This fully equipped camcorder comes with easy solutions to transfer images and video recording to your computer. USB streaming allows you to broadcast live video to family and friends, and i.LINK DV interface provides a connection from the camcorder to a variety of compatible devices. Memory Stick Duo media compatibility provides yet another way to easily transfer still images and compact MPEG movie EX video to your PC for emailing and printing.

1/6-inch advanced HAD CCD imager, 680K pixels gross
1/6-inch advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance.

MiniDV recording
Offers up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution, 3x the color bandwidth and a significantly higher signal to noise ratio, to provide spectacular video performance.

20x optical/800x digital zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition the digital zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

Professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system
Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera shake, without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems.

2.5-inch touch panel swivel screen LCD display (123K pixels)
Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high resolution 123K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

Handycam station
The supplied Handycam station provides quick and easy connections to a TV for viewing or to a PC for editing and sharing video. Just placing the camcorder on the Handycam station instantly makes the connections. No need to search for cables or wires when charging or playing back.

USB streaming
Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio over the internet using the USB interface. You can even playback your favorite recorded scene on the camcorder's tape. It's like having your own video conferencing system.

i.LINK 2 DV interface
A digital high-speed bi-directional interface which provides audio/video communication between two compatible devices. This connection allows for pure digital transfer between devices equipped with an IEEE 1394 interface, such as camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards, and PCs.

InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system
Charge the battery at anytime because unlike NiCad (nickel cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening memory effect. Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Picture Package software
Easily organize still images and video, and turn them into stunning music videos using the supplied software.

Digital still memory mode with Memory Stick Duo media
Capture still images at 640 x 480 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo media for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices.

Tele Macro function
Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocused so that the subject stands out.

Super NightShot Plus infrared system
With Sony's Super NightShot infrared system you can capture natural looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

Stamina battery power management system
Using the optional NP-FP90 InfoLithium battery, the DCR-HC21 can continuously record for up to 9 hours on a single full charge, providing extra long battery life.

Program AE (auto exposure) modes
Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from portrait, beach and ski, sports lesson, landscape, spotlight or sunset and moon modes.

Picture effects
Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's picture effect modes. Effects available in camera mode: negative art, sepia, monotone, solarize, pastel and mosaic. Effects available in playback mode: negative art, sepia, monotone, and solarize.

End search
Automatically advances the video tape to the last 5 seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previously recorded videos.

Fader effects
Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from black, mosaic, white, monotone, and stripe.

Titling
Add professional looking titles to your video. Select from 8 presets, or customize 2 titles with up to 22 characters.

Battery information
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is charged, in 10 percent increments and the recordable time left when using the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

Photo mode
Using Sony's adaptive frame interpolation for better image quality, you can store hundreds of individual still images with 7 seconds of audio on the videotape.

Manual focus
Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.