Digital-Camera Reviews

You never know when a photo opportunity might present itself. If you're like me, it will be when your nice, full-size camera is not around. So, I got this little Sony to carry along with my car keys and wallet. This plan works great. I've managed to snag some great shots simply because I had this little camera nearby.

The Good:
Very small and portable
256 MB stick holds over 200 images
Very good image quality

The Bad:
Slow shutter speed; not good for action shots

The So-So
Even a modest zoom would be nice
I'd like a larger hole in the carry strap lug, so I could put it on a keyring or such.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the quality of images, fit and function of the unit. I would NOT suggest it as a primary camera (there are better ones out there for the same money) but if you would like to have a "carry it with me all the time" camera, and never miss a shot, this Sony is the way to go.

I already have a larger expensive camera and I was looking for a small, relatively inexpensive but quality digital camera. One that I could keep in my pocket in most situations. This camera seemed to fit the bill perfectly with the advantage (for me) of the memory stick storage. Since buying it I must admit that it's much better than I thought. Personally I don't miss a zoom capability as that's not what I use it for. I use it for the impromptue photo on a night out, quick views from helicopters and aeroplanes, boys days out and other types where 9 times out of 10 the picure I take is going to be emailed and not much else. I love the quick start up as well, almost as soon as the lens cover is slid over the LCD is on and the camera is ready. The flash is also ready very quickly. I have it on the lower quality setting most of the time (640x480), and with the 128MB stick it stores over 1200 images.
Another plus, for me, is that it runs on 2 AAA batteries. It came supplied with 2 excellent Sony rechargable cells which have a great if not terrific life, but it's so easy to have 2 spare AAAs handy, rather than some of the other cameras which run on unit specific only battery cells. Very handy in countries with different voltages/sockets.
The operation and user interface, while not being a class leader, is easy enough for hassle free operation. I have used most of the features to try them, and whilst they do all work well I don't use them very frequently.
The case and camera feel solid and the whole fit and finish is typical Sony quality.
The only one very very small gripe is that the play/still/movie selector is easily moved from still to play and slows the process slightly. Has only happened a couple of times so like I said, it's a very small gripe.
Since seeing and using mine, several of my workmates have gone and bought this model as well.
It's not a camera to have as your No1, but for what I wanted it for and use it for, it's nigh on perfect.

Very convenient. Take anywhere and no excuse for not having a camera. $... price at Amazon[.com] is a bargain. Takes generally good pictures, if not advanced in features. Some pictures indoors get red-eye. No backlight control, so watch your background otherwise the main subject of the picture gets washed out. No zoom. A lot of capacity if you buy the bigger memory stick. Battery can last a long time between recharge. Some of the pictures color balance looks washed out, but this is a quick fix with most computer programs.

I have had the VX2000 for a couple of months now and I've shot countless hours of footage for a couple of low-to-no budget independent movies (and more in the making) and this camera is fantastic! It can be incredibly easy to use yet quite flexible if you need it to be. No, it's not a palm-sized recorder that you'll be toting casually to family get-togethers and if that's really your only need for a camcorder, go with something smaller, lighter, and less expensive. However, for those who want to play on the edge of prosumer recorders, this camera is a joy to have. Beyond picture quality there's also sound quality. The VX2000 records STEREO sound unlike most lower end camcorders and I can't imagine using anything else now. For the down-side of things, yes, it is rather hefty though I find the extra weight actually helps with smoother motion and the battery that comes with it is completely inadequate for any lengthy shooting "in the field". The optionally purchased bigger batteries do add to the weight but you won't run out of power in the middle of that important shot if you get the largest one. (I can shoot all weekend and never drain a single one of those big babies and I have two in my kit.) It doesn't come with a camera bag or case and you really need something to protect the investment. (I purchased the hard body aluminum case made for the VX2000 and though it's big and bulky, my camera can breeze through on-location shots without fear of injury. Another investment that you will want to consider with this camera is a tripod but when selecting a tripod make sure you take the camera's weight in consideration. And if you want to play further, check out the Sony gun/zoom mike that works great with this camera, the optional hotshoe light for casual shooting, the lens filters, the.... Well, you get the idea. Personally, I've played with one of the smaller, lighter consumer Sony camcorders and absolutely loved it but I wanted more beef, better quality recordings, and greater flexibility because of my involvement in independent movies. Is this camera overkill for the average consumer? Certainly! Is it great? You betcha'! Do I regret investing serious bucks in the VX2000? Heck no! I would gladly recommend this camera TO everyone but not FOR everyone. Judge what you really need and really want before purchasing a VX2000 because, for most people, it IS overkill and the purchase of the camera itself is just the first investment. You can easily double the price of the camera by the time you get done with a case, batteries, charger, filters, special mics, windscreen, camera cover, light, etc., etc. Obviously many of the optional accessories you can do without but once you have the camera it will be that much harder to resist getting that really neat camera stabilizer or that LANC zoom/focus controller or....

I am currently a student in NJ, and I just wanted to let everyone know how great this camera is. This camera has all of the professional items you would expect in a camera of this calibur. This is a lot of camera. Did you know that most documentaries, and some T.V. shows are acctually filmed with this high quality camera? I am very entusiastic about film, and hope to some day be creating movies in hollywood(I will be making movies), and I am currently shooting small for my school. Now, here's the gripper... I don't acctually have this camera! (I know, I know). But I study it, and know every facite of its workings... this is a great camera, and it can do some amazing things. If I had the money for it, I would be doing some amazing things with it. I just want everyone to know what a great camera it is. If you are teeter tottering between this and cannon, go sony! Good luck with it.

i am a producer/camera operater and this is one of my favern cameras in the studio i would love to have one for my home. i felm sports, in studio tack shows movies and other things for tv brodcast it has great pixlization and i love it.

We bought this camera in the summer of 2003 to replace our older video camera and have had a great experience. The video quality is excellent. The color is superb. Great audio quality. The video records at more lines of resolution than current televisions use, so I have no doubt that the quality will still look great after high definition televisions dominate the home television market.

Recently, my 4 megapixel digital camera needed to be sent in for repairs ... it is not a Sony :( ... We were upset as we did not think we would be able to print pictures until it returned...we decided to test printing out the Sony TRV950 digital pictures...we were amazed that we were able to print out wonderful quality pictures (3x5). So, we have been very impressed with a feature we never intended to use.

The features included on the camera are great...but two that stand out in my opinion are the super steady shot to help get rid of the "jiggle" and the auto white balance...the best I've seen.

This camera does cost more than other consumer level cameras, but the value is well worth it in my opinion. We bought it to take good video of our baby growing up...we are convinced that this is, by far, the best option and we will never regret spending the extra money.

We purchased a 3 Watt light attachment, a 256MB memory stick card, and an additional M71D battery (250 minutes). I would strongly recommend these accessories.

great camcorder. the 3CCDs really make a difference in video quality in my opinion. unfortunately, you pay for this quality!

pros:
- as expected from a 3CCD camcorder, the trv-950 delivers excellent video quality - colors are reproduced accurately.
- 1 megapixel still capability.
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- 12X optical zoom!
- steady shot optical stabilization system works well.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- progressive shutter system.
- offers color bars and zebra striping.
- the 3.5" LCD screen is great.
- built-in flash for stills.
- built-in mic does a good job picking up sound from the target, not the operator.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
- buttons along the left side and back of the camera body control essential camera functions (manual settings for focus, white balance, audio level, shutter speed, and special lighting situations) so you won't need to dive into menus for these commonly used capabilities.
- side-mounted cassette means you can change tapes while the camcorder is mounted on a tripod.
- low motor noise.
- intelligent accessory shoe - very useful if you use the appropriate accessories.
- allows a great deal of manual control.

cons:
- no built in video light but you can get a video light for less about fifty bucks.
- you could do better on the still photo department. for example, sony's trv80 and trv70 have 2 megapixel capability while panasonic's pv-dv953 delivers 3 megapixel stills.
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- don't expect miracles from 1 megapixel stills.
- not as compact as i would like. dimensions are 4"H x 3-3/4"W x 8"D, weighing 2.4 lbs.
- the included 8MB memory stick is unacceptable. be prepared to shell out more money for at least a 32MB or bigger memory stick.
- does not have a NightShot mode (although i'm not a big fan of this feature).
- MPEG movies saved to Memory Stick are much darker than the same scene recorded to a miniDV tape.
- noticeable shutter lag for still captures.
- bluetooth communication requires optional purchases = more $$.
- touchscreen menu system is not intuitive.

this is great camcorder if you are looking for a 3CCD system. it sits atop sony's prosumer line. the competition is catching up though so make sure you also consider the panasonic pv-dv953. peace.

Pros: Compact three-CCD camera; large, readable flip-out screen; one-megapixel still-image capture; clean, clear video images.

Cons: Poor low-light sensitivity; low-capacity Memory Stick supplied; stills require more light than video; Bluetooth communication requires optional purchases.

Summary: I bought the TRV50 2 weeks ago.I returned it for the TRV950 because zooming with the auto focus made video blurry.The TRV950 is instantaneously sharp.I also had made a tape just filming around the home with the TRV50.I compared that tape with the one I just made with the TRV950,just experimenting around the home.Now I see why 3ccd's are better than 1ccd.My best overall experiment was the digital alarm clock(with the big red LED numbers)in the bedroom.With the TRV50 the numbers always looked fuzzy.With the TRV950 those numbers looked crisp and sharp.Hence, I guess that where they get the term "color bleeding"from.I noticed that alot with the TRV50 while looking at bright objects.I even experimented with an UV and Polarizing filter on the TRV50 with no success.I know TRV950 is getting some bad press because it doesn't have Progessive scan,like the TRV50, but TRV950 has what's called Progessive shutter.Sony says it 's a step up and I believe it is too.I compared some of the stills I captured on tape and to me TRV950 comes out on top.I wonder if the number of ccd's has anything to do with this.If not then Sony needs to do more marketing in the Progessive shutter business.TRV50 has and TRV950 does not have infared.Does anybody out there ever really use the thing.Especially when it's only good for what 20 feet at most.Go to your local gun shop and get the real thing.I know the Carl Zeiss lens gets alot of publicity, but the TRV950 does not come with those lens. The less quality TRV50 does. What's the story with that?Logic only tells me that the higher end Sony lens must be better than the Carl Zeiss lens.Also TRV950 eats up more battery time than the cheaper TRV50.Be prepared to spring for a larger battery.I wonder if this has anything to do with the number of ccd's also.

The software mentioned on my May 16th review IS called "AVID Xpress" -- not "AVID Express" -- when my review was edited someone changed the spelling, possibly thinking it was a typo/mistake?

You want it - you got it. Excellent picture quality; Sony steady-shot that really works; still-image capture to tape (or extra adapter card+memory stick a must!); bright LCD display; variable audio feedback; IEEE firewire, controls that are easy to reach and are learned-responses for those familiar with previous Sony cams.

Specifically, we use this unit for green-screen compositing of people, environments, and virtual products. The firewire coupled with Adobe Premier is a god-send. Simply said, that is essentially all you need (plus consistent overall lighting in a green-screen environment). G3 or PC - firewire will suck it down as fast as anything I've seen.

Positively get the custom aluminum case if you do a lot of travel and want to keep your camera happy. This will keep all your components safe and somewhat easily accessible. Get a 2+ hour battery; the NP-750 battery has plenty of gas - surprisingly the LCD does not drain the juice too quickly. A PC transfer card for the memory stick would be nice - but you can get away with plugging the IEEE and transferring from memory card or to tape.

The construction and attention to product detail is marvelous. Little rubber covers, positive audio clicks, all the nifty nick-nacks want you to have Sony make your next car. Sure there are a few quirks - but there's few products that have such high quality and high value as the TRV900!

The TRV-900 is, by far, the best camcorder you can buy short of a professional model. The picture quality blows away the competition (must be those 3 CCD's). In most cases, you won't be able to tell the difference between the TRV 900 and professional cameras costing several times its price. The TRV-900 has every feature a consumer could want, including a progressive scan mode that lets you take high quality still pictures and save them directly to tape or a flash memory card (not included). You can also capture still images from tape and save them on a floppy disk (drive included) or flash card.

The LCD screen is large and bright. The menu controls are easy to use once you decipher the manual (see below). Sound quality is noticeably better than other camcorders I have used. Low light performance is great. For those who are interested, all automatic exposure, white balance and focus functions can be overriden and controlled manually.

On the down side, the unit is a bit heavier and a bit larger than most other mini-dv camcorders. You have to open the lcd screen to reach the button that activates the menu controls. The camcorder comes with a very nice lens hood, but it is threaded in such a way that you cannot install a filter between the lens and the hood - you have to install filters in front of the hood thereby increasing the risk of glare. Finally, the manual was obviously translated from Japanese and is full of annoying little errors.

But these are all minor shortcomings that do nothing to detract from the amazing picture quality and features. In summary, if you are looking for a Mini DV camcorder and can afford this one, then you need look no further.

Good things about this camcorder:
1. The 25X zoom
2. HUGE LCD screen
3. Great video and sound quality
4. Solid build
5. Easy connection to computer with iLink--especially with a Sony VAIO computer
6. Enough special effects and super nightshot.

The bad things:
1. It is very heavy and big
2. The build-in printer: I stop using this feature completely since the still image quality is quite low so the pictures came out not pretty at all and it takes more than 2 minutes to print one photo. The 830 does the right thing to have the printer externally.
3. Slow rewind speed

I have no trouble finding the Digital-8 tapes and got quite a lot of photo papers for it (even though I don't use them at all).

great overall camcorder. you have to love the 25x zoom. easy to use. i've gone through just about all the features with only two trips to the manual. the grandparents loved being able to get print out pictures of their new grandson instantly during our last visit.

Accessories for the printer are VERY hard to find. No one I have checked with carries the paper or cartridge in stock - all of them say they can order the supplies, but every store, especially specialty camera shops, wants way too much money for the order. I have found that buying supplies from Sony is less expensive, but does take some time (so if you need it NOW you better start looking...yesterday!).

As for other features, there are so many it may take me a while to figure them all out. I shopped for over a year before buying this camera - coincidentally, my previous camcorder was a Sony Hi8 - great camera until my brother went out and destroyed it! ;-)

This is a terrific camcorder if you can afford...

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

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

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

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

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

Great camera with large LCD screen. Takes great pictures
in bright light. Not bad in low light with slow shutter.

Problems
No shutter speed control above 1/30.
No pass through of RCA/Svid to IEEE 1394 for capture use.
No line level audio input while taping.
Focus controls right next to microphone.
Zoom control fragile.
Camera forgets last mode when shut off.
No histogram of exposure.

I feel compelled to comment on the Canon vs Sonycomparison. I've used both and find the TRV8's picture as good orbetter than the Optura and Elura. The audio for the Canon models was horrible, the Sony is good, not perfect. As far as value, the Sony gets the nod. I love the size--the light weight will make you use the camera all the time. The only drawback is that some of the controls are a little too small for my large hands.

This camera easily connects to a computer via Firewire. This is very cool. I connect to my Mac and I can control the camera functions on screen, capture clips, edit and output back to tape or as a digital file on my hard drive. Granted, the Canon cameras can do this too--the Sony makes it easier since capture and device control is approved in Premiere and Final Cut Pro---the two major editing software programs.

I would actually give this camera a 4.5/5, but since there isn't the option, I will just round up. This camera is fantastic for what it does for its size and price. I couldn't decide whether to go for the PC-1 or the PC-100 (the little rectangular cams.) or this camera, which holds true to the "standard camcorder shape"; but, after trying out the alternative designs, I found them to cramp my hand and just be awkward to use with such tiny buttons and strange button/control placement. I am glad I went with this design instead. The quality of the picture and sound on this camcorder is simply great! The colors are well balanced and contrast is handled quite well. When watching what has been recorded with an S-Video cable (another review mentioned that one wasn't included in the box - he's right, but I would recommend getting one if you're going to use this camera the way it was meant to be used - a decent S-Video cable is only about $5-$10 anyway), you can really tell there are about 500(!) lines of resolution. The picture is almost DVD quality it seems. Also, the stereo mic does a great job in picking up voice or other ambient audio. For instance, during one filming session, we had a CD playing in the backgroud and the music ended up sounding as if it were dubbed onto the tape; it was not overpowering but actually added to the "atmosphere" of the recording. Very nice in my opinion, but it my be bothersome for some users that the mic can be a bit touchy sometimes. This camera is loaded with features and I would recommend it over the TRV10 with a savings of about $200. While this camera doesn't have the memory stick option [and a few other bells and whistles], you really won't need the TRV10 if you a) have a digital camera already or b)plan on connecting your MiniDV camera to a PC/Mac. However, I wouldn't really recommend using this camera for stills. While they are okay, an actual digital still camera would be better. It should also be noted that the build quality of this unit seems very good. This camera, while fantastic, is not without its subtle flaws. One small problem I have noticed is that when recording in low light conditions, the picture tends to be a bit "grainy" on playback. The picture is still good, just not exceptional like those taken with this camcorder outdoors or in well-lighted conditions/rooms. I haven't tried the "Low Lux" mode to see if this will compensate for or reduce the grainyness, but it will probably help a bit. Another problem with this camera and the MiniDV format in general is the price of the media. It can get a bit pricey if you don't plan on transfering recordings to VHS or SVHS tapes with your VCR. Sixty minute tapes can run you anywhere between $8 and $25 depending on what brand/quality you purchase. I usually use Sony tapes that end up costing about $11.50/hour. And the last problem I have is that the use of the 3.5" LCD screen can really eat up your battery charge (almost cuts it in half, it seems). The screen is great, but just expect to charge a bit more often if you use it regularly or buy a spare battery. So, to sum up: for the money, this camera is absolutely superb. It provides a *fantastic* picture outdoors or in well-ligthed areas, and a good picture in dimly lighted rooms. This camera is also LOADED with features that will make any user happy. I highly recommend this camera to anyone in the MiniDV Camcorder market.

I actually borrowed a DCR-TRV720 from a friend to shoot my kid's school play. Then purchased a DCR-TRV330 which is smaller with a smaller LCD. The DCR-TRV720 was so much better I took the 330 back and purchased the older 720 model! The large LCD is great and I find the color viewfinder helpful.

The DCR-TRV720 has excellent video in good light. At low light levels it gets a bit noisy. The super low-light mode (NightShot) is amazing. You actually can video in NO LIGHT! It is a bit green (due to the infra-red) but compare that to getting no image at all.

When coupled with Adobe Premier and a firewire enabled computer you can produce near broadcast quality video.

The still image mode is too low resolution for anything other than quick snapshots for the web (640x480). But hey, its a digital video camera! Ideal for using with your computer to edit your video with no loss. The memory stick also allows for some special overlay effects I've yet to play with.

Overall I am very pleased. I found the image quality better than any other DV camera in it's price range. Battery life is GREAT! But you'll want to buy a second high-capacity battery...

Great camera, video recording is phenomanal and the 450x zoom is a fun feature not to mention all the cool filter options for recording and editing (solarized, B&W, etc.)... One thing though - it only records photo images resolution with 0.3 megapixels (640 x 480) that's a snapshot and can not really be manipulated on a computer(enlarged) with out revieling excessive pixelation. I reccommend 2.0 megapixel (1600 x 1200) at a minimum, it offers much more room for enlargement and manipulation of the photograph.

I am working with one of these 720's every day since 2.5 years and I think based on my experience that the 720 is one of the most beautiful and versatile camcorders ever built by Sony