Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103971 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DCR-TRV355
• Released on: 2003-01-22
• Dimensions: 1.76 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Superb digital video can be yours with one of Sony's Digital8 Handycam Camcorders. Get to see remarkable Sony technology in action every time with any model you choose.PRODUCT FEATURES:800.000 Pixel CCD;SuperSteadyShot;20x optical zoom;700x digital zoom;Built-in video light;2.5" color LCD, 123.000 Pixels;Memorystick-slot;MPEG movie EX;Hi8/Video8 playback compatibility;Advanced USB-streaming (VideoCD-burning);Longplay (also on video8-tapes);NightShot;8 Picture Effects;6 Program AE;Playback-Zoom;Battery Info (LCD-screen);i.LINK (DV) in/out, Analog in/out;Stamina 10h;IR-commander.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Sony DCR-TRV355 Digital8 Camcorder
I had been concerned that I would not be able to save my old Hi8 tapes that had been taken over tha past 8 years when my old camcorder packed up. I trawled the net to find a product that could use my old tape format Hi8 but also give me the new digitised system Digital 8 of recording. Well, this camera does it and more! Within minutes of it's arrival I was linked up and downloading my video footage. [Pre order a firewire cable]. The booklet that accompanies the camera is informative and well structured for novice use, with excellent diagrams to aid you. The features are truly awesome, USB download for video and still pictures on a Sony memory stick [not supplied again pre order 128 mb is sufficient]also pre-select USB in the camera's menu as the USB will not work.Firewire video streaming @ hi digital quality is awesome, you will need a large hard drive 80gb recommended. Further functions include backlight, nightshot, super night shot, tape search, special effects for video such as sepia, black and white, widescreen, art, mosiac the list is endless. This camera is a high quality product, slightly larger than the newer camera's, which seem to get smaller by the minute. The button's to select all the functions are a dream to use and my large hands had no difficulty in using them. To conclude, pre-order the memory stick, firewire cable, tapes either Hi8 or Digital 8 [tapes not supplied] and an additional battery. You will I hope enjoy using this quality camera as much as I.

The Sony TRV355
If, like me, you need a camcorder that will play your old analogue 8mm and Hi8 while making new recording in a digital format this may be the camcorder for you. If that is not a must have feature I expect some of the other camcorders will be better and/or cheaper.

The manual is a bit confusing covering 9 different Sony Handycam models in both English and French on the same page. This comment will naturally also apply to other models in the Sony Handycam range.

The optional memory stick allows recording of low definition photos (JPEG) and movies (MPEG) 320 x 240 or 160 x 112. Photos are displayed on the TV full sized but MPEG are displayed in a compressed box in the centre of the screen. A 64Mb stick will hold over 350 photos or about 11 minutes of MPEG at the highest definition.

The USB Cable and software supplied allows copying of images to your PC including the facility to make MPEG movies from your tapes, including your old analogue tapes.

I am looking forward to trying out some of the features such as night shooting, interval shooting (1 second every few minutes) etc, but as with most camcorders I expect I will only use 5% of the features ( but you may use a different 5%).

A good piece of kit ....
The camera is easy to use and has a good menu system. Although it is a little chunky, I havn't found this a problem. The advantage of the TRV355 over the similar but cheaper models is the ability to use external microphones; this camera picks up a lot of wind noise and you can cut this out with a blank jackplug. I wasn't fussed about the memory stick option as I have a good digital still camera. Overall good value. It does the job and has the same video quality as a digital video camera but a lot cheaper. The zoom can be a bit quick if you are not careful. The software supplied is a good intro to editing on the PC. Only point is that Sony could have put a cassette in the box - buy a pack of three with your order!