Some people are going to have an issue with the hard drive because it can make it difficult for editing purposes if you're a total beginner. The footage needs to be downloaded onto the computer before editing and then burned to a DVD when finished. However, there is never any worry about whether a blank tape or DVD is available, just whether there is any room left on the hard drive or memory stick (it's always easy to pop another one in when it fills up).

My favorite thing about this camcorder is how comfortable it is to hold. It is easy to hold and also easy for my wife to hold and her hands are quite small. It is easy to reach the majority of the controls, but it requires adjustment and even both hands to maneuver through the menu options. This is not a big issue, but some people may find this aggravating if they use those features a lot.

The picture quality is incredible. The manual features are great for someone that knows how to use them properly. However, for the novice, the automatic features work extremely well. The zoom feature is a little slow to focus, but when it does, the picture is still crisp. It is easy to create home videos that look very professional.