Sony DCRPC3 Digital Camcorder

The DCR-PC3 builds on the success of Sony's diminutive PC1 camcorder by adding a touch screen for easier use. Like the older PC1, this camera includes a crystal-clear 12x optical-zoom Carl Zeiss lens matched to a 680,000-pixel Super HAD low-noise CCD sensor. Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization adjusts optics inside the camera to compensate for hand-induced shakes. The camera features Sony's NightShot 0-lux shooting system, which uses the infrared portion of the spectrum to shoot in near-dark situations. To compose your videos, you can use either the standard eyepiece viewfinder or a 2.5-inch swivel color LCD screen.

An iLink (IEEE 1394) port allows quick and easy transfers of footage to a computer or to other camcorders, and a LanC plug allows connection to video editing equipment.

In digital still camera mode, the PC3 captures images at a resolution of 640 x 480--great for e-mail or images you're putting up on the Internet. Images are stored on Sony's proprietary Memory Stick cards, and a 4 MB card is included.