Sony Camcorder on Amazon

bigstunnerdude · 24-04-2006, 16:19

Have been looking at getting a Sony DV Handycam just recently. Have about £350 budget so can't go overboard. Have looked at two models:

Sony DCRHC44 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...919595-5794851

Sony DCRHC46 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...919595-5794851

I don't really know what the difference is between the two models apart from the obvious being the price tag. Also I notice the models can be purchased cheaper through one of their market sellers. Basically I was just wondering which model I should go for and whether to buy from Amazon or the cheaper market place. Any advice would be most welcome?

iDan · 24-04-2006, 16:55

Handycam Station and DVin on the 46.

bigstunnerdude · 24-04-2006, 17:01

Handycam Station not really important to me and DV in again not really essential, unless I plan to download/edit/upload footage back to camera on PC, more likely to just hook up to DVD recorder and record onto DVD that way. So may therefore save myself £30 and go for the 44 model. Gives me a couple of quid to get a spare battery and some tapes then.

bigstunnerdude · 24-04-2006, 17:42

Seeing as Amazon has now increased the price of the 44 to £326.69 in the last hour I'll go with the 46 model at £337. The 44 does have a Handycam station just not the DV In. How that makes it so different to warrant the price hike I don't know.

bigstunnerdude · 27-04-2006, 18:54

Bit miffed now as Amazon reckon Camera won't dispatch for 1-2 weeks. Glad I didn't use their market seller though Pixmania. Read some feeback from shoppers and found all their stuff comes from France or Germany and lacks UK manuals or Power Adaptors.

Feel a bit daft a moment as have spare batteries, DV tapes and a Tri-Pod sat here but no actual Camcorder.

webbie · 28-04-2006, 00:25

Here's a tip for the tapes - stick to one manufacturer for all your tapes. Different manufacturers use different coatings and they can interact with each other and gunge up the head. That's what I read somewhere anyway!
Also, the best tapes are Fuji who also make Panasonic ones which are easier to get. I get mine form www.pricebuster.org.uk - Panasonic tapes are £1.39 each. You have to buy in bulk as p&p is £7.45.

bigstunnerdude · 29-05-2006, 16:10

Okay got my Handycam last week after a huge delay in Amazon getting the camera and me having to contact them twice to get the camera and adjust the price on my order as after I ordered it the price was reduced twice.

Pleased with the Camera but my real complaint with it is the poor software, Thought you could transfer footage to PC and burn to DVD? Well apparently not. The software only lets me download the footage and burn it as a VCD. The supposed DVD burning function 'Click to DVD' is only a feature when connecting the camera to one of Sony's Vaio Computer/Media players.

Therefore does anyone know a good piece of PC software that'll let me download, edit and then burn the footage to DVD?

Cheers for any help.

JBlink · 29-05-2006, 17:06

The very basics can be done with Windows Movie Maker. I also use Nero but so far have not needed anything too sophisticated. I believe Pinnacle Studio is good, but frankly I'll be watching the other replies with interest

webbie · 29-05-2006, 20:42

Ulead's videostudio is very good - easy to use and can create dvds. You may be able to find an older version on a magazine cover disk that may do all you need. If not, it's £35 to download (135MB)!

webbie · 29-05-2006, 20:43

...You can also download a free trial version from their website.

24-04-2006, 16:19	#1
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Posts: 5,353	Sony Camcorder on Amazon Have been looking at getting a Sony DV Handycam just recently. Have about £350 budget so can't go overboard. Have looked at two models: Sony DCRHC44 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...919595-5794851 Sony DCRHC46 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...919595-5794851 I don't really know what the difference is between the two models apart from the obvious being the price tag. Also I notice the models can be purchased cheaper through one of their market sellers. Basically I was just wondering which model I should go for and whether to buy from Amazon or the cheaper market place. Any advice would be most welcome?

24-04-2006, 16:55	#2
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	Handycam Station and DVin on the 46.

24-04-2006, 17:01	#3
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Posts: 5,353	Handycam Station not really important to me and DV in again not really essential, unless I plan to download/edit/upload footage back to camera on PC, more likely to just hook up to DVD recorder and record onto DVD that way. So may therefore save myself £30 and go for the 44 model. Gives me a couple of quid to get a spare battery and some tapes then.

24-04-2006, 17:42	#4
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Posts: 5,353	Seeing as Amazon has now increased the price of the 44 to £326.69 in the last hour I'll go with the 46 model at £337. The 44 does have a Handycam station just not the DV In. How that makes it so different to warrant the price hike I don't know.

27-04-2006, 18:54	#5
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Posts: 5,353	Bit miffed now as Amazon reckon Camera won't dispatch for 1-2 weeks. Glad I didn't use their market seller though Pixmania. Read some feeback from shoppers and found all their stuff comes from France or Germany and lacks UK manuals or Power Adaptors. Feel a bit daft a moment as have spare batteries, DV tapes and a Tri-Pod sat here but no actual Camcorder.

28-04-2006, 00:25	#6
webbie Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Devon Posts: 1,568	Here's a tip for the tapes - stick to one manufacturer for all your tapes. Different manufacturers use different coatings and they can interact with each other and gunge up the head. That's what I read somewhere anyway! Also, the best tapes are Fuji who also make Panasonic ones which are easier to get. I get mine form www.pricebuster.org.uk - Panasonic tapes are £1.39 each. You have to buy in bulk as p&p is £7.45.

29-05-2006, 16:10	#7
bigstunnerdude Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Posts: 5,353	Okay got my Handycam last week after a huge delay in Amazon getting the camera and me having to contact them twice to get the camera and adjust the price on my order as after I ordered it the price was reduced twice. Pleased with the Camera but my real complaint with it is the poor software, Thought you could transfer footage to PC and burn to DVD? Well apparently not. The software only lets me download the footage and burn it as a VCD. The supposed DVD burning function 'Click to DVD' is only a feature when connecting the camera to one of Sony's Vaio Computer/Media players. Therefore does anyone know a good piece of PC software that'll let me download, edit and then burn the footage to DVD? Cheers for any help.

29-05-2006, 17:06	#8
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 2,926	The very basics can be done with Windows Movie Maker. I also use Nero but so far have not needed anything too sophisticated. I believe Pinnacle Studio is good, but frankly I'll be watching the other replies with interest

29-05-2006, 20:42	#9
webbie Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Devon Posts: 1,568	Ulead's videostudio is very good - easy to use and can create dvds. You may be able to find an older version on a magazine cover disk that may do all you need. If not, it's £35 to download (135MB)!

29-05-2006, 20:43	#10
webbie Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Devon Posts: 1,568	...You can also download a free trial version from their website.

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Sony Camcorder on Amazon