Sony Handycam DCR-HC96 review

The Sony Handycam DCR-HC96 features a built-in flash but no video light. It can capture 3-megapixel still images to Memory Stick Duo cards. Some manual and program AE modes are available when shooting stills, while others, including the Sports AE mode, which would help address the camera's blurry still issues, go missing in still mode. You can capture video in 30fps progressive mode, which makes for better still-frame grabs from video footage.

Performance
The Sony Handycam DCR-HC96's automatic modes perform well across the gamut of shooting conditions. Automatic white balance and autoexposure react speedily, autofocus is snappy and the camera quickly adjusts to fast changes in lighting. The Super SteadyShot digital image stabilisation effectively dampens camera shake throughout the zoom range.

The DCR-HC96's zoom rocker takes some getting used to, as it requires a very light touch. We initially found it difficult to zoom slowly but with practice developed a feel for it.

The sharp, bright LCD is easily viewable, even in direct sunlight, and its wide-screen aspect ratio comes in handy when shooting 16:9 footage. Though the screen offers decent detail, the effective display area becomes very small when shooting 4:3 footage, thanks to the large black bars on both sides. Audio quality was very clear, without discernable motor noise. Unfortunately, the stereo microphone lacks a wind filter.

The DCR-HC96's battery life with the stock battery is unimpressive, offering about 45 minutes of recording under typical conditions. Optional extended batteries can boost this to as much as 165 minutes between recharges, making them a wise investment before hitting the road.

Image quality
As we've come to expect from Sony's higher-end consumer models, the DCR-HC96 delivers excellent video quality in both dim and bright light -- it's very crisp, with rich detail evident in materials that many other cameras have difficulty with, such as hair, grass and cloth. Overall, colour was very realistic, with only bright greens showing any signs of unnatural saturation. Outdoor shots showed no graininess or artefacts.

In dimmer lighting, footage starts to pick up some noise but far less than is typical with similar camcorders. Colours remain vibrant and accurate. When things get really dark and you switch on the NightShot mode, everything picks up a greenish, night-vision-goggles tone, but that's an acceptable compromise compared to the alternative of blurry slow-shutter filming.

Photo quality is also better than a camcorder typically produces. The DCR-HC96's 3-megapixel images look sharp and detailed, with accurate colour reproduction and a low level of noise. However, the images are somewhat soft, and with a lack of detail when magnified, they don't stand up well to significant cropping. Also, shooting moving subjects is unpredictable -- while some shots look great, others are blurred. So the DCR-HC96 makes a fine camera for typical 100x150mm (4x6 inch) snapshots, but for sports events, small kids or shots that you may want to enlarge, you'll want to use a real camera.

Edited by Lori Grunin
Additional editing by Kate Macefield