Sony Handycam DCR-TRV310E Digital-8 Camcorder
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- Recording System: NTSC
- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Digital-8
- Optical Zoom: 20x
- Weight: 2.1 lb.
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Solid choice for computer videomakers on a budget
Pros
digital, 20x optical zoom, records on Hi8, night vision, analog input, large LCD
Cons
no direct audio dubbing
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This old camcorder is still capable and useful....
Jan 2005 Update
The review below was written by me almost 5 years ago and it probably is obsolete and useless at present time, since the only place to find this camcorder is on eBay, used or damaged. I am however writing this update, for those who still own this model, or any one of the original Digital 8 series.
I still use this once state of the art machine to its fullest. It is still one of the few digital camcorders with a phenomenal 20x optical zoom and a large LCD screen. For reasons strange to me, Sony stopped using large screens (cost, I suppose) and powerful optical zooms (cost and consumer ignorance?) on their consumer versions of digital camcorders (also, the Digital 8 breed, although still produced and in my view, still useful, will probably be extinct soon).
One feature that probably not everyone is aware of is the camcorder's ability to convert analog signals to digital signals, on the fly. Having analog inputs on board, one can conclude that analog video can be passed through this camcorder and fed via Firewire into your capture software. Yes, it is true: You can use this camcorder to capture your old VHS memorabilia onto your harddrive, in DV format, and perhaps edit the footage and burn it on DVDs. You can obviously do so by capturing the footage on tape, then by rewinding the tape and using your capture software, but, think about the fact that you double your work and time by dubbing, not to mention the fact that you need tapes, that you can't capture more than one hour in one session, that you have to rewind, that you put a lot of wear and tear on the fragile mechanism and heads. This machine is what Sony calls a "first generation" camera and, although the "passthrough" (actually sold by Sony as a feature in the second generation camcorders) is possible, it was disabled in the firmware (camcorder's operating software). Basically, the moment you plug the firewire cable in, the camcorder automatically switches to DV In mode, the reason behind this being so that the capture software can control the camcorder (rewind, start the tape, etc.) There is a way to disable this feature temporarily. I will not get into details, you need some tech savvy to do this. I found an ancient site (still up as of this writing) that has a tiny piece of software that will change a few addresses inside the camcorder's software and a very simple schematic for an interfacing cable. This will disable the DV In feature and will let the machine pass the converted analog-to-digital signal straight to your computer. You can even do this without having to insert a tape. I successfully built the cable and used the software. Here's the URL: http://www.sps.volyne.cz/set1394/anin/analog.html. Please beware of the fact that the system works on Windows 98, but not on XP. This setup will basically transform your old camcorder into a perfect analog capture device, without the big budget you have to put out for a decent analog capture card, without any strain to your computer, and with the added bonus of a decent size LCD monitor!!!
If I was at all able to make you interested in using one of these camcorders for video editing, and you are interested in finding one of these machines (probably only a few hundred dollars today), you might want to get your hands on the TRV720, the best in the series. It has native "analog passthrough", a 25x optical zoom (rivals some of the best consumer binoculars) and a large LCD screen.
Again, you might have a miniature Japanese marvel in your pocket and might equate a 5 year old Digital 8 machine to an 8 track, but these machines are rugged and fully capable and, make a great video editor's swiss army knife. And if you have one that eats tapes or does not record anymore, don't throw it away, you can use it as an analog video capture device!!
This is my old review:
WHY SONY
Because they have an unsurpassed tradition in making quality electronics and quality camcorders. And because at the time I was shopping for a video camera all reviews were pointing to it. One thing to remember when you read reviews on digital video equipment - chose your reviewers wisely, preferably from people who are passionate about digital video and NLE (Non Linear Editing). I hope I'm going to make my point clear in this review - if you want a quality camcorder to last you for a while, don't get blinded by superficial features (such as 1001 transition effects and a whooping 500x digital zoom). One more thing, don't listen to professional video makers either, they will tell you that everything under $3000 is bad.
WHY DIGITAL 8
Because it's cheaper (so you can concentrate your money into other important areas commonly overseen by many people, such as the optics).
Because it's based on older but proven and much more robust Hi8 technology.
Because you can use good old Hi8 tapes which are much cheaper than the DV ones.
Because you can find Hi8 tapes virtually everywhere.
Because you can play all your old analog 8mm and Hi8 tapes on a Digital 8 camcorder.
Because it produces the same amazing quality footage as the native DV technology.
Marketers want to fool you into buying newer and more expensive technology based on the amount of extra lines that DV can produce, the fact that the DV tapes are not ordinary tapes but specially formulated for digital, etc. If you are reading this review and are considering a $700 camcorder, then the fact that the Digital 8 produces 500 lines per frame, that in practice, Digital 8 captured footage is the same as DV captured footage and that the quality of digital footage is much better than the highest quality SVHS tape you've ever seen should be enough for you.
WHY THE TRV RANGE OF DIGITAL 8 CAMERAS
Sony produced a wide variety of Digital 8 cameras, currently ranging from $600 to $1,200 and more. The models that were available when I purchased my TRV 310 were: TRV 7000, 103, 110, 120, 310, 315, 510. Then they added 320, 520,525,720,820. Sales people will find many reasons to convince you to buy the latest and more expensive model. But know this:
The major differences between the models have nothing to do with the quality of recorded video, but with the fact that some models have a b/w or color viewfinder, some models have a smaller or a larger LCD screen (the 7000 model has no LCD), some models have or don't have a memory stick (a card that allows you to store still shots), the highest model has a sublimation printer incorporated in the body.
All TRV models have a fantastic optical system, which includes a great quality lens, optical image stabilization system and a 25x optical zoom. Again, don't get fooled by salespeople who sell the x450 zoom, the optical one is the one you care about. The digital zoom works the same way you would zoom into a bitmap image on your computer, by blowing up the pixels, until the entire image is a bunch of colored squares. All TRV cameras are based on the same 1/4" CCD (charged-coupled device) with 460,000 pixels. This is the sensor that actually captures the image from the lens and transforms it into pixels.
TRV 310 PROS (SOME COMMON TO OTHER MODELS)
Analog inputs. Why is this at the top? Because you can use your camera as an analog video capture device (saving hundreds to thousands of dollars on specialized equipment). How you do it? Simply connect your source (TV, VCR, etc.), record the footage on a Hi8 tape and voila, digital! You can then use the footage with any DV NLE editing system. Most expensive DV cameras don't come with this feature.
Sony lens. Again, people forget that the lens is the part of the system that is decisive in the final output quality.
25x optical zoom and 450x digital zoom. A few months ago I took my fiancee to the mountains in Romania and I showed her the top of the mountain saying that there is a cable car there. We couldn't see it with the naked eye. I pointed my TRV 310 and zoomed in. She was amazed.
Optical image stabilization. In plain English this corrects hand shaking. TRV 310 does it with an optical prism suspended in fluid. Other manufacturers do it digitally. In this case, although the results are comparable, digital is not better!
Flying erasing head. Because it's adapted from the old Hi8 technology, it works. Because people don't do their research, most of the mini DV cameras they own don't have it. In plain English, this makes sure that when you turn on and off your camera, there is no garbage between cuts. Very important.
Night Shot. TRV cameras come with an infrared night shot system which allows you to shoot in total darkness. Way too cool.
3.5" swivel LCD screen. Some reviewers complain about the size of the screen on the 310. I find it large enough and I use it as a raw preview monitor in my NLE system.
Wireless transmission system. Allows you (via a separate gizmo you have to buy) to show your videos on a TV without wires. Cool.
i.Link(R), or IEEE 1394, or FireWire port. This allows you to capture footage to your computer.
Larger than DV cameras. Don't kill me, I am also a big fan of the tiny little gizmos you can fit in your shirt pocket. But the TRV 310 has the feel of a real, professional camera. Attach a boom mike to it, strap on some batteries, snap a wide angle lens and you can go to any event and pass as the video guy. Try that with a plastic mini DV...
Better than CD audio quality. I used this camera to record my friends sing, the quality is just amazing. I recently captured some audio on the PC and burned it onto a CDR, I had to convert the file to a lower quality, the cd burning software complained that it cannot handle more than "CD quality" sound files...
Manual focus ring. Quite rare on the consumer DV cams.
Other features - 7 mode fader, 14 picture effects, 16:9 widescreen, edit search, end search, Control-L (LANC), Drop-Frame Time Code, S-Video port, electronic accessory shoe, etc.
CONS
No audio dubbing. Most DV cameras can record narration or add a sound track on the camera after you shot the footage. Digital 8 cameras can't do it. The reason I don't care about this feature is because I do all my editing on the NLE machine (just a plain old PIII computer with a $60 FireWire card).
The focus ring is not comfortable to use and it does not have the feel of a real optical one.
The review below was written by me almost 5 years ago and it probably is obsolete and useless at present time, since the only place to find this camcorder is on eBay, used or damaged. I am however writing this update, for those who still own this model, or any one of the original Digital 8 series.
I still use this once state of the art machine to its fullest. It is still one of the few digital camcorders with a phenomenal 20x optical zoom and a large LCD screen. For reasons strange to me, Sony stopped using large screens (cost, I suppose) and powerful optical zooms (cost and consumer ignorance?) on their consumer versions of digital camcorders (also, the Digital 8 breed, although still produced and in my view, still useful, will probably be extinct soon).
One feature that probably not everyone is aware of is the camcorder's ability to convert analog signals to digital signals, on the fly. Having analog inputs on board, one can conclude that analog video can be passed through this camcorder and fed via Firewire into your capture software. Yes, it is true: You can use this camcorder to capture your old VHS memorabilia onto your harddrive, in DV format, and perhaps edit the footage and burn it on DVDs. You can obviously do so by capturing the footage on tape, then by rewinding the tape and using your capture software, but, think about the fact that you double your work and time by dubbing, not to mention the fact that you need tapes, that you can't capture more than one hour in one session, that you have to rewind, that you put a lot of wear and tear on the fragile mechanism and heads. This machine is what Sony calls a "first generation" camera and, although the "passthrough" (actually sold by Sony as a feature in the second generation camcorders) is possible, it was disabled in the firmware (camcorder's operating software). Basically, the moment you plug the firewire cable in, the camcorder automatically switches to DV In mode, the reason behind this being so that the capture software can control the camcorder (rewind, start the tape, etc.) There is a way to disable this feature temporarily. I will not get into details, you need some tech savvy to do this. I found an ancient site (still up as of this writing) that has a tiny piece of software that will change a few addresses inside the camcorder's software and a very simple schematic for an interfacing cable. This will disable the DV In feature and will let the machine pass the converted analog-to-digital signal straight to your computer. You can even do this without having to insert a tape. I successfully built the cable and used the software. Here's the URL: http://www.sps.volyne.cz/set1394/anin/analog.html. Please beware of the fact that the system works on Windows 98, but not on XP. This setup will basically transform your old camcorder into a perfect analog capture device, without the big budget you have to put out for a decent analog capture card, without any strain to your computer, and with the added bonus of a decent size LCD monitor!!!
If I was at all able to make you interested in using one of these camcorders for video editing, and you are interested in finding one of these machines (probably only a few hundred dollars today), you might want to get your hands on the TRV720, the best in the series. It has native "analog passthrough", a 25x optical zoom (rivals some of the best consumer binoculars) and a large LCD screen.
Again, you might have a miniature Japanese marvel in your pocket and might equate a 5 year old Digital 8 machine to an 8 track, but these machines are rugged and fully capable and, make a great video editor's swiss army knife. And if you have one that eats tapes or does not record anymore, don't throw it away, you can use it as an analog video capture device!!
This is my old review:
WHY SONY
Because they have an unsurpassed tradition in making quality electronics and quality camcorders. And because at the time I was shopping for a video camera all reviews were pointing to it. One thing to remember when you read reviews on digital video equipment - chose your reviewers wisely, preferably from people who are passionate about digital video and NLE (Non Linear Editing). I hope I'm going to make my point clear in this review - if you want a quality camcorder to last you for a while, don't get blinded by superficial features (such as 1001 transition effects and a whooping 500x digital zoom). One more thing, don't listen to professional video makers either, they will tell you that everything under $3000 is bad.
WHY DIGITAL 8
Because it's cheaper (so you can concentrate your money into other important areas commonly overseen by many people, such as the optics).
Because it's based on older but proven and much more robust Hi8 technology.
Because you can use good old Hi8 tapes which are much cheaper than the DV ones.
Because you can find Hi8 tapes virtually everywhere.
Because you can play all your old analog 8mm and Hi8 tapes on a Digital 8 camcorder.
Because it produces the same amazing quality footage as the native DV technology.
Marketers want to fool you into buying newer and more expensive technology based on the amount of extra lines that DV can produce, the fact that the DV tapes are not ordinary tapes but specially formulated for digital, etc. If you are reading this review and are considering a $700 camcorder, then the fact that the Digital 8 produces 500 lines per frame, that in practice, Digital 8 captured footage is the same as DV captured footage and that the quality of digital footage is much better than the highest quality SVHS tape you've ever seen should be enough for you.
WHY THE TRV RANGE OF DIGITAL 8 CAMERAS
Sony produced a wide variety of Digital 8 cameras, currently ranging from $600 to $1,200 and more. The models that were available when I purchased my TRV 310 were: TRV 7000, 103, 110, 120, 310, 315, 510. Then they added 320, 520,525,720,820. Sales people will find many reasons to convince you to buy the latest and more expensive model. But know this:
The major differences between the models have nothing to do with the quality of recorded video, but with the fact that some models have a b/w or color viewfinder, some models have a smaller or a larger LCD screen (the 7000 model has no LCD), some models have or don't have a memory stick (a card that allows you to store still shots), the highest model has a sublimation printer incorporated in the body.
All TRV models have a fantastic optical system, which includes a great quality lens, optical image stabilization system and a 25x optical zoom. Again, don't get fooled by salespeople who sell the x450 zoom, the optical one is the one you care about. The digital zoom works the same way you would zoom into a bitmap image on your computer, by blowing up the pixels, until the entire image is a bunch of colored squares. All TRV cameras are based on the same 1/4" CCD (charged-coupled device) with 460,000 pixels. This is the sensor that actually captures the image from the lens and transforms it into pixels.
TRV 310 PROS (SOME COMMON TO OTHER MODELS)
Analog inputs. Why is this at the top? Because you can use your camera as an analog video capture device (saving hundreds to thousands of dollars on specialized equipment). How you do it? Simply connect your source (TV, VCR, etc.), record the footage on a Hi8 tape and voila, digital! You can then use the footage with any DV NLE editing system. Most expensive DV cameras don't come with this feature.
Sony lens. Again, people forget that the lens is the part of the system that is decisive in the final output quality.
25x optical zoom and 450x digital zoom. A few months ago I took my fiancee to the mountains in Romania and I showed her the top of the mountain saying that there is a cable car there. We couldn't see it with the naked eye. I pointed my TRV 310 and zoomed in. She was amazed.
Optical image stabilization. In plain English this corrects hand shaking. TRV 310 does it with an optical prism suspended in fluid. Other manufacturers do it digitally. In this case, although the results are comparable, digital is not better!
Flying erasing head. Because it's adapted from the old Hi8 technology, it works. Because people don't do their research, most of the mini DV cameras they own don't have it. In plain English, this makes sure that when you turn on and off your camera, there is no garbage between cuts. Very important.
Night Shot. TRV cameras come with an infrared night shot system which allows you to shoot in total darkness. Way too cool.
3.5" swivel LCD screen. Some reviewers complain about the size of the screen on the 310. I find it large enough and I use it as a raw preview monitor in my NLE system.
Wireless transmission system. Allows you (via a separate gizmo you have to buy) to show your videos on a TV without wires. Cool.
i.Link(R), or IEEE 1394, or FireWire port. This allows you to capture footage to your computer.
Larger than DV cameras. Don't kill me, I am also a big fan of the tiny little gizmos you can fit in your shirt pocket. But the TRV 310 has the feel of a real, professional camera. Attach a boom mike to it, strap on some batteries, snap a wide angle lens and you can go to any event and pass as the video guy. Try that with a plastic mini DV...
Better than CD audio quality. I used this camera to record my friends sing, the quality is just amazing. I recently captured some audio on the PC and burned it onto a CDR, I had to convert the file to a lower quality, the cd burning software complained that it cannot handle more than "CD quality" sound files...
Manual focus ring. Quite rare on the consumer DV cams.
Other features - 7 mode fader, 14 picture effects, 16:9 widescreen, edit search, end search, Control-L (LANC), Drop-Frame Time Code, S-Video port, electronic accessory shoe, etc.
CONS
No audio dubbing. Most DV cameras can record narration or add a sound track on the camera after you shot the footage. Digital 8 cameras can't do it. The reason I don't care about this feature is because I do all my editing on the NLE machine (just a plain old PIII computer with a $60 FireWire card).
The focus ring is not comfortable to use and it does not have the feel of a real optical one.
