Camcorder Reviews

This camera has many good features, and I found it easy to use. Unfortunately, after only 14 months of light usage, the electronics developed gremlins. The viewfinder suddenly went from color to black and white, the door began popping open on its own, and soon the viewfinder was only working half the time. The camera wasn't abused; I was filming with it one morning and it was performing normally, then suddenly not. I attempted to get a repair estimate and it wasn't easy, even at designated RCA repair shops. I was told that it would cost less to buy a new camera than it would to have this one fixed. I'm disappointed in RCA re this product. Granted, it's an inexpensive camera, but I expected a little more longevity than this.

this is a good camera ...the door is flismy
and i had the battery lose its charge several times
my new problem is the viewfinder decided to give up on me
with a white screen ...grrrr
anyways it was an awesome camera while it lasted
rock and roll!

Lights, Action, Camera...This is a very good camera; light, easy to use, simple to understand, all controls are easy to reach, picks up the sound of a needle dropping on the floor, vcr mode lets you playback what you taped, and great in low light! Also, less gadgets mean longer battery duration! But, it does NOT have a view screen on the side (that lets you take your eye away from the viewer), or a speaker to let you hear sound during playback, or a light.If you like to keep things simple, Buy It!...fade to black.

Feature wise this model is OK, although it is missing two key features: color viewfinder(useful under bright light) and analog input(dubbing analog tapes). However my unit has been having mechanical problems right after the waranty expired. The camcorder would refuse to load any cassette, more often than not the tape will get jammed inside the camcorder. I had to cut off one recorded tape (thus losing my recordings) to get it out of the machine. Switching different brand of tapes did not help either. I do not recommend this unit at all.

The camcorder is pretty easy to handle, it's a standard horizontal layout but it's pretty small. You can also save 30 second MPEG-4 clips to the SD cards.The 1.3 Mega Pixel CCD is better than the 1 Mega Pixel on the Sony DCR-TRV25 and the 1 Mega Pixel on the JVC GL-DV820U.The camcorder has an IEEE 1394 Firewire in/out port to transfer your video from your camcorder to your computer digitally. The camcorder also has a composite in/out port and an S-Video out port. The PV-DV702 also has a headphone jack. The PV-DV702 also has a microphone jack. Another neat feature on the PV-DV702 is an audio dubbing mode (only with SP video) which allows you to re-record the audio over pre-recorded video. You can also use the PV-DV702 as webcam using the USB port. Working with Microsoft NetMeeting or similar web cam software, the PV-DV702 can be hooked up to a computer to use it as web cam or a videophone.

The best MiniDV camera, it has all you need!!!.

I had high hopes about this camcorder. It was cute, lightweight, the 1.3Megapixel CCD and everything appeared to be great. But once I shot the video and reviewed it on my TV. ***TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT***. What can be more important than video quality? It just sucks big time. My old Panasonic VHS camcorder has better video quality. Also, the camera picked up extremely high motor noise when ambient sound level was low or silent. NOT a good design. I read several reaviews prior to buying to camcorder and I must agree that WAIT for the next revision. Video is extremely NOT SHARP!!!

I teach video productions and I've tried many camcorders. I like the Sharp's ability to rotate the body of the camera with my hand and still be able to get good shots at various angles without putting my wrist in traction. The drawbacks I've found are the lack of an external mic input (which isn't usually a requirement for most family videos) and a small button to control tape playback. This is a problem with us fat thumbed people. I would recommend buying an additional battery since there isn't an external charger available. Other than that, I think the camera has excellent video quality and a nice compact body yet still large enough for larger hands to operate without problem.

This is the first camcorder I've owned, though not the first I've used. I'm very happy with my purchase. I think it has excellent video quality, much better than others in a comparable price range. It does have a compact battery (for a reason), and hence a shorter recording time. I have recorded for over an hour straight with one battery. But you can purchase extra batteries if necessary (I bought one on ebay for $20).
It has tons of features and options, more than I will probably use. The manual provided is extremely helpful in guiding you through the many features. I was recording within 10 minutes of opening the box.
I have read negative reviews regarding the on screen menus, the manual, still images; let me just say that I have not had any problems with any of those. I find the menu EASY to navigate. And the manual explains everything. I read it from front to back without ANY confusion. It does not have an index in the back, but it has a table of contents at the beginning if you'd rather just browse. I have not seen a CAMCORDER that has better still images than this one. I have seen better pictures from a digital CAMERA. I suspect some people may not have the patience, or interest, in learning how to utilize all of the features that may yield the best quality images. Or, perhaps they're just used to a different product.
Some of the most commonly used features like playback on TV, downloading to PC, editing, I think are easy to use and just plain fun!
Anyway, I must emphasize that the overall quality of this camcorder is great. Every product is different, we pick and choose. I use mine for recording life's little (and big) events.
If you're still comparing camcorders, be sure to consider this one.

Buy another camcorder! This one will be a waste of your time and money. On paper this camcorder is great. However, not only is it overpriced and full of extraneous features. It is also difficult to use, has a poorly written manual and horrible support. I tried the SONY product support line at 888-449-7669 twice, but got little help.

Additionally, writing to the memory stick produces poor quality images, and there is no built in video light. Finally, the PC software that comes with the camera leaves much to be desired.

My excitement about buying this camera and all its accesories has been replaced with utter contempt for SONY. I now understand why the company has been having so many problems.

What a camera indeed. I just got it three days ago and after reading the manual I see there will be a lot of learning ahead for me. There are so many features this camera has I know I will not use most of them. The video is sharp and the photos are better then expected (acceptable but I will still use my digital camera when needed or preferred). The supplied 8 MB memory stick is only worth a tease, you will have to get at least a 128 MB or greater! Being in the Air Force and stationed in Germany this will be one treat to carry along on up coming trips!

I am technically competent, but a novice at video photography. Therefore, I spent weeks reviewing a a number of various cameras. I ultimately decided on the TRV 80 because of: the HAD technology, the 3 1/2 touch screen, the digital still, the still pop-up flash, along with the features rich capabilities of this camera. I have used it for about a week and have found it to be very easy to use. The controls are intuitive and the manual has been very easy to navigate. You should also consider the need for various accessoriies. I purchased it with a bundled package which included: tripod, 2 additional batteries, wide and telephoto lenses, case, tapes, cleaning kit, USB card reader, and a four year MAC parts and labor warranty. Add on package was less about two hundred seventy dollars and well worth it. Also spent a long time looking for editing software with good reviews. Settled on PYRO Digital Video, which indluded a 1394 PCI card and software compatable with the Sony camera. They have beginner, intermediate and Pro versions available. So far I am extremely pleased with the camera, and accessory packages. I am able to take great videos now and when I master the advanced features I'm sure the quality of the movies produced will improve. Highly recommend this product and suggest you consider the add on packages, especially the 4 year warranty.

I purchased the Panasonic PV-DV950 Digital PalmCorder for my husband just 3 years ago for $2500.00. After only 2 years of minimal use the unit started digitizing the picture image. We contacted Panasonic to see where the closest repair center was located. They have only one location in Illinois. They required a $295 fee just to look at the unit and clean it. Then they charged $373 for the repair (total repair bill=$668). When we finally got the camera back it was worse than it was before. Not sure what they did, but it appears they did nothing at all.
This camera has very poor reliability for the price you pay, and in addition the support/customer service by Panasonic has got the be the worse we have ever dealt with. We wouldn't buy another panasonic brand product if our life depended on it, and you should seriously consider the same.

As you can expected from Panasonic's 3ccd camcorder the video has a very good color quality (as the 3ccd promised), although the resolution of 320000 pixels is not very high compared to the regular (not 3ccd) 1000$-1800$ digital camcorders the video sharpens is quiet good. To get the best quality Indoor you need strong lights around the objects. The optical picture stabilizer that you can expect from camcorder in this price is missing and instead you get a digital stabilizer that I prefer to don't use. For a long time recording (more than 1 hour) you need more or high capacity batteries or at least use the viewfinder instead of the lcd display. The disappointment is from the stills quality. The pictures are blurred; maybe captures the stiles with a firewire will give a better results. To my opinion if you are looking for a high quality video this is the best you can buy in these price levels. If you want high quality stiles from your camcorder you have to make a compromise, leave this camera and try the other regular (not 3ccd) camcorders, or make a little more effort and buy the Sony trv900

Bought this last year for a Christmas gift for myself. Best Gift I got!! This camera is awesome. Small, compact, light weight, and easy to travel with. User friendly, and produces top quality photos (up to a 1000 still photos!).

this camera is wonderful if you enjoy watching fuzzy peice of crap home made movies
spend a few more bucks and get a camera that works right

I have had this RCA pro 8x zoom auto focus for about two weeks and it has been a joy doing the basic things with it, it shows a very good picture and it is very light weight, I would like to learn more about it, but I do not have the manual, can you PLEASE help me by getting me a manual, If you need more information about the camcorder just let me know and I will send it to you. Thank you in advance Sylvester Bingham

The size of this camcorder makes it very convenient and it is very user-friendly. You are able to record and view what you have recorded. With a simple attachment you are able to view it on TV. For the price it is a great value because you are getting the basics of what you really need without all the extras that you will not use a whole lot and it is not too complicated to figure out.

I bought this camera to replace our 7 year old VHS-C camcorder. It had most of the features that I was looking for: MiniDV, Optical zoom greater than 10x, batterly life greater than 1 hour, LCD geater than 2.5", built-in light, and memory card for digital pictures.

I returned it for one main reason- video quality is equal to that of my current camcorder. It gets worse under certain circumstances. (Disabling DIS didn't improve the picture quality.)

Every feature that was attractive to me turned out to be inadequate. Large LCD screen, but the image is not pleasing. Built-in video light barely lights closeby objects. No facility (shoe) to place external light or flash.

Still images are another big disappointment. I realize that I shouldn't expect great still pictures from a camcorder, but I don't think they should come out this blurry, dull, and hazy.

Memory card slot can accept various different media (SD, memory stick, etc.) - I think this is a very neat feature.

I was amazed by Nite Pix feature. Yes, you can record video in absolute darkness, but the objects have to be within close proximity (6 feet or so).

Fading option (between footages) is extremely disappointing. You have to keep the fade button pushed until the image fades out, then push the standby button, and then release the fade button. You have to do the same when you start recording again. Completely manual operation.

We own many Samsung products and I am very satisfied with each one of them. This product is not going to change my opinion on Samsung.

I love this camcorder. First off, it's a great deal. I did a lot of research and found this to be the best deal out of the lower cost camcorders. The 107's brother (the 105) is also a good camcorder but the features of the 107 really puts it over the top. The large LCD is great. Playback is awesome on the huge screen. The photo feature is nice to have but I would still use a digital camera in most cases. It can also record MPEG4 with audio. The low-light feature works great. The audio is great and has an input for mics or music. The analog input is great and pretty easy to use. It's a good way to get old home videos on your computer without a capture card. Also, despite other reviews, I think the picture looks pretty good. One tip of advice is to only use the DIS when you have to. If you leave it on that's when it's starts to look grainy. I don't know what else to say. Too many features to mention. Great camera. Would suggest to anyone.

Pros:
Large 3.5" LCD for great playback
Analog Input to save all those old videos
Great Night Recording
Great Audio
Microphone/ Audio Input
Picture looks more than fine for most people
Photo and Video recording on memory card

Cons:
Light isn't that bright
Video can look a little grainy but mainly when DIS is on

After much research on the internet and in stores, I chose the Samsung SCD107....had it for a week and have been very pleased. All buttons and menus are easy to use. Picture and LCD view are average....very impressed with "nightpix" feature for shooting in the dark....you can shoot in total darkness, though it is a little grainy. Video looks very good hooked up to the TV whether it is in sunlight or indoors. Have also had no problem with tape insertion, read you manual and you will be fine. All in all I am very pleased with my selection.

If you use iMovie your forced to use analog input. Why? Sony won't release the compression scheme to developers.

If you have an Apple, skip MicroMV.

I've owned an unit for 4 months now, and it's everything I expected it to be, plus a little bit more.

What I loved:
- Portability: if you aren't taking your camera with you, you aren't making those memories. I needed something that I would want to (or at least, not mind) carrying everywhere. And this one is perfect. Till the next 'world's smallest' camcorder comes along!
- Image quality: I have a regular television and this has more than enough resolution for that. The DVD's do have lower resolution than you'd ideal want (especially if viewed on a laptop screen), but I found it easy to live with that flaw
- Battery life: Pleasantly surprised. I'm getting a full day's output out of this on a single charge. Like another reviewer put it, you likely won't need another battery

Not-as-bad-as-I-thought:
- Noise: A little whirring as you record, but isn't loud enough to be a problem
- MicroMV compatibility: The supplied software (especially Movieshaker) is really good. Last I checked, two of the biggest software editors (Ulead and Pinnacle) supported this format. Sony's support for this format continues to be a little suspenseful - they've denied abandoning it, but haven't committed to supporting it in the future either

the low points:
- Still image resolution: Less than 1 MP! Why, god, why?
- Low light photography: Doesn't really exist. Neither does a flash for the camera

Video nuts may not like the artifacts that this unit produces. If you are outputing to VHS tapes, it won't matter, but if you are into capturing the highest fidelity possible for future generations, or for display on a large flatscreen TV, you should try this out in the store before buying. Just play the output hooked up to a large flatscreen. Now compare to another camcorder you are considering. I'll bet the DCRIP1 comes up short, but it is a judgement call if it is significant enough. The camera I use for family shots is a Triple CD Sony TRV950- and it produces near HDTV like quality, far outstripping the DCRIP1.

Near HDTV quality means zipideydoodah if you miss the shot because the camcorder is not always available in your pocket. Because of this, 3 times as much video is being taken with the DCRIP1 in my house.

I haven't had any problems converting the tapes to DVDs. I used the Sony provided MovieShaker app to rip them to disk, then MyDVD to shoot them to DVD. More hassle because this unit isn't automatically recognized by standard Video applications due to it's nonstandard driver. (Gee- what a shock that Sony often ignores standards). It is nice the MicroMv tapes have memory to store the stop points and recording date/time of the clips, but the feature is only a nice to have. If it was more taken advantage of my software programs I use, it would be a relevant feature.

This extreme portability might not be worth the price premium. After all, there are some good Mini tape camcorders that though not pocketable, are very close to this unit in size, and probably have better video output quality.

My unit quickly had a problem with lens cover not opening completely. It is an annoyance and probably coverred by warranty but I don't think I'll send it back, since it is easily slid open manually. This sort of think may be an inherent risk due to the hairy mechanics on minature cameras. Might be something to consider if you are in a more dusty or marine environment as I am.

The integrated camera is what you'd expect for a 1Mpixel. I took some snapshots- but there are many very decent >4Mpixel pocketable cameras so don't rely on this one for being an all in one. Maybe in a few years we will get a true all in one camcorder/ digital camera. We aren't there yet.

I'll echo what someone else said about low light. It is ok, but not like the ones that take shots in utter darkness.

If you decide to buy- get some extra tapes off the net because the local stores charge a fortune for the MicroMVs- that is, if they even have them. I bought both tapes and camera from Amazon. Very fast delivery, no complaints or hassles as usual.

One last thing- The battery life on these puppies is a lot better than the old days. My habit was to buy two extra batteries. I didn't for this unit and probably won't need an extra. If you are going to be shooting a lot before getting to another outlet, that's another thing but I shot for a full day at disneyland and still had plenty of juice.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good camcorder. I love all of the functions and it's really easy to get started with and use. The built-in light and stability features are too die for. There are tons of accessories you can get to enhance your pictures and vhs quality. But, it's not a true digital camera. And the digital camera function could be improved on. I get better quality photos using my scanner at home. The software that comes with the system is not adequate either. I feel that the $649 retail price I paid for this camcorder is WAY too much.

However, all-in-all the camcorder is excellent. But I do recommend you buy a back-up battery or stay close to an outlet because the battery barely makes the full 2 hours it claims it has. We thought we'd be able to shoot basketball games, but it barely makes through the first half on 1 batterty. If you can get a good deal on it go ahead and get it!

I bouhgt this model last year for Christmas and sort of regret it. The quality of the video and ease of use is good, but it is no better than a VHS entry level model. My greatest beef is how wimpy the battery is for this top of the line model. If you buy any JVC, you really need to buy an extra battery or you will miss moments that you want to capture. Buy the basic model with the LED screen for basic use or pony up for a digital model for all the bells and whistles.

Nice little unit. Had a cassette jam when I first got it. Had to send it in ( at my expense ) to Chicago, for repairs. Turn around time was 2 weeks. After that, never had another problem.
Good photos, great zoom. Bought several filters and both a wide angle and telephoto lens to add to it. A must for this camera is a polarizer lens filter. Really brings out colors and reduces glare from water...... Simple to drop the small cassette into the vcr adapter to plug and play them immediately, or just hook it up directly to the TV to view. I also like the remote that comes with the unit. WARNING........GET EXTRA BATTERIES, AND A CHARGER. It eats power like peanuts.
This was my first video camera purchase. I am happy with what I got.....Not too complicated, but has features for me to grow into. It is not digital, but it also doesnt have a digital price either.

I bought a Hitachi DZ-MV230A DVD Camcorder from Future Shop, Surry, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 28th Sept., 2003. My computer OS WIN XP (Home Edition) does not detect the Camcorder, nor the recorded DVDs are detected by the DVD ROM installed with the Computer. So, I cannot download anything from the Camcorder. The Camcorder is thus useless to me though I like its picture quality and shape. No software was supplied along with the gazette and it was written on the manual that it would work with WIN XP. I wish, the manufacturer gives weightage to this letter and send me the solution.

We got this camera as a Christmas present. For simple movies and communicating with the family, it serves well. There are some design errors that Hitachi will need to fix before I recommend it, though.

First, the DVD disk noise is audible during playback. It is a high-pitched whine in the background. It is not overwhelming or too distracting, but people interested in making amateur films or top notch home video should find a less noisy camera.

Second, the camera does not come with a separate battery charger. You have to put the dead battery into the camera and then use the camera as the charger. This means you can't film on one battery while recharging the other. So, you either charge them all ahead of time, or you hope that you catch all your footage in one go.

Finally, the editing software for this camera is not yet available in the US (as of Dec. 2002). The editing options built into the camera are pretty limited. There are three fade options: fade to white (not black), vertical wipe, and fade to b/w. The interface would be fine for a road trip, but splicing long sequences together is a real pain. The fade features also require additional dead air, or else they cut into the sound portion of the tape. This may be my inexperience, but it bugged me for a while.

Overall, I found the camera very intuitive and easy to use, and I wouldn't give it up for a different gift. Still, there are probably some tape or other DVD-based models out there that are more polished in
their design.

I spent a lot of time researching camcorders before finally deciding on the Hitachi 230A. I purchased it to record my childrens band performance at halftime and to share the recording with the band director for teaching purposes. It worked great..I recorded the performance, put it in my lap top and was able to replay it instantly for everyone. It was quite a hit, until I got home and tried to download it to my computer to make copies. It seems the salesman, in his zest to sell me the camera, neglected to sell me the correct interface kit. This camcorder comes with 2 different interface software kits. One is for still images only and is relatively easy to find. The other kit (DZ-WINPC3) is a scare commodity. At this time you can only order it directly from Hitachi at the cost of $179.00 plus shipping and handling. AND it's on back order for 2-3weeks. This kit is not even carried by Circuit City, the major supplier of this camcorder. I love the camcorder for it's eaze of use and the digital picture quality but I spent my first weekend with this product on the phone trying to figure out why I couldn't download my video into my computer. I at least got to transpose it onto VHS but the manuel supplied leaves much to be desired when it comes to explanations. It tells you the correct way to plug it in to your VCR but neglects to note that you have to set your TV and VCR to a different input mode in order for it to work. I guess that you're supposed to know that already. Would I buy this camcorder again...only if I had all the correct software in my hand as I walked out of the store. Also, the customer service department at Hitachi is wonderful. I'm sure that they recognize my voice by now.