» Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom

Sony DCR-SR85 1MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Camcorder - especially for a novice like me
Comment: I took my family to Hawaii and didn't want to haul around my old bulky Panosonic camcorder. So I was looking for something small and affordable (the trip already took most of my savings!) and found this on Amazon for under $450. I'm no expert with camcorders and I don't want to be. I just want to point and shoot great video for the memories. So I did a lot of homework by reading reviews. Also, Sony seems to be the professional choice. So based on rave reviews, I picked the Sony DCR-SR85 Handycam and it turned out to be just what I needed. I like the size as it fits right into my hand and is hardly noticable. The video and sound quality was beautiful, and the ease of use was so SIMPLE. Having a harddrive was really nice since I was accumstomed to changing those lousy tapes. With 60 GB I'll never run out of space.
Not everything is perfect, so my only problems or concerns are: 1) I can't help but jiggle the camera while fumbling to find the zoom button or the button to turn the camera off. This will probably improve as I get better coordinated. 2) The screen is very difficult to see in bright sunlight, so without a viewfinder you have to point and hope. 3) The camera doesn't automatically shut off when you close the screen. So a couple of times I THOUGHT I hit the off button and closed the screen but ended up with 30 minutes of my shoes, the dashboard and very boring conversation. But it was easy to delete. 4) The battery that comes with the camera is whimpy, so spend another $70 and get a 4 hour battery. Use the whimpy one for backup emergency. 5) The 1MP photo quality is garbage. But why buy a camcorder for photos when you can get a fabulous Cannon 8MP Powershot for only $150?
All in all, I love this camera and recommend it highly.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Video Camera
Comment: So far this camera is everything I expected it to be and more. It is very easy to operate and the picture is very good. The 60 gb provides plenty of space even at High Quality picture mode. I recommend that a larger capacity battery be purchase. Some expert reviewers have said that this camera does not have image stabilization and that is just not the case. Image stabilization works very well on this camera. The main thing I like about this camera is that I no longer need to use tapes. The software for uploading to the PC works very well. For the money, this is a very good product.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Avoid Broadway Photo
Comment: I cannot believe these guys. I ordered this camera, and when I would not buy the "package" with battery charger, bigger battery and filters for $650, he became very rude. I decided to at least take the larger battery, but he said no. I finally said if i can't buy the camera and a 2 hr. battery, that I would cancel the order. He said he didn't want to sell it to me. I said fine and canceled the order. One week before Christmas and they pull this stuff. I'll never ever order anything from them, you shouldn't either unless you enjoy arguing. It's a bait and switch.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: works with Linux
Comment: I wanted to have a movie camera that didn't require any special software to use. I've been quite happy with this choice. If you like, you can throw away the software that comes with it and use it like a 60-GB USB disk. The file format is reasonably standard. Most (but mysteriously, not all?!) Windows boxes will play the movie files it creates without difficulty, and the utility "mplayer" in Linux handles the format just fine, too, which is what I was really looking for. This does not appear to be the case for any of the "high definition" movie cameras available. They use proprietary file formats only readable by the provided software (which is only provided as an executable --- and quite possibly won't run on any late-model computer 5 years from now).

As for reliability, I've had this camera a few months now and have had no troubles with it.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Sony DCR-SR85
Comment: I purchased this model a few weeks ago and have been using it as I can. The one thing I'd read alot about was the viewfinder LCD screen can be hard to see out in the bright daylight and that is very true with it. It made the LCD Screen be just like a mirror. All I could see was my reflection. I emailed Sony and they suggested the back light should be turned on then. I haven't had another situation like that since so I'm anxious to try that and see if its any better. I did have one day that it was a little tough to see the viewfinder and I found that shading my eyes helped me see it better. I think video quality is very good. I tried the night setting and yes it might make things a bit greenish, but you can see so well. I would not recommend using it to take still photos. If you try to use it for that you are definitely going to need a tripod or monopod. The pictures were not that great at all. However, the more I'm using this camera, the more I like it! I think the software that came with it is pretty great. It hasn't been too hard to figure out, but then I've done a small amount of video editing with another program I use.. just minor stuff. I have ordered the SONY VRD-MC5 DVDirect® MC5 Multi-Function DVD Recorder which will allow me to Transfer home movies and digital pictures to DVD quickly and easily, without a PC. Connects with virtually any camcorder, VCR, DVR or digital camera. I'm very excited to try that out! All in All.. I'm very happy with this camcorder and I did a lot of research before finally deciding this one was the one!

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