Sony Handycam DCR-TRV27 Mini DV Camcorder

Pros: Useful, balanced feature set for high end videography and presentation, image quality, practical size
Cons: Low light performance, design of certain controls, mediocre software package

Having long established itself as the de facto standard of quality in the consumer electronics world, Sony is always the one to beat. Other manufacturers have made strides and occasionally surpass Sony in appeal in one product or another but rarely does...

Pros: Picture quality, features, inputs, resolution, looks
Cons: Pricey, low light issues

The Sony DCR-TRV27 is a MiniDV digital camcorder that features 1-Megapixel CCD good for up to 1152x864 still resolution and a large 3.5” LCD screen.

MiniDV FORMAT

The camcorder uses MiniDV format tape (recording...

Pros: High res CCD, lots of features, a great upgrade from TRV17 (at the same price)
Cons: Low res LCD screen, dark/washed out indoor footage

The beloved DCR-TRV17 has a large fan base. There are forums and sites dedicated to JUST THIS CAMERA! But even those forums are not ammune to the inevitable upgrade Sony has bestowed upon them.

The Sony DCR-TRV27 (and it's slightly lesser...

Pros: Has many innovative features that are effective and easy to use.
Cons: Zooms hard to control. Uses proprietary Sony memory stick.

I delved into the digital video camera world with a rocky start, with a couple of JVC cameras that were loaded with features that demoed well in the store, but weren't useful in practice. Both these cameras malfunctioned quickly and I had to return them....

Pros: Features
Cons: Reliability, Support

Update several years later (4/5/2005): This Camcorder has been trouble free and the features are still fairly cutting edge. As long as one doesn't need to deal with support, this is a fairly good choice. Changing review from 1 to 3 stars... ...

Pros: large 3.5" display, crisp video, solid optics(Zeiss lens)
Cons: Power management, high price. Proprietary memory stick formats

Overall this is an excellent camcorder with great features. That said, the market is crowded with excellent cameras with great features. It is difficult to argue that the Sony is indeed head and shoulders above any of the other cameras on the market....

Pros: huge LCD, very good image quality
Cons: microphone, 10X optical (though that's standard for MiniDV camcorders today)

It usually helps me to know something about a reviewer's frame of reference when considering his/her thoughts about a given product; therefore, I offer the following:
- This is my first camcorder (though I have dabbled with other people's Hi8...

Pros: Crystal video/audio...for as long as it worked Lots of features
Cons: Paying for still photo/memory stick when not needed Serious problems a week after delivery

I purchased this as a replacement for an older, troublesome Sony Hi-8 camcorder. I had wanted to start trying my hand at video editing on the PC, and also transferring our old Hi-8 tapes to DVD, the thought being I'd first transfer them to Mini DV on...

Pros: Great picture, good sound, perfect size, mini-dv format
Cons: Bottom-loading tape, some low-light issues

I purchased my Sony DCR-TRV27 in August of 2002 from an online vendor. I had researched millions of other mini-DV camcorders online and finally came to the decision of the TRV27. Some of its features include a microphone input, super night shot, steady ...

Pros: 3.5" LCD, compact size, light weight, 1 Mega Pixel for Still photo
Cons: Price, Limited optical zoom, Battery exhausts fast if you use LCD

The camcorder has a 1 Mega Pixel for digital photos.
The TRV27 has a better still picture quality rating and the same 530 line resolution that the 30 series has.

Picture quality in such situations is rather poor in low light situations...

Pros: Great video, big screen, small size
Cons: $, only 10x optical zoom

My two older camcorders are Sony Hi-8 (see other reviews). I got to use the Sony Digital 8 camcorders for my work (see other reviews) and was impressed with the digital editing process. I wanted a smaller form factor though, so I made the move to a...

Pros: Big screen, quiet operation, easy menus, light weight.
Cons: Start/Stop button position, old fashioned look.

I researched miniDV camcorders for months, and fell in love with the Canon ZR series. I intended to buy the ZR40, because I was not interested in Bells and Whistles, but I ended up with a ZR45. That was returned the next day, see my review.

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Pros: Great picture quality, easy control, large LCD, color viewfinder, long life battery
Cons: Still a little bit heavy, only 10x zoom, high price, not-so-good low light performence

I have owned this camcorder for a year and I felt very satisfied with it. Very solid quality for both video image and static image. I credit this to the Carl Zeiss Lens, which is famouse for the quality. Big LCD screen makes you more confortable in capt ...

Pros: Good resolution and lcd screen size for the price.
Cons: Poor indoor medium to low light performance. Zoom too touchy, Slow focus

I spent close to 6 months looking, I started last year and then saw this years models come out and decided it was worth the wait for the features and price break of this years models. I narrowed my choices down to 2, the trv-27 and Panasonic dv-702. I...

Pros: Compact Size, Comfortable in hand, Full Size LCD
Cons: Price on Memory Stick

Sony has continued to make great products. I decided to buy the Sony because I knew the camera would be the top notch quality camera I was looking for in price and quality. The compact size and all the options make this camera very convenient to use and...