Rating: 
Summary: Frail, Fragile and Unreliable
Review:
We've lost so many moments that we wanted to video - kid's first day in the snow, baby's steps, and more. We record video and at some point into the dvd the camera says "Access Error" and you've lost all the stuff on that DVD, never to be seen again!
To pay so much money for a camera that has never seen a hard day nor been bumped or dropped, yet repeatedly loses video footage is rediculous - if I could somehow return it, I would in a second - this camera is a total rip-off!!
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Camcorder....BUT
Review: As Pee Wee Herman once said " Everybody's got a big BUT". This is truly an outstanding camcorder. The convenience of recording directly onto a DVD is great. Sound quality, picture quality and ease of use are all five stars. BUT, the software SONY provides is absolutely, positively the WORST piece of garbage ever invented for video editing. If you are looking for a camcorder now, and can afford a few hundred extra bucks, SONY DVD is the way to go.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Compact Recorder Awesome Picture
Review: Being a electronics layman I had spent some time reading the reviews on this DVD 201. I originally purchased the DVD 101 but didn't realize until after I had ordered it that the 201 has a much better CCD (provides for a clearer picture). I returned the 101 and purchased the 201. If you're thinking about purchasing the 201 vs the 101 for only $100 more the 201 makes a better buy just for the optical clarity. The 201 has a 1/5th CCD vs the 101's 1/6th CCD. (Bigger does mean better here.) Other than that they seem to be identical cameras. I have had no problems taking pictures or recording video to the camera. It is almost as easy as my old Hi-8 camcorder. The only difference in recording between the Hi-8 and the DVD is that you have to finalize the disk when you are done. The DVD-R's/RW's are also a bit more expensive but make for much better storage (size wise) and they won't ever demagnitize on you over time.
Rating:
Summary: want to get a camcorder?
Review: go to havingit.co.ukthere u can order a amlost free sony dcr-ip7bt 1300$ camcorder it really works belive me... at this site u can find the camcorder under cameras so sign up.....
Rating:
Summary: Nice camera with lots of features.
Review: Have had this camera for a few weeks now, and I must say the image quality is impressive. We originally had a DCR-DVD200 on backorder since Christmas time, and recently found out that it was discontinued by Sony (as well as the DVD100 & 300), making way for the new DVD101 & 201. Glad I waited, for these new models are over 25% smaller than their predecessors, and hopefully Sony has addressed some of the earlier complaints customers had about the previous models, improving on the features/qualities. Besides the sharp image quality, the stereo sound is superb (in my opinion), however the spinning noise of the disc in quiet environments can be noticable in your recordings. The "Pixela" software that comes included seems to be a little too basic, and found using the free Windows Movie Maker is much better, however you can only make VCDs with WMM. I have tried some trial versions of DVD editing software (Ulead's Videostudio and Movie Factory), but so far they don't seem to support this camera, or at least the 'Dolby Digital' audio, rendering the captured videos silent. Anyone recommend a certain program to use that works with this? Those seem to be my only complaints. All in all, I'm quite happy with this camera, and recommend it for the ease of use and image quality.
Rating: 
Summary: Convenience of DVD worth the degraded video quality?
Review: I am a point and shoot type: Kids/parties/family stuff. No pro training or desire. I just wanted a new camcorder to video the little ones as they grew up. I haven't bought a camcorder in 10+ years and I did a lot of research. I was ready to buy a Sony DCR TRV38, but the new DVD recorders had just come out. These are 2 different categories of camcorders, but each has its appeal. I decided to give the DVD201 a try for the convenience of direct DVD recording. I have compared the two (borrowed my parents' TRV38 for comparison) side by side. Here are my impressions:
1. Size: the DVD201 is smaller and felt good in hand. Very easy controls. 2. The DVD201 didn't have a touch screen LED. That's good for me!! Its LED screen is 2.5" versus 3.5" on the TRV38. Sony has incorporated a new technology for the LED that lets you see it in bright sunlight. This feature was EXCELLENT!! It actually worked. I never had to use the viewfinder because of screen "washout." It easily beat the TRV38 in that department. The TRV38's LED was unusable in bright sunlight. 3. Image quality: Hands-down, the TRV38 wins here. I was a bit disappointed with the DVD201. Why? Read the review of the Sony DCR-HC40 at camcorderinfo.com and you'll see that they weren't impressed with the CCD (sensor) of that camcorder (it got unsatisfactory marks for low-light quality / and video quality in general). Unfortunately, that CCD is the SAME ONE USED IN THE DVD201. In order to make the camcorder smaller, Sony had to reduce the size of the CCD to 1/5". They claim that "new technology" compensates for the smaller sensor......NOT REALLY!! The larger 1/4.7" CCD of the TRV38 shows in the quality of the video. Both have the same 690K effective pixel resolution, so what gives? Does it matter? Not really!! The bottom line is that the TRV38 provides richer, fuller, and brighter video quality than the DVD201 (for $200 less). The DVD201 video looked gray and washed-out compared to the TRV38. Maybe it's the media itself; mini-DV versus mini-DVD. Maybe it's the sensor. Maybe it's the recording format. It doesn't matter why......the video quality doesn't compare to cheaper units. [side note: the TRV38 has consistently earned very high marks for video quality and low-light ability] 4. As far as low-light ability, the TRV38 "wins" here too, but not by that much. I thought the DVD201 was comparable here with the TRV38. In low light, both videos were a bit grainy. The "Super nightshot plus" gimmicks were just that; gimmicks. The DVD201 does look better due to color being incorporated into the nightshot IR scene. Not a big deal, however. 5. Here's where the new Sony shines: The convenience of the DVD201 is unmatched. Simply pop in a mini-DVD (expensive media, however) and record away. Unfortunately, you have to "finalize" the disc before playing it in a DVD player. The manual warns that this process could take 1 minute to 2 hours?!? HUH? I have burned several so far and it never took more than 3 minutes. Here's the real kicker: Pop the finalized disc into your DVD player and watch it right now!! It's that simple. You will be enjoying your videos while everyone else with a mini-dv camcorder is still trying to hook up the darn camera to the TV with cables. THIS IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST REASON TO BUY THIS CAMCORDER..........Convenience. You don't have to download anything to your computer, compile it, burn a DVD (on the computer), and then pop it into the DVD player.
6. My kids love to watch their home videos...right now!! This camera eliminates the need to hook up anything to your TV with cables (where little hands can break an expensive camera). If you loathe the thought of taking video on a mini-DV, downloading it to the computer via hotwire, compiling/editing your obviously amateur video, re-writing it to a DVD with a DVD burner, and ONLY then get to enjoy it "effortlessly" on your TV, then the DVD201 is for you. 7. Here's the downfall, however; Not much editing ability with the DVD201. Using a DVD-R disc, you burn the DVD as you are taking the video. If you use a DVD-RW, you can download the video to the computer, erase, edit, and rewrite with it. (Apparently, the supplied editing software sucks, but I can't comment because I haven't used it). I will probably never edit much, so I don't mind. If you love to edit, think twice about this camera. PROs: Small size, good feel, excellent LED screen, ultra convenient DVD media (can eliminate computer interface if desired), perfect if you don't care about doing much editing, excellent image stabilization, "finished product" for kids' review very quick (shoot the video, finalize disk, ready for DVD player, DONE!!), good sound quality CONs: Video quality not as good as cheaper units (looks gray/washed-out), expensive media, sound of DVD spinning captured on tape (low "whir" audible), a bit grainy low-light performance, no wind filter, not much editing ability HERE'S THE QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF: Is the convenience of the DVD media worth an extra 200 bucks at the expense of video quality? I'm still debating. Don't get me wrong. The video quality is good, but not great. The DVD201 is a good point and shoot camcorder, but isn't video quality what it's all about? Maybe. Maybe not. Convenience is a huge factor for some of us. One thing is for sure; the DVD201 beats the heck out of the JVC VHS-C I'm replacing. Of course that camcorder is 10+ years old. BOTTOM LINE: Who will buy this camcorder? People who place convenience at the top of their list of features and are willing to sacrifice some video quality to get it!!! Hope this helps. By the way, I'm debating whether to return my DVD201 or not.
Rating:
Summary: No Yellow Dots on My DVD 201, Great so Far!
Review: I find it easy to use,nice and compact, fun and very nice camcorder with a lot of extras. I've just got my about a week ago, still learning how to use it, but I'm having fun doing it.
Sony: They sure make nice electronics,expensive but nice.
Rating:
Summary: Sony DCR DVD 201 as good as it gets.
Review: I have had many camcorders in the past 20 or so years. From the first huge on the shoulder model to the large screen rotatable Hi 8. I film 18-u girls fastpitch softball as a side gig. After using all the others I decided to go to the DVD type for ease of use in transferring to my computer for editing and the capability to view as soon as I was finished filming for the day using only a DVD player in my truck. The still picture quality is as good as my 5mp Dimage and can be stored on the same DVD disk as the filming. The film picture quality is dumbfounding and is extremly easy to use. The menus are easily accessible and workable with one hand. The huge battery life can go almost the entire day, 8 hours of use. Yes I bought the high $ camera and i'm glad I did it's the best thing to happen to my business and enjoyment of filming ever. Did I mention the nightshot mode? I bought an extender so this thing reaches out 100' in total darkness. I'm a hunter, but now I find myself shooting DVDs of my friends hunting more than my weapon. Spend the money this is the best.
Rating:
Summary: High hopes, but I am returning my new 201...
Review: I purchased a new DVD201 with high hopes on how it would work. I already own a Sony DVD recorder for my home ent. center and a Sony Mavica CD camera, which I love (and uses the same batteries as this camcorder), so I thought this camera would be ideal for us, as I would have no problems using Sony products with Sony products.
But even at the highest quality setting (HQ setting) the picture quality is lousy - the colors are all faded and washed out. I thought at first this might be because I was using SP mode and VR recording setting, so I switched to HQ and Video mode. Very little difference. I filmed well-lit indoor scenes of items with bright colors and went outside and filmed flowers in bloom and other items with vivid color. Only the outside shots came even close to being acceptable - the inside shots were not good, and for $900 with all the accessories, this is too much to pay for a poor quality picture. I am very disappointed. I would have kept this camera if it were not for this problem. Also, it is just as someone else posted here, this is not a bug in the camera I bought - this is how it works. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE IMAGE IN THE VIEWFINDER when you try this camera in the store. Burn a DVD-R disc, then play it back on a DVD player on any TV - you will see the problem.
Also, the shots taken outside are noisy, with little wind today, the shots sound like I am in a wind tunnel. The mike picked up lots of wind noise. This is not acceptable either.
Finally, the sound on the inside shots have a high amount of background noise (whirring sound) due to the DVD motor. This is also unacceptable.
SONY ENGINEERS: YOU NEED TO REWORK THIS DESIGN!
Rating:
Summary: Very pleased
Review: I read many reviews of this product before my purchase. I am very happy with my Sony DCR-DVD 201. It was very easy to use. I did not find the user manual overwhelming as some people noted. I am not very "techy," yet I found this product to be a great investment and easy to use. I recommend it for parents who wish to record their children's activities.
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