Rating: 
Summary: What's the Buzz about???
Review: After looking at what Sony had to offer on their digital camcorder line, I decided to buy a TRV340. I was impressed with all the features it had to offer. After playing with the shelf model for a while I purchased the TRV340. Once I opened the product at home and inserted the tape there was a hum or buzzing noise while recording or playing back a recording. In a quiet environment, this buzz is also picked up in the recording. The location of the buzzing sound came from the tapes drive mechanism. I returned the product two times and all subsequent camcorders aired this buzz. If you are looking to buy this product play with a shelf model WITH THE TAPE IN. This way you can judge if this will be a problem for you.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT!!!!!
Review: After reading many specs and reviews for both MiniDV and Digital 8 cameras I settled on the 340. I have not been disappointed. This camera is feature rich and gives excellent quality video. As with any video camera the still picture quality is poor. If you want quality still pictures, the best way is to get a proper digital still camera. The menu system is very easy to use but some parts of the owners manual are not really very clear and skimps a bit on detail so there are one or two features I still haven't worked out. The built in microphone sensitivity is excellent and I have not noticed any real problem with drive motor noise pick up by the mike. The ergonomics of a couple of the controls could be improved. I have an average size hand and find my thumb needs to be almost double jointed to operate the on/off mode switch, especially to switch it on, if I want to use the camera with one hand only. The zoom control could also be improved. I think a two finger forward, aft operated zoom control would have been easier to use. These things I am willing to tolerate because of the excellent value for money this camera provides and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting features and quality for a reasonable price.
Rating:
Summary: Great Value For Money
Review: After reading many specs and reviews for both MiniDV and Digital 8 cameras I settled on the 340. I have not been disappointed. This camera is feature rich and gives excellent quality video. As with any video camera the still picture quality is poor. If you want quality still pictures, the best way is to get a proper digital still camera. The menu system is very easy to use but some parts of the owners manual are not really very clear and skimps a bit on detail so there are one or two features I still haven't worked out. The built in microphone sensitivity is excellent and I have not noticed any real problem with drive motor noise pick up by the mike. The ergonomics of a couple of the controls could be improved. I have an average size hand and find my thumb needs to be almost double jointed to operate the on/off mode switch, especially to switch it on, if I want to use the camera with one hand only. The zoom control could also be improved. I think a two finger forward, aft operated zoom control would have been easier to use. These things I am willing to tolerate because of the excellent value for money this camera provides and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting features and quality for a reasonable price.
Rating:
Summary: Love this camcorder!
Review: After trying and hating the JVC camcorder my Dad lent us, we decided to go with this Sony Digital8 camcorder. Easy to use, and loaded with lots extra goodies, this camcorder is fabulous. It has the following features:
*MPEG movie maker (w/ Memory Stick- allows you to email
your videos to friends and family
*ILINK interface (to edit your movies on your PC)
*Super Steady shot (for even the shakiest hand)
*Super "Night Shot" (for low lighting and night taping)
*Digital Still Memory Mode (to load and send still pics via
email
We have been very pleased with this camcorder- no complaints here. Once you learn how to use the editing and emailing features, you'll be sending your videos to everyone you know! A good investment, especially if you have young children.
Rating: 
Summary: BE AWARE OF BOTTOM LOAD SONY CAMCORDERS
Review: Before you buy a Sony Digital 8 bottom load camcorder be aware of Sony's engineering flaw. When you use their camcorder on a tripod one should know that in order to install or remove a tape you have to 1. remove it from the tripod then 2. unscrew that tripod adaptor. Otherwise the tape compartment will jam against the tripod adaptor when it tries to open. A lot of wasted time and energy here! Unfortunately, I did not discover this flaw until my 30 day Circuit City return window had expired and Sony will not allow me to return it to them. Their help???desk informed me they are aware of this problem but have no fix and that this problem exists on all their Digital 8 bottom load cameras.
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera!!
Review: First: To the guy who dissed bottom load cameras and tripods, try part VCT-U14, it's a not the standard square mount, but long and rectangular. If you need it really bad, Sony makes it, but it's not cheap. This camera is awesome so far, and the smart batteries are very impressive, giving me how long it takes to charge and how much is left. The intelligent shoe is impressive, also, with the number of different accessories that can go there (including a photo printer). As with some other reviewers, the still picture quality is lacking, but we are only talking about roughly a 500K CCD, which was equivalent to my very first digital camera, with the same picture quality. But this is not the camera to replace your still digital unit.
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera!!
Review: First: To the guy who dissed bottom load cameras and tripods, try part VCT-U14, it's a not the standard square mount, but long and rectangular. If you need it really bad, Sony makes it, but it's not cheap. This camera is awesome so far, and the smart batteries are very impressive, giving me how long it takes to charge and how much is left. The intelligent shoe is impressive, also, with the number of different accessories that can go there (including a photo printer). As with some other reviewers, the still picture quality is lacking, but we are only talking about roughly a 500K CCD, which was equivalent to my very first digital camera, with the same picture quality. But this is not the camera to replace your still digital unit.
Rating:
Summary: CamCorder is great; Software [stinks]....
Review: I Bought this camcorder after moving to Florida. My biggest use for the camera is capturing video to use as backdrops and watermarks on documents. A lot of beach shots and some low light and night shots.
.
The Camera: Super. Very simple and straight forward to use. Use of the "digit" zoom (700x) is a bit precarious without a tripod but the "optical" zoom (25x) provides excellent video. Its size makes it easy to manipulate and the features are conveniently located. Quality of the video on playback is near DVD quality.
.
The Software: When you buy the camera grab yourself a copy of "Video Explosion Deluxe" (approx. [$$]) and throw away the software that comes with the camera. The supplied software is cumbersome, not well documented and provides little (I'm being generous) meaningful help via dropdown menus.... The "Video Explosion Deluxe" (VED) installs in just a very few minutes and is well documented, expecially with the online tutorial (extremely well down) and the dropdowns. VED allows for complete control of the camcorder via the PC during video capture by use of the Firewire. The granularity of the editing feature pretty much removes the need of a memory stick and the video can be edited (and images captured) on a "by frame" bases. A really terrific piece of software.... My hat is off to the developers....
Rating:
Summary: CamCorder is great; Software [stinks]....
Review: I Bought this camcorder after moving to Florida. My biggest use for the camera is capturing video to use as backdrops and watermarks on documents. A lot of beach shots and some low light and night shots.
.
The Camera: Super. Very simple and straight forward to use. Use of the "digit" zoom (700x) is a bit precarious without a tripod but the "optical" zoom (25x) provides excellent video. Its size makes it easy to manipulate and the features are conveniently located. Quality of the video on playback is near DVD quality.
.
The Software: When you buy the camera grab yourself a copy of "Video Explosion Deluxe" (approx. [$$]) and throw away the software that comes with the camera. The supplied software is cumbersome, not well documented and provides little (I'm being generous) meaningful help via dropdown menus.... The "Video Explosion Deluxe" (VED) installs in just a very few minutes and is well documented, expecially with the online tutorial (extremely well down) and the dropdowns. VED allows for complete control of the camcorder via the PC during video capture by use of the Firewire. The granularity of the editing feature pretty much removes the need of a memory stick and the video can be edited (and images captured) on a "by frame" bases. A really terrific piece of software.... My hat is off to the developers....
Rating:
Summary: TRV340 digital- good but unable to capture movie on comp
Review: I can captures scenes and audio with USB but not able to capture the movies that we recorded.
After contacting Soney I found I have to buy a video capturing card for that. It should be possible by the USB cable Soney provides with the camcorder.Why should I pay the overhead?
|
