Digital 8 Camcorders Digital8Camcorders.com is your one-stop source for information about digital 8 camcorders.

1. 

   Christopher Callahan
   May 19th, 2010 - 09:57

   I purchased this camcorder for interviews and life’s fun quirky moments. I am not a camera and film guy, but this camcorder was easy to learn and it has great picture quality. After using it for a few hours I had most of it figured out.

   Some Tips:

   -you will need a better battery if you plan on using this camera for longer periods of time. The sony web site has plenty of batteries and has the camera accessory compatibility guide so you don’t buy the wrong things.

   -the software bundled with this camera is a throw away. If you want to edit and create great family video you will want to go with better software. There are so many software titles. You may want to research a few, to tailor to you editing needs.

   -many people complain about the included memory stick. They are right it’s crap you will need at least 32mb and above to take advantage of the still camera capability of this camera.

   -this camera as with any camera functions best with a clean lens. Be sure to cover your lens at all times when not in use. And clean it with the recommended lens cloth.

   -the camera dose not come with a protective bag you will need to get one. The bag you get should reflect what you will use this camera for. If your just going to shoot vacation and family video you will need a lighter bag. If you take it hiking and mountain climbing you will need a more heavy duty bag. Make sure to take note of the camera’s width, height, and depth to make sure you get the right sized bag.

   -always use the included neck strap when ever possible. It will prevent the camera from falling on the ground and breaking should you happen to slip.

   -as with all electronics keep this away from liquids they don’t mix well.

   some features:

   -this camcorder has a 2.5inch lcd screen. for some bigger is better, if you want bigger go with the TRV-80 which has a 3.5inch lcd screen.

   -this camera comes with video out ports, a headphone jack for private listening. It also features an s-video port for connecting to newer TV’s and VCR/DVD players (s-video provides better viewing quality) You will have to buy an s-video cable.It comes with the standard USB port and wire. It also has a firewire port (you will have to buy the firewire separate).
   It has a 10x zoom, touch screen display (which I think is neat).It has a 2mp digital still camera function as well. So you can take digital still pictures.

   I’m sure i’m missing some features. Read some other reviews to get some more professional views.

   4 Stars

   Hope you enjoy your new camcorder.
   Rating: 4 / 5
2. 

   Poncho De La Mancha
   May 19th, 2010 - 12:42

   I searched and searched for the best quality camcorder for the best price. If you find a good deal on it, this is it. Great quality, easy to use, great manual controls, as well as an easy to use touch screen (I was unsure about the touch screen for a while until I bought it, and it’s really not too bad if you don’t mind having to deal with using the stylus instead of just pushing a button). It is bigger than the newer camcorders, but that can be a good thing – more stability, less shaking. One thing about it that I searched for but rarely found in other camcorders is that you can input from a tv or vcr (with the proper outputs) to record tv and old vhs onto dv tape, then you can use a firewire (or usb) to put it onto your computer and burn it onto dvd. It is kind of a hassle to do, and it takes forever if you use the highest quality on your computer, but it’s worth it to preserve your old tapes. So here’s all the good things this camera has:

   intelligent shoe
   
   manual focus ring
   
   manual exposure (touch screen)
   
   widescreen recording
   
   12 and 16 bit sound recording (sounds great, but may need an external mic for more professional audio)
   
   AV in (one mini input, need to find a cord like that)
   
   mic in (mini)
   
   headphones out(mini)
   
   touch sensitive zoom (great for slow zooming)
   
   lots of settings for different lighting
   
   backlight control
   
   nighttime shooting (green, but great distance and detail)
   
   cool effects
   
   great quality video
   
   Rating: 5 / 5
3. 

   Jose Hernandez
   May 19th, 2010 - 14:58

   I have had this Camera for over a year now and found it to be reliable and its pictures of high quality. The Steady shot is rock solid and only jitters when you attempt >20 Zoom. The 120 zoom is grainy so I hardly use it. The memory stick for mpeg and still photos is very handy. The 2 megapixel resolution on the still photos is sufficient for computer display and small photo prints. It makes it convenient not to have to carry a second digital photo camera. I have not tried the Firewire link yet but the USB for memory stick operations works well.

   Overall I am happy with the camera and recommend it for purchase.
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. 

   Anonymous
   May 19th, 2010 - 16:58

   This is my fourth camcorder, and first digital camcorder. I bought it to record my child’s soccer games to make a DVD to send to college coaches. It recorded steady sharp video in all lighting conditions, including heavy overcast, light fog, and night games under stadium lights. I also bought the remote controll tripod, which makes it much easier to start/stop recording and adjust the zoom (the remote control zoom buttons have the correct sensitivity, as opposed to the camera zoom control as noted in a review below). The only problem I had that caused the loss of a few minutes of video was that the camcorder started displaying “Cleaning Tape”. I packed the tape (fast forward to the end and rewound) and recorded over the bad section. I now pack the tape again whenever I insert a new one in the camcorder
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. 

   Carlos B. Mangrobang
   May 19th, 2010 - 17:33

   Spend a lot, get a lot more. Although it was a tough choice to spend the money when I purchased my TRV70, I have no regrets. My camera is DA BEST!. After I figured out the Still Picture recording is best taken when not recording video simultaneously, I never looked back. There are so many features to mention but I don’t use. The key things to consider:
   - Bigger lens, means better image
   - Good size CCD is a treasure; otherwise 3 CCD is next option
   - Manual focus override; in photography, this is VERY important
   - Backlight control; it’s a great override in low light conditions like opening up your camera aperature
   - Manual disable of on-board flash; continue taking pictures when flash is not allowed
   - Touch screen LCD is sweet, don’t listen to button fanatics
   - Steady Shot works…. when camera is light, more chances of jarring movements, so here its really important.
   - Memory stick convenience … buy larger capacity, more over time.
   - Battery Status; Info-lithium means no guessing game. By several small batteries, charge them, and carry them a-l-a Rambo.
   - Don’t install Imagemixer software. Instead, use Sony’s Screenblast Movie Studio 3.0. You’ll be happier.
   - Don’t skimp on footage. Take lots of footage. It’s easier to edit, than to say… I don’t have enough!

   It’s unfortunate, Sony is discontinuing the product in 2004. It’s a great product! I’m ready to buy a second one so I can get the same footage from another vantage point. Silly, two people using different cameras.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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