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Compare most popular Digital-Camcorders to Sony Handycam HDR-HC3

Product Name Sony Handycam HDR-HC3

Sony Handycam HDR-HC3

 Canon Vixia HF200

Canon Vixia HF200

 Canon Vixia HV30

Canon Vixia HV30

 Sony Handycam HDR-HC1

Sony Handycam HDR-HC1

 Canon Vixia HF100

Canon Vixia HF100
Release Date 03/11/2006 04/01/2009 03/01/2008 07/05/2005 04/08/2008
Price Range Check latest prices » $1500 Check latest prices » $549-$890 Check latest prices » $600-$1500 Check latest prices » $500-$1700
Review Summary Though significantly cheaper than Sony's previous consumer HD camcorder, the Sony Handycam HDR-HC3 still offers superb HD video quality. While it's more expensive than its sub-$600 competitors, the Canon Vixia HF20 and Vixia HF200 deliver a more extensive feature set for the extra money. The HF200, which lacks internal memory, is probably a better buy than the HF20, though the HF20's all-black body is a bit classier looking. An extremely minor upgrade from the HV20, the Canon Vixia HV30 remains a quality HDV camcorder with a couple of performance issues. The Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 is a good first effort at a consumer HD camcorder, but only HD fanatics should consider it. One of a pair of Canon's first flash-based camcorders, the Canon Vixia HF100, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package.
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Basic Specs

Product Type Camcorder Camcorder - 1080p Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080i Camcorder - 1080p
Enclosure Color Black
Digital Zoom 80 x 300 x 200 x 120 x 200 x
Total Pixels 4.0 megapixels 3.89 megapixels 2.8 megapixels
Optical Sensor Size 1/3" 1/4" 1/2.7" 1/3" 1/3.2"
Optical Sensor Type ClearVid CMOS CMOS CMOS CMOS CMOS
Min Illumination 0 lux 0.4 lux 0.2 lux 0 lux
Special Effects Sepia, Still, Pastel, Monotone, Skintone, Cinematic, Old Movie, Flash Motion, Negative Art Art, Sepia, Vivid, Neutral, Skin Detail, Black & White, Low Sharpening
Image Stabilizer Electronic (Super Steady Shot) Optical (SuperRange) Optical (SuperRange) Optical (Super Steady Shot) Optical (SuperRange)
Digital Scene Transition Black fader, White fader, Mosaic fader, Monotone fader Wipe fader Black fader, White fader, Mosaic fader, Monotone fader
Min Shutter Speed 1/2 sec 1/2 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/500 sec 1/2000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/10000 sec 1/2000 sec
Shooting Modes Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode
Shooting Programs Scenery, Spotlight, Beach & ski, Portrait mode, Sunset & moon Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode
White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic
White Balance Presets Indoor, Outdoor Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Indoor, Outdoor Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white)
Exposure Modes Program, Automatic Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Program, Automatic Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
Camera Flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Built-in flash Pop-up flash
Widescreen Video Capture Yes Yes Yes
Effective Sensor Resolution 2.99 megapixels 1.9 megapixels
Analog Video Format NTSC
Digital Video Format AVCHD, MPEG-4 AVCHD
Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
Features AF illuminator
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