Excellent camera for it's price point.
Pros:
Excellent day light video, fairly quiet camera, generous 20x zoom, great sound quality.
Cons:
night video is fair, no light or option to add one, zoom loses some stability
The Bottom Line:
For anyone wanting a decent camcorder that doesn't break the bank, the DCR-HC26 will do an exceptional quality job.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I was in the market (or mood) to buy a camcorder. I always wanted one. Figured it would be of some use at some point in my life. To tell you the truth, now being an owner it really dawns how much it depends on your lifestyle. Honestly, I thought I'd be using this much more than I am.
That being said... I would encourage you to think about how much you're investing in these camcorders before you buy. Ask yourself if it really is worth the money. Obviously there are some better than others; but then price always follows. I personally decided to go less expensive and I'm more at peace with myself that I did.
Sony has always had a reserved seat in my decision making with respect to brand. They've always been very dependable for me. After comparing the Sony DCR-HCR26 to a Canon Elura 75, 85 and owning briefly the more expensive Sony DCR-HC42 (now replaced by HCR46) the HCR26 is more than suitable for my needs and I'm very happy.
Do yourself a favour, don't beat yourself up at trying to find the one camera that shoots well at night. I've tried and tried and have been unsuccessful. This is probably the one key area I find people wanting to make sure they get out of a camcorder when purchasing one. Basically to have the best in all conditions. Unless you're willing to fork out over $1000 for a 3CCD HD camera, none of them will do night video well. No, the HCR26 is not great; but it is respectful. Yes it's grainy and dim at night and sometimes indoors; but so is every other camera I've had and from what I've read I'm not the only one who feels this way. How many times are you going to film in the dark? With proper lighting indoors it does a decent, acceptable job, actually it can turn out quite sharp as well; but again, under the right lighting. Day video is fantastic. I've had great success outside and in. Video is in crisp rich colour along with excellent sound, whether your viewing it on your tv or transferring it to hard drive or DVD (weather directly or through software). Making your own home movies with this camera is beyond being just acceptable.
As for the included software, I do agree with the majority of reviews on this, it's to be desired; however, I use Adobe Premiere Elements 2 and it's a painless, enjoyable experience with loads of options to make you feel professional.
