Specs
- 10x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens
- 3.2MP CMOS sensor
- up to 1080i video recording
- miniDV tapes for storage
- 2.7" LCD touch screen monitor, 211K pixels
- Internal lens cover mechanism
- Records video with x.v.Color (need a compatible TV to view)
- Data ports: USB1.1, Firewire
- Video ports: Component, S-Video, HDMI
Transferring capture video to a computer is accomplished through the USB1.1, or Firewire interfaces. USB1.1 is significantly slower than USB2.0 so keep that in mind if you don't have a Firewire port on your computer. You can also playback recorded material directly from the camera onto your television with the built-in video output ports.
The HC7 has a "dual record mode" where you can be filming video to the DV tape and snap a still picture at the same time that saves to the memory stick. A built-in flash is also available that is triggered automatically in low-light situations. In near-pitch black conditions the camera has a night-vision mode that records video in a monochromatic green.
A hot-shoe is found on the camera that lets you connect a light or microphone and uses a Sony proprietary form factor. The shoe offers both power and two-way communication between the camera and accessory, but accessories are limited to Sony-specific parts.
