Digital Camcorders [Archive] - Overclockers Forums

diggingforgold

05-19-03, 01:45 AM

Review from Michael Santucci reguarding Sony CCD-TRV318

I bought this camcorder while on vacation because I felt that there time a digital still camera cannot capture everything. You still need sound and motion when try to preserve a memory. So I went to the store and just carefully studied each model and price. The TRV18 does everything the TRV 350 or above except for two things, one still digital capture, but with the right capturing software like pinnacle studio 8.0 AV, will allow you to to capture still images from your video once you download it to your computer. 2. The trv 318 does not record digitally and to me it made no difference and I will tell you why. My brother has the 350 and when I compared my video to video I saw no difference if any in the quality. Because they both record onto a HI8 tape when recording motion so they playoff the HI8 as well. The 350 just uses a digital memory stick when it wants to capture its still pictures. You can't play a 350 recording on the 318 though because again the 350 does record digitally, but no differencein quality. I really didn't even hear the difference in sound even though the 318 comes with a mono av cable I still think it may recored in stereo because again when I matched my 318 against my brother's 350 I could hear or see no difference. So between $300 for the 318 and $500 for the 350. I went for the 318 and I later bought the pinnacle 8.0 av for 130 with a $30 mail in rebate so really only $100 to capture my tapes and what great software it comes with better then the software that comes with the 350. I high recommend this camcorder I had so much fun with it on vacation and continually use it at home for parties and other events.

As a general rule, you usually always want the highest optical zoom possible, as digital zoom is basically what a computer can do (by taking each pixel, enlarging it, and smoothing it) rather than actually zooming in like an optical zoom does. Of course, there is more behind it than that, I'm just summarizing it.

Here are the specs:

Digital zoom: 560x
Optical zoom: 20x
Effective sensor resolution (video): 0.46 megapixels
Image stabilization: Electronic
Lens aperture: F/1.6-2.4
Media type: Hi8
LCD Display: 2.5in
Connector types: 1x composite, 1 x DC
Weight: 1lb 12oz
Battery: LithiumIon

I'm not an expert at critiqueing camera specs, but it looks like a good choice for the money. Circuit City has that same model for $269.99. You might want to move your business to them instead of Wally-World.

More specs about this model can be found here. They also are nice and include a little info about what each of the specs actually mean.

http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Sony_CCD_TRV318

Also, be on the lookout for coupons and rebates! Hope you find one you like.

~JeFF