Sony DCRTRV140 Digital8 Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Video Light & USB Streaming
By: Sony Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 38
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 On: 2008-01-23
I bought this camcorder years and years ago (not off of amazon) and Im pissed mostly because the guy I bought it from told me it would play my old 8mm analog video tapes. IT DOES NOT!!! So if you are looking for a digital camera that allows you to do this, dont buy this camera. And if you arent wanting to play analog tapes, go buy a miniDV camera, dont waste your time with Digital 8. Also, this camera does not have a microphone jack, so if you want to get decent sound, dont buy this camera. It also has a crappy battery life, and its a lot bigger and chunkier than the image makes it look.
On: 2007-01-04
I am very dissapointed with SONY products in general. They have always been my preferred brand for TVs and other electronics over the years. But in the past 5 years we have purchased a home entertainment center and this camcorder and with hardly any use they are both broken and obviously out of warranty. The home entertainment center was fixed by Sony by them sending us a completely new unit - and it has the exact same error message as the old one - and we hardly used the thing and now it is broken, out of warranty and stuck on the "Standby" message which blinks continuously :( And For the Camcorder - we only used it occasionally and have recorded a total of 3 of the mini tapes and now SONY wants me to pay $211 flat rate to fix unit since it is out of warranty... Very dissapointing - especially since I always believed they made quality products. We will not purchase SONY products again.
 On: 2005-01-25
I bought my camera over a year ago and Im very please with all the options. Great zoom, great night shoot, take great quality movies and all. The only drawback Ive found so far is the IEEE-1394 support. Theres no way to sincronize it when capturing video using the firewire option. The sound is garbled when using with Vegas Foundry 4.0 and the capture run too fast out of sinc on windows movie maker 2. I tried everything including using my other computer which has a different type of IEEE-1394 card and the problem is the same. I tried getting some help from the people at Sony but all they say is they are not responsible with compatibility issues with third party firewire cards. It doesnt matter how many times you write them, that is the only answer you get. So, with that and all, is not a bad camera at all, just dont plan on using firewire for your movie capture, just be please with the usb or you can use the s-video option if you have a vide capture card.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-09
We had been very happy with this camcorder - until we pulled it out to take Christmas pictures of our 15-month old son and the camcorder wouldnt record. It wouldnt eject the tape, and after repeated calls to customer service, weve been told that theyll pay for parts, but the labor to fix it is just over $200. Unfortunately even though weve only used the camcorder for under 15 hours, were outside the 90 days for labor warranty (whod have thought the camcorder would be unusable after under 15 hours of use?).Still waiting on a callback from customer service, but having gone up 4 levels already, its not looking like theyll fix the product. Think our model will be headed for the trash - and well be looking at anything BUT Sony for future purchases. I would definitely steer clear of a Sony after this experience.
by: dougrw On: 2003-08-09
When I first started to look at camcorders I didnt know exactly what I wanted. The number of features was overwhelming and I wasnt sure which ones would prove valuable. I ended up decided on a set of core features: digital recording, reasonable size, good zoom and computer connectivity.I finally ended up with the TRV-140 and it has been great. It is a standard handcam size, which means it fits comfortably in your hand but isnt tiny. The 20x optical zoom is very nice. I have yet to need the digital zoom and havent even considered buying a telephoto lens. To connect the camera to your computer all you need is a firewire card and the right cable (4 pin to 6 pin). Transferring video was as simple as connecting the cable. Windows XP immediately recognized the camera and I was able to capture and edit film using the MovieMaker software included with XP. My only complaint is the battery life. The standard battery doesnt last very long, especially if you use the LCD. Consider picking up a second battery when you purchase the camcorder. Sony has a couple of offerings, but all are rather expensive. If youre looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the compatible batteries made by Duracell or Ray-o-vac.
 On: 2003-07-29
...
Its a very good camera for the price and as my old camera was a hi-8 canon Ex1 I didnt have to go out and buy new tapes either as the 140e uses hi-8 tapes. I didnt use the pixelA software as it is rubbish, instead I use Pinnacles Studio8 which allows me to download and convert my video to burn to cd or dvd between different formats. Firewire works well and all functions are simple to use. Image quality is good.The only blots on its copybook are for me the disabled control facilities from the higher models (you can re-enable them if you know what you are doing) and the lack of DV in (again this can be fixed) finally the lack of an external mic socket...which Im looking into sorting out... overall...very good buy. Ray.
On: 2003-07-14
Bought this camera as a replacement for my old (failed) Digital 8 camera. Same features as my other camera, at 1/2 the price as my old camera 4 years ago.Added feature this camera has: Time lapse video. And stop frame photograhpy. Feature this camera does NOT have: Search mode while in Record mode. If you want to un-record a scene, this camera does not allow you to search, or rewind, while in record mode as the previous models allowed. You must change to playback mode, then rewind, then change back to record mode and hope the tape did not shift much while changing modes.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-07-04
Basically, this camera is great, but I bought it to do digital editing (so I would transfer the video with the firewire port). Well, to my surprise, Adobe Premiere didnt support the camera, Uleads VideoStudio didnt either, and neither did the software provided with it (Pixelas ImageMixer). All in all, the firewire is really just a buzzword to make the camera sell, because its ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS. So Im stuck with this USB Streaming feature... Personally, I recommend if you bought this camera to return it immediately and get a Sony MiniDV camera where you can actually use the firewire.
On: 2003-06-16
It may not be listed in Apples iMovie Compatibility list, but it works perfectly for me on my iBook 700 combo drive model with OS X v10.2.6. Just plugged it in, launched iMovie and it was instantly there...another great OS X experience!Ease of use was outstanding, just charge up the battery, pop in a tape and go. If youve ever used a camcorder, you could probably use this one without even looking at the manual, the controls are pretty standard and easy to learn. Video quality seems good, focus is quick, lcd display is bright and vibrant. The built-in floodlight worked well to light up the dark stairway (no windows or lights) in my house and take good video there. It works equally well for me indoors and out.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-06-12
I bought this camera about a year and a half ago and am still very pleased with it.The camera is very easy to use and the buttons are (in my opinion) easy to use and reach from the recording position. I have taken several hours worth of video and havent run into any sort of mechanical or electrical problems yet. The biggest problems I have with my purchase dont even involve the camera. The USB Cable is extremely short at maybe two feet in length. Sony claims the camera can capture and broadcast live video and audio, but with the USB cable being so short, it really limits the possibilities. I have to move my CPU from under the desk in order to get the cable to reach the desk surface, and barely reaches then. The PIXELA software that comes with the camera is horrid. Its "user friendly" interface is such a pain to deal with and doesnt offer the customization that I would expect. When capturing stills from the video, each still is saved as a .BMP which makes them INCREADIBLY large. To save it as a .JPG you have to export it to another folder and the program limits your exporting to one image at a time. When you have hundreds of images, the process can be very tideous. Id rather have a function where I can capture them as .JPG and not even have to deal with the .BMP that are on average 225kb a piece. For the file size being that large, I would expect better clarity in the 320x240 pixel images, but I am extremely disappointed. There is no option in the PIXELA program to change either the resolution or image size. Overall I am very pleased with the camera, but very unsatisfied with the PIXELA program and the short USB cable.
On: 2003-06-07
We bought our DCRTRV 140 to support a video project - we were up against the deadline and this little camera was so easy to use we were able to transition from a 11 year old Sony Hi8 video camera to this one in less than one day. The easy to use menus and immediate access to editing specials were so easy to pick up that we had all of our shots within 24 hrs. The easy access USB port and packaged software helped us to complete the video project for a school thesis in less than 2 weeks. Great Product, you can always rely on Sony...
by: Anonymous On: 2003-05-30
Ive had this camcorder for a while know, and i have to say that for the prize excelent FOR ME. Know the Sony TRV-140 isnt all flowers, it does have some but few flaws.
1. Steady Shot isnt superb.
2. REC button some times gets stuck and it wont retract after you press it like it should, but dont worry because i fixed that with just a little bit of grase. Well know let me tell you ,the things that you will appreciate from the Sony TRV-140.
1. USB Streaming.
2. DVin/out port
3. Super NightSHot
On: 2003-05-19
Went to Disney and was very pleased with the results. Easy to use and not cumbersome to carry around. Got stable pictures even on the roller coaster.
On: 2003-04-27
I purchased this camera for work as a replacement for another Sony. I am very impressed with each feature that has been improved since our last purchase. The zoom is excellent and stays in focus quite well. The nightvision works better than advertised and the microphone is awsome.The connection to view on a regular monitor are really easy using the input feature. When you consider the price, there is no downside to this one.
On: 2003-04-23
Es una camara muy buena, sin embargo la resolucion de las fotografias y el video cuando se pasa a la computadora da una calidad muy baja.
On: 2003-04-14
Pros: Performance for the price, features, looksCons: Size, pricey, still picture quality, no analog inputs or backward compatibility with 8mm/Hi8 Summary: The Digital 8 camcorders uses Hi-8 tapes (you can use cheaper 8mm tapes but it is not recommended) and perform digital recording. The Digital 8™ camcorders are usually backward compatible with 8mm or Hi-8 tapes - they can play your old 8mm or Hi-8 recordings. Advantages of D8 camcorders: 1. Ability to play 8mm and Hi8 recordings - TRV140 cannot do this
2. Hi8 tapes are a little cheaper than MiniDV
3. Sony D8 camcorders are cheaper than their MiniDV camcorders with similar features
4. Even inexpensive D8 camcorders usually have analog inputs and analog-digital pass-through - TRV140 doesnt Disadvantages: 1. D8 is not widespread and if your D8 camcorder dies or becomes obsolete, you will have to get another D8 camcorder.
2. Hi8 tapes are larger in size than MiniDV
3. MiniDV is widely supported, unlike D8. If you need to play your tape on another digital camcorder or VCR, chances are they will be MiniDV. As you can see, two major reasons to get a Digital8 camcorder would not apply to TRV140 (you can buy TRV240, which has both 8mm/Hi8 playback and analog inputs). And the Hi8 tapes are not much cheaper than MiniDV. So the only reason would be: You want a digital camcorder from Sony that is inexpensive. The TRV140s main advantage is its price. But there is little sense in buying the Digital8 camcorder that lacks D8 features ...
by: Anonymous On: 2003-04-06
I am very pleased with this Camcorder. Besides its fair pricetag it takes excellent pictures. Many, many features for the price! I just plug it into my Mac and all video is downloaded with no effort whatsoever. After some editing with iMovie my video is burned to a DVD and then I start over. It is very easy to find accessories for this camera anywhere.
I also am very pleased and happy with Amazon.com. The level of customer service they provide is the best that I have ever encountered. They truly are a role model for all internet business.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-28
Even though the manual says it does not work with the Mac, a 4 to 6 pin cord connects to a firewire port on the mac and it works just fine with iMovie, etc. It is a great camera for the money and very easy to use.
On: 2003-03-28
This is Sonys first attempt at the world of Digital 8 media. While the more expensive version are better, this one is great for its price. It has multiple recording modes (black & white, solarize, etc), night shot & super night shot, and color shot for a list of features as well as a light. It has an lcd screen that you can use insead of the eyepiece, which may drain more power but makes it much easier to record. I found that the nightshot isnt even needed most of the time, as well as the light during low lighting. The picture came out crystal clear in low lighting without turning on eiter feature, something that all camcorders do not do. The night shot allows you to see up to 10ft away in pitch blackness with amazing clarity using infared technology, and can be upgraded to 100ft if you really need it with an add on part. It can WRITE on Digital8 and Hi8 tapes, BUT CANNOT READ TAPES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED WITH AN ANALOG CAMCORDER. If you want to watch older Hi8 videos recorded with an older camcorder, buy the next step up from this one. The only problem I found with this camcorder is that recording images and movies on your pc doesnt come out great through USB media. You have to buy a $...I-link cable if you want high quality inages on your pc and, if you have an older pc, an I-link expansion port for your pc... Overall, however, I am quite impressed with the quality camcorder you get at such low cost.
 On: 2003-03-21
This camera is advertised here as being MAC compatible. It absolutely is not. Save yourself a headache, and only buy this if you want to connect it to a PC.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-08
My wife wanted to tape a family event and I opted for this model. I never used one before but the set up and operation was easy. I have yet to read the manual from cover to cover but I was able to get up and running without it. The video came out nice in dim lighting.
On: 2003-02-03
This is (was) Sonys low-end digital camcorder. Snatch one up before theyre phased out with next years model. Crisp, clean video. Note the lux sensitivity on this low-end model exceeds the more expensive ones. The built-in video lamp is surprisingly effective.USB, S-video and firewire output is available for dubbing tapes. The firewire seems more tailored to dubbing direct to a Sony tape deck. Personally, I elected not to install the USB drivers because of problems mentioned with Win2K. I use the s-video input on my video card and it works wonderfully. You dont need the mpeg features on the high-end models, especially if you want to edit your video on your PC. The camera features nightshot and super-nightshot. Whats the difference? Super is better, I guess. The manual is inadequate in describing some of the features, so you will be left to experiment. The nightshot feature has become notorious as a modern day, functional x-ray specs. If thats what youre looking for, keep looking. If you use the camera as intended, you can shoot in total darkness with a built-in infrared light source. An optional add-on infrared source is available for shooting around a camp fire or to film the candles on a birthday cake with wonderful clarity. Into any great design a few low-points must fall. This camera does not feature the Intelligent Shoe and is not compatible with such accessories. There is a built-in mic with no provision for an external mic at all (my biggest disappointment). The built-in mic has great sound; but, with the automatic gain, it may pick up the motor noise in a quiet room. Finally, it records on Hi-8/Digital8 tapes in a format which is not at all compatible with other cameras. Use it to record then dub to VCD/DVD, or use the firewire to dub directly to a properly equipped Sony tape deck with an extensive set of editing features.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-20
The quality of TV output is very good but poor when transported to PC. There seems to be data loss. Perhaps due to USB streaming, not sure. Other things are fine.
On: 2003-01-04
It is safe to say that any product you buy from Sony is a high-quality product, at least in my opinion, and in the case of the Sony DCR-TRV140 Camcorder, it is no exception.The quality of the video is excellent; the "Nightshot" view is useful, however, I dont see any use for it for me. It should be noted that while the Sony DCR-TRV140 does have IEEE1394 FireWire support (using a 4-pin port on the camera) it does not include the cable necessary for you to connect your camera to the computer through the IEEE1394 protocol. This cable can be purchased separately for around $40 at Sony, or other retailers. The USB Streaming is excellent, and the software included with the Camcorder is very comprehensive and easy to use; however, I like using Windows Movie Maker 2 to import and edit my movies. At any rate, to edit the movies, all you have to do is connect the USB cable to the camera and to your USB port on your computer then record the digital video. If there is at least one thing I would change about this camera, it would be the support and user-guides for the camera. There is a user manual, which does provide basic information, but I found for my needs--which is that of the average user--it is not comprehensive enough. Despite that downfall, I certainly would recommend this fairly low-cost camera to anyone interested in entering the digital video sector of the digital world.
On: 2002-12-27
The DCR-TRV140 is Sonys lowest level digital camcorder, but it is not low-level at all. It records picture at a stunning 520 lines of resolution and sound in PCM digital stereo. You can truly see the difference in picture quality between Digital and Hi8 or VHS-C. The Digital8 system records digital pictures on inexpensive Hi8 tapes. Its got an incredibly large 20x optical zoom. Optical zoom is the most important type of zoom because there is no loss of picture quality. It also has a 560x digital zoom which is less important because, the farther you zoom, the worse the picture quality gets. One of the most amazing features of this camcorder is the Infrared Super NightShot. What it does is project an infared light, invisible to the human eye, allowing you to see in no light at all. It also comes with various special effects and fade options. The FM30 InfoLithium battery allows use for 3 hours (1 hour w/LCD). It includes an i.Link DV Interface (IEEE1394) for editing video on your computer. It also allows you to have streaming video via USB. This camcorder is a good, moderately priced introduction to digital video with features surpassing those of other brands.
On: 2002-12-26
I have the 140e not so sure what the "e" stands for. I have had the camera for a few weeks now and am very happy with it. There are a few things I could add to my wish list though.
1. AV in and out (camera only has "out" so you cannot record vhs video)
2. Mic socket
Apart from that it shoots excellent quality video and it is a good buy.
On: 2002-12-24
The video recorded with this camcorder looks very well on TV. Much better then Hi8 and little difference from more expensive models. However if you transfer the video to a computer the limitations of its sensor (290k active pixels) becomes visible, but still decent. The audio is decent but not directional at all. When recording a silent scene, the camcorder records its own motor noise but this is not a problem since even a whispper will be recorded louder. The autofocus is VERY fast (compared with other brands), works very well even for reasonable low light. The digital image stabilizer works very well introducing just very little noise (Panasonic, JVC or Cannon are no match in this respect). There is no white balance manual control, and the manual exposure control is shared with manual focus. Both are quite useless since given the display resolution you cannot achieve better control then the camcorder does. Quite good low-light performance (while a little noisy), better then TRV240 and TRV340 which have a much smaller sensor (1/6" compared with 1/4"). Top loading tape (no need to remove it from the tripod to change tape, like the rest of D8). No analog video in. No Hi8 playback. Overall a very good value for the money! Dont even think about buying a Hi8 camcorder instead! You may consider however TRV740 for its better resolution, especially if you plan to watch your videos on a computer screen. Compared to miniDV you get the same recording quality in a bulkier and cheaper package.
On: 2002-12-17
I bought this camera specifically for a trip to Disneyland. This camera had all the nice features I wanted for my price range, and I did get some good videos on my trip. However, the frustrations afterwards were so severe that I almost wish I hadnt gotten it. PIXELA: The included Pixela software for viewing images on a PC is horrible. All images Ive seen and captured so far with that software have been horrible quality, full of large pixels, often so dark that theyre indiscernable, the still shots are the size and quality of webcam pictures (i.e., horrible), the video stammers, and the number and size of downloads is surprisingly limited. When I called back to the store twice to complain, they kept asking "Doesnt your model have a memory post?" No. Apparently this is the...model that doesnt. When I called into Sony to ask why my darker stills were viewable on TV but completely black when viewed through Pixela, they couldnt even answer my question. When I asked why I was getting BMP formatted images instead of JPG images, they said, "Oh, your model doesnt have a memory post." Because of this, I have to run an additional piece of software I got elsewhere to convert the format of every captured image. I was highly tempted to return the camera, except that it took so long to be able to figure out how to install and use the software that I passed the return deadline. Pixela will not install correctly if you dont have an audio driver loaded or if you connect the USB cable too early. When running Pixela, if you get the order of the operations wrong (USB connect, camera on, run Pixela), Pixela will lock up so completely that there is no alternative other than to reboot your computer. The manual describes only Pixela and never hints that other software will work better with this camera; it was only by accident while reading customer reviews I learned that supposedly Microsoft Moviemaker will also work, and work better... Except that I cant find where to purchase it, and its likely to be a heavy extra expense just to try to circumvent Sonys existing weaknesses. The only alternative for me was to do direct DV-to-VHS transfers, except that a rainbow noise problem occurs on video whenever there are overlapped recordings. I finally learned that this noise problem is due to lack of a flying erase head on my VCR, but when I attempted to purchase a new VCR to circumvent this problem, I learned that VCRs with flying erase heads are no longer made, since manufacturers are pushing DVD technology instead. Bottom line: If you dont also buy Firewire and additional video software, forget about making decent compilations of your footage. AUTOFOCUS: My footage of dark rides was full of alternating blurs since (like most digital cameras) autofocus has trouble on dark scenes, and there were several spans of at least 15 seconds where the autofocus could not focus at all. ERGONOMICS: The ergonomics is poorly done. While filming one show I had to fumble around in the dark to try to find the Nightshot switch, and as I did, I accidentally hit the color slow shutter button next to it (that I never even heard of), and the camera started freaking out and I couldnt get it to recover for several seconds, thereby ruining my live footage. Similarly, the on-off lock button is right next to the record button, and several times when attempting to rock the button to "off," I unknowingly hit the record button, as I discovered only afterwards when I saw all the error footage of the pavement between my intended scenes. Also, the lens cap continually falls off the side clip that is supposed to hold it out of the way. MANUAL: The manual is badly organized, unnumbered, incomplete, and impossible to understand in parts, unless accompanied by brute force experimentation. For example, I got a warning announcement to turn off the light on my camera on one ride, even though I had no lights on: what the manual didnt say is that the Nightshot option turns on an invisible but strong infrared light on the camera, which the infrared monitor cameras at Disneyland detected. Similarly, I found no mention whatsoever of "Firewire" in the manual, so I assumed the camera was incapable of Firewire connection. It wasnt until my 2nd complaint visit to the store that they pointed out an unmarked Firewire port, and told me for another [money] I could install a Firewire card on my PC... Except that Id probably also want to upgrade my already large RAM and hard drive. It wasnt until I called into Sony that they told me that the i.Link cable mentioned in the manual is Sonys version of Firewire. The title creator is also poorly described. The manual never described how to use their editor in the section where I needed to create a customized title: I had to go through an elaborate example in an earlier, unrelated section. No general diagram or algorithm. SUMMARY: Ive been filing complaints about this camera ever since I bought it 8 months ago, and now its broken down and in the shop (a tape label seems to have partly come off and interfered with something). Daytime videos from this camera work very well if you watch them only on a TV, but anything dealing with a PC or still shots with this camera is so incredibly bad that I would recommend against anyone buying it. I ended up having to buy a second digital camera at twice the price just to get quality still shots. I recommend buying some other camcorder with a memory post and Firewire capability with non-Pixela software instead of this thing.
On: 2002-12-14
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF DIGITAL8 a 520 line video & hi-fi stereo!!The DCR-TRV140 Digital8 Video camera recorder (Digital Only). This camcorder is awesome. This is Sonys introductory level Digital8 model. The DCR-TRV-140 is a low price, high value, versatile and sophisticated video cam. This is all you will ever need. Bottomline - This is what you get; uses Hi8 or Digital8 video tape (the simple difference is a 120 minute Hi8 tape converts to a 60 minute Digital8), 20x Optical Zoom (Most important zoom which maintains hi-res feature), 560x digital zoom ( loses hi-res feature when magnified - I recommend staying with OPTICAL ZOOM ONLY!), 2.5 hi-res color LCD screen (opens 90 degrees & can be rotated 180 degrees with an auto mirror image), built-in light with 5 foot range, remote control & sensor, Steady shot (stabilizer), USB streaming, DVIn/Out - Sony iLink (BEST FEATURE - A 4 pin 2 way FireWire(IEEE-1394) for direct digital video & stereo transfer with no signal loss), digital effects, frame recording, hi-fi sound, interval (lapse) recording, SUPER NightShot ( shooting in a dark room without light), backlit feature ( allows to subdue rear light to increase foreground subjects lighting) and much, much more. This camcorder comes with a 3 hour battery (its real life is about 75 minutes using the LCD screen. The actual battery time remaining is displayed on the LCD screen. The stabilizer eliminates the camera jitter and the hi-res digital pictures are awesome. The supplied video cables allow you to hook up to a tv or vcr. The video transfer via USB (with supplied PC software) or the awesome Sony iLink (FireWire)allows a 2 way direct digital link to a DVD recorder (ie Philips DVDR-985, DVD+RW (rewriteable) or DVD+R (one time) SEE MY DVDR-985 REVIEW). In Summary - this is an OUTSTANDING DIGITAL8 Video Camcorder. Again this a DIGITAL ONLY unit. The DVR-TRV140 is a great economical way to move into the hi-res (520 line) digital world. Transferring to PC or DVD burner is so simple and digital pictures & hfi stereo sound is the only way to go. Enjoy.
On: 2002-12-05
I bought it after a couple of weeks of deliberation and after almost deciding to by the canon zr-45. The main thing in favor of the zr was its compact size. The trv140 on the other hand had great nightshot capabilites. I valued that more than size, so I bought the sony. I got a good deal at circuit city. Since then, Ive played with it some and am enjoying it tremendously. The following is not a comparison with any other camcorder, they are just observations about the 140. Things going for this camcorder : 1. Good picture quality overall. 2. Great nighshot capabilities. It also has a light if you want full color images in the dark. 3. Really simple to use. 4. Setting up USB was no problem on my Win2K machine. Pixela worked on the first go, thought it did crash sometimes. But you wont find yourself using it that much. Firewire connectivity was equally simple and the picture quality was great. The USB connectivity is good for using it as a webcam. 5. Hooking it to the tv was also straightforward and the image quality was excellent. 6. Good audio capture. The worst of this camcorder: The motor noise, loud and clear ! Most camcorders seems to have this problem, but it is unmistakable on this one ! I believe software filters can take it out to some extent. Yet to try that. Minor irritants:
1. The focussing is a tad slow.
2. Bulky compared to mini dvs.
3. The USB cable provided is too small.
4. No firewire cable. I didnt really care for still images since even the high end camcorders have only a megapixel resolution which is no good for stills.
I didnt care for backward compatibility with hi8 tapes. I just wanted to be able to use my cam anytime, anywhere and this one fits my needs and budget just right. I would have given it 5 stars if it werent for the motor noise. That really seems like clumsy design on Sonys part. Also sony could have done better than to provide an amateurish software like Pixela Shoot away,
amit
On: 2002-11-16
A nice entry point as far as digital camcorders go. If your not too high tech or your other equipment is not top of the line, you probably wont be able to tell much difference between this and the next model above it.
On: 2002-09-29
while the picture quality isnt fantastic, its enough if youre intending to put your film up on the internet.
the cameras computer connectivity is a breeze if you follow the manual.
On: 2002-09-09
Camera is easy to use and a sturdy rugged design. The buttons are solid and all have a positive feel to them, no chrome to wear off. The zoom is easy to control. Some of the cameras I tried would pick up the sound of the zooming onto the tape, this camera is silent. Lots of goodies, remote (so you can sit back in your chair as you watch your videos), being able to zoom in on a video during playback, and time lapsed videoing. When looking for a camera make sure that you have enough optical zoom. Digital zoom is just blowing up the best optical picture that you can get. Ive tried some cameras with 10x optical, but the picture quality really suffers, and even more so when you use digital zoom. This camera with 20x zoom and 560x digital zoom makes for great shots of people without getting in their face and does a nice picture job on zooming in on objects. The steady shot feature is the best out of all the cameras I looked at. Other cameras have their own versions, but Sony has perfected this feature. Very handy when looking at your home videos. Nothing more annoying than watching a shakey video. Which brings me to the weight of the camera. This camera isnt the lightest, but thats because of the size of the tape and technology in it, but the lighter the camera, the harder it is to keep steady. The O- lux with super nightshot works great, you can see in the dark! In low light I was happy with the performance. Ive used the camera around the camp fire and was able to take some great video. The battery life is relatively short even if you dont use the LCD screen, but Sony as the infolithium battery which tells you exactly how much time you have left on the battery at all times. Like with any camera, you will need to buy a second battery anyway. The USB streaming function with the Pixella software is virtually useless. Very disappointing, because that is why I bought this model. (Other wise I would have bought the TRV308). I went out and had to buy a Firewire PCI card with a cable (IEEE 1394, I-link). Now your talking great camera to PC downloading. Its like your LCD screen is on your computer. Cut, paste and re-record the video onto your camera or email it. Overall Sony knows how to make a product. They try to think of everything, even the lense cap has a handy clip to hang it out of the way when you are filming. Plugs and cable ports are handy and easy to get at. Whatever camera you get, buy a UV lense, 10 bucks takes the glare out of outside video shots and adds an extra layer of protection to the actual video camera lense. I spent alot of time going from store to store buying, trying and returning 4 different brands of cameras in this price range. I am very satisfied with my purchase.
On: 2002-08-29
I have had this camcorder for about a month and have really been empressed.Though you cannot transfer this to your computer well, connecting it to your TV is chrystal! It does not have the static sound to it. It is a great cam for those who are just wanting the best for their money.
On: 2002-08-12
I think the first question when buying a Sony digital camcorder is, Mini DV or Digital 8. Both Mini DV casettes and cameras are smaller but more expensive. The price is about 1.5 fold for about the same specifications. As they use the same recording system there isnt a real difference in picture quality and data transfer. Digital8 camcorders recording pattern allows digital recording on 8mm or Hi8 tapes but only TRV 140 cant playback ! In fact the most important difference between them the size and the weight of the camera because of the size of the casette. TRV 140 is the cheapest D8 camera. Its most important spesification is x20 optical zoom. 560 digital zoom is useless as the quality destroys completely after x40 digital zoom. LCD monitor is perfect. TRV 140 has the USB connection but you cant transfer quality videos to your PC with it. I think you need to use the i.LINK DV Interface (IEEE1394) on TRV 140 if you want to transfer quality videos to your PC. Of course you have the A/V out which can be used by a TV card but the quality differs. USB connection brings the ability to use your camera as a webcam and transfer still images to your PC but nothing else. Built-in light is effective only 2 meters so you need extra light in larger places. Built-in infrared light system lets you capture video from a up to 3meters away, even in total darkness but the sceene is black and white and qualility is poor for moving objects. You can see the others on the LCD even when you cant see your own hand because of the darkness(!). It is posible to use an external infrared light system. TRV 140 records high-quality 12-bit or 16-bit digital stereo audio but it is a bit more noisy at 16 bit. When you watch your video on TV picture quality is realy wonderful. You can connect your camcorder to a TV by A/V out, scart connector or S video cable. S video connection doesnt transfer audio and it doesnt bring an extra quality. The cable isnt included in the package and no need to pay an extra in my opinion. TRV 140 has a DV out connector but not a A/V in. Some digital camcorders can capture MPEG digital video and store it directly to the memory stick but TRV 140 can not. Movie length ranges allowed by the capacity of the memory stick and it is only some seconds. MPEG movie function can be usefull to share via the internet and you can get performance by using USB connection but nothing else. You have to pay minimum 150- 200 $ more to have a camcorder which can produce MPEG movies. There is also the photo function in TRV 140 but the quality is not like a digital camera. Photos are like paused images in good quality. In fact camcorders can not take quality photos as a megapixel digital camera. Transfering the photos to a PC is also not practical as a digital camera too. Battery life is realy satisfactory. You can record a 60 minute casette even the LCD monitor and sometimes the built-in light is on. The remaining battery and casette is always displayed. Steady shot picture stabilization of Sony with motion sensors works very well. As a result TRV 140 is the cheapest digital camcorder and there is not any reason for not to buy it. All digital8 camcorders are bigger and heavier than Mini DV camcorder but there is not a big difference in picture quality. Dont even think of buying a Hi8 camcorder instead of TRV 140. You will see that digital videos and sounds are very different than analogs. Perhaps TRV 140 is the best choice if you dont want to spend too much on a digital camcorder. Be sure that it is not poor of some technology as it is cheap !!
On: 2002-05-06
... After some browsing I was convinced to purchase this camera because of its solid technology and advanced features in a surprisingly affordable package.The highlights are: Digital technology using Hi8/Digital8 tapes, Hi-Fi Stereo, 560x digital zoom, 20x optical zoom, USB streaming, Super Nighshot, Steady Shot, built-in light, LCD screen, and the infoLithium technology. The camera includes a complete and detailed guide, a stereo A/V connection cable to hook up to your VCR or TV, a full featured wireless remote commander (with batteries), the NP-FM30 battery pack, a USB cable for video streaming to your PC, a shoulder strap, plus the AC power adaptor. It also includes a CD-ROM with Sonys USB drivers and Pixelas ImageMixer software for Macintosh Windows (including 2000 and XP). I am new to this whole digital video camera world as this is my first video camera, and I can say that after just a couple of hours of use I find myself very satisfied and excited with this new investment. The main purpose of my purchase was to use it to record family events and share the family moments using my PC. Obviously one of my first tests was the digital streaming using the USB connection.
I found the digital streaming very simple to use and well documented. The only gripe is the bundled Pixela ImageMixer software. It didnt work quite as expected and I had to resort to MS MovieMaker, which incidentally works excellently with this camera. I own a PC clone with Windows XP Pro and I couldnt find any glitches or incompatibilities here. You can record your pictures using various levels of quality; in high quality mode the USB performed quite well, although not quite comparable to streaming directly to a TV or VCR. The available option of using an I-Link, IEEE 1394 cable (not included) should provide a faster data transport (100-400 Mbps) and a better streaming experience, but I am currently unable to test this feature. The camera can also be used for still pictures, with capacity for more than 550 pictures using one tape. This is a fantastic feature, plus the still pictures may be combined with your videos at the same time. Later on you can use the built-in search functionality to easily obtain and view (or transfer) your stills. Additional nice features include:
* Fader effects
* Digital effects such as Still, Flash, Luminance key,Trail, Slow shutter and Old-movie
* Auto Exposure - these are preprogrammed modes used for different shooting conditions
* Interval recording - The camcorder automatically records and standbys
* Cut recording
* Zooming during playback
* Scene search by date, photo search
* Digital video editing
Overall, this is a very affordable, easy-to-use, full-featured video equipment and that is why I highly recommend it. Pros: Affordable Digital technology, ease of use, many advanced features, great documentation
Cons: Camera is a little heavy and big compared to recent models, poor software
by: Anonymous On: 2002-02-22
I recently purchased this camcorder. I found that the USB Streaming thing is ok. It isnt as good as a firewire. But still USB Streaming isnt a main feature. The picture quality under a little low light is horrible. But just normal like is fine. There is no video input for this 140. Also I noticed on all Digital8 models at the side view on a straight line kinda turn in a fisheye lens veiw. (only on side of screen). I would buy this is u just plan to edit Digital video and not a big person on excellent Picture quality.
PICTURE QUALITY : 8 (out of 10)
SOUND: 9 out of 10
FEATURES: 7 out of 10
LEARNING TIME: About 20-30minutes
On: 2002-02-21
This is a multi-purpose photo equipment. It has a lot of utilities that makes it easy and convinient for you to use. You can transfer video to your PC and even capture and print video images using the USB connection and software supplied, or you can just transfer the video to your regular video tapes. Which ever options you choose, the process is very easy.You can also use it to broadcast recorded or live videos on the web. The Nightshot is also a beauty. And it is also very affordable.
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