Video Reviews

-If you want an affordable, high quality camera for video chatting over MSN or Yahoo, this is a great choice. Simply plug it in and load the drivers and you are ready to video conference. I use it to talk to my family on the other side of the globe and save on international phone bills (it's free) using my DSL line. The resolution/frame rate is higher than most other cameras in this price range. To get a Logitech camera with the same video resolution, you have to pay more than twice the price. The picture quality is also great, even in low light. In fact, I needed to dim the lights in the room because there was too much glare.
-Unfortunately, the software doesn't work. I have a Celeron 2GHz Windows XP system and the software that came with the camera couldn't detect the camera. I contacted Creative Technical support and they were very responsive, but they couldn't fix the problem. The software seemed almost like it was a beta version or somebody's incomplete homework. Fortunately, the software is not necessary because I use Yahoo/MSN messenger to video conference and Windows MovieMaker for everything the software was supposed to do and then some.
-When you chat with someone, they don't need a camera to see your live video. So you can show them how good the product is and encourage them to get one too. The frame rate is much better with MSN, but the picture is larger with Yahoo. Yahoo has a super function that enables a faster frame rate, but I haven't been able to get it to work even though I have MSN DSL.

I bought this cam based on my needs and the reviews of others here and am glad I did. If you're looking for the best combination of value and features, this cam is for you.

If you're looking for a cam to chat with others online with, then this cam has all the features you need. You can pay twice as much (or more) for other cams with more features, and if money is no object to you then I'd spend more. But if you want solid, reliable features, then you're not going to beat the [$$$] or so you spend on this webcam.

I chose this over a Logitech model for 2 reasons. First, other reviewers complained about all but the more expensive models. Second, this was so much cheaper and offers the same features. Works with Yahoo, AOL, and MSN, and has great pics and supersize ability. Not as smooth as the more expensive models, but if you want the basics, this is for you.

Installation was easy--if you can read directions, you shouldn't have problems. I'm not going to accuse other reviewers of not being able to read, but I have Windows XP and had no problems installing at all. However, once the setup is complete, there are no other instructions...a more detailed troubleshooter would be nice. However, this is available online.

The 2 biggest features are making your own movies or using it as a live webcam. However, you can't do both simultaneously. So if you're using the camera to look at something, you won't be able to log onto yahoo webcam or any of the others...you'll have to shut it off first. Keep that in mind...took me 20 minutes to figure it out.

Enjoy this product!

We took the camera out of its box, plugged it in, plugged in the microphone, and Windows XP immediately installed and configured both. Within moments we were watching ourselves on screen and sending clips to our friends on the Internet. No problems, no hassles; seems like a great product.

Without getting into specific minute details, that to me really make the biggest difference in video, I would absolutely get nothing else in a S video cable, if I were you! There is no reson why you should be watching your DVD movies without the best technology has to offer in transfering the image to your screen. Obviousely I would first recommend a high quality television, and a stellar DVD player as well! Using these cables on anything less would be like using 95 octane gasoline on a Geo (ie defeating the purpose of high performance!)

Noel Lee's Monster Cable products Inc., come up with the goods here! A cable of stunning, high resolution that snaps the picture into such clarity that you'll think you're watching scenes through a glass window and not through a television/monitor, a bold claim indeed, BUT, quite true never-the-less. I was totally unprepared for such a dramatic change for the better. This cable brings to the viewer ALL the picture, and, yes, that does mean "Warts and all"so, be prepared to see the smallest of detail, like strings and wire that enabled special effects crews to do their work "Un-seen". Who really needs HDTV when cables like Monster's MVS3-1M are this good and can bring a vastly superior standard to an existing television/monitor for only a minute fraction of the cost. Thanks Noel, well done!

I had a pair of these cables for approximately 2 years when i noticed there was a frayed end where the connector started to come off. I didn't notice any change in performance but I recalled that ALL Monster Cable "wires" have a lifetime warranty. I thought I'd try and take advantage of their claim and low and behold, I easily made arrangements to have a new one exchanged. It took only a week of waiting (back and forth shipping, mind you) and I had a brand spanin' new cable in my possesion. Great customer service!!!

Without getting into specific minute details, that to me really make the biggest difference in video, I would absolutely get nothing else in a S video cable, if I were you! There is no reson why you should be watching your DVD movies without the best technology has to offer in transfering the image to your screen. Obviousely I would first recommend a high quality television, and a stellar DVD player as well! Using these cables on anything less would be like using 95 octane gasoline on a Geo (ie defeating the purpose of high performance!)

Noel Lee's Monster Cable products Inc., come up with the goods here! A cable of stunning, high resolution that snaps the picture into such clarity that you'll think you're watching scenes through a glass window and not through a television/monitor, a bold claim indeed, BUT, quite true never-the-less. I was totally unprepared for such a dramatic change for the better. This cable brings to the viewer ALL the picture, and, yes, that does mean "Warts and all"so, be prepared to see the smallest of detail, like strings and wire that enabled special effects crews to do their work "Un-seen". Who really needs HDTV when cables like Monster's MVS3-1M are this good and can bring a vastly superior standard to an existing television/monitor for only a minute fraction of the cost. Thanks Noel, well done!

I had a pair of these cables for approximately 2 years when i noticed there was a frayed end where the connector started to come off. I didn't notice any change in performance but I recalled that ALL Monster Cable "wires" have a lifetime warranty. I thought I'd try and take advantage of their claim and low and behold, I easily made arrangements to have a new one exchanged. It took only a week of waiting (back and forth shipping, mind you) and I had a brand spanin' new cable in my possesion. Great customer service!!!

Without getting into specific minute details, that to me really make the biggest difference in video, I would absolutely get nothing else in a S video cable, if I were you! There is no reson why you should be watching your DVD movies without the best technology has to offer in transfering the image to your screen. Obviousely I would first recommend a high quality television, and a stellar DVD player as well! Using these cables on anything less would be like using 95 octane gasoline on a Geo (ie defeating the purpose of high performance!)

Noel Lee's Monster Cable products Inc., come up with the goods here! A cable of stunning, high resolution that snaps the picture into such clarity that you'll think you're watching scenes through a glass window and not through a television/monitor, a bold claim indeed, BUT, quite true never-the-less. I was totally unprepared for such a dramatic change for the better. This cable brings to the viewer ALL the picture, and, yes, that does mean "Warts and all"so, be prepared to see the smallest of detail, like strings and wire that enabled special effects crews to do their work "Un-seen". Who really needs HDTV when cables like Monster's MVS3-1M are this good and can bring a vastly superior standard to an existing television/monitor for only a minute fraction of the cost. Thanks Noel, well done!

I had a pair of these cables for approximately 2 years when i noticed there was a frayed end where the connector started to come off. I didn't notice any change in performance but I recalled that ALL Monster Cable "wires" have a lifetime warranty. I thought I'd try and take advantage of their claim and low and behold, I easily made arrangements to have a new one exchanged. It took only a week of waiting (back and forth shipping, mind you) and I had a brand spanin' new cable in my possesion. Great customer service!!!

Without getting into specific minute details, that to me really make the biggest difference in video, I would absolutely get nothing else in a S video cable, if I were you! There is no reson why you should be watching your DVD movies without the best technology has to offer in transfering the image to your screen. Obviousely I would first recommend a high quality television, and a stellar DVD player as well! Using these cables on anything less would be like using 95 octane gasoline on a Geo (ie defeating the purpose of high performance!)

Noel Lee's Monster Cable products Inc., come up with the goods here! A cable of stunning, high resolution that snaps the picture into such clarity that you'll think you're watching scenes through a glass window and not through a television/monitor, a bold claim indeed, BUT, quite true never-the-less. I was totally unprepared for such a dramatic change for the better. This cable brings to the viewer ALL the picture, and, yes, that does mean "Warts and all"so, be prepared to see the smallest of detail, like strings and wire that enabled special effects crews to do their work "Un-seen". Who really needs HDTV when cables like Monster's MVS3-1M are this good and can bring a vastly superior standard to an existing television/monitor for only a minute fraction of the cost. Thanks Noel, well done!

I had a pair of these cables for approximately 2 years when i noticed there was a frayed end where the connector started to come off. I didn't notice any change in performance but I recalled that ALL Monster Cable "wires" have a lifetime warranty. I thought I'd try and take advantage of their claim and low and behold, I easily made arrangements to have a new one exchanged. It took only a week of waiting (back and forth shipping, mind you) and I had a brand spanin' new cable in my possesion. Great customer service!!!

Without getting into specific minute details, that to me really make the biggest difference in video, I would absolutely get nothing else in a S video cable, if I were you! There is no reson why you should be watching your DVD movies without the best technology has to offer in transfering the image to your screen. Obviousely I would first recommend a high quality television, and a stellar DVD player as well! Using these cables on anything less would be like using 95 octane gasoline on a Geo (ie defeating the purpose of high performance!)

Noel Lee's Monster Cable products Inc., come up with the goods here! A cable of stunning, high resolution that snaps the picture into such clarity that you'll think you're watching scenes through a glass window and not through a television/monitor, a bold claim indeed, BUT, quite true never-the-less. I was totally unprepared for such a dramatic change for the better. This cable brings to the viewer ALL the picture, and, yes, that does mean "Warts and all"so, be prepared to see the smallest of detail, like strings and wire that enabled special effects crews to do their work "Un-seen". Who really needs HDTV when cables like Monster's MVS3-1M are this good and can bring a vastly superior standard to an existing television/monitor for only a minute fraction of the cost. Thanks Noel, well done!

I had a pair of these cables for approximately 2 years when i noticed there was a frayed end where the connector started to come off. I didn't notice any change in performance but I recalled that ALL Monster Cable "wires" have a lifetime warranty. I thought I'd try and take advantage of their claim and low and behold, I easily made arrangements to have a new one exchanged. It took only a week of waiting (back and forth shipping, mind you) and I had a brand spanin' new cable in my possesion. Great customer service!!!

I purchased this camera over a week ago and have time to thoroughly test this camera. I have tested every feature and am ready to review. I took this camcorder on a ride to Daytona Beach for Biketoberfest and didn't miss a single item that I wanted to film thanks to this camera and the accessories I purchased. If I could give this camera 4.5 stars I would.

Video Quality: 4.5 Stars
The video quality is great -- good light or bad. There is a slight delay in the auto-focus if lighting fluctuates or if there are items close and distant from the camera. This is especially noticeable immediately after you turn the camera on. Once the camera has done its initial focus it is pretty quick. Of course, you are welcome to try to use manual focusing but it too would take you that long to switch to manual focus and then adjust the display.

Night Shot: 4.0 Stars
Night shot is better than most cameras. However, it appears as if you are shining a green flashlight into the dark. The "Super Night Shot" feature is worthless to me. The sample rate is slow and the video unfocused 75% of the time. This feature could have been exchanged for something else useful. I will say that the regular night shot is crisp and clear as opposed to snowy / grainy like other digital camcorders.

Zoom: 4.0 Stars
The zoom is steady and crisp.

Sound Pickup / Microphone: 4.0 Stars
The microphone picks up the zoom button if you "flick" it on and off rather than "ease" it. Play with it for a while and practice before you start taking video that has important audio with it. The microphone is otherwise good. It picks up all the sound you want and keeps the unwanted background sound to a minimum. If you think it needs improvement you can purchase the external microphone kit or use your own mic plugged into the external mic port.

In-Camera Video Editing: 3.5 Stars
The in-camera video editing options are nice to have if you blew all your money on the camera and don't have the $$ to spend on the firewire card to do your editing on the computer.

Included Software: 3.0 Stars
The software does the work easily but lacks some features. I recommend trying a few other shareware versions of other products before you settle into the provided software.

Recommended Updates:
Sony Handycam Camcorder Value Kit ($80) -
Includes Sony Carrying Case and an Extra Battery
The case will keep your investment protected. The extra battery allows you to keep filming while your other battery charges.

Ambico Lithium-Ion Battery Charger ($49) -
This kit allows you to plug the battery in the car charger or at home in a standard outlet. If you are going to be filming for an extended period of time, consider purchasing at least one extra battery and the charger. The Sony Kit provides the extra battery.

Sony DV Editing Kit ($89) -
This kit is called EZ Editor. The kit gives you an internal PCI two-port firewire card, a firewire cable, and Pinnacle Studio 7 SE. The software is very easy to use, and very effective. You can upgrade the software to a more professional feel for about $49 online. The installation of the card is easy, the software is simple and has a multitude of features and is 100% compatible with the camera.

Summary:
This camera is great all around. It has every port for input and output that you would want (under current standards). The instructions are GREAT. Thank goodness they finally developed a manual written in English -- and English only! Now you don't have to flip around trying to find the portions that you understand.

I know I have pushed a few accessories here. I'm not a salesman or a Sony representative. My feeling, however, is that accessorizing makes the camera. This camera is nice by itself but is much more convenient once you add the things that make your life easier.

Each person may need different accessories (which is why they aren't included in the camera package) so use the information provided here to help you decide if you need these accessories or not.

I would recommend that you take the time to step through the owners manual and test each feature that they walk you through. It will prevent you from introducing yourself to the feature at a time when you'd rather be filming. If you purchase the carrying case, the manual fits snug into the front pocket. Keep it there and reference it.

Lastly, I recommend buying a warranty with your camera. Cleanings are recommended every 6 months, this is still a new technology and the warranty doesn't cost that much. I purchased my camera at Best Buy with the warranty. I can bring my camera into Best Buy for a free cleaning as often as I like. I have unlimited repair or replacement of my product should it need replaced. I don't usually buy these warranties, but when you spend this much on a camera, consider this insurance!

I bought this camcorder 10 days before.
Earlier I had Panasonic PV DV800. I returned that one because I wasn't happy about video quality.
I liked TRV 730.
Pros :
Day light video quality is superb. Except night time it is not quite good. Mega Pixel digital photo is quite satisfactory.
USB support is very useful. You can just connect to computer and your camcorder will become virtual disk. It is pretty sleek and data transfer is fast.

Cons.
Memory is just 4 MB. I could hardly take 5 photos with high resolution. Separate Battery charger could be better. At night time even there is plenty of light, picture seems little dark.

Final Word:
There are many DV camcorder cheaper than this one. I will still recommend this based on quality. I found this digital 8 better than other DV's. Overall this is best bet.

I love this camcorder! I can get the close ups skinnaMAX can't touch. The zoom is top notch and the wide angle action catches the nips. I would recommend checking the manuel as it gives the down low you can't get just by trickin the gadget. The nightvision brings the dish to light and makes the digital quiver. I would encourage those who haven't to experience the Sony DCR-TRV730 for themselves.

As a user of an Olympus Camedia C700 which, as a digital camera -- due to its 10X zoom -- has a lightly longer lens, I was happy to find this medium-sized Tamrac 5696 Digital Photo Bag since it holds my camera perfectly.

The main section carries the camera. The front accessory pocket is great for batteries and my extra Flash Media (or other memory) cards. There's even a zippered compartment in the bag's top flat which I use to store my camera's USB sync cable.

The camera bag comes with a convenient shoulder strap. But it also has belt loops (for wearing on your best if you so choose) that work with Tamrac's MAS (Modular Accessory System) line -- which enables various mix-and-match camera, lens and accessory cases to be attached to a MAS system wide-web belt, or to each other.

I use the Tamrac MAS system to tote a combination of 35 mm SLR's, lenses and auto-focus cameras. With the new Tamrac 5696 Digital Photo Bag, I can now carry my digital camera as well.

Tamrac makes great equipment. You can't go wrong.

It's an excellent camera bag and I was dissappointed that it's too big. It's a good size for a larger camera. The Camedia C3020 Z kind of gets lost inside this bag. Otherwise the construction is great and it has pockets galore for accessories like batteries, USB cable, charger, SmartMedia cards, AC adapter, cell phone, wallet, kitchen sink, etc.

I'm returning mine. Unfortunatley Amazon.com does not carry the bag that's the perfect fit for this camera. It's a Tamrac 5693.

my Canon S50 that is. Plenty of room for all my accessories. Includes extra battery and CF cards as well as battery charger and A/V cable. And I still have room. Great case, previously the home to my Kodak DC 4800, which was a larger camera and still was not cramped for space. Very well made and not too bulky, can be worn on a belt or shoulder strap. It's a good buy. Goodbye!

I purchased this camera a week ago around [$$$]. There were other electronic stores advertising this camera for around [$$$]. The next closest deal I found for a camera of this size, with 1.3 megapixel still picture and mini dv technology was around [$$$]. This camera is a steal!

I've had it for a week and what caught my attention initially was the quality of the construction. This camera is solid. The controls are well laid out and anything you need is at your fingertips. I have tested the still picture and mpeg to memory card features. Downloading the images and mpegs to the computer was as easy as easy could be. Although I haven't printed any stills yet, I was surpised by the superior picture quality as it showed up on the monitor. The mpegs are a little weak, but if you need superior video on your computer, buy a firewall cable. It's not included, but at this price you should have plenty of money left over for accessories.

Of the two negative reviews of this product, one refers to it's high price tag, no longer a factor at over [%] off. The other isn't even reviewing this camera.

The only negative I can find is I wish they included a dv camera to computer focus regarding the video in the same way they include instructions and features for the memory card. I.E. I wish they included the firewire. I know, WAAAAAAAAAA. This camera is two cameras in one, and two compact cameras at that. If you want to take pictures and videos of travel or everyday life but don't want to be bogged down by two cameras or bulkier cameras, this is the one for you.

I have had this camera for over a month now, and have been using it in a variety of conditions, from candle-lit Christmas dinners to scenic outdoor settings, some of which from a moving vehicle. The Optura 200MC has been holding up quite well and pleasantly surprised me in many ways.

The sharp and clear video is very impressive, even under less than optimal lighting conditions such as typical indoor settings. Although the image becomes somewhat grainy when lighting conditions deteriorate, remember that no camera performs well with poor lighting. The camera's automatic settings do an excellent job most of the times but fortunately the Optura leaves you with plenty of manual control to experiment and enjoy creative freedom. I was also impressed with the still image quality, especially for a camcorder. Mind you, many dedicated digital still cameras will take better pictures but I really appreciate the convenience of being able to take both high quality videos and decent stills, and only have to carry one compact machine.

The sound from the built-in mic is good and comparable to other camcorders. As with most other up-rights, the mic tends to pick up some motor noise when filming in very quiet environments, but creating some "white background noise" such as a radio or TV playing softly, or adding an external mic should alleviate this problem.

I really like the way the Optura 200MC feels in my hand, not in the least because of the comfortable grip belt which can angle to accommodate your grip on the camera. It definitely lacks the awkward feel so many other up-right camcorders possess. The camera is neither too heavy to hold it up for a long time, or too light to keep it stable. Buttons for manual functions (such as exposure, focus) are located on the back of the camera, which makes them easy to locate while recording. The camera body is made of magnesium except for a few plastic covers, and seems well built.

Is there anything I didn't like? Well the Optura 200MC isn't cheap for starters, and I wish the powerful white LED to illuminate your objects could be turned on in any shooting mode to add that last little bit of manual control, but then I'm being pretty picky. Personally I don't really miss the accessory shoe on the Optura 200MC, as adding accessories to a small camera such as the Optura makes it too bulky for my taste. Also note that many video lights have a limited reach and just turning on an extra lamp when filming inside usually gives a much better result, not to mention less drain on your battery!

Overall, I have been very happy with this camera, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality digital camcorder.

The price you see now on Amazon and other Amazon providers is way out of whack for what this camera is available for from other sources. I considered the Optura 300 and the Elura 50, but I already had a major investment in BP-500 series batteries and chargers. I also use an Optura Pi and a Rebel Digital. Be aware that the 300 and the 50 use other model batteries that are much less available and less robust than the 500 series batteries. I am a big believer in optical stabilization but that is becoming less important nowadays due to excellent electronic circuits.

Getting to the camera, I also do not miss the accessory shoe as I bought this camera for two reasons. The battery compatibility as I mentioned and its small sized ergonomics. As other reviewers have mentioned, the rotating hand strap makes the camera comfy and very handy. My wife can throw it in a purse or I can keep it in the same bag as my digital rebel. And that's the point. Along with the Optura 300 and Elura series, this is a go virtually anywhere miniDV cam. The person that is comparing (and comparing poorly) the GL2 to this cam misses the entire point. 2 different cams for different purposes. I doubt that if you are considering a GL you are even looking at a compact cam. The GL and XL series cams are much much better than any of these.

If you want a compact camera with optical image stabilization, with typical Canon engineering, optics and quality, this would be an excellent choice. But shop around for a deal because the Optura 300 is also very good (some would say better) and the Elura 50 is a budget minded compromise if that's what you need.

I evaluated a number of camcorders PC105, DRV38 and DRV22 when I came acroos the HC40 at the store. I fell in love with the look, the feel, and the great small size. It is not a vertical design, and it fits very nicely in your hand. I purchased it and brought it home.

The first thing my wife and I noticed when we powered it up was how washed out the screen looked. The salesperson said it would look that way on the screen but that the colors would look perfect after downloading the video to my computer. That was not the case - it was just as washed out on my computer. In fact, the video looked worse than the 30sec clips I can take with my Canon S230 digital camera. I went back to the store and returned the camcorder.

I was still intrigued and wondered if I had just gotten a lemon. So I went to a different store, where the saleperson said a number of customers had mentioned how washed out the screens look (especially reds & yellows - flesh tones look out of wack). I asked him to arrange the HC40 and the TRV33 side by side since I discovered that the TRV33 was also small, but not as small as the HC40 - we were astonished (along with other customers watching our impromptu demo) at how poor the HC40 screen looked. The TRV33 blew away the HC40 and it wasn't close by any means. It had much richer colors and captured the colors much more accurately than the HC40.

If you're seriously considering this camcorder, I highly suggest that you put it side-by-side with another Sony not in the HC series and see what you think of the image - I, along with everyone at the store who watched our demo, obviously give this camcorder very, very poor marks for the image.

I gave this camcorder 2 stars b/c the rest of the camcorder seems great - great asthetics, strong ergonomics, nice features like a built-in lens cap - but the poor image defeats to purpose of all the great features especially at this price.

I needed a cam to make some movies of my new daughter. I wanted something compact so that I would never hesitate to carry it around. I also wanted to make sure it was easy to use and took great video indoors. This narrowed my choices down to the Sony PC-105, TRV22 and the Canon Optura 300 / Elura 50. Except for the TRV22, all were the vertical style which while small, were awkward to use (the Sony being the worst with its horrible zoom control). The Canon's also do not have the IR-illuminated night shot capability. So, I was all set to buy the TRV22 especially since it has outstanding low-light capability when I tried out the HC40. The HC's form factor is just so great, I couldn't pass it up. It to me seems as small as the PC105 but is the much more hold-able horizontal style everyone prefers.

So I bought both the TRV22 and HC40 and compared them at home. Yes, the TRV22 does shoot noticably better in low light conditions, but practically speaking the HC40 is good enough for me, and the form factor more than makes up for it. I'd give it 5 stars if 1) its low light ability was as good as the TRV22 and 2) if its auto focus responded a bit quicker.

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