Sony DCR-PC330 Camcorder April 2004 Review
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Author's Rating:
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Pros: Color Quality, Carl Zeiss Lens, Size And Battery Life.
Cons: 3 Megapixel Photo Quality And Speed, Customer Support And LCD Screen Control Panel.
The Bottom Line:
Amazing Video Quality. The Carl Zeiss Lens Is Precise And Clarity Is Superb As Is Color Definition. Yet, The 3-Megapixel Still Images Are Minimal At Best.
Author's Review
If you are looking at Sony's stunning DCR-PC330, you've made an initial solid choice just by its consideration. It's Carl Zeiss lens along with its 3-Megapixel digital still potential is reason enough to look at this camcorder combination unit.
Let's start with picture quality... I used the word 'Stunning' so I'll avoid the same descriptive adjective and instead use the word 'STUNNING' (all caps so it's okay). Picture quality is so outstanding and clarity is so crisp that you'll swear you were just shy of being a professional. Blues, reds and greens are accurate even in low-light and even with vibration or movement of the camera. Color quality on your screen will be exceptional.
The digital still format at a rating of 3-megapixels is a major letdown. Digital still pictures can be achieved using what Sony calls a MEMORY STICK. Older Memory Sticks were slow to process your pictures. Even at just 1-megapixel shots, the camcorder took near 5-9 seconds to process the shot. Now comes the 3-megapixel version of 2003/2004 found on the Sony DCR-PC330 and with regret, the same slow and miserable 5-9 seconds per picture is still standard. It seems that the Sony 'Memory Sticks' that are now called 'PRO' or 'DUO PRO' and are light years faster than the older standard sticks and a welcomed addition to the digital still format. Yet Sony didn't incorporate the technology for the high-speed sticks into the DCR-PC330!!! Hello??? Thus, your 3-megapixel digital still function on this camera is miserable and you'll have to carry a good Canon or Nikon digital still camera along with you.
The LCD screen is also your control panel. I'm not a fan of having to use my viewfinder as my control panel but Sony has decided that this is the way of the future and it works until you get it outside into bright sunshine. You'll have to plan your settings inside before using the camera outside.
Battery life? The best! Sony lithium batteries are of amazing quality and longevity. The manuals supplied will indicate use of say one-hour but expect one hour plus 30 minutes. These batteries are superior in weight, power and information supplied to your LCD screen about its current life in detail.
Sony also supplies you with a charger the size of a brick! You'll have to carry around this charger and two connection cords in your travels and it's large and not user-friendly. However, for an extra $60.00, you can purchase the very small, unique and quick battery charger instead and at about 80 percent less weight.
I like the Sony DCR-PC330. Again, it's color clarity alone is enough to justify it's hefty $1599 price tag. And you'd better buy this from a reliable source because Sony will NOT honor a warranty unless it is from a USA authorized Sony dealership. Yet, the Sony DCR-PC330 is weak in too many areas and I'd also suggest you look at any of the more upscale Canon camcorders as well. Canon offers amazing quality and customer support.
One note also worth mentioning here is that Sony has seen fit to 'OUTSOURCE' its customer service centers to India. While I have no problems with my camcorder I did also purchase a Sony DSC-T1 digital camera that was failing right at purchase. In my call to Sony and after nearly 30 minutes on the phone with a very inexperienced Sony customer service rep from India, the final outcome or resolve was his reading to me of "5 Suggestions For Better Photography" that he had found on his computer. It turned out that I had a bad Memory Stick and not camera. Thus, customer support is questionable if not dismal.
I still suggest and support the Sony DCR-PC330 as mentioned for film quality alone. It is by far the best color quality ever.
