Sony CCDTRV36 Handycam Hi8 Camcorder

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [2.20mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 4.2 x 7.6 inches ; 1.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000JMMV
• Item model number: CCD-TRV36
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,895 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Sony TRV36 Handycam offers a powerful 330x digital zoom, built-in light, a wide range of special effects and programmed autoexposure modes, including Sony's unique infrared night recording capabilities. Sony's elongated Handycam design fits easily in one hand and is well-balanced. While not the lightest of camcorders, we found the Handycam line one of the most ergonomic and easy to use.

The Sony TRV36 Handycam has a nifty status screen on the outside of the LCD screen module that lets you know how many minutes you've recorded or how far you've played a tape. It also tells you if there's a tape in the camcorder. The LCD screen swivels 210 degrees, which lets you record above your head or put yourself in the picture. The optical viewfinder is black and white, which is not a real drawback since we ended up using the LCD screen for most of our shooting. The Sony TRV36 Handycam also comes with a basic remote control unit.

The TRV36 lets you manually adjust focus and exposure; it also includes seven programmed exposure modes, plus backlight compensation, to help optimize your video under different shooting conditions. It features a high-powered 330x digital zoom, great for getting closeups and recording faraway events.

We enjoyed Sony's full range of special effects, including the distinctive pastel, slim, and stretch picture modes. The TRV36 also provides widescreen, black-and-white, sepia, negative, and solarized modes. We liked the range of fade options, which include fade to black, mosaic, monotone, and a bounce-image effect.

The camcorder includes Sony's exclusive NightShot capability, which lets you shoot video in total darkness. The Handycam emits an invisible infrared beam to light the scene. The resulting video is basically black and white, and lower quality than normal, but being able to get decent images in complete darkness is nonetheless pretty amazing. The Sony TRV36 Handycam also includes a built-in light for normal shooting in dim conditions.

This camcorder uses the Hi8 format, which makes for sharp and colorful video--digital is the only format that will give you better quality. The only drawback to Hi8 is that you can't play the tapes in your VCR; you have to connect the camcorder to your TV for playback.

Pros:

• Ergonomic design
• NightShot capability
• Wide range of exposure settings
• Good selection of special effects
• Powerful zoom

Cons:

• Optical viewfinder is black and white

Product Description

Sony Hi-8mm Handycam Vision camcorder 330X digital zoom, Nightshot(TM) Infrared 0 lux system, Special effects, 2.5" SwivelScreen color LCD and 16:9 recording mode

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compact, convenient, and great battery life., November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony CCDTRV36 Handycam Hi8 Camcorder (Electronics)

The camera really is easy to use and is loaded with features. The remaining battery life indicator is a GREAT feature. The special effects are fun to use. The night shot is cute but my use would be minimal. Overall, it is a very good camcorder. I would buy it again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars C:31:23 error, April 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony CCDTRV36 Handycam Hi8 Camcorder (Electronics)

I've been getting the C:31:23 error message on CCD-TRV36 model. Bought this unit four years ago and used it rarely (max 60hrs). I have contact SONY several times. The off-shore tech support suggest I spend $200 and send this to Sony and they will fix it for me (all labor and no parts needed!) They probably have an easy fix for it and are not willing to post it on their web site. Why should they when they can make $200! I told tech support I can buy a brand new digital one for $350 and it will defiantly not be a Sony brand. I have put in brand new Sony tape and brand new rechargeable battery and it did not fix this issue.

20 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!!!!, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony CCDTRV36 Handycam Hi8 Camcorder (Electronics)

Great features. Easy to use. Incredibly fun. With the birth of my first child, Alexis, I needed a camcorder that would help me capture every exciting moment in her life. This handycam does that and more. Probably, the best investment of my life. You can't go wrong with this camera.