Sony GV-D200 Digital 8mm Portable Video Recorder

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [1.49mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006JQQ6
• Item model number: GVD200
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,644 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony GVD-200 Digital8 video walkman is a portable, all-digital solution for downloading and editing video from Digital8 camcorders. It is also backward compatible with Hi8 and 8mm camcorders. This lightweight, portable unit lets you edit together 20 segments into a movie or presentation without the need for a PC.

The built in Assemble Editor lets you mark cut-in and cut-out points for up to 20 separate scenes. Use the Video Walkman as your source VCR, while controlling almost any remote capable camcorder or VCR, via Infrared, as your recorder. The Index Titler enables you to choose from 8 preset titles (such as Happy Birthday) or create custom titles (up to 22 characters) in 2 sizes, 7 colors, and 9 positions. The 2x playback allows for high-speed playback in forward and reverse, while the 2x playback zoom feature allows you to zoom into a selected area of the video.

Other features include:

Included AC adapter; also compatible with optional InfoLithium batteries (NP-F550, NP-F750, or NP-F960)
• Time Base Correction (TBC) replaces the video signal with a clean sync pulse, to correct timing errors
• Digital Noise Reduction reduces chromanance (color) noise by 20% when recording
• S-Video and composite input/output
• PCM stereo digital audio
• Sony's Crystal Clear still/slow motion and frame-by-frame advance

Tech Talk

• Digital8 video: The Digital8 format, created by Sony, delivers high-quality digital video and audio, with up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution and either 12-bit or 16-bit PCM digital stereo audio.
• PCM digital stereo audio: PCM stands for Pulse Code Modulation, which is the type of stereo digital audio system that is used on compact discs. Digital video cameras can record at the 16-bit level on two channels (CD-quality sound) or the 12-bit level, which divides the audio into four tracks (two recorded and two saved for postproduction editing and dubbing).
• i.LINK: Sony's terminology for the IEEE 1394 standard for high-speed transfer of digital information. IEEE 1394 allows loss-free digital transfers between camcorders and PCs or other peripherals. If your computer has an IEEE 1394 port, you can transfer, edit, and save video from your IEEE 1394-equipped camcorder.

What's in the Box
Sony GVD-200 Digital8 video walkman, AC adapter/charger (C-L10A), RCA video cable, and mini male connecter to RCA female cable.

Product Description

Digital-8 Record and Play / Hi-8 and 8mm Playback / Video & Composite In&Outputs / IEEE1394 FireWire iLink / Laserlink

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for playing back old hi8/8mm tapes, May 28, 2003

By 

Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sony GV-D200 Digital 8mm Portable Video Recorder (Electronics)

If you are like me and have tons of old 8mm (or Hi8) tapes lying around, this 8mm Walkman is perfect. I upgraded to MiniDV but forgot to transfer my old 8mm tapes before giving my Canon 8mm camcorder away, so with this I'm not stuck with useless tapes. It plays back regular 8mm, Hi8, and also Sony's Digital8 formats. You can hook it up to a VCR or TV, and even to a DV-savvy PC. I capture my 8mm videos to my Fujitsu LifeBook C2210 laptop, using Windows Movie Maker 2 (download for free on Microsoft's website). I'm now about 40% done with transfering my old tapes, but I also enjoy hooking this up to my TV and playing back old tapes and re-living old memories. Ah, how time just flies...

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent player for Hi8 and Regular 8, October 21, 2005

By 

Walter L. Smith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony GV-D200 Digital 8mm Portable Video Recorder (Electronics)

I am in the middle of a project to get all my many "old" Regular 8 and Hi-8 recordings onto hard drives and thence onto DVD's. In the midst of all this old my Sony CVD-1000 died on me, and I have, over the years, spent too much on repairs for it. This led me to the Digital 8mm Walkman. I have NOT used it, and will not use it, for RECORDING (I do not record in Digital 8 format). But for playback it is superb. I am very pleased with what it does. very. I suspect that some of my satisfaction comes from the Sony introduction of video-processing circuitry, which evidently cleans up the images remarkably. However, there is a price: some of my "pans" now involve a degree of blurring, which I do not think are present when played "unprocessed". But I have decided I am more than willing to accept this negative in face of the excellent video I am now capturing. So my five stars are based SOLELY on playback. One can cut out the video processing if one wishes; it is quite easy. Incidentally, the small size of this unit is a welcome plus; my workbench is already quite crowded with equipment, and I appreciate the Walkman's very small footprint greatly!

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pro-Level recorder with impeccable quality, December 11, 2004

By 

Joe Audio Theater "Joe Audio Theater" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony GV-D200 Digital 8mm Portable Video Recorder (Electronics)

This device has at least prosumer level recording and playback capabilities. I hooked it up to my 3CCD camera and the results were extremely satisfying when using the Digital 8 mode. It hooks right up to the computer with the 1394 connect and I can extract capture points, fast forward, rewind etc. by clicking the mouse. It supports 625 Horizontal lines of resolution which exceeds my hi-end camera and I can not express enough the clarity of the image. No specks of colored snow or artifacts dancing in the dark areas of the image as I previously had with my pro level SVHS recorder, only crisp, smooth, detailed image rendering. The sound quality is also excellent. For what I wanted it for,, it is better than perfect and for what I will also use it for it is a blessed device.. I highly recommend this recorder/player to anyone needing portability, quality, and professional results for mastering to video tape and of coarse for playback.. The only thing that scares me about this device is how light and small it is,, but at the same time, it's exactly what I need. Hope this info helps someone out there in deciding. Peace..