Product Description

680,000-pixel CCD * digital photo mode * digital photo resolution: 640 x 480 * compatible with Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO® Duo (16MB Memory Stick Duo supplied) * 3" color touch-panel LCD * ... Read more

Features

• Digital still camera function with PictBridge compatibilty
• MiniDV digital video recording
• Ultra compact design
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
• 3.0-inch hybrid touch panel LCD

Reviews (1)

Quantity vs. Quality
If you're looking for a camcorder that can produce vivid colors and crystal clear picture, stop reading this review now.This camcorder is not for you.

If you can live with a medicore picture quality, but have the ability to virtually pocket a camcorder anywhere you go, read on.

The Styling:
No doubt, this camcorder exudes sex.Glossy finish with chrome accents.Bling!The styling is very appealing and will demand attention.The physical size is so small, it can be pocketed in a pair of jeans.However, the dimunitive size is also its disadvantage.Stabilizing the camcorder with one hand was a challenge due to it being so light and small.The physcial shape of the camcorder was very awkward to hold.Many times, the index finger would partially cover the lens during taping. It was just natural for the index finger to overlay on top of the lens.The zoom button is positioned for a thumb activation.However, when the thumb is re-positioned to employ the zoom button, the grip on the camcorder is compromised.The user will feel like the camera will drop from their hands when using the zoom button.

The Picture:
Outside daylight recording is acceptable.Color re-production is decent.There were still some slight noise in the image.However, there was an un-acceptable amount of purple fringing.This can be seen when recording a dark subject against a bright background.For example, point up at tree branches against a cloudy grey sky.The edges of the branch glows purple.
Indoor recording with common household lamps was littered with noise and poor contrast.The overall picture was very grainy.There were no details in black objects.For example, a black leather chair just shows up as a black object with no other details such as wrinkles or texture.

The Audio:
Audio recorded in 16 bit sounded very good.Voices were clear and with faithful reproduction.However, at times, the microphone was able to pick up the actual tape winding mechanism of the camcorder.It was a constant high pitch whine that can be heard during playback.This is most likely due to the fact that the camcorder is so small that the distance between the microphone and the tape motors are minimized.The same condition was exhibited during the usage of the zoom button.Loud clicks can be heard during playback as the zoom button snaps back.

Conclusion:
This is definitley a case study of Quantity vs. Quality.There is a price to pay for ultra portability.In my opinion, the size of this camcorder has reached the point of diminishing returns.In other words, the camera is too small to be ergonimically correct.The size also compromised the audio and video performance.Buy it to impress your friends......just don't let them watch the final result. ... Read more

Features

• Up to 6.6 megapixels
• For use in up to five meters in depth
• 16 MB internal memory
• Secure digital card slot
• 1.5 inch color LCD display

Reviews (6)

Not worth the trouble
Nice little camera, but it does not take quality pictures. We used this camera for pictures of all kinds and the pictures look great on the camera display, but once they are printed they are very blurry and distorted. Spend the extra money to get something of good quality, this camera is definitely not it.

So-So
This camera is nice and clean, but the performance is lagging when it comes to processing time and overall photo quality. The digital zoom is best left alone because results end up being out of focus. The 1.5 inch display is fine for lighted photos, but during dances or night time events you are totally unable to view what you are trying to take a photo of. For the price it is average, but for a little more money you can purchase a better camera with an optical zoom.

Two Thumbs Down
This cam is an import, I can't remember if it was built in Taiwan or China; either way its definitely not from the USA. The max resolution is complete overkill. For such an anemic sensor, they should not have tried to make 6MP from 3MP. The picture quality has been below average when set to 3MP. At 6MP, the quality is exceptionally poor. Avoid the Digital Zoom, unless you like really blurry pics. Two thumbs down for me.

Not worth it
First off, this camera is not made in the USA as indicated online. Creates poor choppy and grainy video.I would not recomend this camera, spend a little bit more and get good camera with 3x Optical Zoom.

Great Camera
I bought this camera for vacation and it was great. the pictures were great and i would reccomend this camera because it a good camera for the money ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Since MiniDV has entered the mainstream market, users can now demand extra features in addition to regular digital video performance.The Sony DCR-TRV80 is well equipped with technological additions, such as a 2-megapixel digital camera and wireless Bluetooth networking capabilities. The camcorder also features a 10x optical zoom, 16:9 widescreen mode, a 3.5-inch LCD with touchscreen control, and a color viewfinder.

Step-up Value
Here are two Sony features that adds value to this digital camcorder and differentiate it from other models in the Sony lineup.

2.0 Megapixel Sensor: Of all the world's consumer camcorders, Sony was the first to break the megapixel barrier. Working with high-resolution recording and high-precision Sony custom optics, the benefits are dramatic. You'll see amazing detail on everything you shoot. Every blade of grass. Every strand of hair. The names on the back of player uniforms. And megapixel resolution is also a great benefit in Sony's Digital still camera function (Memory Mode). You'll be able to shoot images at 1600 x 1200 pixels, for prints up to 8 x 10nches.

Digital Still Memory Mode: Capture digital still images directly onto Memory Stick media for easy transfer to e-mail, printing, or sharing with compatible Memory Stick devices. Digital still images can be captured while in Memory Mode, or images from the videotape can be captured onto Memory Stick media. This feature provides the Dual Function of having one camera for video and still images, and provides the user with a whole new world of imaging possibilities.

Image Stabilization
Sony's SteadyShot picture stabilization keeps your images smooth and steady without degrading picture quality. The technology uses motion sensors, which tend to be more accurate than most other systems used in the camcorder market.

Optics
The multicoated Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens ensures balanced and clear contrast. The advanced HAD CCD sensor records images accurately in vibrant color and sharp resolution. The TRV80 has a robust 10x optical zoom that fits most purposes, but for extra distance the camera can reach 120x through the digital zoom. A hologram autofocus system and several autoexposure modes allow for automatic operation while achieving ideal images for the situation.

More Features
You can record video in low- to no-light situations with Sony's NightShot system, which uses infrared light to capture images invisible to the human eye. With the function on, subjects up to 10 feet away can be seen in total darkness. You can also use the color slow shutter for color night shots instead of the regular green night-shot hue.

Sony's Stamina power management system and InfoLithium battery give the TRV80 a long operating time. To keep you informed of current battery life, Sony's AccuPower meter displays the number of minutes remaining right in the viewfinder.

You can take digital stills and record small MPEG EX movies using the included 8 MB Memory Stick. This is where the 2-megapixel resolution CCD really shines, creating images that can be printed at sizes of up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels for prints up to 8 by 10 inches. The intelligent pop-up flash keeps your images well-lit and visible.

The TRV80 features a huge 3.5-inch color LCD and a color viewfinder. The menu is accessed via a touchscreen display on the LCD, reducing the clutter of buttons on the camera. A stylus is also included for ease of use.

The USB streaming feature can turn the TRV80 into a video-conferencing tool or a Webcam, and the standard IEEE 1394 connection can be used for digital video editing on a computer. The TRV80's improved Bluetooth technology enables wireless peer-to-peer data transfers and Internet connectivity with an optional adapter or Bluetooth-enabled cell phone.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Contents
This package includes the TRV80 camcorder, power adaptor and in-camera charger, InfoLithium rechargeable battery, 8 MB Memory Stick, stylus, wireless remote, AV cable, lens cap, shoulder strap, USB cable, two AA batteries, and USB drivers. ... Read more

Features

• Compact MiniDV digital camcorder with 2-megapixel imaging
• 10x optical, 120x digital, zoom with Super SteadyShot image stabilization
• 3.5-inch touch-panel color SwivelScreen LCD display; includes 8 MB Memory Stick for still image and MPEG1 capture
• Improved Bluetooth wireless networking capabilities
• NightShot O Lux infrared system with color mode for recording in total darkness

Reviews (6)

Wow
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!

Satisfied User
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.

Overpriced; Bad Manual; Horrible Support
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.

Would not buy a Sony again
Well it started out good... It was nice having high-quality Mini DV recordings, the wireless connectivity, firewire to my computer, and all the other bells and whistles. BUT... after having this Sony for a couple years, and the warranty is out, I am stuck with a dog! It worked fine until right before the warranty ran out. While it was still under warranty, it went in for repairs due to audio cutting out, and all they did was clean it. After a few weeks, it started happening again. TWICE they were unable to fix it! I gave up and just bought a Canon. If Sony can't even fix their own products, I don't think I want to buy them!

feature rich sony 2 megapixel camcorder
this is a power packed camcorder!
pros:
- other than the sony trv70, this is the only miniDV camcorder that has a 2 megapixel still camera built in.
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- nice big LCD screen: 3.5"!
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, bluetooth, headphone, 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 LCD size (3.5" vs 2.5") and still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- 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 sony's idea of a joke. 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.
nice work sony. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony DCR-PC9 is a quality consumer-grade compact MiniDV digital camcorder. Packed with a 10x optical zoom and 120x digital zoom, the camcorder also features digital image stabilization. You can shoot and watch your video using either the color eye viewfinder or 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder. The unique vertical design makes it compact enough to hold within your hand without any strain.

Like most digital camcorders, the DCR-PC9 is equipped with an IEEE 1394 connection (also known as i.Link and Fire Wire) for digital image transfer, allowing video editing on a properly equipped home computer. In addition, all analog ports on the DCR-PC9 have analog to digital converters built in. With this feature, anyone upgrading from older analog equipment can transfer their old memory to new digital tapes.

If you own a TV equipped with Sony's Super LaserLink feature (or purchase an optional Super LaserLink attachment for your TV), playback is especially easy. You can just aim the DCR-PC9 at the TV from up to 26 feet away, press "play," and enjoy your videos without having to connect any wires.

The DCR-PC9 also doubles as a digital still camera, recording photos onto an included 4 MB Memory Stick at a resolution of up to 640 x 480 pixels. You can also record up to 60 seconds of video directly to the memory stick with the MPEG movie mode. Digital program editing allows for easy dubbing of 20 selected scenes from one digital camcorder to another, or to an analog VCR. Three different white-balance settings help optimize color. The DCR-PC9 includes a microphone input, as well as an accessory shoe for extra lights or microphones. Also included are an AC power adapter, lithium-ion battery, remote, stereo AV cable, lens cap, and lens hood. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Best of the tiny camco
Best of the miniDV camcorder around. After searching for about a month, comparing more than 15 minidv camcorders. Even actually bought one. I'd have to say that this is the best one that we found.

At first, we bought a JVC GR-DVM90U because after. This camcorder has so many features, lightweight, and thinner than other digicams.

But after we've bought it, we found that it's image quality is very poor in low light condition. Though it has many features in it (such as AE program with 12 digital effects and 17 scene transitions), we never use any of it. Moreover, the image stabilization also not as good as we expected.

As for the digital camera capability, we don't really use it because we have a FUJI digital camera. And the quality of the camcorder's snapshot won't match the quality of the digital camera.

Since we're not really satisfied with our JVC, we tried to look around and end up with 2 choices. Canon Elura 2 or Sonny DCR-PC9. The review of Canon Elura 2 is better than our JVC, but we can't find a review for Sony DCR-PC9 because the product is new. But we know that Sony has a respectable quality, so we take our chances and bought this camera.

The moment it arrived and we hold this camcorder in our hands, we're sure that this is a great camcorder. The camcorder is less the size of the palm. It has the best image quality and the touchscreen is nice to use. The amazing part is that it performs really well in low light condition. You can even use it in total darkness with it's Nightshot feature. Really cool. The image stabilization is also really good.

The only flaw that we found is that the AUTO setting for the light is not really good. If you're using this camcorder indoor, you might want to switch it to the INDOOR option instead of leaving it at AUTO.

Battery life is okay. With around 2 hours of recording (much better than the JVC with only 1 hour of battery life).

So far, in our opinion this is the best digital camcorder around for the money.

Fantastic camera except for still camera and akward size
About 2 months ago I purchase this camera forunner the DCR-PC5. What I liked about the dcr-pc5 was its small size, still camera mode, the use of he sony memory stick and np series batteries (both compatiable with my soncy dcr-p30 digital still camera)and its great looking hi res video. I had received a sony CCd-TR81 handycam as a graduation gift about 10 years ago and new that a sony was a fairly reliable and durable camera. Some issues that I had about the DCR-PC5 included marginal battery like with the supplied np-11 battery,low still camera resolution and quality, slow still image transfer to by pc via paralell port and slightly akward ability to hold the camera. (I'm 6'2 and have big hands, that might be the problem). Last week a good friend of mine loaned me his DCR-PC9 and I was suprised at the improvements. The battery life has been noticebly increased, the slow parellel connection has been replaced by usb transfer port. How come sony dosent allow still image data transfer via the ieee1394 firewire? Odd. I still think the camera is a little akward to hold and if you don't have a still digital camera and only need to post photos to the web then this is fine. Again the video quality is excellent and I like this camera much more then canon's optura mc10-mc20 line. Feels more solid. Also analog signal can be uploaded to the camera and stored in a digital format and then thransfered to your pc if your into editing which I am. Also a ton of editing effects are built right into the camera. Some people will balk at the price of this model but its worth it even if your only gonna use it seldomly. ...

dcr-pc101 is the newer version of this model
I was going to buy the dcr-pc9 based on [a] review but when I went to a store they told me that the dcr-pc101 was the updated replacement that included some modest improvements including much higher still resolution (1 megapixel) and 520 vs 500 scan lines plus USB streaming. I bought the Sony dcr-pc101 and have been very happy.

Excellent features, small, great video quality
First camcorder-I really like it a lot! Purchased it for our honeymoon and was really able to capture great memories. It is very small so you can carry it wherever you go without it being cumbersome. It is very lightweight so you're able to do a lot with it without feeling bogged down. The video quality is awesome(at night too) - however, the picture quality from the digital camera is just so so. Also, it has a tendency to pick up more than average outside noise because the mike is on top and forward on the unit. I would definitely recommend this unit.

Great Compact Camera - Highly Recommended!
I originally did extensive research on the "vertical palm size" mini-DV camcorders and narrowed my decision down to the Sony DCR-PC9, the Canon Elura 20MC and the JVC GR-DVM75. Let me tell you that this was an extremely difficult evaluation because all three cameras have their strengths and weaknesses and there was no clear choice. The digital video technology found in all three of these compact cameras is absolutely amazing. I originally purchased the JVC but I had concern with the workmanship and the quality of the hardware - I had read several reviews where the owner eventually experienced problems and the cost to service the camera was extremely steep. I ended up buying the Canon Elura 20MC and did a side by side comparison against the JVC. Not being completely satisfied with either camera, I finally purchased the Sony camera as well. This ended up being an involved process but it was the only way to really evaluate the cameras.

Although you can make arguments that one camera had slightly sharper images or another one handled colors slightly better, overall all three cameras produced crisp, accurately colored images in outdoor sunlight settings. Under outdoor overcast conditions, the colors can be on the dull side but the video still was of decent quality. All three camcorders performed poorly under low light conditions. The low light video taping was indoors at night with single or double lamp lighting with light bulbs between 60 and 100 watts. The Cannon Elura produced the poorest quality video (even with the low light setting) - very dark and grainy and the quality was actually poorer than an 8mm analog camcorder. The Sony and JVC with standard auto-shutter settings produced about the same level of video quality which was less grainy but still on the dark side. The lower shutter speed settings on the JVC and Sony improves the image but the video becomes very choppy. As stated in other reviews, the Sony Night Shot (IR based) feature is impressive and works relatively well under "no light" conditions but creates the greenish monotone image. I am not sure how much video I will actually keep with the Night Shot but it is fun to use.

Sound quality is good on all 3 cameras but I do agree with the other reviewers who have commented on the problems associated with having the microphone located on the top of the camera. All the camcorders pick up some motor noise but the noise seemed to be more prevalent on the Canon. I also thought the sound was a little muffled on the Canon when compared to the other two camcorders. The Canon and JVC have wind screen options but I found them to be of limited value.

Not surprisingly, the digital stills from all 3 cameras were extremely poor. Even with the XGA resolution and built-in flash, the JVC stills were only marginally better than that of the other cameras. The best field stills (captured from video) came from the Canon and then the JVC. If you want to produce "print quality" digital stills, my recommendation is to purchase a separate dedicated digital camera instead of spending extra money on a higher CCD count.

You can read about specific features and functions in other reviews for the 3 camcorders but here is a summary of my side by side comparison:

For the Canon Elura 20MC
Pros: Quality Video, Progressive Scan, extended Recording Modes, good ergonomics and design, well constructed, the smallest of the 3 camcorders, manual exposure and shutter speed settings
Cons: Poor low light quality, short battery life, too small for large hands, microphone picks up the most motor noise of the 3 cameras, poor stills, no software, requires a shoe for external microphone and head phone, no USB support

For the Sony DCR-PC9
Pros: Quality Video, NightShot, the most features/functions of the 3 cameras, battery life was about 30% better than the other camcorders, lens ring for manual focus
Cons: Construction feels cheap, Poor Ergonomics, poor stills, cumbersome menu system, uses Sony's proprietary memory stick, limited remote controller functions

For the JVC GR-DVM75
Pros: Quality Video, High Band Processor emulates progressive scan, Built In Flash, well designed remote controller, good number of features/settings
Cons: Construction feels cheap, Poor stills, short battery life, poor viewfinder resolution, requires a shoe for USB connection,

Here are a couple of general observations for purchasing a camcorder. Most sales people only know the specs of each camera but have limited (if any) "actual use" experience outside the store. The image quality on the LCD screen is not a good indicator of the actual quality of the recorded video - you really need to view the video image on a TV screen. Finally, you cannot fully assess the quality of a camcorder within the confines of a store.

Because I am planning to do quite a bit of indoor video taping I decided to keep the Sony. I really hated to give up the Canon progressive scan. I originally thought I would keep the Canon (see my review under Elura 20MC) but the poor quality video in low light eventually prompted me to evaluate the Sony. The bottom line is that each camcorder is an excellent product and the best camera for you is dependent on your needs. If you are on a budget, the JVC offers the best overall value, performance, features for your money. Although I only had limited, the hardware quality of the JVC seems to be on par with the Sony. If you are primarily video taping under good lighting conditions and want to capture stills from video, then I would recommend the Cannon. The Elura was also the most compact, most comfortable and best designed. If you need a camera with many digital effects, options and special functions and are video taping in low light/night conditions then I would purchase the Sony. Good luck! ... Read more

Features

• Storage capacity of up to 2GB
• Read and write speeds of up to 80Mbps (10MB/s.) -- perfect for transferring high-resolution digital photos to and from PCs

Features

• Digital8 Handycam camcorder and digital still camera with 460,000-pixel CCD
• 20x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 990x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer
• 2.5-inch rotating LCD and black-and-white viewfinder
• Low-light recording settings, Memory Stick Pro slot, and analog-to-digital conversion ability
• NP-FM30 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery

Reviews (21)

Works Great, Good Battery Performance
I've been using the DCR-TRV460 for about six weeks and have been very pleased. I use it for home movies, transfer of my old 8MM tapes to the computer and burning Video CDs (MPEG-2 format).

Several reviews have mentioned poor battery performance and incompatability with generic batteries. I've had none of those problems. The battery supplied with the camera lasts about one hour. I bought a Duracell lithium battery on sale at Circut City for $30 and it lasts over two hours and works just like the Sony battery. I really like the battery management system that Sony provides which shows the charge status both when charging and when using the camera.

The touch screen controls are, in my opinion, a huge improvement over the mechanical buttons of previous Digital 8 models. One secret (when editing or transfering video to a PC) is to turn the screen completely around and click it back in place on the side of the camera. Then the camera can be easily controlled without the screen sticking out to the side.

I bought the Sony Digital 8 EZ Editor kit ($45 from Sony on clearance) which comes with a firewire card, cable and movie making software. It works great with my Windows XP PC. The PC sees the camera quickly when it's plugged in and even recognizes the model number. Capturing video, editing, adding backgroud music/transitions/titles, and burning video CDs has been very easy. I expect burning video to DVDs will work just as well.

The DCR-TRV460 is an inexpensive camcorder so it's CCD imager is small. It's video quality isn't as sharp as more expensive camcorders. However, for the price it does a lot of things very well. For home movies and amature video it's worked flawlessly for me. I play back the video on a standard 36" TV and the quality is fine. I also like the camera's compact size and it's ease of use which is an improvement from previous Digital 8 models. It also plays my old 8MM analog tapes and can convert them to digital output to the PC.

I bought the DCR-TRV460 at Ultimate Electronics for $340 ($400 list price less a 15% off promotion on any single item in the store). After using it for six weeks, I would buy it again.

A Deal That Makes You Smile All The Way
Hi,

I bought a DCR TRV-460 about 10 days ago and have only shot an hour of video till now. But I am more than happy with the results and the ease of handling this camcorder. The picture quality is good. I agree that it gives you not more than 45 - 50 mins of battery time in one shot but then my requirements are such that I am comfortable with this so called drawback. I would have given it a 5 star rating but for the camcorder size.

I think this is the camcorder for the people who have a medium budget but do not want to compromise on the quality. I had a budget of $450 - $500 for the complete set that would include the Camcorder + 4 Tapes + Bag + 128 MB Memory Stick + Lens Cleaning Set and to be true, I got all this in less that $500 and the only thing that I had to compromise was the size. So for me, its a deal worth my TOTAL HAPPINESS.

For all those who think their needs are somewhat like mine, then I would definitely suggest DCR TRV-460. We have to remember one thing that if you have the budget, you can get whatever you want. But before buying an camcorder do sit down and analyze what would you be doing with it actually and if you are getting all that in a $399 camcorder then why do you want to spend more just because it has that added fancy feature.

Happy shopping..!!

-Anurag

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Camera is a nightmare from hell
In addition to making you buy and new battery and memory stick, the Sony Corp sticks you with bad software which will not let you download your videos to your hard drive with music and special effects that have been preselected by Sony. There is no way to get rid of the music and special effects and just have the raw video as you made it. Its a perverted piece of software that leaves you stuck with someone else adding things to your videos that you don't want. Don't buy this camera, don't buy anything Sony. We just wanted a simple camera that would download to our computer so we could do what we wanted with our videos but all we got was a lot of extra expense and no freedom at all with our videos. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Early Adopters Pick: Oct ober 2002. The world's first digital camcorder that also takes 2.1-megapixe l digital still pictures; weighs only 24 ounces and has integrated Bluetooth te chnology to transfer images to a computer without wires or cables.

Sony's 2-megapixel DCR-IP220 is a serious recording tool for the digital videographer who wants all of Sony's advanced features in a single camcorder. The DCR-IP220 records on the miniscule MicroMV tapes, offers Super NightShot and Night Framing modes, hologram autofocusing, and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, all of these hefty features add up to a fairly hefty price.

Assuming that cost isn't an object, this camcorder does pretty much anything you'd want it to. The MicroMV tapes--70 percent smaller than MiniDV--each have a 64 KB memory chip so you can scan through different sections of the tape like a DVD, locating scenes by their thumbnails.

The high-detail 2.5-inch LCD swings up above the camcorder, and pivots 270-degrees so you can view it from almost any angle--including in front of the camera. The LCD also serves as a touchscreen interface, with a stylus for accessing menus, and it displays both approximate battery life and remaining storage space.

For storing short clips and still images (at 1,600 by 1,200 resolution), the DCR-IP220 features a Memory Stick slot and includes an 8 MB stick. Its night and low-light filming capabilities are quite impressive--we were able to read details from across a darkened room with the Super NightShot mode. And the Night Framing mode takes bright, full-color still images in limited light.

Connectivity options abound, with FireWire (either camera to camera or camera to PC), USB, and Bluetooth support built into the camcorder. It also includes a color viewfinder, intelligent pop-up flash, and an adequate (although not stellar) 10x optical zoom.

Sony's DCR-IP220 isn't for the faint of wallet, but if you're not satisfied with anything but the best, this camcorder was built for you. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Excellent night modes
• Sharp, high-resolution video and image quality
• Unique and compact tapes

Cons:

• Expensive (though chock-full of cutting-edge features)
• Only 10x zoom

Features

• Sleek, 2.1-megapixel MicroMV camcorder and digital still camera
• 10x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer
• 2.5-inch rotating precision SwivelScreen hybrid touch panel LCD
• Memory Stick slot, wireless remote control, and Super NightShot forshooting in low lighting
• NP-FF70 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery

Reviews (4)

microMV is not for everyone
on paper, the IP220 looks like a winner. but after a close look and i'm not as sold...

pros:
- delivers vibrant colors when shooting in daylight.
- 10x carl zeiss vario-sonnar T* lens.
- 2MP still capability.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
- has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
- steady shot and night shot.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- top-loading cassette.
- boatloads of optional accessories.
- manual focus/zoom ring on lens.
- has NightFraming which allows you to focus and compose your scene in total darkness with the aid of the infrared emitter, then shoot a full-color still with the pop-up flash. very cool.

cons:
- microMV format is proprietary and may go the way of betamax.
- microMV video quality is noticeably worse than MiniDV.
- images emerge washed-out when shooting indoors.
- uses an mpeg version that may not be compatible with your current video editor.
- Super Night Shot, Color Night Shot very choppy in low/no light.
- not Mac compatible.
- very bad ergonomics - zoom and photo shutter controls are poorly positioned.
- LCD can't tilt backwards - if you've had it before, you'll miss the ability to show kids themselves as you videotape them.
- the advantage of microMV is size but that's not reflected in this camcorder. this is the biggest microMV camcorder out there: 3.9"W x 3.0"H x 5.3"D, weighing 1.5 lbs. you can get smaller camcorders like the panasonic's gs70 or sony's trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- 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 gs70 or trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera and still save money in the process!
- battery life could be better.
- only 2.5" LCD and it's not as crisp as others in the sony line-up.
- non-intuitive menu system.
- bottom loading battery so you can't replace this while mounted on a tripod.
- the accessory shoe is not a hot shoe.
- no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

in the end, the microMV format is a deal breaker for me. it is sony proprietary and not widely supported. and the main reason for even using microMV (size) is not really reflected in this camcorder. if you're looking for a camcorder/camera hybrid, i'd say wait a couple more years (hopefully). the still quality is just not there yet. your best bet is to get a decent camcorder and complement it with a stand-alone digital camera.

i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.

Micromv:Not for the Serious Computer Video Editor
I bought the Sony DCR IP220 because of its 2.0 Megapixel capabilities and while I love the resolution that it displays on the TV, I am not impressed with the quality of footage after capturing to computer. Here are the pros and cons that I have found:

PROS:
1.Great resolution and great quality video produced (530 lines and 2.2 megapixels). (5 star quality)
2. Digital zoom (X700) works fine using a tripod and produces somewhat clear images. Any zoom magnification up to X120, produces very clear moving images.
3. The still pictures are compatible with any 2.0 megapixel camera.
4. Low light video never appeared grainy.
5. Touch screen menu-Many options are available & can be reached quickly. It has a similar feeling to a PDA Palm pilot.

CONS:
1.Video Editing or video email is only possible if your computer system is Windows ME, XP, 2000, and above. If you have Windows 98/98SE and below, then you need to upgrade.
2.If you are into serious computer editing, then this is not the camera for you. The Micromv format is supported only by Sony's Movie Shaker (included), Ulead's MediaStudio Pro 7, and Pinnacle's Studio Deluxe 8.1 . MovieShaker captures with the best quality, but it produces pixellated moving images and stores the files as .mmv. After capturing, the file must be exported to mpeg/avi/etc format. To render 1min 46secs of mmv footage, it took me about 30 mins for mpeg 2 and 8 mins for mpeg 1. MediaStudio 7 captures micromv footage very easily (after downloading the patch) and offers the quickest,most compatable options (direct output to avi/mpeg). Capture is instantaneous (as is cpaturing from most DV camcorders). However, the quality is also somewhat pixellated and the playback is jerky in moving areas. I have not tried Pinnacle.
2. No microphone input jack! It is hard to record a speaker's message if you are in crowds of people. If you have large hands, you may end up covering the bulit in mic and receive no sound at all.
3. Tiny Buttons!It is very difficult to zoom using the very tiny zoom button. Also,the record button is sticking out and you can accidently knock it.
4. Touch screen menu. If for any reason the touch screen is damaged, then it is dificult to command function of the camcorder.

If you are not into Computer editing or emailing video, then this camera deserves a "5 Star Rating". However, considering that I bought the camera with the intentions of editing, I have to say that I am a little upset with the finished quality.

DCR-IP220 - Good ergonomics, but unproven tape format
Pros: Small size. Good ergonomics. Screen on back. Still photos. Compact tapes & batteries.

Cons: Expensive. MicroMV format may or may not equal MiniDV. Lens could be more wide-angle.

I found the camera easy to carry, though I kind of wish it had a neck strap. I think the size is about right - not too small to handle, but still very easy to carry. One complaint/frustration was that its lense doesn't seem to be as wide-angle as I'm used to - trying to tape inside buildings, etc. I found myself constantly backing into corners and still cutting people off at the waist, etc. - I may have to look into getting a wide-angle lense for this. Of course, I was trying to tape inside 150 year old houses with small rooms, so that didn't help. As for video and still quality, all I can say is that they look fine to me - I watched for pixelization or other artifacts reported as being problems with MicroMV, but haven't noticed any even in dark areas. I will say that experimenting with the night shot and super night shot, I don't see much use for them - I could hardly distinguish what I recorded in these modes. I was impressed by the ability of the still camera and flash to take decent photos of buildings from around 50 feet away in near total darkness. I didn't expect the flash to work at such a distance, but the photos came out quite well. One reason I selected this camera was that I thought it was better designend for use in underwater housings than the PC120BT I was also considering - primarily because the screen is on the back rather than flipping out to the side (which requires a much larger housing, or not using the screen). I didn't get a chance to try the camera in an underwater housing on this trip, but I still think the design will lend itself to this application. Ergonomically I prefer the IP220, but I have lingering questions about whether I sacrificed video quality by going with this model. But that's based on others's comments on previous MicroMV camcorders - not on any problems I've seen with my own camera or video. I haven't yet loaded video or stills onto my PC for editing, so I can't comment on that.

Very good camcorder except...
I bought my IP220 two weeks ago. The unit is fairly compact and light which I carry to places with ease.

The pros:
1. Video quality is excellent, same for the recorded sound qulity which is crystal clear
2. Swivel LCD panel is very easy to use and innovative
3. Touch screen feature works well and is pretty user-friendly
4. The set sits perfectly in the palm and the finger position also fits very nicely with the zoom lever, photo button and record button

The cons:
1. Even with 2.1 Mega pixels CCD, IP220 does not provide the kind of picture quality as other Sony digital cameras (like DSC-70), especially at 1600x1200 resolution
2. The MicroMV to MPEG2 conversion through movie shaker 3.1 (MPEG2-TS)is incompatible with the regular DVD standard (MPEG2-PS), therefore, it is impossible to burn DVD for regular DVD player use without converting it through a third-party software (e.g. pinnacle studio 8)

I would recomment this unit to those who care more about the video quality than photo quality. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's stylish, pocket-size Cybershot DSCP100 digital camera offers an amazing 5-megapixel resolution and a wealth of photographic features normally found on full-sized, high-end cameras. At about one-inch thin and weighing less than 6 ounces, it's easy to carry wherever you may roam. The DSCP100 also features a 3x optical zoom, Carl Zeiss optics, 9-shot burst mode, and a high-resolution movie mode that's limited only by your Memory Stick's capacity.

Optics and Resolution
The DSCP100 features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens--the first time this lens has been used with a Cybershot P-series camera. The Vario-Tessar lens is specially constructed for very compact cameras, and its design allows for quick autofocusing. It has a 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom for a combined 6x zoom.

The 1/1.8-inch Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise, and provides a 5.1-megapixel effective resolution (2592 x 1944).The Real Imaging Processor offers greater clarity and picture quality as well as improved response time and battery life and decreased shutter lag.

Movie Mode
Capture video with audio at 30 frames per second (fps) at VGA size 640 x 480;the included 32 MB memory card will store 87 seconds of vide at this setting. Movie length is only limited by the amount of storage you have on hand. The Video Mail mode captures a smaller movie (160 x 112 pixels) that's more suitable to sending to friends and family via e-mail.

More Features

About Multi-Pattern Measuring

Independently light-metering 49 points of the frame, Multi-Pattern measuring establishes the optimum exposure value, even in scenes where pronounced highlight and shadow are not centered in the frame.

• Resolution modes: 2592 x 1944 (5.1MP), 2592 x 1728 (3:2 aspect ratio), 2048 x 1536 (3MP), 1280 x 960 (1MP), and 640 x 480 (VGA)
• 1.8-inch LCD Monitor: The high-resolution 134K LCD makes framing shots and reviewing pictures easy.
• Live Histogram Display: Available in capture and playback, the Live Histogram displays the concentration of pixels at each luminosity value making it easy to evaluate correct exposure.
• Selectable Focus Mode: Monitoring AF (Auto Focus) helps you anticipate the action by focusing even before you press the shutter release.
• 5 Area Multi-Point Auto Focus: By evaluating 5 separate focus areas of the frame, SonyÕs Multi-Point AF system can intelligently focus on the subject and avoid mistakenly focusing on the background.
• AF (Auto Focus) Illuminator: Briefly illuminating the subject, in low--or no--light conditions, the AF Illuminator helps establish a positive focus lock.
• Multi-Pattern Measuring: Independently light-metering 49 points of the frame, Multi-Pattern Measuring establishes the optimum exposure, even when highlight and shadow isnÕt centered in the frame.
• Multi-Burst Mode: Captures 16 320 x 240 frames as part of a single 1280 x 960 image which plays back sequentially in the camera (selectable 1/7.5, 1/15, 1/30 second).
• Manual Exposure Mode: Manual Exposure Mode provides extended control with 46-step adjustable Shutter speed (30 - 1/1000 sec.), and 2-step Aperture control.
• Scene Selection Mode: With 9 Scene Modes, parameters can be matched to the shooting conditions. Choose from one of the following: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, or High Speed Shutter
• Slow Shutter Noise Reduction: During long exposures, Slow Shutter NR captures the scene, and then the CCD noise pattern with a dark frame exposure. By subtracting the two, even long exposures can be clear.
• Pre-Flash Metering: With a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering. Adjustable flash level and red-eye reduction ensure great flash shots.
• 9 Shot Burst Mode: Capture up to 9 shots (fine) or 15 shots (standard) at 1.2 frames/sec. even at 5 MP resolution. Perfect for high speed subjects or fast moving action such as sports.

About Slow Shutter Noise Reduction

This process captures the scene in two exposures. The second subtracts the noise pattern from the initial shot, resulting in a final beautiful photograph that is virtually noise-free.

Direct Printing
The Cybershot DSCP100 offers PictBridge functionality, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer--such as the Sony PictureStation DPP-EX50--without a PC or image-editing software. Images can be viewed and selected for printing right on the camera's LCD, with menus for print quantity, date, and index print.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Memory Sticks, and the Cybershot DSCP100 is compatible with Memory Stick Pro media--for storage up to 1 gigabyte. The included 32 MB Memory Stick will store 12 Fine and 23 Standard 5.1-megapixel images. The DSCP100 transfers images to PCs and Macs via a speedy USB 2.0 connection (which is backward compatible with USB 1.1 ports).

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a Sony rechargeable InfoLithitum (lithium-ion) battery, which provides reliable, long-lasting power for continuous shooting, with no "memory effect" (see Tech Talk below). The included adapter/charger provides power while you transfer images from the camera to your PC.

It measures 4.25 x 2.13 x 1 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.8 ounces without Memory Stick.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony DSCP100 digital camera, 32 MB Memory Stick, rechargeable InfoLithium battery (NP-FR1), battery charger (AC-LS5), A/V and USB cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with photo editing software for Windows PCs.

Cybershot Station and Photo Vault
The Cybershot DSCP100 digital camera is compatible with two optional add-ons from Sony that can help you present your photos or store them when you're on the go. The Cybershot Station (CSS-PHA) charges the camera's batteries while also enabling you to play photo slideshows on your TV. The included infrared remote controls the camera while docked in the Station and makes it easy to print to PictBridge-compatible printers.

You'll never have to worry about running out of space on your Memory Stick when travelling with the Sony Photo Vault, which can burn images to mini CD-R's without a PC interface--just connect your camera using a USB cable. The Photo Vault also has a Memory Stick slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro and Duo) and features a built-in photo album capability to display photos on a television screen using a television's standard AV input.

Tech Talk

• Memory Effect: An phenomenon with rechargeable batteries where a battery is continually operated to a certain low level (such as 25%), then charged. The battery can then lose the rest of its capacity. Lithium-ion batteries, such as Sony's InfoLithium, aren't very susceptible to this effect, and NiMH batteries are less of a problem. NiCad batteries, however, are most susceptible.

Features

• 5-megapixel sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels) for enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches
• 3x optical zoom plus 2x digital zoom for 6x total
• Carl Zeiss optics; 9-shot burst mode; high-resolution movie mode with sound
• Compatible with Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro media; includes 32 MB card
• Powered by lithium-ion battery (NP-FR1); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 2.0

Reviews (15)

Well made fast easy to use camera
My excellent f717 was stolen so I purchased the P120, the black version of the P100 that includes an extra battery and belt wearable carry case. First thing you notice is the excellent 'only Sony can do this' build quality. Sony are not so good at large items, but excell in the small stuff. The second thing you notice is the speed of all features. Soon as you press the power button, the lens zips out right away and you're ready to shoot quicker than you can get your finger on the shutter release! Shutter lag is virtually non-existent. Sony's new improved independent menu navigation buttons are better than the previous all-in-one joypad. The picture quality DETAIL is not as good as the f717, but then, the lens is far smaller, but the speed and responsiveness is twice if not thrice as good. Movie mode is almost DVD quality with a Memory Stick Pro (640 x 480 at 30fps). What really made me buy this camera (and not buy another 717), other than the lovely compact design, is it's manual controls. While limited, you can adjust both the shutter and aperture, although only two f stops. I have only had the camera a few days, but can tell from what I have tried that Sony have fixed most of the flaws in their other compact digicams to deliver an outstanding piece of engineering that I shall be wearing on my belt everywhere now to snap that 'Koda', no, 'Sony' moment! :-)

Buy this now!!! It's worth every cent and much more!!
This camera has to be one of the best cameras out there. When i first got it I noticed its sleek design. Its so small and light. It fights in the palm of my hands and I can carry it anywhere. I actuallly noticed too that its basically smaller than my nokia 6800 cell phone which is shocking. anyway the camera has a nice 1.8 inch LCD screen. The photos look amazing when you view them. When you are dealing with this camera you also get the FASTEST performance. The camera starts up in like 1 or 2 seconds and it shoots with NO LAG. Even if you are shooting with flash the shot to shot time is awesome. The zoom pops out very fast too which also makes a funny noise. i don[t reallyh ahve to explain the picture quality because you know Sony is always EXCELLENT with that. Others say that canon is better but I think Sony's a tad better well atleast with this camera anyway. The movie mode on this camera is comparable to a camcorder. It shoots VGA (640x 480) at an option of 15fps or 30fps. 30 fps is basically smoother but requires about twice the memory so 15fps would be sufficient for any user. To tlel you the truth i bought this camera for the movie mode too because its much better than the Canon S500. Lastly, the battery is outstanding. You can shoot pictures a little over 3 hours worth. I recommend geting the accessory kit from sony (comes with battery, case, wallet thing) about $65 on ebay and a 256mb memory stick card or 512 memory stick pro card. You can get the 512mb one for under $120!!

Oh and I forgot to mention the cool accessories available for this beastily camera. You can get 1.7X telephoto lens, 2.6X lens (turns ur compact camera to almost a 8X optical demon, lol), .7X wide lens, marine pack (underwater case) and external flash (some say the flash on the camera isn't bright enough so people buy external separate ones)

Low light pictures
I'm thinking of buying this camera and wanted to know from the owners of the camera if this camera takes excellent pictures like Canon in low light/indoor conditions. I currently own a Sony DSCP9 Cyber-shot 4MP Digital Camera and it takes crapy pictures in low light conditions (even indoors). The skin tone is extremely grainy. Your honest experience with indoor and low light pictures would be greatly appreciated (especially skin tones).

Nice pocket camera
This is my sixth digital camera. I've had my DSCP100 for about three weeks and am generally impressed. I'm quite pleased with the colors in the images and with the auto-focus speed. I'm a little bothered by the number of blurry images I get, but I attribute that to getting used to the very light camera (actually, no one I've handed it to seems to get past the tendency to move/jerk this tiny camera during exposures).

The Sony's 640x480 video clips are certainly markedly improved from the 320x240 days, but be aware that they aren't equal to the quality one would expect from a camcorder. I do notice that the autofocus tends to change focus too much during video capture and this highly transient focus can detract from the quality of the video clips. I recommend a really big Memory Stick Pro to record lengthy videos at the highest quality.

Punchline: while it isn't perfect, it's pretty hard to beat the combination of size, cost and performance. I do not regret my purchase.

Awesome camera, you can't go wrong with this one!
After months of searching for the perfect ultra-compact camera I came down with Canon S500, S410 and Sony P100. I then decided to go for the Sony P100 and that's one perfect decision I'll never regret. This camera is awesome and you can't go wrong with it. As advertised, its lightning fast and its battery life is unbelievable. I used this on a 5 day museum hopping in Chicago, and in those 5 days I took hundreds of pictures and several videos and only needed to charge my camera once! While my friend who has a Canon S410 had to charge his camera everyday. Picture quality is also excellent and is the same if not better than Canon's. But with a better movie mode, LCD screen, battery life and speed, there's no way you'll choose Canon over this one. ... Read more

Product Description

HDTV-ready projector (digital TV reception requires a separate HDTV tuner) * displays all signals at 720p * widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio (can also display 4:3 material) * 3 LCD panels (1280 x 720 pixels each) * contrast ratio: 1300:1 (full on/off) * Advanced Iris "Auto" mode: 1000 - 6000:1 * light output: 1200 ANSI lumens * ... Read more

Features

• Home-theater LCD front projector compatible with standard- and high-definition (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i) signals
• 1,280 x 720 native pixel resolution; capable of projecting to screen sizes from 40 to 200 inches
• Up to 6,000:1 contrast ratio; 1,200 ANSI Lumen brightness; ARC-F lens improves focus at screen center and screen corners
• Powerful Real Color Processing lets you alter, for instance, the blue in a sky without affecting the color of water
• Measures 13.8 x 5.4 x 12.6 inches (W x H x D)

Product Description

Sony (Camcorders) (DSR-11) DVCAM Compact VTR ... Read more

Features

• Digital Audio - two-channel 48kHz/16-bit or four-channel 32kHz/12-bit recording, providing a wide dynamic range & excellent signal-to-noise ratio comparable to CD quality
• DV EE Out - signals from analog input can be converted into digital signals & can be simultaneously output from the iLINK connector
• DV Format Recording & Playback
• Standard & Mini Cassette support - standard size provides a recording time of up to 184 minutes / mini size provides a recordin time of up to 40 minutes

Product Description

Sony offers a variety of accessories that are designed to meet the needs of every professional who is particularly keen on quality and dependability. The company's name speaks for itself. It's a Sony! ... Read more

Features

• Genuine Sony quality
• 200 W replacement lamp
• Compatible with Sony PX20/30 and VW10 projectors
• Easy to install
• 90-day warranty

Features

• 1/3 the size of standard Memory Stick® Media
• 460 MB of memory available
• Ideal for mobile applications.
• Transfer Speed (Max.): 100Mbps (20MB/sec)
• Interface: Serial/Parallel

Features

• Sleek, compact MiniDV camcorder and digital still camera with 3.3-megapixel CCD
• 10x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer
• 2.5-inch rotating LCD and color viewfinder
• Low-light recording settings, Memory Stick Pro slot, and accessory shoe
• NP-FM30 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery

Reviews (6)

High quality prosumer camera
A palm-sized camera that almost shoots as well as the low-end 3-CCD cameras, made by a reputable name (Sony), and a price under $1400? Yes, Sony has done it.

Exterior - With the vertical orientation of the body and the smaller thickness, this camera will fit well in your palm. The main controls are positioned comfortably where your fingers will most naturally fall. The design allows for basic operation without jostling the camera. As I primarily work in filming live band performances in local clubs, this unit allows me to shoot a high-quality product and not disturb those around me, as most are never aware that I am recording. The only drawback is that the infra-red controls are a switch on the case, as opposed to an internal menu. On more than one occasion I have accidentally turned on the night mode.

Lens - The lens is very sharp and distortion-free. Its size of 37mm is a standard size, and I have been able to purchase several lenses and filters without requiring any adapters or step-up/down rings.

Lighting - As per Sony's reputation for low-light shooting, this camera does not disappoint. Besides requiring only 7 lux for standard shooting, it offers a NightShot (infra red) and a Color Slow Shutter, which preserves bright colors in super-low lighting.

Auto-Features - The auto-exposure and auto-focus are very responsive, except in cases of two rapid changes in light, like a camera flash, for instance. This is where I find the only weakness in this unit. The manual focus ring, while great in concept, does not actually operate on a wide range, so it is only for fine tuning, not necessarily artistic alterations. However, the touch-panel screen does have a Spot-Focus feature, which when used correctly can simulate camera movement.

LCD Screen - The image produced on the LCD screen is quite sharp and a very accurate representation of what is being recorded. It also has a switch for the backlight to save battery power when it is not required while viewing the LCD undera a bright sun. A characteristic that sets this camera apart from most is that the LCD Screen is also a touch-panel for access to the options menus. At first I was hesiatant about this feature, but I have found it to be a favorite part of mine. In low lighting situations, I no longer have to remember where specific buttons are, as the menus are well-illuminated. The panel requires very little pressure, so I can operate it without shaking the camera. And, to top it off, it allows custom menus, so that I set up my most-used options on the first screen. Generally I can change the settings to what I want with only two quick taps on the screen.

Accessory Shoe - The Intelligent Accessory show can connect to and electronically control, and supply power to flashes and micrphones.

Power - The supplied battery will run for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at maximum consumption, the long life will generally provide 7-8 hours.

Progressive Recording - This feature is designed for those who wish to extract still images from video. It records at half the frame rate, but produces a clearer image, without the herring-bone effect of motion in the normal digital frames.

I have had this camera for four months now, and have found only a couple of minor imperfections which do not amount to much when compared to the rest of the DCR-PC330. I highly recommend this unit to anyone and everyone who can afford it. You will not be disappointed.

Excellent Video, Dissapointing Stills
I WANTED TO HAVE IT ALL. A CAMCORDER THAT TOOK EXCELLENT VIDEO AND GOOD STILLS. THIS PRODUCT DISSAPOINTS IN THE LATTER. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT THE STILL PICTURE QUALITY THAT THIS CAMCORDER TAKES ARE ALREADY BETTER THAN ANY CAMCORDER OUT THERE. WHILE THIS MAY BE TRUE, I MUST WARN THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THINKING THAT THIS CAN REPLACE YOU 2 OR 3 MEGAPIXEL CAMCORDER....IT WONT.
THE STILL PICTURES, ALTHOUGH 3 MEGAPIXEL CAPACITY HAVE JUST WAY TO MUCH NOISE INTEREFERENCE (THATS MY BEST GUESS) FOR THE PICTURES TO BE SHARP. THE PICTURES COME OUT SOMEWHAT FUZZY RATHER THAN SMOOTH. WHEN VIEWED AT 2016 x 1512 YOU CAN CLEARLY NOTICE AN UNEVENESS IN THE COLORS. THE PICTURES ARE JUST PLAIN BELOW AVERAGE COMPARED TO WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM EVEN A 2 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA.
WITH THAT SAID, THE STRONG POINTS OF THIS CAMERA IS IN ITS VIDEO. THE VIDEO IS REALLY CLEAR AND SHARP. ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY FIRST CAMCORDER AND I DONT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO COMPARE TO, BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST VIDEO QUALITY CAMCORDERS OUT THERE.
HAVING BEEN LET DOWN BY THE POOR STILLS, BRINGS ME TO GRIPE ABOUT THIS CAMCORDER BEING SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN PREVIOUS SONY HANDYCAMS LIKE THE PC105 AND ALSO LARGER THAN SOME OF SONY'S NEWER MODELS. ALTHOUGH THESE SMALLER HANDYCAMS DONT HAVE 3 MEGA PIXELS LIKE THE PC330, BUT I HAVE COME TO THE CONCULSION THAT MAYBE 3 MEGAPIXELS AREN'T NECCESARY, WHAT THE POINT IF THE THE STILLS ARE GOING TO BE SUBPAR ANYWAYS. I PROBABLY WOULDVE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO BUY THIS HIGHLY EXPENSIVE CAMCORDER, AND INSTEAD GONE WITH A CANON OPTURA 300, WHICH IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE, BUT WITH THE MONEY LEFT OVER, I COULD BUY ME A NICE 3 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA THAT TAKES DIGITAL PICTURES THE WAY THERE SUPPOSED TO LOOK.

Excellent but expensive
This was my first-ever camcorder purchase, so I wanted to make sure the camera was a solid performer.

The other two candidates were the Panasonic DV953 and the Sony TRV950.

To help me choose, I took a crash-course in MiniDV cams (by reading the reviews) and found that most of them kept harping on things that I didn't care about. Things like bottom-loading the tapes vs top-loading; Single CCD vs 3 CCD; the number of shutter speeds. Jeez, 99.9% of people aren't going to pass up a good camera because they need to remove it from the tripod to change a tape, but these folks make it sound like a show-stopper.

I bought the PC330 over the other two for simple reasons:

1) My wife wants very few buttons to have to worry abouy. With this camera, you point and shoot; most of the functions are hidden in the touch screen menus that you rarely have to use.

2) The stills are actually better than my 3.2 megapixel Fuji A303.

3) It felt comfortable to use - much smaller than the other two cameras.

I believe the cons to this camera that will affect most users are:

1) The akward placement of the still button. You really have to bend your index finger into a strange position to use it. The zoom control is placed as the natural landing spot for your index finger.

2) The microphone is located behind the hot-shoe. This is only a problem if you plug something into the shoe - the mic is essentially blocked from your subject.

3) The flash doesn't pop out far enough to clear most add-on lenses. If you attach a wide-angle or zoom lens, you will see a significant shadow of it in still pictures that use the flash. This is certainly not a critical flaw, but annoying.

4) This is probably only a problem for newbies to Sony camcorders, but the zoom control at your index finger is just about the same size as the mode/power switch at your thumb. I don't know how many times I've intended on zooming by moving my thumb -- which causes the camera to switch modes. I chalk this one up to user unfamiliarity; all of my friends with Sony's had the same problem at first.

I bought some nice accessories and found one very valuable. The HVL-IRH2 IR/Video light. This plugs into the hot shoe and provides a 3 Watt video light AND a great IR light for shooting in total darkness in a small all-in-one unit. It uses the battery power from the camera, which drains it FAST, but it also means it doesn't need its own heavy battery. We use this to record our kids sleeping; the IR produces no visible light in the room. Keep in mind, the video will look like a nighttime Baghdad bombing (green), but it's not very grainy at all.

Excellent DV Camera; Some Limitations
Other reviews here do a good job of covering the specs and general pros and cons of this all-round excellent camera. Here I'll just mention a few additional points and reiterate some others:

(1) You will almost certainly need an additional, higher capacity battery right off the bat; the battery provided is almost totally inadequate. For most users this means the NP-QM71D (which will set you back an additional $100) , and the companion charger (the AC-SQ950, for an additional $150); the latter is essential unless you can afford to wait almost 2.5 hours for a recharge (the AC-SQ950 manages in under an hour). Moreover, all of the batteries with decent capacity will protrude sideways from the camera body (on the LCD side). This has little effect in use (aside from looking quite silly with some of the larger batteries) bit does make the camera considerably harder to carry around and "bag".

(2) Don't be fooled by the talk about MPEG and the ability to capture to a potentially very long movies to high-capacity Memory Stick cards. The maximum MPEG resolution supported by this camera is 320x240, which is worse than you get with decent still cameras (like Sony's own DSC-V1), and certainly not what you should expect from a camera with this price tag. So if you are shooting video, you are shooting to tape, period!

(3) 3 Megapixel still capability is great and adds a real convenience: you can get by with one camera on days when you want to shoot some video without completely giving up the option of taking a few stills. But beware: the quality of the images is not up to that from far less expensive digital still cameras and nowhere near what less expensive and very compact still cameras can provide. Moreover, you will need to throw away the low-capacity Memory Stick and replace it with something bigger.

(4) As always, the provided software us useless. This camera works fine with Windows Movie Maker 2 and Adobe Premier Pro. Stick with those. The former is free (with Windows XP) and does 90% of what most users will need; the latter costs a fortune, but does everything. Images are just JPEGs and can be handled with whatever you currently use.

Bottom line: if you are looking for an excellent compact high-quality easy to use DV camera that gives the limited option of shooting a few decent-quality still images as well this is camera is for you -- provided you are prepared to shell out almost $2,000 for the full kit (camera, extra batteries, and larger Memory Stick).

La mejor imagen de video y stills hasta la fecha
Excelente calidad de video y sobresaliente el color. La sensibilidad con poca luz es muy buena en video. He obtenido imágenes nocturnas muy buenas en calles bien iluminadas y en shoppings. Las stills son mejores que lo que haya visto anteriormente, aunque no a la par con una cámara digital de 3mp. Igualmente imprimen y se ven muy bien. Excelentes las imágenes con flash, que se ajusta perfecto aun en macros extremos. Con poca luz hay algo de ruido. Extraordinario el night frame y útil el night shot. Muy bien implementado el color slow shutter, que se autoajusta de tal manera que si hay suficiente luz es apenas perceptible. La escritura en la memoria es rápida.
Carece de snapshots en video!!! Es difícil utilizar el zoom y regular su velocidad sin mover la cámara. Lo he solucionado utilizando el wired remote commander RM-VD1. Casi todas las operaciones requieren el uso de la pantalla LCD, que por otra parte es muy cómoda (touch panel). El memory stick pro no se puede leer con ninguno de los lectores o adaptadores (pcmcia) que poseo. ... Read more

Product Description

Now you can create, edit and archive home movies and digital photos while storing and accessing data from one disc. DVD-R discs capture all digital data brilliantly, and are large enough to hold oversized digital movie files. Sony DVD-R for one-time recording is a relatively inexpensive way to store data and prevent accidental erasure. They can hold 4.7GB of information, which makes it possible to record 120 minutes of MPEG2 video footage with outstanding picture quality.

Features

• DVD-R disc for creating and storing digital video, audio and multimedia files
• Stores up to 4.7GB or more than 2 hours of MPEG 2 video
• Record speeds vary

Features

• Replacement lamp for Sony's VPL-CS5 and VPL-CX5 projectors
• Produces crisp, clear, bright images
• Up to 2,500 hours of life
• 165 watts
• Genuine Sony quality accessory

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony DCR-TRV520 uses the Digital 8 format, which digitally recordsimages onto standard Hi8 tapes. If you're upgrading from an 8mm or Hi8 camera,this format gives you the combined benefits of digital image quality andbackwards compatibility with your old tapes.

A 25x optical zoom and 450xdigital zoom will bring your shots closer, and Sony SteadyShot imagestabilization technology will help to keep shakes and wobbles out of your video.For audio, the DCR-TRV520 offers 16-bit PCM digital stereo with 12-bit dubbing.If you prefer to shoot in the 16:9 widescreen ratio, this is also an option. Tocompose your films, you can use either the standard eyepiece viewfinder or a3.5-inch swivel color LCD display.

With Sony's LaserLink feature, playback canbe a snap--you just aim the DCR-TRV520 at the LaserLink receiver on select SonyTVs from up to 16 feet away, press play, and enjoy your videos directly on yourTV--without wires or cassette adapters.

If you're planning to digitally edityour videos on your computer, the Sony includes an industry standard IEEE 1394port (also known as iLink and FireWire) for image transfer and a Control-L(LANC) interface for connection to editing equipment.

Sony's Super NightShotinfrared system lets you capture footage in two modes. In standard NightShotmode, the camera uses available visible and infrared light to illuminate thesubject. With Super NightShot, an infrared LED on the front of the camera actslike an infrared spotlight: to the naked eye, it just looks like a standard redLED, but it produces enough infrared light to effectively illuminate the area infront of the camera.

The camera includes numerous extra features, including 14picture effects and a five-mode audio-video fader, end search (whichautomatically forwards your tape to the end of the last footage shot), editsearch, seven-mode program auto exposure, pass-through analog AV inputs, and anintelligent shoe for accessories. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

I love my camera!
It is not perfect,but I have used it at least once a week for two and a half years now. The zoom is out of this world! I have taken photos as close as two feet and really far away and have gotten super clear shots. I have taken still, moving and portraits. I like it. My friends like it too. It has a lot of flexability for taking pictures. For example; I run the camera and then when I plug it into my firewall I am able to take out still shots,the ones I want.I can also put my film on a video cassette.Personally, I would have rathered gotten a full version of the MGI software for the price I had to pay for the camera though. But I do like the software. I also shoot a lot in the dark. I'm using the night shot & super night shot right now.Super night shot works well although if there is a lot of movement, the pics are distorted. I plan to buy a light soon. Bottom line, I don't regret my purchase.Mechanically, I have had absolutely no problems. I have an 8 hour battery and I use the lcd screen to film. It is sufficeint.

A good camera indeed
I've had my TRV520 for a little over a year now and I'm very pleased with it. The quality of the video when transferred to VHS is very high. The camera is implicitly easy to use and handle. But to be honest there were one or two things that I found disappointing: The quality of the stills taken are not that great. Unless the light on the subject is very good I find that the images are quite grainy. Do not buy this camera for excellent digital photos. You won't get um. The images are just okay. I'm in the market for a digital camera now. Another thing I find annoying is that the camera shuts off if there no activity for 3 mins. This is a 'battery saving mechanism' but I have not found a way to disable it if the the camera is plug into the AC outlet. Other than that, I think it's a very good buy and I won't be changing it anytime soon.

Great Camera
I've owned camcorders before but never digital. Before I made my choice, I did a lot of research on the net. The Sony products always seemed to show up on the recommended lists. I have a friend who owns the DCR-TRV320 and decided to check it out. I was very impressed with the camera. The features of the 320 and the 520 are basically the same. I like the bigger LCD screen on the 520 though and went for that instead. I Nightshot feature is GREAT on these cameras. You can shoot virtually anything up to 10 feet away in TOTAL darkness. I recommend this camera to anyone looking for a high quality, fully featured digital camera. But note that you can always save some bucksn if you opt for the DCR-TRV320. One extra note though. Get yourself a longer lasting battery with your new camera. Or at least a spare one. Anyone who's owned a camcorder will tell you the same!

excellent!
DCR-TRV520. I bought this Digitial 8 camera (I am not a previous user/owner of any camcorder) about 4 weeks ago after much prognosticating over the miniDVD format in the Panasonic and Canon brands for a similar price (I would have gone for the Sony miniDVD but didn't want to pay the extra bucks). So I made my decision based on the extra features of optical stablization, manual focus and the greater zoom capability - also I trusted the Sony brand more, but that reason was entirely subjective. I have not been disappointed with this camera. The stabilization is excellent - in fact, while I like compact cameras and would have preferred miniDVD because of size, this camera is not that much bigger, and increased size and weight may be an advantage as the camera feels solid and steady to hold. The auto focus is excellent - I may never need to use the manual focus unless I want to get really fancy. The zoom capability works very well, even at the highest mag., and is more useful than what I would have thought. This alone places it above the other miniDVD cameras including the Sony which have lower zoom. With iMovie, $50 from Apple (I have a Mac G3), the only extra I needed was the $30 Firewire cable (4 pin-camera, to 6 pin-Mac) and I was importing and editing the video. Also, I put in a Hi8 tape of our wedding and was amazed that this non-digital format was automatically transmitted from the camera into iMovie as digital information with no apparent loss in resolution! Regarding memory stick, with iMovie there does not seem to be a way to directly import the stills, but if they are first copied to the tape, then they can be imported. However, the resolution after doing this is no better than a still made with iMovie from video. Maybe the resolution will be better after direct import, but I doubt it. In Photoshop a video still and memory stick import from tape has the same pixel count as specified for the still camera - 680 x 460 I think or thereabouts. Some people say the memory stick stills suck in resolution - they are not that bad. Hey, you're buying a camcorder first and foremost, not a digital camera. One other reason I got this camcorder was that some reviews said the Canon and Panasonic miniDVD didn't work too well at low light levels. I've never tried those cameras, but I can also tell you that this Sony I bought works great at low light as well. Sony 520 versus 320 - I went for ther 520 because of the bigger LCD display - I'm glad I did - the extra size is excellent as you can replay what you have shot and easily see it on the screen. Overall, this camera has no weaknesses and some advantages. Another thought - if you are considering buying Hi8 or even 8 so you can get a cheaper camcorder - don't! There is so much you can do with digital if you have the computer. and the video quality if better. Its worth the extra bucks. Cheers!

Great camcorder
When we bought this camcorder I was a little worried, since I never handled a camcorder before. I had no problems! It was so lightweight and easy to use. I love the display that tells you how much time is left on the battery. I would recommend this camcorder to everyone! ... Read more

Product Description

Get closer than ever with the optically stabilized 12X zoom lens on the Cyber-shotDSC-H1 digital camera from Sony. 5.1 Megapixel (2592 x 1944 Pixels) 12X optical zoom lens 2.5-inch LCD monitor Super SteadyShotOptical Image Stabilization 32MB flash memory built-in With its incredible 12X optical zoom lens combined with Super SteadyShotoptical image stabilization system you can capture stunning long-distance images with minimized blurring, even during longer exposures. It is conversion lens compatible so you can easily add optional telephoto and wide-angle lenses for even greater optical range. The DSC-H1 features Sony's precision 1/2.4-inch Super HAD CCD imager which, combined with the Real Imaging Processor and 14-bit DXP processor, gives you amazingly detailed 5.1 Megapixel digital images with accurate colors and contrast. Its comfortable SLR body design, 2.5 inch LCD screen, and live histogram display allow you to quickly and easily compose perfectly framed shots. Other key features include a pop-up flash, 32 Megabytes of internal memory, and MPEG Movie VX video capture capabilities. It is PictBridge compatible so you can easily print photographs directly from the camera onto compatible photo printers without the need of a personal computer. ... Read more

Features

• AF Illuminator briefly illuminates the subject for focus in low- or no-light conditions
• Stores images on Memory Stick media (32MB of internal memory included); powered by AA-size batteries
• 5.1 MP CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• Amazing 12x optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
• Captures VGA (640 x 480) video clips with audio at up to 30 frames per second

Features

• Two 128 MB memory compartments on one stick
• One simple switch changes you from one compartment to the other
• Allows double the storage on older devices that are limited to 128 MB