No comments about Sony DCR-TRV340E PAL-Format Digital8 Handycam Camcorder.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV840 Digital8 Camcorder w/ 3.5" LCD, USB Streaming, Memory Stick, and Mega Pixel Video/ Still.

1. The TRV840 is like a M1 tank in several ways:
   1)When you shoot a subject, you get great results.
   2) It can use a variety of "ammo" (plays Hi8 and 8mm tapes also).
   3) Weighs "a ton" (stable but rough on the hand after a while).
   4) Reliable and sturdy.

   Summary: Exceptional video, excellent sound, 1 MP digital stills (Great for email or web posting). Able to convert any video to digital, 8mm inside the camera or other video by pass through. A great feature if you have old videos you want to digitize. Just make sure your PC is up to the task!

   For my specific needs of great digital video and the ability to digitize old tapes, I can overlook the excess bulk. Videos should be short and sweet anyway, so I'll just put it down when my hand starts to ache! If you need the same features, the TRV840 can't be beat.




2. This is a great camera! It is very easy to use. It takes very clear digital video, and for 1 megapixel CCD takes good digital pictures. It has many neat features. It has a large LCD screen for easy reviewing.

   It records Mpeg files on the memorystick for display on computers. This is a great feature although the files recorded are a little grainy. This is great for e-mailing vacation movies back to family members.

   The quality of the digital video is great. The bad thing is that you don't get much recording time on one tape. It uses 2 hour analog tapes, but when you record in digital mode you only get 1 hour on each tape.

   The picture taking feature is wonderful for vacation. You don't have to carry both a still camera and a video camera around with you. The pictures are only 1 megapixel, but they show up on a computer screen great. We were very pleased with the results of the pictures.

   The battery life is very long. We purchased a separate quick charger for our batteries which was a great addition. It doesn't take much time to charge and they last quite a while compared to our old Minolta camcorder.




3. This is a very nice camcorder for the money. I love the larger view screen, and the battery lasts quite a long time. The picture quality is very good, but there is considerable noise from the motor that gets recorded on the tape. If you're taping a birthday party or sporting event, the noise isn't too bad, but if you're using it to record the birds chirping on a quiet morning, forget it; the noise from the motor will drown out anything you'd be able to hear, it's that loud. Lastly, I have had several old 8mm tapes from my old camcorder that will not play on this camcorder. They will play on my neighbor's 8mm Samsung camcorder, but not on this Sony. I was a little upset by this.



4. All the characteristics of this camera are great. The still digitals to mpegs, but I had to buy a Canon for this particular camera to be compatible with my G4 Mac. I bought the camera before I bought my G4.



5. hi
   i m intersted in 2 pieces. how do i contact you? what are the payment methods for it?
   thanks

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV740 Digital8 Camcorder w/ 2.3" LCD, USB Streaming, Memory Stick, & Mega Pixel Video/ Still.

1. i have had this product for 4 months and love the unit.
   Pro's:
   1. portable, small for the price
   2. Mega pixel is nice option but you may need a separate camera if you are a stickler, but more than adequate for general pics
   3. reversable swivel screen for viewing from any angle
   4. no real detectable humm
   5. easy operation and clear buttons
   6. i have dropped it several times, no problems
   con's
   1. battery must charge in unit, not easy to remember
   get charger or buy a second battery, because you will forget to charge and have to miis out
   2. Pixela software is fare but useable
   3. included memory stick is insufficent for camera, buy 32 or 64 memory stick



2. This camera is excellent for capturing Videos, the Still Picture quality is good if you are outdoors, for shooting still pics indoors & especially during night-time, you must have a very bright Light Source or a very brightly illuminated room. The Optical zoom is just adequate but I would prefer 20X +. The memory stick is a great Acc., Sony should give 32 MB as Std Acc. I also have the EZ Editor Hard/Soft-ware but I am still struggling to get good output. Battery Life is adequate. Overall I would definitely recommend it.



3. Pros: Picture quality, Hi8 Playback Capability, Price

   Cons: Zoom Control, Image Stabilization, Bottom cassette loading, Handling Comfort, 15x Zoom

   While holding out for the cost to come down on DVD camcorders and needing a new camcorder that would play my existing Hi-8s, I went with the backwardly compatable Digital8. The TRV740 appeared to be a solid choice with it's many features and great output quality. But when I first started to use it I was quickly disappointed by the following:

   Zoom Control: My previous camcorder was a Canon ES5000 (Hi8). The TRV740's zoom control is awful in comparison with the Canon. It's very difficult to activate the slowest zoom speed as the sliding switch does not move smoothly. 9 times out of 10, you'll go right past the slow speed as the force needed to get the switch moving is much greater than the force to keep the zoom speed steady so an overzoom situation happens. Then you're zooming rapidly and have to slow it down which ruins the slow zoom effect.

   "Super" SteadyShot: Huge disappointment here. Electronic stabilizers simply do not compare with optical stabilizers (Canon). It almost seems that when the stabilizer is turned off, Sony added shake to the image so that when the stabilizer is on, it looks better in comparison to when it was "off". Just a silly conspiracy theory to let you know bad it is.

   Bottom cassette loading: Did you ever think you'd see a camcorder that had to be removed from a tripod in order to change the cassette? You've got it with this one. Unbelievable.

   Handling Comfort: It's a little heavy and not something you want to use for an extended period.

   15x Zoom: This is on the low side and the only reason I can imagine that they went with this low of an optical zoom is because of the poor image stabilizer. At 15x, let alone 20x, you need a tripod or it looks like you have some sort of neuro-muscular affliction.

   I'll probably keep it to use as a player to backup my Hi-8 collection by playing those tapes to a DVD burner. I recommend looking for something else if you think you'd be bothered by the same things as I am with this camcorder.




4. This is a great camera, but I wish I had done a little more research before going ahead and purchasing this. The quality is absolutely great. It has the ability to transfer data with the iLink, and the backwards compatibility is also a plus. However, the "digital camera" aspect is pretty poor. If you want to take digital pictures, buy a digital camera. The photo resolution on the still images is horrible and the actual size of it is too small. Also, there are a ton of extra features on the camera that are worked into the price that are never used, like the superimposing is a waste. It you want to do things like that, you probably should look into some editing software.
   If I could go back, I would have definatly got a MiniDV camcorder. The quaility is just as good but it's much smaller and more lightweight. After filming for awhile, your arm hurts lugging this monster around. I personally would stick with the Sony brand, only due to the great NightShot feature. If Cannon or Panasonic offered it, I would check them out. However, Sony is the only brand to go with in the ghost hunting buisness...



5. This is an excellent camera, however, anyone spending more than $200 dollars for one is wasting their money for some very old technology. Buy one, if you can, but do not spend too much money.

5 comments about Sony DCR-TRV730 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode.

1. My comments on this camcorder are to help those who are not into specs but just plain English about this product.

   First, my dislikes about this camera is

   1. Black/White electric viewfinder - but the view is bright and clear
   2. Don't expect to take great clear 35mm quality still pictures. The print quality is a bit grainy. You are better off buying a separate camera for still pictures; but at times, it adds excitement having a still shot here and there on your video recordings.

   *Now, the good stuff* this is why this camcorder is rated a 5 (Best) *PICTURE QUALITY

   This is the best video picture quality camcorder that I have owned. I previously owned a Canon UC20 with 410,000 pixels (great picture quality). This Sony DCR-TRV730 has at least 1,070,000 (according to the manual) pixels, which produces great color, clear and sharp video quality video recordings.

   *Minimum Illumination needed is seven Lux/ zero Lux NightShot modes*

   I was most impressed with the "Infra-Red NightShot" capability. Again, clear, sharp pictures. I put this camera through a test and I did not use my optional "HVL-IRH2 Video Light" - by recording in a room (with people inside the room) that was very dark - all lights were out and no sunlight. I was amazed with its quality and the clearness. The built-in infrared light was sufficient for a 20' X 30' size room. Note - NightShot will produce monochrome color. When I turn on my optional "HVL-IRH2 Video Light" (which has the capability of using its infrared or halogen lighting) the distance shooting was even greater and brighter, sharper picture quality. I advise purchasing an optional video light for inside recording, so you will get brighter, truer color and clarity. Even without the video light, normal room lighting still produced nice quality, clear video pictures. With the NightShot turned off and no optional video light, you will need sufficient room lighting in order to have excellent picture quality.

   *Built-in 18X Optical /500X Digital Lens*

   I also purchased the optional Sony .7x 37mm Digital Camcorder High Resolution Wide-Angle Conversion Lens (VCL-HG0737X). This added additional width and depth to my recording. The built-in lens did not have sufficient "width" for my recording in small close areas inside my home.

   The supplied Infolithium battery pack with the Accupower meter system is rated for approximately 2.5 hours of recording. I was only able to get approx. 1.3 hours due to the way I take pictures - I work the camera - focusing in and out and using the fade mode, giving my video more of a professional appeal. I also make use of the Still Picture mode and use the Memory Stick to save those still pictures. I then transfer the pictures onto my computer. This battery communicates with the camcorder. It tells you how much remaining power in the viewfinder and on the back of the LCD display. Great tool and accessory.

   Super Steady Shot Picture Stabilization System allowed me to take smooth looking video even when I had the shakes. I put the camera through another test -- I recorded a picture while riding in an old vehicle with poor shocks absorbers - if it was the excellent sound quality, which allowed you to hear the bumps and dips while riding, but the picture was flawless.

   *8 Different Picture Effects*

   This camera also allow you to change the picture affects to Black and White, Sepia, Negative Art, Pastel, Solarization, Slim, Stretch and Mosaic. This just adds pure fun to the video recordings.

   This camera also allows me to still view my old 8mm tapes. I now record using Hi8 mm tapes.

   Overall, I would not trade in this camcorder for another brand. This camera produces crystal-clear Digital8 pictures and CD quality sound. This camera allows an amateur photographer to feel and produce professional quality pictures.

   You will also need to purchase another/stronger battery packs for those extended recordings. If you plan to record your Childs school program or take a family trip to Disney World/Land, you will definitely need a stronger battery. I suggest the "NP-FM70 or the NP-FM91 InfoLithium battery pack. Depending on your purchase they are rated between 5.5 hours to 10 hours estimated recording time. You should also purchase an optional video light, such as "HVL-IRH2" (approx [amt]) and an optional wide angle high grade lens, such as the Sony VCL-HG0737X. I paid [amt] including shipping for these lens. The price I paid for this camera was [amt] (new) including shipping and 8meg memory media stick. I got a Great Deal. This camera alone estimated US selling price is [amt] without shipping and only 4meg memory media stick (standard with this model). Be prepared to pay at least [amt] + shipping charges for this model without the optional accessories.




2. Used this for school and we are finding it works very well, so well, that our own high school is using this type of camera for all use of cameras for the school. Very reliable, high quality camera with easy to understand feautures and an easy way to film and to hold as well. Did have problem with lighting and trying to pick up sound at the same time but still very good.



3. This is the first camcorder I have bought. I did a lot of research and finally decided to go with the Sony DCR-TRV730... and I am glad that I did.

   The picture is great!! Very crisp and clear DVD quality.

   It is very easy to use. Within 5 minutes, I had it setup and ready to use. The controls are intuitive and well placed. However I would suggest reading through the excellent manual when you have a chance to learn about all the features.

   The zoom is clear and the image stabilization works great. The night shot is really neat, but the "Super Night Shot" is only suitable for use with a tripod.

   There are many built in special effects, like faders, B&W, Old Time Movie, etc...

   The only thing to remember is that you will need IEEE 1394/FireWire ports and cable if you wish to copy/edit the video to your computer. The included USB connection is only for still images and MPEG movies on the memory card.

   Overall a great camera, with professional results.




4. This camera obviously has great features at its reasonable price. The night vision is a very creative (however unnecissary) feature that I found to be fun to show to your friends however not needed for filming very often. Unfortunatly, you may find yourself using nightvision often because as you take stills in lower light conditions the quality decreases. This decrease is only noticed when looking at the pictures on a computer or on paper (or when looking at movies on a TV screen). However, this camera tends to be cheaper than most others because it records in a Digital 8 format. In other words, it records digitally on to regular Hi8 tapes which are generally cheaper than most miniDV tapes. However, keep in mind if you buy a 120 minute Hi8 tape, this camera will only record 60 minutes on to it because the data takes more room. The camera, however, is very user friendly and can run almost completely automatically as well as manually. The autofocus is very efficient along with an excellent optical zoom and an oustanding digital zoom (although quality does decrease with digital zoom). The camera acts extremely well in brighter conditions and clearly out performs many other cameras, it's the indoor low light coniditions that still need plenty of work.



5. I love this camcorder! I can get the close ups skinnaMAX can't touch. The zoom is top notch and the wide angle action catches the nips. I would recommend checking the manuel as it gives the down low you can't get just by trickin the gadget. The nightvision brings the dish to light and makes the digital quiver. I would encourage those who haven't to experience the Sony DCR-TRV730 for themselves.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV340 Digital8 Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD USB Streaming, & Memory Stick capability.

1. I can captures scenes and audio with USB but not able to capture the movies that we recorded.
   After contacting Soney I found I have to buy a video capturing card for that. It should be possible by the USB cable Soney provides with the camcorder.Why should I pay the overhead?



2. This particular Sony model Digital Camcorder makes your decision very easy with choosing the right brand camcorder.
   The picture quality together with sound is superb, it always gets the attention of any viewer.
   When it comes to features, the user will have lots of fun with getting to know his new camcorder, an all in one great buy.



3. This is a great video camera for the price.

   After getting a chance to play around with my parent's camera, I fell in love with the TRV340. This is my first digital video camera and I'm very happy with it. It produces great video and sound, though you can't compare it with a mega-pixel or 3CCD camera. The camera uses Sony's digital 8 format which lets the camera read older 8mm tapes. Digital quality on Digital 8 tapes is equal to that of MiniDV. So, if you've got a collection of those tapes, this is a great way to convert them into digital video. The camera is a little larger than the MiniDV cameras, but the added weight makes it less shaky in your hand. Because of the included Firewire (IEEE 1394) port, it's a breeze to transfer video to your computer, provided it also has a Firewire port. I use a Mac so I can't comment on the quality of the included windows editing software.

   The battery that comes with the camera won't last very long and I highly recommend an additional battery, though they are a bit pricey. I also recommend a good, sturdy tripod, and a screw-on UV filter. This filter costs very little and will protect the lens from scratches and smudges. Another good accessory would be a boom microphone that attaches to the intelligent shoe. Sound is often overlooked on camcorders and most of them have terrible onboard mics.

   While this camera has the ability to take digital stills and save them to a memory stick, the resolution is very low and the pictures don't look very good. They're somewhat disappointing.

   I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking to get into digital video or anyone with a collection of 8mm tapes that they want to preserve.




4. After reading many specs and reviews for both MiniDV and Digital 8 cameras I settled on the 340. I have not been disappointed. This camera is feature rich and gives excellent quality video. As with any video camera the still picture quality is poor. If you want quality still pictures, the best way is to get a proper digital still camera. The menu system is very easy to use but some parts of the owners manual are not really very clear and skimps a bit on detail so there are one or two features I still haven't worked out. The built in microphone sensitivity is excellent and I have not noticed any real problem with drive motor noise pick up by the mike. The ergonomics of a couple of the controls could be improved. I have an average size hand and find my thumb needs to be almost double jointed to operate the on/off mode switch, especially to switch it on, if I want to use the camera with one hand only. The zoom control could also be improved. I think a two finger forward, aft operated zoom control would have been easier to use. These things I am willing to tolerate because of the excellent value for money this camera provides and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting features and quality for a reasonable price.



5. Thist is the best camera ive ever purchased and arguably the best Digital8 Camera ever.The TRV-340 has all the features u need. And it beats a MiniDV because it has a Super Night Shot Mode and 700 Zoom wich works great, 25 Optical Zoom too! Believe me u will not be dissapointed if u buy this camcorder!

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this to use solely as a web cam and that's all this review pertains to.
   
   It works perfectly. You can use it with yahoo messenger or anywabcam.com, etc. It's exactly what I wanted.
   
   One thing though - some messenger programs, while they work with the camera, don't allow you to change the contrast and brightness settings from within their program.
   
   If you have any issues setting it up as a webcam you can e-mail me at nick.staff@comcast.net.



2. This camcorder is a great deal for the price. It has excellent night shot capabilities as well as a built in light that works great outdoors. It's lightweight and fits nicely in the palm of your hand. Great buy!



3. The camcorder was purchased as a Christmas present. We took it on a cruise in early January. After only a few days it gave us a moisture message and stopped working. Sony claims we dropped it in water and wants over three times what we paid for the camera to repair it. We did not drop the camera in the water, we do not have films of our vacation. We are just out our recorded memories and $300. We will never recommend a Sony product to anyone.



4. I am happy with this camcorder. It is easy to use and the price was fair. Thank you.



5. When I tried this out there was a buzzing sound that was picked up by the microphone and therefore it would not playback withou a buzzing sound. I sent it off to Sony, as you said it had a 90 day warranty for labor and a one year warranty for parts. I need a copy of your original invoice when you purchased this to send them or the cost to fix it is $269.00.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV520 Digital Camcorder.

1. When we bought this camcorder I was a little worried, since I never handled a camcorder before. I had no problems! It was so lightweight and easy to use. I love the display that tells you how much time is left on the battery. I would recommend this camcorder to everyone!



2. DCR-TRV520. I bought this Digitial 8 camera (I am not a previous user/owner of any camcorder) about 4 weeks ago after much prognosticating over the miniDVD format in the Panasonic and Canon brands for a similar price (I would have gone for the Sony miniDVD but didn't want to pay the extra bucks). So I made my decision based on the extra features of optical stablization, manual focus and the greater zoom capability - also I trusted the Sony brand more, but that reason was entirely subjective. I have not been disappointed with this camera. The stabilization is excellent - in fact, while I like compact cameras and would have preferred miniDVD because of size, this camera is not that much bigger, and increased size and weight may be an advantage as the camera feels solid and steady to hold. The auto focus is excellent - I may never need to use the manual focus unless I want to get really fancy. The zoom capability works very well, even at the highest mag., and is more useful than what I would have thought. This alone places it above the other miniDVD cameras including the Sony which have lower zoom. With iMovie, $50 from Apple (I have a Mac G3), the only extra I needed was the $30 Firewire cable (4 pin-camera, to 6 pin-Mac) and I was importing and editing the video. Also, I put in a Hi8 tape of our wedding and was amazed that this non-digital format was automatically transmitted from the camera into iMovie as digital information with no apparent loss in resolution! Regarding memory stick, with iMovie there does not seem to be a way to directly import the stills, but if they are first copied to the tape, then they can be imported. However, the resolution after doing this is no better than a still made with iMovie from video. Maybe the resolution will be better after direct import, but I doubt it. In Photoshop a video still and memory stick import from tape has the same pixel count as specified for the still camera - 680 x 460 I think or thereabouts. Some people say the memory stick stills suck in resolution - they are not that bad. Hey, you're buying a camcorder first and foremost, not a digital camera. One other reason I got this camcorder was that some reviews said the Canon and Panasonic miniDVD didn't work too well at low light levels. I've never tried those cameras, but I can also tell you that this Sony I bought works great at low light as well. Sony 520 versus 320 - I went for ther 520 because of the bigger LCD display - I'm glad I did - the extra size is excellent as you can replay what you have shot and easily see it on the screen. Overall, this camera has no weaknesses and some advantages. Another thought - if you are considering buying Hi8 or even 8 so you can get a cheaper camcorder - don't! There is so much you can do with digital if you have the computer. and the video quality if better. Its worth the extra bucks. Cheers!



3. I've owned camcorders before but never digital. Before I made my choice, I did a lot of research on the net. The Sony products always seemed to show up on the recommended lists. I have a friend who owns the DCR-TRV320 and decided to check it out. I was very impressed with the camera. The features of the 320 and the 520 are basically the same. I like the bigger LCD screen on the 520 though and went for that instead. I Nightshot feature is GREAT on these cameras. You can shoot virtually anything up to 10 feet away in TOTAL darkness. I recommend this camera to anyone looking for a high quality, fully featured digital camera. But note that you can always save some bucksn if you opt for the DCR-TRV320. One extra note though. Get yourself a longer lasting battery with your new camera. Or at least a spare one. Anyone who's owned a camcorder will tell you the same!



4. I've had my TRV520 for a little over a year now and I'm very pleased with it. The quality of the video when transferred to VHS is very high. The camera is implicitly easy to use and handle. But to be honest there were one or two things that I found disappointing: The quality of the stills taken are not that great. Unless the light on the subject is very good I find that the images are quite grainy. Do not buy this camera for excellent digital photos. You won't get um. The images are just okay. I'm in the market for a digital camera now. Another thing I find annoying is that the camera shuts off if there no activity for 3 mins. This is a 'battery saving mechanism' but I have not found a way to disable it if the the camera is plug into the AC outlet. Other than that, I think it's a very good buy and I won't be changing it anytime soon.



5. It is not perfect,but I have used it at least once a week for two and a half years now. The zoom is out of this world! I have taken photos as close as two feet and really far away and have gotten super clear shots. I have taken still, moving and portraits. I like it. My friends like it too. It has a lot of flexability for taking pictures. For example; I run the camera and then when I plug it into my firewall I am able to take out still shots,the ones I want.I can also put my film on a video cassette.Personally, I would have rathered gotten a full version of the MGI software for the price I had to pay for the camera though. But I do like the software. I also shoot a lot in the dark. I'm using the night shot & super night shot right now.Super night shot works well although if there is a lot of movement, the pics are distorted. I plan to buy a light soon. Bottom line, I don't regret my purchase.Mechanically, I have had absolutely no problems. I have an 8 hour battery and I use the lcd screen to film. It is sufficeint.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV460 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom.

1. I have had this camcorder for at least 3 years. I received it as a gift. I love it. It's easy to use, takes great still photos as well as awesome video. I make many little home movies with this camera along with my computer. It's zooms in and out nicely, had night shot and the battery charges quickly and lasts a long time. I did require a special cable that didn't come with the camera though. But as a long time user of this camera I must say its worth the money. I know it was under $400.00.



2. I bought this camera in winter of 2004. It was a good camera for about a year and a half. This past summer I started getting the same "Video Heads are Dirty" message that everyone is getting. I've tried cleaning, but am still getting the message. Now it won't even recognize that there's a video cassette in it.
   
   Looks like I need to take it to be serviced, but I fear what the cost will be.



3. I've read some poor reviews on what's happened over time with other people's Handycams, but I must say that mine still works after 2 years, a few typhoons and several 'dropping' accidents. I'm just now beginning to find some of the neat features of this camcorder, too!
   The reason I purchased this camcorder was because of the colored infrared nightshot, which works great! You can take pictures in pitch darkness. Although I must say recently I've noticed problems with the handycam's playback feature. It keeps switching to Hi8 mode when the video isn't taken with the Hi8 feature (this makes the LCD screen turn blue so you can't see the playback). I'll most likely buy another Sony with the color enhanced nightshot, but I think I'll switch to the DVD or harddrive version.



4. Works well. Has fire wire and is Digital Quality. Would recommend this product.



5. I bought mine in late 2005, but didn't use it when I was overseas because the supplied software was TERRIBLE and I never could get it to work. I ended up using the video capture on my separate Digital camera. So, a year later, I fired it up this week and spent an entire day trying to play a video I recorded yesterday on my PC... being a digital video novice, here are the caveats you need to know after I spent all day on it, plus read all 43 review before this one:
   - I like the features of the camera, the zoom and fold out screen, but the pain is usability and working with the videos or pictures once you take them. If you just want to take taped videos, and watch them on a TV using the provided AV cable, it is ok, but NOT if you want to see or use the video on a PC and edit it. So read on...
   - You really need a second battery, which I ordered automatically, which added to the price. Some of the reviews here say you can use 3rd party batteries, but others say an embedded chip prevents using them. Mine was an expensive Sony battery.
   - There are no tapes in the box, so you have to buy some.
   - READ the simple manual first for each task you do... for instance if you try to plug in the USB cable to a pc first it screws up the drivers, and you have to go to troubleshooting sections to manual delete the drivers, then reload.
   - Sony uses a 4 wire firewire cable called "iWire" (they don't say firewire anywhere).. BUT THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE iWire CABLE. So the user wastes time trying to get provided USB cables to work and after two hours trying to install, reinstall and use the TERRIBLE Sony provided "Picture Package" software, or keep flipping through all the touchscreen menus to turn on "Burn DVD" which uses a CD-R (not DVD) and never find a way to transfer the video to the PC. I finally got the low budget USB Streaming player to work so I could see my video in a small screen on the PC, but there was no option to capture it to a file (stupid). Sony also provides an "AV" cable that has three composite rca jacks to plug into your vcr so you could play the video through that method, but I don't have a VCR anymore - I use a Comcast DVR which has the physical jacks, but they are disabled (a whole separate story about Comcast DVRs).
   - Using firewire - finally, I fired up my previously purchased Pinnacle Studio version nine, which apparently can't recognize the Sony USB connection, as it kept saying it was looking for a connection on ieee 1394 input, which is firewire (Sony refuses to say that common name). I finally figured out I needed firewire for best transfer to the PC (and so do some of the reviews), and ordered the 4 wire to 6wire Sony iWire cable by part number (read the Accessories catalog) because my PC does have the standard 6 wire Firewire jack on the back. Just after I ordered it, I found that Belkin had much lower priced cables of the same type on Amazon, or you can order used ones or generic ones. ALSO, I happen to have a Sony laptop, and it has a Sony design 4-wire firewire jack on it (not the standard 6-wire jack), so I ordered a Belkin 4-wire to 4-wire cable to connect my camcorder to the Sony laptop.
   - Sony doesn't provide any memory stick card at all so you can't use that storage feature until you buy one. Other reviews here say 64-128mb are fine for storing the 1mpx pictures it takes. 1-2 reviews say that you can't store movies on the memory stick, but I would confirm that - I haven't tried it.
   - Conclusion:
   - Get a second battery
   - Don't rely on the USB connection for anything except a streaming video to the Sony viewer, but you can't capture it. Go for firewire, which means you need the cable (see below) and a standard firewire port or Firewire card on your pc.
   - Get a 128mb memory stick to start (which means you also need a memory stick reader on the PC or laptop). The HandyCam pictures are only 1 megapixel, so I will rarely use it, but the memory stick is how you transfer the pictures to a PC (There might be a way with the USB line, but I don't want to waste anymore time on their software)
   - Order the 4 wire to 6 wire iWire or Firewire cable for playback and transfer, and if your computer doesn't have firewire, add a card with it. The Sony part number is VMC-IL4615 - but get the Belkin alternate or another supplier - Sony's price is $39.95 when Belkin's is 1/4 of that. (I ordered it, but haven't gotten it yet).
   - Expect to not be able to do ANY work on the PC editing your video with the USB cable or Sony's poor software. Instead, try using firewire and the free Microsoft Movie Maker that comes with XP. OR, expect to pay $100 or more for Pinnacle Studio, or ULead's Movie product, or Adobe's video maker products. Pinnacle has special high end audio visual cards with firewire you might look at. Or just make sure you have a good AV card with firewire and the right hardware specs to use the video editing software (i.e. ATI Radeon, etc.) . MY HP has the right specs, so I didn't need an additional card.
   - To process video files on the computer, you might need to add more memory - if the editing is slow, determine if more RAM will help.
   - The camera doesn't come with a bag, so you will need one.
   - The battery is charged by plugging the power brick into the camera and charging the battery in the camera. It is slow, and means you can't use the camera while charging, but I always have two batteries charged, so that is what you have to live with, or buy an external charger.
   - Misc - I bought an infrared filter and tripod also for the camera.
   - Cost - So even though you budgeted $400 or so for the camera, the true price with all the above is more like $600-700 to actually be usable.
   
   And now, my budding You Tube production might actually happen, once I get those cables...
   VJ

5 comments about Sony CCD-TRV138 Hi8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom.

1. Well, I'm just amazed this model is still in production the way things are changing so quickly in the A/V world.
   
   I bought mine two years ago and have recorded many hours of my children as they are growing up. This is a truly low maintenance and low cost solution for your video recording needs if you don't have a lot of money to spend on a digital set-up.
   
   Just buy and extra after market battery or two (and they're cheap) and some inexpensive analogue tape, and start recording away!
   
   After you climb the learning curve, of course. My one problem with this camcorder is that the controls are anything but intuitive, and they're splattered all over the unit. Be sure to read the user manual carefully before you try to use this thing, but once you've got it down you'll find this a trusty and low cost companion for your family vacations and holidays.
   
   Oh yeah, almost forgot, the microphones aren't stereo but they're really quite good for an entry level unit.



2. I purchased this camcorder knowing it was not digital "state of the Art". I have a Sony Hi8 camcorder vintage 1993 which no longer functions reliably in the playback mode, and I saw the TRV 138 as means to play my existing tapes and transfer them to DVD's. I found the TRV 138 to be half the size of my old unit and the batteries seem to last 3 times as long. Thus it functions well and is much handier to use. It has the fold out color viewer, my old one did not, plus some additional features such as a variety of fade modes. The only negative is my old unit recorded sound in stereo, the TRV 138 does monaural. This is not really a factor in my recording needs. I have recorded music performances and found the sound to be satisfactory



3. Like other reviewers, I bought this SONY after my old machine refused to play back my antique but loved tapes. I was shocked at all the DVD complaints I read here.
   Although I like to edit tapes on my computer, its a job or two sometimes. I burn DVD easily in real time with a free-standing Sansung DVD burner that cost me 100 dollars. Its got a list of about 125 or so. At the time I bought it at Fry's, and loved it so much I got another a few weeks later. ALl you do next is get Audio and video out from the itty bitty combo plug, and then use the round rca plugs to go to the burner. Yes, a totally free standing burner. Plug it in, and go to the bathroom or what-ever. Automatic performance once started!!!! Now I also use this burner to record TV shows and such. Its like a VCR for DVD media.
   I use this for several formats of video. Now I am sure there is a loss of quality, but it does an excellent job of video transfer. FAR superior to recording to VHS tape.



4. I bought this camera solely to copy my HI-8 tapes on to my computer. Since then I have started using it for wild life video, my home, and my dogs. The camera exceeded my expectations.



5. Wasn't stereo, sold it on ebay @ a loss :o(. Ads said hifi sound....didn't says hifi "MONO" sound until read fine print :oP. Didn't use it, can't say more.