Sony DCRIP7BT MicroMV Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Hybrid LCD, 8MB Memory Stick, MPEG Movie, & Network Capability

Other products by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [2.77mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B000063LHM
• Item model number: IP7BT
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,233 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The newest digital format on the market, MicroMV records video and audio encoded as MPEG-2, which is the format used for DVD video. While this is a unique and intriguing feature, it's buttressed by the incredibly small size of the camera itself. While MicroMV might be the wave of the future, there are some unanswered questions in the present, but those concern the camcorder's interoperability with computers (most video-editing programs are made to work with the DV standard, not MPEG-2) rather than its shooting abilities.

All that said, your biggest question is probably, just how small is the DCR-IP7BT? It measures less than 2 inches wide, 4 inches high, and just over 3 inches deep. In other words, it's the smallest digital camcorder we've seen. Amazingly, Sony crammed a 10x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD onto this thing, which means they didn't sacrifice anything in their quest for smallness. Plus, they've included a digital still mode (and MPEG movie mode) that records onto Memory Stick. With the Bluetooth adapter, you can e-mail pictures and short movie clips right from the camcorder, but you need to be near a computer that is equipped with Bluetooth as well.

The DCR-IP7BT uses Super SteadyShot image stabilization to avoid the shakes normally associated with high zoom levels. Image stabilization will likely be your best friend when using the IP5, as its small size and weight lend themselves to the small camera movements likely to result in shaky footage. The camera comes with S-video, composite video, and IEEE 1394 ports.

Product Description
What could be more convenient than a camcorder that fits right in the palm of your hand? This camcorder uses the NEW MicroMV formatM-^Wa tape thatM-^Rs 70% smaller, yet holds up to 60 minutes of video thatM-^Rs every bit as good as its bigger cousin, MiniDV! Get crystal-clear images through the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens, and see the results instantly on the 2.5" LCD Swivelscreen. Your audiences will appreciate the shake-free images youM-^Rll get with the Super SteadyShot« stabilizing system.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars terrible color and picture quality...., June 30, 2002

By	lal (New Providence, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

The size of the DCRIP7 is fantastic. Great to
hold, really slides into your pocket, and all the knobs
are quite functional given the size of the camcorder.

However, no matter what the form factor, the bottom line
on any camcorder is the color and picture quality. If
it were not for the form factor, I would give this a
rating of zero!

The color, focus, and clarity [stink] big time. Make sure you
project the output of the camera directly onto a computer
or TV set, and not make a judgement based on the image
on the LCD screen. I took my unit back and demonstrated
what I was talking about with the unit on the floor.
Same thing. Red objects look different, focus is terrible,
(so much for the CZ lens), and the image is grainy.

Very disappointed!!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Profound disappointment, May 27, 2002

By	Lemuel Moye PHD (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

As a devoted Sony customer and a contented user of the DCR-TRV11, I had high hopes for the smaller DCR1P7BT. The size and fucntionality of the DCR17BT was superb, but its utility is plagued by its video downloading difficulty. Several different programs have to be installed. After installing Movieshaker, Quicktime, DirectX8a and an upgrade driver for Windows 2000, the camera still would not download using a FireWire connection. I have attempted downloading on FOUR SONY PCs (2 running Windows 2000, and two running XP and failed every single time. I returned the camera to Circuit City after 24 hours of frustration. My TRV11 downloads flawlessly. The last thing I need with a videocamera is downloading problems. With firewire devices, downloading should be nearly effortless.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not buy this camcorder!, June 28, 2002

By A Customer

First of all, the Bluetooth feature is absolutely useless. You can only use it to upload to Sony's website using a 56k dialup. Forget about using it to upload videos.

Second, it uses a Sony proprietary video format called MicroMV. As such, can only use the bundled MovieShaker to import and edit your video footage. This doesn't seem to be a big deal except that MovieShaker is extremely slow.

Do yourself a favor, do a search on the web for reviews of this unit. I returned mine ...