Customer Reviews

Sony DCRTRV900 MiniDV Handycam Digital Video Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been using my 900 now for 9 months and I am very pleased with the quality of picture and manual controls. I previously only rented cameras and only used the Canon XL-1 and Sony VX1000 previously of which got me very interested in digital camcorders.

At first I had doubts about the 900 as it looks so much smaller and cheaper when compared to the XL-1 or VX1000. It just didn't give that professional look (You have to admit the XL-1 is pretty cool looking). That has been somewhat of a hinderance when making professional video productions and I show up with what looks like a small family video camera. So as first impressions go clients sometimes think your joking. But it wasn't long before people were very impressed with the picture and sound quality (I use seperate mics as in all camcorders I have found the built in mics pic up motor noise of the digital tape - for those who don't know these use MiniDV tapes so even though they are digital they still store the video on a cassette). On the plus side to being small camera it allows me to do things I couldn't do with the larger XL-1 and it is also lighter, easier to manoeuvre, and has a much more useful battery life.

I found the controls behind the LCD a little bothersome when I needed to quickly access those controls when the LCD is closed but fortunately most manual controls are easily accessible on the back or front of the camera. I also loved the manual audio level feature but I wished it had it on an outside knob/button and not have to select it from multiple pull down menus on the LCD screen. But I found the manual controls more useful than the VX1000. The XL-1 had easy to access manual controls as well and in fact if I had to choose I would pick the XL-1 controls setup over the TRV-900 but that could be because that was the first digital camera I learned to operate and get familiar with.

My video quality is I believe clearer for most shots on the 900 than the work I did on the XL-1 and it also was easier to avoid hot spots if an interview subject turns causing a bad reflection from the lighting as it has a nice zebra mode to show you hot spots. On the downside I did find the XL-1 a bit better in lower light levels and it has what I feel is a better quality lens which is also interchangeable. It is most likely due to the better lens on the XL-1 that it didn't resort to digital enhancements that washed out blacks to a slightly towards grey in poor light conditions when filming motion. The 900 has low light level settings but can only be used for still shots as the frame rate is too slow for normal video, but it does sharpen up a still image quite nicely in poor light.

Overall I am very happy with the product. I did a fair amount of research before buying it and it paid off for my needs. I was able to find I could get this camera along with XLR adapters and a basic steady cam for the same price it was going to cost me for just the XL-1. And I much preferred the 900 over the VX1000.

For those curious I use this camera to make video productions (mostly promotional videos) and I can obtain broadcast quality video using this camera along with a good video editing card on a PC. If you plan on purchasing a DV camera to make a production or even a movie I would recommend the TRV-900 or at least a digital camera with the 3CCD feature. (Yes you can have a DV recording converted to 35mm film for theatres but your looking at probably $45,000US plus for a 1.5hr feature and then there is the whole issue of getting someone to run with it).

If your interest is not in professional or near professional quality and don't want the expense of the 3CCD camera I would still highly recommend a digital camera (either DV or miniDV). I also use a TRV-9 and in good lighting it can come pretty close at first glance to my TRV-900 for sharpness. It also has a very cool night shot feature where you can get a black and white image in absolute blackness (only for about 10-20 feet from the camera though). The biggest advantage to digital video is it has a much higher bandwidth designated for image colors than your standard home video camera including Hi-8, VHS, S-VHS and even the Digital Hi-8 (which is in between Hi-8 and Digital Hi-8). Higher color bandwidth means a better picture quality and there is more information there for your editor to work with thus there is less loss in rendered edited video. The advantage of the 3CCD feature on cameras such as the TRV-900 means more realistic colors (one chip is dedicated for each of the 3 primary colors)

I hope this review is useful for those of you debating the should I get a 3CCD camera or not.

I wrote a review after I had decided to purchase the DCR-TRV900 (see "Great for a Mac DV user"). Since then, I've had a few e-mails asking how it works in practice.

I have no trouble capturing video from my TRV900 to my Apple PowerBook G3 "Bronze." What I thought I expected was the size of DV video clips -- 16GB (yes, gigabytes) for one hour of video with sound. I ordered a 37GB drive, and now have an additional 75GB drive on backorder. Keep that in mind if you decide to do your own video editing on a computer.

I learned that you should record a signal across the entire MiniDV tape before you use it. This makes capturing easier, since unrecorded sections have no timecode, creating a 'new' zero-point for subsequent footage. The TRV900 has a very nice Color Bar feature which is perfect for this basic signal.

I never thought I'd use the flip-out LCD screen. I use it all the time. I did video 15 years ago in high school, and thought I preferred viewfinders. I was wrong. Further, you can flip it all the way around so your subject can see what the camera sees, and kids LOVE this. (The viewfinder starts working when you do this.)

One feature which has provided great entertainment is the Frame Recording. This will record about six frames of video and then pause. Using a tripod and the remote control, you can do a decent job of stop-motion animation.

I bought the 8-hour battery, and it was worth it. The included battery is next to useless for any recreational recording.

Finally, I got the PCMCIA adapter for the Memory Stick. The TRV900 has a PCMCIA slot for recording still images at 640x480 resolution, with varying compression levels, and I've used it a lot. (The progressive scan is always on for this Memory Mode; you can turn it on or off for Camcorder mode if you want video frames you can capture.) I also ended up buying Sony's USB Memory Stick reader so I don't have to remove my Ratoc FireWire card from my PowerBook.

Overall, I'd say this is an excellent camera for someone who wants to do home video editing and enjoys playing with the medium. For me, having fun is a big part of videotaping...this camera is a fun camera.

I used to be a professional photographer, TV news videographer and news producer, so I was weaned on high quality broadcast quality TV pictures from expensive pro equipment. They are sharp, with excellent color and low noise. Consumer camcorders, even digital ones, left me cold. They just didn't cut it compared to the pro gear I had used. That is, until I saw the Sony TRV900.

This baby is really a sleeper. The picture quality from this 3 chip camera is professional quality. The picture is very sharp, digital artifacts are not noticeable, and the picture is amazingly noise free, even in marginal light. (In low light,it's noisy, like all CCD cameras.) Manual controls on almost everything let you tweak the picture as you learn more.

It doesn't look "pro" so it might not impress your friends, until they see the results. And the sound quality is not quite up to the picture quality, at least with the built in mics. But if you want to really do some fine quality videography which could be shown anywhere, even on network TV, this is your best choice.

The TRV-900 is, by far, the best camcorder you can buy short of a professional model. The picture quality blows away the competition (must be those 3 CCD's). In most cases, you won't be able to tell the difference between the TRV 900 and professional cameras costing several times its price. The TRV-900 has every feature a consumer could want, including a progressive scan mode that lets you take high quality still pictures and save them directly to tape or a flash memory card (not included). You can also capture still images from tape and save them on a floppy disk (drive included) or flash card.

The LCD screen is large and bright. The menu controls are easy to use once you decipher the manual (see below). Sound quality is noticeably better than other camcorders I have used. Low light performance is great. For those who are interested, all automatic exposure, white balance and focus functions can be overriden and controlled manually.

On the down side, the unit is a bit heavier and a bit larger than most other mini-dv camcorders. You have to open the lcd screen to reach the button that activates the menu controls. The camcorder comes with a very nice lens hood, but it is threaded in such a way that you cannot install a filter between the lens and the hood - you have to install filters in front of the hood thereby increasing the risk of glare. Finally, the manual was obviously translated from Japanese and is full of annoying little errors.

But these are all minor shortcomings that do nothing to detract from the amazing picture quality and features. In summary, if you are looking for a Mini DV camcorder and can afford this one, then you need look no further.

I decided to get this camcorder for the better picture (3CCD) and slew of excellent features versus some cheaper models. I have not had reason to regret my choice! I do action photography and have actually been able to capture some stills off it that are quite impressive. Nowhere near as colorful and crisp as my Canon SLR can give me, but quite useable. And without the cost and time of having to take a slew of photos, develop them, print them and scan them in. Don't be fooled by cameras that might offer more than 640x480 resolution...larger pictures don't do you much good if they aren't as good quality! These are almost as good as some digital cameras give you. In fact, I will be selling my digital camera off, as I don't really need it in addition to this camcorder and my regular camera.

The camera is a little larger and heavier than some other digital camcorders, and it does not come with a memory stick included. Instead it includes a floppy disk adapter for capturing stills off your tapes. Neat to have, but not real useful in the field. Be sure you get the PC Card Adapater as well as a memory stick, this camera does not take them directly.

I love the LCD screen, it will flip completely over and lay flat against the side facing out. Really nice for watching playbacks. It gives quite good sound and is nice and bright. The battery life is actually not bad at all, compared to a digital camera! But still worth getting an extended battery. Be careful about getting the highest life ones, they are quite big and heavy.

Controls are pretty well placed and easy to use. I like having things like a neutral density filter turned on with a simple button push. Overall, the useability of this camera is very well-thought out and implemented. If you want a quality camcorder that will last you a long time, this is one of the best for the price you can get.

This really is a hot camcorder. Combine it with a PC and some editing software from a company like Digital Origin, and you can really create some fabulous videos. One feature that is not to be underestimated: analog video input. This lets you transfer your old analog footage to DV and work entirely in this format, which simplifies things a ton.

...You want it - you got it. Excellent picture quality; Sony steady-shot that really works; still-image capture to tape (or extra adapter card+memory stick a must!); bright LCD display; variable audio feedback; IEEE firewire, controls that are easy to reach and are learned-responses for those familiar with previous Sony cams.

Specifically, we use this unit for green-screen compositing of people, environments, and virtual products. The firewire coupled with Adobe Premier is a god-send. Simply said, that is essentially all you need (plus consistent overall lighting in a green-screen environment). G3 or PC - firewire will suck it down as fast as anything I've seen.

Positively get the custom aluminum case if you do a lot of travel and want to keep your camera happy. This will keep all your components safe and somewhat easily accessible. Get a 2+ hour battery; the NP-750 battery has plenty of gas - surprisingly the LCD does not drain the juice too quickly. A PC transfer card for the memory stick would be nice - but you can get away with plugging the IEEE and transferring from memory card or to tape.

The construction and attention to product detail is marvelous. Little rubber covers, positive audio clicks, all the nifty nick-nacks want you to have Sony make your next car. Sure there are a few quirks - but there's few products that have such high quality and high value as the TRV900!

Having a background in commercial television I did not believe that production on that level is possible at this price level. You will be amazed at the quality. I recommend the memory stick for still pictures and you will need the floppy adapter for the computer. Your stills will be outstanding. Couple all this with fire wire capture and a good editing program (Adobe 5.1c) and your finished product will be excellent. The money to step up to this is well spent.

I chose the DCR-TRV900 after extensive market research and have not been disappointed. Power supply isn't a problem anymore using the FP-950 battery as I can use it all day on photo/video shoots. The large LCD display is excellent for both recording and playback, even outdoors. However, it is sometimes inconvenient to have to open the LCD panel to access the Menu button. The picture colour and resolution quality is excellent, easily as good as some 'semi-pro' cameras in the 2-3 times price category. I use a 32MB memory card and can store up to around 170x jpg images at the SuperFine setting. I would have liked image resolution of 800x600 but the 640x480 is fine for video editing purposes. Having the recording capability for DV, S-Video and composite video is a real bonus, especially for making DV master copies of current and past projects. The manual controls take some practice due to their small size and Menu driven operation, especially if adjustments have to be made 'on the run' but all in all, I haven't been disappointed with my choice of video camera.

I bought this camera about two weeks before leaving for a vacation in Europe. I wanted to take digital photos (my husband, who did not accompany me, wanted the high-quality video and didn't want two cameras).

It is so easy to use you hardly need the manual. I was thrilled to have the video so I could narrate the tour through my very strange hotel in Brighton, and capture the crowd's frenzy during the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. While I could not view my video on European TVs, I could watch it on the sparkling color panel.

You can take stills on a memory stick (adapter and memory stick optional -- mine was 32MB and was enough for more than 170 photos), onto the tape, or capture a still image from the video playback. Best of all, you can preview what your picture will look like and capture it or not. Later, in your room, you can selectively delete any photos that don't look good.

Optical zoom is fabulous (the equivalent of 50mm to 210mm on a 35mm camera). Use a tripod for steadiness on the longest zoom. Don't bother with any of the digital doo-dads -- your pictures will be so wonderful you won't need them.

The stills are only 640 x 480, so a digital still camera might be a better choice for high res photos. This camera also doesn't see that well in the dark, though you can get a video light for it.

Bottom line is you will get fabulous video and beautiful stills in an easy to use package.