Product Description

Capture powerful sound and sharp images direct to DVD with the DCR-DVD505 Handycam camcorder. Built for serious recording, the DCR-DVD505 comes with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens for creating superior quality images. Featuring high-resolution imaging with 2.1 Megapixel CLEARVID CMOS Sensor, you can take not only sharp digital video, but also detailed digital still photographs. You can record Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel surround sound with the built-in microphone to make watching your movies like a visit to the theater.Other features include and Super NightShot Infrared System to help record in low light situations. See the bigger picture with the 3.5" wide SwivelScreen LCD display with touch panel capabilities. Best of all, you capture digital videos directly to DVD for the ultimate in recording convenience.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24633 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DCR-DVD505
• Released on: 2006-02-20
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 6.00 pounds
• Display size: 3.5
• Included Software: Yes

Features

• 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor with 4-megapixel resolution
• Compatible with DVD-R/-RW/+RW formats
• 10x optical zoom with digital image stabilization
• 3.5-inch widescreen touch-panel LCD
• Dolby Digital 5.1-channel audio recording

From the Manufacturer
Capture powerful sound and sharp images direct to DVD with the DCR-DVD505 Handycam camcorder. Built for serious recording, the DCR-DVD505 comes with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens for creating superior quality images. Featuring high-resolution imaging with 2.1-megapixel CLEARVID CMOS sensor, you can take not only sharp digital video, but also detailed digital still photographs. You can record Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound with the built-in microphone to make watching your movies like a visit to the theater.

Other features include and Super NightShot Infrared System to help record in low light situations. See the bigger picture with the 3.5-inch wide SwivelScreen LCD display with touch panel capabilities. Best of all, you capture digital videos directly to DVD for the ultimate in recording convenience.

More DCR-DVD505 features

2.1-megapixel (gross) ClearVID CMOS sensor 1/3 CLEARVID CMOS sensor with 1910K (effective) pixels provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance. The megapixel technology enhances your digital videos and digital still (3980K) photography performance.

3.5-inch wide touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD display (211K pixels) The 3.5-inch wide (16:9) LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 211K 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.

Smooth Slow recording By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 3 seconds allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight.

10x optical/120x digital zoom The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up 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.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer 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. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare.

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.

Digital still memory mode with Memory Stick Duo Media Capture still images up to 2304x1728 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick Duo Media for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices.

Dolby Digital 5.1-channel recording The DCR-DVD505 will record in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound with a built-in microphone. By recording in 5.1-channel surround sound you can now experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all directions. Enjoy your personal home movies the way you experienced them while recording.

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 camcorder, the disc can play back in most DVD Players, computers and even PlayStation 2 video game consoles.

DVD-R/RW and +RW compatible The DCR-DVD505 is compatible with a variety of DVD formats allowing the easy of use and simplicity found in DVD Media. With DVD+RW media there is not a need to finalize the disc (minimum recording required). Simply remove the disc and insert the media into a compatible DVD player.

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.

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 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 Infrared System With Sony's 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.

On-screen zoom and record buttons For addition control of the camcorder, the DCR-DVD505 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.

One-touch wide-angle shooting Easily switch between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios for shooting, with just the touch of a button.

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.

Picture Package software Easily organize still images/video content, and turn them into stunning music videos using the supplied software.

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 or Sunset & Moon modes.

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

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.

Fader effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Overlap, White and Wipe.

InfoLithium® Battery with AccuPower Meter System Charge the battery at anytime 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 7 displays the approximate battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

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 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.

Customer Reviews

Just used for the first time!!!! I Love this!!!!
I just bought this today and had 5 minutes to learn how to use it for my daughter's Chorus concert. It is unbelievable! It is very easy to use, and takes great video even with the wierd dark amature lighting of a school concert. This is my first digital camcorder. My old VHS-C was just too bulky that I tended not to take it anywhere or use it. This is very small, and there is no hassle with tapes. Simply pop in a mini DVD and you are done! The picture quality is incredible. My old camera would have never been able to capture the video in low light like this camera. I was having a tough time deciding between this and the Sony 405. With about a $200 price difference, all forums, literature etc. said the only difference between the two was the 505 has a better still camera built in (which I didn't care about). THIS IS NOT TRUE. The bigger 3.5 Vs. 2.7 LCD screen makes all the difference in the world. Since that's what you are looking at 99% of the time while you are shooting, that would have been enough for me to by the 505. Also, this camera comes with software which allows you to transfer your old videos on to DVD's. The only thing I did not realize about this camera before I bought it that I do not like is the fact that you cannot adjust the recording time of SHQ, HQ and Low Quality to allow for more time on the DVD when you are recording it. Sony basically has an optimizer or something like that to automatically adjust time for the best picture quality. I got 27 minutes on the DVD. An extra 2 minutes would have allowed me to tape the whole program. 30 minutes goes awfully fast when recording because this camera is so easy to use. I can see I'm going to pay a fortune for disks. However, overall, I would not consider another camera. I can't wait to take my time and really learn how to use this baby.

Good camcorder if you are not serious about editing your footage
This camcorder does capture good shots. But the main drawback is that it records to DVD. Initially its nice and easy to capture video and watch it on DVD instantly. It gives you instant gratification. But after capturing 4 or 5 hours of video, you will notice that your videos aren't so great as you expect it to be. Its not the fault with your camcorder. Its because all of us shoot extra footage, unwanted scenes, shakes, etc which we want to edit. You may want to add a title or two, add transitions, add backgroud music, combine your photos with the video, etc. Basically you may want to edit your footage. Its here when you find the major drawback of this camcorder. The DVD that you used to capture is non-editable. Therefore you need to download it to your computer and use a program like Pinnacle 9.0 to edit it. But the original picture quality is so bad that you won't have sufficient bandwidth to edit the video. As you know, DVD videos are compressed in MPEG2 format. This is a lossy compression that is good enough to watch the video on TV but not good enough to edit. When you edit these videos, add some transitions or special effects, increase/decrease brigthness or noise, etc, the newly edited video loses further clarity and thus makes your video look ugly and pixelated.

In summary please don't buy this camcorder if you are serious about your videos and would like to edit them. But if you are not bothered about editing and want to watch your "RAW" unedited footage forever, then go for it.

That said, if you still think you want to go for this camcorder, please read the review on its other features:

Feature new to this camcorder: Superb slow motion. You can shoot in 240 frames per second and play back at regular speed thus achieving superb slow motion effects. This is one feature that you will fall in love with.

Features that are not new:
1. Super NightShot Infrared System: Not a useful feature. Its amazining to initially see how this camcorder is able to "see" using infrared light. But the moment you shoot your wife or kid using infrared light, you never want to shoot again as they will appear like devils when shot using this infrared light. Remember infrared footage appears in black-and-white and not color. And the subject's eyes really look like devil.

2. 2.7-inch wide SwivelScreen LCD display with touch panel capabilities: Good feature if you always want to shoot in widescreen. In fact I would suggest you to shoot in widescreen only as all future TVs and current LCD/Plasma TVs are widescreen. You can future proof your video by shooting widescreen

3. Digital still photos: Please don't rely on this feature. The best photos from this camcorder as as good as the worst photos from any popular digital camera. Technology has still not matured to the point where a camcorder can shoot as good as a digital camera and vice versa.

4. 10x optical/120x digital zoom: Optical zoom is good enough. Any more zoom requires the use of a tripod. You can manage without a tripod upto 10X only. Hence its good enough. Don't use the digital zoom feature. Turn it off. As mentioned above, MPEG2 compression already makes the video bad in quality. The digital zoom further makes it worst.

5. Progressive shutter system: Sony tries to mislead you into thinking that the camcorder is progressive. Not its not. Video is still interlaced only. Only digital photos are progressive which obviously they must be. Its no big deal. Forget about this feature.

6. Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens: Yes its good. The image quality is truly great till it gets compressed into MPEG2 format for storing onto DVD.

7. Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system: Good enough to avoid small vibrations caused when going on a ship for example. But not good enough for the shakes encountered when walking with the camcorder. Don't expect to get great footage in such conditions. For great footage, you must still rely on a steady hand or a tripod.

8. Dolby Digital 5.1-channel recording: Not a big deal. If you have a 5.1 home theatre, you may get some good results. But if you are watching your video on ordinary TV, you will actually lose some audio as your DVD player downsizes the 5.1 audio into 2 channel audio. All professional Hollywood DVDs actually have at least two seperate audio information. One for 5.1 systems and one for ordinary stereo. The DVD produced by this camcorder has only one track for 5.1. So if you watch on an ordinary Tv, you may lose some audio information. I would suggest not to rely on this feature and instead shoot in stereo only as its more than enough for everyday regular home videos.

9. On-screen zoom and record buttons: Not an useful feature. The camcorder tends to shake more when you use these zoom buttons on the LCD because the LCD is always projecting outside when shooting video. Hence you shake the camcorder more when you touch the LCD than when you touch the camcorder's body.

10. USB 2.0 interface: NOt a useful feature. Its easier to remove the DVD and place it on your DVD ROM drive on your computer, than to connect the camcorder using USB cables. The USB interface is useful if you want to burn DVDs using the camcorder's DVD burning feature. But remember, this camcorder can burn only miniature sized DVDs and not the regular DVDs. Moreover its cheaper and more convenient to use the computer's internal DVD writer or external DVD writer than to use this camcorder as a DVD burner. You don't want to decrease the life of the camcorder's DVD writer as the camcorder is far expensive than an ordinary DVD burner.

11. One-touch wide-angle shooting: Useless feature. You tend to always shoot in wideangle or letterbox. Who would want to switch constantly between these modes? Also as suggested earlier, better to shoot in wideangle only and future proof your videos.

12. Picture Package software: Very useless software. The free Picasa software from Google is far better in organizning your videos and pictures than the software that comes with this camera. Forget about this software.

13. DVD-R/RW and +RW Compatible: The camcorder is somewhat slow and non-responsive when you use DVDRW. This may be because DVDRW always have slower burn speeds compared to DVDR. So this is not a very useful feature unless you are planning to shoot still photos only. The slow speed problem occurs when shooting video only.

14. Active interface shoe: You can use this to connect external flash or mic. Not a very useful feature as any external device spoils the compactness of this camera.

15. InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system: Great battery life. I could shoot for upto 1 hour 20 minutes with one battery. Remember we always don't shoot continously in everyday life. We turn the camcorder on and off repeatedly when shooting. This battery last for 1 hour 20 minutes during normal shooting as explained above. If you shoot continously you may get longer battery life.

Overall summary. Buy this camcorder only if you are not serious about editing the videos. Its a good buy for point-and-shoot-and-view viewing pleasure.

Great! But video editors beware...
This is an outstanding camera. Very easy to use and pretty good battery life. I picked up the Sony accessory kit at the same time and even the "back up" battery in the kit lasts 90 minutes on a full charge. This camera has all the best available features (night shot, good image stabilization, and functional touch-screen menus, to name a few). The video quality in LP mode is not very good, so don't expect to get more than 30 minutes of shooting out of a miniDVD. However, the SP mode provides really good quality, so you don't have to worry about cutting your time down to 20 minutes (which is the time you get out of one DVD in the highest quality mode).

What I'd warn potential buyers about has to do with DVD Camcorders in general, rather than any problem with the camera. As someone who was not intimately familiar with the wide variety of camcorders (and who was tired of my Panasonic DV camcorder not recording properly), I considered the MiniDVD option to be ideal. However, I learned two things after finishing my first DVD.

1. You need special software (DVD video editing software or DVD copy software or both) to do anything other than copy from one miniDVD to another miniDVD. Additionally, software like Roxio's MyDVD doesn't work well with the VOB file format used by the camcorder. All video on the miniDVD is saved into a single file. This means that video editors will have to know how (and have the patience) to trim down the video to make different chapters. The chapters show up on the finalized DVD from the camera, but DVD copy software won't reproduce the menu for you, either.

2. If you want to play back your videos on something other than the camcorder, make sure your DVD player is relatively new. Ours was 6 years old and didn't recognize the DVD-R as a valid disk. Now that I know, this seems pretty logical, but when I popped my first disk into my player, expecting to see my daughters playing, I was sorely disappointed to find that the player wouldn't do anything with the disk. However, there are some fairly inexpensive players out there now that recognize all DVD formats, so this isn't a huge problem. It's just something you need to be aware of.

In all, the DVD505 is a great camera. Those seriously interested in DVD editing, unless you really know what you're doing, you may want to consider sticking with DV tapes for awhile.