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Sony DCR-DVD610 DVD Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom
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| Price: | $544.99 |
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Super Deal
30 new or used available from $180.00
Average customer review:
Product Description
Shooting and sharing video is easy with the DCR-DVD610 Handycam(R) camcorder. Compose your shots on the 2.7" widescreen (16:9) touch panel LCD display, then close in on the action using the powerful 40x optical/2000x digital zoom. Gain even more control over your images with Super Steady Shot image stabilization, as well as Super NightShot(R) Plus technology for excellent quality in low light. With Hybrid recording technology, you can capture it all directly to a DVD or removable Memory Stick(R) Duo or Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo media. 1/8" Advanced HAD(TM) (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K effective pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video, up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution and still image performance. The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses are designed specifically for compact camcorders, and utilize precision ground optics to maintain the sharpness and contrast found with larger lenses. With the Quick On feature, the touch of a single button places that camcorder in and out of Sleep mode. Pixel Gross - 680K Filter Diameter - 30mm Focal Distance - 1.9 - 76mm Shutter Speed - Auto, 1/30 - 1/250 (Scene Selection Mode) Minimum Illumination - 6lux (Auto Slow Shutter ON, Shutter Speed 1/30) Video Signal System - NTSC color, EIA standards White Balance - Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, and One-push (touch panel) Recording Media - 3 (8cm) DVD (DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD+R DL), Memory Stick(R) Duo Media, and Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo Media Dimensions - 2 1/4 x 3 5/8 x 5 1/8 (55.0x89.0x130.0mm) Weight - 15 ounces (450 grams) with Battery
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #624 in Camera & Photo
- Color: Silver
- Brand: Sony
- Model: DCR-DVD610
- Released on: 2008-01-31
- Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
- Display size: 2.7
Features
- Uniquely powerful 40x optical zoom/2000x digital zoom
- Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
- 2.7-inch wide (16:9) touch panel LCD
- Hybrid recording with Memory Stick PRO Duo media slot
- Super SteadyShot image stabilization system
Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
The DCR-DVD610 uses simple controls and powerful features that make it easy to shoot and share video. Compose your shots on the 2.7-inch wide1 (16:9) touch-panel LCD display, then close in on the action using the powerful 40x optical/2000x digital zoom. Gain even more control over your images with Super Steady Shot image stabilization, as well as Super NightShot Plus technology for excellent quality in low light. With Hybrid recording technology, you can capture it all directly to a DVD or removable Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick Pro Duo media.
DCR-DVD610 Highlights
1/8-inch Advanced HAD CCD imager 1/8-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 340K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance
40x optical/2000x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.
Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses are designed specifically for compact camcorders, and utilize precision ground optics to maintain the sharpness and contrast found with larger lenses.
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DVD-R/-RW/+RW and +R DL (Dual Layer) compatible Compatibility with a variety of DVD formats3 allows the ease-of-use and simplicity found in DVD media. With DVD+RW media there is no need to finalize the disc (minimum recording required); simply remove the finalized disc and insert the media into a compatible DVD or Blu-ray Disc Player.
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Memory Stick media to DVD -- without using a PC Images recorded or transferred to DVD can then be played directly most DVD players (SD), computers, Blu-ray Disc players, and even PlayStation 3 video game consoles to share your memories with friends and family.
Quick On Missing an important scene can be frustrating, especially if the reason is because your camcorder is turned off. With the Quick On feature, the touch of a single button places that camcorder in Sleep mode. Another push instantly wakes the camcorder, so you’ll always be ready to capture special moments.
Built-in zoom microphone Featuring Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects in sync with the camera’s zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.
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Memory Stick Pro Duo Media slot Capture still images directly onto Memory Stick Pro Duo media (sold separately) for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices (sold separately).
Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization System An advanced version of Sony's SteadyShot Image Stabilization system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems.
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Manual focus Manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.
Super NightShot Plus Infrared System The Super NightShot Plus Infrared System uses a slow shutter mode to let you shoot video with improved color and contrast, even in total darkness (0 lux).
Stamina Battery Power Management System When using the Sony InfoLithium Battery, the Stamina Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.
Scene Selection Modes Scene Selection modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Auto, Twilight, Candle (move only), Sunrise & Sunset, Fireworks (move only), Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports (movie only), Beach, Snow
Picture Effects Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Monotone, Sepia and Pastel
Fader effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black and White.
Visual index screen Shows thumbnail images of video clips and still images when playing back on your camcorder or DVD player, making your selection easier.
Battery information At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. When using the LCD screen or viewfinder, the display will show how much the battery is charged -- in 10-percent increments -- and the recordable time left.
Easy Handycam button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," letting you focus only the buttons essential for recording.
Multi-language menu Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, or Brazilian Portuguese
Customer Reviews
Excellant camera for the price
I bought the camera a few weeks ago for to use on a trip to Disney Land. The camera was delivered the day before the trip so there was not much time to learn how to use it.I breezed through it and was on my way. If you own a GPS and or a computer you should have no problems sorting things out. I put in a Sony disk, pushed the Easy button and during the trip took two hours of pictures that are excellant. There is a format for fireworks that I used at Epcot that came out just great. Pictures that I took inside I was very happy with and are much better then the old VHS. I would advise buying a larger battery as well as the small sony battery charger. The charger that comes with the camera is so you can charge the battery through the camera is a rather long piece of wire with a box. My luggage was opened twice for inspection and I believe that was the reason.The 40x telephoto is nice but if you push it to far you will not be able to hold the camera steady enough. At least I can't. The only complaint I have is the same as the first review. If you put in a disk that is not Sony, Disney does not sell Sony, it reminds you of that fact every time you open the camera. All in all for the money i would highly recomend it.
Amazing at the price.
There is a brief learning curve for switching modes and such, and if you're not going to read the manual you should expect that things do not exactly turn out how you expect the first time you use it.
That being said, the optics are excellent, the digital zoom is excellent (though, as cautioned in the manual, at higher zoom levels you lose picture quality), and the camera itself is very solid. About the only complaint I have with it is that if the mini-DVD you're using is not Sony-branded, it has a little nag screen that last for a second, but disappears without any user interaction (you can probably get rid of that somehow, but I haven't bothered to find out).
You will want both a memory stick and DVDs for the camera. You will probably also want to buy a longer-lasting battery. Video at night is very possible, but if you're focusing on a distant object (such as the moon) you'll want to zoom out and back in if you've just adjusted your tripod, etc. - as the autofocus will sometimes judge the distance incorrectly, and lose focus.
Literally, those are the only bad things I can think of about this camera. :)
Hybrid technology makes this a cut above
This is in effect a hard drive/ mini DVD recorder. Unlike many others the memory stick can record video. On some/most? other company's camcorders the SD card or what not can record only photos.
Without that cability it is still a fine camcorder. The touch screen is very easy to use and easy to learn, the video quality is very good, colors come out looking fine. But the video to memory stick is very nice. We have an 8gb memory stick. It gives roughly 2 hours of high quality video. Good enough for most situations where you are not on a multi-day vacation.
So you record video to the memory stick. Then connect to your computer via the USB port. A utility comes up with literally one touch copying to a DVD-R. DVD-Rs full size are very cheap. The memory stick works like an R-W disc. And 8gb for instance is much better than even a dual layer capacity. Works out to about 3 dual layer discs. So on most days you do not even need to buy DVDs. But on a vacation you have the flexibility of bringing as many discs as you want.
Finalizing discs does take sometime so it is nice to have 2 hours of capability without having to finalize. Recording straight to DVD we had no problem playing it back on a very old, at least 7 years DVD player.
I am giving it 4 stars because in the wide mode it seems to well widen people even when playing on an HD 16/9 set. Not sure if it is me or the camera but it is annoying.
Bottomline good camcorder with very easy to use and extremely useful hybrid recording.
Couple of updates after vacations. More pleased with the camera now. The video looked good with the exception of too much shake at high zooms. If you think you will be zooming a lot I would suggest one of those mini-tripods. Finalizing CDs took 2 minutes time after time. Not bad. Getting video from the memory stick onto full-sized CDs, not a problem.
Best of all because we were on a long-trip we went down from the highest video quality to standard to get more per tape. No noticable drop off on quality. Lastly on our 16:9 HD TV the width now comes out correctly. Colors were remarkably accurate, friends and family all commented positively on the quality.
As I mentioned though, the zoom does shake. So that brings me to my final advice. I bought this one over the 710 or 810 because of the higher optical zoom. But that is not as functional as I thought, at least without a tripod. The 710 and 810 have more pixels on the sensors and that should lead to better video quality. Something to think about. However very pleased with this little guy. Great results.
