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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #118516 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DCRDVD200
• Dimensions: 1.54 pounds

Features

• DVD Format Video Recording
• Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens
• 10X Optical/120X Digital Zoom
• Progressive Shutter System
• DVD-R/RW format plays back in most DVD players, Play Station 2 consoles and DVD-ROM drives

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer Sony’s DCR-DVD200 DVD Handycam Camcorder takes camcorder recording to an entirely new level. Featuring 1.0 MP still image capture (1152 x 864), the DVD200 is ideal for capturing thousands of still images at the highest still resolution on a single 3-inch DVD disc. Its Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens produces more true-to-life color clarity in videos and still images and 10X optical/120X precision digital zoom bring the action up close. By recording on a DVD-RW disc, the camcorder allows you the flexibility to do simple in-camera editing. For example, if the last recorded scene didn't turn out perfectly, just erase the last video excerpt and shoot the desired scene in its place. Be sure to check out Sony’s newest camcorder lineup today.

	Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens: Famous for its superior sharpness and color accuracy, the Vario-Sonnar lens is the most advanced multi-layer optical coating system.		Digital Still Memory Mode: Capture digital still images directly onto Memory Stick media for easy transfer to e-mail, printing, or sharing with compatible Memory Stick devices.
	Super NightShot Plus Infrared System: An advanced version of Sony's NightShot Infrared system that allows users to record natural color images in low-light conditions, but without the blurring common with other lowlight recording systems.		Battery information is momentarily displayed without having to power on the camcorder. Quickly access the battery's status by pressing the Battery Info button. The Recording Time Available is displayed in minutes on either the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

And more:

• 1/4.7" 1.0 Megapixel Advanced HAD CCD Imager
  1/4.7" Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD imager with 690K (effective) video pixels provides excellent detail and clarity, for exceptional digital video (up to 520 lines of resolution in HQ Mode) and still image performance. Realize great looking digital still images with 1,000K (effective) pixels.

• DVD Format Video Recording
  The DVD recording format delivers digital video and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV. Playback of the DVD media is simple and convenient. After finalizing the disc in the camcorder, the DVD disc will playback in most compatible DVD Players, computers and even PlayStation 2 video game consoles.

• 10X Optical/120X Digital Zoom
  The optical zoom helps to bring the action up close from far away. In addition, the digital zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

• 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels)
  Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 123K pixels LCD rotates up to 270-degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp detailed images for monitoring or playback.

• Color Viewfinder
  Provides a clear, color view of subjects and makes spotting and/or following subjects easier.

• Digital Still Memory Mode
  Digital Still Memory Mode captures high quality still images at 1152 x 864, or 640 x 480 resolution directly to DVD-R or DVD-RW media. Images are stored in the JPEG format providing easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing, or sharing with family and friends.

• Visual Index Screen
  Shows thumbnail images of movies and still images when playing back on your camcorder or DVD player, making scene selection easier.

• USB 2.0 Interface
  USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your DVD Handycam camcorder to computers for fast transfer of video and still images for editing. The camcorder can also be used as an external DVD burner, convenient for making copies of your DVDs or burning edited movies.

• Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
  An advanced version of Sony’s SteadyShot 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.

• Progressive Shutter System
  A mechanical shutter system that provides progressive scan performance, while utilizing an interlaced scanning system. Digital images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.

• Analog Inputs
  Record any analog NTSC source to digital video via the analog inputs. Perfect for archiving analog tape recordings. This recorded video can then be edited on your computer.

• Intelligent Accessory Shoe
  Conveniently gives you the option of adding accessories such as lights, flashes and microphones to the camera, which can communicate with the camera and also draw power from the camera.

What's in the box:
DCR-DVD200 DVD Handycam, AC-L15A Power Adaptor/In Camera Charger, NP-FM50 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery, RMT-820 Wireless Remote Commander Remote Control, 2 AA Batteries, Stereo A/V Cable, Lens Cap, Cleaning Cloth, Blank DVD-R Media, USB Cable, CD-ROM with USB Driver SPVD-0011 (Pixela ImageMixer Software Ver. 1.5 for Sony).

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Customer Reviews

same as DCR-DVD300 except for smaller LCD
the DCR-DVD200 is at the middle of the recently released line of miniDVD camcorders from sony. other models in this line are the DCR-DVD300 and DCR-DVD100. the main difference the three camcorders in this line are LCD size and CCD resolution:
- DCR-DVD300: 3.5" LCD, 1MP CCD
- DCR-DVD200: 2.5" LCD, 1MP CCD
- DCR-DVD100: 2.5" LCD, 640K CCD

pros:
- records dolby digital stereo.
- carl zeiss lens.
- 10x optical zoom.
- video quality almost at par with miniDV camcorders (at slower recording modes).
- Super SteadyShot image stabilization system - and sony's system really helps.
- three low light shooting modes: Nightshot, Super Nightshot, and Color Slow Shutter.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB 2.0, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
- USB 2.0 support for fast downloads.
- the convenience of DVD navigation - simply select the scene and you're there!
- supports analog-to-digital conversion.
- hot accessory shoe with lots of optional accessories.

cons:
- expensive - as with most sony products, you pay a premium, plus you pay for DVD convergence.
- average low light performance.
- no memory stick support; if you want to take a still picture, it is saved on the DVD.
- mic picks up DVD spinning noise in quiet environments.
- finalizing a DVD takes upwards of 10 minutes, and it can be a confusing process.
- don't expect much from the still images recorded, even at 1MP resolution.
- no pop-up flash for taking stills and no built in video light but you can get a flash/video combo light for less than a hundred bucks.
- smaller LCD (2.5") vs the DVD300 (3.5").
- no manual focus ring.
- getting video into editing software (e.g. Final Cut Pro) is harder than it should be.
- not Mac friendly.
- poor battery life with included battery so add $$ to your budget to buy a higher capacity spare.
- compared to current release camcorders, this is a pretty big one at 3.1 x 3.8 x 5.6" weighing 1 lb 6 oz.

this is a nice, solid effort by sony and i give them points for dvd convergence. however, in my opinion, the DCR-DVD200 is too big and not easy to use. it's expensive for the feature set but the alternative to this dvd camcorder (a miniDV tape camcorder and DVD recorder combo) is even more expensive. i already have a dvd recorder so for me, a smaller and easier to use miniDV camcorder makes more sense. if this is your situation as well, i would recommend a panasonic gs-70 or sony's pc-105, both miniDV camcorders. otherwise, if you want a finalized DVD straight out of your camcorder, consider the DCR-DVD200.

a final note. if you have decided you want to record directly to a DVD, which camcorder should you buy? DCR-DVD200 or DCR-DVD300 or DCR-DVD100? you save seventy bucks (street price) by going to the DVD100 but in my opinion, you give up a lot by going to a 640K CCD so i wouldn't recommend going there. if you want a bigger 3.5" LCD, it'll cost you an extra seventy bucks. i think this is a fair price for the upgrade.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

Very Pleased with this product!
I purchased this product when my son turned 7 months old, just 1 month before his first x-mas.
I looked at all the competition and quickly singled it down to either the Sony DVD200 or DVD300. For an extra 100 or so dollars I could have bought the DVD300, but the 3.5 LCD screen was not important to me. The only difference in the DVD200 and the DVD300 is the LCD Screen size.

The ease of use is great! 5 Stars there!
The noise and vibration is almost un-noticable. Don't be worried by others comments about the vibration and noise. I noticed it as soon as I put the DVD Disk into the camcorder, but while video "taping" I didn't feel a thing.
The zoom is great, and I am very happy with the lens. I like the special features such as being able to change the lens, put filters on the lens, add flash and mic. hardware as well.

If I had to find something I didn't like about the camcorder it would have to be the Pixela software that comes with it. I own a Sony Digital Camera that came with similar SW, and was not pleased with that either. I wish sony would just get away from Pixela!

Overall, if you are in the price range of 600 - 1200 dollars for a camcorder, there is really no other reasonable product to compare it to. I was planning on spending approx. $600, but the benefits of doing this right out weighed the 300+ I haad to shell out.

Things I don't use that got bad reviews: 1 meg. pix. still shots. If you are buying a camcorder for still shots don't buy this or any camcorder. BUY A CAMERA!

Also, the only concern I had going into this product was how do you stop and start again with DVD technology. I was so happy to find out that when you stop recording the DVD is indexed. So if you start and stop 6 times, you will have 6 imaged indexes to look at. If you just want to keep recording after every time you stop, simply press the record button and it will take off from your last track. Nothing to worry about with respet to stopping and starting over and over again.

----This review was based on about 10 hours of use, and was not used with DVD-RW DVD's. I only used DVD-R DVD's. DVD-RW's offer in camera editing, but might not work on all DVD players. However, if you don't edit inside the camcorder, it will work fine and you can use the Disk up to 1000 (one thousand) times.

Great videocamera
This camera made it to Oprah's 2003 Favorite Things List. That prompted me to take a look at it, and I was really impressed! We ended up buying it, and we're so glad that we did. Wow, what a great video-camera! It's compact, quiet, and very easy to use. We were able to set it up & record without even opening the instruction manual. The playback quality on the LCD screen is amazing, and the sound quality is near-perfect. I'm so happy with this camera. I highly recommend it for its ease of use, light & comfortable size, and the simplicity of recording directly onto a dvd. No more copying from small tapes to larger VHS tapes for me! That was such a frustrating experience and the editing quality was horrible.

I'm really pleased that I'll be able to share video of my daughter with friends and family who have dvd players, or video viewing capability on their computers.

FOLLOW-UP: We took this camcorder to Sea World and the footage was excellent. It was nice not to have to lug around a heavy piece of equipment while trying to transport a toddler, stroller, etc. Once we got home, I put together a 5 minute edited video using the ImageMixer software from Sony (included when we purchased the camera). Wow, it was so user-friendly! I added some of my own music to it, as well as some text to some scenes. Then we burned the edited project to a simple, inexpensive CD-R instead of DVD-R, for family/friends to view on their computers. I checked, and many in-home computers have some sort of video viewing software such as Windows Media Player, or another compatible program.