Sony DCRTRV510 Handycam Digital Camcorder
By: Sony Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 10
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 On: 2000-05-03
Ive had the Sony DCR-TRV-510 for about three months now. Its been a lot of fun to use and learn. Straight out of the box, charge up the battery, slip in a tape and youre ready to record. With a little practice and skimming of the manual, you can create some perfectly acceptable and fun still (digital) pictures. On the video front, the camera is exceptionally easy to learn and use. It takes standard 8mm video tapes - cheaper and more readily available than mini-DV tapes. Zoom lens is excellent although once you pass the optical zoom range and go into the digital zoom, you will likely notice the "pixilation" (you can turn the digital zoom off.) Tapes can be viewed on the flip out screen - excellent image. One feature I especially like is the one that lets you find the end of the last video recording -- no matter where you stop on a tape, hit this button and it takes you to where you stopped recording. Low light capability is outstanding even without using the Night Light feature. Still pictures are fun. Easy to do once youve mastered the technique. The picture is only 640 x 480 so it is really only suitable for web stuff or 2 x 3 or 4 x 3 snap shots. Images may be downloaded to your computer using the enclosed serial link or a FireWire interface if you have one. Serial link may be slow but it works just fine for me. I took a couple hundred stills (and 2 hours of video) while on a 10 day cruise and they were fine. Camera can only hold about 20 still pixs internally (in the fine mode) so I would copy them from the internal memory to a separate video tape I decided to use for still pictures only. Once on your computer, you can play with them to your hearts content. Consider buying a second bigger battery. I bought the 8 hour battery - a little extra weight but lots of extra time. I also bought the IR link for the TV. Saves having to hook up wires to the back of the TV/-510 every time you want to view a tape. It works flawlessly. And get a good camera bag.
On: 2000-05-02
Ive had the Sony DCR-TRV-510 for about three months now. Its been a lot of fun to use and learn. Straight out of the box, charge up the battery, slip in a tape and youre ready to record. With a little practice and skimming of the manual, you can create some perfectly acceptable and fun still (digital) pictures. On the video front, the camera is exceptionally easy to learn and use. It takes standard 8mm video tapes - cheaper and more readily available than mini-DV tapes. Zoom lens is excellent although once you pass the optical zoom range and go into the digital zoom, you will likely notice the "pixilation" (you can turn the digital zoom off.) Tapes can be viewed on the flip out screen - excellent image. One feature I especially like is the one that lets you find the end of the last video recording -- no matter where you stop on a tape, hit this button and it takes you to where you stopped recording. Low light capability is outstanding even without using the Night Light feature. Still pictures are fun. Easy to do once youve mastered the technique. The picture is only 640 x 480 so it is really only suitable for web stuff or 2 x 3 or 4 x 3 snap shots. Images may be downloaded to your computer using the enclosed serial link or a FireWire interface if you have one. Serial link may be slow but it works just fine for me. I took a couple hundred stills (and 2 hours of video) while on a 10 day cruise and they were fine. Camera can only hold about 20 still pixs internally (in the fine mode) so I would copy them from the internal memory to a separate video tape I decided to use for still pictures only. Once on your computer, you can play with them to your hearts content. Consider buying a second bigger battery. I bought the 8 hour battery - a little extra weight but lots of extra time. I also bought the IR link for the TV. Saves having to hook up wires to the back of the TV/-510 every time you want to view a tape. It works flawlessly. And get a good camera bag.
 On: 2000-04-29
The best thing about this Camcorder is that it has a 4 inchesscreen! Its big enough that you can show your video to other peoplewithout connect the camcorder to the TV. Its really nice! I have seen other peoples camcorders with a tiny 2 inches screen, and thats no good for your enjoyment at all.-------------The night vision is amazing too! After you turned the night vision on, you can take pictures in total darkest. And the picture is really good.------------ The picture quality is great too. Very clear! But it didnt come out too good after I converted the 8mm tape into VCR tape.------------Reviews on Amazon said that Digital Camcorderss audio has CD quality, but I really didnt notice anything. I mean you really dont care too much about the audio if you are just video taping a family vacation or something.----------Something bad about the Camcorder.----------Because of the big screen and its not Mini-DV, so its a bit heavy. You will probably get very tired after holding the Camcorder for more than a hour. So if you are a weak person, try a Mini-DV camcorder with a smaller screen so that you wont have any arm problems.------------Another thing was that I thought I was going to be able to connect my camcorder to my Dell computer, but it didnt work at all. Be sure that you have an interface card if you want to use it with a computer. But I really dont see any point to edit your films on the computer, I am too busy for that, and I am not trying to make a public film, my film doesnt need to be perfectly edited. And also, I also thought that when I zoom in the camcorder, it could reach 35mm or something, but that didnt happen. Beware! Camcorders do not have a wide-angle view! you wont be able to tape the whole view, only partly. I think the minimal range of this camcorder is only 50mm. Just be careful. Dont be disappointed. END
by: Anonymous On: 2000-01-15
After a long and informative search I choose to purchase the Sony 510 Digital 8 camcorder. I was most impressed with the quality of the 4in. LCD screen and the fact that the serial port connection was included in the box, this makes it easy to take a still and get it into an e-mail to friends and family. The use of the menu is very easy and straight forward. This was important to me inorder to make changes in setting ( for which there are many) very quickly so you dont miss a shot. There is an entire list of things I can say about the product that I like so safice it to say- Buy it and you will not be dissapointed.
On: 2000-01-14
After a long and informative search I choose to purchase the Sony 510 Digital 8 camcorder. I was most impressed with the quality of the 4in. LCD screen and the fact that the serial port connection was included in the box, this makes it easy to take a still and get it into an e-mail to friends and family. The use of the menu is very easy and straight forward. This was important to me inorder to make changes in setting ( for which there are many) very quickly so you dont miss a shot. There is an entire list of things I can say about the product that I like so safice it to say- Buy it and you will not be dissapointed.
On: 2000-01-05
Forget the other cameras. TRV-310 and the TRV-510 are the best ones for today... by far.Dont loose your time looking for other options because no other portable camcorder (in this category) can provide the features and the quality of these cameras. Ive played with my TRV-310 for about 10 days and I am really impressive with this camera. This is my fifth camcorder (all 8MM and HI-8) that I have used and this the best camera that I have seen. Some comments... The LCD screen on the 310 is amazing. Certainly the best LCD that I have seen in my life. It is clear, bright, sharp and big... 3.5 inches. The color is truer. It is a real pleasure to play my videotapes in any place with no connection with TVs. This is one of the most important features of this camera and you have to consider that in your analysis. You will use it a lot. The 20X optical zoom is enough and works fine (much better than my old hi-8 camera). The PAUSEs are terrific. It is impossible to avoid the PAUSE key. Try to press the SLOW key and you will get a limpid and crystalline image. I have lots of videos recorded on 8 and hi-8 format. The 310 is capable to play black perfectly any videotape on these formats. This camera is the right choice for everyone that have 8 and hi-8 tapes. Dont loose your time thinking to buy a mini-DV camcorder, you will have much more flexibility using the digital camera that supports your old tapes, with the same quality and flexibility. By the way, the hi-8 tapes are cheaper than the mini-DV tapes. I didnt see notable difference between the regular video and S video hookups to my TV. The included battery in not sufficient and an additional battery is very important. The infrared nightshot works very fine (do you think that is it really important ? ). The 16:9 aspect ratio feature is wonderful At the beginning you dont give so much attention on that, but when you start to use you will love this alternative. If you have a 16:9 aspect ratio television this feature will be fantastic for you. If you are considering to buy this kind of TV (to see your DVDs) this can be a considerable feature to consider. One of the big things and rarely I see comments is the SOUND. The PCM System is fantastic. I connect the camcorder to my receiver system and I was surprised with the quality, clear and powerful sound. There is a huge difference between this PCM AUDIO SYSTEM and the audio system in my old hi-8 camera. Normally, when we study to buy a camcorder we dont invest so much time analyzing the audio, we keep focus on the video system and dont give importance to the audio. I am sure that the AUDIO SYSTEM of this digital camera will surprise you positively. You will feel the big difference if you connect the camera to a pro-logic Dolby surround sound receiver or a digital receiver. If you have a home theater system with Adobe Digital 5:1... THE BAD THING: The missing feature on the 310 is audio dubbing. For this kind of camera this feature will be important and convenient. I would like to record narration or add a sound track on the camera after Ive recorded the video. Based on the manual I can do this editing the video on my PC, but until now I didnt try it. So, I really dont know if it will work well... GRAINY VIDEO: I read some comments about to make sure you have plenty of light to avoid a slightly grainy on the video. This is true but not at all. The illumination is not a bid deal... Dont make your decision using this comment as important ! In most of the 95% of the time you will be recording with enough light to make a brilliant and wonderful video.... So, the other 5% of the time you can face poor light and you will have a little bit grainy in your video... And so what ? The important here is that other cameras have the same problem, so it is not a decisive factor for buyers... Dont waste time with these comments... Finally... I made a very deep analysis comparing the TRV-510 and TRV-310, the 310 is probably the good choice because it has the most advanced features with less cost. Repeating a comment that I saw below... The 310 is LIGHT YEARS beyond the other ones...
On: 1999-12-29
Hi Happy for my Sony camcorder, especially as I just became Dad. Good quality pictures in PAL, easy to use. Only problem which occurs is, when transmitting still pictures from camera to PC using Gear Lite. Images become very dark and quality decreases. Anybody having same kind of problems ?
On: 1999-12-17
I had wanted the latest in didgital camcorder technology but the high cost of the Mini DV tapes made me consider SONYs Digital 8 format. I got my DCR TRV 510 shortly after becoming a new dad, after much debate between the 510 and the lower 310 which will save you $$ but the 310 lacks the color viewfinder, slightly bigger LCD monitor, 2MB of internal memory for digital stills, Sonys photo managing software for your PC and the serial port PC hookup. The 510 is my 1st camcorder so I dont have any prior camcorder experience to do any relative comparisons. This camcorder does a very decent job of making home videos and photo stills. The best results are from outdoors in good daylight, otherwise in other conditions such as lowlight indoors the video and stillshots can be slightly grainy. For some reason, SONY didnt include any titling function which they do for their Reg. 8 and Hi 8 models. Also didnt notice the difference between the reg. video and S video hookup to my TV nor between the cheaper reg. 8 and Hi 8 tape. The included battery is not sufficient for heavy duty use, the 4 hour one should be adequate, anything longer will just add to the weight. Very satisfied with my decision to get the 510, overall a very impressive handycam which I anticipate to take home videos and to capture meorable moments in my sons growth.
On: 1999-12-06
This is a super camera, and its compatability with Hi8 means all of my old tapes can be viewed. The video resolution is great, and it is loaded with special effects. The viewfinder and 4 inch screen are crisp, variable speed zoom is smooth and the battery life excellent. You should be aware that the video is not true digital. The digital refers to still pictures. Nevertheless, this is a well designed and well thought out product.
On: 1999-11-19
Im very pleased with the 510. I bought the 12 hour mother-of-all-batteries and took the camera to Papua New Guinea where I took the equivalent of about 3000 still photographs on 3 digital hi-8 cassettes. I also took a lot of straight video footage from which I was able to extract static images of rather good quality, depending on the amount of motion artifact. My one complaint is that in low light the image tends to get a bit grainy...I havent figured out how to solve this problem. Let me know if you do.
On: 1999-11-11
I have had my TRV-510 now for about 2 1/2 months and have recorded mostly football and sports tapes. The ability to get stills with the camera either at once or while rewiewing the tape is a super benefit. I cant imaging enjoying a camera more and if I had bought a DVD format would have missed out on playing my old 8mm tapes. I use the serial port hook-up to my computer every week to get action stills from the games.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-10-09
Great concept - Digital video recording, plus the ability to store a bunch of still shots in the built-in 2MB of RAM. In addition, you can pull stills into memory off the tape, or vice versa. The resolution isnt as good as a true digital still camera, but Ive made some 5x7s from this that look just fine. Includes a serial port cable to connect to your PC, as well as a "firewire" port for those who have that capability, although it does not include a firewire cable.
On: 1999-10-08
Great concept - Digital video recording, plus the ability to store a bunch of still shots in the built-in 2MB of RAM. In addition, you can pull stills into memory off the tape, or vice versa. The resolution isnt as good as a true digital still camera, but Ive made some 5x7s from this that look just fine. Includes a serial port cable to connect to your PC, as well as a "firewire" port for those who have that capability, although it does not include a firewire cable.
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