Pros: light, simple to use, relatively cheap, lots of everyday features, good battery life
Cons: video quality not top of the line, can't plug it into computer out of box
The Bottom Line: This is a great camcorder for someone who has never owned one before. It's simple to operate, it's light, and you won't pay a king's ransom for it.
kjell1979's Full Review: Sony Handycam® CCD-TRV108 Hi-8 Analog Camcord...
It's a Girl!
Last December my wife gave birth to our first child, a baby girl. After the birth, I was on the way back to the hospital after picking up a few things from home and I had an impulse to buy a camcorder. I thought to myself, these moments only come along once and I want to be able to record them and cherish them forever. So I went to the closest electronics store I could find and I picked up this model, preferably a Sony because I haven't had much trouble with them in the past. For me, this model was perfect.
I paid $300 for this camcorder, but if I planned it out better I might have been able to save $50. Although I haven't followed the camcorder market, I would say compared to others I've seen, that's pretty good. The camcorder is light and easy to hold. I estimate the camera weighs 2-3 pounds. Even though I have hands a little on the large side, it's not uncomfortable to hold it. My wife has smaller hands, yet she is able to hold it too. This model is very easy to use, especially for a first-time user like myself. I only had to read a couple pages in the manual before I picked everything up. I can image that some people who are unfamiliar with electronics in general might have to read more, but I consider this good.
Features
This model comes with a carrying strap, a lens cap, a power cord, a starter battery, and video cords to plug into the TV, a one year parts warranty and 90 days labor warranty. You have to buy tapes for it though and they generally cost between $5 and $10 depending on what kind of quality you want. The tapes are Hi-8 Format, which is a magnetic tape. It offers good quality, but not the best out there from what I gather. People who are going to use this on trips might want to consider a carrying case. I'm not sure on the price of that however. I plan on buying a case for this when we start taking longer trips to amusement parks, other states, and while camping.
This camera, as you can probably see in the picture, has a color LCD screen. I can't tell you how useful this is. The alternative is looking into the eyepiece and watching a black and white image of what you're recording. If I'm recording something, I like to be able to watch what's going on with my own eyes too. This is while occasionally glancing down to make sure I'm centered on my subject.
This camcorder allows you to view your recordings on your TV as well as on the camcorder itself. The minimum connection you need on your TV is a composite video cable. One plug is for sound (typically red or white), the other one for video (typically yellow). Instead of using a composite video connection, the camcorder also supports S-video (a round connector) connections, but you have to buy a separate cord for that. Unlike more expensive models, this model doesn't allow you to record mpeg videos for your computer, you cannot take video snapshots, and you use tapes instead of digital storage. This doesn't matter at all for me. For this functionality, you'll have to pay as much as $300 or $400 more. I bought a TV card for my computer for $50, which takes both composite and S-Video connections. I can also take snapshot pictures from the video and put them on my computer. If I upgrade my soundcard to full duplex, I can record mpeg videos that would appear on my computer. The way I see it, there was no need for me to pay more for these features.
This camera also features a 10X zoom, which I use a lot and find very handy. It's able to take shots at night or in very little light. I found that useful while we were in the hospital with the baby. At night, I would record her while she was sleeping and while the lights were dim. You can also create many different video effects with this camcorder. There is a fader, which allows you to do smoother transitions between scenes. The camcorder also has an auto focus feature. This is standard, but it’s useful nonetheless.
The battery is an InfoLithium battery that lasts for about 170 minutes which is almost 3 hours. This is more than enough for me right now, but if we go to an amusement park, that battery lifespan will come in very handy.
The picture quality is better than I expected from such a cheap camcorder and the sound is pretty good as well. No complaints here.
I cannot comment on the durability because I just bought this a month ago. One thing I can say is that most Sony products I own last at least 10 years.
Conclusion
I have a history of making dumb purchases on short notice, especially when they're done impulsively. However, I can say that this is one of the best buys I made in years. I look forward to the years to come as I capture my daughter's most precious moments so I can relive them again and again.
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