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Sony Handycam DCR-TRV18 Mini DV CamcorderSony introduces its new Mini DV Handycam camcorder incorporating Carl Zeiss optics, USB streaming and the MPEG Movie EX feature - the...
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Sony introduces its new Mini DV Handycam camcorder incorporating Carl Zeiss optics, USB streaming and the MPEG Movie EX feature - the DCR-TRV18. The camcorder will record for up to 12 hours or playback for up to 13 hours (with LCD screen off) on a single charge with the optional NP-QM91 battery. The Super NightShot function allows you to capture monochrome video even when shooting in total darkness (0 lux) using the built-in infrared system up to ten feet away. The Super NightShot mode automatically adjusts the shutter speed to increase picture brightness and clarity. With Color Slow Shutter, full-color video is recorded in dimly lit places, enabling users to capture video of sleeping babies and nocturnal animals in color. Sharing special moments with family and friends across the world is easy, with the incorporation of USB (Universal Serial Bus) Streaming into this Digital Handycam camcorder. USB Streaming allows users to stream live and recorded video to the Internet with their PCs using Microsoft Windo...
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8 Reviews from Shopping.com
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Best at it's price point - but it annoys me regularly.
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Pros: Great picture quality/features
Cons: Ergonomics lack - poor industrial design
The Bottom Line:
Good camera, great price, nice features and quality. Poor ergonomics. You'll like this camera if it's your first.
I love this camera.
It's easy to use, it has fantastic picture quality, and it's small and light. The camera's small size allows me to bolt it to the top of my bike helmet for downhill rides.
It also plugs in effortlessly to my Mac and Windows box using Final Cut Pro and Avid Express DV. I have easy transfer of video and images, and I have full camera control through the DV port.
I do not, however, have DV throughput for using the camera as a pass-through to my TV (used primarily for previewing my FCP comps on my NTSC TV).
Also, this camera has some very annoying drawbacks:
- It bottom-loads tapes. This makes it almost impossible to load tapes if the camera is on a tripod.
- The power switch is also a settings switch located in a hard-to-see spot on the right side of the camera. I often switch the camera to "VCR" mode accidentally when trying to turn it off.
- The memory stick option is nice, but a bit pointless in that the still images that it captures are 640x480. Images of this size are completely useless as they do not even meet the 720x480 size requirement of DV!
- The camera focuses poorly in low light conditions.
Overall, it's a great camera for my uses. Outdoors with lots of light. If I were to do more professional DV video, I'd probably purchase a nicer camera in the $1500-2000 range.
Enjoy!
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