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Sony DCR-HC36 Camcorder Review
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Just USD50 more than the
entry-level, the Sony DCR-HC36 (USD400 MSRP) should must do many
credible on the showroom floor so as to justify a purchase. Its only
advantages over the HC26 (USD300) are a remote control and the power to
shoot stills at a resolution of 640 x 480 onto a Memory Stick. But with
images in small size, who wishes them? With the major advances withheld
for the next model, the HC36 possesses intermediate level of functions. |
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Video Performance
The Sony DCR-HC36 (USD309)
is equipped with the standard 1/6” Charge-coupled device, the kind you
might suppose to receive on nearly all entry-level or close to
entry-level camcorders. This chip, similar to almost all other 1/6”
chips, possesses 680K gross pixels and 340K effective pixels.
At 3000 lux, the HC36
developed a quite poor picture. Color balance was quite good. It did not
display over or under-saturation. But the image gave definitely grainy
feeling. Most 1/6inch chip camcorders give some noise, but good
functioning and results exists in the same price range.
The Canon Elura 100
(USD380), which features a somewhat larger 1/5 Charge-coupled device,
took a picture having much more evident sharpness and importantly less
noise. Color balance and saturation levels were almost equal, with the
Canon demonstrating, to some extent, enhanced lively range in the greens
and yellows.
Sony’s
entry-level camcorder, the DCR DCR-HC26 (USD300), is USD50
lesser amount of and possesses the similar imaging
features. The picture is basically the same – same noise troubles, color
balance, and so on.
The
Panasonic PV-GS39 (USD213) possesses less obvious sharpness and reduced
color distinction. It also generated Moiré figures in the resolution
trumps while the information became too opaque for the imager to manage.
This did not occur in Sony.
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Eventually, the JVC
GR-D350 gave a lot less noisy image, in spite of the 1/6inch
Charge-coupled device. Saturation levels were no doubt higher. The JVC’s
trouble was much high levels of sharpening. That made circles of light
with high contrast places, in addition to along with curved and diagonal
lines. This did not occur to the level in the Sony’s, the Panasonic, or
in the Canons.
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Normally, the HC36 is what
you must anticipate for the value, but the Canons contain many features
to provide in video functioning, so be wise and make comparison before
purchasing.
Low Light Performance
As with all the
camcorders, the DCR-HC36 was examined for its functioning and results in
low light conditions at two levels, 60 lux and 15 lux. Layman’s says
about that “fairly dark” and “pretty near dark.”
At 60
lux light condition, the HC36 missed a lot of brightness and color
information. It also displayed a big rise in grain noise. This is not
amazing, taking into account the small sized chip. The larger the size
of the chip the more light can be gathered and employed for the low
light functioning. A high-end camcorder just as Sony’s DCR-HC96 (USD516)
has a 1/3inch Charge-coupled device, double to the size of the HC36,
with superb low light functioning.
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