I bought my Sony DCR-TRV480 a week ago, to replace a 9-year-old Sony Hi8 model. My primary requirements were for a model that would make it easy to capture aging 8mm tapes on DVD media, and provide 5-10 years of use for more family videos. My first reactions are that the camera will do the job, but that the provided DVD/VCD software is useless. I have not really tested the camera functions yet, beyond generating a few minutes of digital tape to play with for quality comparisons. Thus I must limit my thoughts to the software and the camera interface to my PC. [See my update below.]My first goal was to capture some minutes of preexisting material on my PC to learn the process and explore the software. After diligently reading the manual, I discovered that to burn DVDs with the Sony software, you must own a Sony VIAO computer. Otherwise you are stuck with direct burning of VCDs, and that without any true editing capabilities. Further, Sony's software will only capture to MPEG-2 format with the use of a firewire/I-link/IEEE 1394 connection (not provided), and does not work with USB2. The direct VCD format is (I believe) MPEG-1.
That said, after an hour of reading and experimenting, I was able to burn a VCD from a preexisting tape using the provided USB2 cable. The process requires starting the application on the PC, then initiating the burn from the camera. (Be patient, it can take 20-40 seconds for the camera and software to shake hands and get to it.) Recording begins at the current location on the tape, puts in chapter marks at fixed (but configurable) time intervals, and quits when it sees a gap on the tape. The camera appears to be in control of the process. The manual does NOT say that the camera will refuse to start the process if you have not inserted a completely new CDR in your burner. It also automatically finishes the disk when blank tape is found, so you cannot add more segments to a half full disk. This will waste a lot of CD space if you have more than a few gaps on your original tapes (something I am very guilty of ;-)). After wasting 5-6 CDRs, I was pretty frustrated. The clincher was a number of computer lockups, apparently from some of the software failing to close when instructed to do so. (My OS is Win2K Pro on a new 2.8Ghz P4).
At this point, I was considering returning the camera. Luckily, my burner (from TDK) came with Roxio's DVDMax software, and I decided to see if it would do better. It did. I spent 5 minutes with the DVDMax tutorial, then set DVDMax to capture the USB2 input stream, and just hit play on the camera. Video worked on the first try, with Audio coming along when I realized that I was pointing the software at the wrong source. It was easy to capture segments, though the two devices are not linked at the control level, meaning that you have to start the camera playback and click the record button on the PC separately, the old fashioned way. The resulting quality from a variety of old tapes (standard 8mm, Hi8, new digital) is adequate for home movies, when set at 640x480 (I do not expect professional quality results, however much I would wish for them, especially with my older analog tapes). The Sony software limited me to a lower resolution when using the USP cable, though I should note that the manual suggests that higher quality is possible with a firewire connection. I am intending to test this in the next week or so, once I can buy the cable. I believe that DVDMax was able to get the higher 640x480 resolution through the USB cable, but I have not confirmed that at this writing.
After building a test movie with DVDMax, and checking it on the system in the living room, I deleted all of Sony's software, except the base driver, and will happily live without it. If you buy Sony, you will want to do the same, and use DVDMax or some other third party tool to capture, manage, and burn your movies on a PC.
UPDATE: I bought the Firewire cable (6 pin to 4 pin) and tested the capture system again with Roxio's DVD Builder. The camera and software linked up immediately, with the PC controlling the camera as needed. The camera delivered 720x480 frames with no problems, giving me a sample from a 15 year old standard 8mm tape, a newer Hi8 tape, and some Digital 8 footage taken with the new camera. Both the analog recordings were much better than the earlier test with the USB2 connection. The Digital 8 recording was excellent, though still not commercial quality. I expect I can get a further improvement on all my material if I get software with better rendering capabilities, which is the next purchase on my list. The Digital 8 recording also automatically separates out segments for editing with each record/standby transition you film, which is a nice feature for the future. The camera cannot do this for either analog format.
I have also been able to test the camera modestly. The zoom is better than my old camera, able to frame a large bird at 150 feet (optically, not digitally). Like all small camcorders, stability when zoomed in is a problem, but no worse than on our old camera. I do not like the zoom control: it is small and very sensitive. You use your right index finger to push/pull a small protruding control. With my large hands, I found it at the edge of awkward. A two-button design would have been much better. As for the rest, only time will tell.
I keep coming back because: 1) I love the format: digital 8 tapes that are compatible with regular 8mm tapes. You have most all advantages of digital, and I can play/review all the years of tape I recorded on standard 8mm. (For example: camera records timeline on the tape so the correct date/time will always be associated with each scene.) Additionally, while digital 8mm tape may not have all the resolution of other digital formats, its file size is much smaller when tranferred to the computer (and I find the resolution to be fine). 2) Sony has done a nice job with the concept and improved it with each subsequent model.
This model's biggest change is the 'touch screen' menu. The menu shows on the lcd screen and you touch your way through the options. It's handy and responsive -it also leaves a lot of fingerprints on the lcd.
One of my favorite features is search. It will quickly take you to the end of the recording on the tape so you can pick up right where you left off after reviewing previous scenes. With the remote control, you also have access to date search. It's very nice to press a button several times and be taken right to the scene you wanted.
The camera has a nice feel in your hand. It's easy to hold and keep steady. The one caveat here -and it's probably my biggest complaint about the camera -is the location and feel of the zoom control. While the camera's designed so your hand is at the side while holding for filming, the zoom control is on the top. It's almost impossible to work the control smoothly while holding the camera in a regular grip. It's hard to believe they found this placement acceptable while designing the unit. This most recent iteration has a somewhat improved zoom control switch, but the placement is the same and just as awkward to use.
Unit has a small filming light that's helpful in a few situations, but not for major night/dark situation filming. It does have 'night shot' mode, if you don't mind watching everything in a green tint. (Note: this latest model also has "super" nightshot mode, which is supposed to provide a better night picture. I haven't tried it yet.) Also includes a 'backlight' button to compensate for backlit subjects.
Camera accepts a standard Sony memory stick which you can use to capture stills (either directly through the camera, or from film you've already recorded) and short mpeg snipets (depending on how big a memory stick you use). I make standard 4x6 still prints from shots taken with the camera and they look decent (though not what you'd get with a high res digital still camera).
One feature I haven't used yet (but I'm anxious to try) is 'spot focus.' You can maintain proper focus on the object you want, rather than having a general autofocus system shift the focus to something else.
Camera has a lot of editing type features (like adding titles and transitions), though I prefer to read the tapes into the computer and do my editing with Adobe Elements or Microsoft Movie Maker. Attaching the camera to a computer via firewire cable (not included with camera) makes everyting incredibly easy. If you simply want to download stills or mpegs you've recorded on the memory stick, you can attach to the computer via the included USB cable.
Basically, if you're novice to semi-advanced video maker, it would be very hard to beat this camera in terms of quality, features, and ease of use.
Buy Sony DCR-TRV480 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Now
When my 12-year-old Hi8 Sony went out on me recently I started shopping around. I had narrowed my search to the miniDV HC90 or the DVD403 model. I was leaning towards the HC90 simply because I liked the longer recording option that tape offers and the fact that both offer a 16:9 aspect ratio. I have a 70-inch HDTV and wanted something to fill the screen. However, the $900 price of those cameras was causing me to consider the new HD Sony camcorder with its $1900 price. I really wasn't ready financially to make such a big leap and wasn't too thrilled with the idea of spending $900 while knowing eventually I'd still want the HD when I was able to drop the bucks.Thankfully I stumbled upon this TRV480 model. Not only is this Digital8 model compatible with the Hi8 tapes I already own, but it also includes a 16:9 aspect ratio recording option which was essential for me. Best of all, the $350 price made me very comfortable using this camera as a stepping stone until I am ready for the move to HD.
I paid over $1,000 for the old Hi8 and was curious to see how this $350 camera could possibly stack up. There are definitely some short-cuts taken. No automatic lens cap for instance. But the touch-screen LCD was an unexpected plus. The biggest challenge was transferring movies to the PC for burning to DVD. I had been using a Pinnacle PCTV to capture video from the old camera with an S-video output and an audio cable from the camera's headphone jack. (There is no S-video output on this camera nor is there a headphone output.) As another reviewer pointed out correctly, the software provided by SONY is basically useless you own a Vaio. Furthermore when trying to capture video with Sonic RecordNow using the supplied USB cable, I was getting video but no audio. Purchasing a $30 IEEE 1394 cable did the trick. I can now transfer video from camera to PC without using the Pinnacle video capture hardware. The Sonic software works fine for this purpose.
I was very surprised at the quality of the picture on my 70" TV with the 16:9 aspect ratio. Granted, it's nowhere near HDTV but this camera exceeded my expectations and the video quality is at least as good as my old camera, maybe even better. For $350 and for what I wanted out of this camera, I could not be more satisfied.
Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-TRV480 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Here
Some of the reviews here may give the impression that the Sony TRV-480 is not capable of easy capture to a computer for burning to a DVD. This is not correct. Although the documentation is admittedly a bit confusing, the Digital-8 actually works exactly like a miniDV camcorder the only difference is the size of the tape (thus giving a somewhat larger camera). If you don't already have it, you should definitely plan to add a firewire card to your computer. I bought a firewire card for ten dollars;,it came bundled with a camcorder cable and some editing software. Once you have a firewire connection, you can capture with Microsoft Movie Maker or any other editing software and the camera can be controlled from the software, just like a miniDV. You can then proceed to author your DVDs using whatever software you choose.I have found this camera to be decent value for money, expecially if you have a stock of 8mm or Hi8 tapes that you want to be able to watch and convert to digital and at the same time move on to digital recording. An advantage is that you can use the old 8mm tapes, which are quite cheap, and get the same digital quality you would get on a miniDV camera. I don't think there is any difference between using the 8mm or the Hi8 tapes.
Want Sony DCR-TRV480 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Discount?
I grabbed this camcorder so I could convert 8mm videos over to DVD. This is the only one on the market I found that would play back 8mm and Hi8 tapes. It does it through the firewire so transferring to DVD was cake. Nice zoom, steadyshot is decent, battery life is pretty impressive, the digital camera part is useless but it is there if you want to play with it.
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