Sony CCD-TRV58 Hi8 Camcorder With 2.5" LCD ? But Where Is Image Stabilizer?

Author's Rating:

Pros: Picture, features, battery, easy to use, price, looks

Cons: No image stabilizer

The Bottom Line: 
The TRV58 is an excellent value for those on the tight budget. For less than $350 you get hi-band analog camcorder with a 2.5” LCD...

Author's Review
Remember the not-so-long-ago times when $300-350 would buy you only low-band 8mm/VHS-C camcorder with no LCD? As digital camcorders fell in price, so did the hi-band models, as demonstrated by Sony’s Hi8 model line.

The Sony DCR-TRV58 is a Hi8 camcorder with a 2.5” LCD, with picture quality that approaches some digital models. It has no digital image stabilizer, however, which is its main difference from the higher-priced TRV68.

If your budget is limited, so you can afford to spend only $300-350 for a camcorder, the TRV58 (or TRV68) is a great choice. Let’s see why...

Hi8

The camcorder uses Hi8 format, tapes of which are smaller than VHS-C, but larger in size than digital MiniDV. The camcorder can also use cheap 8mm tapes (both 8mm and Hi8 tapes look the same and have the same size). However, Hi8 provides better resolution than 8mm (400 lines vs 240).

One tape can hold up to 150 minutes in the standard SP mode, which increases in LP mode to up to 300 minutes (with some loss in picture quality). You cannot record in Hi8 in LP mode, the recording will be made in 8mm mode. Hi8 camcorders store sound in digital format, but picture is stored in analog format at maximum horizontal resolution of about 400 lines (comparable to Super VHS and S-VHS-C).

VHS, VHS-C and 8mm format store video at 240 lines of resolution. And, unlike VHS and S-VHS, which store sound in analog form, the sound in both Hi8 and 8mm is digital. The 120-minute Hi8 tape costs around $4-5, with 8mm 120-minute tapes costing less than $2.

Picture Quality

The picture quality is very good and comparable to some cheap digital camcorders (which have deficiencies in optics, CCD and electronics that prevent them from being better than good analog models). The use of LP speed decreases picture quality (and the recording will be in 8mm mode instead of Hi8) and does not make much sense, since the tapes are quite cheap at $4-5 for 2 hours (SP mode).

Although the Hi8 is analog format, which produces some video noise, often the CCD, optics and electronics of the camcorder limit the picture quality. Keep in mind that cheap digital camcorders often don’t use all 500 lines of resolution advertised. The sound is Hi-Fi mono, recorded in digital form.

Zoom

This model has impressive 20x optical zoom, with variable zoom speed and impressive digital 460x zoom. You can set maximum zoom level through a menu to 20x (optical only), 40x (digital1) and 460x (digital2). Keep in mind that this model has no image stabilizer, so you should use low magnification levels, hold the camcorder stead and possibly use a tripod to avoid unwanted picture shake.

No Image Stabilizer

Once again, the TRV58 has no image stabilizer. Think twice, maybe you can afford to spend extra $50 and get TRV68, which has a stabilizer. The review of TRV68 can be found at http://dkozin.epinions.com/content_29119909508

Built-in Video Light

The camcorder has a built-in video light with three settings: on, off and auto (turns on automatically when the conditions require it). It also tends to drain battery quickly when used.

Manual Control

In addition to automatic focus and exposure, you have manual control over both. The exposure can be adjusted manually in dark scenes to avoid video noise and the focus can be controlled by the focus ring.

LCD

In addition to a B&W viewfinder, the TRV58 has a 2.5” color LCD, which is easy to view in sunlight. The camcorder uses more energy when you use the LCD, so if you plan to shoot for a long time with one battery, you will need an optional battery of higher capacity or you can close the LCD and use the viewfinder.

Special Effects

There are 5 fader modes, 6 program AE, 8 picture effects and 16:9 widescreen recording (2 modes). You can shoot in total darkness using IR-recording capability called NightShot. The TRV58 also has Control-L (LANC) editing interface, titler.

There is edit search and end search. The camcorder has mono A/V out, which includes S-Video out.

Battery

Supplied is the standard InfoLithium F330 battery, which can be used for different periods of time, depending on LCD and light use (usually about one hour). You can get batteries of larger capacity if you need more time. You can see the remaining time on the screen, and it is very accurate.

Bottom Line

The TRV58 is an excellent value for those on the tight budget. For less than $350 you get hi-band analog camcorder with a 2.5” LCD and a host of useful features. But if you can afford to spend $50 more, TRV68 with its image stabilizer is a better solution.