This is an unbelievable camcorder/camera. It is small and light, but just the right size for your hand. The images are sharp from the great CCD. It only has one 1/4 inch CCD, but it is 1550k! It gives 530 lines of resolution -tops around for a camera in this class. The navigation menu is intuitive and easy to work. Great 3.5 inch LCD viewscreen.The camera also takes 1.55 megapixel stills that can be saved on the miniDV tape (will hold LOTS of stills) or Sony's memory stick. The memory stick that comes with the camera is a bit weak (only 4 megs) so it only holds 4 pics at the highest resloution.
Would suggest buying a 64 or 128 Meg memory stick now that the prices have come down. The camera resolution is more than enough for emailing and web posting (you'll likely trim the photos in photoshop anyway).
The camera will record MPEG movies at 2 different resolutions which can be easily transferred to a computer and emailed or posted onto the web.
Battery life is ok with the included battery (varies around 1-2 hours with use) but is MUCH greater with the optional NP-FM91 battery. Increases the life to around 6 hours (Sony claims 7.5-8). The bigger battery is a bit thicker and makes the camcorder a bit backheavy (and less sleek and cool looking) but is certainly worth it. Sony also uses the infolithium batteries which convert remaining battery juice into minutes of recording time till it dies! Very useful, you always know exactly how much battery is left!
Night shot and super nightshot take greeinish pics in essentially no light. It is kind of like looking through night vision googles, but very cool. The super night shot gives very "herky-jerky" images, however. I guess the processor is too slow.
The cover for the A/V jacks and video out jacks is really cheap. It looks like it could break very easily.
The digital effects are cool, you'll probably end up using "fade to black" the most.
Firewire from the camera to the computer is a great plus. Allows editing of images, scenes, sound, etc. Also comes with a USB interface. Very thoughtful.
The camera has a search function so you can search for video by date or by a title that you put in.
Now the question is do you really need to spend the $$$ ? Not sure, if all you want to do is take a couple shots of grandmom's 80th b-day and your daughter's pony ride. There are other cheaper miniDV cameras out there, but this is quality, and face it, you get what you pay for.
Overall 5 stars *****
The most impressive ( and important ) feature of this camera is its visuals. I first took the camera out for a day shooting clouds, traffic, sunsets and various wildlife. When viewed on my TV I was floored at the quality. Absolutely lush, vibrant colours, amazing deatil beautiful. Don't judge what you see on the LCD panel. The actual output imagery on tape is fantastic.
Still imagery is a wonderful boon. 1360x1020 gives you plenty of resolution to play with. Upgrade the memory stick to at least a 64 meg. You'll then be able to hold about 70-80 hires pictures. I did find that the stills produced were somewhat grainy when the light level was low which is normally the case. However in bright conditions they are great. I have no need to carry a separate digital still camera with me.
Had great fun creating close up shots you can bring the subject matter so close it'll touch the lens before it goes out of focus. Produced some great macro photography this way. Brilliant. The manual focus ring is wieghted and smooth for precise focus adjustment auto focus a little slow nothing to worry about. Manual Exposure control excellent.
Many fun features which after playing with them I never really come back to. It's the quality of the visuals that'll impress you.
I purchased a firewire card and cable and have had no problems outputting the imagery to and from my PC. Made many a short film of friends and folks this way.
The charger is great in that you only need a plug adapter when traveling to another country ( eg. Europe ). It'll handle a broad range of voltages.
The TRV30 has every input / output you'll likely to need and even though the little cover seems like it's going to break mine is still on after months of use...
Don't be put off by the 10x zoom. It's plenty. Anything over that and you'll be needing a tripod to keep the image stable. I've gotten some huge shots of the setting sun with the 10x.
Plus with the 37mm lens you have plenty of opportunity to purchase add on filters and lens from a massive selection of great camera gear that's out there.
You can also shoot in 16:9 mode which will then play back correctly on a widescreen TV. However, the image is not anamorphic. The camera is basically resizing the image. Nice feature to have though.
Um...,
Also buy a quality tape and stick with it. Don't change brands. I use Fuji.
Enough rambling if you're thinking of purchasing the Sony go and try in a shop. Hold it, play with it and fall in love with it. Imagine what you will create. I did.
Buy Sony DCRTRV30 Mini DV Handycam Camcorder Now
Initially, I thought maybe I should have purchased the PC110. It's a little smaller. However, when I started using the TRV30 I realized if the camera was any smaller it wouldn't be easy to use. I'm all thumbs so this is the perfect size. The pictures are amazing 1.5 megapixels. The quality of the video is just awesome, especially if you have a WEGA XBR flat screen tv. It has two cons: the cover for the A/V jacks and Microphone jack is very cheap. My feeling is that if I open it 20-30 times it will fall off the plastic hindge. Two, it does not come with a tape. The bottom line is that this camera is the best on the market. Love it!Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRTRV30 Mini DV Handycam Camcorder Here
The Sony DCR-TRV30 MiniDV digital camcorder features an impressive 1.5-megapixel CCD, which allows it, in addition to impressive video quality, take still pictures at resolution up to 1360x1020.MiniDV vs. Digital8 vs. Analog
First, the digital video is better than analog video for several reasons:
1. Since the recording is digital, the quality will not decrease over time.
2. There is no noise introduced by the media
3. The horizontal resolution is higher than in analog standards, be it VHS, Super VHS, 8mm or Hi8.
4. The copies have the same quality as original (if the copy is made using digital connection – i.Link/FireWire/IEEE 1394)
Although Sony and Hitachi produce Digital8 camcorders in addition to MiniDV models, MiniDV is an industry standard and is the most commonly used digital video format. The Digital8 format may be viewed as means to decrease the costs (the tapes costs less) and provide backward compatibility (they usually play Hi8 and 8mm recordings, with the exception of Sony TRV130).
The MiniDV tapes can be used in the LP mode for increased capacity without compromising the picture quality – since the data is stored in the digital format. But you will not be able to use audio dubbing feature.
PICTURE
With impressive 1.5-megapixel CCD, the TRV30 offers excellent picture quality, with well-defined edges and great color reproduction. The resolution and picture quality in the digital camcorders are usually limited not by the medium, but the CCD, optics and electronics. Which is the reason that people buy more expensive models than sub-$1000 to get better picture quality.
The 1.5-megapixel CCD has resolution that several times more than the resolution of cheap digital camcorder models.
SOUND
As other digital camcorders, this one employs Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) similar to CD recording technology, with (can be selected from the menu) 12-bit or 16-bit modes. Since audio is stored separately you can use Audio Dubbing that allows you to add a stereo track of music or narration, but only in 12-bit SP mode.
As with other digital audio formats, the sound quality does not deteriorate over time and there is no "background" noise introduced by the media itself.
ZOOM & OPTICS
The camcorder employs 10x optical/120x digital zoom and has Carl Zeiss lens for better picture quality. The special coating reduces glare and increases contrast. The Super SteadyShot system can be employed for image stabilization, which fights unwanted picture shake from getting recorded on tape.
ADC & ANALOG-DIGITAL PASSTHROUGH
The TRV30 features an analog-digital converter (ADC), which converts analog signal from the analog input, so you can either record it on the MiniDV tape in digital format or send it through the IEEE-1394 (FireWire, i.Link) interface to your computer, compatible VCR or another device. The analog sources you might want to convert include video you want to store for a long time or edit.
LCD
In addition to color viewfinder, the camcorder features a large 3.5" LCD. The LCD has excellent visibility in sunlight. You can use the viewfinder to conserve battery power.
INPUTS
The camcorder has analog A/V inputs and outs, including S-Video. The camcorder also has an i.Link® Digital Interface (FireWire, IEEE1394), which is a two-way input/output that carries digital audio, digital video and control signals to compatible digital VCRs, edit controllers and computers.
It features an L (LANC) Editing Interface that provides standardized connection for synchronized operation of camcorder, VCR, and edit controller...The camcorder also features the Super Laser Link® Wireless Transmitter, which uses infrared light to make a wireless connection from the camcorder to your television up to 26 feet away. The transmitter is built-in, so you can buy a receiver and connect your camcorder wirelessly.
FEATURES
The camcorder features a 1.5-megapixel HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with low noise design. It has several modes of AE, manual focus and manual exposure in addition to automatic modes. The manual focus is controlled by the ring, which also looks cool.
You can switch between manual and automatic focus using a switch, which also has a position for "infinity" focus. The exposure can also be controlled manually when needed so you can avoid overexposure (and video noise in low-light scenes). The 2x playback zoom allows you to zoom in during the playback and enlarged pictures can be copied to MemoryStick.
The camcorder has 14 picture effects (6 digital effects), several digital A/V fader modes, 16:9 and LP mode recording. The digital and picture effects can be used independently (some of them can be combined). You can also manually adjust shutter speed when needed.
The Sony's Super NightShot™ allows you to shoot in complete darkness up to 10 feet away. The system uses a built-in infrared light; the optional IR light can extend the range to up to 100 feet. There is also a built-in speaker (you can control the volume) and camcorder comes with a remote control and an intelligent accessory shoe (which accepts accessories ranging from lights, IR lights and photo printers to microphones that "zoom" with the camcorder).
The remote control is included and gives you access to advanced VCR functions as well as zoom, playback and shooting modes.
MEMORY STICK
The camcorder can be used as a digital still camera at up to 1360x1020 resolution, the images are stored on a supplied 4Mb Memory Stick. You can use the supplied USB cable and software to transfer images to your PC, edit and store/catalog them. The MemoryStick can also store short MPEG clips.
BATTERY
The TRV30 comes with an InfoLithium® battery, which lasts about 35 minutes if you use LCD. You can conserve the energy by using the color viewfinder, or you can get a battery of the larger capacity. You can always see the approximate remaining power: AccuPower™ meter shows you the remaining battery time in minutes on the camcorder's LCD or viewfinder.
BOTTOM LINE
The TRV30 provides excellent picture quality and high still resolution. With large LCD, USB, i.Link and other useful features, this model is a great digital camcorder.
Want Sony DCRTRV30 Mini DV Handycam Camcorder Discount?
I love my new camera. The combination of 1.5 megapixel stills and great video images mean I only have to take one camera with me on vacation. Add the fact that it includes a built-in flash so you can take pictures in low light situations, and the fact that it weighs less than a pound and a half, and it just can't be beat. As a Mac user I can report that the iLink output is compatible with iMovie, and the USB port means the media card appears right on your desktop no more funky software to import digital stills. I can even digitize my old HI8 footage into iMovie with the analog passthrough feature. Quite a camera I must say!
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