Sony Digital Camcorder help

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Hi,

I am looking at getting a Sony Digital 8 Camcorder. Can anyone tell me what they would recommend? I don't want the bargain basement version nor do I need the top of the line ones. Maybe the 530 or 330? BTW, what is the difference between the TRVx20 and TRVx30 versions
 

Ranger

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
206
0
76
I have the 330 and it works great.... i think the only difference between the 130 and 330 is the memory stick option for still photos. Im not impressed with the quality of that at all, 640x480, ick... The 530 has a bigger LCD screen, just a way to eat up battery power faster...... I havent read anything bad about the 120 at all, i would think the 130 would be about the same... I have a cheap compusa firewire card and it works great on my bp6/win2000 machine...i have captured some 10-20 gig AVI files at 720-480 with no frames dropped using the av-dv pass through option. I would pick the 130 over the 330 if i had it to do again though.
Andy
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Thanks for your answers. My question about the models really is between the TRVx20 and TRVx30. Notice that every model has a 20 version and a 30 version and I cannot figure out the difference aside from the fact that the 20 looks squarish while the 30 looks curvier.


Edit: Also, why would you pick the 130? It is the cheapest card in their line, can't be that great.
 

Ranger

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
206
0
76
the only difference between the 130 and 330 is the memory stick... I wasnt impressed with the quality of that. $599 vs $799 last time i looked, so i would sink the extra $200 in computer stuff. Editing the video seems to really eat up copmuter power.
Compusa had the 120 on sale a few weeks back,$599, well they ran out of them on the first day of the sale and they gave me the 330 at the 120 price so i really shouldnt bitch much about it. Sorry I dont have info on the trv-20 or 30, i stopped looking after i got the 330, just in case i made a mistake.
Andy
 

Ranger

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
206
0
76
The 130/330/530 all use the digital 8 format so i think the video quality is the same on all three models..
Andy
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Hmm I still think you are missing my question. If you look at their product page you will notice a bunch of models. But there is also a 'mate' to every model. TRV120 >> TRV130. TRV220 >> TRV230. My question is what is the difference between models that end in a 20 and models that end in a 30. BTW, there is no such thing as a TRV20, TRV30. I was saying 20 and 30 in reference to TRVx20 and TRVx30. Thanks for your help.

Any others?
 

kyutip

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2000
1,729
0
0
I think the new trvx30 model is crappier.
the older trvx20 has a small lcd display about time, date, etc.
new one only has a blue panel.
new trvx30 doesn't exactly correspond to trvx20.
Sony remove something to make the new model cheaper.
 

Ranger

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
206
0
76
The 120/320/520 are last years model 130/330/530 are this years...
I know they played with the night vision on the newer models, something about being able to see through clothes... link...The zoom on the 320 is 25/450 optical/digital and 25/700 on the 330, the 700x digital zoom isnt worth a lot though. There is a TRV20 but is a bit more $$. I think the newer models are just a little smaller/lighter, most of the specs are the some. The 330/530 has a usb connection to downloed/upload still photos.. you can make borders for your movies and upload them to the memory stick..I have some stills from the first day of the Iditarod if you would like to see a sample of the quality
Andy
Hope that helped.. (less caffeine/more sleep)
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Thanks so much for the last two posts guys. That helped ALOT! I think I like the way the 30's look so I am goign to get the TRV530. Hmm they messed up the Nightvision AKA XRAY's on the new ones? That is going to make me think twice, maybe I should get the 520!
 

prasade

Junior Member
Apr 10, 2001
13
0
0
I too want to Buy a TRV530. just waiting for a cheap deal. I saw one for $631.00 . SEARS doesn't have one to price match. I dont know who else(local stores) can price match with a internet store.