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Features
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Features
2.5" Touch Panel SwivelScreen Hybrid LCD Screen: The 2.5-inch, 4:3 LCD screen provides excellent
viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high resolution 123,200 pixel LCD
screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp,
detailed images for monitoring or playback. In addition, the LCD doubles as an
"on-screen" touch panel, allowing you to navigate through the menu system by
touching the LCD screen. You can adjust the brightness and color of the LCD
screen without effecting the recorded picture. For additional control of
the camcorder, the DCR-HC52 features zoom and record buttons on the
frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the
camcorder, especially in overhead or low angle shots.
Viewfinder: When the LCD monitor is not being used, you can view images using the 4:3 electronic color
viewfinder with 123,000 pixels. The viewfinder can be adjusted for your eyesight
by moving the diopter control located to the side of the viewfinder. The
viewfinder extends out from the camera approximately 1-inch when in use and then slides back
in when not used. The back
light of the viewfinder can also be adjusted.
Tape Recording Format: You can record video onto a Mini DV tape, which delivers three
times the color bandwidth of VHS and higher signal to noise ratio compared to
analog formats.
Note: No
Mini DV tapes are provided with the camcorder.
Recording Speeds: This camcorder can record and play back in SP or LP mode. LP increase the
recording time to 1.5x that of the SP mode. SP (Standard Play) records at a tape
speed of approximately 18.81 mm/s with a recording time of 60 minutes. LP (Long
Play) records at a tape speed of approximately 12.56 mms with a recording time
of 90 minutes.
Advanced HAD CCD: The DCR-HC52 features a 1/6" (3mm) Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD imager
with 680,000 gross pixels. The 340,000 effective video pixels in 4:3 aspect
ratio provide excellent detail and clarity for exceptional digital video up to
500 lines of horizontal resolution.
Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens:
This camcorder features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with an advanced
multi-layer coating system, resulting in less glare and lens flare with
increased contrast compared to other systems. The result is vivid image
brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle
tones.
SteadyShot Picture Stabilization: SteadyShot picture stabilization system, an
advanced version of Sony's SteadyShot system, uses motion sensors to remove
unwanted picture shake without compromising picture quality like some other
digital stabilization systems.
NightShot Plus: This unit is equipped with NightShot Plus, an advanced version of Sony's
NightShot, which allows you to shoot a subject in complete darkness (0 lux)
using infra-red technology. With NightShot Plus, you can record natural color
images in low-light conditions without the blurring common with other low-light
recording systems. You can record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in
infrared system. For clearer pictures in low-light you can also use the
camcorder's NightShot Light function which give you a maximum shooting distance
of 10 feet.
Manual Focus:
With manual focus, you can
manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual
focusing also allows you to control the focus in difficult situations where
either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus
to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded
environment.
Auto Focus: You can
also select automatic focusing. When using autofocus, you can choose to
focus on a subject in the center of the screen or with Spot Focus, focus on an
off-centered object.
Spot Meter: The flexible Spot
Meter function allows you to adjust and fix the exposure to your subject, so
that it is recorded in suitable brightness even when there is strong contrast
between the subject and the background, such as subjects in the spotlight on
stage.
Zoom: The camcorder has a 40x Optical Zoom for bringing your subject up close. It also features up
to a 2,000x digital zoom. Because the picture is
processed digitally, the picture quality deteriorates the more you zoom in. The
power zoom lever can be moved slightly for a slow zoom, or moved further for a
faster zoom. The camcorder provides three digital zoom settings.
- Off: up to 40x zoom is
performed optically
- 80x: up to 40x zoom is
performed optically, and after that, up to 80x zoom is performed digitally
- 2,000x: up to 40x zoom is
performed optically, and after that, up to 2,000x zoom is performed
digitally
Wide Mode: You can record a picture in a ratio suitable for
the screen on which it will be displayed. You can select from a 4:3 or 16:9
aspect ratio. You can also select how a 16:9 aspect ratio picture appears in the
viewfinder and the LCD screen during playback by setting the display to
LetterBox (black bars at top and bottom of screen) or Squeeze (expands the
picture vertically if black bands at the top and bottom in 16:9 aspect ratio are
undesirable).
Exposure Modes: The Sony Handycam DCR-HC52 features the
following Auto, Manual and Scene Select Exposure Modes.
- Scene Select Modes: The following Scene Select modes are
available to suit your specific shooting requirements.
- Twilight Mode: maintains
the darkening atmosphere of the distant surroundings in twilight scenes
- Sunrise/Sunset Mode: maintains the atmosphere of situations such as sunset and sunrises
- Landscape Mode: allows you
to shot distant subject clearly
- Portrait Mode: brings out
the subject such as people or flowers while creating a soft background
- Spotlight Mode: prevents
people's faces from appearing excessively white when subjects are lit by
strong light
- Sport Mode: minimizes
shake when shooting fast moving pictures
- Snow Mode: help with
shooting in very bright white conditions
- Beach Mode: prevents
people's faces from appearing dark in strong light or reflected light.
- Auto: Select this mode to
automatically record pictures effectively without the preset scene select
modes.
- Manual Exposure: Manual Exposure allows you to fix the brightness of your picture manually. You can
adjust the brightness when the subject is much brighter or darker than the
background.
White Balance Adjustment: When the white balance is correct, all other colors
will be accurately reproduced. This camcorder can adjust the white balance
automatically, and it gives you the option to perform manual white balance
adjustment. Besides auto white balance, you may select Outdoor mode, Indoor
Mode, or One Push (to record with the white balance adjusted depending upon the
light source).
Picture Effect Feature: This feature allows you to digitally process images, as they are being recorded,
to obtain special effects. You may choose from the following effects: Negative
Art (the color of the picture is reversed), Sepia, Black and White, Solarize,
Pastel (makes picture look like an animated cartoon) and Mosaic.
Fader Modes: You can add various Fader Modes to currently recording pictures. You can
select from "Black Fader," "White Fader," "Mosaic Fader,"
and "Monotone"
(gradually changes from black and white to color) Fader In and Out modes.
Guideframe: The Guideframe displays a frame around the
recorded images and allows you to check the subject's horizontal and vertical
position.
Data Code Function: The camcorder automatically records time codes along with the images you shoot,
so you can display the date and time during playback or editing.
Audio Modes: This
unit can record and play audio in 12- and 16-bit PCM digital stereo modes. In
12-bit mode, there are two stereo audio tracks (stereo 1 and stereo 2) which
enable audio dubbing and audio mixing. Tapes recorded in 16-bit mode are of
higher audio quality, however, audio inserts cannot be made on a tape recorded
in the 16-bit or LP modes.
Audio Mixing: The camcorder features a
built-in stereo microphone that allows you to add audio to already recorded
video that has been recorded in SP and 12-bit mode without erasing the original
soundtrack. You can choose to playback the video with either of the two
soundtracks independently or with both audio soundtracks.
Auto Remain: This feature
automatically displays the remaining tape indicator for about 8 seconds when you
set the Power switch to Play/Edit or Camera or touch the Play/Pause button with
a cassette inserted.
Various Speed Playback: You can play back in various mode while viewing your movies.
You can choose from the following LCD touch-screen controls - Frame by Frame
(either direction), slow motion reverse or forward, or 2x speed fast forward or
reverse.
Record Review: This feature allows
you to view a few seconds of the scene recorded just before you stopped the
tape.
End Search Function: After you record and play back a tape, you may press the End Search button to
have the camcorder fast forward or rewind the tape and play the last 5 seconds
of what has been recorded. This feature makes it easy to find the end of the
last scene you recorded, so you can start recording from where you left off.
Edit Search: This feature
allows you to search for the start point to start your next recording while
viewing the pictures on the screen. The sound is not played back during this
search.
Easy Handycam: When the Easy Handycam mode is activated, most of the camera settings are set
to the automatic mode, only basic functions become available, and the screen
font size increases for easy viewing. This mode makes recording and playing back
recordings less intimidating, even for first time users.
Usage Guide: The DCR-HC52 features integrated Usage Guides to help you better understand the
camcorder. The Guides can be viewed through the LCD and viewfinder but
only operated from the LCD touch panel. The camcorder is equipped with two types
of guides.
-
Shoot Guide: takes you to the setting screens related to recording and explains their
functions
-
Display Guide: enables you to check the meaning of each indicator that appears on the LCD
screen
Built-In Lens Cover: The DV
camcorder features an integrated lens cover that opens and closes with the slide
of one simple switch to protect the camcorders lens from damage when not in use.
Language Settings: The DCR-HC52
allows you to select between 5 menu languages - English, Simple English,
Spanish, French and Portuguese.
Auto Shut Off: The
camcorder is automatically turned off when you do not operate your camcorder for
more than approximately 5 minutes when this function is activated.
Battery Information
Battery: This unit
comes with an NP-FH30 "H" type InfoLithium battery, and the optional NP-FH50, NP-FH70 and NP-FH100 batteries are compatible with this camcorder. The InfoLithium system exchanges data about its actual power consumption with the
camcorder for a more accurate estimate of recording time available. Cold
temperatures will increase battery consumption.
Battery Display:
At the touch of
a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and
when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is
charged, in 10% increments and the recordable time left when using the LCD
screen or in the viewfinder
Battery Life: The approximate recording, charging and
playback times using the supplied and optional batteries are:
| Battery Pack |
Full Charging Time
(in minutes) |
Recording with Viewfinder
(in minutes) |
Recording with LCD screen
(in minutes) |
Playback |
| Continuous |
Typical |
Continuous |
Typical |
With LCD |
With Viewfinder |
| NP-FH30 (supplied) |
115 |
110 |
55 |
95 |
45 |
105 |
135 |
| NP-FH50 |
135 |
180 |
90 |
155 |
75 |
170 |
220 |
| NP-FH70 |
170 |
395 |
195 |
330 |
165 |
370 |
465 |
| NP-FH100 |
390 |
890 |
445 |
760 |
380 |
845 |
1065 |
Note: Typical recording includes approximate number of minutes elapsed while repeating record start/stop, zooming, and turning the power
on/off. The actual battery life may be shorter.
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Audio/Video Output: You can connect this camcorder to the input jack of your TV or VCR using the supplied AV
connecting cable to view back your recorded video or still images on your TV screen. You can choose
to display such information as the time code on the TV screen when you are
viewing your pictures from the camcorder to your TV. You can also copy the video
played back on your camcorder to other recording devices such as a VCR or DVD-R
device using the supplied AV output cable. This
camcorder features a proprietary Audio/Video connection for use with the
supplied A/V connecting cable. The cable has a proprietary plug on one end and
male stereo RCA audio and RCA composite video connections on the other end. You
can also use an optional proprietary S-video cable with this jack. This jack can
be used as an output only.
DV: The
camcorder features a DV connection for use with an optional 4-pin i.Link
(IEEE1394 or Firewire) cable. The camcorder's 4-pin i.LINK DV interface (also known as
IEEE1394 or Firewire) is a high-speed bi-directional digital video/audio
communication between two compatible devices including camcorders, digital
VCRs, capture cards and PCs.
Note: This unit does not feature a USB port.
DC Input: The camcorder features a DC input for the supplied AC
adapter/battery charger.
