This is a fantastic camcorder, I've had it for 6 months and have played with it a ton. We bought this camera as a replacement for our 8 year old Samsung Hi-8 camera. The first thing that astonished me was the size difference between the two cameras! The Sony HC26 was 1/4 the size when compared to the outdated (but well performing) dinosaur Samsung. We paid more 8 years ago for the Samsung Hi-8 than we paid for this outperforming, master of technology, the Sony HC26! I was so impressed by the level of improvements in technology and the space and compactness, I instantly was very happy with this camcorder. I was hesitant about the touch screen controls, but have now fallen in love with that feature. It has enough features for the average user, it's a great camera for home use. If you're not "averagely technological" to master the programmed settings, an "easy button" located on the inside controls when you open your viewing screen, makes a pro out of ANY new camera operator. My seven year old is able to operate the camera, and do quite a good job at it, so if that's not user friendly, I don't know what is! We compared it to the Panasonic, JVC, and Canon, but knowing that we had no need for the still camera, this was the best choice for us. It's perfectly hand sized, buttons are easily reached to the "blind eye," the zoom is awesome at 20 optical zoom and placed right under your right index finger, other models have the button placed awkwardly. Despite other reviewer comments, I detect no "noise" from the zoom even after reviewing the footage in playback. The best-selling feature on this camera is the impressive nightshot when compared to similar cameras under $500. It films in real time with a black and white image and really captures your subject clearly and brightly. No other camera came close to the image quality with the nightshot feature, most were too dark to distinguish your subject. The nightshot really only works up to about 5 feet away even though they claim up to 10 feet. The Carl Zeiss Lens captures vivid colors and crisp images and the sound quality is very good. If your wanting quality picture and sound, definately go with this mini DV tape Sony Handycam 26 camcorder! Just a note, the technology isn't quite "there" yet for the disc recorders, you compromise on sound and picture quality by using the disc camcorders. This is a superior camcorder for the price! The fire-wire doesn't come with the camcorder package, but is needed to download video.
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br /UPDATED NOTE: 2006 CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING QUIDE gives the Sony DCR HandyCam high marks as follows: picture quality-very good, ease of use-good, image stabilizer-excellent, audio quality-good, battery life-80 minutes. I thought it was interesting that they rated the JVC GR-DF450, the Canon Elura 85, and the Panasonic GS250 with FAIR audio quality, and all of these cameras are considerably more expensive but most competive with the Handycam. Of all the digital camcorders reviewed, the Sony Handycam outperformed and was the most affordable too!
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br /HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great product! Very good image stabilization, even when I zoom in close. I especially like the location of the zoom in/out button and the LCD touch screen is easy to use. The LCD is clear, buttons and menus are easy to understand, and the unit's overall weight is light and comfortable to hold. Top loading tapes make switching tapes easy, especially when mounted on a tripod. The Easy mode makes usage a snap. Battery life is good, but I will buy the heavy duty 2400 mAh battery soon. I wanted to use this camcorder to download and edit movies on my laptop. The iLink (aka 1394 firewire) port on the camcorder is the 4 pin type. I bought a 4 pin to 6 pin firewire cable and a firewire PCMCIA card to interface with my Dell laptop (not included with camcorder, obviously). I plugged in the camcorder and had video downloading into Microsoft Windows Movie Maker in a matter of minutes. I haven't tried the software that came with it because I like Movie Maker. Video quality was acceptable at night with low indoor lighting and without the night mode even turned on. Outdoor video during the day is bright and clear. This is not a $15,000 professional camera, but if your intent is to take some great video to show your friends or keep a collection of memories and not spend a ton, this little guy is great! I did a lot of research on this before I bought it and I'm very happy.

This is a bare bones camcorder in that it comes with little more than a battery, a charging cord, a lens cap, and a video/audio cable to hook the camera to a TV. You will need a 4-pin to 6-pin Firewire cable (not included) to import to a computer.
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br /I found using the touch screen to be easy and pretty intuitive. There are not a lot of extra features, but I found on previous cameras that I do not need special effects functions. It's small size and low weight make it great for travel.
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br /Picture quality is not great due to the small sensor. I have been using the 16:9 feature to record anamorphic DVD using iDVD '06. Long distance shots are very soft on a large screen 16:9 TV. Close ups look good. Audio quality is OK if you are not in the wind.
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br /There are cheaper camcorders of equal recording quality. I went with Sony due to its lower rate of repair needs.
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br /Making DVDs is very easy with a Mac and iLife '06. You do not need the Sony software. Just plug in the camera and iMovie recognizes and even operates playback of the camera.
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br /In summary, this is an entry level camera at a low price for Sony. Highly demanding videographers will not be satisfied but the budget-minded traveler will find this good buy.

There is no doubt this is a beautifully small, lightweight and otherwise feature-packed camcorder for its price. I ordered one from B&H after doing a lot of research and comparing models. Although some reviews (which have mysteriously disappeared now) on this site did warn about the video quality, I decided in favor of the Sony vs the Canon ZR-600 and Canon Elura because of the (reportedly) better battery life and low-light performance. It seemed all camcorders at this price range have one deficiency or the other, so I figured the Sony would fit my bill the best.
Here's what I found though-
The good:
- The looks, size and weight. Very lightweight and "cute" according to my wife.
- The very-low light performance with Nightshot plus (be prepared for Ghost like images though)
- The battery life. Charged up in about 30 mins and was going strong even after 40 mins of shooting and fiddling around.

The bad:
- The Manual. Crappy is a good description for it.
- The controls
1. The touchscreen menu. Especially the "x" button for closing windows is so tiny, I had to use my pinkie fingernail to click it. Also with 95% of the controls on the touchscreen panel hidden behind arcane descriptions like "P feature", it was impossible to keep the video cam still while I used the panel.
2. The zoom button on top of camera is placed so non-intuitively, I had to use my middle finger to control it and even then my finger overshot the control.I had to slip my hand out a little from the grip to use my finger tip instead of the middle of my finger.

The ugly:
- The video quality. This is what did it for me. I received the camera in the evening and tested it indoors with lots of light and without. With very dim lighting and nightshotplus, I got decent video otherwise not possible without Nightshotplus. But without it and with all the lights turned on Indoors- the video was very grainy on the LCD, on my computer (transferred using firewire and Pinnacle studio) and on TV. This was still ok with me as I knew not to expect anything great indoors or in low light. But the very next morning I took the camera out into the backyard in the beautiful morning light and shot scenery. I was aghast when I saw the playback on the LCD and on TV - the edges of buildings were jagged (like when you have a very low resolution picture) and anything remotely white was washed out. I changed the White Balance to "Outdoors" while everything else was Auto- still the same.
I returned this camera and have ordered a Canon Elura 100 instead which had glowing reviews everywhere. For 30 more bucks the Canon seems to have double the CCD size and a lot more going for it.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy this camcorder!!

The machine works fine.
br /If you buy the firewire cable (e.g., Sony VMC-IL4615 1.5 Meter i.LINK 4-Pin to 6-Pin Digital Video Transfer Cable) you can actually download the movies to a computer (as another reviewer pointed out). On the mac it works well easily and basically flawlessly (sometimes the rewind hangs on you, but it might be the OS X I have on that machine).
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br /Image quality is OK, I guess. You have to realize that I am an obsessed still photographer, so I will always complain for the image quality of a CAM recorder. It needs care when shooting at maximal focal lenght because it is so small that it is easy to make "sea-sick" productions.
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br /I previously ownen a JVC which I hated with all my heart. This one is great.
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br /I would definitely buy it again. If I had more money, I would buy the more expensive version of the same camera.

Compact, fits in my hand very nicely. There are a lot of extras built in to the menu system (touch screen). The zoom is very clear but the picture does get shaky once you get into the digital zoom. I have yet to get an i.link cable (aka firewire) so for now I am useing the USB cable that goes to my camera. I was very happy to see that there was no still shot with a memory card. Normally that feaure on ALL camcorders sucks, hence having a still camera seperate.
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br /After charging the battery I had this little bad boy up and running within 20 min, and 10 min after that I was able to use everything and understand what the system was doing. The camera's ease of use is great. The touch screen makes the interface extremely easy to understand. Connecting the camcorder to the television was also very easy, with the included cables.
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br /I highly recommend this camera for a new user or anyone who wants a camera that is easy to use. You can't beat this one for the price!

I purchased this camcorder in July of 2006 because of all of the great reviews. The LCD display just stopped working (greyed-out, on-the-blink, the bottom of the picture/display is partially now on top, etc.) and I now need to send it back to the "Sony Factory" for repair. Even though the unit is under warranty for one year, it's only under warranty for parts -- not labor (which is the most expensive part of fixing something!!!). I'll now have to pay $129 just to have the display fixed.
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br /I liked the camcorder otherwise, IF you don't have problems. Not sure if an extended warranty would make a difference since you still have to pay labor -- that's ridiculous!

The reviews at Amazon, and the "counter reviews" at the end session of camcorderinfo.com helped me with this purchase. (do a search with dcrhc26) Last month, I returned two other miniDV camcorders due to excessive motor noise at all time.
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br /For daily use, I am very satisfy with it. I took movies inside and outside the house at 7 pm. I took it out on the street at night with my daughter in the back taping. The results were good. The screen is full of fingerprint which I don't mind. Afterall, I hardly notice them at all once it's power up.
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br /The motor noise was basically the same as those from my ancient SONY and Nikon 8mm, and Sharp Hi-8. It's not there 95% of the time - the automatic gain control is adjusted much better than the other brand. It's loudest when the camcorder is pointed at empty space.
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br /p.s. I forgot to mention it has a S-video output which requires a special SONY cable for $20. I did purchase it because I always download from miniDV to DVD recorder.
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This camcorder's zoom is extremely powerful, it is light weight, and compact.

You can film, and photograph details of people and objects for 2 stories high and half a city block away.

It is light enough that you can put it in your pocket and not feel the difference. This is one of it's aspects that makes it perfect for traveling and school.

The Sony DCR-HC26 is small enoung to fit in a small hand bag, comfortably in your pocket, or in your coat pocket.

SkaterTrash, doesn't seem like you're up to speed either. I.Link does not connect to a USB port (as you incorrectly stated in your tasteless review, which was not so much a review as a display of disrespect to those who may not be as technology-literate). I.Link is, as you correctly said (I was impressed) Sony's brand of DV cabling. I.Link = FireWire (IEEE1394). Therefore, it must be plugged into a FireWire port (different from a USB). Please do not confuse everyone else. I.Link = FireWire, FireWire /= USB.

The price is right, digital tape technology finaly at cost to performance zenith.
br /works realy well with my Mac G4, lite weight, good battery life, ok picture quality, eazy to use, able to be thowen around, did lack remote control. Used profesionaly in ski teaching, best price proformance value on market

I purchased this camera as a replacement for my aging Sony Handycam TRV37. The TRV37 was a great Hi-8 camera that served me well over several film projects. As it got older and I decided it was time to upgrade to MiniDV I found my way to the HC26.
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br /This little bundle of a digital camera has performed superbly and it's immensely modest price allowed me to immediately turn around and return to the guerrilla film making that I had been doing with my old Handycam.
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br /As a no-budget film maker it is important to get the most that you can out of every dollar spent and the HC26 really was worth every penny. The size of the camera is convenient for those wishing to remain unobtrusive during shooting. The optics capture a crisp and clean image that even looks good when blown up to projection size. I know this because I had a film, shot entirely on my HC26, that appeared in the Maine International Film Festival in July of 2007 and it looked great.
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br /For those looking to make movies on MiniDV but don't have the money to spend on the high-end MiniDV cameras the HC26 is worth the investment.

My husband is a photographer and he told me to get this for me and he would stick to the pictures when we had our first child. Well now he videos her more than taking pictures. This camcorder is very good and easy. If anyone gives it a bad rap, they are just too picky. Worth the price! I shopped this one

I received the camcorder ahead of schedule, and it has performed according to my expectations. While I am still exploring on using the advanced functions - the "easy" mode is great for pointing and filming.

I love the camera. The only dowside is it is hard to see the monitor in the sunlight and the camera is so small I'm afraid I will drop it, but that stacks up to just being old on my part. The camera is very easy to understand of how to work video taping and great picture quality. Very happy with the choice of getting this one.

A user friendly camera - the Easy button is a nice touch for those who don't want to bother with the manual settings. The picture and color is clear and crisp. I have not noticed any problems with the voice quality.
br / During playback on the LCD screen, I was impressed with the voice quality and thought that this was a great feature.
br / I recommend upgrading to a higher battery pack, as the one that comes with the camera is used up rather quickly, especially when using the LCD screen to record or for playback. I also purchased a wall charger for the battery pack, instead of plugging in the whole camera to recharge. With 2 batteries, I always have one ready to go.
br / Three members of my family own this camera, and none of us have any complaints. A great camera that is reasonably priced. As usual, Amazon came through with quick and efficient delivery.

I love this camera. I did not have to read one single instruction to operate it because it is 100% user-friendly. It's also small enough to fit in my purse, so I can carry it around at all times and catch my kid's cutest moments on video in a flash.
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br /I have not yet tried to edit the video footage though, so I can give any pro's or con's of that process.

One year and one month after purchase, in other words one month after the warranty expired, the tape door stuck open. I've used it maybe 4-5 times and stored it gently and safely in its padded case out of harm's way. Then last week I pulled it out, ejected the tape, put in a new one, and clack...the door won't close and take in the tape. I did some searching on the net and found many, many people having this same problem with Sony devices. It's a shame because other than it catastrophically failing 30 days after the warranty expired, I really liked it. What's happened to Sony? Sad.

I am very disappointed with this camera. The image stabilizer does not work. I exchanged the first camera I bought for a second and was presented with the same problem. I tried the second camera for a while thinking I was at fault. Nope. The IS does not work. However, I am very pleased with the way I was treated by Amazon. I will now first look to them for any purchase.

My video camera was working great but yesterday it started acting up and was not replaying video in a normal mode. The video was choppy and the sound came out in blips here and there, it is in a permanent state of slow fast-forward or so it seems.
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br /I have had this video camera for about 15 months and have been very happy with its easy and user-friendly approach. I look to Sony for quality, however I have been less than satisfied with their accoutability. I do not believe in extended warranties. I think they are a crock and if a product or company has to be backed up by an extended warranty they are not worth buying or supporting, or you had better just resolve to purchasing a "throw away" product.
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br /Having said that I have just recieved the news that my video camera is in need of sony service repair. My warranty is 75 days out of date, but even so when I was told that it was an internal malfunction with the camera I do not feel that I should be the "test-dummy" for Sony's longevity of the purchased product. I can buy a new one for $250.00 on Amazon or have it repaired for half that price, but then only recieve a 90 day warranty on the work. That does not pencil out financially for me and is essentially not worth the hassle when it can be replaced for a seemingly small amount.
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br /You get what you pay for, as the old adage goes. If you are looking for a product with longevity this is not it. Hence the title "Throw Away Purchase"
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I have no complaints. It is challenging to figure out a good software to use to put it on your computer. I have a DVD recorder and just transfer it directly from the camera to a DVD. Great camera though! I'd recommend it for a simple little video camera!

Great for the price, and I've had it for a couple of months, no problems so far. I would recommend this for a first camcorder or to those who don't want to spend so much. GREAT value.

This is a great camera for the price. Sony is always a brand that you can trust. I loved the camera.

I love the sony line of camcorders..they are easy, dependable, work well with computer editing..This one I bought as a gift for a first time user. I own my second one that I use for underwater video shooting.

Good camera, Sony is the best for camcorders in my experience, is good for taping in low light conditons with out the nighshot feature.
br /Handy, small and light.
br /Get and extra battery

Love the touch screen and this little unit provides for an excellent image quality in a very portable unit. Wish there was a neck/shoulder stap included, but very easy to purchase seperately. Great purchase!

Great camera. Couldn't be more pleased. Simple to operate (one hand), lightweight, and great zoom quality.

I purchased this for my husband and it was a huge hassle. The camera itself is fine, but if you want to upload any footage to a computer, good luck. I purchased the ilink cable just to make sure I could do it, but despite having a new, expensive computer and a new laptop, neither had the port necessary to accept the cable. So I had to go to three different stores to find the USB cable necessary. Finally I had video on my computer, but the cd-rom supplied with the camera didn't work. It insisted I couldn't open the main page without macromedia flash, which was already installed on my computer.
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br /So, essentially, if you're planning on not having your video on the computer, this camera is fine. Otherwise, it's way too expensive to waste your money on for a whole lot of hassle. I really wish I hadn't purchased it.

This camcorder does not come with the cables necessary to transfer the image to your computer. And don't bother with buying a USB cable, since the images turn out awful. Get the Firewire cable. Oh, and you'll need to buy software to create DVDs, since Sony doesn't include that with the camera either. Overall, the deal you get on this isn't worth all the extras you have to buy to make it work.

I had exactly the same experience as C. Laska and returned the camera to Best Buy because it would not work as promised by the Best Buy salesperson. He told me I could plug in the supplied USB serial cable and simply transfer files, just as with my still camera. WRONG. First, no serial cable was supplied. Second, the documentation is unintelligible. Third, when I took it back to Best Buy, even the technical people couldn't figure out how to make it work. Nice hardware, but it's useless if the pictures it makes just sit there on tape in the camera. . . .

The software used to transfer files to the PC is garbage, and this is the second time i've been disapointed with terrible sony software. If I can't get this resolved, I'm returning the camera. In this era, consumers should be able to easily transer files, I can't get the audio to playback, after being bounced around by tech support @ Sony, I do not recoment if you intend to save vidoe to PC

For those that experience the 10 min problem - use another software - like Pinnacle or better ULead, then you will be able to download at one piece.

I ordered this camcorder directly from Amazon with 1-day shipping. My package did not arrive on the promised day. The next day I checked the DSL tracking and found that the package was marked as delivered. After calling DSL and complaining, the DSL driver returned to my house within a few hours and magically appeared with my camcorder, which he then dropped with a loud thump on my front doorstep! Thankfully, the camcorder appears to be working just fine. So much for next-day delivery and DSL!

i did everything i could to download the files to my computer but no luck only been able to save 10 min segments...i only used the usb tough...so if anyone can pls tell me again how to do it,i'd appppreciate it,cause otherwise i love this camera
br /thank you!

I love the camera but have no idea how to connect it to my computer. All the instruction books says is to use USB(which it says isn't good for movies) or i.LINK. I really need to know which i.LINK I am suppose to use though? Please help!