The DCR-HC26 camcorder from Sony features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. Zeiss has been making the world’s finest camera lenses for over a hundred years. The DCR-HC26 is a good choice for the vidoegrapher who doesn’t want all the fuss of a professional setup but still wants crystalline image quality, true color, and accurate modeling of vacation scenes and loved ones alike. In addition, the lens offers 20x optical zoom, and the camera software ads another 800x of digital zoom. The DCR-HC26 records onto MiniDV cassette tapes, which it can play back into your computer for editing or distribution. A number of other features, such as image stabilization and low-light modes, make this an excellent camcorder for the family videographer who’s moving up in skill and intention.