Sony Handycam® DCR-DVD100 Camcorder

Pros: Small size -- uses DVDs (more portable) -- SteadyShot -- NightShot -- self diagnostic
Cons: Expensive media -- not durable -- limited warranty is JUST THAT -- expensive to repair

I received this as a requested gift around my daughter's first birthday. I thought it would be great to be able to make a DVD and then pop it in the DVD player and see the results. An added bonus was that I could easily make copies for friends and ...

Pros: Great functions, very easy to use
Cons: Flash not included, but can be purchased

I had wanted this camera for a long time, so I finally sent in my order to 1-888-Camcorders. I needed it in time for Christmas, however, and they called the 14th saying it wouldn't be able to come in, so I went to Best Buy and purchased it for $900.00 ...

Pros: Umm...it's shiny
Cons: multiple problems, even when it is working properly.

Camera operates ok so far, but it stalls while recording, so I miss a second or so at a time seemingly while it "writes" to the disc. Software is horrible, and the file formats sony chose is right up there with betamax, no one else uses them, so you are stuck with the bundle. I can't even copy, let alone edit, in under three hours. JUST DON'T BUY IT. The media must be too touchy for portable use.

Pros: None
Cons: I basically gave $800 to Sony for nothing.

I loved this camcorder when I first got it. I have always bought Sony but this is the second Sony product that has me disappointed. After only filming 4 dvds, it stopped working properly. The end all was when I couldn't eject the disk! It doesn't just have a button to pop out the disk. You push a button then wait while it "processes" your request, then it will eject. One day it decided not to eject it. So, I sent the product back to the store....back to Sony...no luck. Sony wanted to charge $500 to fix it! No way. So, I lost all the video I took on that disk and I'm back to using my old camcorder and recording on tapes. And, they work fine. No more Sony products for me!

Pros: Small size is good, going straight from camcorder to TV is easy.
Cons: The software that came with it is not easy to me.

I found the camera pretty easy to use. The kids love watching themselves on TV, we just record and pop the disc in the playstation. The software that came with it is not that easy for me to use. I thought I would do more copying of dvds to send to grandma, but haven't done that. I would buy this again. I wouldn't buy one of the fancier models because I find I don't use the "bells and whistles." I just want videos of the kids.