Product Description
- DVD + RW / -RW media
- External microphone
- 12x optical, 480x digital zoom
- 1.07 megapixel advanced HAD CCD
- 2.7 inch wide hybrid SwivelScreen touch panel LCD screen
The powerful Sony DCR-DVD203 Handycam(R) Camcorder delivers enhanced picture for a sharper look to digital video. From its antireflective Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to the enhanced 16:9 widescreen recording, the DVD203 Handycam(R) delivers an extraordinary looking picture. Capture realistic sound with the DVD203's Dolby 5.1 Channel Creator and built-in 4 Channel Surround Sound microphone. Designed for recording on multiple DVD formats, the DVD203 Handycam® is compatible with DVD-R/-RW/+RW discs. Re-record over 1000 times on the same DVD-RW or +RW media. The powerful engineering behind the Sony DCR-DVD203 Handycam(R) Camcorder, along with its advanced usability, help to deliver an amazing look and feel to digital video. Record digitally with encoded Dolby AC3 5.1 Channel audio directly onto DVD for quick and easy playback on your Home-Theater System. Capture and create vibrant audio for digital home video and hear everything you have been missing. Stamina battery performance gives you up to 5 hrs recording on one complete charge using an optional NP-FP90 battery pack USB 2.0 interface provides an excellent digital editing solution with an easy way to connect your DVD Handycam(R) camcorder to the computer for fast transfer of video and still images to your computer for editing Zoom - (optical) 12x / (digital) 480x Still Image Mode (1000K Pixels) - 1152x864 & 640x480 Progressive Shutter System is a mechanical shutter system that provides Progressive Scan performance Minimum Illumination - 7 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot(R) Plus Infrared System)
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Lightweight and compact. Great value.
This is a great DVD camcorder. Best of all is its size. It is barely larger than my digital camera and weighs almost nothing. For those who don't know yet, this DVD camcorder (and most recent ones) doesn't use regular DVDs but smaller ones instead, so the camcorder is not as bulky as one would think.
Getting started was very easy. I literally watched my first DVD on TV one hour after opening the box. The internal software automagically creates a menu with chapters and all (all of it can be customized of course). Commands and options are all very straightforward and very few settings need to be changed in order to get started. Also, there is a fantastic zoom for a camcorder of this size.
Only downside is the battery time. The battery will die after about an hour. I still give it 5 stars because anyway I am not of those who film landscapes or entire shows/parties from end to end. I usually only use a camcorder to film relatively short events or everyday-life snapshots of kids and family, and this camcorder is just perfect for that.
Great Value for Home Video
This is my first camcorder and the only reason I bought it was because my first child was due in June. The reason I went with Sony was because several of my friends own one. I liked the size and picture quality of the mini DV but I didn't like the fact that you had to hook up a lot of cables and fast forward or rewind to look for your shots. My friend owns one of the first generation Sony DVD camcorders and he showed me some video and I thought it was pretty good even at 60 min and he said he has never had a problem with it so I decided on this the model 203 which was newer and in widescreen.
Pro: Wide screen, sound is not bad, ease of use ( I have been experimenting with it straight out of the box, haven't even read the manual yet and you can pretty much figure out all the features), and size.
Con: I own a 47inch widescreen TV and even on the Highest Quality recording the picture looks a little grainy and colors weren't that great, but play it on a regular tube TV and the picture is great so I guess it loses a little resolution on the bigger screen. I will have to try it on my brother in law's 50inch plasma. This is the reason I gave it only 4 stars.
I haven't tried the editing features yet but most likely I will get aftermarket software. I purchased thru amazon which was one of the better values but not the cheapest. The cheaper site, which I won't name got a lot of poor reviews and complaints so I stuck to amazon for no tax and free shipping.
I like it but need time to learn how to use it properly
I started recording video right out of the box. The camera's features are pretty good but the video was a little grainy or too bright and it skipped some. I need to spend some more time learning how to use the camera properly.2 disks worth of movies were unwatchable because I didn't use the back light. After a few day's of tinkering I found the "easy cam" button.It seems to record much better now.
It's not a "right out of the box" camera but I still like it and think I will like to more once I take the time to learn how to use it properly.
I would like it better if I bought it at the amazon price but I was overseas and needed a camera fast. I paid twice amazon price so I guess I have higher expectations.