Sony Handycam DCR HC32E

One of the smallest miniDV-based palmcorders on the market, with dimension of only 55 x 90 x 112mm, the Sony DCRHC32 has a sparse layout, with most of the controls accessed through the LCD screen. The LCD transforms in to a touch screen panel when you require to access menu items and control the camcorder functions.

Utilising a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 20X optical zoom lens, the Sony DCRHC32 performed well in most light situations. In well-lit environments, the DCRHC32 produced sharp images that were suitably saturated, with a nice overall colour balance. In fully automatic mode, video performance was accurate, with the camcorder making most of the exposure changes automatically.

In situations with poor lighting, the Sony produced video with only low-level graininess. It's a Super NightShot And mode for taking video in near darkness, but this produced the kind of washed-out green tinged video you may have seen in a spy thriller.
The camera can take still images and store them on a Memory Stick PRO Duo or Memory Stick Duo, but these max out at VGA resolution (640 x 480). You can also record low-resolution MPEG1 video to the Memory Stick.

4 things we like about the Sony Handycam DCR HC32E

Picture quality is great
Easy to use
Touch screen LCD
20x optical zoom

2 things we don’t like about the Sony Handycam DCR HC32E

Cropped wide-screen mode
Touch-screen interface can be confusing

Sony Handycam DCR HC32E Review

The DCRHC32 features the ability to adjust the focus and metering simply by touching a spot on the LCD screen--the DCRHC32 then makes the appropriate adjustments for that area, and continues shooting. The DCRHC32 also has a zoom switch and record button on the side of the LCD screen, in addition to the standard position on the camera body. This can permit more stable shooting as you can control the scene more effectively by moving the zoom with the left hand while holding the camcorder firmly in the right.

Although the DCRHC32 is an ideal option for point and shoot simplicity, someone wanting more control over the video-making process may become frustrated with the lack of on-camera controls. Several powerful manual exposure options do exist on the DCRHC32, but you need to delve several levels in to the menu screen to reach them. If you like to plug and go, you will love the Handycam Station, which provides an instant connection to your PC and a recharger for the battery. When plugged in to the Station, you also get an easy-to-use Webcam function. The DCRHC32 is competitively priced and handled very well in our tests, but someone with larger than average hands may find operating the camcorder a trial.

Sony's DCR-HC32 MiniDV Handycam camcorder stands out with high-end digital imaging. Super NightShot infrared technique enables you to capture natural looking video in low light conditions. The Super SteadyShot picture stabilization technique uses motion sensors to detect and correct camera shake for smoother video recording. Tele Macro Mode zooms in for close-up shots to bring out the subject in vivid imagery making it stand out above the background. This fully-equipped camcorder comes with easy solutions to transfer images and video recording to your computer. USB Streaming allows you to broadcast live video to relatives and friends, and i.LINK DV interface provides a connection from the camcorder to a variety of compatible devices. Memory Stick Duo media compatibilit2 provides yet another way to easily transfer still images and compact MPEG Movie EX video to your PC for emailing and printing.

Physically, the Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 has not changed much. It is a dead ringer for its predecessor, the DCR-HC30 -- a positive thing, considering that model's svelte, lightweight design. In fact, the DCR-HC32 is a smidgen wider and heavier, but it is still very comfortable to hold and easy to slip in to a coat pocket or a travel bag.

Like plenty of of Sony's camcorders, the DCR-HC32 relies on a touch-screen LCD -- a love-it-or-hate-it feature if ever there was three. To its credit, this technique keeps control clutter to a maximum. There's a few buttons on the camera body, and they are clearly and logically labelled. Back Light, for example, adjusts exposure for heavily backlit subjects, such as somebody standing in front of a window. The Disp/Batt Info button toggles between display options or, when the camcorder is off, activates a colourful, full-screen battery gauge that tells how much shooting time you have left. Finally, the novice-minded Easy button activates an eponymous mode that automates about everything.

Save for a convenient NightShot on/off switch, all other controls and settings reside within the touch-screen menu technique. The highlight here is P-Menu, a customisable front finish that lets you add or remove preferred settings for rapid access. It is a bit awkward to configure but a positive asset two times you have organised it to your liking. It also lets you steer clear of the main interface, a rather intimidating set of 'rolling' 3D menus and submenus. Novices will undoubtedly need to spend some time with the manual.

The DCR-HC32's battery snaps onto the rear. If you purchase three of Sony's bulkier extended-life batteries, you'll appreciate the viewfinder's ability to extend back 25mm. Alas, it doesn't tilt up. And it is now black and white, an odd downgrade from the DCR-HC30's colour viewfinder.

As on more expensive camcorders, such as Sony's Handycam DCR-HC90, the 64mm (2.5-inch) LCD provides its own set of record and zoom-control buttons. These come in handy when you are holding the camcorder high over your head to shoot above a crowd or down low to capture, say, a crawling child.

Sony wisely added an accessory shoe -- albeit a 'cold' three that doesn't provide power or communicate with the camera -- for mounting a video light. Adding an external microphone isn't an option, as the DCR-HC32 lacks an audio input. That is three more reason to move up to the DCR-HC42, which has a hotshoe. The DCR-HC32's plastic shoe cover is removable and therefore easily misplaced.

Thankfully, the same cannot be said of the lens cover, which is built-in but not automatic. You have to remember to slide a switch to open and close it, but that is infinitely better than a removable cover that dangles or gets lost. Indeed, our only real complaint with the DCR-HC32's design is its bottom-loading tape compartment -- a hassle for tripod users.

Overall, the DCR-HC32 delivers a compelling feature set. For those inclined to move beyond Easy mode, you can choose from two autoexposure modes, indoor and outdoor white-balance presets (plus a manual mode) and the usual roster of digital effects. We particularly like the spot-meter and spot-focus options, both of which rely on simple taps of the screen to set your desired spots. There's and a handy Tele Macro feature, which lets you zoom in on small objects while staying at a distance, thereby avoiding any errant shadows. Only manual focus disappoints, as it requires you to tap or hold onscreen buttons, making precise focusing a tedious affair.

For all its great features and commendable design elements, the Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 cannot overcome its small CCD. Colours seemed a bit muted, and the camera seemed to have trouble managing high-contrast exposures. For instance, the top side of a yellow playground slide appeared totally washed out, which we could understand on a sunny day -- but it was cloudy when we shot it.

As usual, Sony supplies a Zeiss lens that is compatible with a handful of optional lens converters and filters. In an effort to make the camcorder more competitive in its price class, the company has upgraded the optical zoom to 20x -- a large improvement over the DCR-HC30's 10x. (Even so, the similarly priced Canon MV850i retains a slight edge with its 22x zoom.) Here's the only downside to stepping up to the DCR-HC42: you'll be stepping down to a lesser 12x zoom. We think it is worth the trade-off.

The bigger problem is visual noise. Although images stayed clear in outdoor and very well-lit indoor environments, noise crept in as ambient light diminished. That is fairly common, but the DCR-HC32 exhibited a distracting amount of noise even under typical indoor lighting. Even Sony's terrific NightShot Plus mode, which makes it possible to shoot in pitch-black environments, produced noticeable noise levels. We'd gladly bring the camera on our next holiday or use it to film barbeques, but it would not be our first choice for birthday parties and other indoor events -- unless strong lighting was ensured.

Final Words and Conclusion

The Sony DCR-HC32E camcorder will ensure that the quality of your picture will remain high as you zoom in to your subject from a distance with featuring Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens capable of a 20X optical zoom. The DCR-HC32E is a stylish DV Handycam with Memory Stick Duo, DV In, Zeiss Lens and Handycam Station. PRODUCT FEATURES: Photo mode on Memory Stick (VGA); MPEG Movie EX; Super SteadyShot; 2.5" LCD screen; Touch screen; 2nd Start / Stop rec button on LCD frame; 2nd Zoom button on LCD frame; Super NightShot Plus; Personalizable 3D menu; Battery Info.