Sony DCR-TRV280 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

Sony DCR-TRV280 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom | Nice

camera & photo:

Sony DCR-TRV280 Di...

	Sony DCR-TRV280 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Sony Sony average customer review:based on 54 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Excellent alternative to mineDV camcorder

I wanted to purchase a digital camcorder to record family events, parties, kid's performaces at school, etc. Until now, I was using 9 year old 8mm Sony TR86 camcorder that at the time of purchase was very basic...no LCD, no stabilization, etc. But at that price (it cost over [...] then) that all what I could afford. And I can tell you for 9 years, this camcorder was servicing me very well but now my son needs that camcorder to record his school's projects.
I decided to purchase miniDV camcorder that would do something very basic that I used to do with my old camcorder and the price would not exceed [...] (I wanted to spend more on Panasonic GS500 but to shell out extra [...] were not in my budget plan) So...I completed my one months homework and found that new moderl of JVC D650 should be a perfect match for me. When I purchased that camera for [...] and brought it home, I could not believe how bad it was shooting videos inside the house. All videos were like they were done at the basement without any source of light and when I compared JVC's video against my 9-year-old Sony, I returned JVC the same day.
Then I came accross the website where it was saying that Digital8 camcorders shoot not worse picture than miniDV and I started my new advanture to find perfect Digital8 camcorder. After only one evening behind the computer, I new for sure that it will be Sony TRV280. So far, I have this camcorder for only two days but I can tell you, it is AWESOME camcorder. It is not as light or small as miniDV camcorder but it shoots excellent video both inside and outside the house. Nigthtime shooting mode is excellent to pick up objects even in the total darkness.
Colors are rich and full. Sound is incredible clear. I used to record in Mono with my old camcorder so 16bit stereo sound recording is a big step up for me. Also Digital8/Hi8 tapes are much cheaper that miniDV ones. I searched e-Bay and found several dozen of selers that offer 10 Sony Digital8 tapes for only $23 including shpping.
The battery is kind of small but this is not a problem as I will buy a larger capacity battery anyway soon.
And one more thing...I only paid [...] for that camcorder.
As a conclusion, I am very happy that I choose this camcorder. Let everyone say that miniDV is a future and than 8mm format is a dinasour but I like my new dinasour. I am higly recommend this camcorder.

for more information click here

Nice

I have had this for a couple days, but I must say it is fairly dumby proof. This is my first camcorder and I was able to figure it out and start taping in under five minutes. It is a good starter camcorder as well as a good bang for the buck.

Good choice

I really enjoyed using my camcorder. It's so small and lightweight and the picture quality is very good. Maybe for lack of experience, the zoom function felt a little awkward. A picture tells a thousand words, but a camcorder, well it was the next best thing to taking my mother who was unable to travel along. She agreed when she saw the tape.

for more information click here

My second D8 camera

This review is really about the Sony D8 cameras. I've just ordered this camera after my original one was stolen. I bought my original D8 back in 2000 and took it all over the world. It was thrown into backpacks, taken to the beach and had the dust of three continents in the viewfinder. Throughout it all it performed flawlessly. In six years I never took it in for servicing, though I kept meaning to get it cleaned I never did. I took hundreds and hundreds of hours of video and never had a glitch. My wife is a choreographer and I've filmed many dance performances and this camera often took better quality images than the professionals hired for the job.

My little camera was rugged, dependable and took great video. Overall I would have given it a six, if possible, except for one thing: the format. Now that my original camera was stolen I am left with hundreds of tapes that I hope will be playable in this camera. I did find a video transfer service that will transfer my D8 tapes to DVD for $20 each, but not many support D8.

So, by all means, get this camera. If it's at all as well-built as my first one it will last for a long time. Just make sure that for every tape you film, make a DVD because the D8 format is doomed and will soon become the betamax of digital camcorders. Personally, I'm buying this one just to get the rest of my tapes transferred over, and I'm buying a hard drive camcorder for my ongoing taping.

for more information click here

Good Product