5 comments about Sony DCRPC120BT MiniDV Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick, MPEG, Mega Pixel Video/ Still & Network Capability.

1. I really like this videocam. It integrates seamlessly into my computer system.

   The video comes out really clear and sharp, so much so that when I view it later, I was so amazed that everything looked so sharp and clear. The sky was so blue and the resolution is also great. You can easily see falling flower petals in the background several feet away.

   There are lots of other video editing features on this camera, but I only use the basic features, so I can't comment on those. But I dont think those features are very useful anyways, because there are much better editing programs you can use on computers.

   In digital camera mode, it has two resolutions. The 1.5 megapixel resolution is comparable to most dedicated digital cameras. Both resolutions come out fine when uploaded into my computer. On a 256meg memory stick, I can stick over 600 pictures on it. It also comes with a flash, can take pictures at night.

   I use it to load video and jpegs on my Apple MacIntosh, and everything is plug and play. No need to fiddle with the drivers and controls.

   The only negative thing I can say about it is that it is not as small and compact as the other videocams out there, but for the features it has, the compromise on weight is acceptable.




2. I really like this videocam. It integrates seamlessly into my computer system.

   The video comes out really clear and sharp, so much so that when I view it later, I was so amazed that everything looked so sharp and clear. The sky was so blue and the resolution is also great. You can easily see falling flower petals in the background several feet away.

   Focusing was fast and accurate.

   There are lots of video editing features on this camera, but I only use the basic features, so I can't comment on those. But I dont think those features are very useful anyways, because there are much better editing programs you can use on computers.

   In digital camera mode, it has two resolutions. The 1.4 megapixel resolution is comparable to most dedicated digital cameras. Both resolutions come out fine when uploaded into my computer. On a 128 meg memory stick, I can stick over 600 pictures on it. It also comes with a flash, can take pictures at night.

   I use it to load video and jpegs on my Apple MacIntosh computer, and everything is plug and play. No need to fiddle with the drivers and controls.

   The only negative thing I can say about it is that it is not as small and compact as the other videocams out there, but for the features it has, the compromise on weight is acceptable.




3. four stars off this one. I got a C:31:23 error message when I insert a tape. It beeps and ask to eject the tape. When I eject the tape, it left the tape out all wrinkled up. The manual is no help to decipher the code. Why does it even display it if no one knows? Error code starts with "C" is self-servicable according to the manual. But it does not list all the codes obviously. The worst of all, after been put on hold for more than two hours, no one at their customer service takes the call and I finally gave up. I own many Sony products, this was the first time I tried to contact their customer service. It is just unbelievable. They dwarf the worst customer service experience you ever had. Why do they even have a phone number if no one answers it? Sony's customer service kills one's will to live. Take my advice, don't go there.



4. I've owned video cameras since my first Hitachi VHS in the 80's. This is the sharpest camera yet. I will be selling my Canon Optura DV, JVC GR-DVP3U and Sony Digital 8 to use this exclusively. The video picture quality is astounding, as is the low light performance. I added the wide angle lens and video light for an overall nice package. The digital still capability is useless compared to a real digital camera even in the same 1.5 megapixel rating. Still pictures look 'TV like', but the video sharpness just has me keeping the camera. I'm sure the 330 is even a better improvement, but I'd still be suspicious of the still picture performance.



5. I own one DCR-PC120BT since more than 9 months now. And last week I had the chance to test the new 330. Forget it! After several days of practicing with both cameras the DCR-PC120BT is the clear winner!

No comments about Sony CCDTRV57P 8mm Camcorder.

5 comments about Sony DCR-PC55 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Black).

1. If you want to capture every precious moments, this is the right camcorder for you. It's easy to operate and the video is crisp and clear. The sound is pretty good as well. You can also take still picture and video at the same time (thanks to the memory stick).
   
   Don't burn your video using your computer, it took me time to download to a CD or DVD. Instead burn them as you watch them. It's quicker that way.
   
   You will love it the first time you use it.



2. I have own this camcorder for 6 month
   it's a good camcorder, esay to use, easy to bring
   As it's design purpose, PC-55 is enough for home use
   Only one thing I want to mention here, before I buy this camcorder, I thought that I can record video on MS duo in mepg format, and it's easy for post-edit on PC, you know, tansfer a MiniDV tape to computer may need a huge space to save.
   However, when I replay the video which stored on MS, the sreen was full of mosaic
   fortunately, when use DV type to record, this situation never happens. good quality.
   The one press photo button also becomes useless because the bad quality.



3. The camera is one of the best considering the price and the size of it. The only problem I found is that it has not a light, so you will need to buy the external one, if not all the shots that you do at night will be very dark.



4. When you buy a product that is designed and meant to fulfill certain needs, just expect the best performance out of those features.
   
   The PC55 is a camera for the everyday home shooter, easy to use and made with the best SONY quality for one of the smallest MINI DV camera ever created.
   
   If you are thinking about buying this camera don't hesitate one minute, this camcorder is one of the kind, it gives you pretty much the flexibility and video quality of a regular camcorder but with the amazing bring-it-in-the-pocket size and all the coolness and attention that it brings along (let it be your best Ice breaker, believe me it works like heaven!). I work for a camera store and let me tell you: we haven't received one return of this model during the time I've worked there (8 months), which proves the high quality SONY has built into this model. I have been using mine for a few months now and all I can say is that "the product is great... period!".
   
   Let's get real, the 500 bucks you are paying for it is not for the film quality kind of movie you get in the picture (for that you need to spend at least a couple of thousand dollars) but the portability and worriless of no need of the big luggage a camcorder used to be in the past" (some times people don't realize a motorcycle couldn't be compared with a truck or vise versa).
   
   About the picture shooting option, well let's see! A camcorder is for videos and a digital camera is for photos, if you want to have them both in one package, that brings excellent quality, you'd have to spend a lot of more money than if you bought them separately, let me explain you in a few words, the average photo quality for a MINI DV camcorder is 1.3mp or lower (the same quality you get out of your cell phone camera) to be honest with you, the manufacturers add this option just to give it an extra feature and at the same time take more money out of your pocket, with tape less digital cameras it happens the same way, the video and sound quality are very poor; so why bother paying more for a camera with both functions being excellent (there are quite a few out in the market now, starting around $1200 for models of similar size) instead buy two little cameras, one for each use, for half of the price.
   
   If you are looking for a cool, high quality & durability MINI DV camcorder with the smallest size available in its kind, The SONY DCR-PC55 is your BEST option.
   
   To finish, I just want to wish you all enjoy, more than the product, the unmemorable moments you will live with your loved ones because of this little fellow.



5. Ordered product expidited and after a week it was never received. I finally received notice from Amazon that the order was cancelled (by the vendor). My guess is they never had the product to begin with. I'll NEVER use them again. I don't understand why it took over a week to discover the product was not available. I would not recommend.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV230 Digital8 Camcorder.

1. This is junk. It has not worked since the day I got it. Have returned it for service three times. Has never been fixed. Sony refuses to replace the camera. If I did not have so much invested in accessories I would just throw it away and buy a Canon.



2. I bought this camera in November of 2001 and am very happy with its performance and features.
   For all those that complain about the grainy picture: read your manual that came with the camcorder! With this camera you have the option of different exposure settings. I have found that the AE(automatic exposure) setting tends to make the picture look grainy, especially when filming indoors. This can be corrected by using the 'sun and moon' exposure or one of the others. Take the time to try each setting in different lighting and surroundings and view them on your television to see which ones you like best.

   Some pros about this camera
   * light-weight
   * very good lcd color screen
   * excellent image stabilization
   * very good color representation (with right exposure)
   * excellent compatibility with computer OS's & programs
   * great stero sound
   * excellent remote control

   Some cons to consider
   * changing tapes is awkward, tape loaded from bottom
   * camera hum audible on tape if shooting quiet scene
   * digital zoom is not focused (keep on analog zoom)
   * battery does not last long when using the lcd screen
   (about 1/2 hour)

   This cam does not have a digital media storage card for photo stills but I don't consider this a con. High cost models are beginning to come out with decent resolution photo still capability integrated into the camcorder and until the price falls, buy a seperate digital photo cam.
   Very good camera overall!




3. I read all the negative reviews and whining in the reviews of the Sony TRV-230 Digital 8 camcorder, and bought it anyway for use of live-action reference for my animated projects. I didn't need stellar image quality, anyway, so the complaints didn't apply to me. I was suprised when I got this thing.

   The image quality is wonderful! It has natural looking colours, excellent sound reproduction for a built in microphone and is razor sharp. While it is true that indoors you may have a bit of grain, it isn't a detriment like the people here would make it out like. I lit my subjects evenly and brightly, and the grain disappeared. Scratch one problem. If you have good lighting, there's no grain. Very simple. But, if you do not have even, bright lighting, it can become very grainy indeed.

   The camera has a mind-boggling array of effects, all of which can have a nice effect if used in moderation. The effect I particularly like is the "flash" effect. If you crank it down to one bar, you get a nice cinematic look that is very similar in look to 35mm film at 26fps. The lens is very good, but in very bright situations some glare can appear on subjects. However, all cameras do that in some respect so if you're doing a lot of outdoor shooting, Sony has some lens filters that you can screw on. Scratch another complaint.

   I especially liked how virtually everything is near your thumb. Record mode, play mode, zoom. The zoom is amazing, but you can forget a 700x zoom. It gets blurry around 400 or 500x, but as someone else at Amazon put it, who needs that much zoom anyways? If you really want to shoot something, then get off your [behind] and shoot it.

   The remote is also handy, as well, especially if you are doing stop-motion/steadycam work. It may seem like a toy, but when it's on a tripod, you don't want to jolt the camera when you're doing stop-mo. It has most of the functions of the camera itself.

   One complaint that I have is the tape loading mechanism. Most 8mm camcorders have a simple door, shove in the tape and slam the door shut --- just like a cassette deck. Not this one. It has a fancy little motor that wheels out the cassette like some kind of science fiction movie. It definitely looks cool but if it breaks down, how are you supposed to get the tape in? demerit point for Sony there. I did like the bottom tape loading mechanism, though, because most 8mms have the door where your palm is, so you have to slip your hand out. Not so here. Tripod could be a problem, but a display tells you how much tape you're used and how much tape is left, so it doesn't reall matter because you have more than enough notice to change the tape anyhow.

   It is a simple point and shoot camcorder which does a good job. It also suits me well in professional ways, as it runs circles around all the other broadcast cameras at Cogeco. This camera exceeds quality than any of the other cameras at the Cogeco studio, before or since. It takes some photography know how and a true artistic eye to get professional quality out of this camera, but it can certainly be accomplished.




4. Several of the previous reviewers complained about the poor picture quality especially indoors. I thought the same until I
   turned off the elctronic stabilization. Aside from the tape ejecting on the bottom I find this camcorder to be a good value.



5. This is not a bad camera but I am having trouble with it not wanting to record or playback tapes. I have tried different tapes thinking maybe it was the tape but no matter what I do, it won't work. Took it to the place I got it, they had to send it away, which took forever, and all they done was use a headcleaner on it. They said they could not find out any problem with it. I brought it home and it started doing the same thing again and I bought a Maxell head cleaner and used it several times on it and it worked okay for awhile. Now it is back to doing the same thing again on not recording or playing back a tape. Do not know what the problem is. It just could be that I got a "lemon." I have contacted Sony but have never heard anything back.

5 comments about Sony DCRIP220 MicroMV 2.11-MegaPixel CCD Bluetooth Camcorder.

1. I bought my IP220 two weeks ago. The unit is fairly compact and light which I carry to places with ease.

   The pros:
   1. Video quality is excellent, same for the recorded sound qulity which is crystal clear
   2. Swivel LCD panel is very easy to use and innovative
   3. Touch screen feature works well and is pretty user-friendly
   4. The set sits perfectly in the palm and the finger position also fits very nicely with the zoom lever, photo button and record button

   The cons:
   1. Even with 2.1 Mega pixels CCD, IP220 does not provide the kind of picture quality as other Sony digital cameras (like DSC-70), especially at 1600x1200 resolution
   2. The MicroMV to MPEG2 conversion through movie shaker 3.1 (MPEG2-TS)is incompatible with the regular DVD standard (MPEG2-PS), therefore, it is impossible to burn DVD for regular DVD player use without converting it through a third-party software (e.g. pinnacle studio 8)

   I would recomment this unit to those who care more about the video quality than photo quality.




2. Pros: Small size. Good ergonomics. Screen on back. Still photos. Compact tapes & batteries.

   Cons: Expensive. MicroMV format may or may not equal MiniDV. Lens could be more wide-angle.

   I found the camera easy to carry, though I kind of wish it had a neck strap. I think the size is about right - not too small to handle, but still very easy to carry. One complaint/frustration was that its lense doesn't seem to be as wide-angle as I'm used to - trying to tape inside buildings, etc. I found myself constantly backing into corners and still cutting people off at the waist, etc. - I may have to look into getting a wide-angle lense for this. Of course, I was trying to tape inside 150 year old houses with small rooms, so that didn't help. As for video and still quality, all I can say is that they look fine to me - I watched for pixelization or other artifacts reported as being problems with MicroMV, but haven't noticed any even in dark areas. I will say that experimenting with the night shot and super night shot, I don't see much use for them - I could hardly distinguish what I recorded in these modes. I was impressed by the ability of the still camera and flash to take decent photos of buildings from around 50 feet away in near total darkness. I didn't expect the flash to work at such a distance, but the photos came out quite well. One reason I selected this camera was that I thought it was better designend for use in underwater housings than the PC120BT I was also considering - primarily because the screen is on the back rather than flipping out to the side (which requires a much larger housing, or not using the screen). I didn't get a chance to try the camera in an underwater housing on this trip, but I still think the design will lend itself to this application. Ergonomically I prefer the IP220, but I have lingering questions about whether I sacrificed video quality by going with this model. But that's based on others's comments on previous MicroMV camcorders - not on any problems I've seen with my own camera or video. I haven't yet loaded video or stills onto my PC for editing, so I can't comment on that.




3. I bought the Sony DCR IP220 because of its 2.0 Megapixel capabilities and while I love the resolution that it displays on the TV, I am not impressed with the quality of footage after capturing to computer. Here are the pros and cons that I have found:

   PROS:
   1.Great resolution and great quality video produced (530 lines and 2.2 megapixels). (5 star quality)
   2. Digital zoom (X700) works fine using a tripod and produces somewhat clear images. Any zoom magnification up to X120, produces very clear moving images.
   3. The still pictures are compatible with any 2.0 megapixel camera.
   4. Low light video never appeared grainy.
   5. Touch screen menu-Many options are available & can be reached quickly. It has a similar feeling to a PDA Palm pilot.

   CONS:
   1.Video Editing or video email is only possible if your computer system is Windows ME, XP, 2000, and above. If you have Windows 98/98SE and below, then you need to upgrade.
   2.If you are into serious computer editing, then this is not the camera for you. The Micromv format is supported only by Sony's Movie Shaker (included), Ulead's MediaStudio Pro 7, and Pinnacle's Studio Deluxe 8.1 . MovieShaker captures with the best quality, but it produces pixellated moving images and stores the files as .mmv. After capturing, the file must be exported to mpeg/avi/etc format. To render 1min 46secs of mmv footage, it took me about 30 mins for mpeg 2 and 8 mins for mpeg 1. MediaStudio 7 captures micromv footage very easily (after downloading the patch) and offers the quickest,most compatable options (direct output to avi/mpeg). Capture is instantaneous (as is cpaturing from most DV camcorders). However, the quality is also somewhat pixellated and the playback is jerky in moving areas. I have not tried Pinnacle.
   2. No microphone input jack! It is hard to record a speaker's message if you are in crowds of people. If you have large hands, you may end up covering the bulit in mic and receive no sound at all.
   3. Tiny Buttons!It is very difficult to zoom using the very tiny zoom button. Also,the record button is sticking out and you can accidently knock it.
   4. Touch screen menu. If for any reason the touch screen is damaged, then it is dificult to command function of the camcorder.

   If you are not into Computer editing or emailing video, then this camera deserves a "5 Star Rating". However, considering that I bought the camera with the intentions of editing, I have to say that I am a little upset with the finished quality.




4. on paper, the IP220 looks like a winner. but after a close look and i'm not as sold...

   pros:
   - delivers vibrant colors when shooting in daylight.
   - 10x carl zeiss vario-sonnar T* lens.
   - 2MP still capability.
   - great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
   - has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
   - steady shot and night shot.
   - ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
   - top-loading cassette.
   - boatloads of optional accessories.
   - manual focus/zoom ring on lens.
   - has NightFraming which allows you to focus and compose your scene in total darkness with the aid of the infrared emitter, then shoot a full-color still with the pop-up flash. very cool.

   cons:
   - microMV format is proprietary and may go the way of betamax.
   - microMV video quality is noticeably worse than MiniDV.
   - images emerge washed-out when shooting indoors.
   - uses an mpeg version that may not be compatible with your current video editor.
   - Super Night Shot, Color Night Shot very choppy in low/no light.
   - not Mac compatible.
   - very bad ergonomics - zoom and photo shutter controls are poorly positioned.
   - LCD can't tilt backwards - if you've had it before, you'll miss the ability to show kids themselves as you videotape them.
   - the advantage of microMV is size but that's not reflected in this camcorder. this is the biggest microMV camcorder out there: 3.9"W x 3.0"H x 5.3"D, weighing 1.5 lbs. you can get smaller camcorders like the panasonic's gs70 or sony's trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
   - as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
   - the included 8MB memory stick (for a 2 megapixel still camera!) is unacceptable. you'll need at least a 64MB memory stick with if you want to take full advantage of the higher resolution pics you'll be taking.
   - although bundling the camcorder and still camera together means you only have to carry one piece of equipment, it also means that if one breaks, you have to replace both.
   - as an alternate to this bundling strategy, you can get a gs70 or trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera and still save money in the process!
   - battery life could be better.
   - only 2.5" LCD and it's not as crisp as others in the sony line-up.
   - non-intuitive menu system.
   - bottom loading battery so you can't replace this while mounted on a tripod.
   - the accessory shoe is not a hot shoe.
   - no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

   in the end, the microMV format is a deal breaker for me. it is sony proprietary and not widely supported. and the main reason for even using microMV (size) is not really reflected in this camcorder. if you're looking for a camcorder/camera hybrid, i'd say wait a couple more years (hopefully). the still quality is just not there yet. your best bet is to get a decent camcorder and complement it with a stand-alone digital camera.

   i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.




5. I have had this camera for over two years. While the images are accpetable, I am have a terrible time capturing software. If your main goal is video editing, then this camera will be a nightmare.
   
   Pros: Small, relatively easy to operate.
   
   CONS: expensive camera, expensive tapes, still images are not of good quality when considering a comparable still camera, proprietary format may go way of betamax. No microphone jack, makinig it hard to hear people in crowded area. While using pinnacle, when editing, I have to spend more time syncing the sound, rather than being creative with the editing process. (Granted, this may be a pinnacle software issue, but it highlights the lack of compability with the .mmv format).
   
   If I knew then what I know now, I would not buy this camera.