The DCR-HC46 sits between the DCR-HC36 and DCR-HC96 in Sony's MiniDV line, but it is much closer in performance and price to the lower-end DCR-HC36. The DCR-HC46 offers a 1/5.5-inch CCD imager producing 690,000 effective pixels for video, which is better than the imager in the DCR-HC36. As you would expect, the resulting images are cleaner and sharper with well-balanced colors when shooting in normal lighting conditions. In less-than-ideal situations, the images captured by the DCR-HC46 can be afflicted by a noticeable increase in video noise.

Another notable upgrade from the lower-end model is the DCR-HC46's 2-7/10-inch LCD touchscreen, which has been made larger to accommodate a 16:9 widescreen recording mode. The touchscreen enables you to quickly access the DCR-HC46's menu system. Switching from 4:3 to 16:9 mode, for example, takes just the touch of a button and can add a sweeping Hollywood feel to your home videos, especially when capturing exterior panoramas.

In addition to an 800X digital zoom, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens includes a 12X optical zoom. This is a reduction from the 20X offered on the DCR-HC36. On the other hand, the quality of stills captured by the DCR-HC46 is a step up from the lower-end model. The DCR-HC46 records 1-megapixel stills to tape or Memory Stick Duo, which are ideal for making prints up to 6X8 inches.

Like other Sony MiniDV camcorders, the DCR-HC46 is simple to operate. Videophiles may object to the limited manual controls, but this is very much a camcorder aimed at point-and-shoot fans looking to capture good-quality images with a minimum of fuss. While the Sony DCR-HC46 is certainly not inexpensive, it is a compact MiniDV camcorder that handles comfortably and, for a unit in this class, performs extremely well.

Pros: Simple to use, excellent automatic controls, includes 16:9 widescreen mode
Cons: Lacks most manual controls, expensive for a budget-level feature set

Warranty
90 days labor, 1 year parts