Rating: 
Summary: Great Camcorder
Review: Loved the convenience of Direct DVD-R/RW conversion. It stores 60 minutes of great video quality even in LP Format. Also, It gives very good night shots as well. It can store thousands of 1MP stills right on DVD. It came with ImageMixer Software. Just Install the Drivers and software on PC. It detected the Camcorder via USB Port and stored the Videos in MPEG format on computer. Visual Index feature to view stills and videos from camcorder/TV works great.Cons: It comes with just 1 hr battery. And the 3 inch DVD-R/RW are still costly.
Rating: 
Summary: Tech Support/Winders XP
Review: Most (if not all) the other reviews discuss the pros and cons of the camera. I'll quckly agree with them, and get it over: Great camera, excellent quality movies, needs a bigger battery (but then, doesn't EVERYTHING?). Love the camera's features. I use a Gateway laptop, with Winders XP Pro (SP2). I had a problem when following the instructions in the manual: everytime I loaded the drivers, ALL (and I *DO* mean *ALL*!!!) of my drivers for EVERY device (including video card, hard drive, audio card, etc) DISAPPEARED! Gone. Nadda. Zip. History! If I tried to install the software that came with the camera, it wouldn't recognize that the camera was hooked-up. Bummer! I called Sony's Lack-of-Techincal Support. I went through all three levels of support, ending-up with an "engineer." The second level said "Yeah, the camera won't work over USB 1.1" He then sent me to the third level (the "engineer") who told me that the second level was in error: the problem is that the camera won't work with USB 2.0 on Winders XP! Guess Sony doesn't really know which one it does or does not work with. Said engineer had me do several more advanced things with my operating system (by the way, I teach computer programming, and been a-workin' with 'em since 1973). Among other things, he asked me to "delete everything in your startup folder." To which I replied, "Uh, how about I move 'em to another folder. I'll need 'em back." To which he says, "Nah! Don't worry about 'em... you don't need 'em anyway!" When I pointed-out he had NO idea what was in my startup folder, he insisted I "don't need whatever is there." Of course, the software I teach for a living DOES need what it installs there, but Mr. Expert didn't know that, and didn't WANT to know! After an hour of talking with people at Sony, the "engineer" decides it's not Sony's problem: the problem must be with Gateway. Call Gateway! My Solution: After the "engineer" hung-up on me, he WOULD have left a normal household user in such a state that no drivers would have been loaded on every system start or reboot. So, after I returned my operating system to normal, I started looking for another solution: I didn't want to return the camera. Winders XP recognizes the camera in either USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 as an external hard drive device... but Sony's software still won't talk to it. Even the third-level support guy told me NOT to install the drivers that come with the camera if using Winders XP... and I agree (at least, on my machine)! I can use InterVideo's DVD Copy to convert the MPEG 4 videos to MPEG 2. Then, I can use SonicFoundry Vegas Video (oddly, now owned by Sony!) to edit my videos. I'm certain *you* could use any video editor of your choice (e.g. Ulead or InterVideo or whoever). Side note: for those of you using DVD XCopy to, uh, "back-up" your commerically-made, non-rented, non-borrowed, copyrighted DVD's: installing ANYTHING from InterVideo will probably break your DVD XCopy! (InterVideo is supported my the Movie Industry people, so I'm told). You have been warned. But since "backing-up" copyrighted video isn't something I do... it doesn't matter to me. The camera is a darn nice camera. The video's are great. It beats converting VHS (or other format) conventional video to digital (you lose a lot in the process). Buy it. Love it. Forget their technical support: you're probably "on your own."
Rating: 
Summary: Understand what features are most important before buying!
Review: My father in law purchased this camera for us in preperation of our new son. We were able to power it up and begin using it within an hour. The controls are easy to use and fairly simple. I would have to say that I do not hear or notice the drive vibration or the sound of the dvd recorder while in use. I have done some looking around on various sites and forums and have found NO mac support. I have both a PC and a Mac and plan to use it on my PC. When I finalized a full DVD, so that I could use it in my DVD player I was happy to see that it too 3 min to do so and played wonderfuly. The still picture quality is ok for 1 megapixel but with no flash on the camera I cannot recomend that aspect. I do have a 4.2 megapixel camera that I plan to use for still shots. The last area of review, the editing software that comes with the camera... VERY frustrating to use!!! I am not sure if I didn't spend enough time with it or if it's cheap, but I gave up on it. The media that I use is DVD Rw's and I have 3 of them (8 bucks each). They work great. I also love the large view screen. One con, poor battery life with included battery. I think that if your BIG into editing video, research this video camera before buying. But if you want ease of recording and high quality to be able to drop into a standard format (DVD) then I give this camera 4.5 stars. ************
UPDATE: 12-22-03 After 2 weeks of recording I wanted to drop my video's onto my computer so I can edit them. I was unable to do so and called Sony's tech support. I went straight for the question "Do you have a driver update or some type of resoloution for the USB 2.0 issue with my sony handy cam"? The tech support guy was polite and said that they are working on it. I kept probing for more information about the problem, and the "Work Around" was to plug the sony camcorder into a USB 1 hub. This did fix my problem but I wanted to know when the USB 2.0 problem was going to be addressed. I was asked for my email address and they said I would be contacted when there was a fix or soloution. He did tell me that this has something to do with Chipsets on the mother board. He said that they KNOW that it works with SIS but were still working with testing others. (I have an Intel Chipset). I also found out the following in regards to editing mpeg videos:
**********************************
(Taken from papajohn.org )
Playback/importing of MPEG2 content is completely dependant on the third party MPEG2 decoder installed on the user's machine. Most do not work well. Some decoders go so far as to block decoding when used for anything other than rendering to the display (to make it harder to convert DVD content to other forms). Having DVD burning or playing software on a computer doesn't necessarily mean that the MPEG2 decoder that comes with it will work with Movie Maker 2. MPEG2 files are common. They are used to burn SVCDs and DVDs. Some cameras record directly to this format. But there is a license fee associated with using an MPEG2 codec, so the codec is not commonly distributed. If you try to import an MPEG2 file without 'THE appropriate' installed codec, Movie Maker will attempt to go through the process but, in the end, give you an error message like the one in the figure below. Another error message I've seen is "...the file is empty." Sometimes it'll import the clip, but then cause problems when trying to work with it in a project or render a movie from it.
********************* I wanted to use Windows Moviemaker to edit my movies and I found that when I had Sony's software installed it will crash movie maker just after opening a movie to edit it. I also had to load Adobe Preimere to find a codec that would work correctly so I could edit the mpeg files from my camera in Movie maker. I think that I am going to have to change my overall rating on this camera because of the difficulty of editing the video's in anything but the Pixela Cheesey software that comes with the camera. The camera that would better for editing on your pc: A camera that writes in DV format. 3.5 Stars
Rating:
Summary: Point, Shoot and View
Review: No muss no fuss, just put the disc in, shoot your video, finalize and boom... You got a home movie, ready to play on most DVD players. I have 4 DVD players at home (one in computer) and they play back on them all. Not tried the USB 2.0 interface yet, but editing on computer is easy, no waiting for the entire video to playback, just to get it into the computer. Drag and drop the files to your computer, edit with most video software and burn to a full sized DVD if you like. Has all the items you come to expect from Sony, nightshot, steady shot and such. Heck, is even smaller then my old MiniDV unit. Very good deal overall, love the camera.
Rating:
Summary: Very Satisfied!
Review: OK! I read all of the reader reviews I could get my hand on, and then took the plunge. SONY has done it again (my opinion). This camcorder replaces an old VHS-C off-brand which I thought was pretty good. I love the DCRDVD300, and am glad I opted for the "300" because I love the larger screen. I find all controls handy, and the system is very user-friendly. I only regret that I will never likely use all of the great features. I really just want a camera that will be ready to grab and easy to use when the grandkids do something memorable. This is it. With less than an hour of using the "300", I was comfortably using it. I have found the Discs VERY difficult to come by, so I am happy that I bought 2 3-packs when I picked the camcorder up. That would be my ONLY complaint - that SONY was not prepared with having more discs available. The official SONY website is also out of stock. I very happy owner!
George
Rating:
Summary: Very Satisfied!
Review: OK! I read all of the reader reviews I could get my hand on, and then took the plunge. SONY has done it again (my opinion). This camcorder replaces an old VHS-C off-brand which I thought was pretty good. I love the DCRDVD300, and am glad I opted for the "300" because I love the larger screen. I find all controls handy, and the system is very user-friendly. I only regret that I will never likely use all of the great features. I really just want a camera that will be ready to grab and easy to use when the grandkids do something memorable. This is it. With less than an hour of using the "300", I was comfortably using it. I have found the Discs VERY difficult to come by, so I am happy that I bought 2 3-packs when I picked the camcorder up. That would be my ONLY complaint - that SONY was not prepared with having more discs available. The official SONY website is also out of stock. I very happy owner!
George
Rating: 
Summary: No media for recording
Review: Seems like a nice product but I have been to 5 electronic stores to get the mini DVD's and no one has them. They are not even available on Sony's website so if all you have is the one non-rewriteable disc they include with the camera and you can't get any other discs - what's the use of having an expensive camcorder that you can't record with?
Rating:
Summary: Video made easier
Review: Sony's DCR-DVD300 is my first digital camcorder. After using a JVC VHS-C camcorder for 8+ years, I did a lot of research, which I highly recommend, and finally decided to purchase the DVD300. But since it was a brand new model, it was very hard to find reviews about it. The few that I found revealed concerns about noise, vibration, editing and the complexity of menu functions. I'll talk about these in a minute but first let me state that the reason why one chooses a DVD camcorder instead of a MiniDV (tape), is that the first offers tremendous advantages over the latter in terms of managing your videos. I should also note that I'm not a professional video maker: all we do is home video to capture life's good moments. Finally, this is going to be more of an operational review, rather than discussing the camcorder's technical features. For these, please refer to the other reviews. That said, here we go: 1 - Noise and vibration: a lot has been said about this "noisy" camcorder and, in fact, the microphone captures the motor noise. But, unless you want to capture the "sound of silence", it won't bother you at all. The same about vibration: while holding the camcorder, you actually feel the DVD spinning. But again, it's not an inconvenience - and this "vibration" does not interfere in any way with the DVD300 operation 2 - Menu: if you feel comfortable changing options on your cell phone or programming your VCR or TV, then you should be OK with the camcorder's menu. You navigate using arrows (up, down, left, right) and a <enter> key - exactly like on your VCR's remote control. Of course, like any new electronic device, it takes a couple of days to get used and memorize the functions. 3 - DVD specifics: recording your video on DVD is totally different from recording it on a tape. A new video clip (or file) is created every time you press the record button. The DVD media allows you to select the exact scene you want to see, without having to watch the ones before it (or using fast forward). Two types of DVDs can be used with the DVD300 camcorder: DVD-R and DVD-RW. The latter can be recorded multiple times like a tape, and allows in-camera editing, while the first don't. Once RW discs are full, they have to be finalized prior to be played in another device than the camcorder; this operation takes 9 minutes. To re-use a DVD-RW it needs to be re-formatted. When finalizing or formatting, the camcorder MUST not be shaken. In some of the reviews that I read, there were some concerns about how reliable a DVD driver, a very precise piece of electronic hardware, would be after a couple of years in a portable device. Since I did not have an answer for this, I decided to play safe and bought a 3-year warranty with the camcorder - just in case... 4 - Editing: the biggest advantage that DVD camcorders have over tape ones it's how easy is to edit your videos, even IN the camera, if you don't have the patience to work with an editing software. The in-camera editing, although not rocket science, demands some patience and understanding of some functions that can be easily learned. If you don't want to edit at all, that's fine; just finalize your DVD-RW (DVD-Rs don't need to be finalized, nor can be edited) and play it on your computer or DVD player (assuming it is compatible with the format, as most are). Two recording modes are offered for DVD-RWs - VIDEO and VR. The latter is the one that allows in-camera editing, but has some restrictions. For example, I wasn't able to copy a disc recorded in VR mode using the provided software. Additionally, VR mode may not be compatible with most DVD players. If you want to go one step ahead and edit your videos in your home computer using the provided software, loading a DVD to the computer is much faster than loading a tape - it takes about a minute to have all the clips (30 min) available for editing. Pixela Imagexxx, the editing software provided by Sony, is very basic and limited, but it will give you nice edited home videos. If you want to fly higher and give your videos a professional looking, look for a more sophisticated editing tool, starting at $100. 5 - Conclusion: this is a great camcorder, even for those who are not very interested in editing their videos. Being able to get a recorded DVD directly to the DVD player is a bonus, something that cannot be done with a MiniDV camcorder. The videos' quality is very good, although the still pictures are not. This was actually my only disappointment with the DCR-DVD300.
Rating:
Summary: DVD camcorder isn't for everyone
Review: the DCR-DVD300 sits atop the recently released line of miniDVD camcorders from sony. other models in this line are the DCR-DVD200 and DCR-DVD100. the main difference the three camcorders in this line are LCD size and CCD resolution:
- DCR-DVD300: 3.5" LCD, 1MP CCD
- DCR-DVD200: 2.5" LCD, 1MP CCD
- DCR-DVD100: 2.5" LCD, 640K CCD pros:
- records dolby digital stereo.
- carl zeiss lens.
- 10x optical zoom.
- video quality almost at par with miniDV camcorders (at slower recording modes).
- Super SteadyShot image stabilization system - and sony's system really helps.
- three low light shooting modes: Nightshot, Super Nightshot, and Color Slow Shutter.
- big, 3.5" LCD display.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB 2.0, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
- USB 2.0 support for fast downloads.
- the convenience of DVD navigation - simply select the scene and you're there!
- supports analog-to-digital conversion.
- hot accessory shoe with lots of optional accessories. cons:
- expensive - as with most sony products, you pay a premium, plus you pay for DVD convergence.
- average low light performance.
- no memory stick support; if you want to take a still picture, it is saved on the DVD.
- mic picks up DVD spinning noise in quiet environments.
- finalizing a DVD takes upwards of 10 minutes, and it can be a confusing process.
- don't expect much from the still images recorded, even at 1MP resolution.
- no pop-up flash for taking stills and no built in video light but you can get a flash/video combo light for less than a hundred bucks.
- no manual focus ring.
- getting video into editing software (e.g. Final Cut Pro) is harder than it should be.
- not Mac friendly.
- poor battery life with included battery so add $$ to your budget to buy a higher capacity spare.
- compared to current release camcorders, this is a pretty big one at 3.1 x 3.8 x 5.6" weighing 1 lb 9 oz. this is a nice, solid effort by sony and i give them points for dvd convergence. however, in my opinion, the DCR-DVD300 is too big and not easy to use. it's expensive for the feature set but the alternative to this dvd camcorder (a miniDV tape camcorder and DVD recorder combo) is even more expensive. i already have a dvd recorder so for me, a smaller and easier to use miniDV camcorder makes more sense. if this is your situation as well, i would recommend a panasonic gs-70 or sony's pc-105, both miniDV camcorders. otherwise, if you want a finalized DVD straight out of your camcorder, consider the DCR-DVD300. a final note. if you have decided you want to record directly to a DVD, which camcorder should you buy? DCR-DVD300 or DCR-DVD200 or DCR-DVD100? only one hundred bucks separate these three camcorders (street price). for me, a hundred bucks is worth it to get the 1MP CCD and the big 3.5" LCD. i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.
Rating:
Summary: Sony DCRDVD300 MiniDVD Handycam Camcorder
Review: The price $880.00 you can purchase at a store for you.com
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