Digital Multi-Talent: Sony DCR-PC100E — THG.RU

Sony DCR-PC100E: DV Camera or Digicam?

For most video moviemakers, even amateurs, modern digital technology is the state of art. Most digital video cameras on the market follow the mini-DV standard that is tied to a certain tape format. The main advantage of this technology is that due to the very narrow margins of the recording medium the cameras can be made very compact.

We thoroughly tested a very interesting candidate that has been on the market for over half a year now. It is Sony’s DCR-PC100E which combines a video camera with a digital still picture camera (Digicam). On top of that, there are many interesting features that will excite every video freak, the most prominent of which is a built-in mini night-shot device that allows the recording of videos in absolute darkness. We put the compact DV camera through a thorough test and it accompanied us on several business trips and company visits. This ordeal revealed many positive features but also a few distinct weaknesses.

The camera is bundled with several cables, a remote control and a card reader for the memory stick.

Feature Giant in the Semi-Professional Class

Compared to the rest of the DV competition (Canon, JVC, Panasonic, and others) the Sony DCR-PC100E is equipped with everything, although it is in a class of its own when you consider what is on offer for the price. For almost US$1,700.00 the user gets a very compact DV camera that comes with a high-resolution CCD sensor for still pictures, and therefore offers the functionality of a digicam. The competition is unable to provide this feature at any price. Another exclusive feature is the integrated lens system from Zeiss, well known for its excellent luminous intensity. If you are using DV camera only occasionally, the Sony DCR-PC100E is probably not the one for you. The competition offers much more affordable models for around US$1000.00 in the area of digital still picture cameras.

We wanted to know whether the built-in Megapixel chip makes it unnecessary to purchase an additional digicam for photos.

The most important function keys are at the front side of the Sony DCR-PC100E.

Capturing romantic scene via viewer screen: With the extended display the power consumption increases about 30 percent.

The integrated lens system from Carl Zeiss is an outstanding feature of the Sony. The Vario lens offers high luminous intensity.

Content

Besides the camera itself, the shipment consists of numerous cables and a card reader for the Memory Stick module. This module stores the photos (when the digicam function is activated). The included guide is written for video beginners and describes all functions of the camera in great detail. However, color pictures would have made some explanations even easier to understand.

The Li-Ion battery is clipped in on the left side. Left of that is the S-video connector and on the right the AC input.

Communication Almost Without Limits

When connecting to different video devices or the PC, the Sony has almost no limits. All interfaces are installed in the camera, so the Sony DCR-PC100E does not need a pesky docking station. Television sets or analog video recorders can be connected via the built-in video input, while the digital Firewire interface (I-Link, IEEE1394) connects the camera to the PC. But the latter requires an appropriate IEEE1394 card (also see this article). An additional audio/video jack completes the interface collection. All connectors and interfaces are behind detachable flaps, protecting them relatively well from dirt or dust.

The most important connectors are at the front side underneath a covering: DV interface (Firewire IEEE1394), audio/video input as well as a jack for headphones.

PC Connection Via IEEE1394

The PC connection worked flawlessly during our test. But an appropriate Firewire card should be installed in the PC system for data communication. We used the Asus PCI-1394C for exchanging data, which comes with an affordable price tag of about US$80.00. The ease of handling for the video sequences on the PC depends only on the actual video-editing program and the installed plug-ins. Video editing software (like for example Adobe Premiere or Ulead Video Studio) allows you to copy any random sequence to the hard disk without any losses. The stored videos may also be converted to a specific format like for example MPEG-2 or AVI for output on CD-R or DVD-R. As usual, Firewire allows you to control all camera functions on the monitor screen via mouse-click.

The keys for the additional functions are behind the moveable display. This picture also clearly shows the bay for the Memory Stick at the front.

All functions and settings can be adjusted in special menus that are displayed on the moveable LCD monitor.

Camera as Digital Video Recorder

We have tested it! The Sony DCR-PC100E is suitable, not only as a digital video camera or digicam, but it is also possible to record video or audio signals from any source such as a video recorder or television set. For this purpose the camera offers an S-video input and a combined audio/video input. The DV interface (I-Link or Firewire IEEE1394) delivers the best quality: This interface enables you to make digital copies or recordings without any data losses at all. It requires a special Firewire cable that is not included in the shipment. Additionally a second DV camera or a DV recorder is necessary for a true digital copy.

Switching on the nightshot function activates an infrared lamp at the front side of the camera. The development of this function is based on military technology.

The Highlight: Built-In NightShot Device

Compared to the competitors in this price category, the Sony DCR-PC100E differentiates itself with a very special feature — the built-in night shot mode. While the camera still delivers a somewhat useable picture up to 7 Lux in regular operation, you can film in total darkness using the nightshot function. However, one should not get one’s hopes up too high because the range of the built-in infrared light is restricted to a few meters. Nevertheless the picture quality is convincing, and combining it with the activated zoom function makes for interesting night shots. We demonstrated the visible advantage of the night vision mode with two examples.

This picture shows a vehicle that is parked in almost complete darkness. The picture was taken using the standard mode.

This is the same picture — but now with activated night shot mode. Contrary to the previous picture all details of the vehicle are visible this time.

Built-In Still Picture Function — Substitute For A Digicam?

Besides functioning as a digital video camera the Sony DCR-PC100E comes with a built-in camera for still pictures that is principally supposed to serve as a digital camera. The maximum resolution is 1152 x 864 pixels. During the test we did not encounter any problems with pictures taken outside — they came out clear and with brilliant color but the quality is not comparable to good digital cameras. Good digicams deliver significantly better results, especially with the automatic brightness adjustment. The included memory module — the Memory Stick invented by Sony -definitely deserves criticism. With a memory capacity of 4 MB it only holds 6 high-resolution pictures. The Memory Stick can only be accessed with the included reading device. This additional box is equipped with a serial port and is part of the package. The actual data transfer requires a lot of patience though. It took us almost 5 minutes to transfer six pictures from the 4 MB module. The included software, Picture Gear 3.2, is quite handy in that it offers the major functions needed to process the pictures. If you want to store more pictures, you need to buy a Memory Stick module with 16 MB of memory capacity. It holds up to 25 high-resolution pictures. The 4 MB module the manufacturer included in the package is much too small even if you only use it occasionally.

The Memory Stick reader: Because of the serial interface the data transfer between PC and reader is very slow. Transferring six pictures takes up to 5 minutes.

All functions and settings can be adjusted in special menus that are displayed on the moveable LCD monitor.

Handling And Actual Use

When you actually get to use the Sony DCR-PC100E it is very impressive — with a weight of only 560 grams and an ergonomic leather strap it handles very nicely. Because it is quite small it can be stowed away easily and worn almost unobtrusively. The design of the casing is more functional than visually appealing. Compared to older models the viewer was improved quite a bit — despite the compact design it does not need to be extended anymore.

The position of the stereo microphone is not quite as convincing — it’s situated on top of the camera, making it very sensitive to noises generated by wind. Even sequences recorded in a light wind gave the impression of a hurricane-like storm during playback. Another area for criticism is the lens system. The angle of the lens is not wide enough to record large objects from a short distance. An extreme example would be filming skyscrapers from street level in a large city. In this case the objects are simply cut off.

Battery Life

The included battery (7.2 Volts, 8500 mAh) facilitates recording video sequences for at least one hour. However, it makes a difference whether the LCD monitor is used or not. During the test we succeeded in continuously recording a 60-minute tape despite using the LCD monitor. The situation looks completely different if very small sequences are recorded repeatedly in short intervals. In this case, the camera must switch from standby to operating mode all the time and, it also has to adjust the tape. This operating mode, which actually resembles the general practice more closely, is not taken into account in the manufacturer’s guide, and considerably shortens the battery life.

The video and audio signals are recorded on a mini-DV tape. Mini-DV is already an established standard.

The drive for the mini-DV tapes is very compact and requires a very precise manufacturing process. Because of diagonal track recording the tape speed is relatively slow (18.8 mm/s).

Conclusion: Top DV Camera With Small Weaknesses

This camera combines the functionality of a digital video camera with a digicam. During the recording of video sequences the Carl Zeiss lens with its high luminous intensity delivers excellent pictures. Even in critical light conditions the exposure control of the CCD sensor attempts to create an optimal picture. The highlight is the integrated night vision function: The built-in infrared light allows recording in total darkness. The camera can also be used as a digital video recorder — a second camera or a DV recorder may be connected via the integrated Firewire interface (I-Link).

The list of weaknesses of the Sony DCR-PC100E is actually quite short. The microphone on the top is very sensitive to wind and exaggerates noises. Hi-fi freaks appreciate an external microphone. Also the memory capacity of the Memory Stick module is much too small — 4 MB only stores 6 pictures at high resolution. On top of that the serial data transfer to the PC will certainly test the patience of many users. The lens system could also be improved as the wide angle is too small to record large objects from a short distance in full size.

However, considering the price of US$1,700.00, this DV camera offers a lot of features. The competition, especially Canon and Panasonic, may be more affordable but they cannot offer the same picture quality and functionality in this price class.

The package contains a special cable for connecting the camera to an analog video recorder of television set.