Sony DCR-TRV38

The 3.5 inch LCD screen is GREAT! The touch control screen works well and is easy to navigate after you spend some time orienting yourself to the menus. It is difficult to see the screen in direct sunlight and therefore difficult to use the menus in that circumstance. Photo quality and stabilization is great. The microphone picks up everyones voice, especially the camera operators. It does not pick up any sounds from the camera. Investing in a hotshoe mic was a great investment as well as a wide angle lense to widen the field of vision. I found the standard lens narrow for most of my shots. The cover for the camera inputs/outputs gets in the way when I use the external mic, makes it difficult to hold the camera and operate the finger controls. All in all I am very satisfied with the camera in spite of a few quirks.

Nice balanced feel in your hands. Great video/audio. Super LCD and controls. Works really well with the Sony remote control tripods. Good variety of batteries available that seem to last forever!

Input/output cover should go on opposite side. Have to remove camera from tripod to change DVD tape cassette. Standard lens is to narrow for most often used shots.

Panasonic Camcorder VHS-C

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