Image Stabilizations
Sony's SteadyShot picture stabilization smoothes and steadies your images without degrading picture quality. Sony does it with motion sensors--a more accurate system than that used in many other camcorders on the market.

Optics

• 1/6-inch CCD with 460,000 gross pixels
• 20X optical zoom
• 700x digital zoom
• f1.6-f2.4
• Focal distance: 2.5-50mm
• Shutter speed: 1/60 to 1/4,000 (AE mode)

Digital Stills and MPEG Movie Mode
Capture digital still images directly onto Memory Stick media for easy transfer to e-mail, printing, or sharing. Digital still images can be captured while in Memory Mode, or images from the videotape can be captured onto Memory Stick media. You can capture still images up to 640 x 480 pixels.

Designed to help you make Web videos, the MPEG movie mode produces compressed video files that are small and easy to send by e-mail or post to the Internet. Capture MPEG digital video and store it directly to Memory Stick media. Movie length ranges from 5 seconds to the length allowed by the capacity of your Memory Stick with MPEG Movie EX.

More Features
Now you can capture video even in total darkness. Sony's NightShot system uses infrared light to capture images invisible to the human eye. You can shoot subjects such as a sleeping baby up to 10 feet away in total darkness. With the optional HVL-IRC NightShot light, you can even capture images from up to 100 feet away.

Sony's Stamina power management system and InfoLithium battery give the TRV350 incredible operating time. To keep tabs on battery life, Sony's AccuPower meter displays the number of minutes remaining--right in the viewfinder.

The TRV350 features a 2.5-inch color LCD (123,000 pixels) and a black-and-white viewfinder. The USB streaming feature can turn the TRV350 into a video conferencing tool or a Webcam, with the ability to stream 320 x 240 pixel video at 30 frames per second (compatible only with Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, and XP).

Digital8 Format
Digital8 camcorders deliver high-quality digital video and audio, with up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution and either 12-bit or 16-bit PCM digital stereo audio. The Digital8 format also allows for digital recording on 8mm or Hi8 tapes--the most popular camcorder format in the U.S.

Size and Contents
The TRV350 measures 3.38 by 4.00 by 7.88 inches and weighs 1 pound 12 ounces. This package includes the TRV350 camcorder, power adaptor/in-camera charger (AC-L15), InfoLithium rechargeable battery (NP-FM30), wireless remote (RMT-814), AV cable, lens cap, shoulder strap, USB cable, two AA batteries, and CD-ROM with PIXELA ImageMixer Ver. 1.5 and USB drivers.

Product Description
With all the features packed into the DCR-TRV350, you won't believe how affordable Sony makes it to share your photos and videos with friends and family. This Digital8 Handycam camcorder includes USB streaming, a remarkable feature that allows you to turn your camcorder into a video conferencing tool or webcam simply by plugging it into the USB port of your PC. Plus, no need to worry about cables or more connections - you can take great digital still photos on a Memory Stick media to share your favorite moments with friends and family, using its Memory Stick Media slot. (Memory Stick media sold separately).

Bottom line: if you have an extensive library of Hi-8 tapes that you want to play or burn, then this is the ideal unit. If you are starting fresh in digital videography, then the mini-DV units offer significant advantages in size and features.


Great Value   August 8, 2003
47 out of 47 found this review helpful

I was looking for a Camcorder which is compatable to a Mac OS environment. I have been very pleased with my Sony Cybershot and was happy to find that the DCRTRV350 is mac usb & firewire compatable. Out of the box this camcorder is easy to use, and the menu and selection of various features is simple to find and access. Picture quality is great. FOR THOSE UNHAPPY WITH THE AUDIO OUTPUT one simply has to select from the factory setting of 14bit to 16 bit stero, and the output is great. You can always tell the reviewers which don't open the manual past the quick start options.....I especially like the fade-in options, intervial recording (time lapse), remote playback, and the "end search" functions. Once again I have found that Sony combines good hardware AND superior software/options functions which make other brands PALE in comparison. In general I am VERY IMPRESSED with this Sony product.


superb camera for the amateur with a Hi8 library   May 12, 2003
audrey (white mtns)
37 out of 37 found this review helpful

We are using this camera to take home movies, view/transfer our library of Hi8 movies, and capture digital stills for transer to our computer. This camera has exceeded our expectations in all these areas.

While my husband was anxious to get a digital video camera, I was reluctant to spend the money, even though our analog videocam is three years old -- a dinosaur by today's standards -- heavy and clunky with few features. But now I'm the one who is always grabbing the camera to film and to take pictures. I love it. Using a memory stick that can be purchased in several capacities, you can take still pictures even as you're filming; the memory stick we got holds approximately 400 pictures. You can find your shot using the viewfinder (in b&w) or the LCD screen (in color). We had no trouble at all, using the included cable and software, transferring images and movies to our Macintosh computer; it will work for an Intel machine too. A recharge takes us about 80 minutes and is then good for 90 minutes of recording time using the LCD screen or 110 minutes using the viewfinder.

Problematic are the LCD screen which, even when adjusted, is difficult to view in high light conditions, and the steep learning curve on the many functions and buttons. On the other hand, there are so many buttons and functions because this camera DOES so many things. There are lots of special effects too. The buttons are very small but that also helps keep the size of the camera down. Some frequently used functions, like backlight and fade, need only a single button to activate.

Bottom line: It will take you a while to learn everythng that this Sony can do -- the manual is nearly 270 pages!! -- but your effort will be greatly rewarded. Also, this camera is terrific if you have tapes in the older Hi8 format. Great camera.


The buzzing noise isn't a problem   January 1, 2004
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I don't have much to add over what has been said in the other reviews posted. I'm very pleased with the quality and performance of this camera. I just used it to create by first home movie on a DVD (using the Pinnacle Studio DV version 8 software). The whole process was great. The one thing I was worried about was the buzzing that some other reviewers have noted. It does buzz during recording but it doesn't pick up on the recorded tape so far as I can tell. The convert to digital function is great for old analog tapes. This camera will convert those tapes to digital so you can burn dvd's using programs like Pinnacle Studio. Consumer Reports rated it as a best buy and Sony's reliability was the best of any camcorder company according to CR by a good margin. Great camera.


I Love My TRV350   March 10, 2004
Kelly A. Brown (San Pablo, CA United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I wanted to make movies and I had heard that using my mac, this was possible. I didn't want to dither over what camera to use, so I called my sister and she suggested this model. She teaches photography and video production to adults and she's used just about every camera known to man. She said that the JVC was cheaper, but wasn't as steady as the TRV350. I said, "OK", went to Amazon and put my money down. Two days later, it was resting on my doorstep when I came home from work. I have had a blast making movies of all sorts.

It's true that you have to buy a firewire cord, but it doesn't have to be a "Sony" firewire cord, just firewire! As a Mac user, the hookup to imovie is seamless. Just plug it in and away you go!!!

The camera came with a one-hour battery which was fine for awhile, but then I went on Ebay and bought a huge battery for a fine price.

Imagine my happiness when my sister gave me a memory stick for Christmas... I was in hog heaven. Now I don't have to carry my digital camera around or take "freeze frames" from my movies.

I give the TRV 350 my unconditional love and approval. If it doesn't do what you want it to, then you probably haven't read the mannual. Hey, I don't blame you, it's massive! I read it when I have a question or just get to wondering, "I wonder if I can do that?"

I've run about 25 cassettes through the camera and am still finding ways to use it in my work (I'm a speech therapist).

Well, that's my two cents worth! If you buy one, I hope you enjoy it!