Sony DCR-DVD105 DVD Handycam Review

Capture digital video and still images simply on DVD with the Sony DCR-DVD105 DVD Handycam(R) camcorder. Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects, and get creative with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. For those who find operating a camcorder difficult, Sony makes it easy -- the Easy Handycam(R) Button leaves only the buttons essential for recording operational. SteadyShot picture Stabilization professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens Aperture - f1.8 - f3.1 Touch Panel Exposure Focal Distance - 2.3 - 46mm Shutter Speeds - Auto, 1/4-1/4000 sec. (AE Mode) Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes - Beach and Ski, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports Lesson, and Sunset and Moon Compatible with DVD-R, -RW and +RW White Balance Modes - Auto, Indoor, One-push, Outdoor picture Effects - Monotone, Mosaic, Pastel, and Sepia Fader Effects - Black, Overlap, White and Wipe Onboard battery information (displayed on LCD) Touch-panel Manual Focus Easy Handycam(R) Button Optional S-Video out Built-in microphone InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower(TM) Meter System Battery Life - Continuous recording for up to 8 hours on a single full charge Dimensions - 2-1/5 x 3-7/15 x 5-1/13 (56 x 88 129 mm) Weight - 1 lb. 1 oz. (470g) with disc and battery.

Specifications

20x Optical/800x Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up 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.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario- Tessar Lens
Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

DVD Format Video Recording
The DVD recording format delivers digital picture and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV, but on DVD. Playback of the DVDs couldn't be simpler. After finalizing the disc in the camcorder, the disc can play back in most DVD Players, computers and even PlayStation 2 video game consoles.

DVD-R/RW and +RW Compatible
The DCR-DVD105 is compatible with a variety of DVD formats allowing the easy of use and simplicity found in DVD Media. With DVD+RW media there is not a need to finalize the disc (minimum recording required). Simply remove the disc and insert the media into a compatible DVD Player.

2.5-Inch Touch Panel SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels)
Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high resolution 123K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

SteadyShot Picture Stabilization System
Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera "shake" without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems.

InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System
Charge the battery at anytime because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are not subject to a life shortening "memory effect". Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Manual Focus
Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.

Super NightShot Plus Infrared System
With Sony's Super NightShot Infrared System you can capture natural looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 20 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

Stamina Battery Power Management System
Using the optional NP-FP90 InfoLithium Battery, the DCR-DVD105 can continuously record for up to 8 hours on a single full charge, providing extra long battery life.

Picture Effects
Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Monotone, Mosaic, Pastel and Sepia. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Mosaic, Pastel and Sepia.

Fader Effects
Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Overlap, White and Wipe.

Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes
Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach and Ski, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports Lesson, and Sunset and Moon.

Battery Information
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is charged, in 10% increments and the recordable time left when using the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

Review

This camera is a lot of fun to use, it has Great quality (low-end professional), lots of features (widescreen mode, black & white, faders etc), it was very easy to use especially with the touchscreen lcd. I did find one big issue with the functioning of this camera, when you play back the video you can actually hear the sound of the dvd spinning in the camera, pretty hard to overlook or try to tune out.

Source: http://www.amazon.com