Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital Camcorder

The Sony TRV310 Handycam has a nifty status screen on the outside of the LCD screen module that lets you know how many minutes you've recorded or how far you've played a tape. It also tells you if there's a tape in the camcorder. This screen is backlit for maximum visibility.

The LCD screen swivels 210 degrees, which lets you record above your head or put yourself in the picture. The optical viewfinder is black and white, which is not a real drawback since we ended up using the LCD screen for most of our shooting. The unit's playback buttons are backlit, making it easier to use the Sony TRV310 Handycam as a VCR. This video camera also comes with a remote control unit.

The Sony TRV310 Handycam lets you manually adjust focus and exposure; it also includes seven programmed exposure modes, plus backlight compensation, to help optimize your video under different shooting conditions. It provides three recording modes--normal, hold-down, and five-second--to help you take short, lively video segments. The TRV310 also lets you record still photos. It features a high-powered 360x digital zoom, great for getting closeups and recording faraway events. This Handycam also provides electronic image stabilization to minimize camera shake, which is especially useful when using the zoom or during fast-action events.

We enjoyed Sony's full range of special effects, including the distinctive pastel, slim, and stretch picture modes. The TRV310 provides widescreen, black-and-white, sepia, negative, and solarized modes. We also liked the range of fade options, which include fade to black, mosaic, monotone, overlap, and a bounce-image effect. The camera includes digital effects for playback, including still, flash, lumi, slow shutter, old movie, and trail modes. You can even insert a scene in the middle of a recording.

The camcorder includes Sony's exclusive NightShot capability, which lets you shoot video in total darkness. The camcorder emits an invisible infrared beam to light the scene. The resulting video is basically black and white and lower quality than normal, but being able to get decent images in complete darkness is nonetheless pretty amazing. The TRV310 also comes with a mount for an external standard light.

This camcorder uses the Digital 8 format, which lets you record digital video on a standard Hi8 tape. Digital video gives you extraordinary video quality--up to 500 lines of resolution and CD-quality sound; it's the top-of-the-line format. The digital format allows you to take digital still pictures, just like a digital camera. If you want to download and edit your digital still images and video on a computer, however, you have to purchase a separate video capture card first. You can also use this camcorder to play back analog 8mm and Hi8 tapes--a handy feature if you have previously recorded video in these formats.

Pros:

• Large 3.5-inch LCD screen
• Super-powerful zoom
• Still photo capability
• High-quality digital format
• Great selection of special effects
• Image stabilization

Cons:

• Optical viewfinder is black and white

Some comments...

The LCD screen on the 310 is amazing. Certainly the best LCD that I have seen in my life. It is clear, bright, sharp and big... 3.5 inches. The color is truer. It is a real pleasure to play my videotapes in any place with no connection with TVs. This is one of the most important features of this camera and you have to consider that in your analysis. You will use it a lot.

The 20X optical zoom is enough and works fine (much better than my old hi-8 camera).

The PAUSEs are terrific. It is impossible to avoid the PAUSE key. Try to press the SLOW key and you will get a limpid and crystalline image.

I have lots of videos recorded on 8 and hi-8 format. The 310 is capable to play black perfectly any videotape on these formats. This camera is the right choice for everyone that have 8 and hi-8 tapes. Don't loose your time thinking to buy a mini-DV camcorder, you will have much more flexibility using the digital camera that supports your old tapes, with the same quality and flexibility. By the way, the hi-8 tapes are cheaper than the mini-DV tapes.

I didn't see notable difference between the regular video and S video hookups to my TV.

The included battery in not sufficient and an additional battery is very important.

The infrared nightshot works very fine (do you think that is it really important ? ).

The 16:9 aspect ratio feature is wonderful At the beginning you don't give so much attention on that, but when you start to use you will love this alternative. If you have a 16:9 aspect ratio television this feature will be fantastic for you. If you are considering to buy this kind of TV (to see your DVDs) this can be a considerable feature to consider.

One of the big things and rarely I see comments is the SOUND. The PCM System is fantastic. I connect the camcorder to my receiver system and I was surprised with the quality, clear and powerful sound. There is a huge difference between this PCM AUDIO SYSTEM and the audio system in my old hi-8 camera. Normally, when we study to buy a camcorder we don't invest so much time analyzing the audio, we keep focus on the video system and don't give importance to the audio. I am sure that the AUDIO SYSTEM of this digital camera will surprise you positively. You will feel the big difference if you connect the camera to a pro-logic Dolby surround sound receiver or a digital receiver. If you have a home theater system with Adobe Digital 5:1...

THE BAD THING: The missing feature on the 310 is audio dubbing. For this kind of camera this feature will be important and convenient. I would like to record narration or add a sound track on the camera after I've recorded the video. Based on the manual I can do this editing the video on my PC, but until now I didn't try it. So, I really don't know if it will work well...

GRAINY VIDEO: I read some comments about to make sure you have plenty of light to avoid a slightly grainy on the video. This is true but not at all. The illumination is not a bid deal... Don't make your decision using this comment as important ! In most of the 95% of the time you will be recording with enough light to make a brilliant and wonderful video.... So, the other 5% of the time you can face poor light and you will have a little bit grainy in your video... And so what ? The important here is that other cameras have the same problem, so it is not a decisive factor for buyers... Don't waste time with these comments...

Finally... I made a very deep analysis comparing the TRV-510 and TRV-310, the 310 is probably the good choice because it has the most advanced features with less cost.Repeating a comment that I saw below... The 310 is LIGHT YEARS beyond the other ones...


Unbelievable quality and editing options   August 15, 1999
37 out of 40 found this review helpful

I bought this camcorder for two reasons:

1) Exceptional imageand sound quality 2) Ability to digitally edit videos on my PC

Thevideo quality is superb, with excellent auto-exposure capabilities. The 20x optical zoom is great -- I leave the digital zoom switched off. Good fades are complimented by some neat SFX modes -- image trails, sepia effect, slow "shutter speed" and (limited) image keying. The standard battery doesn't last much longer than an hour, so you should factor in the cost of an extended battery into your budget.

If size is the most important thing, then you should look at DV format cameras. I found them to be too small -- the Sony camera size and weight make it easy to handle while not being a burden. Hi8 tapes are also much cheaper than DV tapes.

For editing, there are several fully digital capture cards available for PCs and all support this camera You can edit and review video on your PC (in real time on some cards) and render back to the camera for final recording on tape. All without any analog<->digital conversion and therefore without any loss in quality.

If quality is important, or you have any aspirations to editing your videos rather than just taping the kids, vacations and weddings, then this is the camera for you.


Excellent product. Best with Sony VAIO computer series.   August 20, 1999
kamalraj@usa.net (Kamal Raj) (Cincinnati, Ohio)
26 out of 28 found this review helpful

As a camcorder it lives up to all the expectations of an average buyer. But I found it really excel when I connected it to my Sony VAIO computer through the i-Link (IEEE-1394 / FireWire) port. With the DVGate Motion software supplied with the computer, capturing digital video with precision becomes child play. I can edit these videos with Adobe Premiere LE and upload the video back to the camcorder and transfer it to VHS tape through a VCR. What makes this process incredibly easy is the controlling capability built into the camcorder. You connect it to the PC and forget it. You can then Rewind, Cue, mark In and Out points and initiate a perfect video capture all from the computer with just mouse clicks! I was transformed from a video novice to an expert in just a week! Check out this combination.


Sony outdoes itself   August 29, 1999
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

I owned a Sony Hi-8, top-of-the-line camcorder for 5 years. It had every bell and whistle available, but broke down frequently (at very inopportune times like family reunions, kids' firsts, etc.). I recently purchased the 310 after doing some research. It is LIGHT YEARS beyond the one I replaced! The color is truer, the controls are cleaner and less noisy, and the digital capability is tremendous! The LCD swing-out screen is bright and crisp, and the B&W viewfinder is sharp (and doesn't consume much battery life). Speaking of batteries, go for the extra 10hour battery. You will add a little size and weight to the unit, but the extra time is well worth the $130 or so. Sony has come a long way in the last 5 years, and I highly recommend this camcorder. We just recorded a live theater performance, and the video/audio are better than anything else we've seen.


Professional Quality Movies On A Budget!   August 16, 2000
Adam Bellefeuil (Clarkston, Michigan United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I bought the TRV310 over 1 year ago and since then I have made 5 short films using the camera and the Miro DV200 digital video capture card for my PC.

I just recently got out of art school studying to be a computer animator so I have tried all sorts of digital effects with this camera after digitizing the footage and it works great! I have shot footage of one of my friends weilding fake Star Wars lightsabers and then added the glowing beams in a 3D modeling package, where doing so I had to edit nearly every frame... each frame output from this camera is crisp and clear at 720x480. Even on fast motion shots (the swinging of a fake lightsaber)!

I would HIGHLY recommed the Miro DV200 card if you own one of these cameras and want to do any sort of non-linear editing. It connects right into the cameras firewire port on the front and allows you to view, capture and control the camera using your PC. Once you are done editing the footage, the card will output the edited movies right back to the camera so you can play them on your TV or put them on a VHS tape! Its also GREAT for video for the web.

I start a new job across the country next week working in the video games industry and this camera is going to document my entire moving experience!

EXCELLENT purchase, I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to do any sort of digital video project. When combined with a digital video capture card and non-linear editing software you can produce some HIGH QUALITY results!