Camcorder Reviews

I'm not a Sony fan but I'm impressed by this great camera. Before buying this camcorder it was so important for me to find reviews about it on the Internet. After I got it I was thinking several times to write my own review but as usual you always don't have time for that. Then I said that's not fair. I know how important was for me to find the reviews (thanks to everybody who wrote a review and helped me reach the final decision). And I know also that right now many guys are searching the Internet looking for new reviews. So it's my turn to pay back ...
I did my research on the Internet for about one year until I decided to buy this camcorder. Actually I wanted the TRV27 and I changed my mind in the last moment because the difference in price between these two models in too big ... I don't regret my decision. The 2.5" LCD is just enough for us.
TRV25 is not very good in low light but also it's not bad too. It's just good. After reading some reviews on the Internet I was expecting actually the camcorder to be even worst in low light. It's OK but I'm considering to buy a external light.
In good light the camcorder is amazing! Very good resolution (I have a digital HDTV which lets me know immediately if the signal is not good), very nice life-like colors, extremely clear and clean sound!
I had no problem at all to hook up TRV25 on the USB port (I have Windows 2000 professional). Then I got a Zoltrix FireWire card and I couldn't see the camcorder with it. I called Sony and Microsoft and I sent an email to Zoltrix in Hong Kong (no answer back yet). They couldn't help me too much. Sony said that you don't need any special Sony drivers for TRV25. It's true but the general DV driver I had in my Win2K was bad. If you have problems with your FireWire connection you may try the following links: http://www.reactorcritical.com/faq-dv/faq-jvc.shtml and http://www.siig.com/knowledge/10050286.HTM. Now I'm fine. The Zoltrix card is working fine and smooth and the cable (comes with the card) is long so you don't have to stay with your camera underneath you desk. Price paid (for card, cable and software): $51 CDN +Tax.
My problem now is that I couldn't find yet the best solution to store the footage. Hopefully I'll be able to find the right settings in KVCD (http://kvcd.org). To store the footage on VHS tapes is out of question! From my camcorder I'm getting a nice 520 lines and if I store this on VHS I'll have at the end just 240 horizontal lines! Where is the point of spending so much money for a digital camcorder then? So far using the KVCD the colors are good, sound is good, the resolution is good (704 x 480) - much better than VCD (352 x 240) or SVCD (480 x 480) (check http://www.vcdhelp.com ). The only problem is that the image is not smooth. It looks like I'm loosing frames. That happens only when the camera is moving fast to the left or to the right. ...
I love my camcorder and of course I recommend it to anybody. If you are shopping for a camcorder go digital first and second give a chance to Sony TRV25/27 and you'll fall in love.
Good luck!

After researching for 1 month on camcorders, I finally chose the Sony DCR-TRV25 for several reasons.
1) It records in 690,000 pixels (520 lines of horizontal resolution)
2) Megapixel on still photo shots (1152 X 864 instead of 640 x 480)
3) Its size (very small but not too small so you don't jitter the camera)
4) Its ability to record streaming video (to put on my website)
5) 7 lux rating / 0 lux with night shot
6) Color viewfinder
7) optional manual control on brightness, backlight and focus

Others that I looked at had 1 or more of the feautres missing (like still photo of 640x480 or CCD pixels of 480,000).. so in the end, I found this to be the best priced camcorder for the money ...(Only difference I see in TRV27 is that TRV27 comes with some editing tools... (which I won't use anyways). I also looked at the TRV17 which had everything I wanted expect it's photo resolution was at 640X480.

Video Editing with P-III, 450mhz, 256 mem, Windows XP with firewire port was a breeze. Just install the firewire card and load the drivers.

You transfer still shots via the usb port. Its very easy to do. Just plug in the USB cable (it comes with one) and you will see "Sony Digital Camera" on "My computer" Just drag and drop your photos into a folder.

Although the color and sharpness of this camera is amazing, my only gripe is that the video and stills gets grainy with low light. So I'd suggest you buy a light for the camera if you plan on doing a lot of indoor shots (or at least make sure you have a good light source.)

I also recommend you buy 1) UV filter lens (mostly to protect the camcorder's lens) 2) 32MB or 64MB memory stick (instead of the 8mb it comes with) 3) Wide angle lens 4) carrying case 5) Extra battery (the one it comes with lasts about an hour)

Even if you don't buy this camcorder, after all my research, I would stick with Sony or Panasonic camcorders (they seem to get the best reviews)

Great camcorder. Excelent outdoor pictures and sound! Easy to use. Still indoor pictures somewhat grainy though.

I don't know how they built this camera, it is so small! But at the same time, it is fully packed with nice features and records sharp picture and superb sound.

First Video, this camera delivers 500 lines of horizontal resolution which delivers digital quality pictures. Features many special effects and fader, titles and PIP. Magicpix doesn't really do anyting, so don't buy it for that reason. 10x optical zoom is quite sufficient, yet 700x digital zoom is useless. This camera feature AV and S-video plugs for TV connections, and i-link/firewire/IEEE1394 for easy access for computer transfering for editing.

Audio is amazing, you hear no motor noise even in the quietest places. Audio pickup is superb with zoom mic, easy to hear people talking from a distance. Also feature wind cut. Choose between 12 or 16 bit sound.

Extras are quite good. Built in still camera is a nice feature, but don't expect 4 megapixel quality pictures. the included 8mb SD card stores between 50 and 100 pictures. Choose from normal, fine or eco mode. USB and software included for viewing photos on computer. Battery has quite decent life, for its size. up to 1 hour (or more with viewfinder). The LCD screen is easy to view, but the viewfinder is hard to see in, but at least its colour unlike other models. All controls are easy to reach. Includes lens cap, charger, battery, adapter, shoulder strap, 8mb SD card, IR and wired remote, AV and USB cable and editing software. I would suggest buying a good case. The Panasonic palmcorder camcase 7 fits quite well, with loads of room for accesories.

CONCLUSION: GREAT BUY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. BLOWS JVC, SONY and CANON AWAY.

The old programming expression is "Fast, [Inexpensive], and Good: Choose two.". That can be extended to camcorders by changing it to "Small, [inexpensive], and Good: Choose two.".

However, the PVDC252 manages lets you choose all three. It is relatively [inexpensive], quite small, and very good. You can get smaller cameras (but not much), [inexpensive]cameras, and better cameras, but this one is a nice compromise between all three.

Size: It is smaller than my digital camera. Fits perfectly in your palm (hence 'palmcorder'), which makes it very easy to hold steady, unlike many of the smaller models. Despite its small size, the controls are fairly easy to use, with the exception of the 'menu' button, which is awkward to hit one-handed. I'm not quite sure how they manage to fit the minidv tape in there!

Quality: Image quality seems fine. Perhaps a little washed out on cloudy days, but this is not a surprise using any camera. Audio quality is EXCELLENT. Using the built in microphone on a fairly windy day, a person standing several feet away from the camera talking in a soft voice is perfectly audible. There is NO tape mechanism noise, which seems to be problem with other cameras in this price range.

Cost: If you pay more for a camera, you would get either 1) smaller size (not necessarily a good thing, this guy is small enough), or 2) Better image quality. You probably wouldn't notice much difference in image quality, unless you stepped up to one of the 'prosumer' cameras that'll set you back a couple thousand or so.

My only gripes are the somewhat clunky menu system (however, it's not really necessary for day-to-day operation), the slow tape eject mechanism (not so bad considering that they probably need to rearrange space and time to fit the tape in the camera), and the somewhat awkward position of the various plugs, a common problem on all small cameras.

Bottom line: Highly recommended.

In Europe this model is called the NV-GS5, which is what I have, but it's otherwise identical.

I've had it a few months now. I bought it after lots of research, and after rejecting the "upright" style cameras because they're so hard to hold steady. This little Panasonic is still very small (and cute) but you have a chance of holding it reasonably steady. Having said that, even with the image stabiliser on, you will need a tripod to make decent use of even the 10x optical zoom.

Panasonic's main selling points for this camera seem to be its ability to record stills, MPEGs and voice clips onto SD card, but if you've already got a digital stills camera, you'll not be too excited about stills at 640 x 480, maximum.

Forget that, and notice the other advantages. As the top model in this range (the 352 is really quite different and a lot bigger) it gets a colour viewfinder, and an analogue AV input. That could be really useful. There appears to be a connector for just about everything you can think of, including the all-important external microphone. The lens has a screw mount for proprietary conversion lenses and filters too.

Performance wise, I have been very pleased indeed with the results. It focuses with alacrity (almost never caught out), produces a really crisp clean image in all but the murkiest conditions, and generally looks surprisingly close to broadcast quality. Sound is pretty good using the built-in microphone: lots of atmosphere. Unlike some mini-DV camcorders, the microphone is mounted right at the front, so you only notice camera noise when you film in a very quiet location.

It's quite easy to use, though you'll need to spend a little time with the horrible instruction book before you can use it confidently. At first I kept forgetting which menu contained which control. But some controls are easily accessible, like the manual exposure (nice to have) and focus wheel. Most things fall to hand well, though the menu button requires a double-jointed index finger...

On the whole though, I have few criticisms. It's small, looks great, is quite easy to use and most important, produces excellent pictures and sound. I'm very impressed.

I got mine last week and it has been great so far. I'm happy with the picture quality and surprised at all the features included. The price was the major selling point as was the ability for it to play my old 8mm tapes from a previous machine. So far i'm happy I didn't spend the big bucks on a digital camcorder. I did however have to go out and purchase and additional battery because the one that comes included only lasts about 50 minutes. The new battery...lasts 3+ hours.

This camcorder is wonderful! I tried one to film a small movie for my sons softball team and found myself making several movies. I love the viewfinder and the many picture effects (Mosaic, Solarization, Monotone, etc.). And you can insert custom titles in 22 different languages. The Lithium-Ion battery lasts forever and recharges. This model comes with Sony's Nightshot which makes it able to shot movies in total darkness. This really is a great camera.

THis camera is great. I have had it for over a year and it has worked perfectly. The picture is great and it is small and handy. Also it is now selling for 299.99! It is a steal. I would suggest anyone buying it who needs a ... camcorder!

I just got the CCD-TRV-308 camcorder and it is awesome!! The only thing is is that you cant edit your film on your computer you can just play it back. I give 4 - 4 1/2 stars

I've been trying to buy a video camera for the past 6 years (ever since my first monster bought in 1990 died). I finally bit the bullet since this camera seemed so reasonable and so highly-rated. I'm happy with every aspect of this camcorder. The bells and whistles are surprisingly complete, and it's so lightweight that I can (and do) spend the entire day with it in my hand.

One caveat...a wide angle lens would be a smart purchase. It's difficult to get far enough away from the action and still hear what is going on.

We purchased this camcorder for the holidays, selecting the CCDTRV308 over the CCDTRV108 due to it's added features such as image stability and auto-light. It arrived within three days - amazing! With my son's birthday coming up at the weekend, and the speedy delivery, it was a real test as to whether I could read the manual and become comfortable in the camcorder's use before the big day. The instructions are clear, concise and easily referenced.

We chose official Sony cassettes for this first run to ensure optimal picture quality and compatibility. Image quality is excellent, but we did notice that it performs better after it has 'warmed up'. This might be due to cassette stability or electronics temperature, but in no way detracts from this product's quality. Fade in/out options are excellent and with the 'cinema' setting gives your production that 'ER' feel.

I suspect that upgrading to a higher capacity battery may be a next step, but it lasted through the kid's party with ease. About 30 minutes of shooting remained, even though we used the LCD the whole time.

Title use is a little confusing, but you do get the option of creating two custom titles in addition to the standard fare.

The tripod was prepared, just in case the weight of the camcorder became tiring, but it was not needed. The lightness of these new camcorders over the ones of yesteryear makes life much easier, and is not burdening.

We researched considerably, before purchasing this product, which is no guarantee of success, but I have no hesitation in recommending it to those considering a Hi-8 camcorder.

Got this camcorder (my first camcorder ever) about three weeks ago. Overall great and I've been nothing but impressed. If you are looking to shoot some video of the kids and play it back to family and friends on the home TV then get a less expensive camcorder. I think that if you are going to digital it's because you plan to download and manipulate the video on your home computer to get a semi-profession video. This camera lets you download the 30-minutes (of usually boring) video of the kids playing Little League onto your home computer and turn it into a really cool 5-minute baseball video with a soundtrack, still shoots (saved on the built in still camera) and titles that you can record back onto the camcorder. Lightweight and compact, it's easy to carry and the large (3.5 inch) LCD screen is a lot easier to view then the typical tiny 2.5 inch screen. The built in USB port and cable (included) is for the saved JPG still shots on the memory stick. To download the video to your computer you need a firewire card and a firewire cable (not included) plus the video software for your computer. The Sony included software is for the JPG still shots only. The camera also does not come with any MinDV tapes so order some when you order the camera. If you plan on shooting a lot of video without a battery recharge you might want to think of getting another battery. The LCD screen sucks up battery power like crazy so plan on 30 minutes of shooting before you are looking for a recharge. All in all a great camera that is easy to use and has enough options and bells-and-whistles to keep anyone occupied.

With it's image stabalization and all of its other automatic features, this camera makes even the most novice director look good. I can shoot from indoors to outdoors, walking, or standing still and this camera adjusts the video, lighting, etc. to what I am doing. It is more expensive than others in it's class, but accessories are easy to find, and Sony makes a high quality product. One more thing; this camera has a very nice lens, so buy a lens filter for it to keep it from being scratched.

This is a great camera, I work in film production and this camera is able to capture things that not even a real film camera can. If you were to buy a camera, I would buy this one. It is GREAT value for it's price.

Spend a lot, get a lot more. Although it was a tough choice to spend the money when I purchased my TRV70, I have no regrets. My camera is DA BEST!. After I figured out the Still Picture recording is best taken when not recording video simultaneously, I never looked back. There are so many features to mention but I don't use. The key things to consider:
- Bigger lens, means better image
- Good size CCD is a treasure; otherwise 3 CCD is next option
- Manual focus override; in photography, this is VERY important
- Backlight control; it's a great override in low light conditions like opening up your camera aperature
- Manual disable of on-board flash; continue taking pictures when flash is not allowed
- Touch screen LCD is sweet, don't listen to button fanatics
- Steady Shot works.... when camera is light, more chances of jarring movements, so here its really important.
- Memory stick convenience ... buy larger capacity, more over time.
- Battery Status; Info-lithium means no guessing game. By several small batteries, charge them, and carry them a-l-a Rambo.
- Don't install Imagemixer software. Instead, use Sony's Screenblast Movie Studio 3.0. You'll be happier.
- Don't skimp on footage. Take lots of footage. It's easier to edit, than to say... I don't have enough!

It's unfortunate, Sony is discontinuing the product in 2004. It's a great product! I'm ready to buy a second one so I can get the same footage from another vantage point. Silly, two people using different cameras. :-)

this is a power packed camcorder!
pros:
- other than the sony trv80, this is the only sony miniDV camcorder that has a 2 megapixel still camera built in.
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
- has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
- carl zeiss lens.
- steady shot and night shot.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- progressive shutter system.

cons:
- this camcorder is bigger than i would like. you can get smaller camcorders like the trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- bright 2.5" LCD screen: but i definitely prefer the 3.5" in the trv80.
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- the included 8MB memory stick (for a 2 megapixel still camera!) is unacceptable. you'll need at least a 64MB memory stick with if you want to take full advantage of the higher resolution pics you'll be taking.
- although bundling the camcorder and still camera together means you only have to carry one piece of equipment, it also means that if one breaks, you have to replace both.
- as an alternate to this bundling strategy, you can get a trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera for about the same price.
- no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

all in all, a very nice camcorder. nice work sony.

This is my fourth camcorder, and first digital camcorder. I bought it to record my child's soccer games to make a DVD to send to college coaches. It recorded steady sharp video in all lighting conditions, including heavy overcast, light fog, and night games under stadium lights. I also bought the remote controll tripod, which makes it much easier to start/stop recording and adjust the zoom (the remote control zoom buttons have the correct sensitivity, as opposed to the camera zoom control as noted in a review below). The only problem I had that caused the loss of a few minutes of video was that the camcorder started displaying "Cleaning Tape". I packed the tape (fast forward to the end and rewound) and recorded over the bad section. I now pack the tape again whenever I insert a new one in the camcorder

This camera has many unique features that make it perfect for the right person. First, it doesn't store pictures on memory cards like most cameras, it stores on floppies. This means you probably already have the "memory." When I first purchased this camera, that was great because 16 MB memory cards were expensive and if you were taking a lot of pictures, it could add up real quick. Now, 128 MB memory cards are cheap and will hold 100x the pictures a floppy will hold. That said, the picture quality is great for this class, and the zoom will astound you. A friend has this same camera and uses some passive flash units with it to create off-center flash lighting. The built-in flash is only good for a narrow distance range of about 10 ft. Much closer and it floods the subject, much further and it doesn't reach, but this is easily overcome, plus, you don't need a flash with this camera in many situations where a conventional camera would need one. The flippable lcd display will flip so it shows to the front and automatically flips the image so you can see the framed image when doing self-portraits. Includes auto or manual focus and f-stop modes. It also takes very short movies with sound. Optional optical viewfinder. Rechargeable Infolithium batteries operate well but buy at least one spare.

But with the new ones coming out, I felt a little outdated.
I definiteltly love the floppy disk feature of holding images. It makes life soooo much easier!
Whenever I ran outta discs, someone always had extra or I could easily buy them very cheap.

The only bad thing was the battery life was soooo short and towards the last few months Ive had nothing but disc errors and lost pics.

I finally upgraded to a new camera but I don't regret this one at all.

I've used this digital camera many times...it's very versatile in that not only does it take good pictures but, you also can use many accessories that a photographer would normally want to use on his or her slr, i.e. close-up lens attachments, filters etc., etc. The amazing thing is that after taking those wonderful pictures you eject the floppy disk and insert it directly into your computer and go to work. Most of my work is law enforcement and this camera has been a God sent tool. Other features such as image stablizing lens and flash, what else is need, just point and shot...go to work with your images. The best of luck with yours.

These MiniDV 3-pack tapes are good quality and at a price i couldn't beat anywhere. If you're looking for a MiniDV tape without memory at a reasonable price, get these.

I really like these tapes. The quality and care that they used in manufacturing these mini DV tapes definitely show. Each tape in this three pack is individually wrapped and labeled. On the front of the tape there is a yellow write protect switch. Each tape comes with a translucent tape case and labels for marking tapes with color codes and labels like "master", "copy" or "birthday". The front face of the tape is blank except for a few markings and the write protect switch. The top has: TDK logo, duration (SP 60/LP 90), format (mini DV digital video cassette) and the letters DVM60 in the top sticker area. The cassette is navy blue with a gray protective tape cover that covers the actual magnetic tape when not in use. The markings are silver and gold in color.

Whattya wanna know? They're tapes, they're priced well and they work in your mini-dv camcorder. Stop reading all these posts and buy em already!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PRO to use this camera. But shop around for the best price and don't buy from grey markets. Be sure the dealer is authorized by Canon.

This camera is super. There are some features that were added to the XL-1S which make this camera stand out over Sony. There are web sites that teach how to use the camera and how to get around some of the XL-1 problems.

This has been the camera of choice for most news organizations that travel the world. Add the EOS adapter and you have a camera that does more than any other camera made in its price range. Before you buy listen to the pros that use this camera, do a search at google.com for tips and tricks and the XL-1 web sites. Then decide between the Sony and Canon.

I have owned one of these for over a year and a half and love this thing. I work at a full digital TV station with a the latest equipment and the first thing I did was do a side by side comparo against a ...Panasonic DVCPRO broadcast camera. The technicians and cameramen were shocked at the image being equal to their cameras. When we explored the camera further and found the ability to also use the ANTON BAUER battery packs it only got better. They looked at the lens quality and lens swapping ability, plenty of manual setting available for video and audio, hundreds of accesories for the proshooter, and the frame mode made it shine brighter in their eyes. The general manager and chief engineer evaluated the camera and said at the same time "imagine what this could do for our budget!". I use this camera for personal use and have also used it for news gathering, Many requests from the news department have come my way to go on a shoot due to lack of cameras. If you are looking for a camcorder to have many bells and whistles, this is not for you. This is a serious tool. I have read reviews where it dosent take very good still pictures, it lacks the LCD viewer!, It wont shoot in total darkness or see through womens clothes. They forget serious shooters have a main priority in their camera and that is the choice of different lenses. No current consumer camcorder has a interchangable lens system. Something to remember many tools have the ability to do many tasks but they never exceed at one. The Canon XL1 EXCEEDS at shooting video to a professional level....

The Canon XL1 is an amazing camera to shoot with. The picture quality is awesome and the audio is sweet. The camera is sleek and professional looking, people take you serious when you go out on a shoot with the "Big Boys." You get the same respect! If I had to buy another camera it would be the Canon XL!!

I bought it whilst pregnant (about 6 months) thinking I would really have enough time in my hands to fiddle around and learn all the tricks....Not really in reality! The baby as just turned one and I am really now starting to get the hang of it! From what I have seen so far it is great! Definetely a bonus for those that live away from their loved ones, specially when you can very quickly record 15 secs flicks and slot the memory card onto your for example sony mouse/memory stick reader and access all the technology and e-mail it. I have to be honest and give it to XP professional and ADSL to make everything happening nowadays so much faster. Next move...update PDA, have done phone though (Sony Ericsson T300 - just brilliant). Keep it coming technology, big fan of it and thank you Amazon.com for supplying me all the information I NEED!

I have owned this camera for about 6 months, and did about 2 months research. This camera is the best camera out there and is worth every penny. I can not believe all the options available. I am still learning how to use them all. If you have an wild imagination, this camcorder will make all your dreams come true. Although there are alot of options, they are very easy to understand and very simple to use.
The digital pictures come out very clear, and everyone was amazed at the video playback. It is amazing.
The only drawbacks about the camera is that you have to purchase another battery. The one that comes with it does not last very long. You also need to purchase a bigger flash card for the pics. The one supplied only holds about 4 high res pics, and finally you should invest in a uv protective lense. This will keep your original lense from getting scratched. All these additional products will add about another ($) to ($) to your bill, and you still have not bought tapes yet.
But in the end, it is worth every penny...

The Sony DCR-TRV30 MiniDV digital camcorder features an impressive 1.5-megapixel CCD, which allows it, in addition to impressive video quality, take still pictures at resolution up to 1360x1020.

MiniDV vs. Digital8 vs. Analog

First, the digital video is better than analog video for several reasons:

1. Since the recording is digital, the quality will not decrease over time.
2. There is no noise introduced by the media
3. The horizontal resolution is higher than in analog standards, be it VHS, Super VHS, 8mm or Hi8.
4. The copies have the same quality as original (if the copy is made using digital connection – i.Link/FireWire/IEEE 1394)

Although Sony and Hitachi produce Digital8 camcorders in addition to MiniDV models, MiniDV is an industry standard and is the most commonly used digital video format. The Digital8 format may be viewed as means to decrease the costs (the tapes costs less) and provide backward compatibility (they usually play Hi8 and 8mm recordings, with the exception of Sony TRV130).

The MiniDV tapes can be used in the LP mode for increased capacity without compromising the picture quality – since the data is stored in the digital format. But you will not be able to use audio dubbing feature.

PICTURE

With impressive 1.5-megapixel CCD, the TRV30 offers excellent picture quality, with well-defined edges and great color reproduction. The resolution and picture quality in the digital camcorders are usually limited not by the medium, but the CCD, optics and electronics. Which is the reason that people buy more expensive models than sub-$1000 to get better picture quality.

The 1.5-megapixel CCD has resolution that several times more than the resolution of cheap digital camcorder models.

SOUND

As other digital camcorders, this one employs Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) - similar to CD recording technology, with (can be selected from the menu) 12-bit or 16-bit modes. Since audio is stored separately you can use Audio Dubbing that allows you to add a stereo track of music or narration, but only in 12-bit SP mode.

As with other digital audio formats, the sound quality does not deteriorate over time and there is no “background” noise introduced by the media itself.

ZOOM & OPTICS

The camcorder employs 10x optical/120x digital zoom and has Carl Zeiss lens for better picture quality. The special coating reduces glare and increases contrast. The Super SteadyShot system can be employed for image stabilization, which fights unwanted picture shake from getting recorded on tape.

ADC & ANALOG-DIGITAL PASSTHROUGH

The TRV30 features an analog-digital converter (ADC), which converts analog signal from the analog input, so you can either record it on the MiniDV tape in digital format or send it through the IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.Link) interface to your computer, compatible VCR or another device. The analog sources you might want to convert include video you want to store for a long time or edit.

LCD

In addition to color viewfinder, the camcorder features a large 3.5” LCD. The LCD has excellent visibility in sunlight. You can use the viewfinder to conserve battery power.

INPUTS

The camcorder has analog A/V inputs and outs, including S-Video. The camcorder also has an i.Link® Digital Interface (FireWire, IEEE1394), which is a two-way input/output that carries digital audio, digital video and control signals to compatible digital VCRs, edit controllers and computers.

It features an L (LANC) Editing Interface that provides standardized connection for synchronized operation of camcorder, VCR, and edit controller...The camcorder also features the Super Laser Link® Wireless Transmitter, which uses infrared light to make a wireless connection from the camcorder to your television up to 26 feet away. The transmitter is built-in, so you can buy a receiver and connect your camcorder wirelessly.

FEATURES

The camcorder features a 1.5-megapixel HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with low noise design. It has several modes of AE, manual focus and manual exposure in addition to automatic modes. The manual focus is controlled by the ring, which also looks cool.

You can switch between manual and automatic focus using a switch, which also has a position for “infinity” focus. The exposure can also be controlled manually when needed so you can avoid overexposure (and video noise in low-light scenes). The 2x playback zoom allows you to zoom in during the playback and enlarged pictures can be copied to MemoryStick.

The camcorder has 14 picture effects (6 digital effects), several digital A/V fader modes, 16:9 and LP mode recording. The digital and picture effects can be used independently (some of them can be combined). You can also manually adjust shutter speed when needed.

The Sony’s Super NightShot™ allows you to shoot in complete darkness up to 10 feet away. The system uses a built-in infrared light; the optional IR light can extend the range to up to 100 feet. There is also a built-in speaker (you can control the volume) and camcorder comes with a remote control and an intelligent accessory shoe (which accepts accessories ranging from lights, IR lights and photo printers to microphones that “zoom” with the camcorder).

The remote control is included and gives you access to advanced VCR functions as well as zoom, playback and shooting modes.

MEMORY STICK

The camcorder can be used as a digital still camera at up to 1360x1020 resolution, the images are stored on a supplied 4Mb Memory Stick. You can use the supplied USB cable and software to transfer images to your PC, edit and store/catalog them. The MemoryStick can also store short MPEG clips.

BATTERY

The TRV30 comes with an InfoLithium® battery, which lasts about 35 minutes if you use LCD. You can conserve the energy by using the color viewfinder, or you can get a battery of the larger capacity. You can always see the approximate remaining power: AccuPower™ meter shows you the remaining battery time in minutes on the camcorder's LCD or viewfinder.

BOTTOM LINE

The TRV30 provides excellent picture quality and high still resolution. With large LCD, USB, i.Link and other useful features, this model is a great digital camcorder.