Product Description

Experience exceptional video quality and direct-to-DVD convenience with the DCR-DVD301 DVD Handycam camcorder from Sony. With a 1.0 Megapixel Advanced HAD CCD imager, 10x optical zoom, and a professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, the DCR-DVD301 delivers crisp, clean video that rivals MiniDV in overall quality. Best of all, you record directly on to 3-inch DVD-R and DVD-RW discs that can easily be viewed on most current DVD players and personal computers.The DCR-DVD301 features a 3.5" Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display that rotates up to 270-degrees and provides excellent visibility in even direct sunlight. Other stand-out features of the DCR-DVD301 include 1152 x 864 resolution still images capture, Super NightShot Plus night recording system, and Super SteadyShot picture stabilization. Its lightweight, compact design makes it ideal for practically any shooting situation, whether at home, in the office, or on the road.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7872 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DVD301
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 3.00 pounds
• Display size: 3.5

Features

• Compact DVD Handycam camcorder and 1-megapixel digital still camera records on removable 3-inch (8cm) DVD-R//RW discs
• Carl Zeiss 10x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer
• 3.5-inch rotating LCD and color viewfinder provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution
• Super NightShot system allows recording of natural color in low-light conditions
• 1.0 Megapixel, 1.5" CCD imager for video; records sound in DVD-quality Dolby Digital stereo

Amazon.com Product Description
The DCR-DVD301 lets you effortlessly record the joy of everyday moments directly to DVD. The small, 3" DVD-R/RW format plays back in most DVD players, PlayStation 2 consoles and DVD-ROM drives. This flexible format lets you capture both stunning video and over 2000 still images all on one disc while exceptional Megapixel performance offers crisp video and stills. Meanwhile, the unmatched 3.5" SwivelScreen LCD lets you see it all in brilliant color. Get up close with a 10x Optical and 120x digital zoom while the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens helps you shoot like a pro. Key features include:

• 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 high quality mode) and still image performance.
• 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
• The professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens has an advanced optical multi-layer coating offering less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones.
• 3.5" SwivelScreen LCD display 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.
• Captures high quality still images at 1152 x 864, and 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.
• The Visual Index Screen system 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 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.
• Super NightShot system captures video in total darkness (0 lux) up to 10 feet away. Super NightShot mode automatically adjusts the shutter speed to increase picture Brightness and clarity.
• Super SteadyShot, an advanced version of Sony’s SteadyShot system, 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.
• Mechanical shutter system provides progressive scan performance while using an interlaced scanning system. Digital images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.

What's in the Box
Power adaptor/in-camera charger, InfoLithium rechargeable battery, wireless Remote Commander remote control, 2 AA batteries, stereo A/V cable, lens cap, cleaning cloth, blank DVD-R media, USB 2.0 cable, CD-ROM with USB Driver and Pixela ImageMixer software (Version 1.5 for Sony)

From the Manufacturer
Experience exceptional video quality and direct-to-DVD convenience with the DCR-DVD301 DVD Handycam camcorder from Sony. With a 1.0 megapixel advanced HAD CCD imager, 10x optical zoom, and a professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, the DCR-DVD301 delivers crisp, clean video that rivals MiniDV in overall quality. Best of all, you record directly on to 3-inch DVD-R and DVD-RW discs that can easily be viewed on most current DVD players and personal computers.

The DCR-DVD301 features a 3.5-inch Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display that rotates up to 270-degrees and provides excellent visibility in even direct sunlight. Other standout features of the DCR-DVD301 include 1152x864-resolution still-image capture, Super NightShot Plus night recording system, and Super SteadyShot picture stabilization. Its lightweight, compact design makes it ideal for practically any shooting situation, whether at home, in the office, or on the road.

DVD-format video recording
The DVD recording format delivers digital picture and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV, but on DVD. Playback of the DVDs couldn't be simpler. After finalizing the disc in the camera, the disc plays back in compatible DVD players, computers, and even PlayStation 2 video game consoles.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating offering less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

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.

1.0-megapixel advanced HAD CCD imager
The Handycam's 1/5-inch 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) and still-image performance. Realize great-looking digital still images with 1,000K effective pixels.

1.0-megapixel still image capture
With a maximum resolution of 1152x864, you can capture over 6,000 images on a single disc, plenty for any vacation or event.

Advanced HAD CCD technology
Enhanced CCD design allow more light to reach the imager which reduces video noise to improve signal-to-noise ratio by up to 6dB (2x better than a standard CCD). Particularly effective when shooting in dark situations.

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 as in some other image stabilization systems.

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

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

3.5-inch Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display (123K pixels)
The 3.5-inch Hybrid SwivelScreen LCD display provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The 123K pixel LCD rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. The Hybrid LCD Screen provides accurate viewing in sunlight or bright light, virtually eliminating the "wash-out" common with traditional LCD screens.

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

Burst mode
Capture up to four images in 1152x864 or 12 images at 640x480 consecutively--perfect for capturing fast action.

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.

Dolby Digital AC-3 (2-channel) stereo audio recording
An advanced form of Digital Audio recording, with sophisticated noise reduction technology, that provides outstanding, life-like sound quality in any situation.

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

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

InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system
Charge the battery at any time because, unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries are not subjected to a life-shortening "memory effect." Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the approximate battery time remaining in minutes, in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

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 low-light recording systems.

What's in the box:
DVD301, AC-L15A power adaptor/in-camera charger, NP-FM50 InfoLithium rechargeable battery, RMT-835 wireless remote commander remote control, CR2025 battery, special stereo A/V+S cable, lens cap, cleaning cloth, shoulder strap, blank DVD-R media (DMR30), USB cable, CD-ROM with USB Driver (Pixela ImageMixer version 1.5 for Sony)

Customer Reviews

Not bad. Be VERY weary of non-Sony DVDs (MEMOREX)
Much like the first review, I am very pleased with the camcorder. HOWEVER, I had a tremendous disappointment on it's first use. We welcomed the arrival of our newborn son and used a MEMOREX dvd-r (which is supposed to be compatible) to record many special moments of his first three days at home. Included were his first home bath, first pediatricians appointment, clips from the first long nights, and other video from a proud papa. We planned on sending a copy of the DVD to his 80 yr. old great-grandma on the west coast. Recording went fine, but once finalized, the handycam cannot read the disk, as it shows a disk error. The memorex disk also fails to play in the computer or other devices. Devastated when realizing that the video was lost. Have used Sony dvd-r since and no problems. Hesitant to try other brands. Tips: pay the extra money and get Sony disks and always download a backup copy to your computer before finalizing and removing the disk. Do those two things and the camcorder will be a 5-star purchase.

Like camera but caution Memorex DVD-RW not working.
I have only used this Sony Handycam DCR-DVD301 for 3 discs. One Sony DVD-RW disc and two Memorex DVD-RW. The Sony disc still works but the two Memorex disc have failed - they each get "format error". The Memorex discs recorded OK and played back on the handycam until I finalized the discs. They will now not play on the handycam or the DVD player. The Memorex disc package states that it may be used in Sony camcorders. I rated this camera a 4 based on it working with the Sony discs but would rate it lower if it will only work with Sony discs. I like the handycam based on the use with the Sony discs.

This camera SUX!!!!!!!!!!!
I should've stuck with my mini dv camcorder. Wanna know why? How about losing an entire disc worth of footage in the blink of an eye? Yeah that's happened to me twice and now I'm afraid to use the camera. Once I got slightly bumped and there was a disk error. Another time I was standing stock still with no one around me and got the same error. Then there were the numerous times I was in the middle of filming sometihing great and lost the moment because there was an error that froze up the camera until it reset itself. I wish I could return the damn thing but it's over 30 days. At least with tape you can splice it if you need to. I think this format is a ploy to get consumers hooked on the novelty of being able to put the dvd right in their dvd players. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!