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Camcorder

Which camcorder is best for you? With all the features of cameras today, it is difficult to choose just one camera that is right for your video recordings. The charts below try to summarize the features of two Sony camcorders. The comparison is between a relatively low cost ($350) Digital8 magnetic tape based camcorder and a newer technology, much higher cost ($850) 8 cm (3 inch) optical disc based DVD camcorder. 

To adopt the newer, more cutting edge technology, or go with the lower cost, but lower tech camera, that is the question. What do you give up with the lower tech camera? There are lots of questions to be answered if you make an informed decision. Of course if money is no object, you opt for the top of the line gear. There are drawbacks and advantages to many of the differences in the camcorders. [Costs reflect the April 2004 figures. The cost of these camcorders tends to drop 50% over a 2 to 3 year term. Models can be replaced in as little as a few months.]

Feature	Sony dcr-dvd201	Sony dcr-trv460	Notes
Images	more pics	more pics
Format	DVD	Digital8
Camera Cost	$900	$360	2½ times as expensive for new technology
Camera Size Dimensions	2"W x 3.5"H x 5.25"D (W x H x D): 51 x 88 x 136 mm	3.4"W x 3.9"H x 6"D  (W x H x D): 85 x 98 x 151 mm
Camera Weight	1.06 lbs. (460g) (without disc & battery)	2.0 lbs. (910g)  (without tape & battery)
Media	8 cm dvd	hi8 magnetic tape, memory stick	disc vs. tape
Recording time maximum  (media)	60 min LP HQ / SP / LP recording	90 min LP (106 m) SP / LP recording
Media size	3.125" diameter	3.75"W x 2.5"H x  0.5"D
Media Cost	$4.30 dvd-r   $8.50 dvd-rw	$4.25 per cassette $40.00 64MB ms
Media operation	random access	serial access
Introduced	late 2003	early 2003
Playback source	camera, dvd player, computer	camera only*	*Sony 8mm VCR  $500.00
Battery	InfoLithium  rechargeable	InfoLithium  rechargeable
AC/DC adaptor	yes	yes
Battery Cost	$50 - NPFM50 $90 - NPQM71 $120 - NPQM91	$50 - NPFM50 $90 - NPQM71 $120 - NPQM91
Battery cont. recording Time	NP-FM50: 120 min NPQM71 - 4 hrs. NPQM91 - 7 hrs.	NPFM30: 105 min NPFM50: 170 min NPQM71 / NPQM71D: 415 min / 7 hrs. NPQM91 / NPQM91D: 625 min / 10 hrs. (LCD Off)	supplied optional optional optional
Charger	yes	yes
Still Photos	yes, dvd  1,152 x 864 pixel resolution (1 Megapixel). store 5,400 to 8,600 images at 640X480 dvd-rw	yes, memory stick 640X480  (0.3 Megapixel) JPEG
video resolution	500	480
CCD	1/5" - 1,070,000 total pixel. 690,000 effective pixels for video	1/6" Interlace: Gross 460,000 pixel, Actual 290,000 pixel
Lens	Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar  with multilayer coating to reduce glare focal length 2.3 - 23 mm filter - 25mm	Sony f (Focal Distance): 2.5 - 50 mm filter - 37mm
Zoom	10X Optical 120X Digital	20X Optical 990X Digital
Focus	Automatic / Manual	Automatic / Manual
LCD	2.5 inch hybrid view in direct sun 123,200 pixels	2.5 inch 123,200 pixel	both color TFT
Viewfinder	color	black & white  90K pixels
Video	NTSC	NTSC
night shooting	yes, color	yes, color	up to 10 feet
image stabilization	electronic	electronic
Effects	Sepia, Mosaic, Pastel, Monotone, Old Movie, Luminance Key. Wipe fader, overlap fader, black fader	Picture Effects: 6 Digital Pic Effects: 6 Fader Functions: 7
16:9 recording	yes	yes
Navigation	5-way mini joystick,  dedicated buttons	touch screen	on-screen menus
Languages	yes, multiple	yes, multiple	for operation menus
date/time function	yes	yes
Rec. Audio	Dolby Digital AC-3 (2-channel) stereo sound	PCM Digital Stereo  (12/16 bit)
built-in Speaker	Yes	Yes
built-in Microphone	Yes, stereo	Yes, stereo
Mic in jack	Yes	No
Headphone out	Yes	No
built-in light	no	yes, white LED
External light	Yes*, hot-shoe	No	*optional extra cost $50 to $100 3watt flash/video
Connections	USB 2.0, S-video	USB, IEEE 1394 iLink, S-video
Remote control	yes, wireless I/R	yes, wireless
unique advantages	dvd recording	backward compatible with 8mm analog tapes,  Analog / Digital Signal Conversion
Warranty	1 yr. parts / 90 days labor	1 yr. parts / 90 days labor
Accessories  (included)	AC-L15A power adapter/in-camera charger, NP-FM50 InfoLithium battery, RMT-835 Wireless Remote Commander with CR2025 battery, special stereo A/V+S cable, blank DVD-R media, USB cable, lens cap, cleaning cloth, shoulder strap, software CD-ROM	AC-L15 Power Adaptor/In Camera Charger, NP-FM30 InfoLithium® Rechargeable Battery, Mono A/V Cable, Lens Cap, USB Cable, Shoulder Strap, CD-ROM with USB Driver (Picture Package™ Software Ver. 1.0 for Sony), RMT-831 Wireless Remote Commander® Remote Control.
Computer operating system compatibility	Windows® Me, 2000 Professional, or XP Home/Professional	Microsoft® Windows® 98SE, Me, 2000, XP Home and Pro; Macintosh® OS X (10.1.5 or later).
Misc.	microphone in jack, headphone out jack. S-Video jack and RCA video and audio jack. Thumbnail matrix for scene playback.	End Search function: Advances the video tape to the last 5 seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previous recorded videos. Analog-to-digital conversion with pass-through lets you convert and/or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video. • Video Input/Output: Yes/Yes (S-Video, Mini)