Sony DCRTRV103 Handycam Digital Camcorder
By: Sony Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 23
More Information
 On: 2005-11-03
* * * * * I M P O R T A N T * * * * *
Ignore the bashing of this camera for CCD problems (with a reference to CNET forums). This camera is NOT one of the models affected by CCDs manufactured between OCTOBER 2002 and MARCH 2004. There were MANY manufacturers affected by these faulty CCDs, NOT JUST SONY.
* * * * * I M P O R T A N T * * * * *
Despite being a superseded model, my camera still takes nice video. The Digital8 format was great for me because I had a lot of 8mm tapes that would have been otherwise lost if I couldnt transfer them via firewire with this camera. I paid $1100 for this brand new a few years ago, but you can get budget models today that compare or outdo it for much less ($300).
The battery life is one of the big benefits (about 2 hours of shooting time), and with the NP-F550 battery I got over 3 hours of recording time easily.
Pros:
1. Flexible Digital8 format allows digital recording on regular 8mm tapes
2. Good video and 16-bit PCM audio
3. 20X optical zoom
4. Easy transfer of analog 8mm video to digital via firewire
5. Excellent battery life
Cons:
1. A bit bulky (by todays standards)
2. A/V inputs dont allow for direct pass-through to firewire (subsequent models allow this, but for the TRV103 you have to record input video/audio to tape then playback and capture over firewire).
3. Low-light video is somewhat grainy (but average for the time period this model was produced).
On: 2005-11-02
* * * * * I M P O R T A N T * * * * *
Ignore the bashing of this camera for CCD problems (with a reference to CNET forums). This camera is NOT one of the models affected by CCDs manufactured between OCTOBER 2002 and MARCH 2004. There were MANY manufacturers affected by these faulty CCDs, NOT JUST SONY.
* * * * * I M P O R T A N T * * * * *
Despite being a superseded model, my camera still takes nice video. The Digital8 format was great for me because I had a lot of 8mm tapes that would have been otherwise lost if I couldnt transfer them via firewire with this camera. I paid $1100 for this brand new a few years ago, but you can get budget models today that compare or outdo it for much less ($300).
The battery life is one of the big benefits (about 2 hours of shooting time), and with the NP-F550 battery I got over 3 hours of recording time easily.
Pros:
1. Flexible Digital8 format allows digital recording on regular 8mm tapes
2. Good video and 16-bit PCM audio
3. 20X optical zoom
4. Easy transfer of analog 8mm video to digital via firewire
5. Excellent battery life
Cons:
1. A bit bulky (by todays standards)
2. A/V inputs dont allow for direct pass-through to firewire (subsequent models allow this, but for the TRV103 you have to record input video/audio to tape then playback and capture over firewire).
3. Low-light video is somewhat grainy (but average for the time period this model was produced).
 On: 2005-05-28
I bought Sony camcorder last year. It has stopped recording video. I cant see anything in the viewfinder or screen. Absolutely nothing.
On the flip side, it did work nicely for the year when it was working though.
Just in case, you think I am disgruntled, cynical and I am writing this out of spite, please follow this link. There are many like us.
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-7594-0.html?forumID=59&threadID=53316&messageID=635769
In fact, people there have filed a class action suit against Sony on this issue.
Overall, buy it if you want to. But see you on the forum above in 1 year.
 On: 2005-05-11
I purchases the Sony DCR-TRV103 Handycam just after my first son was born, and just after my VHS camcorder died. I have used this camera extensively over the last 7 years, never have had a problem, until recently. I have filmed several hundred hours worth of videos with great results. Excellent pictures and quality sound. Recently I have been getting an error message, telling me to eject the tape. I am looking into to repair, but maybe after all this time it is ready to replace, but I would recommend a new one of these to anyone.
On: 2002-03-20
My wife purchased a Sony camcorder model DCR-TRV-103 in the summer of 2000 and gave it to me as a gift for to take on our 25 day tour of Europe in September ,2000. After familiarizing myself it I never had a reason to use it until on our trip. About half way into the trip the unit failed in Rome , Italy with about two weeks left on our tour. After returning home I sent it to a Sony Service Center near St. Louis and received it back about a month later. I did not use it again until the following August for about 15 min. to record a Christening at our church and it Worked o.k. I didnt use it again until Christmas day to record our last holiday in our present home .All our family was present. After nearly an hour I checked to see if the cassette had finished and I was shocked to see it had failed with the same exact failure as the first .I believe it should have held up longer than two hours of recording time since the repair but not so. Now Sony refuses to make the repair good ...
On: 2000-07-20
I have had this camera for about 3 months, and I am very satisfied with the quality of the camera itself (not surprising from Sony), and the quality of the results. Considering the resolution (500 lines, compared to 240~260 for VHS & 400 for S-VHS, both of which are analog), I dont really see any great advantage to going with DV technology, except that a full digital camera is a bit lighter and the fact that you can record up to 2 hours on a DV tape, compared to 1 hour on either 8mm or Hi8 tape. I use both tapes, by the way, and there is no readily noticeable difference in quality. As far as the weight, since I do a lot of handheld recording, I find that I like this one better because a lighter camera is more difficult to keep steady. The recording sound quality is very good also, as well as being able to record in darkness! The ONLY, and I mean ONLY thing about this camera that bothers me is the fact that more of the on-camera controls are not duplicated on the remote control, such as fades, backlight, etc. I do a lot of active videography, and even though I have a very steady hand, its very hard not to jiggle the camera when trying to turn on a fade or the backlight or one of the picture processing modes. Other than that, I would highly recommend this camera to anyone.
On: 2000-07-19
I have had this camera for about 3 months, and I am very satisfied with the quality of the camera itself (not surprising from Sony), and the quality of the results. Considering the resolution (500 lines, compared to 240~260 for VHS & 400 for S-VHS, both of which are analog), I dont really see any great advantage to going with DV technology, except that a full digital camera is a bit lighter and the fact that you can record up to 2 hours on a DV tape, compared to 1 hour on either 8mm or Hi8 tape. I use both tapes, by the way, and there is no readily noticeable difference in quality. As far as the weight, since I do a lot of handheld recording, I find that I like this one better because a lighter camera is more difficult to keep steady. The recording sound quality is very good also, as well as being able to record in darkness! The ONLY, and I mean ONLY thing about this camera that bothers me is the fact that more of the on-camera controls are not duplicated on the remote control, such as fades, backlight, etc. I do a lot of active videography, and even though I have a very steady hand, its very hard not to jiggle the camera when trying to turn on a fade or the backlight or one of the picture processing modes. Other than that, I would highly recommend this camera to anyone.
On: 2000-07-15
For a unit with advanced features,this unit is remarkably easy to use (even for the klutz in the family). It self adjusts and the many buttons for personalized adjustsments are right at your fingertips. It makes videotaping easy so you can focus on the object and enjoy the event youre taping. Ergonomic, Easy, Affordable Yet Jammed with Sophisticated Features.
by: jkperkins On: 2000-07-12
This is a great camera for the money. It has a relatively small color LCD screen and a black & white viewfinder, but those are the only drawbacks. There are great digital features, and picture quality is outstanding. I routinely use the Ilink connector to transfer video to mpg files for distribution on CD-ROM.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-07-12
This is a fantastic camcorder for the beginner through to the more advanced user. The features on this model are great and given the ease with which you can capture and edit it on a PC or Mac, I would recommend this model for anyone interested in producing low budget digital home movies. With numerous digital and picture affects, it is a great buy and great value for money, especially given its lasting Digital 8 format. A great buy and I recommend it to anybody.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-02-02
Sony® came up with a winner with the Digital 8 format. I have heard of problems importing the data into the Sony Vaio laptop but I have had no problem importing into the Vaio work station. Also, Windows 2000 will support the IEEE-1394 firewire as a native application which means you will be able to bypass the Sony application for video capture and import directly into windows applications such as Adobe® Premiere and internet video conference. This camcorder is the basis for all my current work in snow country (next week I will use it on the ski slopes- and Feb 19th I will be using it to record sled dog races in Redstone Colorado for internet distribution by converting the AVI files to MPEG-2 on my website thebroadscreen). The photo shot capability is not really necessary because this camera does an excellent job of capturing every single frame in full motion and transferring every single frame to the computer for manipulation and production. A real winner for a camera and it plays all your old 8 tapes as well. IEEE1394 will also standardize on several high capacity hardware items this year including the LACIE DVD ram recorder/player due out at the end of this month which will record over 2gb per side of disk at 545.00 MSRP. and IEEE1394 capture cards are now available at 135.00 street price. The digital revolution has arrived!
by: Anonymous On: 2000-01-24
Originally I wanted a DV model camcorder but I couldnt find one that I really liked that was under $1000. I had looked at the Sony Digital 8 format and thought it was a great idea so I bought this model. I has the features I wanted; DV firewire in/out, S-video in/out, rca a/v in/out, its stereo, and has a built in 2.5" lcd monitor. The separation on the stereo audio is quite good considering how the left/right mic pickups are in the same chasis. I have yet to hear scanner motor noise in the audio either and it has an external stereo mic input if you want to get a higher quality mic. I used it on an overcast day in the country to get some footage of the dark clouds and the audio was beautiful. The tapes Ive tried using are regular 8mm tapes and it came with a Hi-8 tape and to be honest I have yet to see a difference in the video quality (although years from now there may be more dropouts).If you want manual white balance, youll have to pay more, but for what this camcorder costs, its amazing. Highly recommended!
by: Anonymous On: 2000-01-22
This camcorder is truly awesome. All the features are great and go beyond expectations. The only problem I have is trying to transfer the video to my computer. I bought the IEEE 1394 Firewire by SIIG, Inc. and for some reason it doesnt work. Ive contacted SIIG and Sony and havent heard back from either. When my camcorder is connected to the computer, the computer does not detect it. I have done everything on the SIIG trouble-shooting web site to rectify the problem, to no avail. It is very frustrating and if anyone can assist please send me an e-mail. One of the biggest reasons I bought this camera was to put video on CDs and send to relatives throughout the country. I cant do that until the capture card works!
by: Anonymous On: 2000-01-10
The Sony DCR-TRV103 is a great camera for engineering consulting work. Ive used for recording video through the video in port from a crack microscope fitted auxiliary camera, looking at minute structural details on a walkway on a 170 ft. tall elevated water tank (from the ground), as a recorder for an underwater camera for well video inspections, and for many other "normal" uses. The 360X digital zoom is fantastic, however, it must be used in a tripod to keep the video usable. I use it with a video Snappy to pull stills off of the tape. The built in "Still" feature is useful for catching a shot for a steady section on the tape. Great camera. I would be interested in hearing how others use the camera with the FireWire transfer feature.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-01-09
I can only say on thing about this product. Outstanding. I have the TRV-110 series which the only difference is that the LCD panel is smaller. This camera is so easy to use. All of the controls are right there at your finger tips. Ive yet to see the product from the digital photo mode becasue I dont have the firewire yet. Im sure that it will be outstanding. This is a great product, an deasy to use, with a countless number of features which Ive only begun to explore. Reasonable price. Great Job SONY, keep up the great work.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-01-04
A great camcorter for zooming in but some what heavy. Great for shorter trips. However it does not go easy on bateries.
On: 2000-01-03
A great camcorter for zooming in but some what heavy. Great for shorter trips. However it does not go easy on bateries.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-12-08
I love this camcorder. Picture quality is exceptional and its easy to use. The downside is the fact that accessories are so expensive _ and some, like the s-cable, are needed to transfer images to VHS tape.
On: 1999-12-07
I love this camcorder. Picture quality is exceptional and its easy to use. The downside is the fact that accessories are so expensive _ and some, like the s-cable, are needed to transfer images to VHS tape.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-12-05
I connect this camcorder to my PC via its firewire port. Not only can I edit the footage I shoot on my PC, but the analog-in feature allows me to tape TV shows and copy VHS tapes to my computer hard drive. The quality of the camera is very high, and the 2.5" LCD is plenty big. I have purchased the NPF950 battery, which allows 12 hours of continuous operation. This is a very well thought out product.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-12-04
Ive used a number of camcorders in the past,VHS,VHS-C,8mm,Hi-8,Mini DV,and now Digital-8. At first I thought it was a joke,recording onto the old 8mm format in digital, but once I used the camera and saw the flawless picture and incredible sound I was proved wrong.It looks like a regular 8mm camera but its silver,that seems to be the digital camera color.I feel the most impressive feature on this camera is the night shot mode, you can see and film in total darkness. Also with most digital models being so small you cant get a very big zoom, but since this one is 8mm size the optical zoom is 20x. And of course since its a Sony it is packed with unmatched looks and great specials modes. I have no reservations for the DCRTRV103 its a top of the line camera with top of the line features at a reasonable price.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-11-14
We bought this camera, send it to miami and then by ship to Venezuela, where we live. Great camera, spetially because you can conect it via FireWire (IEEE 1394) to your new iMac DV or DV Spetial Edition. sharp image, cool night vision. amazing zoom. You can do anything with this camera and Apples iMovie...
On: 1999-11-13
We bought this camera, send it to miami and then by ship to Venezuela, where we live. Great camera, spetially because you can conect it via FireWire (IEEE 1394) to your new iMac DV or DV Spetial Edition. sharp image, cool night vision. amazing zoom. You can do anything with this camera and Apples iMovie...
by: Anonymous On: 1999-11-02
This camcorder is great EXCEPTED for 1 thing the video capture card for your PC. No where does sony or anyone else tell you that I got a Quote of $400.00 for this card?????? Nothing like finding this out before you buy, huh...WHY so much? I WAS going to buy this BUT not now or not until the price of the card Drops Significantly....
by: Anonymous On: 1999-09-24
I made a rash purchase wihtout all the facts, and now regret it. Now that I see the smaller MiniDV product, I prefer the smaller size instead. Plus there a several different companies producing MiniDV and only one producing Digital 8. Live and learn
by: Anonymous On: 1999-09-22
A great digital camcorder at a good price. The only difference between this one and the more expensive 310 is the size of the viewing screen. No big deal since well be playing back mostly though our TV anyway. The nightvision recording is pretty cool - you can record with absolutely no light available.
On: 1999-09-21
A great digital camcorder at a good price. The only difference between this one and the more expensive 310 is the size of the viewing screen. No big deal since well be playing back mostly though our TV anyway. The nightvision recording is pretty cool - you can record with absolutely no light available.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-08-22
I have to disagree with Amazons Pros and Cons of this camera. Amazon rates that the con or the camera is the black and white view finder. However profesionally a black and white view finder is optimal.
On: 1999-08-21
I have to disagree with Amazons Pros and Cons of this camera. Amazon rates that the con or the camera is the black and white view finder. However profesionally a black and white view finder is optimal.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-07-28
We purchased this camcorder after doing research for severalweeks. We bought it with scuba diving in mind as eventually we willbuy the expensive underwater housing.I can only say that I have been extremely happy with my purchase. One of the first events I captured was my girlfriends little sisters HS graduation. The picture quality and sound play back especially during music performances was great. We did but a 8 hour battery which added a little weight but runs for seems like forever. We also bought the telephoto lens for those really far away shots. I normally turn off the digital zoom unless I have an extremely steady hand or have it on a tripod. As you get into the higher zooms if the camera is shaking the pictures gets unusable. Put it on a tripod and at full digital zoom it almost looks as good as optical zoom. Ive used it to capture pictures and then pass this to my computer and have been very happy with the special effects as well. Robert
|
|
