Sony Mini DV Camcorder Review: DCR-TRV80 (page 2)
Electronic Extras
The TRV80 is capable of shooting in a true (electronic) 16:9 widescreen mode, which is great if you plan to edit and burn widescreen DVDs. Rather than just cropping off the top and bottom of the image, the TRV80 actually widens the shooting angle (from an average 34-degrees to a wide 42-degrees) for a cinematic look and feel.
Like other recent Sony cams, the TRV80 can create time-lapse and stop motion recordings. Time-lapse sets the camcorder to automatically record at predefined intervals, perfect for recording a flower blooming, but the 1-frame per minute minimum is too slow a frame rate for clouds passing overhead. The stop-motion mode does frame-by-frame recording, which is ideal for achieving Gumby-and-Pokey-style animations.
The camera has two night shot modes. The slow shutter (1/4 second) mode was useful during the recent lunar eclipse, but we can't think of many other applications. Sony's Super Night Shot mode uses a trio of IR lamps for shooting in pitch-black conditions. The button for this feature is conveniently located on the right side of the camera so you don't have to look for it buried in menus when shooting in the dark.
Where're the Buttons?
The TRV80 does an excellent job as a digital still camera and camcorder. The price is a little steep, and with the price and size of 2-megapixel digital cameras dropping relatively quickly, you might ask if it is worth the extra price to have both devices in one. Even thought the TRV80 comes with plenty of accessories, it would be preferred if the networking or Bluetooth adapters were included in the box, at least until Bluetooth becomes more of a standard among shipping computers. Advanced shooters will wonder where all the manual buttons and controls are, but beginners will marvel at how easy it is to use the large touch panel LCD. The TRV80 is a feature-rich camcorder for folks looking for an all in one imaging solution.
TECH SPECS
Format: Mini DV
Lens: fl=4.5mm to 45mm, f/1.8, 10:1 optical zoom, 37mm filter diameter
Image Sensor: 1/3.6-inch (5mm) CCD
Gross Pixels: 2.11 million pixels
Video Effective: 1.08 million pixels
Viewfinder: color
LCD Viewscreen: 3.5-inch (8.8cm) color (184k pixels)
Focus: auto, manual
Image Stabilization: electronic
Maximum Shutter Speed: auto only
Iris Control: no
Exposure: auto, presets
White Balance: auto
Audio: 16-bit 48kHz
Microphone Input: 1/8-inch stereo mini
Headphone Output: 1/8-inch stereo mini
Inputs: FireWire, S-video, composite
Outputs: FireWire, S-video, composite
Edit Interface: FireWire, LANC
Other Features: stills (1,600 x 1,200), MPEG-4 movies, 8MB Memory Stick, Super NightShot (w/ IR lamps), USB streaming, Bluetooth networking
Dimensions (w x h x d): 73 x 93 x 169 mm (3 x 3 1/2 x 6 5/8 in.)
Weight: 1 lb. 9 oz. (720g) (sans tape and battery)
STRENGTHS
- Roomy 3.5-inch LCD
- Ease of Use
- Sharp, vivid digital stills
WEAKNESSES
- Lack of manual controls and buttons
- Bottom-loading tape transport
SUMMARY
The TRV80 is a feature-rich camcorder for folks looking for an all in one imaging solution.
