Product Description

DCR-TRV480 features a 2.5-inch Touch Panel LCD and backward compatibility. Other new benefits include Analog Input with A/D Conversion capabilities a Memory Stick Media Slot that lets the camcorder double as a camera with the optional Memory Stick media Remote Control

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11054 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DCRTRV480
• Dimensions: 3.30" h x 3.90" w x 5.90" l,
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• 1/6-inch CCD imager with 460K (gross) resolution
• Digital8 format records digital audio and video comparable to MiniDV on affordable Hi8 tapes
• 20x optical zoom with SteadyShot picture-stabilization system
• 2.5-inch SwivelScreen touch-panel LCD
• Super NightShot Plus Infrared System captures natural-looking video in low light

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer So you want to go digital, but you still want to keep all your old videotapes. The versatile DCR-TRV480 allows you to play all of your old 8mm and Hi8 videotapes. For all your video-recording needs, the DCR-TRV480 captures digital video on Digital8 media for sharp, high-quality recordings and MPEG Movie EX mode video on standard Memory Stick media for compact MPEG-1 movies.

Explore all that digital video recording has to offer with high-quality features such as a high-resolution CCD imager, 20x optical zoom lens, and Super Nightshot Plus low-light recording. The Digital Zoom captures and enhances distant subjects, and the SteadyShot Picture-Stabilization system makes recording smoother. The 2.5-inch LCD Display makes it easy to view and record even from the most difficult angles.

Features of the Sony DCR-TRV480

Digital8 Recording The Digital8 recording format delivers three times the color bandwidth of VHS with significantly less video noise, providing stunning video performance. Digital8 records digital audio and video comparable to MiniDV on affordable Hi8 tapes.	The DCR-TRV480 packs a wealth of features into just 33/8 by 37/8 by 6 inches.
USB Streaming Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio over the Internet using the USB interface. You can even play back your favorite recorded scene on the camcorder's tape. It's like having your own video-conferencing system.
20x Optical/990x Digital Zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than with previous types of digital zooms.	1/6-Inch CCD Imager, 460K Pixels Gross 1/6-inch CCD Imager with 290K (effective) pixels provides great detail and clarity along with outstanding digital video performance.
2.5-Inch SwivelScreen Touch Panel LCD Display (123K Pixels) Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 123K-pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.	SteadyShot Picture-Stabilization System Picture-stabilization system uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera shake without compromising picture quality, as some other digital stabilization systems do.
i.LINK DV Interface A digital high-speed bidirectional interface which provides Audio/Video communication between two compatible devices. This connection allows for pure digital transfer between devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, such as camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards, and PCs.	Backward Compatibility The DCR-TRV480 is capable of playing back 8mm, Hi8, and Digital8 videotapes for maximum convenience for those who have an existing library of analog cassettes.
InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System Charge the battery at anytime--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 battery time remaining in minutes either in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.	Digital Still Memory Mode Capable with Memory Stick Media Digital Still Memory Mode captures high-quality still images at 640 x 480 resolution directly to Memory Stick or Memory Stick PRO Media. Images are stored as JPEG format, providing easy transfer to PCs for e-mailing, printing, or sharing with friends and family.
MPEG Movie EX Mode MPEG Movie EX will allow you to record uninterrupted MPEG-1 movies and audio directly to the Memory Stick Media, up to the capacity of the media. For example, a single 128 MB Memory Stick Media can record up to 85 minutes of nonstop MPEG-1 video, or over 11 hours on 1 GB Memory Stick PRO media.	Analog to Digital Conversion with Pass-Through Convert and/or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed in real time through the Digital Handycam camcorder directly into a PC via the i.LINK interface for easy PC editing of your analog footage.
	Super NightShot Plus Infrared System With Sony's Super NightShot Infrared System you can capture natural-looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.
Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Portrait, Beach & Ski, Sports Lesson, Landscape, Spotlight, and Sunset & Moon modes.	Picture Effects Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Monotone, Solarize, Pastel, and Mosaic.
End Search Automatically advances the videotape to the last five seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previously recorded videos.	Stamina Battery Power-Management System Using the optional NP-QM91D InfoLithium Battery, the DCR-TRV480 can continuously record for up to 12 hours on a single full charge, providing extra-long battery life.
Easy Handycam Button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people, so with a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out" leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.	Battery Information At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging or when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is charged in 10% increments and the recordable time left on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
Photo Mode Using Sony's Adaptive Frame Interpolation for better image quality, you can store hundreds of individual still images with seven seconds of audio on the videotape.	Built-In White LED Light Brighten your video and reduce shadows when shooting in low-light situations. The LED light uses considerably less power than bulb-based light systems, with the same light output.
Manual Focus Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the dial. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations in which either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's autofocus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.	Titling Add professional-looking titles to your video. Select from 8 presets, or customize 2 titles with up to 22 characters.
	Fader Effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional-looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Mosaic, White, Monotone, and Stripe.

What's in the Box
Sony DCR-TRV480 Digital8 Handycam camcorder, AC-L15 power adapter/in-camera charger, NP-FM30 InfoLithium rechargeable battery, RMT-830 Remote Commander remote control, stereo AV cable, USB cable, lens cap, shoulder strap, CD-ROM with USB driver (PicturePackage Software version 1.5 for Sony).

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Customer Reviews

Camera is Nice, Software is Useless
I bought my Sony DCR-TRV480 a week ago, to replace a 9-year-old Sony Hi8 model. My primary requirements were for a model that would make it easy to capture aging 8mm tapes on DVD media, and provide 5-10 years of use for more family videos. My first reactions are that the camera will do the job, but that the provided DVD/VCD software is useless. I have not really tested the camera functions yet, beyond generating a few minutes of digital tape to play with for quality comparisons. Thus I must limit my thoughts to the software and the camera interface to my PC. [See my update below.]

My first goal was to capture some minutes of preexisting material on my PC to learn the process and explore the software. After diligently reading the manual, I discovered that to burn DVDs with the Sony software, you must own a Sony VIAO computer. Otherwise you are stuck with direct burning of VCDs, and that without any true editing capabilities. Further, Sony's software will only capture to MPEG-2 format with the use of a firewire/I-link/IEEE 1394 connection (not provided), and does not work with USB2. The direct VCD format is (I believe) MPEG-1.

That said, after an hour of reading and experimenting, I was able to burn a VCD from a preexisting tape using the provided USB2 cable. The process requires starting the application on the PC, then initiating the burn from the camera. (Be patient, it can take 20-40 seconds for the camera and software to shake hands and get to it.) Recording begins at the current location on the tape, puts in chapter marks at fixed (but configurable) time intervals, and quits when it sees a gap on the tape. The camera appears to be in control of the process. The manual does NOT say that the camera will refuse to start the process if you have not inserted a completely new CDR in your burner. It also automatically finishes the disk when blank tape is found, so you cannot add more segments to a half full disk. This will waste a lot of CD space if you have more than a few gaps on your original tapes (something I am very guilty of ;-)). After wasting 5-6 CDRs, I was pretty frustrated. The clincher was a number of computer lockups, apparently from some of the software failing to close when instructed to do so. (My OS is Win2K Pro on a new 2.8Ghz P4).

At this point, I was considering returning the camera. Luckily, my burner (from TDK) came with Roxio's DVDMax software, and I decided to see if it would do better. It did. I spent 5 minutes with the DVDMax tutorial, then set DVDMax to capture the USB2 input stream, and just hit play on the camera. Video worked on the first try, with Audio coming along when I realized that I was pointing the software at the wrong source. It was easy to capture segments, though the two devices are not linked at the control level, meaning that you have to start the camera playback and click the record button on the PC separately, the old fashioned way. The resulting quality from a variety of old tapes (standard 8mm, Hi8, new digital) is adequate for home movies, when set at 640x480 (I do not expect professional quality results, however much I would wish for them, especially with my older analog tapes). The Sony software limited me to a lower resolution when using the USP cable, though I should note that the manual suggests that higher quality is possible with a firewire connection. I am intending to test this in the next week or so, once I can buy the cable. I believe that DVDMax was able to get the higher 640x480 resolution through the USB cable, but I have not confirmed that at this writing.

After building a test movie with DVDMax, and checking it on the system in the living room, I deleted all of Sony's software, except the base driver, and will happily live without it. If you buy Sony, you will want to do the same, and use DVDMax or some other third party tool to capture, manage, and burn your movies on a PC.

UPDATE: I bought the Firewire cable (6 pin to 4 pin) and tested the capture system again with Roxio's DVD Builder. The camera and software linked up immediately, with the PC controlling the camera as needed. The camera delivered 720x480 frames with no problems, giving me a sample from a 15 year old standard 8mm tape, a newer Hi8 tape, and some Digital 8 footage taken with the new camera. Both the analog recordings were much better than the earlier test with the USB2 connection. The Digital 8 recording was excellent, though still not commercial quality. I expect I can get a further improvement on all my material if I get software with better rendering capabilities, which is the next purchase on my list. The Digital 8 recording also automatically separates out segments for editing with each record/standby transition you film, which is a nice feature for the future. The camera cannot do this for either analog format.

I have also been able to test the camera modestly. The zoom is better than my old camera, able to frame a large bird at 150 feet (optically, not digitally). Like all small camcorders, stability when zoomed in is a problem, but no worse than on our old camera. I do not like the zoom control: it is small and very sensitive. You use your right index finger to push/pull a small protruding control. With my large hands, I found it at the edge of awkward. A two-button design would have been much better. As for the rest, only time will tell.

Sony keeps improving it...
This is my third Sony digital 8 camcorder (yeah, I know...dropped one and the other fell into the river while filming kayaking).

I keep coming back because: 1) I love the format: digital 8 tapes that are compatible with regular 8mm tapes. You have most all advantages of digital, and I can play/review all the years of tape I recorded on standard 8mm. (For example: camera records timeline on the tape so the correct date/time will always be associated with each scene.) Additionally, while digital 8mm tape may not have all the resolution of other digital formats, its file size is much smaller when tranferred to the computer (and I find the resolution to be fine). 2) Sony has done a nice job with the concept and improved it with each subsequent model.

This model's biggest change is the 'touch screen' menu. The menu shows on the lcd screen and you touch your way through the options. It's handy and responsive -- it also leaves a lot of fingerprints on the lcd.

One of my favorite features is search. It will quickly take you to the end of the recording on the tape so you can pick up right where you left off after reviewing previous scenes. With the remote control, you also have access to date search. It's very nice to press a button several times and be taken right to the scene you wanted.

The camera has a nice feel in your hand. It's easy to hold and keep steady. The one caveat here -- and it's probably my biggest complaint about the camera -- is the location and feel of the zoom control. While the camera's designed so your hand is at the side while holding for filming, the zoom control is on the top. It's almost impossible to work the control smoothly while holding the camera in a regular grip. It's hard to believe they found this placement acceptable while designing the unit. This most recent iteration has a somewhat improved zoom control switch, but the placement is the same and just as awkward to use.

Unit has a small filming light that's helpful in a few situations, but not for major night/dark situation filming. It does have 'night shot' mode, if you don't mind watching everything in a green tint. (Note: this latest model also has "super" nightshot mode, which is supposed to provide a better night picture. I haven't tried it yet.) Also includes a 'backlight' button to compensate for backlit subjects.

Camera accepts a standard Sony memory stick which you can use to capture stills (either directly through the camera, or from film you've already recorded) and short mpeg snipets (depending on how big a memory stick you use). I make standard 4x6 still prints from shots taken with the camera and they look decent (though not what you'd get with a high res digital still camera).

One feature I haven't used yet (but I'm anxious to try) is 'spot focus.' You can maintain proper focus on the object you want, rather than having a general autofocus system shift the focus to something else.

Camera has a lot of editing type features (like adding titles and transitions), though I prefer to read the tapes into the computer and do my editing with Adobe Elements or Microsoft Movie Maker. Attaching the camera to a computer via firewire cable (not included with camera) makes everyting incredibly easy. If you simply want to download stills or mpegs you've recorded on the memory stick, you can attach to the computer via the included USB cable.

Basically, if you're novice to semi-advanced video maker, it would be very hard to beat this camera in terms of quality, features, and ease of use.

NICE DEAL FOR THE MONEY
When my 12-year-old Hi8 Sony went out on me recently I started shopping around. I had narrowed my search to the miniDV HC90 or the DVD403 model. I was leaning towards the HC90 simply because I liked the longer recording option that tape offers and the fact that both offer a 16:9 aspect ratio. I have a 70-inch HDTV and wanted something to fill the screen. However, the $900 price of those cameras was causing me to consider the new HD Sony camcorder with its $1900 price. I really wasn't ready financially to make such a big leap and wasn't too thrilled with the idea of spending $900 while knowing eventually I'd still want the HD when I was able to drop the bucks.

Thankfully I stumbled upon this TRV480 model. Not only is this Digital8 model compatible with the Hi8 tapes I already own, but it also includes a 16:9 aspect ratio recording option which was essential for me. Best of all, the $350 price made me very comfortable using this camera as a stepping stone until I am ready for the move to HD.

I paid over $1,000 for the old Hi8 and was curious to see how this $350 camera could possibly stack up. There are definitely some short-cuts taken. No automatic lens cap for instance. But the touch-screen LCD was an unexpected plus. The biggest challenge was transferring movies to the PC for burning to DVD. I had been using a Pinnacle PCTV to capture video from the old camera with an S-video output and an audio cable from the camera's headphone jack. (There is no S-video output on this camera nor is there a headphone output.) As another reviewer pointed out correctly, the software provided by SONY is basically useless you own a Vaio. Furthermore when trying to capture video with Sonic RecordNow using the supplied USB cable, I was getting video but no audio. Purchasing a $30 IEEE 1394 cable did the trick. I can now transfer video from camera to PC without using the Pinnacle video capture hardware. The Sonic software works fine for this purpose.

I was very surprised at the quality of the picture on my 70" TV with the 16:9 aspect ratio. Granted, it's nowhere near HDTV but this camera exceeded my expectations and the video quality is at least as good as my old camera, maybe even better. For $350 and for what I wanted out of this camera, I could not be more satisfied.