Sony CCD-TRV138 Hi8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
By: Sony Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 18
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 On: 2008-02-20
Wasnt stereo, sold it on ebay @ a loss :o(. Ads said hifi sound....didnt says hifi "MONO" sound until read fine print :oP. Didnt use it, cant say more.
 On: 2007-12-25
I bought this camera solely to copy my HI-8 tapes on to my computer. Since then I have started using it for wild life video, my home, and my dogs. The camera exceeded my expectations.
 On: 2007-10-18
Like other reviewers, I bought this SONY after my old machine refused to play back my antique but loved tapes. I was shocked at all the DVD complaints I read here.
Although I like to edit tapes on my computer, its a job or two sometimes. I burn DVD easily in real time with a free-standing Sansung DVD burner that cost me 100 dollars. Its got a list of about 125 or so. At the time I bought it at Frys, and loved it so much I got another a few weeks later. ALl you do next is get Audio and video out from the itty bitty combo plug, and then use the round rca plugs to go to the burner. Yes, a totally free standing burner. Plug it in, and go to the bathroom or what-ever. Automatic performance once started!!!! Now I also use this burner to record TV shows and such. Its like a VCR for DVD media.
I use this for several formats of video. Now I am sure there is a loss of quality, but it does an excellent job of video transfer. FAR superior to recording to VHS tape.
On: 2007-10-17
Like other reviewers, I bought this SONY after my old machine refused to play back my antique but loved tapes. I was shocked at all the DVD complaints I read here.
Although I like to edit tapes on my computer, its a job or two sometimes. I burn DVD easily in real time with a free-standing Sansung DVD burner that cost me 100 dollars. Its got a list of about 125 or so. At the time I bought it at Frys, and loved it so much I got another a few weeks later. ALl you do next is get Audio and video out from the itty bitty combo plug, and then use the round rca plugs to go to the burner. Yes, a totally free standing burner. Plug it in, and go to the bathroom or what-ever. Automatic performance once started!!!! Now I also use this burner to record TV shows and such. Its like a VCR for DVD media.
I use this for several formats of video. Now I am sure there is a loss of quality, but it does an excellent job of video transfer. FAR superior to recording to VHS tape.
On: 2007-06-08
I purchased this camcorder knowing it was not digital "state of the Art". I have a Sony Hi8 camcorder vintage 1993 which no longer functions reliably in the playback mode, and I saw the TRV 138 as means to play my existing tapes and transfer them to DVDs. I found the TRV 138 to be half the size of my old unit and the batteries seem to last 3 times as long. Thus it functions well and is much handier to use. It has the fold out color viewer, my old one did not, plus some additional features such as a variety of fade modes. The only negative is my old unit recorded sound in stereo, the TRV 138 does monaural. This is not really a factor in my recording needs. I have recorded music performances and found the sound to be satisfactory
by: lighten_up_already2 On: 2007-04-26
Well, Im just amazed this model is still in production the way things are changing so quickly in the A/V world.
I bought mine two years ago and have recorded many hours of my children as they are growing up. This is a truly low maintenance and low cost solution for your video recording needs if you dont have a lot of money to spend on a digital set-up.
Just buy and extra after market battery or two (and theyre cheap) and some inexpensive analogue tape, and start recording away!
After you climb the learning curve, of course. My one problem with this camcorder is that the controls are anything but intuitive, and theyre splattered all over the unit. Be sure to read the user manual carefully before you try to use this thing, but once youve got it down youll find this a trusty and low cost companion for your family vacations and holidays.
Oh yeah, almost forgot, the microphones arent stereo but theyre really quite good for an entry level unit.
On: 2007-01-16
I was very pleased the fast shipment. I bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband, and he loves it. Every day he finds a new feature.
On: 2007-01-10
I purchased this camera about a year ago and I have had no problems with it yet.. It is also light weight and is compact.... Great product...
On: 2007-01-06
I bought this to play back old Hi8 tapes so I could transfer them to DVD. However, there is no S-Video out and no stereo out. Video quality was bad: output was noisey and reds were over saturated. I imagine this is because there is no S-Video out. I returned it and have ordered a Sony GV-D200. Hopefully it will give me better quality since it was more than twice as much. There are some cheaper used options available, e.g. Sony EVO-250.
 On: 2007-01-04
Steven, i would like to know how you record to DVD-R from this camcorder. I know sony offers a video adaptor, (VMC-20FR) for connecting to a TV or VCR; do you connect to a VCR, then to a DVD-R recorder?
Pinnacle Systems makes a DVD Recorder that connects composite video to USB, is this what you use? I too want to preseve my old 8mm analog tapes, and i am looking for the best way to accomplish this.
On: 2007-01-03
Steven, i would like to know how you record to DVD-R from this camcorder. I know sony offers a video adaptor, (VMC-20FR) for connecting to a TV or VCR; do you connect to a VCR, then to a DVD-R recorder?
Pinnacle Systems makes a DVD Recorder that connects composite video to USB, is this what you use? I too want to preseve my old 8mm analog tapes, and i am looking for the best way to accomplish this.
 On: 2006-12-28
I purchased this cancorder for one purpose: to playback old 8mm tapes for recording onto a DVD-R recorder. For this purpose it is ideal: low cost; colour view sceen with sound; plays 8mm and Hi8 tapes; rugged and high quality feel, so it may last a long time; apparently the only name-brand 8mm camera available at this time.
If you are looking for a general purpsose camcorder do not buy this one for the following reasons
1. 8mm and Hi8 is obsolete. When your camcorder finally breaks (as all three of mine did after an average of 5 years use) you will have a hard time finding a device to playback your precious tapes on.
2. This camcorder has no "steady shot" which in my experience is the most important feature for easy recording of good quality videos.
3. This camcorder is rather big and heavy compared to many others available.
Steven Woodward
On: 2006-12-27
I purchased this cancorder for one purpose: to playback old 8mm tapes for recording onto a DVD-R recorder. For this purpose it is ideal: low cost; colour view sceen with sound; plays 8mm and Hi8 tapes; rugged and high quality feel, so it may last a long time; apparently the only name-brand 8mm camera available at this time.
If you are looking for a general purpsose camcorder do not buy this one for the following reasons
1. 8mm and Hi8 is obsolete. When your camcorder finally breaks (as all three of mine did after an average of 5 years use) you will have a hard time finding a device to playback your precious tapes on.
2. This camcorder has no "steady shot" which in my experience is the most important feature for easy recording of good quality videos.
3. This camcorder is rather big and heavy compared to many others available.
Steven Woodward
On: 2006-11-09
Ok this is the third Sony Handycam i have owned and this is the most lacking in options..Sony Messed up with the USB port because if your looking for that one just spend the extra cash and get the TRV 280
i had the 280 and it was stolen from me so i came on here and saw the TRV 138 and i purchased it and was disapointed in the picture quality..its fuzzy.. im in the process of seeing if the seller will return this camera so i can get the TRV280 back..
I hope this has helped
On: 2006-01-15
This camcorder can not be used to record direct to your computer or any of the new dvd recorders. You have to record first to video tape then be able to connect your VCR to a dvd recording device. Very disappointed. How hard can it be for Sony to add the USB port? Even my $100 digital camera has a USB port.
Dont waste your money on a camera that is already outdated in technology.
On: 2006-01-03
This is your basic video camera. Id say its good for those who just need a video camera for occassional video recording. It has the basic features, with NightShot as an additional bonus. The picture quality isnt as great as I thought it would be (its a bit grainy on my 36" WEGA), it doesnt record in stereo, and I wish it could hook up on my computer, but theres no USB port. I guess for the price you pay, its expected. Id recommend it if youre not really looking for something too hi-tech. I wish I couldve gone with something better, maybe the next model up, but hey, it gets the job done.
On: 2005-12-29
Everything about this camera is amazing to me. I originally read that there is a problem with this model of camcorder with the screen blanking out after 1 or 2 years of use. I havent seen any signs of that happening so far. I love this. Being a college kid it gets banged up on occasion, but my Sony seems to have held up to the challenge.
BUY THIS CAMCORDER!
On: 2005-12-14
Bought one, LCD was fuzzy, second one, LCD fuzzy and made a loud humming sound, third, no humming sound but LCD still isnt clear, Im getting my money back...........
On: 2005-11-21
I think I love it. Great price for a Sony too!
On: 2005-11-20
I think I love it. Great price for a Sony too!
On: 2005-11-15
I bought this camcorder 4 months after the sound on my other one stopped working and I was impressed. The optical zoom is good at 20x and the digital zoom (which is completely pointless) is 990x. The second thing I noticed is that the LCD screen moved to more places and that there was 2 record buttons. One was on the LCD screen, the other was next to the off button. The viewfinder can also move to different places but is still in Black and white. Another feature that this camcorder has is Nightshot Plus. This feature allows you to record at night with a brighter picture than with a flashlight or lamp. There are also many DSEs or Digital Special Effects that you can play with in recording or editing. They are:
Sepia: adds a brown old tone to the screen
Black and White: the way films used to be
Negative Art: reverses the colors in the picture
Pastel: makes the picture look colored in with a pastel crayon
Solarize: makes the picture out of basic colors
Mosaic: the picture - made out of squares
Slim: stretches the picture vertically
Stretch: a lot like widescreen
When filming out or indoors there are different Program AEs you can use when the light in the picture changes. If you dont like switching them, you can set them to AUTO. The PAEs are:
Sports
Spotlight
Portrait
Beach/Ski
SunsetMoon
Landscape
If you want to buy this camcorder because it has great battery life, dont. It doesnt have a great battery life but it is still a great camcorder.
On: 2005-11-14
I bought this camcorder 4 months after the sound on my other one stopped working and I was impressed. The optical zoom is good at 20x and the digital zoom (which is completely pointless) is 990x. The second thing I noticed is that the LCD screen moved to more places and that there was 2 record buttons. One was on the LCD screen, the other was next to the off button. The viewfinder can also move to different places but is still in Black and white. Another feature that this camcorder has is Nightshot Plus. This feature allows you to record at night with a brighter picture than with a flashlight or lamp. There are also many DSEs or Digital Special Effects that you can play with in recording or editing. They are:
Sepia: adds a brown old tone to the screen
Black and White: the way films used to be
Negative Art: reverses the colors in the picture
Pastel: makes the picture look colored in with a pastel crayon
Solarize: makes the picture out of basic colors
Mosaic: the picture - made out of squares
Slim: stretches the picture vertically
Stretch: a lot like widescreen
When filming out or indoors there are different Program AEs you can use when the light in the picture changes. If you dont like switching them, you can set them to AUTO. The PAEs are:
Sports
Spotlight
Portrait
Beach/Ski
SunsetMoon
Landscape
If you want to buy this camcorder because it has great battery life, dont. It doesnt have a great battery life but it is still a great camcorder.
On: 2005-10-11
Opened up the box and found that it comes with only a single plug for audio and not two plugs for both right and left channels like all my other not working Hi8 Sony cameras. So cant play back existing Hi8 tapes previously recorded on other Sony HiFi Stereo cameras in stereo. Sony always drops the ball on us formerly loyal customers. They did the same thing with the Beta, where they discontinued the HiFi models first and all you could get were the left over monoural models. What would be nice would be a combo Hi8 player and dvd recorder.
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