Sony Handycam DCR-DVD200 Camcorder

Pros: Films directly onto DVD; NightShot; 180 degree color LCD; playback with sound.
Cons: Delay between stopping and restarting, software not Mac compatible.

Santa was very good to me, I asked for a new camcorder for Christmas, and I received the Sony DCR-DVD200 Digital Video Camera Recorder. I must have been very good. (For update on class action lawsuit, please scroll down to "update.") ...

Pros: DVD Format Recording, Light-Weight, Easy To Use
Cons: Expensive & Hard To Find Media, Lack of Software Support

Being the owner/user of an analog camcorder for a number of years, I was very happy when Sony introduced the DCR-DVD200 digital camcorder. I've been using this digital camcorder for about a month now, and here's what I think ; The PRO's : What a ...

Pros: Latest technology, many features,menus well thought out, relatively easy learning curve. HIGH QUALITY VIDEO!!!
Cons: Supplied battery doesn't cut it, Software...(Must read the manual). 1.0 stillpics decent. Discs = expensive.

I had all but decided on the DCRTRV33, but when I saw them both in person, I couldn't resist the DVD200. The drawback is 30 min. discs, but you can record 60 min. in standard mode, which still looks better than analog. (MiniDV's are good for 80 min.) You ...

Pros: Direct to DVD writing is much more convenient than writing to tape.
Cons: Expensive sony media.

I got a DVD200, and now have a replacement (DVD201), and like them both a lot. However, I've found that both of these may have problems with off-brand media.

The DVD200 initially worked with off-brand media just fine, but I did find intermittent problems writing DVD's using the Imagemixer software from my PC.

The replacement DVD201 is able to write DVD's using the Imagemixer software and the non-Sony media (and the Sony media, for that matter). But while it appears to write to non-Sony media in camcorder mode, the disks are not readable. Sony disks are readable.

So while it might be a bad batch of media, just be aware that you might have to use Sony media.

Other than that, this is an amazing product, and I'm glad I have it. The DVD201 is smaller than the DVD200, and really does work quite nicely. I'd buy it again.

Pros: compactness, clarity of sound and picture.user friendly software
Cons: Cannot add or edit sound on the corder itself

I must confess I'm not a techei at all but one thing is for sure---this product is the best buy of my life. The clarity of sound and the video quality is incredible. It has given me an uninterrupted one year of pleasure !I was waiting for camcorders in this format and it was worth it. The sheer compactness and elegance is unbelievable.The software supplied is also very user friendly and you can edit delete and generally do anything in the VR mode.A good powerful PC at home helps.What I hate about this product? The fact that within a short time everyone would be owning one and my exclusivity would be gone.