Sony DCR-TRV840 Digital8 Digital Camcorder With 1-Megapixel CCD, 3.5" LCD and Analog Inputs
Written: Jun 28 '02 (Updated Jun 28 '02)
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Pros: Picture quality, large LCD, USB, analog inputs, features, looks, 1-Megapixel CCD
Cons: Size
The Bottom Line: At a little less than $800, the TRV840 is not exactly cheap. But it is a significant improvement over less expensive ...
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| dkozin's Full Review: Sony Handycam CCD-TRV49E Hi-8 Analog Camcorder |
The Sony DCR-TRV840 is a Digital8 camcorder with a large 3.5” LCD screen and 1-Megapixel CCD that provides up to 1152x864 still resolution. It also features USB interface and 8MB MemoryStick.
Why Digital8 ?
Currently there are two widespread digital formats for consumer camcorders (aside from rare DVD and MicroMV): MiniDV and Digital8. There are several advantages to the Digital8 format. Digital8 format uses the same compression as MiniDV (DV compression) but uses cheaper Hi8 tapes. MiniDV tapes that other digital camcorders use are more expensive and incompatible with “regular” 8mm or Hi8 camcorders.
Advantages of Dgital8 format:
1. Sony Digital8 camcorders are cheaper than their MiniDV models with comparable features. So if you want to get a Sony camcorder for less money with more features, Digital 8 makes more sense than MiniDV.
2. Cheaper tapes: Hi8 tapes used in Digital 8 camcorders are cheaper than MiniDV tapes. Both 8mm and Hi8 tapes can be used, but Sony recommends using Hi8 tapes for Digital8 recording. D8 camcorders can record at SP speed (120-minute Hi8 tape holds 60 minutes of digital video) or LP speed (120-minute Hi8 tape holds 90 minutes).
Sony recommends playing 8mm tapes on the same camcorder that was used to record them (I would avoid 8mm tapes altogether). Same with Hi8 tapes recorded in LP mode
3. Backward compatibility: You can play your existing Hi8/8mm tapes on Digital8 machines, (but you cannot record in 8mm or Hi8 format on a Digital8 camcorder) except for the cheapest models (TRV140 doesn’t play 8mm/Hi8 tapes). It is a useful feature for owners of previously recorded Hi8 or 8mm tapes. Plus you can output a digital signal while playing your analog 8mm/Hi8 tape through the FireWire (i.Link) connection.
Zoom
The TRV840 has 15x optical and 420x digital zoom. The 15x optical zoom is more than some competitors’ 10x optical zoom, and should be sufficient for most situations. The digital zoom is powerful and it is unlikely that you will use it anywhere close to its full potential. The camcorder’s 1-Megapixel CCD helps improve the picture quality at high zoom levels.
The camcorder’s variable-speed zoom allows you to zoom in and out at several speeds, including a very slow speed, which gives your video more professional look.
1-Megapixel CCD
The camcorder has a 1-Megapixel CCD, which is a substantial improvement over 460K-pixel CCDs of cheap digital models. This improves resolution and picture quality for video as well as still pictures. It also improves resolution when using digital zoom. It also allows for still pictures with up to 1152x864 resolution, compared with 640x480 pictures from cheaper models.
Image Stabilizer
The TRV840 features Sony’s Super SteadyShot® image stabilizer, which allows you to avoid the unwanted picture shake while shooting. It works great even at high magnification levels and, due to the high-resolution CCD, doesn’t decrease image resolution noticeably.
Picture Quality
The picture quality is excellent, even when using digital zoom, thanks, in part, to the 1-Megapixel CCD. The picture is crisp and edges of objects look sharp. The 3.5” LCD screen is larger than most camcorders’ screens and helps you frame the picture right.
Sound
The built-in stereo microphone is adequate. As other digital camcorders, the TRV840 uses recording technology similar to the technology used recording CDs (Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)) with 12-Bit or 16-Bit modes with a dynamic range of more than 96dB.
The 12-bit mode allows you have two soundtracks, 16-bit mode provides better dynamic range.
Digital Photo
The camcorder allows you shoot digital still pictures at either 640x480 or 1152x864 and store them on the supplied 8Mb MemoryStick with an option to transfer them to your computer using USB (cable and software are supplied).
There are 3 picture quality modes: Super Fine, Fine and Standard. The capacity of the supplied 8Mb MemoryStick depends on the resolution and the picture quality and ranges from 12 images in Super Fine mode at 1152x864 to 120 images in Standard mode at 640x480. The auto exposure bracketing snaps three consecutive digital pictures with different exposure values allowing you to choose the best one of them.
Connections
The camcorder has full range of available inputs/outs: i.Link in/out (FireWire, IEEE 1394), mini USB jack (USB cable and software are included), A/V in/out, S-Video in/out, headphone out, microphone input, LANC input and Intelligent Accessory Shoe.
The FireWire (i.Link® Digital Interface) is a two-way input/output that carries digital audio, digital video and control signals to compatible digital VCRs, edit controllers and computers.
The USB allows you transfer your still pictures to your computer for editing, emailing or storing. The camcorder also has a standard tripod mounting thread on bottom panel.
The i.Link connection also allows you control your camcorder if it is connected to your computer and your editing program is running.
Analog Inputs and Digital Pass-Through
You can view your video material, transfer it to a VCR or other devices using i.Link, A/V out or S-Video. Since the camcorder has analog inputs (A/V and S-Video), you can also use the analog-to-digital pass-through – converting the analog signal from analog inputs into digital form and passing it through i.Link.
Features
The camcorder has an intelligent accessory shoe, which accepts compatible accessories: lights, IR lights and photo printers, microphones that “zoom” with the camcorder. The TV840 has several built-in picture effects and digital effects.
The shutter speed and exposure can be set to automatic mode or be adjusted manually, which might be helpful in low light conditions (to fight video noise) and to avoid overexposure (you also get program AE modes to do so). Program AE modes include Beach & Ski, Sunset & Moon, Landscape, Soft Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight.
The camcorder has both a 3.5" LCD and a B&W viewfinder. The use of a B&W viewfinder instead of the LCD conserves the battery life. The LCD has good visibility in sunlight and the brightness can be controlled. Both manual focus and automatic focus are available. In manual mode, the focus is controlled by the ring around the camcorder’s lens.
The Memory Stick can also store short MPEG movies of 320x240 or 160x120 resolution. The 8Mb stick holds less than 6 minutes of 160x120 video or 1 min 20 sec of 320x240. There are several A/V fader modes, edit search and TBC (Time Base Correction), 16:9 mode and LP recording capability (allows store 50% more on a tape compared with standard SP mode).
The Data Code
The Digital8 recordings contain “Data Code” recorded on the tape separately from the picture. The data code contains the date, time and recording parameters, which leads to ability to search for recording by date as well as see the information about the recording conditions as well as date/time by pushing the “Data Code” button during the playback.
Search Modes
The “Edit Search” can be used while in “camera” mode to look through the material to find the insertion point, or you can use the “End Search” button to find the end of your last recording. You can also use the supplied remote (see below) for advanced search, using data code or to use frame-by-frame.
Super NightShot
Two modes for low-light recording are present: Night Shot and Super Night Shot. The Super NightShot™ allows you to shoot subjects at about 16x brighter than when using NightShot™ by selecting slower shutter speeds. Super NightShot recordings have no color, but the Color Slow Shutter mode allows you record color images in the lo-light conditions.
Remote Control
The supplied remote control has a rocker switch to control zoom, record/stop button, playback functions as well as some advanced functions that are unavailable without it (slow motion playback, frame-by-frame, date search, etc.).
Battery
The supplied battery is good for 50-65 minutes with LCD use and about 70-90 minutes using viewfinder. The InfoLithium allows you to see the approximate remaining power at any time with AccuPower™ meter showing you the remaining battery time in minutes.
Conclusion
At a little less than $800, the TRV840 is not exactly cheap. But it is a significant improvement over less expensive camcorders in terms of better picture quality in video and still picture modes as well as features for not much more money.
1-Megapixel CCD and 3.5” LCD screen for less than $800 would be unthinkable of even a year ago.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 795
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dkozin
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