5 comments about Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom.

1. Got my hands on one of these babies this weekend for a no-budget short film. Loved it. So easy to use, and the picture is great. It's true, the finished look is not "cinematic", which is a fair criticism, but for the price it is great if you're looking to upgrade to a high-def digital picture. Watched the playback on a 16:9 widescreen TV before editing and it was beautiful. However, you can't rely on the auto-functions. Tried using auto-focus and auto-iris at the start, but ended up doing both manually for the most part. A small complaint considering a real filmmaker shouldn't be using them anyway. Otherwise, a great camera.



2. I have been using the DCRVX 1000 for over 10 years and it has done well. However, the FX1 is so far superior in every way. The only feature I miss is the "overlap". So far, the color, the detail, the feel (a bit heavier than the VX1000) are even better than I expected. HD is as close to reality as possible. I have 2 weddings that I will soon record, and I feel confident that the FX1 will perform without fail. I recommend this camcorder for the very serious videographer. It is priced $2 thousand less than the VX1000 sold for in "96 at $5 thousand. Technology has improved while costs have fallen. A good buy at 3 grand.



3. Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom
   
   Just one word of warning, the camera can get heavy, especially if you use the standard battery it makes the camera very front heavy, but oh well.
   
   This camera is totally customizable in which it is either all auto, manual or some of both. It has 5 presets that are customizable. The cool features about these presets are that you can get a 24p, 30p (cineframe and cinetone), and 60i modes. The 24p and 30p refers to the "film" setting. You can record in true 16:9 widescreen or standard 4:3 letterbox. The high def mode will only do 16:9. I wouldn't listen to anyone who says the widescreen is a stretched 4:3, because its not. You can also hook in headphones, and an XLR adapter. This comes with a 2-hr battery. There are just 3 things I have beef with about this camera. One is the fact that it doesn't have XLR inputs - you'd think that after spending 3K on a camera you'd get some. 2nd: It records in 1080i. Not exactly terrible. 1080i is not true HD, but nor is 720p. True HD is 1920x1080p. But, recording at this high of resolution means spending more money. 3rd: This thing can't record in 24p.
   
   I'm a video production major and I love this camera. It not really just a consumer camera, but a professional consumer camera. I highly recommend it, its well worth your money. Yeah it has come cons, but I think every camera will. This is by far one of the best on the market.



4. My wedding cinematography studio purchased this camera just about a year ago. We love it! The quality is outstanding - the 16:9 is so beautiful.
   Easy to learn. Good weight and feel. The LCD is HUGH!!!! We are planning to purchase two more early next year!



5. When I first received this camera, I really put it through the paces trying it out in different light conditions, with different mics, etc. I was really impressed with how well it performed. Though it is not true HD, it is as close as I can currently get on my budget. With a full complement of features and presets, the FX-1 provides a tremendous amount of bang for my buck. Some reviewers mentioned the lack of XLRs for audio in, but in a wireless world is that really a problem? I use a Sennheiser G2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone Kit with a wireless adapter that snaps into the XLR port of any handheld or shotgun mic. I just plug the wireless receiver's miniplug directly into the FX-1. The auto-limiter has never failed me; the audio levels stay very consistent and I haven't seen it peak out once. I do also carry a BeachTek DXA-4 Dual XLR Adapter and an XLR cable in my kit in case of emergencies, but I've never once had to pull them out.
   
   Not a negative, just an FYI: the FX1 weighs almost 5 pounds, add a big battery, a shotgun mic and/or a light and this camera is probably way too heavy for the average prosumer-quality tripod. Additionally, if you use a steady-device, even with a basic harness, or a shoulder mount, you might your shoots a little more grueling than with your old camera. Ultimately, you may find as I did that you also have to upgrade some of your basic support equipment to accommodate the extra weight. Be sure to consider this in your budget.
   
   Great color, wide-screen, 1080i and great audio what more could you ask for around $3000? The FX-1 has set the mark that the others are now trying to emulate.

5 comments about Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD 2.1 MP 30GB High-Definition Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. After spending plenty of time researching which high definition camera to buy I went with this one. This is the best camera I have ever had. The picture clarity is AMAZING!!! on my plasma. The videos look like those awesome demos they put in the store so you are pushed to buying the tv.
   
   Compare to the other models this one is great because it has a USB port right on the camera itself so you don't need any adapters. I choose this one over the HDR-SR7 because of the USB on board the SR7 does not have it. The only real difference is that this one has a 30 gig drive the other has 60 and this one has 4 megapixel camera and the other has 6 megapixel. Trust me this one is the best you won't be dissapointed.
   
   One last thing, everyone complains about the software, I think it works great for what I need. I did buy Pinacle Studio 11 which does support the new AVCHD format so you can edit your movies and do all kinds of cool stuff to them.



2. Ive owned this camera for about six months and havent used it as muchas I would like to! This is an pricy piece of equipment with no software editing programs availabile. Bought vegas 7 and doesnt recognize the camera, so cant edit the movies? I havent tried to many of the features on it but deceided to experiment only to find out there is a problem with the"Firmware" and its going to cost me to find out whats wrong with it! There is only a 90 day warranty so you better try all features and functions before 90 days. Sony seems not very helpful on software issues or their customers. You get sorry!! THIS UNIT SHOULD BE FULLY TESTED AND FUNCTIONAL BEFORE RELEASED FOR SALE. I think that the lack of good software hurts my not using this lemon as much as I would like to. Ill give it a plus by saying the video taken is GREAT! HOPE A SOLUTION COMES ALONG SOON AND ITS PROVEN FOR USE WITH THIS CAMERA.



3. I chose the SONY over the JVC and PANASONIC models because of its features. I like the manual adjustment rings ability to control any one of four pre selected features, such as focus or exposure. It has image stabilization that actually works. I really like the AVCHD mpeg 4 video compression giving me at least 4 hours of best quality recording on a 30GB hard drive. Many newer model cameras do not have a viewfinder and I need a good color viewfinder which this one is more than adequate. No one had anything really bad to say about it, so I bought it. I received this great camera from Amazon for a great price and in less than 3 days. I have been enjoying shooting clear, bright; rich color videos for several weeks without any problems and I have actually been using the 4 mega pixel still image capture feature, saving jpeg photos onto a Sony memory stick duo memory card. I am very happy about this purchase. Now if some one would just invent a good quality, fast, inexpensive Blue- ray burner that uses a SATA interface I would buy it.



4. My husband and I purchased this to record the momentous occasions in life. It's worked really well. I like the ability to switch between camera and video. The camera doesn't take the best pictures of my "always on the move" 17 month old son. They tend to be blurry. The interface was easy to use and learn and the software that comes with it is great! I would absolutly recommend this camera!



5. I bought this HDR-SR1 the same month it first came out in October of 2006. Our old one is a Hi8 Sony HandyCam and my wife and I decided to invest on another videocam that can captures in digital our son's first moments, our first vacation in Hawaii, etc. I was so impressed with the functionality and the quality of this camera. As an avid audiophile, I cannot settle for anything less than an HD quality video. The quality of the video and 5.1 Dolby digital surround it captures is breathtaking. Not only we save money on buying tapes, you can burn it to DVD with an ease. You can now save your videos and archive them for as long as you want them. Since I also have a PS3 and it supports AVCHD playback, I am able to enjoy full 1080i resolution and watch it like a professional video capture. It's a definite must for me, especially capturing those special moments with my son (and another one on the way). The built-in hard drive and the capability that you can switch to digital photo is excellent. Now I don't have to carry two equipment. This unit is bundled as an HD video and a digital photo unit as one. Last but not the least, it is made by Sony. I have owned many Sony products in the past and none of them has dissapointed me. Just like any investments, there is no guarantee that it will not break or last forever so I recommend on getting warranty extension. It's worth the piece of mind.
   
   Why not I gave it a full five star? I was expecting more of a 2.1 MP resolution photo during video recording.
   
   I truly recommend this item.

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC32 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom, Handycam Station, & Extra NPFP50 Battery.

1. Sony does a great job again. It could be a bit better in low light conditions, but with the 'back light' option it works well.



2. Working perfectly 3 years after I bought it with heavy use. Good quality videos too. Great buy.



3. This camera is not very good - poor video resolution after recording it on a memory card. The software is horrible and Sony tech support just plain lousy.



4. I once thought this was a great camcorder for all the reasons already noted. Great video and audio quality, easy to use, good price.
   
   But guess what? It's broken and out of warranty, and in order to even get a quote on the cost to fix it, I must send it to Sony, because Sony doesn't allow anyone but Sony repair their cameras any more. So, instead of going to one of the hundreds of capable and convenient repair shops in Denver, where I can get an estimate and repairs fast, I have to mail my camera to Texas. TEXAS!
   
   So what's wrong with it? The camera refuses to properly load any miniDV tapes now - I get an error that says "Reload tape" and the error message won't go away no matter how many times I reload the tape. Apparently this is a common failure, a quick google search shows this same problem in discussion threads all over the net. And, believe it or not, the most common suggestion to fix this error is to smack the camera repeatedly on the side to "unstick" a stuck part. This did not work with my camera, but good luck to you if you buy this piece of junk.
   
   This is the last Sony I will ever purchase. Been burned too many times by Sony now - a TV, a PDA, a digital camera, and now this. I'm buying a Panasonic PV-GS80 miniDV Camcorder to replace this doorstop. I bought an Olympus 790SW camera to replace my broken Cybershot, and it works great. I should have learned my lesson by now, but I'm brand-loyal to a fault. Sony pushed me too far this time. No more Sony. Never again.



5. Bought this to digitize tapes shot on my procam. Now I use this more than the HDV camera. Has all the controls I need but I wish it had the audio functions I miss on the prosumer camera. Never thought I would prefer this over the big brother. I haven't had disappointments with the zoom but I did install a wide angle adapter for better room coverage. Keep it mounted ALL the time.

5 comments about Sony DCRPC109 Compact MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I replaced a 7 year old Canon HI8 camcorder with this one. I've had the 109 for a couple of months now and here are my comments.

   GOOD:
   Size: It is really small and compact. Well built and solid.
   Motor noise: My camera has no motor noise. Absolutely none. I have seen some reviews that say their camera has motor noise. My suggestion is, if you get one that does, replace it. Perhaps you got an early one or a gray market?
   Battery life: I get about 2 hours with the standard, tiny battery. Interestingly, the same reviewer that said he had motor noise claimed to get less than an hour with his battery. There must be something wrong with his camera.
   Low light: Seems to be pretty good and better than competition.
   Simplicity: It is very easy to use as a point and shoot. There are only a few buttons. The LCD screen doubles as a touch screen for the menu.
   Docking station: Makes it convenient to plug-in to the computer because the docking station is always connected to the computer, and to a wall outlet for charging.

   BAD:
   Small LCD screen: I guess this is a tradeoff with the small camera size (but if you have seen Sony's new T1 still camera, they know how to put a large LCD on a small camera). Also, the LCD can wash-out in sunlight, like most other cameras.
   Docking station: Although convenient, the only way to recharge the battery is to plug the camera into the docking station. This means, for trips, you have to take the camera, the cord, and the docking station with you. This is inconvenient and bulky. Sony could have easily made the cord plug into both the camera and the docking station for recharge, but Sony instead has elected to release an optional "compact" battery charger for around $70. Typical Sony. Similarly, the camera itself has analog video outputs. To get digital outputs, you have to go through the docking station.
   Microphone: It is placed on top of the camera, so it does pick up some non-directional noise (from places other than directly in front of the camera). It seems to be somewhat directional though because it doesn't really pick up noise from the shooter.




2. I've owned so many Sony products, this one is a dud. Someone already mentioned the horrible placement of the power in, the little rubber flipper gets in the way of everything. The PicturePackage software is a complete joke. SonyCopy.exe crashes every time I try to open my pictures. The lens cover is not automatic, and needs to be open no matter what you want to do. If its not open, it screams 'cover not open' at you until you MANUALLY open it. The device shows up as Camcorder 2 in Windows XP, you cannot browse your memory stick thru windows explorer. The resolution of the still shots is HORRIBLE. Do not buy this camera. Ugh. I'm stuck with it because I bought it at a retailer that won't take it back after 14 days.



3. I've had this little guy for about 9 months now, and I have no major complaints. While this camcorder suits the needs of those who want good performance in filming normal activities, it may fall short of higher expectations.
   
   I bought this camcorder because it is small, compact, good-looking, and has a touch-panel feature (highly amusing and useful). The 1.0 Megapixel picture quality becomes pretty obvious during playback, though. Again, for those who just want to film family, school, and random events, I doubt anyone would complain about this small setback. But for those who want to make quality movies or semi-professional documentaries, the features and pixels may not be enough.
   
   I use this camcorder recreationally and it is a blast to use. I guess one word to describe my experience with it is: Complacent. If you want to film on a more professional level, I recommend the Sony DCR-HC85. It has 2.0 Megapixels, a built in flash, a 3.5 inch touch-panel LCD, and among other great features. It is slightly bigger and heavier, but it is nonetheless an excellent camcorder for more demanding purposes.
   
   Recreational: Sony DCR-PC109. More serious filming: Sony DCR-HC85.
   Overall, you can't go wrong with the DCR-PC109.



4. After I recorded a few tapes using this brand new camcorder bought from Amazon, it got snowflake-like noise all over LCD screen. Since I did not use it for the first month after I got it, I could not return it and had to send it to SONY repair center for service. After I got it back, it constantly complains about dirty video head and I have to use a cleaning tape each time it does that. My worst experience with any electronics I ever had.



5. I found this on clearance today on the Sony website.
   Limited quantity. $ 549.

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

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 DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. Camera is easy to use. Takes great pics and video. Pics during filiming are not as clear as choosing to take pics only. The 6.1 pix pics look great. Shutter speed is good. Transfers media easily to the computer. I have not used the camera DVD burn option yet. The software the comes with the camers looks like it will make the burning easy.



2. Excellent choice
   Video - great
   still photos - very good
   40GB Hard Disk - Cool
   Display, Touch Screen - nice...
   Battery could have given which can last bit more. Currently it lasts for 100 - 120 mins



3. I have been using my Handycam for a year now and I still love it. Just like most Sony products, it has great sound quality. I would never buy a camcorder based on its ability to take still pictures (because I have another camera for that) but I have to say that the still shots are pretty good. Transferring video to my laptop is simple and the 40 Gig is a huge hard drive! This has been a great camcorder for home videos. Only problem I have had is if I put it on a tripod and try to leave it to shoot on it's own, it does not refocus quickly leaving some scenes blurry for up to a full minute. Because of that I dropped a 'star' from the rating.



4. I've had this camcorder for 6 months now. Video is excellent even on my 52inch LCD HD TV!! Pleasantly surprised. Sony does not sell them anymore, not sure why. I paid under $800 for mine.
   
   You wont regret the quality. Easy to author dvds (NO CONVERSION needed). Takes me 20 min to make a FULL dual layer dvd.
   
   The new HD camcorders are tough, the new HD form at needs to be converted which takes HOURS/DAYS to make one Video DVD.
   
   You wont be dissapointed.



5. We bought this camera right when it came out in spring of 2007. It worked great for a little over a year. We loved having both a digital camera and a camcorder in one small camea. After the warrantee ran out we started having problems. First the LCD screen stopped working because the connection had cracked. We hadn't dropped it or anything. After paying lots of money to get that repaired, it worked well for another couple months and then something with the lens stopped working and it was all black. We sent it for repair again and dumped more money into it. We've had it back a couple weeks and now the docking station isn't working. Again, we didn't drop it or anything. It worked one day and didn't the next. So now I can't get the images off the camera. Very disappointed with Sony on this product. Next time I will definately buy an extended warrantee.

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

1. 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.




2. 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.



3. 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!



4. I had the DCR-TRV340 since May 2003 and it has proven to be a versatile and nearly trouble-free video camera, as it has been used for nearly every week at various events since. The 340's method of digitally encoding 8mm tapes (Digital8) have made it inexpensive (at the time) to buy tapes compared to the MiniDV format and that a standard, basic 8mm tape can be used, contrary to the manufacturer's recommendation of Hi8 tapes. Video quality from the image sensor is acceptable, though it could be better (and is on the 740/840 models). The digital still capture feature is more of a novelty (with its 640x480 max resolution), though can be convenient in certain cases. The 340 also makes a good video deck, as it can record video from other sources. It can also pass the external video source via Firewire to your computer, and webcam function through USB, eliminating a dedicated capture card; these features are almost nonexistent in today's lower/mid-line video cameras. Only issue was a loose board connection within my 340 which caused some of the transport functions to do one function - record; which was temporarily resolved with a smack to the camera body (until I had the time to disassemble it).



5. I like the DCR-TRV340 very much. This is a well built camcorder with a super lens that makes making great video's possible. I have done several video's of auto races and if you type ( Center Street Auto Racing ) in your browser you will see the many Strictly and Super Street races that I video taped using my DCR-TRV340 camcorder. I use my Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable to put my video clip files on my computer. I have also used my DCR-TRV340 to video tape Horse Shows and do book promotions. If you are using the Yahoo.com search engine and type in ( Paso Fino Horses on the Sounding Board ) you will see a very nice video I did that was also done with my Sony DCR-TRV340 Camcorder.
   
   My Sony DCR-TRV340 Camcorder has been very good to me and I recommend it very highly. One drawback the Sony DCR-TRV340 Camcorder has is that the memory stick can only do a video of up to one minute and you can put that file on your computer using the AV cable but if you do a video over a minute long you will need to use a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable to put that video onto your computer so if you want to put your video's on your computer and the video's are over a minute long and you want to put the video's on a memory stick you will need a camcorder that allows you to put longer video's on your camcorder memory stick like a a DCR-TRV350, a DCR-TRV33,or a DCR-TRV460 does as well as some other Sony Camcorders.

5 comments about Sony HDR-SR7 AVCHD 6.1MP 60GB High Definition Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. - Excellent design, 5.1 sound effect is too good
   - I actually returned back this piece and opted for traditional Mini DV camcorder Sony DCR HC 96.
   
   Reason for my frustration in SR7 was its compatibility issues. Its like once you buy this one, you would have to (almost) buy HD TV, HDMI cable and may be few costly softwares to work with high quality video format. Also it would require large amount of storage capacity and processing power (Yes, even though this is a hard drive model, processing is costly). And when I through of all these collectively, that package is something I cannot afford.
   
   > Sony MUST provide HDMI cable with this buy when you are paying $1300 for it
   > Since toshiba has signed off the video format war, sony would definitely come up with one good Blueray camcorder soon.. and then this camcorder would not be this hot.
   
   MiniDV is still my favorite. I can easily get DVD quality, superb sharpness and colors. Yes there are some efforts to convert it from Mini DV to DVD but that one time work is ok if you are getting nice quality.



2. The camera has shot good videos but to play them you need a powerful computer. So unless you have a dual core high speed processor you may not like to view the videos... I returned mine as i didn't want to upgrade my laptop just for the sake of AVCHD video format... i don't know when this format problem will get resolved or probably i will wait till my current laptop is completely obsolete...



3. I think the obvious has been stated.
   The camera does a great job with good lighting. Low level lighting is an issue.
   I knew that before I bought.
   I also knew to have Sony Vegas primed for the AVCHD formatted files.
   
   Playback is difficult on slower processors and editing via a laptop even with core2 duo processors is rough.
   
   I hook the camera up to the TV via the mini hdmi/usb thumb drive via PS3/USB cable to PS3/SD DVD with AVCHD as BR on PS3.
   
   The battery life has been ok for my usage. A backup will be necessary for vacation/long shoots.
   
   Controls and interface are user friendly and the "easy" button is nice for instant settings and shoot.
   
   I am very happy with this camera.



4. Sony, getting better all the time: This is not my first video camera, I started about 20 years ago with the Betamovie and with it I've made videos with such good quallity that I didn't change it by the next one, the Video 8 because it still wasn't better until the first Hi8 appeared which was really better than the Video 8 and the Betamovie, after it I've been changing my video cameras each three or four years and once I've tested a Panasonic which wasn't bad but, I've always felt better with Sony, and each time I buy a new one, I find new good surprices, beeing them in the head of those products's tecnology.
   The only one thing I would complain about this last one, the HDR-SR7, is not having the red light for the photo camera which you need to get focus in dark.



5. I am using this camera, and it is nice. However, my biggest gripe is that it is not Mac compatible. Many creative types use a Mac, which comes with very nice movie software. I have both Macs and PCs, but would have preferred to use my Mac.
   
   Because it wasn't compatible, I purchased Sony's Vegas, but would have been much happier using iMovie.

1 comments about Sony VCLST30 Telescopic Camcorder Conversion Lens for DCRHC65/85/1000.

1. After trying out seven different 37mm telephoto lenses for my camcorder, this one does the job. The price was higher than I wanted to pay, however, this one offers a very crisp shot without the blurred distortion of the other telephotos I tried. There is some slight color distortion, but it's only noticable in digital still shots that are blown up. For a 3x5 photo, it looks fine, and it's definitely clean enough for video. This lens joins my Sony Wide-Angle in my bag, and they are both very high quality glasses. I highly recommend this lens if you can afford the price tag, as you won't be disappointed. I can now sit in my seat at the Chargers games and take video and still shots that make one think I was down on the field. Nice!

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?