Sony Handycam® DCR-HC19E Mini DV Camcorder

I really like this camera. It is so easy to use in the auto point and click mode and the video picture results were outstanding considering the cost of the camera. It is a shame that Sony couldn't have supplied the firewire cable but these are pretty cheap now anyway. I have noticed that quite a few of these cameras can be found with a crack in the casing next to the hot shoe. This is not a crack as in split but presumably where the camera has been knocked. The software supplied is rubbish but if you have a PC and a DVD writer then Nero Startsmart is pretty good for capturing and editing the resulting video but make sure you buy a 4 to 6 firewire cable. You can stream the video to your PC using the USB cable but this has to be done by the Sony software and it is done in ten minute intervals and each ten minute file is huge. The USB cable is really meant to be used when you are downloading still photos.

But apart from that I think this is a great little first time user camera.