Rating: 
Summary: Great camera!
Review: After careful research I went with the DVD200. The extra $100 is worth it over the DVD100 due to the resolution. But paying an extra $100 just for an inch bigger fold-out LCD on the 300 just didn't seem worth it. So I settled on the 200. I'd recommend doing so to anyone interested, unless cost isn't an issue!
Rating: 
Summary: Beware Other DVD brands
Review: Although I really enjoy my camcorder, I have learned that only Sony DVDs work well with this camcorder. You are able to record on other cheaper brands, however, if you use the Image Mixer sofware (which comes with the camcorder) to edit abd re-burn DVDs there are compatability problems between other brands. Furthermore, the Image Mixer software is limited, elementary and not user friendly. Their customer support is pretty worthless as well. I would still reccommend this camcorder - but beware that some editing and recording features will only work with the expensive Sony DVDs.
Rating: 
Summary: No DVD Media Available
Review: For all the marketing and features, the mini-dvd media required to use the Sony product is not available anywhere. Sony does not tell you this; and you only learn this after some very frustrating searching. Best Buy, Circuit City, SonyStyle, and others (search the entire Internet), and you will not find it available anywhere. Thus, once you record on the single dvd-r provided with the camcorder you purchased -- you are finished, and have nothing but an $1,100 mantel piece!! I recommend looking at one of the other producers of the DVD-camcorder (Panasonic, Hitachi). I wish I had.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Spend $1000 for a high-tech paper weight
Review: I bought this camera before I found out that Opra put it on her recommend buy list. This caused all of the sheep that follow her to rush out and max out their credit cards on the camera causing a shortage of the cameras and more importantly the mini-discs that you need to use it! If you are buying it for the holidays - forget about it! Go for the Hitachi - Some places are selling them for cost and this is their thrid generation version vs first for Sony. I bought the Sony becuase of the hype of the better lense - which - unless you are professional I'm not sure you are going to noitce the difference.
I'm going to take advantage of my 30 day guarentee and dump this thing back on their counters.
Rating:
Summary: Best DVD Camcorder available
Review: I just received my camcorder, so my experience is brief. A more detailed review will follow later.But since there are no good reviews comparing the camcorders on the market I wanted to share my opinion.All 3 makers have a lot in common; but I chose the Sony over the Hitachi and Panasonic for a few reasons. The Sony had better resolution available for both movie and still mode vs the Panasonic. (I doubt I'll use the still much since it is only 1 megapixel). Sony, has infrared and can do night imaging. The others don't. Panasonic and Hitachi use DVD-Ram instead of DVD-RW. My Denon DVD player will play back DVD-RW and not DVD-RAM. Check your player for compatibility. This is a big deal!! I can pop a DVD-RW directly out of my camcorder and play it in my DVD player. With DVD Ram you have to download it to your computer and then burn a copy onto DVD-R before you could play it. Finally, the Sony had a 3" display, is designed to be compatible with its other cameras in its ability to use accessories universally, felt more solid, and in my opinion has a better reputation. The layout is similar to their digital cameras and only takes minutes to learn how to use. It has 3 recording modes DVD-R and on DVD-RW (Video and VR) mode. VR mode allows you to do basic in camera editing: (saving the still images as a movie file, erasing, rearranging,dividing) Otherwise, you edit on your computer. You can use the player to burn edited copies & dub old video cassettes. You can fade, overlap, and wipe when doing your intro and exits; quickly review images and delete the last one recorded. It has a plethora of digital effects: sepia, B&W, pastel, mosaic, luminace and old movie effects. It has auto and manual set white balance,auto and manual exposure and focus controls. The dial is a little awkward. It has 10X optical and 120 digital zoom. Digital zoom is usually poor quality, so the fact that Hitachi and panasonic were 240x digital zoom made no difference to me. Weak Points: Buy a larger battery. The one included doesn't have enough juice. No case included. I paid $830 at digitalmegastore.com vs $1099 retail
Rating:
Summary: Bought to record new born, but no recording media avaliable!
Review: I just wanted people to know that you can use a non brand name disc instead of the costly sony ones. I buy mine at shop4tech.com it only cost 3.60 each instead of the 8.00 ones at the stores and sony.com . just search for mini dvd for camcorders and they have three brands to choose from. Could someone email me at courtnhu@aol.com on how to print still images without buying a photo printer, for ex. bringing it to the photo store for printing since it does not come with a memory card.
Rating:
Summary: cheap dvd disc that works on dcrdvd300
Review: I just wanted people to know that you can use a non brand name disc instead of the costly sony ones. I buy mine at shop4tech.com it only cost 3.60 each instead of the 8.00 ones at the stores and sony.com . just search for mini dvd for camcorders and they have three brands to choose from. Could someone email me at courtnhu@aol.com on how to print still images without buying a photo printer, for ex. bringing it to the photo store for printing since it does not come with a memory card.
Rating:
Summary: The Driving Nail in the Coffin for VHS
Review: I took my very first movie today with my Sony DVD300 handycam which was a Christmas gift from my brother. The clarity is amazing and the sound just floors me. I'm devoted to movie making only and the finalization process took about 2 1/2 minutes and I was then all ready to pop the disc into the DVD player. Instant gratification! The Carl Zeiss lens is a worthy attribute to this marvelous camcorder. The 21st century is in your hands with the Sony DVD handycam. Hats off to Sony!! You'll be grateful everyday that you own this DVD camcorder.
Rating:
Summary: The Driving Nail in the Coffin for VHS
Review: I took my very first movie today with my Sony DVD300 handycam which was a Christmas gift from my brother. The clarity is amazing and the sound just floors me. I'm devoted to movie making only and the finalization process took about 2 1/2 minutes and I was then all ready to pop the disc into the DVD player. Instant gratification! The Carl Zeiss lens is a worthy attribute to this marvelous camcorder. The 21st century is in your hands with the Sony DVD handycam. Hats off to Sony!! You'll be grateful everyday that you own this DVD camcorder.
Rating:
Summary: Keep life simple, buy this camcorder
Review: If you're starting to go crazy shopping for a digital camcorder, read on. Bundles of format types, odles of brands, countless models to choose from, what a mess! The answer is the Sony Handycam 300 (or the 100 or 200 if your budget is tighter). My wife and I have twins and have no time to learn the complexities of digital camcorders and returned a Canon and a JVC camcorder after looking at the owners manual. HOWEVER, we essentially figured out how to use the Sony 300 by just playing with it. The menus and options work pretty much like our DVD player and in less than 30 minutes (after charging the battery) we were filming like crazy, taking pictures and having a great time. And the resulting DVD played perfectly in our home DVD player and looked wonderful.
Conclusion, don't get confused by all the critiques saying one camera is too heavy, another is noisy, the next one vibrates too much, blah, blah, blah. Buy a handycam 300 and start making movies.
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