Camcorder Spec Question

[XM5ER]

Okay, I'm finally pulling my finger out and ordering a Camcorder this week. Had a look round and have decided to go for one of the Sony DCR-TRV range.

My dilema is which one to go for the TRV 14, 19 or 22.

The 14 had no DV in
The 19 has DV in but no analogue in
The 22 has colour viewfinder and analogue and digital in.

I cant see many other differences, my question is do I really need analogue in? What will I use it for?
And do I need a colour viewfinder? Or should I make up the difference in price with a better battery?

Advice appreciated.

[dazren]

analogue in, could be used to wire in a bullet cam for recording your trackday action.

DAZ

[atom290]

The DV In is little or no point, you need to have analogue in. As I presume you want to go for the use of bullet cams

Sony are not necessarily the best, I bought JVC for some of my customers. They seemed good, but I do reckon you should go onto e-bay and try there.

[TT Tim]

I was faced with exactly this dilema last week, I ended up getting the JVC GR-DX95EK. It offered far more than the Sony equivalent for price.

www.jvc.co.uk/product.php?id=GR-DX95EK&catid=11&lid=



It has Analogue in, is a palmcorder, a decent 16x optical zoom, syncs up with iMovie and cost less than £450.00.

Jessops price matched an internet price for me, so I was well chuffed as I didn't even haver to pay any postage costs.

Tim

[XM5ER]

This is the TRV22

Plus I already have a Sony Digicam so I have plenty of memory sticks

Spec
2.5" LCD monitor (123k)
Touch Panel Function
Super SteadyShot (800k pixel CCD)
113K colour view finder
USB Terminal
USB Streaming
PC-application accessory supplied
USB cable, driver software, ImageMixer
High STAMINA battery life up to 12 hours[1]
Memory Stick Slot
120x digital zoom (10x optical)
Carl Zeiss lens
Digital Program Editing
Photo mode (tape)
i.LINK (DV in/out
Advanced HAD technology (CCD)
NightShot
Manual focus dial
Intelligent Accessory Shoe
InfoLITHIUM system (M series)
Analogue input

TRV19
Features:

2.5" LCD monitor (123k)
Touch Panel Function
Super SteadyShot (800K pixel CCD)
USB terminal
USB streaming
PC-application accessory supplied
USB cable, driver software, ImageMixer
High STAMINA battery life up to 12 hours [1]
120x digital zoom (10x optical)
B&W view finder
Carl Zeiss lens
Digital Program Editing
Photo mode (tape)
i.LINK (DV in/out)
Advanced HAD technology (CCD)
NightShot
Manual Focus dial
Intelligent Accessory Shoe
InfoLITHIUM system (M series)

Notes:
[1] Supplied with NP-FM30 battery giving up to 95 minutes of recording time. For the maximum battery life, Sony recommends using optional NP-QM91D and LCD closed.

[XM5ER]

Bullit cams aside (I doubt I would need to use one this year) What other use is there for analogue in, can it be used for VHS to digital conversion or am I talking cobblers?

[TT Tim]

Nope, you're quite right, you can dub from any analogue source directly onto the MiniDV tapes. I'm in the process of transferring all the Wife's Hong Kong films

Tim

[TT Tim]

That was the other camera on my shortlist, but at the time I couldn't get close on price, but I've just had a check on Kelkoo and came up with this:

www.rgbdirect.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1378&ReferrerCode=1

Might be useful as a PriceMatch if you choose not to buy it through them.

HTH

Tim

[rico]

When i bought mine i was told that Sony are a couple of hundred extra for no real benefits. I got a Canon and its been fantastic.

This was a couple of years ago so circumstances may have changed.

If you're in London, choose your model then go up Tottenham Court Road etc to get the best price. You can haggle like crazy but still get the reputable after-service

[Viper]

I just got a new TRV33 yesterday, it has a higher pixel CCD of 1000, and I fancy a bullet cam as well so it needed the AV in - £440 thought it was a fairly decent price

you need DV in, if you ever down load footage to your PC do a bit of vid mixing/editing then put it back into your camera for a VHS transfer

>> Edited by Viper on Wednesday 14th January 21:51

[XM5ER]

£440 for a TRV33! Where from? Email me if you prefer. Please!

[Viper]

got the 33 off ebay, brand new with the seal untouched.
My brother in law got a 22 only last week from a shop in Birmingham (Soho Road) for £450

[XM5ER]

Ahh. I think I saw that one. Was it a Hong Kong seller?

If it was, that was what put me off. Wish it hadnt now.

[Viper]

Tottenham court road

have emailed you the link, maybe you could get in touch and see if he has another





>> Edited by Viper on Thursday 15th January 11:34

[XM5ER]

Cheers! I'll check my mail.

[XM5ER]

None left. Bugger!

I'll have to go for something else.

[TT Tim]

The link that I posted above was/is for the Sony DCRTRV22 at £447,95 inc VAT and P&P.

Tim

[XM5ER]

Thanks everybody.

I'm going for the TRV19 , it does has an analogue input after all. Sony are not good at posting up full specs on their websites.

With the savings I'll buy some spare batteries and lots of tapes and upgrade my graphics card.

Shame about the TRV33 though Viper, that would definitely have been worth the extra.

[Viper]

one thing the 33 has that the other models dont is wide screen recording, I needed that feature for in car footage

[meeja]

I've commented on domestic/budget camcorders before....

It's always personal preference, but with my professional head on, the JVC kit at this level tends not to give as good results as similarly featured Sony/Canon stuff.