Sony Handycam HDR-HC9

Hi,
I buy this product that come from nebraska to france, it's the half price of a new product of beginning of the year 2008.
After one week, with the Usps international mail, i can use it.

This is my second Sony HDR-HC9, so I'm very familiar with this device. Great price and quick delivery!

Great camera, this is my second one. I shoot underwater video and found this to be one of the best cameras. I use one in a housing and the other for land video and backup.

This was purchased as a backup for the previous model (Sony HDR/HC7) which I am using in an underwater housing. That camcorder, only 2 years old, is 2 generations retired, and the new-to-me HC9 is also now retired. But the housing, a pricey item, is only compatible with these two cameras. By using eBay I can stay a little ahead of the accelerated planned-obsolescence cycle of the U/W video gear industry. I'm not good enough to need the very latest every year or two!

It is also a reasonably compact, fun camcorder to shoot on land, and easy to use. I was able to get great soccer footage of my grandkids first time out ever shooting video, without even reading the manual! Check out my You Tube channel, "Sharronsuss," for some of my earliest videos.

I'm writing this review w/o having spent hours actually taping video, but I can review what I've seen thusfar concerning the HC9. Firstly, it's one of the few 'prosumer' cams that allows external audio input, and secondly, from what I understand, the CCD it uses will no longer be offered in their consumer grade cams next year; rather, only in the true pro lines. I don't know, so don't quote me! That said, the features and build quality are great. I actually prefer tape, as it's reliable and archivable. If you don't like tape, don't buy this one. Sadly, you can't record video to the mem stick, only stills. Otherwise, it's light, sturdy and easy to use.