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Sony DCR-DVD203 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom
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| Price: |
9 new or used available from $150.00
Average customer review:
Product Description
Watch your home movies come to life like never before with the DCR-DVD203 DVD Handycam camcorder from Sony. Enjoy the extra large 2.7" wide LCD screen, which swivels and adjusts to optimize the viewing angle for easy recording. Not only can you record digital video, but you can also capture quality digital still images at up to 1 Megapixel. It is even capable of recording surround sound audio (an optional surround sound microphone is required), so you can capture big sound to match its big picture.Fully equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, you can capture professional quality digital video and images with enhanced color and clarity. The 12X optical zoom brings the action close with minimized distortion. The Super NightShot Plus infrared system lets you record in low light conditions. As with all of Sony's DVD Handycam camcorders, you can conveniently record directly to DVD.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #4596 in Camera & Photo
- Brand: Sony
- Model: DCRDVD203
- Dimensions: 14.00 pounds
- Display size: 2.7
Features
- 1/5.5-inch CCD imager with 690K resolution
- Compatible with DVD-R/-RW/+RW formats
- 12x optical zoom with SteadyShot picture-stabilization system
- 2.7-inch hybrid SwivelScreen touch-panel LCD
- Super NightShot Plus Infrared System captures natural-looking video in low light
Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
Watch your home movies come to life like never before with the DCR-DVD203 DVD Handycam camcorder from Sony. Enjoy the extra large 2.7-inch-wide LCD screen, which swivels and adjusts to optimize the viewing angle for easy recording. Not only can you record digital video, but you can also capture quality digital still images at up to one megapixel. The DCR-DVD203 is even capable of recording surround sound audio (an optional surround sound microphone is required), so you can capture big sound to match its big picture.
Fully equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, the DCR-DVD203 can capture professional quality digital video and images with enhanced color and clarity. The 12x optical zoom brings the action close with minimized distortion. The Super NightShot Plus infrared system lets you record in low light conditions. And as with all of Sony's DVD Handycam camcorders, you can conveniently record directly to DVD.*
Features of the Sony DCR-DVD203
| 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 being finalized in the camcorder, the disc can play back in most DVD Players, computers, and even PlayStation2 video game consoles. |  The Sony DCR-DVD203's DVD-R/-RW/+RW functions make it versatile. |
| 12x/480x 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. | |
| 1/5.5-Inch Advanced HAD CCD Imager, 1,070K Pixels Gross 1/5.5-inch Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 690K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image (1,000k) performance. | Active Interface Shoe Provides a location directly on the camcorder to which to add optional accessories while providing power and two-way communication to those accessories. |
| Professional-Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multilayer coating that offers less glare and flare, with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones. | SteadyShot Picture-Stabilization System Picture-stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera shake without compromising picture quality, as some other digital stabilization systems do. |
| 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 approximate battery time remaining in minutes, either in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen. | DVD-R/RW- and +RW-Compatible The DCR-DVD203 is compatible with a variety of DVD formats, allowing 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 disc and insert the media into a compatible DVD player. |
| Picture Package Software Easily organize still images and video and turn them into stunning music video. | One-Touch Wide-Angle Shooting Easily switch between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios for shooting with just the touch of a button. |
| USB 2.0 Interface USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your DVD Handycam Camcorder to the computer for fast transfer of video and still images. The camcorder can also be used as an external DVD burner, convenient for making copies of your DVDs or for burning edited movies. | On-Screen Zoom and Record Buttons For addition control of the camcorder, the fix wrap DCR-DVD203 features Zoom and Record buttons on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low-angle shots. |
 The Sony DCR-DVD203's 2.7-inch wide LCD with touch panel | 2.7-Inch-Wide Touch Panel SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels) The 2.7-inch-wide (16:9) LCD screen 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, and the widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier. |
| 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. | Stamina Battery Power-Management System Using the optional NP-FP90 InfoLithium Battery, the DCR-DVD203 can continuously record for up to eight hours on a single full charge, providing extra-long battery life. |
| Fader Effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, White, Overlap, and Wipe. | Picture Effects Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in camera and playback modes: Sepia, Monotone, Pastel, and Mosaic. |
| Manual Focus Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. 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. | 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. |
| 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. | Easy Handycam Button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some, 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. |
Accessories Supplied with the Sony DCR-DVD203
|  Accessories supplied with the Sony DCR-DVD203 |
Customer Reviews
Lightweight and compact. Great value. 
This is a great DVD camcorder. Best of all is its size. It is barely larger than my digital camera and weighs almost nothing. For those who don't know yet, this DVD camcorder (and most recent ones) doesn't use regular DVDs but smaller ones instead, so the camcorder is not as bulky as one would think.
Getting started was very easy. I literally watched my first DVD on TV one hour after opening the box. The internal software automagically creates a menu with chapters and all (all of it can be customized of course). Commands and options are all very straightforward and very few settings need to be changed in order to get started. Also, there is a fantastic zoom for a camcorder of this size.
Only downside is the battery time. The battery will die after about an hour. I still give it 5 stars because anyway I am not of those who film landscapes or entire shows/parties from end to end. I usually only use a camcorder to film relatively short events or everyday-life snapshots of kids and family, and this camcorder is just perfect for that.
Great Value for Home Video
This is my first camcorder and the only reason I bought it was because my first child was due in June. The reason I went with Sony was because several of my friends own one. I liked the size and picture quality of the mini DV but I didn't like the fact that you had to hook up a lot of cables and fast forward or rewind to look for your shots. My friend owns one of the first generation Sony DVD camcorders and he showed me some video and I thought it was pretty good even at 60 min and he said he has never had a problem with it so I decided on this the model 203 which was newer and in widescreen.
Pro: Wide screen, sound is not bad, ease of use ( I have been experimenting with it straight out of the box, haven't even read the manual yet and you can pretty much figure out all the features), and size.
Con: I own a 47inch widescreen TV and even on the Highest Quality recording the picture looks a little grainy and colors weren't that great, but play it on a regular tube TV and the picture is great so I guess it loses a little resolution on the bigger screen. I will have to try it on my brother in law's 50inch plasma. This is the reason I gave it only 4 stars.
I haven't tried the editing features yet but most likely I will get aftermarket software. I purchased thru amazon which was one of the better values but not the cheapest. The cheaper site, which I won't name got a lot of poor reviews and complaints so I stuck to amazon for no tax and free shipping.
Wonderful camera-Amazing software
This little thing is wonderful. It takes great shots and video. Nightshot makes it easy to tape in the dark as well. Very small and very easy to use, on screen display of settings makes it even easier to use. No small buttons to fool with. So simple and easy to use. You can take video and pictures in sepia, black & white, pastel sketch, old movie and mosiac. Will also shoot across a basketball court making it look like you was out there with the players. And the software that came with it is amazing. You can add music and special affects to make awesome home movies. I just love all this. Its excellant for scrapbookers, mom's and anyone tired of boring, plain home movies.
I just had to come back and add after using this amazing little camcorder for awhile, I am still pleased with my purchase. It is so easy to use as well as the software that came with it. I have taped and taped over and over with it and couldnt ask for a better camcorder without shelling out mega bucks. You do have to finalize the disks before you can upload to a computer, but thats just as easy. And when you tape at night, it still shows up really clear, not so dark you cant see. If I had to purchase another, I would get this one again without a second thought about it. And its so easy to use in just one hand. If I could, I would give it 10 stars.
