Sony Handycam DCR TRV325

...opinion will be on the Sony Camcorder, DCR-TRV325E. This isn’t technically mine, but like I said in my Digital Camera, if I didn’t use it thick dust would soon gather! This is going to be quite a lengthy review, so get comfy and I’ll begin…

** Description **

This I going to take a while! The camcorder itself is roughly about 20cm x 10cm x 5cm. If you look at the camcorder from a birds eye view you can see the slot for ...
...Stop, Pause, Rew, FF. Next to these controls is the sensor for ‘Super Laser Link.’ There is a sliding switch to turn Nightshot on or off and a silver push button that turns on Super Nightvision. Also on the top there is a push button for taking photos and a sliding switch for Zooming in and out. The bottom of the camcorder doesn’t home a lot! It only homes the screw in hole where a tripod can be fitted. Also it homes the sliding eject switch that ... more

This is a very unusual thing that I do. I hardly ever write two opinions within a good two weeks never mind two days! I guess I just got bored so decided to write you my adoring fans (I have adoring fans?! First I heard of it!)! Today’s opinion will be on the Sony Camcorder, DCR-TRV325E. This isn’t technically mine, but like I said in my Digital Camera, if I didn’t use it thick dust would soon gather! This is going to be quite a lengthy review, so get comfy and I’ll begin…

** Description **

This I going to take a while! The camcorder itself is roughly about 20cm x 10cm x 5cm. If you look at the camcorder from a birds eye view you can see the slot for a large microphone, the controls for playing back, i.e. Play, Stop, Pause, Rew, FF. Next to these controls is the sensor for ‘Super Laser Link.’ There is a sliding switch to turn Nightshot on or off and a silver push button that turns on Super Nightvision. Also on the top there is a push button for taking photos and a sliding switch for Zooming in and out. The bottom of the camcorder doesn’t home a lot! It only homes the screw in hole where a tripod can be fitted. Also it homes the sliding eject switch that opens the cassette compartment.

On the left hand side of the camcorder the main feature is the LCD flip screen. Under the LCD screen there is a whole host of buttons and features including the menu, title display, play and edit search functions. To the bottom left of the screen there is the ‘S VIDEO OUT’ and ‘A/V OUT’. These out sockets are used when transferring film to television, computer or other editing equipment. Above these sockets are the fader and back light buttons. Above that is the focus menu where you can choose between auto and manual. Auto is by far the easiest as you don’t have to use the optical lens. Below the LCD screen is the volume control, USB Port, DV Out and LANC Input. These are also used when transferring film or pictures. All the line out sockets have a plastic covering to stop them getting damaged. This side also looks like a billboard as it’s covered in logos! On the right hand side there is a ‘Digital Video Camera Recorder’ logo, the Head/Earphone and the MIC input. The MIC input also doubles up as the ‘Plug In Power’ socket. But the most important feature on this side is the, Player, Off, Camera and Memory sliding switch. This switch turns on everything on the camera. To prevent the camera being accidental turned on you have to push a little green button in before you can turn the switch. This is a really helpful tool as otherwise if it was accidentally turned on the battery would die rather rapidly!

On the front of the camcorder there is the of course the Video lens! Obviously! The video lens is protected by a lens protector. At the front there is also a built in microphone and a sensor for the remote control. At the back the battery holder takes up most of the space, but the rest of the space is taken up by the Memory Stick holder, Exposure button, Select push button and the Record On/Off push button. The Select push button is used for the LCD Screen Menu. That pretty sums up the look of the camcorder.

** What you get for you Money **

When your spending £649.99 you want to know what your getting for you money! For your money you get a lot of accessories. And so you should for what you pay! For your money you get:

Wireless Remote Control, AC-L10A/L10B/L10C AC power adaptor Mains Lead, NP-FM30 Battery Pack, NP-FM50 Battery Pack, A/V Connecting Cable, Shoulder Strap, Lens Cap, USB Cable, Memory Stick, CD-ROM, 21-Pin Adaptor.

As you can see there’s about 10 or 11 accessories there, but its still a lot of money
to pay. I think the price is rather OTT so I’m glad I didn’t pay for it! Hehehe!

** Recording **

This is the main thing you’re going to do with the camera so this will be the biggest part of the opinion. This section will include, info on different ways to record as well as Fade out, dissolve and effects like that. First off all I will start with they ways to record. These are using the Viewfinder and the LCD screen. Personally I like to use the LCD Screen as it shows you in full colour what the film will look like, whereas the viewfinder only shows your in black and white.

* Viewfinder *

Using the Viewfinder is very easy. All you have to do is remove the lens cap and turn the switch on the left hand side to CAMERA. The viewfinder is now on but will not start recording till you press the Record On/Off button situated at the back of the camcorder. The viewfinder will only give you the picture you are filming in black/grey and white. This way of recording is very battery friendly and is the more traditional way.

* LCD Screen *

Using the LCD Screen is my personal favourite way of recording and is the newest and most popular way of recording. Using the screen gives you FULL colour and gives you an exact representation of what you are filming. I would not recommend using this mode for moving objects (like at a Childs sports day), as it tends to blur a lot. However using the viewfinder for moving things is much better. This way of recording is very easy. You do exactly the same as using the viewfinder but open the LCD Screen. Unfortunately using the LCD Screen does use the battery up very fast, but if you have spare batteries this won’t be a problem.

When you are recording the ‘Battery Life’, ‘Minutes left’, ‘Wide Screen´ ‘Time’ ‘Date’ ‘Standby/Record Indicator’ ‘Recording Mode (SP or LP)’ and ‘ Format Indicator’ will be displayed at the top of the screen. As you can see there’s a lot that is displayed and all of this will be visible in both Viewfinder and LCD Screen.

* Nightshot*

At night or in dark places using normal recording mode is still possible but won’t come out very well, and will look like a television with interference! So to get a descent picture-using Nightshot is best. This is very easy to use. When you are recording just slide the switch on the top of the camcorder to Nightshot on. Nightshot is now on. ‘Nightshot’ will now be displayed on the screen, where ‘Time’ ‘Date’ is. You can create some very good effects using Nightshot. Try moving the camera round to a new object very quickly. This will give a blurred effect but it gives very impressive results.

If Nightshot isn’t enough then try ‘Super Nightshot’. To turn this on simply press the silver button next to the sliding switch that turned on Nightshot. Super Nightshot makes objects 6 times brighter than in Nightshot.

* Fader Functions *

There are six functions that fade the picture in or out to give your recording a professional appearance. Using the fader function can be a little tricky to understand in the beginning but once you get used to it, it’s easy. You have to start off in Standby mode. This is where you can view things without recording. Then press the fader button that is on the left hand side of the camera. Chose you desired effect (more on those in a min). Then you have to press record and move the camera to a new subject. It may look tricky doing it in your mind but its a lot easier doing it with the camera.

The six-fader functions are:

Fader – This is one of the older camcording functions but still one of the best. This fades out of one scene and in to another. The blackness last for about 5 seconds so you have a little time to find your next subject.

M.Fader - This feature is quite new and is not one I really like. At first it turns the subject’s picture into little squares so it becomes a mosaic. Then as it goes on it brings the subject into normal picture. I don’t like this, as it looks messy.

Bounce – This one is different! It starts off that half the screen goes black, then as you go the black moves down the page then up the page, bouncing along.

Overlap – This is my favourite feature but its one of the oldest effects. Very simple, just takes one scene and overlaps it’s when you move the camera. Very effective and easily done.

Wipe – This one is effective. At first it gives you a normal scene then it opens up the next scene by opening it from the centre of the other scene! Then it final stretches over the whole screen. Looks very good when viewing back.

Dot – Not a bad effect by all means but not as good as some. It gives you a scene then fill the screen with dots then when you move the camera round the dot disappear giving you a new subject.
** Playing Back **

There are two main ways of doing this. The first is better when you are on holiday and can’t get to a TV and the second is when you are at home and can access a TV. The two are, using the LCD Screen or connected up to a television.

* LCD Screen *

As I said this way of viewing is best when you are on holiday and just wanna see what you’ve filmed. Its very easy to watch. Just open the screen and turn the switch to PLAYER. Using the controls on the top of the camcorder you can FF or REW STOP PLAY PAUSE, all the usual things. The screen gives you excellent play back but unfortunately uses up a lot of the battery.

* Television *

This is the alternative to using the LCD Screen and is a good way of doing it. Using scart leads you attach the single end to the camcorder via the A/V OUT socket and the three connectors at the other end connect into the TV. On bigger, newer and more expensive TV’s the connectors will fit into sockets at the front. They are colour coordinated. Yellow goes into the yellow socket, red into red, etc. For smaller portable TV’s there is an adaptor than the connector’s fit into which then goes into the TV. Once you are all connected up then just open the LCD Screen and set the switch to PLAYER. This film will also appear on the LCD Screen as well as your TV.

If you want to record the film to a VHS then you do the above but into you video system. Your VHS Player will have to same sockets that your TV does. So connect up, play the film, put a VHS in, and record.

** Overall **

I would definitely recommend this player to people who are going to use it a lot and make the most of all the features. But if you just want a camcorder for say a holiday to Disney Land then I would recommend buying a cheaper one. A great buy if you don’t pay for it!

There are a lot of other things that it does but it I went into detail on them all I would be here for years! Lol!

Thanks for reading

Alex :-) 

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