Sony DCRDVD100 MiniDVD Handycam Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and Digital Still Capability
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Manufacturer: Sony
Price at amazon.com:
Used & new from $630.00
- DVD digital camcorder with 640 x 480 pixel imaging
- 10x optical, 120x digital zoom with Super SteadyShot image stabilization
- 2.5-inch touch-panel color swivelscreen LCD display
- High speed USB 2.0 interface for computer connection
- NightShot 0 Lux infrared system with color mode for recording in total darkness
Product Description:
Click Here For Package Contents:With Sony's DCR-DVD100 DVD Handycam you can easily record the joy of everyday moments directly to DVD! DVD-R/RW format plays back in most DVD players, Play Station 2 consoles and DVD-ROM drives Capture both stunning video and over 5000 still images all on one disc You'll never miss the fun with a 2.5-inch SwivelScreen LCD Get up close with 10x Optical and 120x Digital Zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens helps you shoot like a pro Memories are as easy to share as they are to play back with 3-inch DVD 1/4-inch Advanced HAD CCD Imager - 1/4-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K (effective) video Pixels provides excellent detail and clarity, with exceptional Digital video (up to 500 lines of Resolution) and still image performance. Realize great looking Digital still DVD Format Video Recording - The DVD recording format delivers Digital video and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV. Playback of the DVD media is simple and convenient. After finalizing the disc in the camcorder, the DVD disc will playback in most compatible DVD Players. DVD-R/RW discs recorded by Sony DVD Handycam Camcorders are designed to be compatible with and may be played back on most home DVD players, computer DVD drives and PlayStation 2 video game consoles sold in the U.S Some players, drives, video game consoles lack the ability to read due to the optical reflection standard of DVD-R/RW discs and/or due to encoding , so playback cannot be guaranteed
Average Customer Rating:
Comment: GREAT SONY PRODUCT!!! Rating:
We are extremely pleased with this new Sony product!! We went with the 100 series only because of price. We found the mini DVD-R and DVD-RW discs very difficult to find during the Christmas shopping season, but I did find some discs and used our camcorder for the first time at Christmas with our family. It was very simple to operate, made an exceptional quality recording which, after 1 minute of finalizing (quite simple actually), played in our DVD player perfectly! How much more convenient can it get? No a/v wires, no special connections to hook up to your tv to play your 8mm, etc., just plain simplicity -- go right from the camcorder to your DVD! I am very excited to use the movie editing software included with the camcorder to edit, print stills, etc. What more could you ask for than a movie/still digital camcorder that records on, above all, DVD discs? It can't get much simpler than that! The instruction manual that comes with the camcorder is very easy to follow -- I sat down for a little over an hour reading the entire manual and was able to operate this camcorder quite proficiently. All the necessary operations are right where they need to be on the camcorder -- in other words, it is user friendly and functionally intelligently designed. If you want an easy to use camcorder with the versatility and quality of a DVD, this series of camcorders is for you!!
Comment: Excellent Camcorder Rating:
I recently bought the DCR DVD 100 and had my first chance to use it at a family gathering. At the end of the night, we were all enjoying the video without having to use any AV cords or other hookups! I really enjoy using this product. Although it is larger than some of Sony's smallest MiniDV and MicroMV camcorders, I don't think it is by any means bulky or uncomfortable to use. Although I was afraid that the discs would not play in our 3.5 year old DVD player, there was no problem at all. And it's becoming pretty well known that most camcorders should not be depended on for high-quality stills. Therefore, I would suggest going for the DVD100 and using the money saved from buying a 300 towards a good 3.2-4 MP still camera.
Comment: Less is More Rating:
Ok, Ok, I got duped into this buy due to "improving, but degrading" technology.
I have been using Digital-8, and I wanted a new mini-DV, but this year (2004) Sony decreased the chip (imaging sensor) size to 1/6" in the mini dv tape models. First reviews from camcorderinfo.com are not enthusiastic (smaller chip, higher noise in the image, degraded low light performance and some color saturation issues) this packing more pixels into a smaller die size problems are true in digital cameras (the smaller more dense sony 8mp digital camera sensor), as well as in "new, improved, more pixels" camcorders.
So after reading of this "improvement" and browsing the other reviews I discovered:
1) the sony DCRDVD100 has the largest chip (1/4") size (vice 1/4.7" for the 200 and 300, and 1/6" chip (same as the 2004 mini dv tape model) for the 2004 dcrdvd101 dvd camcorder)
2) the test reviews from last year (100 vs 200) said the 200 "drops from the abilities of the DVD100" in video performance. (you don't EVEN want to read how poorly the new even smaller 1/6" chip in the 101 does compared to those two!)
3) there were still some 100's available as of mid-may this year.
4) all professional (broadcast quality) camcorders are on the verge of going tapeless this year or next, eg the trend will only make dvd camcorders more common.
So here was the cheapest dvd camcorder sony made last year, outperforming it's more expensive brethren and even the
"degraded" model for this year! Yep, wasn't planning on it's purchase, but sure didn't want lose video performance by waiting for one!
Gripe 1, the 100 takes lousy still photos. Ok, so you can take a megapixel still pic with the 200 and 300. 1mp is still lousy in the 8mp era of digtal still cameras. And any camera phone can do a better photo easier. So I am not willing to trade the superior low light, low noise capabilities on video in the DVD100 to gain (still) mediocre still picture performance in the 200 or 300, which I will never use.
Next gripe, there are no mini-DVD's available, and the price is too high! Standard complaint with the introduction of every new technology. I paid $8ea. for the first Maxell 120 VCR tapes back in the mid-eighties, now that buys 10 of them! Froogle mini dvd-r and you may find a bundle of 25 mini dvd-r's for $1 ea. (on sale) like I did in mid-may. Next year at this time they may be 50 cents each, regular price. NOW compare that to the price of mini-dv tape!
S'hows it look? I can't see any difference on playback between the DCRDVD100 and my 3 year old TRV-730 digital eight camcorder, but the convenience is a thousand times better. The mini-dvd's play on my tv dvd, they play on my pc dvd, they play on the camcorder dvd. try that with mini-dv or 8mm dv! I can make mini-dvd duplicates using the camcorder and PC and send these mini-dv's to any relative to share our videos with. I never had the patience to transfer 8mm to VCR, not to mention the bulking up factor of VCR duplicates.
ok, so the time is down to 20 mins per disk. About the same amount of relevant footage I get off a 1 hour 8mm tape, in which I just stick the 8mm camcorder in a corner and let run at parties, too bulky to carry. savings too, since the 8mm tape is still $4ea and I've got that full coverage using 3 mini dvd-r's at $1 ea.
And bless sony for keeping the same battery, charger and flash accessories as in my 8mm dv! Now I have the same batteries to run my cd-r digital camera, the 8mm camcorder and this dvd-r video camcorder. a real dollar savings!
Sony has always won the low-light full color indoor camcorder shoot-out contests, but with the new reduced-size imaging chips for the 2004 models , they apparently have slipped a notch backwards. So if absolute all-round video performance is the most important thing for you, I encourage you to run, not walk to locate the DVD100, before they are all gone. Or wait until the model 102 for 2005 is introduced!
other pros: storage size of completed videos
instant useability/exchangeability with other machines besides the camcorder, no tape drive mechanisms to wear out and eat your prized videos years down the road. dramatic decline in cost of mini dvd-r media compared to micro-dv, mini-dv and 8mm dv tape.
cons: no firewire connection to allow direct digital duping, I'd love to use the sony mini-dvd-r's to download my digital SLR camera's images into a permanent file while I am traveling, but guess that will have to wait until 2005?
I like it, recommended.
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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