Sony DCR-DVD403 3MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

by Sony

Product Details

Data Sheet [300kb PDF]

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Product Manual [6.09mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 3.7 x 2.4 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007LZGD8
• Item model number: DCRDVD403
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,579 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 7, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Now you can make videos that sound as great as they look. The first 3-megapixel CCD model camcorder in Sony's DVD Handycam history, the DCR-DVD403 provides both high-resolution images and high-quality surround sound. The famous Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and 3.3M gross pixels capture high-definition DVD digital movies. Or go the DSC (digital still camera) route and let the camcorder's 3,050K effective pixels give you up to 1,800 pictures on a single DVD. The built-in 4ch microphone records Dolby 5.1ch surround sound directly onto the disc, making those moments to remember ones you'll truly never forget--especially after you add background music and special effects, which come with the Picture Package of video-editing software.

The Sony DCR-DVD203's DVD-R/-RW/+RW functions make it versatile.

Features of the Sony DCR-DVD403

• DVD format video recording delivers excellent digital picture and sound quality.
• 3.3-megapixel gross CCD imager with a large 1/3-inch advanced HAD (hole accumulation diode) CCD provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video.
• Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens precision guarantees a crisp and clear image every time.
• Surround sound enhances sound by adding a widespread or 3-dimensional sound pattern to your videos, mimicking the sound characteristics of a theater or live performance with wide sonic range when played back with 5.1ch audio through your home theater system.
• DVD-R/-RW/+RW-compatible, and with DVD-RW and DVD+RW you can rerecord more than 1,000 times on a single disc.
• Visual index uses a simple chapter menu to display your video footage and provide a quick search of your favorite scenes or still pictures without the hassle of wading through endless tape. Just choose your chapter and watch!
• Enhanced 16:9
• 2.7-inch wide 16:9 hybrid touch panel LCD with recording and zoom buttons on the LCD frame

  The Sony DCR-DVD403's adjustable 2.7-inch wide LCD with touch panel

• Active interface shoe provides a location directly on the camcorder to add optional accessories while providing power and two-way communication to those accessories.
• Super SteadyShot controls a higher range of shake and vibration frequencies to ensure your home videos are recorded with a high level of smoothness.
• Super NightShot plus uses infrared light to let your camcorder record images in colour in total darkness.
• Stamina battery performance gives you up to five hours recording on one complete charge using an optional NP-FP90 battery pack.
• USB 2.0 interface provides an excellent digital editing solution with an easy way to connect your DVD Handycam camcorder to the computer for fast transfer of video and still images.
• Picture Package software lets you easily organize still images and video content and turn them into stunning music videos.
• Progressive shutter system is a mechanical shutter system that provides progressive scan performance while using an interlaced scanning system, resulting in digital still images that are sharp and clear with excellent definition.
• Analog digital signal conversion lets you convert or record any analog NTSC video source (e.g., VHS) to digital via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed through the digital camcorder directly into a PC via the i.Link interface for easy editing of analog footage.
• Easy Handycam button changes the camcorder's settings to auto mode for simple operation.
• Intelligent program AE (auto exposure)
• InfoLithium battery system indicates power remaining in minutes and is not prone to "memory effect," as Ni-Cd batteries are.
• Multilanguage operation: English, Simplified English, Canadian French, Traditional Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, and Korean.
• Manual focus allows you the option of extremely accurate and detailed videos and pictures.
• Remote commander control included.

Accessories Supplied with the Sony DCR-DVD403

Accessories supplied with the Sony DCR-DVD403

• AC-L25A/B AC Adapter
• NP-FP70 Rechargeable Battery Pack
• RMT-835 Remote Commander ® Control
• Audio/Video Cable
• Shoulder Strap
• Lithium Clock (Installed)
• DVDR30 Blank Disc (Single-sided DVD-R disc)
• Lithium Battery (CR2025)
• Picture Package/USB Driver (CD-ROM for DVD Camcorder)
• USB Cable
• Cleaning Cloth

Product Description

Now you can make videos that sound as great as they look. The first 3-megapixel CCD model camcorder in Sony's DVD Handycam history, the DCR-DVD403 provides both high-resolution images and high-quality surround sound. The famous Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and 3.3M gross pixels capture high-definition DVD digital movies. Or go the DSC (digital still camera) route and let the camcorder's 3,050K effective pixels give you up to 1,800 pictures on a single DVD. The built-in 4ch microphone records Dolby 5.1ch surround sound directly onto the disc, making those moments to remember ones you'll truly never forget--especially after you add background music and special effects, which come with the Picture Package of video-editing software.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

269 of 276 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love it, March 31, 2005

By 

S. George (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DCR-DVD403 3MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is the first camcorder I've purchased and I intentionally held off until a good DVD camcorder was available. The dcr-dvd403 is worth the wait.

Video quality is outstanding; I'm recording everything in 16:9 with the highest quality possible (the camcorder records in low, medium and high quality yielding 1 hour, 30 minutes or 20 minutes of recording time per dvd) and surround sound. The camera picture quality is good but not exceptional.

I've heard of horrible startup times in previous DVD camcorders and am happy to say that after you turn this on you only have to wait a few seconds to start recording. With DVD media, you do need to format the disc one time, which takes about 20 seconds, but that is a one time cost. You also need to finalize DVD-R or DVD-RW media (you don't need to finalize DVD+RW). The cool thing with DVD-RW is that you can unfinalize it and keep recording.

There are a few things on this camcorder that really stand out:
- Super quick startup
- When you take pictures they are stored on the DVD instead of a memory stick. You can record video and pictures on the same DVD.
- The night shot mode is really cool, let's you see in the dark
- The touch screen is really cool, much better than having a million buttons on the camcorder.
- 16:9 support and 5.1 surround sound is really cool.

172 of 176 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Dream Camcorder, April 13, 2005

By 

It's Just Me - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony DCR-DVD403 3MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I have been interested in buying a DVD camcorder for a while, but was held back by the reports of bad performance. I even tired one, the Panasonic M50 but returned it to the store after few days because of awful performance, bad colors, resolution, dark picture in the middle of a sunny day.
And then I was browsing for a replacement for the M50, and I saw the priliminary reports for the 403, no reviews were present but the specifications were very promising, about 10 times the resolution for the M50 and 3 times the resolution of the best DVD camcorder out there, flash for stills, cool lens, dolby digital sound, together with the small size and the convenience of the DVD camcorders. I saw that all the issues that were held against Sony DVD camcorders in reviews were addressed in this one. So, I decided to buy it, and I LOVE IT. Everything that I wanted in a camcorder is there, great colors, great sound, great resolution, great picutre on a 52 inch TV, great stills, the flash makes them come to life and the resolution is very good, comparable quality to the stills produced by my Canon S410, and you can record stills and videos on the same DVD, and watch both on your DVD player. And it is sooo easy to use, I finished my first DVD-R before even I went through 1/4 of the catalogue, buttons are intuitive and convenient. I agree with the previous reviewer about the finger prints on the screen from using it to make adjustments, but when the screen is on you do not see them at all. And imagine how proud I was about my purchase infront of my husband and kids, when I was able to pop the finalized DVD into our DVD player few minutes after I just finished recording.
I was researching DVD camcorders for few months before I bought this one, and the bottom line is, if money is not an issue for you, then consider this one, if you compare the specifications, this camcorder is in a category of it's own compared to any other DVD camcorder out there. I am in love with it, and I have been shopping for accessories for it already. It is worth every penny I paid.

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You CAN move the video from the little DVD to a big one, December 8, 2005

By 

New Jersey Mom (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony DCR-DVD403 3MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

A lot of people writing reviews here seem to think that they're stuck buying expensive small cancorder-size DVD's ($20 for 3) and filling them up with 20 minutes each of high quality video.

For a few minutes extra work you can put your files on your computer and then, when you have enough files to make it worth while, create a new "big DVD." Then you can just reformat your little disk and keep using it in your camera to take more video.

To do this,you must have a DVD drive on your computer. If you don't have one, invest a few bucks in getting an external one.

Also, be sure you record in DVD-RW Video (not VR) mode.

1. First use Picture Package (comes with the camera) to copy/convert the video from your little camcorder DVD-RW disk onto your hard drive in the form of individual .mpg files (You can do this by connecting your camera to your computer via the USP port, or, much more easily, just put the mini disk from the camera right into your DVD drive. )

2. Reformat your mini camcorder disk (which erases all the images) and keep on recording more video.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have enough .mpg files on your hard drive to fill a large DVD.


4. Get a piece of software called TIMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6. You can get a free 30 day trial at http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/guide.html

3. Using the Author 1.6 software, first convert all the .mpg files you select into DVD files (which will be stored on your hard drive), then, put a new (big) DVD in your DVD drive and, with one more click, burn the DVD files from your hard drive onto your DVD.

Took me only a few minutes of fooling around with the software to figure out how to do this. (And I'm no computer wizard.)

Now if there was an easy way to stream this stuff over the net, it'd be as useful as my still camera!