Sony DCRTRV103 Handycam Digital Camcorder Camcorder Reviews

Sony DCRTRV103 Handycam Digital Camcorder

So Easy & So Sophisticated 2000-07-15

For a unit with advanced features,this unit is remarkably easy to use (even for the klutz in the family). It self adjusts and the many buttons for personalized adjustsments are right at your fingertips. It makes videotaping easy so you can focus on the object and enjoy the event you're taping. Ergonomic, Easy, Affordable Yet Jammed with Sophisticated Features.

A fantastic camcorder 2000-07-12

This is a fantastic camcorder for the beginner through to the more advanced user. The features on this model are great and given the ease with which you can capture and edit it on a PC or Mac, I would recommend this model for anyone interested in producing low budget digital home movies. With numerous digital and picture affects, it is a great buy and great value for money, especially given it's lasting Digital 8 format. A great buy and I recommend it to anybody.

A great camera. 2000-07-12

This is a great camera for the money. It has a relatively small color LCD screen and a black & white viewfinder, but those are the only drawbacks. There are great digital features, and picture quality is outstanding. I routinely use the Ilink connector to transfer video to mpg files for distribution on CD-ROM.

A great Camera at a Great Price 2000-02-02

Sony® came up with a winner with the Digital 8 format. I have heard of problems importing the data into the Sony Vaio laptop but I have had no problem importing into the Vaio work station. Also, Windows 2000 will support the IEEE-1394 firewire as a native application which means you will be able to bypass the Sony application for video capture and import directly into windows applications such as Adobe® Premiere and internet video conference. This camcorder is the basis for all my current work in snow country (next week I will use it on the ski slopes- and Feb 19th I will be using it to record sled dog races in Redstone Colorado for internet distribution by converting the AVI files to MPEG-2 on my website thebroadscreen). The photo shot capability is not really necessary because this camera does an excellent job of capturing every single frame in full motion and transferring every single frame to the computer for manipulation and production. A real winner for a camera and it plays all your old 8 tapes as well. IEEE1394 will also standardize on several high capacity hardware items this year including the LACIE DVD ram recorder/player due out at the end of this month which will record over 2gb per side of disk at 545.00 MSRP. and IEEE1394 capture cards are now available at 135.00 street price. The digital revolution has arrived!

Superb camcorder especially for sub $1000 models. 2000-01-24

Originally I wanted a DV model camcorder but I couldn't find one that I really liked that was under $1000. I had looked at the Sony Digital 8 format and thought it was a great idea so I bought this model. I has the features I wanted; DV firewire in/out, S-video in/out, rca a/v in/out, it's stereo, and has a built in 2.5" lcd monitor. The separation on the stereo audio is quite good considering how the left/right mic pickups are in the same chasis. I have yet to hear scanner motor noise in the audio either and it has an external stereo mic input if you want to get a higher quality mic. I used it on an overcast day in the country to get some footage of the dark clouds and the audio was beautiful. The tapes I've tried using are regular 8mm tapes and it came with a Hi-8 tape and to be honest I have yet to see a difference in the video quality (although years from now there may be more dropouts).

If you want manual white balance, you'll have to pay more, but for what this camcorder cost's, it's amazing. Highly recommended!

I love it but... 2000-01-22

This camcorder is truly awesome. All the features are great and go beyond expectations. The only problem I have is trying to transfer the video to my computer. I bought the IEEE 1394 Firewire by SIIG, Inc. and for some reason it doesn't work. I've contacted SIIG and Sony and haven't heard back from either. When my camcorder is connected to the computer, the computer does not detect it. I have done everything on the SIIG trouble-shooting web site to rectify the problem, to no avail. It is very frustrating and if anyone can assist please send me an e-mail. One of the biggest reasons I bought this camera was to put video on CDs and send to relatives throughout the country. I can't do that until the capture card works!

Great Video Camera for Engineering Consulting 2000-01-10

The Sony DCR-TRV103 is a great camera for engineering consulting work. I've used for recording video through the video in port from a crack microscope fitted auxiliary camera, looking at minute structural details on a walkway on a 170 ft. tall elevated water tank (from the ground), as a recorder for an underwater camera for well video inspections, and for many other "normal" uses. The 360X digital zoom is fantastic, however, it must be used in a tripod to keep the video usable. I use it with a video Snappy to pull stills off of the tape. The built in "Still" feature is useful for catching a shot for a steady section on the tape. Great camera. I would be interested in hearing how others use the camera with the FireWire transfer feature.

Sony! What can I say 2000-01-09

I can only say on thing about this product. Outstanding. I have the TRV-110 series which the only difference is that the LCD panel is smaller. This camera is so easy to use. All of the controls are right there at your finger tips. I've yet to see the product from the digital photo mode becasue I don't have the firewire yet. I'm sure that it will be outstanding. This is a great product, an deasy to use, with a countless number of features which I've only begun to explore. Reasonable price. Great Job SONY, keep up the great work.

good product 2000-01-03

A great camcorter for zooming in but some what heavy. Great for shorter trips. However it does not go easy on bateries.

Great camcorder with expensive add ons. 1999-12-07

I love this camcorder. Picture quality is exceptional and it's easy to use. The downside is the fact that accessories are so expensive _ and some, like the s-cable, are needed to transfer images to VHS tape.

Amazing value - a true convergence product 1999-12-05

I connect this camcorder to my PC via its firewire port. Not only can I edit the footage I shoot on my PC, but the analog-in feature allows me to tape TV shows and copy VHS tapes to my computer hard drive. The quality of the camera is very high, and the 2.5" LCD is plenty big. I have purchased the NPF950 battery, which allows 12 hours of continuous operation. This is a very well thought out product.

ULTIMATE CAM 1999-12-04

Ive used a number of camcorders in the past,VHS,VHS-C,8mm,Hi-8,Mini DV,and now Digital-8. At first I thought it was a joke,recording onto the old 8mm format in digital, but once I used the camera and saw the flawless picture and incredible sound I was proved wrong.It looks like a regular 8mm camera but it's silver,that seems to be the digital camera color.I feel the most impressive feature on this camera is the night shot mode, you can see and film in total darkness. Also with most digital models being so small you can't get a very big zoom, but since this one is 8mm size the optical zoom is 20x. And of course since it's a Sony it is packed with unmatched looks and great specials modes. I have no reservations for the DCRTRV103 its a top of the line camera with top of the line features at a reasonable price.

Great camera, at least for Mac users... 1999-11-13

We bought this camera, send it to miami and then by ship to Venezuela, where we live. Great camera, spetially because you can conect it via FireWire (IEEE 1394) to your new iMac DV or DV Spetial Edition. sharp image, cool night vision. amazing zoom. You can do anything with this camera and Apple's iMovie...

Downloading photos and videos on your PC... 1999-11-02

This camcorder is great EXCEPTED for 1 thing the video capture card for your PC. No where does sony or anyone else tell you that I got a Quote of $400.00 for this card?????? Nothing like finding this out before you buy, huh...WHY so much? I WAS going to buy this BUT not now or not until the price of the card Drops Significantly....

I wish I bought the smaller Mini DV Cam instead 1999-09-24

I made a rash purchase wihtout all the facts, and now regret it. Now that I see the smaller MiniDV product, I prefer the smaller size instead. Plus there a several different companies producing MiniDV and only one producing Digital 8. Live and learn

Great camcorder with a lot of good features 1999-09-21

A great digital camcorder at a good price. The only difference between this one and the more expensive 310 is the size of the viewing screen. No big deal since we'll be playing back mostly though our TV anyway. The nightvision recording is pretty cool - you can record with absolutely no light available.

Comment on the View Finder 1999-08-21

I have to disagree with Amazons Pros and Cons of this camera. Amazon rates that the con or the camera is the black and white view finder. However profesionally a black and white view finder is optimal.

Very happy with this product!! 1999-07-28

We purchased this camcorder after doing research for severalweeks. We bought it with scuba diving in mind as eventually we willbuy the expensive underwater housing.

I can only say that I have been extremely happy with my purchase. One of the first events I captured was my girlfriends little sisters HS graduation. The picture quality and sound play back especially during music performances was great.

We did but a 8 hour battery which added a little weight but runs for seems like forever. We also bought the telephoto lens for those really far away shots.

I normally turn off the digital zoom unless I have an extremely steady hand or have it on a tripod. As you get into the higher zooms if the camera is shaking the pictures gets unusable. Put it on a tripod and at full digital zoom it almost looks as good as optical zoom.

I've used it to capture pictures and then pass this to my computer and have been very happy with the special effects as well.

Robert