Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD. MPEG, und Memory Stick
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Manufacturer: Sony
Price at amazon.com:
- MiniDV camcorder
- 10x optical, 120x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
- 2.5-inch color LCD; color EVF
- Records still photos onto tape or included Memory Stick media
- Uses included InfoLithium battery; also includes adapter, wireless remote control, stereo AV cable, lens cap, USB cable, MGI Photo Suite/VideoWave/USB CD-ROM driver
Product Description:
Capture those special moments with the DCR-TRV18 MiniDV camcorder. The new MiniDV camcorder from Sony creates high-quality visuals, thanks to the 800,000 pixel CCD (which gives a horizontal resolution of up to 500 lines) and the Carl Zeiss 10x optical zoom lens. The Super SteadyShot mode will make sure your visuals stay still, even if your hand doesn't. Using the USB streaming feature, the camcorder can also function as a Webcam. In addition to this, video footage can be downloaded directly to a PC via a USB port. This material can then be edited on your PC using the supplied software. Once edited, your masterpiece can be shared with the whole world via the Internet. The DCR-TRV18 includes the ability to record straight to MemoryStick. As with the DCR-TRV340, you can create movies by using MPEG; your recording time is now only limited by the size of MemoryStick. Add to these already impressive features a 2.5-inch 123,000 pixel LCD screen, manual focus, 120x digital zoom, playback zoom and Super NightShot mode for filming in very low light and you've got yourself an impressive camcorder.
Description from Manufacturer:Capture those special moments with the DCR-TRV18 MiniDV camcorder. The new MiniDV camcorder from Sony creates high-quality visuals, thanks to the 800,000 pixel CCD (which gives a horizontal resolution of up to 500 lines) and the Carl Zeiss 10x optical zoom lens. The Super SteadyShot mode will make sure your visuals stay still, even if your hand doesn't.Using the USB streaming feature, the camcorder can also function as a Webcam. In addition to this, video footage can be downloaded directly to a PC via a USB port. This material can then be edited on your PC using the supplied software. Once edited, your masterpiece can be shared with the whole world via the Internet.
The DCR-TRV18 includes the ability to record straight to MemoryStick. As with the DCR-TRV340, you can create movies by using MPEG; your recording time is now only limited by the size of MemoryStick.
Add to these already impressive features a 2.5-inch 123,000 pixel LCD screen, manual focus, 120x digital zoom, playback zoom and Super NightShot mode for filming in very low light and you've got yourself an impressive camcorder.Average Customer Rating: 
Comment: Sony DCR-TRV18: exceptional quality, a great value Rating:
At 25 Mega bits per second, MiniDV is the digital video format of choice for amateurs and professionals alike. Shoot your movie, transfer it to the computer then burn it on a DVD. If you're like me and want to make lots of quality home movies and still skip the costs of burning DVDs, a good choice is to store your movies on regular CDs as SVCD... The MiniDV tapes offer top-of-the line video und audio quality yet they are very small (tape width: 6.35 mm).
The question is: which MiniDV camcorder?
Important factors in my decision:
* A quality camera lens. DCR-TRV18 is Sony's least expensive camcorder that comes with the famous Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar lens!
* CCD size: look for a camcorder with a 680K CCD or larger. That larger pixel matrix gives you steadier shots and more horizontal lines.
* Low-light operation: went out after dinner and videotaped rows of flowers in the local park - the camera compensated very well for the insufficient light, the video came out great. Sony camcorders shine when it comes to operating in low-light (compared to JVC and Canon). DCR-TRV18 also has a "Night Shot" mode for videotaping at zero Lux (darkness). I used NightShot to record people dancing at a wedding reception.
* Analog pass-through: many camcorders do not have inputs for transfering older analog tapes to MiniDV or to the computer. With DCR-TRV18 I was able to copy older S-VHS-C tapes, playing in my analog camcorder, to MiniDV tapes.
I bought my DCR-TRV18... and I love it! Like I mentioned before, I edited my movies, added scene transitions and text then burned the MPEG-2 files on regular compact discs (40 min SVCD) to view them with my DVD player.
If you need to take digital pictures, consider buying a separate digital photo camera ... rather than a camcorder/photo camera combo (these combos could only take low-resolution photos at the time of this review).
Comment: Good MiniDV, but there're better and cheaper camcorders Rating:
This entry-level MiniDV is very easy to use, and very comfortable to hold. I am very impressed by its picture and audio quality when I play my movie on TV; though I think the color balance lacks depth and a bit light when I compared it with TRV-25.
This camcorder allows you to capture picture and MPEG Movie into the provided 8MB Memory Stick (USB Streaming Only). I would not recommend either, since the still pictures are very poor(680k pixel), and 8MB memory stick is not going to capture any long movie either.
If you want to edit or upload your movie on your computer, I would suggest purchase a firewire card as it provides much better quality than the USB option. The provided Sony software is very easy to use. (Love those video e-mail!)
If you're a big fan of Sony, I would suggest spend a little more to buy the TRV-25/TRV-27, which provides better picture quality and have megapixel. If price is an issue and you don't mind if it is not a Sony, try the Canon MiniDV.
Comment: Bad tape technology Rating:
Before you buy, think about the cost of the DV tapes. They are about $6 each, retail, and EXTREMELY fragile. One broke in my camera, and damaged something when being taken out. This was a $70 repair, while it was still under warranty. I don't know how much it would have cost after warranty period was over. If I had it to do over again, I'd buy a camera with a sturdier, cheaper media, and from a manufacturer that respects its warranty.
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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