The TRV900 has an external microphone input and an adjustable audio input level, a feature that's seldom found on consumer-level camcorders. The input level control adjusts both stereo channels together. The external mike input is a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack. This helps to keep the camcorder small; prosumers who want the ability to attach two high quality microphones with XLR connectors can do so with an adapter.

For prosumer and professional work, it is recommended always to record color bars on the beginning of your tapes. Sony made it easy to do with the TRV900. The built-in color bar feature is not hidden, requiring some secret button pushing combination to access (as it was on Sony's earlier 3-chip DV camcorder, the DCR-VX1000). Instead, we just went to the menu and activated the color bars. They stayed on until we turned them off.

The TRV900 will also work as a recorder, accepting input from other video sources and performing insert edits. The insert edits we made were easy to setup and came out glitch free. The unit also has a LANC edit control jack so that it can be used with edit controllers.

The TRV900 is one of the best Mini DV camcorders available on the market today. With full manual controls and outstanding image quality, it is an excellent choice for anyone interested in producing prosumer or professional video.

--JM

Format: Mini DV
Lens: 12:1 optical zoom, 48:1 digital zoom, 4.3-51.6mm, variable speed power zoom, f/1.6, 52mm filter diameter
Image sensor: Three º-inch CCDs, 380,000 pixels each
Viewfinder: 3.5-inch color LCD viewscreen, color LCD viewfinder
Focus: Auto, manual
Maximum shutter speed: 1/10,000 of a second
Exposure: Manual, Auto, five program AE modes, back light compensation
White balance: Auto, manual, indoor and outdoor presets
Picture effects: Slim, Stretch, Solarization, Monotone, Sepia, Negative Art
Audio: 12-bit (4 tracks) or 16-bit (2 tracks)
Inputs: DV (IEEE 1394), external microphone
Outputs: DV (IEEE 1394), headphones, S-video, 1/8-inch A/V (composite video, stereo audio)
Edit interface: Control-L (LANC)
Other features: Hot shoe accessory light mount (light not included), digital still photo mode, still save to floppy drive (included), monaural playback speaker, optical image stabilization, color bar generator, variable microphone levels, insert editing
Dimensions: 3.75 (width) x 4.13 (height) x 7.63 (length)
Weight (sans tape and battery): 1.93 pounds

Video performance (approx.)
Horizontal resolution (camera): 500 lines
Horizontal resolution (playback): 500 lines

Performance times
Pause to record:1/3 second

Power up to record:5 seconds

Fast-forward/Rewind (30 minute tape):1 minutes, 20 seconds

• Three CCDs
• Full manual controls
• Color bars
• Adjustable microphone levels
• Microphone and headphone jacks

• Some controls located behind LCD viewscreen
• No independent level control of stereo channels
• No XLR inputs for microphones

An excellent Mini DV camcorder choice for prosumers and low-end professional videographers.

Sony DCR-TRV900 Mini DV Camcorder
($2,699)
Sony Electronics
One Sony Drive
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
(800) 222-7669
www.sel.sony.com