Sony DCRTRV460 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

I bought mine in late 2005, but didn't use it when I was overseas because the supplied software was TERRIBLE & I never could get it 2 work. I ended up using the video capture on my separate Digital camera. So, a year later, I fired it up this week & spent an entire day trying 2 play a video I recorded yesterday on my PC... being a digital video novice, here are the caveats you need 2 know after I spent all day on it, plus read all 43 review before this one:
- I like the features of the camera, the zoom & fold out screen, but the pain is usability & working with the videos or pictures once you take them. If you just want 2 take taped videos, & watch them on a TV using the provided AV cable, it is ok, but NOT if you want 2 see or use the video on a PC & edit it. So read on...
- You really need a second battery, which I ordered automatically, which added 2 the price. Some of the reviews here say you can use 3rd party batteries, but others say an embedded chip prevents using them. Mine was an expensive Sony battery.
- There are no tapes in the box, so you have 2 buy some.
- READ the simple manual first 4 each task you do... 4 instance if you try 2 plug in the USB cable 2 a pc first it screws up the drivers, & you have 2 go 2 troubleshooting sections 2 manual delete the drivers, then reload.
- Sony uses a 4 wire firewire cable called "iWire" (they don't say firewire anywhere).. BUT THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE iWire CABLE. So the user wastes time trying 2 get provided USB cables 2 work & after two hours trying 2 install, reinstall & use the TERRIBLE Sony provided "Picture Package" software, or keep flipping through all the touchscreen menus 2 turn on "Burn DVD" which uses a CD-R (not DVD) & never find a way 2 transfer the video 2 the PC. I finally got the low budget USB Streaming player 2 work so I could see my video in a small screen on the PC, but there was no option 2 capture it 2 a file (stupid). Sony also provides an "AV" cable that has three composite rca jacks 2 plug into your vcr so you could play the video through that method, but I don't have a VCR anymore - I use a Comcast DVR which has the physical jacks, but they are disabled (a whole separate story about Comcast DVRs).
- Using firewire - finally, I fired up my previously purchased Pinnacle Studio version nine, which apparently can't recognize the Sony USB connection, as it kept saying it was looking 4 a connection on ieee 1394 input, which is firewire (Sony refuses 2 say that common name). I finally figured out I needed firewire 4 best transfer 2 the PC (and so do some of the reviews), & ordered the 4 wire 2 6wire Sony iWire cable by part number (read the Accessories catalog) because my PC does have the standard 6 wire Firewire jack on the back. Just after I ordered it, I found that Belkin had much lower priced cables of the same type on Amazon, or you can order used ones or generic ones. ALSO, I happen 2 have a Sony laptop, & it has a Sony design 4-wire firewire jack on it (not the standard 6-wire jack), so I ordered a Belkin 4-wire 2 4-wire cable 2 connect my camcorder 2 the Sony laptop.
- Sony doesn't provide any memory stick card at all so you can't use that storage feature until you buy one. Other reviews here say 64-128mb are fine 4 storing the 1mpx pictures it takes. 1-2 reviews say that you can't store movies on the memory stick, but I would confirm that - I haven't tried it.
- Conclusion:
- Get a second battery
- Don't rely on the USB connection 4 anything except a streaming video 2 the Sony viewer, but you can't capture it. Go 4 firewire, which means you need the cable (see below) & a standard firewire port or Firewire card on your pc.
- Get a 128mb memory stick 2 start (which means you also need a memory stick reader on the PC or laptop). The HandyCam pictures are only 1 megapixel, so I will rarely use it, but the memory stick is how you transfer the pictures 2 a PC (There might be a way with the USB line, but I don't want 2 waste anymore time on their software)
- Order the 4 wire 2 6 wire iWire or Firewire cable 4 playback & transfer, & if your computer doesn't have firewire, add a card with it. The Sony part number is VMC-IL4615 - but get the Belkin alternate or another supplier - Sony's price is $39.95 when Belkin's is 1/4 of that. (I ordered it, but haven't gotten it yet).
- Expect 2 not be able 2 do ANY work on the PC editing your video with the USB cable or Sony's poor software. Instead, try using firewire & the free Microsoft Movie Maker that comes with XP. OR, expect 2 pay $100 or more 4 Pinnacle Studio, or ULead's Movie product, or Adobe's video maker products. Pinnacle has special high end audio visual cards with firewire you might look at. Or just make sure you have a good AV card with firewire & the right hardware specs 2 use the video editing software (i.e. ATI Radeon, etc.) . MY HP has the right specs, so I didn't need an additional card.
- To process video files on the computer, you might need 2 add more memory - if the editing is slow, determine if more RAM will help.
- The camera doesn't come with a bag, so you will need one.
- The battery is charged by plugging the power brick into the camera & charging the battery in the camera. It is slow, & means you can't use the camera while charging, but I always have two batteries charged, so that is what you have 2 live with, or buy an external charger.
- Misc - I bought an infrared filter & tripod also 4 the camera.
- Cost - So even though you budgeted $400 or so 4 the camera, the true price with all the above is more like $600-700 2 actually be usable.

And now, my budding You Tube production might actually happen, once I get those cables...
VJ

Works well. Has fire wire & is Digital Quality. Would recommend this product.

I've read some poor reviews on what's happened over time with other people's Handycams, but I must say that mine still works after 2 years, a few typhoons & several 'dropping' accidents. I'm just now beginning 2 find some of the neat features of this camcorder, too!
The reason I purchased this camcorder was because of the colored infrared nightshot, which works great! You can take pictures in pitch darkness. Although I must say recently I've noticed problems with the handycam's playback feature. It keeps switching 2 Hi8 mode when the video isn't taken with the Hi8 feature (this makes the LCD screen turn blue so you can't see the playback). I'll most likely buy another Sony with the color enhanced nightshot, but I think I'll switch 2 the DVD or harddrive version.

I bought this camera in winter of 2004. It was a good camera 4 about a year & a half. This past summer I started getting the same "Video Heads are Dirty" message that everyone is getting. I've tried cleaning, but am still getting the message. Now it won't even recognize that there's a video cassette in it.

Looks like I need 2 take it 2 be serviced, but I fear what the cost will be.

I have had this camcorder 4 at least 3 years. I received it as a gift. I love it. It's easy 2 use, takes great still photos as well as awesome video. I make many little home movies with this camera along with my computer. It's zooms in & out nicely, had night shot & the battery charges quickly & lasts a long time. I did require a special cable that didn't come with the camera though. But as a long time user of this camera I must say its worth the money. I know it was under $400.00.

Digital8 record/play, Hi8/8mm play only * digital photo mode * MPEG Movie EX mode * 460,000-pixel CCD * 2-1/2" color touchpanel *