Sony DCRTRV19 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and Remote

Other products by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [5.09mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000087LIG
• Item model number: TRV19
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,299 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 8, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The subject here is form factor! The super-compact DCR-TRV19 offers a powerful combination of digital video, digital audio, and USB streaming at an amazing value. And it’s 28-percent smaller than previous MINIDV models with a 1/4" Advanced HAD CCD and a 2-1/2" SwivelScreen LCD. Additional features include the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens and 10X optical/120X digital zoom. Plus, a new touch panel (with included stylus) that makes it a cinch to access the functions of the camcorder.

1/4" Advanced HAD CCD Imager, 680K Pixels Gross
1/4" Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity, with exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance. Realize great looking digital still images utilizing 340K (effective) pixels.

Ultra Compact Design
This new, unique design complements the product’s ultra compact size while providing easy, comfortable access to the video controls.

MiniDV Recording
MiniDV digital recording format delivers 3X the color bandwidth of VHS and lower signal to noise ratio compared to analog formats, providing stunning video performance comparable to DVD.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens
Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating offering less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

10X Optical/120X Precision Digital Zoom
The optical zoom brings the action close up from far away. In addition, precision digital zoom interpolation technology means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

2.5" SwivelScreen Touch Panel LCD Display (123K Pixels)
The 2.5" SwivelScreen touch panel LCD display provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 123K pixel LCD rotates up to 270-degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp detailed images for monitoring or playback. The "On Screen" touch panel system allows you to navigate through the camera’s menu system at the touch of the LCD screen.

USB Streaming
Stay connected with family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio, via the Internet with the USB interface. You can even playback your favorite recorded scene stored on tape. It’s like having your own web camera or video conferencing system.

i.LINK DV Interface (IEEE1394)
A high speed bi-directional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, including camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards, and PCs.

Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
An advanced version of Sony’s SteadyShot system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems.

NightShot Infrared System
With Sony’s NightShot infrared system you can capture video even when shooting in total darkness (0 lux) up to 10 feet away using the built-in infrared system.

Battery Information
Battery information is momentarily displayed without having to power on the camcorder. Quickly access the battery's status by pressing the Battery Info button. The Recording Time Available is displayed in minutes, on either the LCD screen or viewfinder.

InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System
Charge the battery at any time because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries Sony’s rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "memory effect." Sony’s exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in the viewfinder or the LCD screen.

Stamina Battery Power Management System
Using the optional NP-QM91D InfoLithium battery the DCR-TRV19 can record up to 12 hours on one complete charge providing extra long battery life.

12-Bit/16-Bit PCM Digital Stereo
16-bit recording offers the same, outstanding sound quality as Compact Disc. 12-bit recording enables you to add an additional audio track with compatible audio dubbing equipment or i.LINK interface compatible computers.

Photo Mode
Using Sony’s unique Adaptive Frame Interpolation for better image quality, you can store hundreds of individual still images with 7 seconds of audio on the videotape.

Digital Program Editing
Allows you to select a sequence of 20 scenes and controls dubbing via i.LINK* interface to another i.LINK camcorder, or via infra-red remote to an analog VCR. Controls both Sony and other brand's camcorders and VCRs.

Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes
Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Portrait, Beach and Ski, Sports Lesson, Landscape, Spotlight or Sunset & Moon modes.

Product Description

The subject here is the performance factor! The super compact DCR-TRV19 MiniDV Handycam camcorder offers a powerful combination of digital video, digital audio and USB Streaming at an amazing value. Features include 1/4" 680K pixel Advanced HAD CCD, Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar Lens and 10x Optical/120x Digital Zoom. Convenient on-screen Touch Panel helps you navigate through the menu system right on screen. With supplied PIXELA ImageMixer software, you can burn a Video CD on your PC from the recorded video and share it with your family and friends. Small, compact, lightweight with the latest in features and benefits. It doesn't get any better than this!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars compact sony camcorder - but stills can only be saved to DV, September 2, 2003

By	jemaerca (River Forest, IL, United States) - See all my reviews

the trv19 is the lowest priced camcorder in the trv19/22/33 family. still, this is a camcorder that has a very nice feature set.

pros:
- compact design, light weight.
- larger size CCD should provides better low-light performance.
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
- carl zeiss lens.
- intelligent accessory shoe.
- steady shot and night shot.
- progressive shutter system.
- supports exif 2.2.

cons:
- it would have been nice to get a bigger 3.5" LCD.
- you can only record stills at 640 x 480 on tape; memory stick not supported!
- no pop-up flash for taking stills and no built in video light but you can get a flash/video combo light for less than a hundred bucks.
- black and white viewfinder.
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.

if you're looking for a camcorder and still capability is not important, this camcorder should be on your short list. if you want still capability, skip this camcorder and consider the trv33, pc-105, or the panasonic gs70 (top pick for me).

i myself have a dedicated digital camera to complement my camcorder but i still want still capability of at least 1 megapixel. you just never know when you might need to take a still picture and you've left your digital camera back in the car/hotel room/house. capturing still pics on DV tape just does not cut it unless all you want to do is post it on the web. if you want to print out your picture, you'll be disappointed.

all in all, the trv19 is a nice camcorder. just don't expect it to do what it wasn't designed to. cheers.

174 of 186 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ready to open up a can of worms?, October 27, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is more on justifying the higher price. Most professional reviews I read loved this line of camcorders and many Amazon reviews seemed to agree.

Shortly after my son was born we realized that a camcorder was needed along with our trusty Nikon 4500 to capture the moments. I knew nothing about camcorders. I found that my wish to use the camcorder with a pc complicated the decision. After a month of researching I decided on the Sony DCRTRV19. After reading all the online opinions to get me here, I figured I owed one myself.

Here's what I wanted in a camcorder:
1. Digital media for better archiving and future projects.
2. Great image quality but not professional.
3. Did not need still pictures or memory slots to capture them.
4. Did not need ability to archive old analog tapes.
5. I wanted good low light video quality.
6. I initially didn't want to spend more than $500.
7. Later I realized size was important.

I initially found the Sony DCRTRV250 on Amazon that met all but the last criteria. I found the DCRTRV250's didn't use the miniDV format, but the Digital8 increasing it's bulk. Initially I felt I could live with the size and I would transfer everything to my pc anyways. I'd also save some money.

I decided to look into some miniDV cameras at around the same price as the Sony DCRTRV250. I got excited about the Samsung SDC27, JVC GRD30, Panasonic PVDV53, and Sharp VLZ3U. In Consumer Reports and other references, I read that either their video quality was only good (Sony was very good) and/or their low light video quality was poor.

While reading the reviews on the miniDV camcorders, I learned a lot about transferring video to a pc. I almost got fed up and got a Hi8 camera and a stack of tapes. There were many "this software sucks" complaints. Here's what I learned on the video to pc process:

1. Most the camcorders I looked at allow for video transfer via USB. Transfers via USB however are slower and result in poorer video quality on your pc.
2. Transfer via Firewire is the way to go for speed and higher video quality.
3. You need to have or get a Firewire card for your desktop or laptop.
4. You need software that recognizes your camcorder. If your operating system regularly retrieves automatic updates, this shouldn't be a problem. Most people had this issue related to video transfers, not still images.
5. Most video editing software bundled in with the camcorder is worthless.
6. I figured that my videos will take up lots of computer memory.

So you can see what a can of worms you open by wanting to transfer your camcorder videos to a pc. For me I will need a Firewire, Firewire card, video editing software, dvd burner and bigger or external hard drive. For some reason the iMac kept popping in my head.

I nearly went back to the bulky DCRTRV250. In the end I concluded that with a smaller camcorder, I'll more likely bring it along to random events and capture more of my son growing up. This justified spending a little more on the smaller Sony DCRTRV19. One more factor I like is that fewer people will notice me filming.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent image quality for the price, May 2, 2003

By	S. Webster (Novato, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking for a MiniDV camcorder that was small, easy to hold, with the best image and sound quality I could afford. I didn't want still picture recording, MPEG recording, a memory stick, or any of that other stuff that a digital still camera does better, and which just jacks up the camcorder's price.

After trying low-end JVC, Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony models, I settled on the Sony TRV19: it has the best image quality by far of all the low-end MiniDV cameras, and meets my other criteria as well. Only thing that's less than stellar is the sound: the stereo separation is good, but I hear camera motor noise occasionally on playback. This is endemic to low-end cameras, and no worse in the Sony than others I've tried, so I'm OK with it. This model has a hotshoe for an external mic, so I have an out if I need it.

I've shot about 6 hours so far, all handheld, and I'm very happy with this model.