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Strengths: Small size, Touch screen customizable menus
Weaknesses: Only one battery size fits. No eye view finder (LCD only)
Summary: It was getting time to replace my old Sony DCR-PC1 camcorder. I want a very small camera for travel. The PC1 was the smallest camcorder when I got it and the PC55 is even smaller. I also looked into Sony's HC90 but size won out.
The main feature of the PC55 camcorder is its size. You have to give up things like night shot and a larger battery to keep it small. Battery life seems fine but I always carry an extra battery or two.
So far I'm happy with the PC55. I'm using it in 16:9 WideScreen mode and the DVDs I make look great on my WideScreen TV. The video quality is similar to my old camcorder; great is sun, ok to fare in lower light. I plan to get Sony's small HVL-HL1 video light for some low light conditions.
I've seldom use only the LCD with my old camcorder so it took a little getting use to, like holding the camera steady. I was able to hold my old camcorder very steady with two hands and my head. It is a little more difficult with only two hands. Keeping my elbows against by body helps.
The LCD screen has 3 modes for its back light. Off, the screen is very dark and not too useful but is viewable in bright sunlight. Off is listed as an option to extend battery life. Normal, and bright. Bright is not much brighter then normal so I seldom use it. I have not had problems viewing the LCD in various light conditions so far.
Controls and menus are well placed but the zoom is backward where up is wide and down is telephoto. I was always hitting the backlight or fade controls by accident on my old camcorder, the PC55 does not have this problem. I really like the touch screen menus and the ability to customize them. You can customize the menu to have your most used functions on top without going through layers of sub menus.
The camcorder comes with a wrist strap, not a shoulder strap. The wrist strap is fine when shooting and can be tighten to dangle the camcorder from your wrist without falling off. This keeps your hand free for other things when not shooting. I recommend dangling the camcorder for only shout periods of time. You should hold the camcorder, use a bag, or put it into your pocket for longer periods of none use.
The lens is equivalent to 44 – 440 mm in a 35 mm camera. I would have preferred a little wider angle.
Sometime the camcorder records its own sound when there is no other sound. It is vary faint but noticeable. I think the camcorder automatic audio gain control sets it too high when there is no other sound. This is not a big problem for me as there is almost always background sound when I'm taping so the audio gain is not as high and the camera's noise is not noticeable. You can remove this sound using most video editing software if it should occur.
My LCD has one white pixel near the center. I say this is a defect but the manual said this is normal. What ever happened to zero defects?
The camcorder comes if 4 different colors, Silver, Black, White, and Red.
All in all it is a good camcorder which is easy to travel with. I pointed out every negative thing I found but I am very happy with it.
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