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Sony DCR-TRV130 Digital Camcorders

4/5 (1 Reviews)


  • Camcorder TypeDigital
    Recording FormatDigital-8
    CCD Quantity1
    Optical Zoom20x
    CCD Pixels460K pixels
    Display TypeWith LCD Panel
    LCD Panel Size2.5 in.
    Color ViewfinderWithout Color Viewfinder
    Digital Zoom560x
    Lens Focal Length3.6 - 72 mm
    Recording SpeedSP • LP
    Image StabilizerWith Image Stabilizer
    Low Lux1 Lux
    Night ShotWith Night Shot
    Audio Format12/16 Bit PCM Digital Stereo/Audio Dub
    Digital Still Shot ModeWith Still Shot Capability
    MPEG Movie ModeWithout MPEG Movie Mode
    Battery TypeProprietary Lithium
    Width4.13 in.
    Depth9.13 in.
    Height4.38 in.
    Weight2 lb.
    Warranty1 Year
    MPNdcr-trv 130
    Product ID10818

Product Description

  • Digital8 recording
  • 1/4" color CCD, 460K pixels
  • 20X optical/560X digital zoom
  • SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
  • Photo mode


  • Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

    Reviews 1 - 1 (1 Reviews Total)

    User Reviews

    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:4
    Submitted by JTM a Casual from Woodland Hills, CA

    Date Reviewed: December 30, 2001

    Strengths:    * Good build quality, picture quality, and features for it's price.

    * 1/4" CCD (460K Gross Pixels) with a Minimum Illumination of 1 Lux.

    * Received "Excellent" Rating for Image Stabilization.

    * NightShot/ Super NightShot Infrared System.


    Weaknesses:    * No Intellegent Accessory Shoe.
    * Mike Input.
    * No Video/Audio Inputs


    Bottom Line:   
    Great Entry Level Digital8.

    Though the TRV130 is Sony's the bottom-of-the-line Digital8, the TRV130 packs a lot of features into a digital camcorder costing under $600.

    I bought the TRV130 because of Consumer Reports (Nov '01 - Camcorder Ratings), DVSpotReview (http://www.dvspot.com/reviews/sony/trv130-review/index.shtml), CNET TRV130 Opinions, 1 Lux minimum illumination, and price.

    Per Consumer Reports Ratings, the TRV130's Picture Qualty Rating ("Very Good" for SP & LP) was as good as other digital camcorders (D8/MiniDV) costing 2x and 3x as much. Of ALL the 14 digital camcorders tested, the TRV130 was ONE of the THREE digital camcorders tested that received an "Excellent" Rating for Image Stabilization.

    As noted by a previous post the TRV130 cannot play analog 8 or Hi8 tapes. However, even those with an older analog Hi8 camcorder may want to still consider getting the TRV130 and use their analog Hi8 camcorder to play their analog 8 and Hi8 tapes.

    Why? Because the TRV130 is the only Sony Digital8 that comes close to the analog Hi8 camcorders low light recording performance. According to SONY's web site the analog Hi8 camcorders have a 1/4" CCD (320K Gross Pixels) with a "Minimum Illumination: 0.4 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot Infrared System)".

    The TRV130 has a 1/4" CCD (460K Gross Pixels) with a "Minimum Illumination: 1 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot Infrared System)".

    The TRV230, TRV330, TRV530 all have the smaller 1/6" CCD (460K Gross Pixels) with with a "Minimum Illumination: 4 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot Infrared System)".

    The TRV730 and TRV830 both have the 1/4" CCD (1,070k Gross Pixels) with with a "Minimum Illumination: 7 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot Infrared System)".

    Overall I've been very pleased with TRV130's build quality, ease of use, and image quality--both SP and LP.

    For advance user's/editing the lack of: Intellegent Accessory Shoe, Mike Input, and no Video/Audio Inputs are the only real drawbacks to the TRV130.

    BTW, do not expect "photo quality" still photos -- Camera only has 1/4" 460K Gross Pixels CCD that creates an 640x480 image.

    Expand full review >>

    Price Paid:    $550.00

    Similar Products Used:   Old "full" size Panasonic VHS Camcorder.




    Reviews 1 - 1 (1 Reviews Total)

    Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating


    • Camcorder TypeDigital
      Recording FormatDigital-8
      CCD Quantity1
      Optical Zoom20x
      CCD Pixels460K pixels
      Display TypeWith LCD Panel
      LCD Panel Size2.5 in.
      Color ViewfinderWithout Color Viewfinder
      Digital Zoom560x
      Lens Focal Length3.6 - 72 mm
      Recording SpeedSP • LP
      Image StabilizerWith Image Stabilizer
      Low Lux1 Lux
      Night ShotWith Night Shot
      Audio Format12/16 Bit PCM Digital Stereo/Audio Dub
      Digital Still Shot ModeWith Still Shot Capability
      MPEG Movie ModeWithout MPEG Movie Mode
      Battery TypeProprietary Lithium
      Width4.13 in.
      Depth9.13 in.
      Height4.38 in.
      Weight2 lb.
      Warranty1 Year
      MPNdcr-trv 130
      Product ID10818


     

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