Sony CCD-TRV138 Hi-8 Analog Camcorder

Pros: It works O.K....when it works!!
Cons: Poor camera, Poor customer service

I have never written a review for anything, but I am very upset with Sony right now. I am trying to make myself feel better! I am on my second Sony video camera. My first Sony video camera worked fine for 3 years and then I couldn't get the door to ...

Pros: Neat lights.
Cons: Completely unreliable with absolutely no help from Sony.

This is by far the most disappointing piece of eletronica I have ever purchased. I received the STR-DE935 in December of 1999. Five months later, the amp went out. After a month in the local service center, it was repaired and returned with a warning...

Pros: 10/10 when this works
Cons: -10 when not working (NO-MORE-SONY-AFTER-THIS-AND-ROOTKITS-THAT-COST-ME-$$$-TO-REMOVE)

I basically am going to agree with the Lemon review. It just is not stable but when it does work, its great. Way more than enough connections on the back and great menu features just the thing will not function properly. I got this when it was first ...

Pros: Great Price, Lightweight
Cons: No steady-shot feature, battery does not hold charge for long.

I bought this camcorder to replace an older Sony camcorder that I have had for 5 years that stopped working. It was going to cost me just as much money to buy a new one as to have the old one repaired. I bought this camera yesterday @ Best Buy. It is ...

Pros: Extremely versatile. Great sound. Everything you need in a receiver.
Cons: Questions about Sony's reliability and service.

We received this receiver almost 4 years ago as a replacement for the STR-DE925(?) that stopped working. The original was under warranty and after 2 nightmare months, Sony gave us the STR-DE935 as a replacement. In the end, we got lucky. This is a...

Pros: Handles many components; great sound quality; full-featured two-way remote.
Cons: Some of the sound field options produce disappointing results.

In contrast to Rangernwfl, I have had a great experience with the Sony STR-DE935. I bought this unit back in September of 1999, and it has served me faithfully under somewhat heavy use over the course of the past two years. It is the best receiver I...

Pros: Color fold-out screen, optical zoom, price, compatibility with old Video8/Hi-8 tapes.
Cons: For me: Useless digital zoom extreme, lack of S-Video output. For others: Lack of stabilization?

The Sony CCD-TRV138 is probably one of the least expensive camcorders on the market today. I purchased mine in February of 2005 at Wal-Mart for under $250. But there's a reason it comes at such a price. It's an analog camcorder, with no digital ...

Pros: Versatile; 110 Watts power output.
Cons: Remote Control

Oh the joys of satellite television (except when a thunderstorms creep in the area) is listening to programs through a solid A/V (Audio/Visual) stereo receiver. When I got divorced, the ex-wife got my NAD setup (pre-amp, tuner, amplifier, Denon ...

Pros: Ease of Use, Inexpensive, Great Optical Zoom
Cons: lack of s-video out for some situations

My TRV128 had a recent accident (I dropped it about 4-feet) and so I needed another camera. Thought I would try the miniDV format - but quickly returned it as I just did not like the way some frames would pixelize. I thought about the Digital8 format - ...

Pros: Many Surround Sound fields, DD and DTS 5.1 decoder Built in, Nice remote, Power output
Cons: Model before Component video hookups

This was my third Sony receiver and my first with DTS - I have been very happy with it. The only drawback is that it is a model before component hookups became popular - but that's not a complaint. I haven't missed them at all. The optical audio and...

Pros: A lot of nice features, sound quality is excellent
Cons: Unreliable, poor service support.

I have had my unit for about 5 years and have numerous problems with overheating. I've taken it into service a couple times and it works for awhile and then quits again.
This is probably the worst electronics product I have ever bought and for the price, you would expect better from Sony.
When it works, it sounds great....but it is just not a reliable product and you would be better off trying another company.

Pros: It's a Sony
Cons: To be continued

I was too harsh on Sony's TRV 138. The problem was in the old H--8 tapes. Especially the 120-minute tapes. With a life expectancy of 12-15 years, tapes do not hold up very good to replay 10 years later. Although the 60-minute tapes fared better; They played longer before breaking.
When I took the cassette apart and tried to unroll the tape from the spool by hand, they still broke. Patches of mildew could be seen on the roll. The edges appeared worn along the edges. Even after wiping the mildew off and putting it in the freezer overnight to remove moisture. The tape still broke when manually unrolling it. Must think of a more gentle unrolling procedure. Will experiment more.

Since I have the new TRV, I think I'll just buy new tape and start using it. It doesn't have a "S-Video" output. I think Sony makes a more expensive Hi-8 that does.

Still, when buying Hi-8, buyer beware. That goes for all VideoCams that use tape. Unless you burn them to disc soon after filling up a tape. You'll save on the cost of constantly buying tape also.