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| | Product Details | | Product Weight: | 1.32 pounds | | Package Length: | 8.5 inches | | Package Width: | 7.0 inches | | Package Height: | 5.3 inches | | Package Weight: | 3.1 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 12 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 found the following review helpful:
 easy and excellent Oct 04, 2007
By W. Murphy
"Amazonaholic!"
After MUCH research, trial and error, and actually trying 3 other video cameras, this is the one we stuck with. We even went to some local stores that had cameras on display, loaded in a blank dvd, shot some footage, and compared them at home on our 56" HD DLP TV.
Clarity of picture, ease of use, quick and easy transfer to pc and burning to dvd, quick and clear focusing....all these were high priority when we shopped around. We wanted to also be able to take still shots with reasonable results, so we went for something with a high megapixel.
We tried other Sonys, several Canons and a Panasonic, all priced from $300 to $800. This was the one that came out tops in all categories.
Touch screen controls are easy to use and intuitive. Manual is clear and well organized (especially compared to the indecipherable Canon instructions!) Software is very basic but does the job it's meant to do. Some customization in the software, but if you want anything fancy you'll need to buy something else (none of the cameras came with anything amazing as far as video software goes). Transfer of videos or pics to pc is quick and very easy.
Zoom may not be the highest of other cameras out there but it's quick, quiet, focuses fast (unlike the Canon, which at times was unable to focus at all). Night shot button is easy to use and does the job well, although we shot video in a poorly lit restaurant ("ambient light") without the night shot on and it came out really well.
Still shots are easy to take, though if you're looking to snap a shot quickly, stick with a dedicated still camera. It takes a while for the camera to be ready to go, and time between shots is considerable. Still, they come out far better than the other cameras did and works fine for what we wanted; the ability to take video or reasonable quality stills, without having to carry around a lot of gear. I plan to buy a digital camera for those times when very high quality, or speed, is important. At todays low prices, it's worth the investment.
So in closing, well worth the money (GREAT deal at Amazon, compared to local stores, chains, or other online sites).
Easy to use...100%
Video quality...85% (high def camera would be only thing better)
Picture quality...85% (get dedicated digital camera for the important shots)
Price for the product....100% well worth the price, if you buy it at Amazon and don't overpay at the local chain stores!
20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
One Great Camcorder Jun 20, 2007
By Tony Wiggins
I recently purchased the Sony DVD508. The picture quality is "Excellent".
I've been a professional photographer for over 15 years and I can tell the difference between a average quality video and a fine quality video. This camcorder is on of the best that i've used. For under $800 it gives you the best bang for your buck. The camcorder is easy to use. It took me approximately 15 minutes to install the software onto my computer. I use pinnacle studio 11 for editing the frames, which is relatively easy for an amateur or pro. Again, you will absolutely love the quality of your end product, which is all that really matters.
25 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 I like it a lot... May 30, 2007
By S. Woodward
"tech savy!!!"
I purchased this camcorder in March 2007. I like it. I have no problems with transferring videos to the computer. Video quality is crisp and clear. Battery life is about 1 hour I will be purchasing an addtional battery soon. I like the night shot mode. I recorded a school play and it turned out very clear sound quality was superb in. Nice to be able to take digtial snapshots while in record mode. Picture quality is good. I was able to fit 3 dvd+rw disc onto one dvd. I have not tried editting video inforamtion. This camera is perfect for families who want nice quality videos of chidren's school performaces, vacations, family times. I am very happy with the purchase. I paid just over $900. If you have windows vista the included software is incompatible. A simple free download from Sony's website to get the software required for Vista users. I am giving it a 4 star simply for battery life after years of comlaints about battery life one woulde think a battery with a longer life would be included in higher end camcorder's.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Picture, Easy To Use Nov 24, 2007
By M
"missymom"
This camcorder is easy to use and the playback quality is clear and sound quality was good. There was no hissing. I am not tech savy at all. The manual is easy to understand. I had the camera charged and was shooting and watching videos soon after I took it out of the box. I used only Sony dvds to save myself any grief with possibly not being able to use nonsony products. Also, the dvd+rw played in our non Sony players. I recorded about 25 minutes on the dvd-r and it took 2 minutes to finalize. The menu is a nice feature. I haven't done any editing at this point. Also, there are three modes you can shoot in, the higher one only records 20 minutes according to the manual. I used the highest and middle to film, both look exactly the same. I tried out the night shot in low light indoors, and it makes it worse. The brighter the room, the crisper the images. However, even in low lit rooms, the movies were great. I am sorry if this is rambling, I am new to posting reviews. I would also like to say that Amazon has excellent customer service if you have questions regarding purchasing/returning products. I had to be home to sign for the package, so I ended up calling UPS to pick it up at their facility.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Home Handycam...Avoid Low Light Situation Dec 31, 2007
By Davio Green Bay, WS
I am a gadget guy that wants to get the best bang for the buck. Loyal to Sony for generations and after many hours of intense internet research I have narrowed down my options to three formats, three top cams. MiniDv, MiniDVD, HDD.
MiniDv has proven to execute clear video performance for years now. Editing capabilities are simple because it uses a very flexible format known to many editing programs. Transferring to a computer is a bit annoying because you have to wait out the entire length of the tape. The top choice for MiniDv is the Sony HC-96. A bit more expensive than the newer HC-48 but pixly speaking it's worth every cent.
MiniDVD was my choice. With regards to HDD, the need to always transfer my videos and load up my computers hard drive was not appealing. Invest in DVD-RW, rewritables are a must have otherwise you will have to finalize your dvd before popping it into a dvd player, AND your long term disc cost will be less. Crystal clear CMOS picture, Super steadyshot, and a horseshoe to put an external flash. BTW, CCD replaced CMOS for a while now, but it's back, and the DVD508 flaunts the new updated image capturing technology. A nice feature is the 6.1 pixel still shot, but you will need to invest in a memory pro duo card to utilize it. The top choice for MiniDVD is the DCR-DVD508. second the dvd-408, but do not buy the DVD-308, or dvd-108.
HDD are becoming more popular. The sole reason to get an HDD is not CLARITY, it's convenience. Sleek, quick transfer time, and for those that don't like futzing around with tapes of discs, this is a dream. Opt for the Sony SR-62 for a few more dollars than the SR-42. The SR-42 is almost the exact camcorder, except for the hard drive size.
Coclusion: MiniDV, is almost extinct but provides easy editing, cheap tapes, and for $300 you get the top model. MiniDVD, newer, easy to navigate on the camera to specific location, clarity, and 5.1 dolby surround sound. For the price of a low end HDD, your get a High end MiniDVD. HDD, ease of use, 7 hours or video without the need to transfer to a computer(for those long trips). $500 will buy you the lowest end HDD.
See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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