Camcorder Reviews

I purchased this camcorder Oct. 1999. The picture quality is crystal clear in good lighting conditions, grainy in low light conditions. I also purchased a ... hardware/software package from Pinnacle Systems ... that allows me to edit video and audio captured on the camcorder on my PC. This is a very innexpensive way to produce high quality home movies. The best feature of the camcorder is its size-you take it everywhere.

You give up some features (o lux, infrared, memory stick) to gain the biggest benefit of all...ease of use. My biggest problem with picture/movie taking is how much of a pain it is to setup the shot and mess with the camera. With the PC1, you just whip it out of your pocket and shoot. The picture quality is actually very impressive (I'm not sure what the guy above is missing). In tandem with a Sony VAIO, the PC1 makes one heck of a home video studio.

I bought the PC1E in 2004 so it's not the newest, I have been looking for a camcorder to settle down with for a while now and have used Panasonics, Sharps and JVCs, I was put off Sony by the fact that you usually pay a premium price and I had no evidence that they were definitively better than the other brands. Obviously the size of the PC1 is noticeably small even by modern mini-DV standards it holds up well. It takes a little getting used to but unlike other upright cameras that I've used the natural holding position on the PC1 doesn't interfere with the microphone, a definite plus. Sound quality is good and the unit makes very little mech noise so you don't get that on playback. The Carl Zeiss lens is excellent as you'd expect, I particularly like the light adjustment which is very fast and very good, it means if you swing past a window whilst indoors it doesn't screw up your footage. All in all I'd recommend it as a great camera for the enthusiast, in terms of connectivity it links up to the Mac through iMovie with no trouble at all.

I had this camera for 2 years and had constant trouble with the door mechanism for the tape. It opens from the bottom and the tape pops up! Many times it got stuck and finally it would not open. $400.00 to fix it. SONY SERVICE IS TERRIBLE, we are now forced to buy another camera as it's not worth fixing for $400!

The Sony DCR-TRV11 is Sony's least expensive MiniDV camcorder. There are cheaper Digital 8 camcorders, but MiniDV allows you to hold more video and is more compact (although MiniDV tapes are somewhat more expensive).

MiniDV

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. You should be careful with the tape loading mechanism though - it is quite fragile and you can accidentally bend something if you press it in the wrong place.

PICTURE

This MiniDV camcorder offers the resolution of up to 500 lines (other digital video sources like DVD players and DBS offer similar resolution), higher color bandwidth (Sony claims three times higher than VHS) and virtually no video noise.

The picture is very sharp and clear. You have 10x optical/120x digital zoom, the camera also uses Carl Zeiss lens for better picture quality, special coating reduces glare and increases contrast. Since the recording is digital, the quality will not decrease over time.

The camcorder has an ADC (analog-digital converter) that converts an analog signal you pass through the analog input, so you can either record it on the MiniDV tape in digital format (for archiving purposes) or send it through the IEEE-1394 (i.Link) initerface to your computer or another device.

SOUND

TRV11 uses the Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) - similar to CD recording technology, with 12-Bit or 16-Bit modes. This allows for a dynamic range of more than 96dB, since audio is stored separately you can use Audio Dubbing that allows you to add a stereo track of music or narration. The sound quality does not deteriorate over time and there is no "background" noise introduced by the medium itself, as happens in analog world.

CONTROL INTERFACES

There is an L (LANC) Editing Interface that provides standardized connection for synchronized operation of camcorder, VCR, and edit controller. TRV11 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.

The TRV11 also has 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. The IFT-R20 IR receiver is optional.

Memory Stick

You can use the TRV11 as a digital still camera at 640x480 resolution (enough for emailing), the images are stored on a supplied 4Mb Memory Stick. You can use the supplied PictureGear Lite 4.1 software to transfer images to your PC (using the supplied serial cable), edit and store/catalog them.

FEATURES

The camcorder features a 680,000-pixel HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD (the high resolution increases the picture quality) with low noise design. It has 7 modes AE, manual focus and manual exposure in addition to automatic ones.

Manual focus is controlled by the ring, which also looks cool. You can switch between manual and automatic focus using a switch on the left side of the camcorder (by LCD), it also has a position for "infinity" focus.

The camcorder has a 3.5" 184,000-pixel LCD in addition to the color viewfinder. The 2x playback zoom allows you to zoom in during the playback. You can also shoot in total darkness with Sony's Super NightShot™, which enables you to shoot subjects 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.

The Super SteadyShot system can be employed for image stabilization 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 camcorder has 8 picture effects (6 digital effects), 7 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). The cool A/V fader modes I like include "dot" and "bounce". You can also manually adjust (if you want, otherwise it's automatic) shutter speed and exposure.

VCR

The VCR mode allows you to see your material. When you switch to it, the VCR buttons appear on the upper black panel, backlit by the amber light (they are invisible in other modes). In "camera" mode you can use "Edit Search" to look through the material to find the insertion point, or use "End Search" button, located under the LCD to find the end of your last recording.

POWER SOURCE

The power source for the camcorder is an InfoLithium® battery, which has large capacity and no "memory effect", that "old" Ni-Cd batteries used to have. The best feature: 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 - this estimate is very accurate.

The Stamina® Power Management that power consumption and extends battery life when camera is not in use - you can shoot for up to 11.5 hours with an optional battery.

The backlit LCD on the outer side of the 2.5" color LCD shows the remaining battery power in minutes while charging and tape counter when operating VCR.

I was looking for a camcorder that would provide me with excellent video recordings and the ability to transfer the recordings to the PC for editing and then sharing them with my friends and relatives.

The Sony TRV11 has an excellent imager and the Carl Zeiss Lens is the best available. I am completely satisfied with video recordings. The color viewfinder and a 3.5" display that can be rotated to face the subject are really worthwhile. I have found that kids are better on camera when they can see themselves. The instant replay on the LCD is also a very good feature. As a novice getting used to STBY and REC, I have used this feature a lot to record over bad shoots. Also, if you plan on shooting still images on tape or memory stick, this feature allows you to instantly determine whether you need more shoots to get the best pose. I strongly recommend a color enhancement light if you are doing indoor recordings, which is available as an accessory. I didn't want to spend on that right now so I move my halogen torch lights into the rooms that I wish to record. It is inconvenient but works great. TRV11 offers a 3 way PC link by means of an adapter for the memory stick, a serial port or a firewire port. If you have an ancient computer like I do and do not want to spend on a new computer, you will appreciate this.

I purchased the ZR80 mini DV camcorder online, and received it today... one thing I was disappointed about is that this camcorder has no SD card slot like some of the other ZR series camcorders do... still shots go directly on your DV tape (one tape holds about 700 shots) It's not that big of an issue for me because I own a fantastic digital camera, and would prefer my pictures to be taken with that... but it might be an issue for someone who was planning on getting it all in one package (and it can be a big convenience that way!)
The special effects on this camcorder are great, and the video I have taken so far is wonderful... Two suggestion though: PLAY with the settings and READ the book!! I have seen so many reviews of Canon camcorders that say they are no good in low light (BTW the nightshot is simple to use and highly effective)

After reading the reviews, I was a bit leery of purchasing this camera. Because it fit my needs without paying for a lot of features that I didn't need (memory stick, S-video output, etc.), I decided to get one anyway to try it out. The result is that I will keep it. One concern was image quality under low light conditions. It's OK. The depth of field is not great under low light which might account for reports of fuzzy images, but I found that it did focus on the item of interest pretty well. For low light, regardless of the camera, if you want good images, you should consider supplemental lighting. The night mode works reasonably well. Audio quality is fine. I had no problem at all with picking up sounds and voices from 15-20 feet away without them having to raise their voices. It doesn't have a mic input which wasn't a drawback for my purposes, but is, nevertheless, something that this camera should have. The biggest disapointment, for me, is that the image stabilization is a long way from what my old Sony Handycam was capable of. Even so, it's adequate for the purposes that I will be using this camera. All in all, this camera will suit most people's needs.

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Overall I was dissapointed in this camera. The description is not thorough enough. 1.3 Megapixels is for STILL images, and the images are decent but there is no flash so limited when lighting is bad. Video modes are 640x480, 320x240, and 160x120. Probably my biggest dissapointment was that the best video mode, 640x480, only shoots at 8 frames per second, which is very choppy and fuzzy. The other two modes shoot at 15 frames per second, which is a little better but they are small screen sizes. Audio is pretty good. If this was my first digital camera ever I would probably think its ok, but I was looking for an upgrade to the video capabilities of my current digital still camera, and this was not it. I will probably give it to some 10 year old as a gift or to a friend who has never had a digital camera.

I wanted an entirely digital (i.e. no tape) camcorder in order to try out the technology. We're not "camcorder people," so the idea of dropping several hundred dollars on a video camera (Mini-DV, Hi-8, Digital-8, or what have you) wasn't attractive. Surprisingly, there are not a lot of straight-to-memory-card camcorders out there! I thought the Sipix DV100 was exactly what we were looking for.

The other reviews are right. It's sturdy, very small, and it does just what it advertises. It's true that the shutter button is a bit awkwardly located, but a) you only hit it once to start recording, and b) you can brace your thumb against the left side of the camera to make reaching the button easier. The lack of any type of flash makes recording a challenge. The AUTO white balance feature, while a plus, doesn't always compensate, particularly indoors. Outdoors, though, I have no complaints. Resolution is exactly what I expected: 15fps (with a 256Mb SanDisk SD card) at 320x240, and 8fps at 640x480. The microphone does a decent job of picking up sound, most especially for the camera operator (not so much for the subjects). The ability to connect to a TV is great for immediately sharing the results of your recordings, and the USB connection is as fast as I expected. Finally, battery life is tremendous! Whereas my Sony Cybershot still camera drains batteries like there's no tomorrow, this little camcorder is still running on its original batteries after at least 20 minutes of recording, several downloads, and several TV "productions." I realize that this is due in large part to the lack of a flash, but it's still a nice bonus.

The only reason I'd give it 4 rather than 5 stars is the lack of an AC power source. Battery life is great, but it'd be nice to not have to run on batteries every single time you use the camera.

Oh, yeah...you get about 35 minutes of recording at 320x240 on a 256Mb SanDisk SD card.

When I started my family, I bought an 8mm camera. I can probably count the number of times I used it on one hand in the five years I've owned it. It was bulky, needed frequent recharging, and frankly, after a while, I would forget to bring it out. I was looking for something small, digital, and of course inexepensive. I gave the SiPix a shot. I love this little camera. I can take it everywhere and it's very simple to use. The software is also simple, but it doesn't have alot of features. If buying this camera, it is a MUST to purchase a memory stick, at LEAST 256 MB or you can't record video for more than a couple of minutes. Also, there is no flash, so only outside or in lit areas. I was dissapointed that there was no flash or lighting options, and battery life (2 AAs) doesn't last as long as I like (but longer than the 8mm NiMH, how sad). Overall, this camera had performed how I expected it to for the cost. The quality is not the best, but decent, and it works great to record little moments on family trips and the kid's activities. If you are looking for portable, digital, and an inexpensive camera to start with; and can live with "ok" quality, this is the camera to buy. Especially since it's a great starter camera if you're not sure you want to upgrade to digital camcorders because of price. The money you spend on this camera is worth "experimenting" in the digital world, before you upgrade to the "big dogs"

I've had this TRV66 for 3 years, but the problem started occuring 1 year after I bought it. It was doing great until the switch started messing up. I found out only after my batteries keep draining even after I switched the camera off. Finally, I noticed that when I turn the camera off by switching it to the "Off" position, the VTR lights come on instead. The only way I could really turn it off was to remove the battery. So, when I want to switch it off, I had to remove the battery every time so that it won't get drained. Looks like it is a common problem from the reviews that I've read. Another annoying problem is when I am recording for a while, it keeps going to stand-by mode automatically. So I had to keep an eye on the viewfinder to make sure it doesn't stop recording. I wonder if Sony could fix this problem.

In 1992, I bought a Sony CCD FX-510 8mm stereo camcorder. By February 2000, we had worn the old camera out, after working around the world! If you want to keep playing 8mm tapes, you either have to replace your 8mm camcorder, or buy a 8mm deck. The camcorders are cheaper than a deck! I bought the Sony CCD-TRV66 because it could play my stereo 8mm tapes from my old camera. A digital Sony camcorder would do this, but at more $. The best surprise was that playback on the new HI-8 camcorder seemed to deliver higher resolution on the old Video 8 tapes. This might be due to the filtering on the Hi-8 camcorder. The TRV-66 has image stabilization, nightshot, Hi-8 resolution, stereo sound, lots of digital features and a color flip out screen. All of this is still less than I paid in 1992 for the CCD FX-510. After 8 years, Sony kept continuity on operational features; the basic functions of their camcorders is the same. Kudos for great design. I plan to wear out this camera, too!

Had this camera for a couple years now and have never had a problem. Can't ask for any more features. The battery still holds a charge for over 4hrs of use. The image quality is great and the audio pickup(stereo) works fabulously. Only complaint would be the Camera/off/VTR switch, but not for the same reason as the others listed. I just don't like the location of it and it can be a little bit of a hassle getting it to the off position. But I've never had a problem with it not turning the camera off or the light on.

Botton line: Easy, simple to use and connect to a TV or to a computer for emailing video (with the right computer hardware).

I never got to use this device. I returned it because the device is not specified to operate for appliances between 50 and 500 watts. The product description does not mention this detail. So, if you have appliances within this range, look elsewhere. Other than this, the product looks fine and should work well for battery chargers, small electronics and hair dryers (but not things in between).

ok. some of you are asking if this works with laptops or some other chargers. before you buy this, go check you adapter and see what the input is. my laptop adapter's input is 120-240 to some value. this means it works about anywhere.
another thing i saw was someone complaining about the replacable glass fuse. well this is the kind of fuse that you can find anywhere in most countries that are 240 V (its less available here in US). but if it was a usual cercuit breaker then u would have even more problems because if it dies the whole converter dies until you get somewhere that u can fix it.
i hope it was helpful. but i give it a four because the quality is cheap, yet an expensive price for such a cheap product. this product should be about 15 bucks.

This kit is well made, contains all the plug adapters you'll need to travel to 6 continents, and unlike some, has switchable wattage to allow the use of both low voltage (eg. battery rechargers) and high voltage (eg. hair dryers) appliances.

When I purchased this Camera I was looking for the absolute best camera for under $1500. Well that is exactly what I got. The video quality of this camera is Oustanding with the 3CCD's at 800K Pixels each!!! I spent $3000.00 on my Sony 3CCD Camera and this Panasonic produces video just as good if not better. Here are my Pros and Cons:

Pros:
-Fantastic video quality, far better than any closely priced model.
-Great stills for a MiniDV CAM.
-Price is Unbelievable.
-The zoom is easy to use and it is adjustable.
-Additional lenses are fairly easy to find(on the internet) and inexpensive.
-Battery Life is good considering the 3CCD.
-The video Stabelizer actually works and it works well.
-The 3CCD produces colors that you just can't get on other cameras.

Cons:
-Larger than other MiniDV Cams but compared to others in its class it is actually quite small.
-16 MB SD Card is inadequate, barely takes 15 pictures.
-The camera is not quite as rugged as others in its class. You have to be careful with it.

Overall the PRO's of this camera far out weigh the Con's. This is a Super Deal on a Super Camera. I recommend it for anyone who wants professional quality video for under $2500.

I have had this camera for about 2 months and to date it has been great with a couple of little niggles.

I have captured footage outdoors in fairly bright light and have to say that the performance has been far superior to my old analogue camera, the picture is clearer, the colours are heaps,heaps better, in fact the picture excellent all round. The 3ccd makes the difference. The sound is not the best, but not bad either, the zoom mic is a waste of space IMO. The sound from the close surroundings is good. So if high quality pictures/footage is what you after and you plan to edit on PC where you can add/clean up the sound then I would highly reccomend this product.

I have downloaded footage to my PC via firewire with no problems (winXP) and used USB to transfer stills, all very easy.

The manual is only satisfactory, but there is so much help on the internet I have not a problem to date, just post on a forum if you can't figure it out.

Overall a great product.

I've never owned a camcorder before, so I have nothing to compare this to. But, it's been an overall good experience for me. The "quick start" in the manual had me shooting movies and stills in no time.

**** You'll need to spend another $150 if you want to download movies to your computer - read more below ****

The digital stills are amazing high quality. I had been warned that camcorders don't take very good stills, but these are pretty darn good. I was quickly able to download them to my computer over USB.

The movies are pretty good, and the image stabilization works like a champ. I'm not smart enough to take advantage of some of the more advanced features, but the zoom is smooth and keeps focus fairly well.

Now, about the software: Of course, you'll need to install their USB driver in order to download from the SD card, but the rest of the software is worthless. Don't bother with the ArcSoft software. With the USB connection, you can treat the camera like a removable disk drive and just copy over the pictures. After that, just use your favorite image viewer like IrfanView.

Maybe I'm just an ignorant newbie, but I expected to have everything I needed to download movies from the tape. This isn't the case. First of all, the download is over Firewire so you'll need to buy a Firewire card for your computer and a Firewire cable (if the card doesn't come with a cable). I got one for $50 from Adaptec.

On top of that, you'll also have to buy software to handle the download (the software shipped with the camcorder doesn't support this). You have several options here, and each package comes with its own set of editing tools. I spent $100 for Pinnacle Studio 9, but you have other options, too.

Finally, you need a computer with the horsepower to support the editing tools - and there are some pretty high-end requirements here. You'll need plenty of memory, a fairly fast processor, and a hard drive that can write fast enough to keep up with the tape.

I was attracted to this camera when I was told I could insert titles with it. I was very disappointed to learn that it comes with a limited set of predefined titles (Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, etc.) and no way of creating my own as with my old S-VHS camera. I tried to contact customer service through their email address to ask about this and another problem - after a couple days I got an email back telling me to call during business hours. I find the thumb wheel that operates the menu driven options system ackward to use and frequently press the wrong button in the middle of trying to get to an option.
I am not happy with the method of putting date and time into the video - you have to use the menu system, so it is impossible to start a video with a time and date stamp imbedded, then turn the date stamp off after a few seconds of taping without stopping and running through the menus.
I understand that most digital cameras go into a mosaic mode when in fast-forward or reverse. The older analog cameras were better in this respect in that you can better see the images going by in fast-forward or rewind.
The picture quality is super; I like the color LCD screen and veiw finder. I'm happy that it has an external microphone input - that may well come in handy someday.

I purchased the Canon ZR25MC for use at work. Once you add in the extras local electronics store threw in a decent bag and tripod, and Canon rebate, it was pricewise a better deal. In terms of features: I received the PV-DV401 as a gift and have not used it as much, but the following are my observations over a few days. The Canon does not provide software as does the Panasonic (the latter is useful to a subset of pc users). The ScanDisk reader is by far the simplest way to transfer digital stills to any computer (pc or Mac), works with both cameras. So far the Canon "doubles up" more on buttons for standard and special features. Panasonic has more specific buttons, makes the Panasonic a bit easier at times (such as low light feature). I find the Panasonic zoom fits & works easier with my grip. The Panasonic has more connection options for computers- Firewire/I-link and USB. The Canon has a smaller "hand profile". The Canon digital video download into iMovie is pretty seamless; haven't gotten there with the Panasonic. Will soon find out how readily the USB & Panasonic software works with a pc; will it be as pleasurable as iMovie?

I've produced several half hour shorts in digital video with this camera and am very pleased with the long lens, image stabilization, digital video format, low light and bright light imaging, built in stereo mics and external mic input, large LCD screen, and color viewfinder!!!

Stills are ok in bright light, but less than 1 megapixel so detail is not there compared to current digital still cameras.

Minor negative - I get an editing artifact in the last frame of the last scene on tape.

A shame it doesn't do 16:9 though...

I bought this camera my birthday and thought it was great. A couple months later, I began to notice that the sound skips, and it would constantly eat tapes. And then it goes on some sort of safety mode where it wont let you do anything on the camera because it thinks it might break itself. And whats up with all that extra space around the flip screen? I should have done more research before I bought this camera, and now im paying the price.

This is my first Camcoder, the other choice I considered was JVC-DV120, I liked JVC's 16x optical zoom, but its construction looked cheesy and it's much bulkier. The DV102 looks much better and has some nice features I like: zoom-mic and build-in light. It's a real good deal.
Camera is pretty easy to use and takes good picture, the image stablization does a good job, I took a lot of video by holding it without a tripod, sometimes I need to walk around, and the image wasn't very jerky. The sound quality is very good, no background noise at all.
In low light the image is a little bit grainy, but still very acceptable.
I'm not worried about the SD card, though I do have a spare one from my digital camera, I rarely use it, the still picture quality is too low to justify the price of a card. If Panasonic removed the SD drive and offered it with a remote, I'd have given it 5 stars. The other thing I missed is it doesn't have S-video output.
The Camcoder offers some manual feature such as iris lock, backlight and program AE, which are essential to cope with certain light conditions.
The camera's control buttons are a little hard to reach for me by just using one hand, my hand is relatively small, so make sure it's good for your hand.

Overall I feel it's perfect for begainers on a budget.
Btw, the software is virtually usesless.

The camera itself gives you crystal clear movies, they transfer perfectly to VCR with great video and sound quality. Image transfer to PC via FireWire (cable and card not included) is also outstanding. Only problem is that I had to get seperate software (Adobe Premiere which is expensive) because the included software was, without excaggeration, one of the worst applications I've ever worked with weather multimedia or otherwise. It appeared to be written by someone with very basic programming ability! I emphasize this fact for those of you looking to do PC stuff with it. The still pics from the [optional] memory card are average but OK for Ebay and emailing pics. Overall: great for price range. I'm happy with it.

I actually got this camcorder 2 1/2 years ago as my first camcorder in anticipation of the coming birth of our first child. It offered a lot of great features for the price, and I thought the 3" viewscreen right on the camcorder was a big improvement over viewfinders and pop-out screens.

And lo and behold, when we got it, it worked exactly as we thought and we got some great memories.

But then the lens cap broke. And it started to jam tapes regularly. And put dots and speckles into some recordings. And after 3 months of use my battery wouldn't recharge anymore. I brought it in for a repair and a replacement lens cap/battery, but 9 months later all 3 problems happened again.

The first repair was under warranty, I paid for the 2nd one. But last month was really it. My sister, who lives 400 miles away from me, had twins around the same time our son was born and we went up to visit them for their 2nd birthday. My wife took (or I should say tried to take) an hour of video of me playing with all 3 boys and another 2 hours of video of all of us going to the zoo together. Well, you know what, nothing came out, because THE TAPE WAS JAMMED AGAIN! Only this time, the camcorder did not give me any message warning me of this during her attempted recording, so we thought all was fine.

So today, 2 weeks before our 2nd child is due, I threw in the towel and bought a Samsung DV camcorder. Cest la vie....I have 2 Sharp TV's that work great (one is almost 20 years old!) so I don't know if I simply got a "lemon" or if their camcorder standards are just lax compared to their other electronics.

I am very pleased with my Sharp VLAH50U camcorder. It had many more features than advertised and the price was the best I could find anywhere with the free shipping. It shipped the next day and arrived in good condition. This is my first camcorder and I am looking forward to using it this Christmas.

This is my first camcorder. At this price I had no choice but to finally break down and buy one. The camcorder is small and lightweight. Instructions are simple. After charging the battery I was shooting right away. The picture quality is outstanding, the auto focus works great. The zoom is great too, providing you don't zoom in too fast...it takes a second or two to catch up to you. I love how easily it connects to my TV set for easy viewing on a big screen. I'm getting ready to go on vacation and looking forward to taking some great footage without lugging around something big and heavy.