Customer Reviews

Sony DCRTRV70 MiniDV 2MP Camcorder with 2.5"LCD, Memory Stick, and Networking Capability

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hesitate to write a review when I haven't even had the chance to test many of the features of this camera (and it's the first video camera I've ever owned, so my ability to make comparisons is limited), but I noticed that there weren't any reviews of this camera yet, and I thought I could contribute some thoughts.

WARNING: this review will NOT give you a run-down of all the camera's specs and features. That information is easily found elsewhere and is probably better summarized by "experts."

What this review WILL provide is the perspective of a mom who needs a camera for home and family use (I have a four year-old and another child due in a few weeks). I should also mention that I have a lot of experience with SLR film cameras and have a particular interest in avoiding flash and using natural light. So when I went looking for a video camera my priorities were:
(1) excellent image quality (color, resolution)
(2) ability to record good images indoors in natural or low light
(3) compactness (I didn't want anything so big that I wouldn't want to bring it along on trips and outings)

I don't have a digital still camera, so although I still prefer using my film cameras for still pictures, the idea of being able to use the camcorder for stills was also a factor.

The brands I considered were Panasonic, Canon and Sony because I felt that they had the best reputation for optics and overall quality. I ruled out the Canons when they seemed to be getting mixed reviews. I was initially interested in a Panasonic PV-DC 352, but by the time I got around to purchasing, the camera had been discontinued and was not available anywhere. I was less impressed by the newer Pansonics because they had reduced the size of the CCD, and I had heard that a larger CCD meant better image quality in low light.

I narrowed it down to the Sony DCR-TRV 70 and the Sony PC-105. The optics on the TRV 70 seemed better, but I thought that I might prefer the PC-105 for its compactness. (I should mention that at this point I was basing my opinions on specs and information about the cameras given online.) At this point I decided to see the cameras in a store to see and feel what they were like. Once I saw them, I realized that the TRV 70 is not really that much bigger than the "supercompact" PC-105 -- certainly it was not so much bigger that I would be less likely to bring it with me somewhere. However, the lens is considerably bigger (which means better optical quality), and I preferred the traditional elongated shape to the boxy 105 -- it seemed easier to handle and keep steady. (Also I have heard that an advantage of this shape is that the microphone is closer to the subject and further away from the camera operator.)

I decided to get the TRV 70. It was easy to start using right away, and it was easy to hook up to the TV. Some people have complained about the new touch LCD screens that Sony provides now instead of buttons, but I don't have any problem with this feature. The 2.5 inch LCD might be small for those who like a big one, but I prefer this size because it uses up less battery power and is perfectly adequate. Outdoors in bright light I prefer to use the viewfinder.

I haven't tried to take any still pictures yet, so I'm afraid I can't report on that feature. But at 2 megapixels I'm sure that these will turn out fine.
I also haven't tried to hook the camera up to a computer yet.

A common complaint heard about Sonys is that the zoom control is too fast/sensitive. While it is true that it is fast, it can be controlled by using a very light touch. Also, I can see that the advantage of a fast zoom is the ability to zoom quickly in order to set up a shot while still in standby mode (it looks more professional not to be constantly zooming in and out while recording anyway).

In terms of my initial priorities, this camera performs beautifully. Video quality is really excellent. And low light quality is really impressive (better I would say than what I can achieve with my manual-control SLR cameras). Colors are a little more washed out in very low light, but this doesn't bother me -- the color that IS there still seems true.
And the camera is compact and solid -- doesn't feel plastic-y.

Okay, here's an update:
I finally got around to taking still pictures with this camera and I'm addicted! I haven't used a digital camera before but have taken plenty of pictures with film cameras, and I have to say I'm impressed with the quality of the stills I can take with this camera. (The setting I use most often is "fine" and 640x480, which produces images with good resolution that are only about 100-150 kb and so easily sendable via email). The still camera feature is not as good in low light, but the pop-up flash compensates for that. I've also tried capturing stills from video, and that works moderately well, though it is obviously not going to produce as good an image.
One feature I really like in the still camera is the "bracketing" feature which takes 3 shots in quick succession at different exposures -- this is great for trying to capture expressions on quick-moving babies/children's faces!

Just picked up yesterday and took out last night for a run. Have been evaluating against Panasonic DV953. Comparison so far, 1) Sony TRV70 excellant in low light with very little grain in night setting, Panasonic 953 cannot be used unless highly lit object like a sign on bldg. 2) video capture is almost equal to the three chipper. 3) 2.5" lcd is smallish but i did like the touch screen which is very easy to manuver thru setting menus. Panasonic 953 has wheel but still have to use lcd or really cant make options out. however the 3.5" is nice to read and clear. 4) Panasonic 953 has more color saturation and more manual control. Althought with the manual exposure I was able to saturate also on the Sony TRV70. At this point I have not tried still function on either yet, but if you want to shoot indoor footage the Panasonic will need lots of light to avoid grainy picture where the Sony TRV 70 is at home indoors or out in auto settings. With the panasonic hard to find and the sony trv70 available @ $1,000.00 at this point you either have to leap to the over 2k price thresholdfor GL2,VX2000 or better. The sony trv70 or trv80 if you want to pop for the larger lcd may be your choice.

this is a power packed camcorder!
pros:
- other than the sony trv80, this is the only sony miniDV camcorder that has a 2 megapixel still camera built in.
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
- has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
- carl zeiss lens.
- steady shot and night shot.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- progressive shutter system.

cons:
- this camcorder is bigger than i would like. you can get smaller camcorders like the trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- bright 2.5" LCD screen: but i definitely prefer the 3.5" in the trv80.
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- the included 8MB memory stick (for a 2 megapixel still camera!) is unacceptable. you'll need at least a 64MB memory stick with if you want to take full advantage of the higher resolution pics you'll be taking.
- although bundling the camcorder and still camera together means you only have to carry one piece of equipment, it also means that if one breaks, you have to replace both.
- as an alternate to this bundling strategy, you can get a trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera for about the same price.
- no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

all in all, a very nice camcorder. nice work sony.

I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera a year ago. But I've used it A LOT since then and figured I would write a review.

I did comparison tests with this camera vs. Sony's other lower end camcorders. The color and resolution on this one if FAR superior and worth the extra money. I also compared it to the Canon GL2, a 3-CCD camera. The 3-CCD camera was far better in low light and color, but comes with a much heaftier price tag.

The good things about this camera have been mentioned by others. And while it may not fit in your palm exactly, it is really not very big. It looks good, and all the features are easy to find. Overall good design.

There are three things about this camcorder I don't like, but here's what I recommend to solve them:

The lens always looks like you can't zoom out enough. I'm sure there's a technical term for this, but even when you're zoomed out all the way it looks like your subject is too close. As soon as I realized this, I purchased a Sony wide angle lens, which made all the difference. Especially if you're indoors, you want to take in as much of the environment as possible. It does add size to the camera, and means you can't use the flash for still pictures without removing it. But it gives the camera a nice professional look and feel.

The second problem with this camera I've read about with other Sony camcorders: the "whirring" noise of the motor as it is taping. When I first got the camera I didn't notice it, but as time went on the whirr got worse. Also, there's a "hiss" that you get with any camcorder. I solved this by getting a Sony external microphone to attach to the "boot". ECM-MS5908C. It's a stereo microphone, and it's far enough from the motor that you hardly hear it, and also drowns out the hiss. I also got a shotgun mic, but that isn't stereo, so I wouldn't recommend it unless shooting subjects far away.

The other issue is unsolvable, and that's the "slider" zoom in. Instead of moving front to back with two fingers to zoom in, you slide left to right with one finger. It's hard to use, and over-sensitive. I do not understand why Sony sticks with that technology on their consumer models, but not with their 3-CCD professional models.

Overall, a great camera. I do not use the still camera function very often, so I can't comment on that. I use Final Cut Express for the Macintosh to edit, and everything works smoothly with this camera. (Also, if you plan to do any editting, you get a HIGH recommendation from me for Apple computers. Each Apple computer comes with iMovie, a free program that is SO EASY to use to edit video.)

You're obviously reading this because you want to know if this camera is right for you. Here's what I say: if you want better picture quality than other home videos you've seen, and are willing to pay for it, this camera is ideal. I highly recommend the wide angle lens and external stereo microphone, which help you make better videos but also add size to the machine. If you want to spend more to get an amazing, broadcast-quality picture, there's a big leap in cost for a 3-CCD camera. But the Sony DCRTRV70 is right in the middle, and is really a good choice.

THANK YOU SONY!!!! I PURCHASED THIS CAM WITH NO $$ LIMITS. IT IS THE BEST PHOTO/CAMCORDER I'VE USED. EASY MENU USE AND MANIPULATION. UNLIMITED COMBINATIONS OF EFFECT AND PREFERANCES.
THE LAYOUT IS SIMPLE. 90% OF CAPABILITY COMES FROM THE MENU ACCESS. STYLUS BASED SCREEN THAT IS A BIT SMALL. CAMCORDER IS AWSOME! 120X ZOOM IS MORE THAN ENOUGH..GREAT FOR MACRO SHOTS AS WELL AS LONG DISTANT ACROSS MOUNTAINS ETC.. QUICK FOCUS. ACCESS TO INTERNET ANYWHERE ON PLANET WITH SIMPLE HOOK-UP. THIS CAMERA CAN SEND IT'S OWN PICTURES!!! VERY FRIENDLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
CABLES FOR THE TV/COMPUTER/PDA ETC.. ARE INCLUDED. (USB)

The Sony DCR-TRV70 camcorder is definitely a masterpiece!

This camcorder is equiped with almost all of Sony's technology in the making of camcorders. I'm pretty sure you have seen all of its features on the official Sony website, so I'll not mention its functions and specifications here. But just to name a few of the major advantages of this camcorder: 2 megapixels; integrated network function; super nightshot; automatic pop-up flash for still pictures; and manual focus ring.
I've purchased this product and I have been having a lot of fun with it! It's great for the people who just want to point and shoot, but at the same time, it's also great for those who would like to play around with its enormous functions and features.

The only cons about this product, like many people mentioned, it only comes with a 8mb memory stick. However, there are compensations for that: First (the obvious one), buy a larger memory stick! Second, you can change the size of your capturing pics- from 1600x1200 FINE to 640x480 FINE. These pictures' qualities will stay the same, it is their sizes that are changed. By doing this, you can take about 50 pictures comparing to the 8 in 1600x1200 size setting.

Many people often complained about the filming picture quality in low light settings, but I disagree. This camcorder is almost second to none in low ight performance. Comparing to JVC's products, it performs much better. What would you expect a camcorder to do without light? So far, I havent seen a camcorder that does a better job than the TRV70 in either low light performace or complete darkness!

Many pictures of the TRV70 on the internet often give viewers the impression of a much larger size than many other sony camcorders, such as the PC-330 (shown no larger than the size of a hand) and the PC-120 (shown with a tennis ball). But dont let this fool you. Go to your local retailers that actually have the TRV70 on display. Trust me, when you see it, you'll be shocked. You'll feel like that you've been fooled. I did the comparison, the TRV70 is not much larger than the PC330, a lot of people say it's even smaller! Nevertheless, its weight can be stressful for some people if holding it for too long.

Why not get the Sony DCR-TRV80 for $200 more? The TRV80 has a bigger screen => 3.5!
This is why this $200 is NOT worth it: Bigger screen means bigger power consumption! Bigger power consumption means batteries with bigger capacities! Bigger capacity batteries mean MORE MONEY!!! And besides, The TRV80 only comes with a 120 minutes battery, the same with the TRV70. Moreover, many times you can't even use your LCD screen in outside because of its over brightness.

The sad news about the TRV70 is that it has been discontinued in 2004. But I'm pretty sure you can still buy it from many online
stores for many of them (most of them) still have it in stock!

The bottom line is choose the right camcorder. If you want to capture precious memories and moments, then capture them with one that can captures the best-- the Sony DCR-TRV70. Its compact features and excellent lens are second to none in the field of consumer camcorders. The best thing is that right now, its price is dropping everywhere, yes, even in retailer stores!

Spend a lot, get a lot more. Although it was a tough choice to spend the money when I purchased my TRV70, I have no regrets. My camera is DA BEST!. After I figured out the Still Picture recording is best taken when not recording video simultaneously, I never looked back. There are so many features to mention but I don't use. The key things to consider:
- Bigger lens, means better image
- Good size CCD is a treasure; otherwise 3 CCD is next option
- Manual focus override; in photography, this is VERY important
- Backlight control; it's a great override in low light conditions like opening up your camera aperature
- Manual disable of on-board flash; continue taking pictures when flash is not allowed
- Touch screen LCD is sweet, don't listen to button fanatics
- Steady Shot works.... when camera is light, more chances of jarring movements, so here its really important.
- Memory stick convenience ... buy larger capacity, more over time.
- Battery Status; Info-lithium means no guessing game. By several small batteries, charge them, and carry them a-l-a Rambo.
- Don't install Imagemixer software. Instead, use Sony's Screenblast Movie Studio 3.0. You'll be happier.
- Don't skimp on footage. Take lots of footage. It's easier to edit, than to say... I don't have enough!

It's unfortunate, Sony is discontinuing the product in 2004. It's a great product! I'm ready to buy a second one so I can get the same footage from another vantage point. Silly, two people using different cameras. :-)

I searched and searched for the best quality camcorder for the best price. If you find a good deal on it, this is it. Great quality, easy to use, great manual controls, as well as an easy to use touch screen (I was unsure about the touch screen for a while until I bought it, and it's really not too bad if you don't mind having to deal with using the stylus instead of just pushing a button). It is bigger than the newer camcorders, but that can be a good thing - more stability, less shaking. One thing about it that I searched for but rarely found in other camcorders is that you can input from a tv or vcr (with the proper outputs) to record tv and old vhs onto dv tape, then you can use a firewire (or usb) to put it onto your computer and burn it onto dvd. It is kind of a hassle to do, and it takes forever if you use the highest quality on your computer, but it's worth it to preserve your old tapes. So here's all the good things this camera has:

intelligent shoe
manual focus ring
manual exposure (touch screen)
widescreen recording
12 and 16 bit sound recording (sounds great, but may need an external mic for more professional audio)
AV in (one mini input, need to find a cord like that)
mic in (mini)
headphones out(mini)
touch sensitive zoom (great for slow zooming)
lots of settings for different lighting
backlight control
nighttime shooting (green, but great distance and detail)
cool effects
great quality video

This is my fourth camcorder, and first digital camcorder. I bought it to record my child's soccer games to make a DVD to send to college coaches. It recorded steady sharp video in all lighting conditions, including heavy overcast, light fog, and night games under stadium lights. I also bought the remote controll tripod, which makes it much easier to start/stop recording and adjust the zoom (the remote control zoom buttons have the correct sensitivity, as opposed to the camera zoom control as noted in a review below). The only problem I had that caused the loss of a few minutes of video was that the camcorder started displaying "Cleaning Tape". I packed the tape (fast forward to the end and rewound) and recorded over the bad section. I now pack the tape again whenever I insert a new one in the camcorder

I have had this Camera for over a year now and found it to be reliable and its pictures of high quality. The Steady shot is rock solid and only jitters when you attempt >20 Zoom. The 120 zoom is grainy so I hardly use it. The memory stick for mpeg and still photos is very handy. The 2 megapixel resolution on the still photos is sufficient for computer display and small photo prints. It makes it convenient not to have to carry a second digital photo camera. I have not tried the Firewire link yet but the USB for memory stick operations works well.

Overall I am happy with the camera and recommend it for purchase.