Sony DCR-DVD403 3MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom
List Price: $999.99
Details
- 1/6-inch CCD imager with 3.3-megapixel verdict
- In agreement with DVD-R/-RW/+RW formats
- Dolby digital 5.1 audio recording
Description
Apprehend powerful sound and sharp images direct to DVD with the DCR-DVD403 Handycam camcorder. Built for serious recording, the DCR-DVD403 comes with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens for creating first-rate quality images. Featuring high-resolution imaging with an 3.3 Megapixel Innovative HAD CCD imager, you can take not only sharp digital video, but also detailed digital still photographs. Set with an optional surround sound microphone, you can record Dolby Digital 5.1 Stream-bed surround sound to make watching your movies like a stop in to the theater.Other features include built-in flash and Super NightShot Infrared System to assist record in low light situations. See the bigger picture with the 2.7" off the target SwivelScreen LCD display with touch panel capabilities. Bets of all, you collar digital videos directly to DVD for the ultimate in recording convenience.Customer Reviews
It's alrightWe've recently replaced this camcorder with a Sony SR12 tangled drive camcorder. The hard drive camcorder is the way to go. This DVD camcorder is over-nice and simple to use, but the 30 minute DVDs is too much of a headache to keep changing in and out, outstandingly when you're right in the middle of capturing an event.
If your intention is to simply lay videos that are less than 30 minutes, then this might be the camcorder for you. But if you don't want the hassle of shifting out tapes and DVDs, then go to a hard drive camcorder instead.
Outstanding video; horrible software; bad microphone
Admonition: the microphone in this camera makes a lot of noise! If I had known that, I would not have bought this camera - do not buy this camera unless you don't take charge of that the slightest bit of wind noise should make a huge amount of noise in the terminal video!
WARNING: do not install the USB driver that comes with the Sony 'Picture Put' software included with this camera - it made my Windows XP system unbootable; could not boot even in 'justifiable mode'. This Sony software is more evil than any virus or trojan I have ever encountered. Fortunately, I was talented to restore my C: drive from my automated daily backup image.
I have cast-off this camera for 3 1/2 years without needing to install the software drivers and have been contented with the video and general usability of this camera. Rather than trying to use Sony's horrible software, the preferred organization of transferring data is simply to:
1. Finalize the DVD, in the camera
2. Insert the mini-DVD in your computer's DVD compel and manually copy the files to your hard drive
If you need to restyle the video on the DVD, the best way I've found is to open the .VOB files with VideoReDo Plus.
The video and freestyle life are excellent. I haven't had any problems so far except for the following complaints about draw up:
1. MICROPHONE - The microphone picks up way too much wind noise, making it troubled to shoot outdoors. Even a small breeze will create so much ugly blare that it makes watching the video annoying without turning off the sound altogether on playback.
Unfortunately, there is no good workaround for this problem since Sony did not include an exterior microphone input jack.
2. ZOOM - is far too sensitive. It really takes two hands on the negligible zoom lever to get anything other than a rapid or jerky zoom, although, with practice, improved my talents to do it with my thumb. Not easy.
RECOMMENDED OPTION: I purchased a clip in besmirch light that solves the problem of graininess in low light situations.
Though I purchased this camera partly due to its low-slight performance, compared with other cameras, I found that the resulting image quality too overcast and grainy for my taste.
My penchant camcorder
I have had this camcorder for noticeably some time and it is a thing of beauty. I will now pass it on to my brother with some sadness, as I scorn to see it go. Very easy to use. It turns on and off quickly. Comfortable to hold. Image stabilization is very satisfactory. Sound quality and video is very nice.
The very best part about this camcorder is that it records to mini DVD that I could pop out and fidget with right in my DVD player without having to convert or connect using wires. The only downside for me was the disc only recorded about 20 minutes importance of footage. I had to carry a small stack of discs with me when I went on vacation.
I have owned four camcorders and this is my hands down partiality.
It doesnt run DVD+RW resolutely
I've utilized this successfully with Maxwell, Panasonic, Sony and other mini DVDs in -R and -RW formats.
However I have not had any triumph with Memorex Duralayer +RW DVDs.
In the 3 years? or so that I have had the camera it has functioned well.
I have had to supplant the battery with a larger capacity model and to replace the charger when it safe to eat.
Other than those items it has done a good job.
Infatuation and hate it
I've owned this camera for about 18 months now. I wanted a camera that could flash both decent video and stills, and would do mpeg2 encoding to save me the business of converting DV-AVI files to mpeg2 myself. This camera largely met those goals but has lots of annoyances too.
1. The lens deal with. If you read the reviews here you'll be well aware that the lens cover on this camera is very given to failure. In my case the lens cover will not close. There was no apparent intention for the sudden failure; I have always taken good care of the camera and only use it thinly.
2. The PC software is truly appalling. Forget about doing anything useful with it. I use it in its first brace of steps just to get it to extract the individual mpeg2 files out of the DVD VOB files it creates, and then manually rename each one with the period and time, then I copy them out of the temp directory and quit the app. It's way more tedious than it necessary be just to do this, and useless beyond this basic task (and it crashes and/or hangs time after time so often requires several attempts).
3. If you use non-Sony media the camera complains, and you cannot access the non-Sony media on your PC until it is finalized. This is righteous evil manufacturer lock-in BS; I don't believe there is any technical reason for this as non-Sony media support multi-term writes.
4. The still camera works great in good light but not in low come. The pictures are more reminiscent of CMOS sensors than a CCD.
5. It's a Sony. That means don't expect any of these issues to be rigid or even acknowledged. Once Sony have your money you're dirt.
