Sony DCR-TRV740 Digital8 Camcorder / Megapixel Still Camera With MemoryStick And USB

The Sony DCR-TRV740 is a Digital8 camcorder with 1-Megapixel CCD that provides up to 1152x864 still resolution, USB interface, 8MB MemoryStick and 2.5” LCD.

Digital8 Advantages

There are several advantages to the Digital8 format. Digital8 format uses the same compression as MiniDV (DV compression) but uses Hi8 tapes. MiniDV tapes that other digital camcorders use are more expensive and incompatible with “regular” 8mm or Hi8 camcorders and VCRs.

Advantages of D8:

1. If you want to get a Sony camcorder for less money with more features: Sony Digital8 camcorders are cheaper than their MiniDV models with comparable features.

2. Backward compatibility: You can play your existing Hi8/8mm tapes on Digital8 machines (but you cannot record in 8mm or Hi8 on Digital8 camcorders). It is a useful feature for owners of previously recorded Hi8 or 8mm tapes. Plus you can output a digital signal while playing your analog 8mm/Hi8 tape through the i.Link port.

3. Savings on tapes: Digital 8 camcorders use regular 8mm or Hi-8 tapes instead of more expensive MiniDV. Both 8mm and Hi8 tapes can be used, but Sony recommends using Hi8 tapes for Digital8 recording. D8 camcorders can record at SP speed (120-minute Hi8 tape holds 60 minutes of digital video) or LP speed (120-minute Hi8 tape holds 90 minutes).

Manual recommends playing 8mm tapes on the same camcorder that was used to record them. Same with Hi8 tapes recorded in LP mode (you cannot record in LP on a 8mm tape – even if you select LP mode using the camcorder’s menu, the recording still will be in SP). To record in LP mode, you have to buy Hi8 tapes, which are more expensive (about $4.50 for 120-minute Hi8 tape, which holds 60 minutes in D8 SP mode or 90 at LP speed).

Megapixel CCD

The TRV740 has a 1-Megapixel CCD, which is a significant improvement over 460,000-pixel CCDs of cheap camcorders. This improves resolution and picture quality for video as well as still pictures. It also improves resolution when using digital zoom. It also allows for still pictures with up to 1152x864 resolution, compared with 640x480 pictures from cheaper models (or even 320x240 for entry level digital camcorders).

Zoom

The camcorder has a 15x optical zoom and 420x digital zoom. The 15x optical zoom is more than some competitors’ 10x optical zoom, and should be sufficient for most situations. The digital zoom is very powerful and it is unlikely that you will use it anywhere close to its full potential.

The variable-speed zoom allows you to zoom in and out at several speeds, including a very slow speed, which gives your video more professional look, especially if you pan at the same time. A tripod would be very helpful for this.

Image Stabilizer

The camcorder uses the Super SteadyShot® image stabilizer, which allows you to avoid the unwanted picture shake while shooting at high magnification levels as well as while shooting form a moving vehicle. It works great even at high magnification levels and can be disabled through the menu (when using a tripod, for example), it if you want. The SteadyShot system controls smaller range of the shake frequencies.

Picture Quality

The TRV740 produces great picture quality, even when using digital zoom, thanks, in part, to the 1-Megapixel CCD. The picture is crisp and edges of objects look sharp.

Sound

The camcorder uses Digital Audio Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) - similar to CD recording technology, with 12-Bit or 16-Bit modes (CD Audio uses 16-bit mode, HDCD – 20 bit), for a dynamic range of more than 96dB.

In 12-bit mode you can have two soundtracks, 16-bit mode provides better dynamic range. The built-in microphone is adequate, and you can get a better one and connect it to the camcorder’s “Intelligent Accessory Shoe”.

Inputs

The TRV740 has: i.Link in/out (FireWire, IEEE 1394), mini USB jack (USB cable and software are included), A/V in/out, S-Video in/out, headphone out, microphone input, LANC input and Intelligent Accessory Shoe.

The USB allows you transfer your still pictures to your computer for editing, emailing or storing. The camcorder also has a thread for a tripod on bottom.

The i.Link® Digital Interface (IEEE1394, FireWire) is a two-way input/output that carries digital audio, digital video and control signals to compatible digital VCRs, edit controllers and computers.

Still Pictures

The still pictures can be shot at either 640x480 or 1152x864 and be stored on the supplied 8Mb MemoryStick (with an option to transfer them to your computer using USB interface).

There are 3 picture quality modes: Super Fine, Fine and Standard. The capacity of the supplied 8Mb MemoryStick depends on the resolution and the picture quality and ranges from 12 images in Super Fine mode at 1152x864 to 120 images in Standard mode at 640x480.

VCR Mode

When you switch to the VCR mode, you can view your footage, transfer your recordings to a VCR or other devices using i.Link, A/V out or S-Video.

You can also use the analog to digital passthrough – converting the analog signal from analog inputs into digital form and passing it through i.Link. The i.Link connection also allows you control your camcorder if it is connected to your computer and an editing program is running (I use StudioDV).

Features

The camcorder has picture effects and digital effects. The shutter speed and exposure can be set to automatic mode or be adjusted manually, which might be helpful in low light conditions (to fight video noise) and to avoid overexposure (you also get program AE modes to do so).

Program AE modes include Beach & Ski, Sunset & Moon, Landscape, Soft Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight.

The camcorder has both manual focus and automatic focus. In manual mode, the focus is controlled by the ring. There are several A/V fader modes, edit search and TBC (Time Base Correction), 16:9 mode and LP recording capability.

The TRV740 features an intelligent accessory shoe, which accepts accessories: lights, IR lights and photo printers, microphones that “zoom” with the camcorder. The camcorder has both a 2.5" LCD and a B&W viewfinder. The use of a B&W viewfinder instead of the LCD conserves the battery life. The LCD has good visibility in sunlight and the brightness can be controlled.

The Memory Stick can also store short MPEG movies of 320x240 or 160x120 resolution. The 8Mb stick holds less than 6 minutes of 160x120 video or 1 min 20 sec of 320x240.

Super NightShot

There are two modes for low-light recording: Night Shot and Super Night Shot. The Super NightShot™ allows you to shoot subjects at about 16x brighter than when using NightShot™ by selecting slower shutter speeds. Super NightShot recordings have no color, but the Color Slow Shutter mode allows you record color images in the dark conditions.

The Data Code

The D8 recordings contain so-called “Data Code” recorded on the tape in digital form separately from the picture. Data includes the date, time and recording parameters, which leads to ability to search for recording by date (you have to use the supplied remote control).

You can also see the information about the recording conditions as well as date/time by pushing the “Data Code” button during the playback. Unlike the old camcorders, this information is no longer superimposed on the picture during recording with no option to remove it later.

Search Modes

The “Edit Search” can be used while in “camera” mode to look through the material to find the insertion point, or you can use the “End Search” button to find the end of your last recording. You can also use the supplied remote (see below) for advanced search, using data code.

Remote Control

The remote control that is supplied with the TRV740 has a rocker switch to control zoom, record/stop button, playback functions as well as some advanced functions that are unavailable without it (slow motion playback, frame-by-frame, date search, photo search, photo scan). You can also record still photos using the remote.

Battery

The supplied NP-FM50 battery is good for 55-70 minutes with LCD use and about 70-85 minutes using viewfinder. The InfoLithium allows you to see the approximate remaining power at any time with AccuPower™ meter showing you the remaining battery time in minutes on the camcorder's viewfinder or LCD.

The Stamina® Power Management cuts power consumption and extended battery life when camera is not in use. Optional batteries of larger capacity can be purchased to get more recording time out of one battery.

Bottom Line

The TRV740 is a significant improvement over less expensive camcorders in terms of better picture quality in both video and still picture modes as well as features for not much more money.