DCR-IP220 - Good ergonomics, but unproven tape format
Written: Nov 17 '02
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Pros: Small size. Good ergonomics. Screen on back. Still photos. Compact tapes & batteries.
Cons: Expensive. MicroMV format may or may not equal MiniDV. Lens could be more wide-angle.
The Bottom Line: I like the design. I'm a little concerned that video quality may be compromised by the MicroMV format (compared with MiniDV) - though it looks good to me so far.
dougb59's Full Review: Sony Handycam® DCR-IP220 Micro MV Camcorder
I wound up buying the new DCR-IP220 just before leaving for a vacation that included a few days visiting historical sites in the gloomy midwestern U.S. (Missouri and Illinois), and a week on sunny Grand Cayman in the Caribbean.
Overall, I'm pleased with the camcorder, but bear in mind that I'm moving up from an 11-year-old (albeit top-of-the-line in it's day) TR81 camcorder, so I can't compare my results with current MiniDV.
I found the ergonomics of the IP220 easy to get used to and comfortable to use. Out of habit, I tend to use the viewfinder rather than the screen for most recording (this may change over time). I enjoyed being able to take stills as well as video (though quite a few times I got mixed up and pressed the wrong button). This wasn't because the buttons are close or easily confused - I'm just not used to having two "record" buttons on a camcorder.
I found the camera easy to carry, though I kind of wish it had a neck strap. I think the size is about right - not too small to handle, but still very easy to carry.
One complaint/frustration was that its lense doesn't seem to be as wide-angle as I'm used to - trying to tape inside buildings, etc. I found myself constantly backing into corners and still cutting people off at the waist, etc. - I may have to look into getting a wide-angle lense for this. Of course, I was trying to tape inside 150 year old houses with small rooms, so that didn't help.
As for video and still quality, all I can say is that they look fine to me - I watched for pixelization or other artifacts reported as being problems with MicroMV, but haven't noticed any even in dark areas. I will say that experimenting with the night shot and super night shot, I don't see much use for them - I could hardly distinguish what I recorded in these modes.
I was impressed by the ability of the still camera and flash to take decent photos of buildings from around 50 feet away in near total darkness. I didn't expect the flash to work at such a distance, but the photos came out quite well.
One reason I selected this camera was that I thought it was better designend for use in underwater housings than the PC120BT I was also considering - primarily because the screen is on the back rather than flipping out to the side (which requires a much larger housing, or not using the screen). I didn't get a chance to try the camera in an underwater housing on this trip, but I still think the design will lend itself to this application.
I look forward to reading more detailed technical evaluations of the IP220 and the MicroMV format. I'm still not sure I made the correct decision in going with it rather than the PC120. Ergonomically I prefer the IP220, but I have lingering questions about whether I sacrificed video quality by going with this model. But that's based on others's comments on previous MicroMV camcorders - not on any problems I've seen with my own camera or video.
I haven't yet loaded video or stills onto my PC for editing, so I can't comment on that.
Sleek, 2.1-megapixel MicroMV camcorder and digital still camera 10x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer 2....More at Amazon Marketplace
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