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: GrayslakeBestBuyer
from Gurnee, IL
on 02/11/2008
I think this camcorder is a great deal for the price -- you definitely get *more* than what you pay for! The camcorder is one of the smallest I've ever used and is very lightweight and easy to carry. I've actually started carrying my camcorder and digital camera in the same bag! The camcorder was easy to use and setup. My wife and I were able to take it out of the box and start recording with little "technical" setup to do on the camcorder to make it work. The touch screen VCR playback makes it easy to view video that has been recorded, and since the buttons are on the screen, the camcorder is that much smaller. I like that this camcorder has a view finder in addition to an LCD screen, because using the viewfinder helps to save on battery life. The playbacks are seamless -- I haven't been able to pick up any motor noises or anything of that sort.
What's great about it: Lightweight, Portable, Easy to Use, Easy to setup, Touchscreen VCR Mode, View Finder+LCD Screen
What's not so great: The battery it came with is pretty small for hours of recording.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

great camcorder

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: mike44
from asheville, nc
on 02/10/2008
I'm the type that researchs until I make myself sick before I make a purchase. Often after I make the well-researched purchase, I'm kicking myself b/c I feel like I should have gotten something else. Hindsight is always 20/20 you know? Well I researched camcorders for literally months. I could tell you each feature of every camcorder that was on the market. I knew what the expert reviewers had to say. I researched this to death. Well after buying this camcorder, I find that I use it a lot more than I had ever anticipated that I would. I use it mainly to video my kids, but have taken some great videos on vacation in Yellowstone National Park and on flyfishing trips in the mountains of North Carolina. For my money this is the best camcorder out there. No doubt. And I never looked back and second guessed my decision. This one was 20/20 all the way.
What's great about it: good night vision, picks up all sound, extremely lightweight and easy to travel with
What's not so great: picks up all sound
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

my first dv camcorder

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: RAZ54
from Stockton, IA
on 02/10/2008
this is a wonderfully easy and reasonably priced unit.
Takes clear video and zoom works well
What's great about it: easy to use
What's not so great: havent been able to download to computer
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

good value, good quality

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: Kaitlin
from New York
on 01/30/2008
good point and shoot camera, still need to go out and get the cable to hook it up to my computer to edit video. minidv tapes are expensive, so just buy one and hook the cam up to your pc and keep taping over the old stuff. its the most cost effective way to do it. i dont know if the tape would ever get old or damaged though.
What's great about it: night shot, touch screen, lightweight, small
What's not so great: doesnt come with minidv tapes or cable for pc hookup, no still shots
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Very good vcamera

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Anonymous
on 01/20/2008
Got one today from BestBuy.
This is one of the best cameras I have seen. It compares to other cameras in the $400+ pricetag in terms of picture quality. It also has a very sensitive microphone, is lightweight and easy to use.
<<THIS CAMERA IS MADE IN JAPAN>>
You need to have a firewire socket on your computer if you plan to transfer video onto it.
They don't provide the 1EEE 1394 cable with the camera.They dont provide any empty dv cassettes either. Be prepared to spend some extra $ to get those.
But you wont need more than one tape at any time if you keep transfering the videos to your computer after filming them.
I would've given this one a 4/5 because of the missing cable/tape.. but then- most companies don't provide these except with their higher end models.
What's great about it: Excellent picture quality
What's not so great: No firewire cable / blank mini dv tape provided
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 9 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Great Camera at a Great Price

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: DirectorintheWorks
on 01/16/2008
I recently purchased a Canon DVD Camcorder and to my dismay, converting the .vob files to .afi was too much of a hassle. I returned it for the Sony Handycam and was amazed at the difference between the two. The Sony had better clarity, better features, and it was cheaper. I use the Firewire IEEE 1394 port on the camera and my computer to easily transfer what I record onto my pc, into Windows Movie Maker for Vista. I couldn't be happier with this purchase.
What's great about it: Night-Shot Plus, Easy to Use
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 10 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

THIS PRODUCT SUCKS

Customer Rating
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Posted by: CAMERAMEN
from HAVERHILL MASSACHUSETTS
on 10/28/2007
I BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT TO REPLACE MY KODAK EASY SHARE STILL CAMERA, SO I COULD HAVE BOTH VIDEO AND STILL CAPABILITIES. SO FAR, VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULTS. GRAINY IN BOTH MODES. I COMPARED THE RESULTS WITH PICTURES I HAVE STORED ON MY COMPUTER AND THE DIFFERENCES ARE SHOCKING. IF I USE THE IMAGES FROM THE KODAK FOR A DESKTOP PICTURE - PERFECT. IF I USE THE IMAGES FROM THIS SONY - THEY SUCK; GRAINY LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. IF I COULD GET MY MONEY BACK I WOULD DO SO RIGHT AWAY. DON'T BUY THIS CAMERA.
What's great about it: NICE DESIGN
What's not so great: GRAINY MOVIES AND PHOTO IMAGES
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-6points
1out of 8found this review helpful.
Review 11 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Great For the Price and Novice!

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: LadyRandi
from Lake Mary, FL
on 10/18/2007
I received this camcorder as a gift, and I love it! This is the first one that I have ever owned personally, but it is perfect for taking on trips and capturing memorable moments. It is easy to use and the price is very reasonable as well, in most cases with electronics you get what you pay for, but I think this camcorder is of better quality than the price. I highly recommend this one.
What's great about it: Easy to use/handle, 40x optical zoom
What's not so great: Doesn't take still shots
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Review 12 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Best Purchase

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: KIDSINCORP
on 10/10/2007
I love my camcorder!
It's easy to use, grab, point, record. We have taken ours everywhere, recently to Disney and Universal.
We even recorded while on the rides and it turned out great. You can't go wrong with this camcorder.
What's great about it: Easy to Use
What's not so great: Mini Disk space is about 40 min.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
3out of 4found this review helpful.
Review 13 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Good Purchase

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: juannieswife
on 10/08/2007
The camcorder is really great, it's discs play in my dvd player and computer. I do wish that the still pictures came out a little less fuzzy, but it does great.
What's great about it: Great camcorder
What's not so great: could be a little better on still pics
I would recommend this to a friend!
-1point
0out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 14 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Good camera

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: ACad
from Massachusetts
on 10/08/2007
This camera works great. It's easy to use. It uses mini video tapes, which isn't the best (But when we bought it in August of 06 they weren't offering the 60gig digital camcorders) The software to capture the video onto your computer is very basic and not very user friendly and doesn't seem to be compatible with Windows Vista....this is a major bummer!
What's great about it: Light, easy to use
What's not so great: Not the best "capture" Software
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 15 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Pretty sweet

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Maggos
from Seattle, WA
on 10/07/2007
This is a great camera to use for home videos or to shoot your kids sports games. Its small size makes it very easy to carry around. The auto-focus and auto-iris functions great to always get the best shot without having to hit any switches. Another great feature of this camera is its Nightshot Plus feature, which is just as easy to use as the camera itself. The built-in still camera gives out great pictures and it is compatable with Sony's Memory Stick to put the pictures onto your computer. The lense is also always protected by a lense cover that is built in and easily switched on. Overall this is a great camera to capture home videos.
What's great about it: easy to use, simple, small, good nightshot
What's not so great: not professional, not as many options
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Great little camcorder

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: mamaofaprettylittlelady
on 10/07/2007
I bought this camcorder several months ago to use to record our baby growing up. My husband also competes in off-road truck competitions so we have used it for that as well. For both subjects it has worked wonderfully. The picture is so clear and crisp whether we are inside or out. It has very easy to use and understand features right on the screen. It also records sound great. When using other camcorders at the truck competitions the loud sounds of the trucks would seem to cut out. This has not been a problem at all. I would certainly recommend this product!
What's great about it: Easy to run and understand
What's not so great: No cons so far!
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 17 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Best product ever

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: jman1234
on 09/20/2007
this product is great i love it! The night shot is a little dark but you get over it very quickly
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 18 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Camera

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Eagle88
from Iselin
on 09/17/2007
I can't say that this camera is the best in quality or the best camera I have had. However, It was great and I have to say that it makes my happy and does what I want it to do. It gives me what I want and I think it was a great investment.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 19 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Great value for price

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: AfromKY
from Louisville, KY
on 09/12/2007
Easy to use. Good value for the price. Cool features.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 20 for Sony MiniDV Handycam Digital Camcorder with 2.5" SwivelScreen Color LCD Monitor

Very nice affordable camcorder

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Luigui72
from Phoenix, AZ
on 09/10/2007
I bought my first Sony miniDV camcorder in 2001 (I remember I paid about $1,400 for it) and since then Sony has maintained their quality standards; This camera is not the exception, it's very well priced even though it has only the basic features; To me, it was all I needed to record the memories of my two newborn nephews; Do not expect the best performance under low-light conditions, but again, for the price I thought I got very very decent video. If you are not into all of the gadgets camcorders come with nowadays, this is a very nice pick
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
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