Digital Bang for Analog Bucks
Written: Mar 14 '01 (Updated Jul 27 '01)
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Pros: Overall Best Value; Powerful Zoom; Nightshot; Digital Still Mode; Quality
Cons: Difficult to find case that fits; Still quality only good. Included battery life too short.
The Bottom Line: An excellent digital camcorder, with great A/V quality, tons of useful features at a good price, and surprisingly few drawbacks. And the Sony name...
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| Kelway76's Full Review: Sony Handycam DCR-TRV320 Digital-8 Digital Camcord... |
The DCR-TRV320 is a great camcorder. After researching on the Internet and testing all the camcorders in my price range in person, the 320 was a clear winner. No other camcorder can compete with the combination of quality, features, and value of the 320.
The picture quality of the 320 is superb. If you are unfamiliar with the Digital-8 format, it allows you to record digital quality video onto a standard Hi-8 tape, which cost considerably less than the Mini-DV tapes. The trade-off is, however, that a 120min tape will only hold approx. 60min of video. The most noticeable improvement, in my opinion, is the amazing clarity of the stereo sound. The sound in playback is as good as anything I've ever heard. Every analog camcorder I've ever used, distorts music horribly, ruining your lovely wedding video, but this one sounds incredible. The only gripe I have with the picture of the 320 is that in my house (where the lighting is less than ideal) the auto exposure feature tends to make the picture grainy as it tries to brighten the picture. I believe that an external light mounted to the unit's Smart Shoe will resolve this problem.
The features are really what sold me on the mid-level Sony. The Memory Stick is great because you don't have to interrupt your the flow of your video with randomly placed still images. I love taking stills and the memory stick is just the most practical way to store them. I would've liked a few more features in the Memory mode (such as higher resolution, as it is limited to 640X480) but it is adequate for taking good pictures, just don't expect professional quality still images. The NightShot feature is priceless for catching shots of sleeping children, that otherwise would be impossible. The digital effects are nice, but require some skill and practice to master. The zoom is one of the most powerful I have seen on any camera, at any price. You have to try it to see. The LCD is not huge, but a big LCD is really an unnecessary luxury, for those willing to spend an extra $100 for a 520.
The price is arguably the best thing about the 320. The 120 is a little less, but lacks the Memory stick and a few other features, making of lesser value, in my opinion. At the other end of the scale is the 520, as I mentioned earlier, whose only real advantage is the larger LCD. Mini-DV camcorders are smaller and more advanced, but their prices are still too inflated (Sony Mini-DV's start at over $1000). I gave $699 for my 320 at Best Buy, and still think it is the best value out there.
There are a few nuances, however, that deserve note. The first problem I noticed was finding a bag that would fit the 320. The camera is a little longer than other camcorders, due to the huge zoom lens in front and an inexplicably long viewfinder. Best to the biggest bag you can find. Another thing that you will soon tire of is the short life of the standard Info-Lithium battery. If you can afford it, I recommend buying an extra with at least a 4hr life (about $60). The basic controls are simple, but the advanced features, such as digital effects and manipulation of the memory images, can be complex and require some study and practice.
Overall, this a great camcorder with excellent features at a good price with few drawbacks. No matter which camera you decide on, you will no doubt compare it to the 320, my new benchmark for Digital Video Value.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 699
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Epinions.com ID:
Kelway76
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Member: Kelly Myers
Location: TN
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
TIMEO DANAOS ET DONA FERENTES.
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