Sony DCR-PC55 (silver)
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: DCRPC55/S
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Unless portability is your primary consideration, you can find better choices than this petite underachiever.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Sony DCR-PC55 (silver) price range: $999.90
- Reviewed by: Denny Atkin
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 06/10/2005
- Released on: 02/15/2005
The good: Extremely small; looks classy and cool enough to take to a Hollywood premiere; easy to learn.
The bad: Mediocre video quality; awkward to hold; short battery life; DV connector is on charging cradle.
The bottom line: Unless portability is your primary consideration, you can find better choices than this petite underachiever.
Sony's DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam is a stylish shooting companion that's small and light enough to fit in your pants pocket. With a 10X optical zoom and a decent selection of automatic and manual shooting modes, the DCR-PC55 provides most of the capabilities of larger counterparts. Unfortunately, it compromises on video quality, which runs from mediocre under optimal conditions to poor in low light. So unless portability and style are your paramount concerns, you can do better than this.
User reviews
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Nice camcorder, but....
by clenaghen on March 7, 2005
Pros: Size, large viewfinder screen, good battery life, docking station not needed to charge camcorder on the road
Cons: Video quality, still image quality, no firewire cable in box, touch screen menu navigation
Summary: I was looking for a very compact camcorder that could at least take descent still pics. I was debating between this camera and the DCR-PC109. Camcorder is definately small.... almost ...
Summary: I was looking for a very compact camcorder that could at least take descent still pics. I was debating between this camera and the DCR-PC109. Camcorder is definately small.... almost too small, but not really much smaller than the PC109. To effectively use the camera you almost have to use 2 hands (unless you have small hands). Video wasnt spectacular, but acceptable. Even though Sony touts the video and VGA still image quality to be spectacular, it is far from it. My 6 year old Canon has far better still image and video quality than the Sony. I cant help feeling that I might have been more satisfied with the PC109. All in all, its still a descent camcorder and because of its size, I can take it with me more often than with a larger camcorder.
15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Terrific portable camcorder
Pros: Great design Amazing 3" screen Bought it last week at a SonyStyle store. 16x9 recording capability Cradle Touch LCD Great handling and form-factor
Cons: Small fingers needed No LCD wide screen support (can record in 16x9 but you'll see bars on the LCD) Steep price
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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excelent camcorder
by facil3 on July 7, 2005
Pros: smaller cam
Cons: no have flash
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: DCRPC55/S
- Description: Sleek, stylish and amazingly portable, the silver DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder provides excellent video recording quality in an ultra-compact design. The Advanced HAD CCD imager provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video performance. The professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens capture vivid, life-like images while minimizing distortion. Weighing in at only 10 ounces, the camcorder's body measures only 4 inches tall and almost 3 inches wide - making it fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. The extra large 3.0" Hybrid LCD display1 provides a clear, sharp monitor and rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles. Its metallic silver design makes it stand out wherever you go.
General
- Product Type Camcorder
- Enclosure Color Silver
- Digital Zoom 120 x
- Optical Sensor Size 1/6"
- Optical Sensor Type Advanced HAD CCD
- Min Illumination 5 lux
- Analog Video Format NTSC
- Digital Video Format MPEG EX
- Special Effects Sepia, Still, Trail, Mosaic, Pastel, Monotone, Old Movie, Flash Motion, Negative Art, Solarization, Luminance Key, Low Shutter Speed (LSS)
- Image Stabilizer Electronic (Super Steady Shot)
- Digital Scene Transition Random, Wipe fader, Black fader, White fader, Mosaic fader, Overlap fader, Monotone fader
- Min Shutter Speed 1/2 sec
- Max Shutter Speed 1/3500 sec
- Shooting Modes Digital photo mode
- Shooting Programs Landscape, Spotlight, Beach & ski, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Sunset & moon
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Indoor, Outdoor
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Metering Spot, Matrix
- Camera Flash None
Main Features
- Color Support Color
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture 320 x 240, 160 x 112
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory None
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Fine JPEG 640 x 480, Standard JPEG 640 x 480
- Media Type Mini DV
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 2.3 mm - 23 mm - F/1.7-2.2
- Focal Length 2.3 mm - 23 mm
- Lens Aperture F/1.7-2.2
- Optical Zoom 10 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Min focal length 2.3 mm
- Lens Manufacturer Carl Zeiss
- Max focal length 23 mm
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 44 - 440 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- DV input Yes
- Low Lux / Night Mode Yes
- Digital Still Camera Function Yes
- Additional Features Built-in speaker, Accessories hot shoe, Touch-screen control, Backlight compensation, Digital noise reduction, Progressive shutter system, Analog to digital conversion with pass through
- Time Code Yes
- Remote control Remote control - Infrared
- Software Drivers & Utilities, Sony Picture Package
- Included Accessories Wrist strap, Docking station
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 3 in - Color
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK), 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio (input/output), 1 x Docking station, 1 x S-Video output, 1 x DC power input
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x Memory Stick PRO Duo
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
- Microphone Technology Electret condenser
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive, IEEE 1394 port
Miscellaneous
- Carrying Case None
- Cables Included USB cable, A/V cable, SCART-Phono adapter
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Sony NP-FA50
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 680 mAh ( Included )
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Form Factor Rotating
- Display Format 123,000 pixels
Physical Characteristics
- Width 1.8 in
- Depth 2.8 in
- Height 3.9 in
- Weight 0.7 lbs
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 1.3 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 690,000 pixels, 1.3 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Digital video camera, CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 1.1 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 1.0 megapixels, 1.1 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 2.04 megapixels, 0.9 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 3.4 megapixels, 0.7 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 3.4 megapixels, 0.7 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 3.4 megapixels, 0.7 lbs
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Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 10 x, Mini DV, 0.7 lbs
Manufacturer info
- Sony
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.sonystyle.com
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
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