Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony DCRTRV320 Digital Camcorder

About three years ago i bought a sony camcorder for about $800. I just bought the sony dcr trv320 for about the same price. And what it has compared to my other camera is unbelievable. Anywhere from nightvision to a digital camera. But what you have to watch out for is knowing that when you purchase a sony product be prepared to spend alot of extra money if you purchase any acessories

My first handycam was an F series bought 8 years ago. After 5 years it was broken beyond repair. I was itching to get one and finally did about a week ago.

I was surprise how far the handycam has evolved. I was the production engineer back then in Sony Handycam production line. Even spent 3 month in Sony Minokamo(where current handycam is produced... check your handycam label) in Japan for training. This is a good product for beginner, intermediate and even an expert. It has all the function you need. I think you have read all the pros regarding the handycam.

The low points for me are:

1. The supplied batteries lasts less than an hour. You'd better get another one. But it is very expensive. In fact all Sony products and accessories are expensive.

2. They eat up lots of tape.

3. For F450 model (8 years ago) the battery charger is external and you can charge the battery and still using your camera. But for this handycam the charger is external and when you are recharging the battery you will not be able to use the camera.

Other than that, everything is great. I bought a DV link card using the i-link IE3944, but the card was unusable and I return it to the supplier. Still waiting for a replacement. I would like to create a movie using this card.

If your thinking about buying a camcorder this is the one. It has many cool features night vision, negative, & many more. I bought this for my trip to Cozumel mexico and it worked like a champ. I also purchased the software for downloading it on your computer. I have made several mini movies with it. You would be surprised at what you can do with the editing software. I have used many camcorders in the past and this one completely rocks.

just took delivery of the 120 after the hi 8 trv75 was stolen. have not had a lot of time with it yet, but a few thoughts--

1)rca cable output is proprietary. has normal 3 outputs to connect to standard rca jacks, but the jack at the camera is a sony "mini" jack that has all three outputs. nice, but i know if i lost my old ones, i had other rca jacks around the house to use in a pinch, or even if taking cam to mom and dad's, they had rca's sitting around from the back of their record player if i forgot this one. now, if i forget this cable, we all gather around the 2.5 inch screen and squint.

2) didn't think i would notice, but the .5 inch difference between 2.5 and 3 inch screen is significant. couldn't justify going all the way to the 3.5 inch screen, but size does matter.

3) lens cover is old plastic cap that clinks and clanks around the camera because it is attatched with a string. the trv 75 had built in lens cover in camera.

4) camera comes with lame 90 minute battery. replacements and upgrades are way too expensive, but you've got to get at least an 8 hour battery.

5) seems bigger than the 75.

6) 25x zoom is great

7) 120 does not include memory stick for stills, but does have a photo mode where you take a picture and 5 seconds are recorded on your tape. nice feature if using computer input.

overall, nice camera, but not perfect. would give a four star rating if not so expensive

stetched to buy digital- and the still photo feature pushed me over the top. The salesman included "firewire" hardware from Pyro which includes Ulead editing software and, it works. The problem is that the while the camera takes great video and great photos, the Sony software included with the camera, needed to get the photo off the media stick and into a format the computer can read is defective. Doesn't work. Sony COULD or WOULD NOT HELP although they had a live rep available on a holiday, Gave me the line that it was the computer's fault- of course, the computer company said that since the camera was not purchased from them they could not provide support. HOURS, if not days on the phone and with badly written manuals. Result? No jpegs, just pretty pictures viewable through a 2.5" viewer attached to the camera. An ($) mess.