Benchmarks

This month:

• Sony CCD TR930 Hi8 Camcorder
• Sharp VL-E720 8mm Camcorder
• AKG Acoustics CK 69-ULS Condenser Shotgun Microphone
• Fast DV Master FireWire Audio/Video Capture Card
• DPS Spark Direct DV Editing System

CCD-TR930 Hi8 Camcorder
($1099)
Sony Electronics
One Sony Drive
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
(800) 222-7669
http://www.sel.sony.com

A common complaint among first-time camcorder shoppers is that it's difficult to sift through all of the marketing hype and settle on those few features that are truly essential for making good home movies. In the race to ensure that you'll spend your hard-earned dollars on their gear and not someone else's, manufacturers play up all of their latest, greatest new features while neglecting to mention the lack of basic but important features--features such as manual focus or exposure control, microphone and headphone jacks and good, solid video and audio performance.

One of the latest in a long line of Hi8 camcorder offerings from Sony is the CCD TR930, a mid-priced model with a simple, no-nonsense approach to camcorder design. Though it isn't without its special features--such as optional Laser Link cable-free playback, Sony's infoLithium battery system, a handful of picture effects and a color viewfinder that turns itself off when not in use--its key advantage lies in its ability to deliver the basic necessities of quality video production.

The CCD TR930 looks very similar to many of Sony's earlier compact Hi8 camcorders. With the right hand inserted into the hand strap, the forefinger controls a variable-speed zoom rocker, while the thumb has easy access to the record/pause button. Most other controls--including manual focus, Steady Shot electronic image stabilization, picture effects, exposure and program AE--are found on the left side of the unit, along with an LCD readout showing tape remaining, counter numbers, battery power and recording speed (SP or LP).

The focus control for the TR930's 15:1 optical/30:1 digital zoom lens is a small wheel on the left-hand side of the camera body; turning this wheel operates the lens's inner-focus system. Like most camcorders with color viewfinders, the TR930 is sometimes difficult to focus, especially at wide-angle settings, due to the somewhat low resolution of the tiny LCD monitor. The colors and brightness of the viewfinder, however, are better than most.

Another small wheel on the back of the camcorder controls picture effect, exposure and program autoexposure. To set the exposure, for example, you push the exposure button, then turn the wheel to open or close the iris. This feature--manual iris control--is one of those basic necessities of good video production that we spoke of earlier. All too often, manufacturers leave off the manual controls and try to hide behind some of the flashier features. Three other essential features also present on the TR930 are the microphone input, headphone output and Control-L port. These provide the audio-input, audio-monitoring and edit-control capabilities that many serious hobbyists and prosumers have come to expect in a camcorder.

Not present, however, is any form of time code. If you have an editing system that can add time code onto a Hi8 tape, then this isn't much of a drawback. However, if you plan to use your Hi8 camcorder as a source deck for editing, this could present some accuracy problems.

Other essential features of the TR930 include the Steady Shot electronic image-stabilization system, the edit-search controls and the built-in lens cover (which only exposes the delicate outer lens when you put the unit into camera mode).

When you turn on the TR930 and put it up to your eye for the first time, you'll notice something different from most other camcorders: the color LCD viewfinder only turns on when you're looking at it. Pull it away from your eye, and it immediately shuts itself off to conserve energy.

To help you keep track of how much battery power you have left, the TR930 makes use of Sony's infoLithium battery system, which provides a readout in the viewfinder showing how much time you have left on your battery. The battery itself is a lithium-ion model that provides over two hours shooting time under normal conditions.

An optional feature of the TR930 is the Laser Link system, which provides cable-free playback from the camcorder to a VCR or television. Here's how it works: point the front of the camcorder at the optional cordless IR receiver, make sure your TV is in VCR mode, push the Laser Link button on the camcorder, then hit the play button. The camcorder transmits the audio and video signals across the room via infrared pulses to the receiver, which then displays them on the TV screen.