3 comments about Sony VCTD580RM Remote Control Tripod for Sony MiniDV, DVD, HDR-UX1, HDR-HC1, HC5 & HC7.

1. Recien adquirí este tripode para mi cámara digital sony DSC-V1 y trabaja exelente. De construcción resistente y estilizada, permite por medio del manubrio controlar el encendido/apagado, disparo de la fotografía y el zoom + y el zoom -. La altura maxima que alcanza es la necesaria para tomar fotografías que no queremos salgan borrosas por el temblor de las manos. Muy útil tambien para tomar fotografías con el temporizador (timer) y ahora siempre salgo en mis fotos. Realmente es una muy buena adquisición y su precio es bastante razonable. Altamente recomendable. Espero sea de ayuda. (En español es mejor!!)



2. I bought this tripod after having mistakenly purchased the 480RM which is much shorter. The 580RM is sturdier and the carrying case is much better quality. The controls on the handle are handy for the camcorder while they prove to be useless (mainly the zoom button) for the DSC-F828 since it has a manual zoom/focus ring. The only problem we have had (and it seems to have more to do with the camera) is that the DSC-F828 causes the entire tripod head to tilt to one side due to the design of the camera (lens barrel not centered). You would've thought that the tripod would be able to handle off-center weights specially that of SONY products. At the end of the day, it is an excellent companion to our camera and camcorder. Would've given 5-stars if not for the 'tilt' problem.



3. Quality is great. Works perfectly with my Sony HC3. I just wish I got the taller one. I think the taller one would be more versatile. This one is probably only useful at home. Not good for weddings, etc.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV900 MiniDV Handycam Digital Video Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode.

1. I find it helpful to read the reviews of consumers that have already bought the product. But click on the review from Wayne C4 listed here where it says "Wayne C4 (see more about me)" and he has reviewed 40 + items with many of them using the same words in the review or with only a few words changed. And the items are similar that he reviewed. So he has obviously not purchased these items. So be careful what you read here. Shame on you Wayne C4.



2. I find myself using the DCR-TRV900 as a digital camera almost as a matter of course. I purchased the Sony 64Mb memory card (you need to also buy the PCMCIA attachment that it fits in) and taking pictures is a veritable joy. The supplied floppy drive is next to useless - in fact, I don't know how you'd use it in an active environment. There are manual options: aperture setting (depth of field) and shutter speed (great for darker environments)among them. You can also record stills right on the tape and later extract them on your computer. Transfering video and stills to a PC is effortless; I use the IEEE 1394 (Firewire) interface. To make great movies, including voice over (if needed) and background music, I'm happy with Ulead Video Studio rather than the Microsoft XP Windows Movie Maker program - which appears to be a minimal implementation of Ulead's program. Adobe Premier 5.0 might still be better, but I'm not professional enough to shell out [that kind of money] or so for that program. By the way, Ulead also allows you to create NTSC VCD files, which, once downloaded to a regular CD-
   ROM (I use Easy Cd Creator Platinum), can be played on your DVD player (not all of them, but certainly those produced in the last 2 years). Anyway, a great camcorder and camera; I find myself walking around with it for hours on end - it just feels good!



3. The USB software bundled by Sony for transferring images to computer COMPLETELY [MESSED] UP MY SYSTEM. The installation is very dicey. You need to do things in a precise order. It is prone to getting [messed] up,... it can't be fixed. As usual, the Sony software is a mess.
   Their instructions for unscrambling the mess don't work. They just get you deeper into the woods.
   Be sure to get the extended warranty if you buy this product. You will probably need it. As for the computer, it may require a complete disk wipe and reinstallation. God help you if you have RAID or something else. WHAT A MESS. Sony is big enough that they don't care. They don't have to.



4. I bought the TRV 900 in September of 1999 and have been very pleased these past few years. This camera is lightweight enough to travel with...with me, it's been from Italy to Arizona...and produces clean, colorful pictures. I can also grab "still" pictures from my videos and have a perfectly captured photo (i.e. the perfect smile on someone's face or a moment in which a bird dives into a shot etc.) My only wish with this photo function is that the still photos had better picture quality...as good as the video. Nevertheless, it is still a fun function and allows me to send my photos from trips to others via email. The camera has many special effects which are fun to work with such as black and white, sepia tone, negative (great for manually made titles), slim (make yourself thinner!), stretch (make people on the beach fatter!), posterized effects etc...if you can edit in your head, these effects can save rendering time later. (For editing, I've used AVID EXpress DV. The Sony TRV 900 footage loads nicely into the AVID Express DV editing system and is a pleasure to work with. AVID Express DV editing software is expensive (2K) and does have somewhat of a learning curve but with time and effort is well worth the money. If you get this software and you're new to editing, get a turnkey system from a place such as Promax. )



5. The software mentioned on my May 16th review IS called "AVID Xpress" -- not "AVID Express" -- when my review was edited someone changed the spelling, possibly thinking it was a typo/mistake?

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 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.

No comments about Sony Handheld Microphone w/Bodypack Transmitter & Portable Wireless UHF Receiver (CH 66-69).

5 comments about Sony DCRHC20 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. Someone complained about the battery draining. My battery isn't draining and works great. The only two negatives I can find is that the picture stabalization feature doesn't appear to work and all of the manual controls are on the lcd screen so they're hard to use without shaking the camera some.
   
   Someone else said that it's not good to tocuh an LCD screen. This isn't a big deal. There is some kind of coating on the LCD so you aren't really touching the screen directly and you can clean screens.
   
   Yes, this camera has an external microphone jack! The built in stereo micrphones are surprisingly good. They must have some sort of active noise cancelation built in.
   
   The 7 second "delay" when taking a still photo: the photo is taken immediately and then copied onto the frames of the other seconds. You also get audio to go with the still.



2. Enjoyed it while it was working.
   In December 2004, I purchased this Sony DCR-HC20 brand new from Best Buy. Less than average use, only the occasional weekend stuff and twice a year vacation. Always exercised great care in handling and kept it in a protected carrying case when not in use.
   
   Within the first year after purchase, the touch-screen and side button controls began to lose function intermittently and a false error message began appearing saying the cover was not open. I sent the unit to the Sony center and was charged $257 for repair of the unit (labor only, parts were included within the 1-year warranty period).
   
   Last week, attempted to capture some video to computer, and discovered the DV i.Link feature was no longer functioning. I tried other cables and a different device to no avail.
   
   Finally, two days ago the unit's cassette mechanism failed and the unit no longer accepts cassettes. It sends the infamous C:31:40 error message (do a google). I tried resetting it, removing and replacing the battery, different cassettes. No dice. The unit is effectively useless at this point. The DV i.Link function is inoperable, the false error message about the open cover still appears, and the unit no longer accepts cassettes.
   
   Bottom Line:
   
   Paid $400 to purchase this product brand new plus another $257 for repair less than a year later. Within two years of purchase, the unit is essentially worthless.



3. We had this camera for about 1.5 years before it konked out. We can now only record audio. Every blue moon we'll get video for about a minute before it goes black. My husband works in the film industry and this camera was meant to be used at home for the kiddos and he spent hours researching video equipment before he bought this product. I can't stand spending money fixing a camera that was $400 and from the looks of other reviewers, I won't be calling Sony for customer support.



4. I bought this camcorder for its blend of feature and good value for price. I used it mainly for auto track days, recording video from a suction mount and it performed adequately, returning good image and sound quality and acceptable battery life. Features like the microphone input jack and the IR remote control were precious in that usage model.
   Unfortunately, the camcorder stopped working abruptly after 3 years of light and careful use, camera still functional but no image. So much for Sony's reputation for quality and reliability.



5. WE ONLY USED THIS CAMERA THREE TIMES....BOUGHT IT EXACLTY 3 YEARS AGO AND I TRIED TO USE IT THE OTHER DAY AND THE SCREEN APPEARS BLACK & A MESSAGE APPEARS SAYING "LENS COVER IS CLOSED" - WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
   
   IT ONLY RECORDS AUDIO NOW AND YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT YOU ARE RECORDING - USELESS! FROM READING THE OTHER REVIEWS I REALIZE THAT SEVERAL OF US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT - IT IS OBVIOULSY POORLY MANUFACTURED. WE HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY TOO BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL ONE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.

5 comments about Sony DCRPC110 Digital HandyCam Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode.

1. I love this camera. The hard-earned cash I bought it with was very well spent.

   During a week of painstaking research I happened upon this DV-camera. I had set a budget of $700 and of course the PC110 is quite a bit over this price. I felt I wanted a camera that would last well, and would deliver excellent picture quality so I splurged and hoped for the best.

   What I got was better than I expected. The video quality is superb. The LCD is bright and clear. The unit is very compact, and well-designed as I expected with Sony. Using device-control and a firewire card, I can import, edit, preview and save video back to the tape in the camera. Bags o fun, and be warned if you aspire to do it, a major time commitment and steep learning curve.

   As a digital still camera, it is not on par with a good prosumer model, but I find it useful to incorporate stills into video where the still is taken at around the same time as the video. The 10x optical zoom and good lens makes this a great still camera for snapshot close-ups. It has a pretty decent flash, and the big rechargeable battery allows for lots and lots of stills. USB performance is rapid.

   After a month of using it, I would thoroughly recommend the PC110 to the hobbyist videographer.

   PROS: It's best features are its incredibly compact form-factor, fantastic lens, menu jog-dial controller and every control you could possibly want (gadgeteers rejoice). I think you can have up to eight different cables attached to it at once. The battery supplied ("smart Lithium" rechargeable) is acceptable, but an extra would be welcome.

   CONS: I received a 4-MB memory stick with the camera. This gives you room for 3 15-second MPEG videos or 6-8 stills. It is a waste of time really -- I've assigned it to my Clié. You need at least a 32-MB memory stick, and preferably a few of them. The camera makes MPEG video clips which are cool, but will only allow 15-seconds worth at the highest quality setting. No case came with the camera either.

   Once you see the quality you get with DV, I'll wager you'll never go back to analog.




2. This camera does so much! Even after taking it on constant assignments over the past year (I bought it in June 2001) I have never had trouble with it. I've used this camera everywhere from Pompeii to ground zero NY city. Not to mention rainforests, deserts, Chicago cold, etc...

   I'm a journalist. I take a lot of photos for the newspaper I work for and also do a lot of interviews for articles I write. This camera has been a great help to me in getting my job done.

   It's true that the resolution of the stills the Sony PC110 captures is not the best quality available, but they are easily good enough for web and email publishing, and, they even look good for newspaper print when shot correctly.

   The DV digital video format is fantastic! It's better than any analog video I've ever shot(VHS, BETA, HI8, etc) and believe me I've shot a lot of video! I used to work for a TV news outlet in my previous job. The thing I love about digital is that I can record my interviews and easily download the video to my laptop, cut out what I don't need and then burn it onto a CD in MPEG format or in an AVI file format. THis means all my notes are ready to access whenever I need them, and I can keep tham archived for as long as I need them.

   There are dozens of video editing programs that will make the process easy for you. I use Sony's DVgate software and Adobe's Premiere, and both are great. You can even take your digital stills and record them to a videotape som you can send copies to your family and friends that they can watch on their TV.

   I highly recommend it even though it is a bit expensive. If I were buying a new camera today I would almost certainly buy a Sony.




3. I have no complaints except one: the digital pictures it takes are print quality but, the pixel could be greater for the amount of money you're paying for this. Since Sony has such advanced technologies, the least it could do was to incorporate their superior technology towards the digital picture function. More megapixels would've been better. Afterall, Sony does make good digital cameras, why didn't they combine the great features?



4. I have had the PC110 over a year now and still like it very much. The size is perfect for traveling and is easy to take on hikes, etc. The DV quality is very good and the still shots are good if you shoot at high resolution and keep the pictures small when viewing on a computer. The camera has a good zoom, but close up pictures require the extra wide angle converter. I can take a picture of my house without it and get maybe 1/2 of the house. Standing in the same spot with the wide angle lens, I can get it all. You really need this accessory if taking pics or video of close up groups and things where you want to get a wider view. There are many good features: nightshot/super nightshot lets you take pictures in TOTAL darkness. Clarity is not that great and of course the picture is green like in the movies where a soldier is looking thru night vision. Special effects like B/W, sepia, fader, etc is nice if you are not using video editing software and want a few neat effects on the finished product. The PC110 does have a digital converter built in so you can plug a VCR into the camcorder and the analog signal is converted to digital and you can output that to a computer via firewire IE1394. A stand alone converter is about..P>The factory battery is ok, but I bought the larger one for an extra ... and can get 5hrs on it. We toured the Grand Canyon and I shot all day and still had a little juice left. I also purchased a 128M card for stills and can get several hundred pictures on it in a higher resolution. I also purchased extra, the wireless link where you plug the wireless receiver into a tv/vcr via RCA connectors and the camera sends a wireless signal to the receiver and you can watch your video and pictures instantly on tv. Very nice accessory. The camera is very nice if you upgrade to the better accessories.



5. I've had since 2 years and it worked great under any situation and weather conditions.
   It's a very solid product, with lots of great features. Very good image quality, both in video as in still modes.
   Also used it for transfering my previous home videos to the PC for editing, using the camera as a 'gateway' with its analog-digital converter (firewall).
   It's my first Sony Handycam (previously used JVC cams), but in my opinion there's no point of comparison. I think I'll be tied to Sony for a long while.
   Very recommended product. If you can spend a little more, don't hesitate.

4 comments about Sony LCMDVDY Semi Soft Case for DCR-DVD201, 203, 105, 205 & 305 Camcorders.

1. Looks very elegant and has comfortable straps. The battery pack when connected seems to be bit odd for the style. But over all ease of operation is good. Worth the price.



2. The Handycam fits inside snuggly with the battery attached. It's great for day tripping when you don't want to carry a big bag but you want the camera safe. Feels as though it would take a drop very well.



3. I got this case on clearance and it works perfectly with my Sony DCR HC-21. THe dimensions are almost identical to the case designed specifically for my camcorder, and it was a great price.



4. fits snugly around the sony handycam; would protect the camcorder in case of a drop- also, the dimensions of the case enables one to easily slip it into a medium sized purse! very handy and convenient when you dont want to carry the full sized carrying case- and the price is unbeatable!!

5 comments about Sony HDR-UX7 6MP AVCHD DVD High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. I love this camera - video quality stunning. I'm a non-techie so let me toss a question out to the crowd - the 6.1MP still photos this camera takes are average at best. My 6.1MP Nikon D50 takes much better photos. Specifically I'm talking about grain and what I would call pixelation. I've double checked the settings on the HDR-UX7 and have them all set to max resolution. What am I missing? Other than that tiny issue this camera is great!



2. I have only had the chance to use this camera once, during a fishing vacation. I spent some time reading the reviews on the camera and on the DVD player which has to be a Sony Blu-ray. The camera was formated for HD and results were a true 1080 when played back. You will have to spend the money to make the whole thing work right. Purchase the Blu-ray BDP-S1. The Sony package was amazing. I really like being able to go directly from the camera to the DVD player.



3. Not much to say here other than it's awesome! Until 1080p camcorders come out, this is the one to buy for ease of use and portability. Shipping was fast. I am completely satisfied with this product! Thanks Amazon & Sony for having/making an awesome camcorder!



4. I chose this camcorder because I don't do any video editing, and just wanted a high quality easy to use camcorder. The touch screen is great, doesn't smudge up much at all. I can't imagine why this is a problem for anyone unless you play with your own fecal matter and don't wash your hands. The camcorder stays charged for a long time. The picture quality is incredible. The night mode is amazing. The only thing to know. If you do the HD recording, you can only play in this camcorder, or a Sony brand blue ray disk player. Enjoy.



5. I owned a DCR DVD 305 previously and decided to take the next step.
   Glad I did. Nothing compares to AVCHD. Except maybe real film.
   This cam is prosumer. I cont care if it doesn't look like an FX-7.
   The selling points for me were:
   1. The assignable dial for manual control of shutter, exposure, focus, whatever you decide to assign to it. Having auto settings can be great but some shots require some tweaking and manual control is a must.
   2. 6.1 mega pixel still shot. The 305 had a lousy 1mega pixel still shot. Not worth a darn. The 6.1 quality is an option I can boat about. 6.1 mp may be a few years behind, but this is not a digital slr folks. It's a video cam. Often camcorder shot leave traces of interlacing and such that reveal the source of cam it was taken with. Not this one. It looks like a still right from an early digital slr. No interlacing.
   3. Mini DVD storage. It seems most the newer AVCHD cameras are going HDD. Hard drives crash. They are prone to incurable errors. If you have ever own a PC with windows XP, you know this. Lesson learned. My previous camera the Sony 305 was a mini DVD storage based cam. When it failed, I was able to recover the disc out of the cam and rip it from my DD drive on the PC. If this had been a HDD cam, I would have lost the footage forever.
   4. External mic option. I plan on using a lav mic for interview types of footage. This has the option for an external mic. Super.
   Besides the jump to HD, those were the main reasons I bought it. It has all the normal options you will find in a DVR. I used Sony's website to compare shop. Very helpful.
   Some things to think about when you go AVCHD.
   Editing software is still behind the ball. I managed to score a copy of Sony Vegas Pro 8 which totally supports the AVCHD format and the 5.1 surround audio. Nero 8 Ultimate supports it to but, Nero is limited if you want to get creative. Adobe products, so far are still just supporting HDV, not AVCHD. If you like editing, get a MAC or go with Vegas.
   The software bundle with the cam is necessary. I tried to bare bones the install and it would not recognize the cam as a valid drive. Take the hit on your start up and install it ALL.
   Some additional cool things about this camera are that fact that if the cam is on and running on AC power, then a screen saver that is also a tutorial on how to perform tasks runs. Not sure if it is standard but a nice hefty NP FH-70 battery comes with it. Thats about 120 mins of recording. Most Sony cams follow the same ergonomic design so no learning curve required. This cam is not light but also not dead weight. You know you are holding cause it just fills up the hand without rendering your digits feeling fat and uncoordinated. I thought this was the icing on the cake and decided to write this review.
   And NO I do not work for Sony, but let me tell you this, they have a very fair Customer Service Department.
   
   Dave T

5 comments about Sony DCRIP5 MicroMV Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Hybrid LCD.

1. 5 stars when they support Macs

   Please sign the petition http://www.petitiononline.com/osxmicmv/ requesting that Sony support MicroMV camcorders on Mac OS X.




2. I have bought a lot of Sony products over the years so when I was in the market for a camcorder I foolishly just picked this up without researching it. After recording four tapes of my one year old I tried making a DVD and after 20-30 hours and using 3 programs, including Sony's Movieshaker (constant crashes) I have still been unsuccessful. I have just ordered a well reviewed Panasonic camera in DV. MicroMV is a terrible product with zero support from Sony. I won't be buying Sony again.



3. Bought it last year! Nice and small, but even Pinnacle Studio 8 can't handle the compression. No voice, can't burn to DVD, blah, blah, blah. You name it I had a problem with it! And now, come to find out, Sony has stopped production AND will no longer pursue MicroMV. They are moving back to MiniDV! ARGH! Pinnacle won't support their product any longer with this compatibility issue and Sony abandons it.

   I bought the Canon Elura 50! Great with stills and video. Inexpensive, only 1 ounce heavier and about the same size!

   As my wife called it...... I bought Beta instead of VHS! Never be an early adopter.

   Mark




4. I read the reviews and the software that comes with the camera isn't the best. i bought pinnacle 8 dowloaded the latest patches and it works great. I searched on google and found three programs that support micromv. I plugged the camcorder into my firewire card and transferred my vacation video to my pc. From their I edited my movie and made a DVD. it couldn't be any easier. Sony just released a new micromv camcorder. I don't know that noob was saying they discontinued micromv. Some people just don't have the brains for technology or computers. It funny how it's 90% user error that are most of the problems.



5. Unless you are already tied to the MicroMV format, you absolutely want to avoid it. MicroMV is highly compressed and very difficult to work with.
   
   While the build and quality of the DCRIP5 is fine, you should very carefully consider whether you want to purchase a product and a format that have been discontinued for two years.