Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom From Sony This item is not available for purchase from this store. 9 new or used available from $133.99 Average customer review:  (23 customer reviews)

Product Description

You'll love the portable power of this Sony Digital-8 Handycam camcorder. A hefty 20x optical zoom lens, a 2.5 SwivelScreen LCD display and NightShot Plus zero-light recording system are packed with other great features into a sleek, stylish package. Other features: SteadyShot function; easy handycam button; USB streaming; i.Link interface; stamina battery power management system; program AE (auto exposure) modes; picture effects; fader effects; built-in white LED light; photo mode; and manual focus.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11718 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Sony
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• Digital8 Handycam camcorder and digital still camera with 460,000-pixel CCD
• 20x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 990x) with Super SteadyShot image stabilizer
• 2.5-inch rotating LCD and black-and-white viewfinder
• Low-light recording settings, built-In white LED light, and manual focus
• NP-FM30 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery

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Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer Who says you can’t afford digital? Sony’s DCR-TRV260 Digital8 Handycam camcorder gives you digital recording at an analog price. It features a huge 20X optical zoom lens, a big 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD display and the NightShot Plus zero-light recording system, all in a stylish, ultra-compact design. It even includes USB streaming capabilities, which transforms your camcorder into a webcam. Best of all, it records digitally on inexpensive 8mm and Hi8 video tapes, making it the perfect camcorder for anyone stepping up from analog.

	Digital8 Video Recording: Digital8 recording format delivers 3X the color bandwidth of VHS with significantly less video noise providing stunning video performance. Digital8 records digital audio and video comparable to MiniDV on affordable Hi8 tapes.		With a press of theEasy Handycam button, most of the advanced functions of the camcorder are "locked out" leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.
	Sony's i.LINK DV (or MICROMV) interface gives you true digital-to-digital editing, without the "generation loss" of analog editing. And the i.LINK interface is compatible with a range of Sony digital VCRs, Sony edit controllers, and Sony PCs with editing software.		Stay connected with family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio, via the Internet with theUSB interface. You can even playback your favorite recorded scene stored on tape. It's like having your own web camera or video conferencing system.
	With Sony's NightShot Infrared system you can capture natural looking video even when shooting in low light up to 10 feet away using the built-in infrared system.		SteadyShot Picture Stabilizationsmoothes and steadies your images without degrading picture quality. Sony does it with motion sensors --- a more accurate system than many other camcorders on the market.
	Stamina Power Managementthe combination of low power consumption and an optional InfoLithium battery give Sony Handycam models incredible operating time. To keep tabs on battery life, Sony's AccuPower meter displays the number of minutes remaining -- right in the viewfinder.		Battery information is momentarily displayed without having to power on the camcorder. Quickly access the battery's status by pressing the Battery Info button. The Recording Time Available is displayed in minutes on either the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

And more:

• 1/6" CCD Imager, 460K Pixels Gross
  1/6" CCD imager with 290K (effective) pixels provides great detail and clarity, with exceptional analog video performance.
• 20X Optical/990X Digital Zoom
  The optical zoom helps to bring the action up close 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.
• 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels)
  Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 123K pixel LCD rotates up to 270-degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp detailed images for monitoring or playback.
• InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System
  Charge the battery at any time 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 displays the battery time remaining in minutes in the viewfinder or the LCD screen.
• Stamina Battery Power Management System
  Using the optional NP-QM91D InfoLithium battery, the DCR-TRV260 can continuously record up to 12 hours on one complete charge, providing extra long battery life.
• 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, Sunset & Moon modes.
• Picture Effects
  Get creative when recording or playing back videos with Sony’s Picture Effect modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Monotone, Solarize, Slim, Stretch, Pastel and Mosaic. Effects available in Playback mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Black & White and Solarize.
• End Search
  Advances the video tape to the last 5 seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previous recorded videos.
• Fader Effects
  Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Mosaic, White and Monotone.
• Titling
  Add professional looking titles to your videos, select from 8 preset or 2 customized titles with up to 22 characters.
• Built-In White LED Light
  Brightens your videos when shooting in low light with low power consumption.
• Photo Mode
  Using Sony's unique Adaptive Frame Interpolation for better image quality, you can store hundreds of individual still images with 7 seconds of audio on the videotape.
• Manual Focus
  Allows the user to determine the focus of their choosing by adjusting the cameras focus ring allowing more creativity and/or effects. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the cameras focus in difficult situations where either the subject or environment does not allow the cameras auto-focus to perform at an optimal level.

What's in the box:
DCR-TRV260 Digital8 Handycam, AC-L15 Power Adaptor/In Camera Charger, NP-FM30 InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery, A/V Cable, Lens Cap, USB Cable, Shoulder Strap, CD-ROM with USB Driver (Picture Package Software Ver. 1.0 for Sony).

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
51 of 52 people found the following review helpful.
awesome camcorder
By Chet N
well let me start off by saying i am not a family guy, i bought this camera purely for college, meaning alot of night shots, alot of abuse and other things related to college...of course being in college price was a big deal since i am always broke.

i got this camera at a very good price ($275) and so far the camera is proved it's worthyness! i've taken it everywhere outdoors, indoors, sports events, race track use, etc etc.

The night shot is very useful and it works very well and the easycam option enables me to do everything with the touch of one ot two buttons.

it is not backward compatible true, but i don't have any older tapes from an older camera. This camera is therefore perfect for a first time camcorder user who wants price, functionalty and quality all in one.

all in all it is a very good camcorder
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful.
If You Want Digital8, Get The TRV-460 Instead!
By A Customer
Someone stole my DCR-TRV240 camcorder, so I thought I'd purchase a DCR-TRV260 so that I could play my old Digital 8 tapes and continue converting my VHS tapes to digital. Big mistake! On the plus side, the TRV260 is somewhat smaller front-to-back than the TRV240. On the minus side: (1) The TRV 260 lacks the ability to make digital copies of VHS videotapes that the TRV 240 had. That is, the A/V jack is only "out," not "in/out." (2) There is no audio input jack or headphone jack, so you can't connect an external microphone or listen to the audio that you're recording. (3) There's no "Intelligent Accessory Shoe" so you can't connect an extra video light or a shotgun mike.
Since the DCRTRV250 mentioned in the February-March 2004 Amazon reviews is apparently no longer manufactured, if you're in the market for a new Digital8 camcorder, get the TRV 460 instead for $50 more. It has "Analog-to-Digital Conversion with Pass Through" (i.e., "Convert and/or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video via the analog inputs," even in real-time - which was not found on the TRV-250). In addition (and less important to me), the TRV-460 has the ability to record still pictures on a Memory Stick (instead of on the D8 tape), a remote control, and a "Touch Panel" LCD screen. The TRV460 still doesn't have #2 or #3 in the paragraph above, but at least it's closer to what I came to expect from the 240. When I receive my 460, I'm going to take all my analog and D8 videos and digitize them to a format readable by computers into the foreseeable future since VHS and D8 are both moribund. Buy the DCRTRV460 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder from Amazon.com!
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
NOT backward compatible
By T. Barnett
This model is NOT backward compatible with old analogue Hi8 tapes. That feature is not available until the 460. I was told at the store that it does, but I was not able to make it happen, and the people at Sony confirmed that it does NOT play old tapes.

So, if you need to be able to play them, you'll have to spend the extra $50 and buy the 460.
See all 23 customer reviews...