Sony DCR-TRV950E

Although most MiniDV camcorders are sold into the consumer market, where single-chip CCD imaging systems are commonplace, video enthusiasts and semi-professionals often need more control and higher image quality. Sony’s latest 3-CCD model raises the bar for mid-range MiniDV camcorders, bringing it closer to professional-level digital video equipment.

Feature-Rich
If you're looking for a camcorder that will impress people with its looks, the 580g TRV950E probably won’t fit the bill, as it's rather cumbersome compared to your average consumer model. However, what you lose in aesthetics, you gain in features: the TRV950E comes with a 12X, f/1.6 optical zoom lens (3.6 - 43.2mm) as standard -- although not the Carl Zeiss lens that you might expect -- as well as a 3-CCD imaging unit for higher colour sensitivity. More importantly, the three sensor chips each have a 1-megapixel resolution, giving the TRV950E a video resolution of 530 lines as well as a maximum still capture resolution of 1,152 by 864 pixels.

The TRV950E has a horizontal form factor, with a thumb-operated record button and a zoom rocker control that sits beneath your index and second fingers. The internal viewfinder extends to three positions with full tilt control, while a large 3.5-inch LCD panel serves as the external viewfinder. A top-loading tape mechanism and rear-mounted battery lets you swap either while maintaining a tripod mount (a feature that’s often lacking with upright models), and a small monochrome LCD indicates battery life and tape position while the camcorder is switched on. The stereo pickups for the internal microphone sit on either side of the infrared emitter beneath the lens barrel, and the camera itself is heavily populated with the tiny controls and buttons that Sony loves to fit to all of its cameras.

Bluetooth Connectivity
The TRV950E's semi-pro status hasn’t protected it from Sony's belief that we all want to browse the Web and send emails via our camcorders, and it comes with a Bluetooth network adapter for this purpose.

That aside, the TRV950E comes with a plethora of more video-centric features, and will appeal most to anyone looking for increased manual control. A ring controlled manual focus is provided, with one touch auto-focus and infinity modes, and the touch-screen LCD lets you indicate the points within the frame from which you want to set focus and exposure. You can choose between five exposure presets with the camera’s corner-mounted menu wheel, as well as shutter speeds between 1/3s and 1/10,000s, programmable or preset white balance, exposure compensation and audio levels. This last feature is augmented by an extremely useful audio level indicator on the LCD during recording.

DV In/Out is supported, and you also get S-Video In/Out, which is handy for converting incoming analogue signals to digital tape. External microphones can be used, with a smart accessory shoe letting you fit a shotgun mike or video lamp/flash unit.

Advanced Features
Features that you won’t find on more consumer-oriented products include colour bar recording (for colour consistency in post production), zebra stripes that reveal areas of over-exposure during filming, and fully customisable sharpness, saturation, white balance and auto-exposure settings that can be instantly recalled via the Custom Preset button.

Although the TRV950E's rather chunky body makes it harder to carry around, it does make it easier to hold still while filming -- a digital image stabilisation circuit is also provided. Dedicated controls and a menu wheel make configuration faster, but you might find the buttons irritatingly small; also, although the touch screen panel is used for some camera functions, all the playback controls are located on the side of the camera, making it impossible to see them and the screen at the same time.

Still images and MPEG1 video can be captured to the supplied 8MB Memory Stick, and a pop-up flash is provided for low-light conditions, complete with Sony’s laser-assisted Hologram AF. You’ll get about an hour’s worth of filming with LCD from the supplied battery, and the TRV950E comes with the usual spread of digital effects (including a Fade control). The USB video streaming capability that Sony is adding to most of its new camcorders is also supported.

Low-Cost Professional Camcorder
If you’re buying a camcorder at this price level (S$3,799; US$2,139), you want fine control over image capture and excellent image quality, and the TRV950E offers both in abundance. The video we shot with this camera was very sharp (rivalling that of the more expensive VX2000) and well-balanced, while the level of manual control is admirable from a camera of this size. Consumers who can afford this model will enjoy all the usual gimmicks that the TRV950E brings with it, while semi-professionals (or even professionals looking for a low-cost model) will appreciate its sophistication and quality.

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