Customer Reviews

Sony DCRTRV20 Digital Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this camcorder. I never owned one before, but I'm a photographer and a computer programmer. I wanted video. I got so much more. It's easy and completely excellent. I love the interaction between digitized analog (mini-DAT) and the memory stick and the PC cabling. Fun fun stuff in any-which-way you can concieve. Grab stills from your video, dump them to the stick and then the PC. Or if you like, upload a logo with a bluescreen to your stick and then record live video with that logo blue-screen-burned in it. There are too many options to talk about. It does take your fingers a tiny bit of time to get used to where buttons and levers and switches are. I counted them and came up with 50+ of them. But the ones you use often enough come easily to remember. The ergo is fine. I usually use the viewscreen to film and snapshot. But the single eye view is great too. I don't think I could ask for a feature it doesn't have.

As much as I love Sony's megapixel sensor implementation in this camcorder, I no longer think it's the best one out there. If this cam is on your shopping list then definitely check out its closely related sibling: PC110. It has the same features, it is over twenty percent smaller, has a decent built-in flash, and in addition to being capable of megapixel shots, it records short MPEGs to the memory stick. The drawbacks could be the smaller 2.5-inch LCD and the vertical form factor (I actually prefer it). But other than that, everything else is the same or better, even the price...

You should also consider TRV900 which offers three CCDs instead of one, resulting in much better video quality, especially in low light conditions (worse resolution for the still pictures and slightly larger body size though), and many additional semi-professional features for not much more money.

Whichever you choose, stay with a Sony camcorder and their miniDV tapes. Their quality is great, drivers widely supported, and countless sites and newsgroups will help you enhance your digital movie and photo experience.

I bought this to take on my honeymoon in Jordan. It weighs about the same as a SLR, but you can take single shots as well. The night vision feature is great. By attaching the camera to my computer via a firewire system, I can also capture still shots from the video mode and print them out. I love it. The TRV20 is small enough to slip in a coat pocket with comfort. Around the neck or over the shoulder, it doesn't cut into you because of the wide strap. I wish the lens cap had a cord attached to keep up with it. The reversable viewing screen is wonderful for showing your movies when a TV hookup is not convenient. Over all, once you learn all the buttons and features, this is a dandy little unit for amateur or semi-professional alike.

All in all this camera has a very useful set of features for the amateur videographer and those who simply wish to record interesting experiences.

It's got full DV capabilities, as well as a few built-in transitions that some may find useful. It also has a useful selection of effects that are not too cheesy. Likewise, the menu system is easy to get used to and becomes second nature after a few uses.

The SuperSteadyCam feature works and works quite well.

The Supernightshot capability is a great, allowing footage to be taken in complete darkness, albeit with less color quality. I find that mixing the SEPIA effect with the night shot capability results in a more natural effect than the default green cast provided by the nightshot light (built-in).

The unit also functions as a digital camera, which is a great bonus. You can choose resolutions up to 1152 pixels. This should be good enough for amateur webmasters who simply want photos for their sites. Photos are saved to Memory stick. You may find that the 4MB Memory stick that is included is way too small in capacity. It can hold as many as 20+ photographs at medium resolution.

It also supports the "SMART" tape cartridges that can be indexed and titled. For those who use up little tape per session and end up covering more than one event on a single tape, I highly recommend the use of the smart cartridges to allow proper indexing of the differing events on the tape.

The automatic white balance adjustment is commendable, as is the wonderfully sharp optics of the Carl-Zeiss lens.

There are only a few things that may make you think twice about this unit.

- Tape loading happens from beneath the unit, making tape changes a bit fussier. You'll have to take your hand out of the retention strap and put the thing down.

- The unit is very small, and it does tend to cramp the hand when used for extended periods of time. However, I've found that it can be avoided by not using the hand retention strap altogether. I just tilt the LCD panel upwards and hold the unit at waist level. It also allows more powerful compositions in your videos.

- The unit is not the smallest out there. The vertically oriented camcorders are much smaller. So if you're out for ultimate miniaturization, this unit ain't it, either.

- Not enough wide-angle. I find that the default focal lengths achieved by the carl-zeiss doesn't allow for wide-enough angles. This affects those who wish to take nice vistas and comprehensive panoramas. Sony does make a wide angle lens attachment / adapter, but I have yet to try it.

Aside from those forgivable and slight caveats, I find the unit wonderfully well priced for the full range of features and the excellent video quality it can provide.

Of course there are much better units out there, but I feel that they provide little added benefit in relation to the large jump in cost that they entail.

All-in-all, five well deserved stars!

taj d.

Fits in the palm of your hand. As small as practically possible without being annoying. The only other camcorder that comes close is the DCR-PC100, which feels very awkward in your hands. They both have the same CCD and the same High Quality Lens. If quality is your main concern... there is no other camcorder to consider.

I bought this because of the form factor and the lens (Ziess). Movies look great and pictures look great if you are OK with resolution. I picked it up so that when we travel, I could take snap-shots for my web site and make movies to bore my family. The only thing I do not like is the ergonomics: learning to zoom smoothly takes a while. I cannot change the options for the movie, or even add a backlite when filming in the sun without taking my hands off the camera, looking for the button and activating it. There are many options that take a while to learn where they are and how to access them. I still love this machine and really do commend it.

The DCR-TRV20 is very easy to use for a person who doesn't work with camcorders and digital cameras. The quality of movie as well as digital still pictures makes me glad I spent the extra [money] to get the improved resoluton over the next model down. I also was impressed on how easy it to transport to my computer the stills from the digital camera.

The Sony DCR-TRV20 uses MiniDV format as opposed to the line of Sony's Digital 8 camcorders. MiniDV allows you to hold more video and on a more compact tapes.

The camcorder weighs just 1lb 7oz and looks very nice.

PICTURE

The TRV20 features a resolution of up to 520 lines (other digital video sources like DVD players and DBS offer similar resolution), higher color bandwidth (Sony claims three times higher than VHS) and virtually no video noise, since the signal is stored in the digital format.

The picture is very sharp and clear. You have 10x optical/120x digital zoom, the camera also uses Carl Zeiss lens for better picture quality, special coating reduces glare and increases contrast.

MiniDV

The camcorder uses MiniDV format. These 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. The tape loading mechanism is quite fragile and you can accidentally bend something if you press it in the wrong place, so it pay attention to pressing in the right place while loading a cassette. Since the recording is digital, the quality will not decrease over time.

ADC

The TRV20 has an ADC (analog-digital converter) that converts an analog signal you pass through the analog input, so you can either record it on the MiniDV tape in digital format (for archiving purposes) or send it through the IEEE-1394 (i.Link) interface to your computer, i.Link-equipped VCR or another device.

SOUND

The camcorder uses the Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) - similar to CD recording technology, with 12-Bit or 16-Bit modes (you can select the mode through the menu). This allows for a dynamic range of more than 96dB, since audio is stored separately you can use Audio Dubbing mode that allows you to add a stereo track of music or narration. The sound quality does not deteriorate over time and there is no "background" noise introduced by the medium itself, as happens in case with analog recording.

CONTROL INTERFACES

The L (LANC) Editing Interface provides standardized connection for synchronized operation of camcorder, VCR, and edit controller. 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 edit controllers, computers and digital VCRs.

The camcorder also has the built-in 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. You can buy a receiver (IFT-R20) and connect your camcorder wirelessly to the TV or other equipment. Some Sony TV models will even switch to the appropriate channel when signal from the IFT-R20 is received.

Memory Stick

You can use the TRV20 as a digital still camera, for which you can use a supplied 4Mb Memory Stick. The resolution is 1152x864.

LCD

The camcorder has a 3.5" 246,000-pixel LCD in addition to the 180,000 pixel color viewfinder. The picture on the LCD is visible even in sunlight and you can control brightness and color through the switches on the LCD and the menu.

FEATURES

You get a high-resolution 1,070,000-pixel HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD (the high resolution increases the picture quality) with low noise design. It has 7 modes program AE, manual focus and manual exposure in addition to automatic ones. Manual focus is controlled by the ring, which also looks cool. You can switch between manual and automatic focus using a switch on the left side of the camcorder (by LCD), it also has a position for "infinity" focus.

The camcorder features a Super SteadyShot image stabilization system. The TRV20 has 14 picture effects (4 of them digital), 5 A/V fader modes, 16:9 widescreen recording and 20-segment assemble editing.

The digital and picture effects can be used independently (some of them can be combined). The cool A/V fader modes I like include "dot" and "bounce". You can also manually adjust (if you want, otherwise it's automatic) shutter speed and exposure.

The 2x playback zoom allows you to zoom in during the playback (but it's cumbersome to use). You can also shoot in total darkness with Sony's Super NightShot™, which enables you to shoot subjects 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 a built-in speaker (you can control the volume with a rocker switch) and intelligent accessory shoe, which accepts accessories ranging from lights, IR lights and photo printers to microphones that "zoom" with the camcorder.

VCR

The VCR mode allows you to see your material. When you switch to it, the VCR buttons appear on the upper black panel, backlit by the amber light (they are invisible in other modes). In "camera" mode you can use "Edit Search" to look through the material to find the insertion point, or use "End Search" button, located under the LCD to find the end of your last recording.

POWER SOURCE

The TRV20 uses Sony's InfoLithium® battery, which has large capacity with no "memory effect". 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, and this estimate is very accurate. The Stamina® Power Management that power consumption and extends battery life when camera is not in use - you can shoot for up to 8 hours with an optional NP-FM91 battery.

The backlit LCD on the outer side of the 2.5" color LCD shows the remaining battery power in minutes while charging and tape counter when operating VCR.

Although not cheap, the TRV20 is a good choice if you demand high quality and willing to pay for it.

I have looked here at Amazon.com often to purchase a new camera, and this is the camera. Have only had it a few days, but what great shots and video. When I read about it with Amazon's "Product Specs" it said some things that made me almost not buy it. The specs about titles is not correct. There are preset titles and also custom titling. I don't let the camera do titles because my software makes much better ones for a "movie" type effect where the camera just has a word or two in the middle of the screen for 5 seconds. This is my first fire wire device so I have not worked with that, but when the product specs said "no" with the S video I was turned off. This camera DOES HAVE S-video jack and that takes care of the 520 lines of resolution great.

A couple of things that has troubled me with the camera are the zoom toggle and photo snap shot button. The zoom is very small and very sensitive. My old RCA camera had a much bigger front/back for zoom and wide angle, but this camera is small left/right. Being so new, I have to think left or right for zoom in and out and still go the wrong direction. The photo button on the top is another thing that I will need practice with. For just a few seconds you depress the button lightly until the camera is ready for a picture. Then you have to press the button deeper to let is take the picture. The place of the button and then have to depress it down completely has caused me to move the camera during the picture. The subject is hard to keep in the center when the "shutter clicks". With a tripod and using the remote might be the way to take a better picture. As a point and shoot still camera, it could be better.

The large LCD screen is great, but it takes power. Get extra batteries and spend some money to get a larger memory stick. The 4 meg stick that come with the camera works but not for long. I can't say that this is a "must have" camera, but if you want the higher end type equipment this is a great camera.

I have a Sony TRV20 since about a year and have used it quite a lot. The quality of the video is really superb. The still images have a very good resolution for a video camera, permitting non pixellized printouts. However I find that the colors of the still images are not as good as one could expect. The handling of still images is great too, you can view 9 pictures at a time as thumbnails on the screen. A good acessory is the flash made by Sony. I have the one that combines the video light and the flash for still pictures, very practical in low light situations where you tend to get those poor quality still shots. A little advice: if you use the flash do not use it with the subject less than 3 meters away otherwise it gest washed out (you can step back to 3 meters and use a bit of zoom to have a portrait) The image stabalizer works very well, and does not deteriorate the image in an obvious way. I regret that there is not an iris lock button (it does have a manual exposure but not as handy as a iris lock button). I won't go over all the features, which are nice to have but seldom mandatory. The large LCD screen is also above average. The best about this camera is really it's picture quality which is the real purpose of it. I can highly recommend this unit.