TRV-900, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Overview

This camcorder is Sony’s high-end consumer (prosumer) unit with performance that rivals professional camcorders. It features 3CCD (versus 1 on lower models), progressive scan mode, optical image stabilizer, large 3.5” LCD screen, DV in/out port (Firewire) and various manual controls for exposure, shutter, etc. The unit is somewhat larger than Sony’s current line of DV camcorders (TRV-20 and the likes) but the larger size and weight make the camera very stable.

As with most camcorders, the menu controls are hidden under LCD panels with exceptions of shutter speed, white balance, exposure, and automatic exposure buttons. These four settings can be changed via a small dial at the back of the camera which is very convenient. The zoom button is big and is variable in speed, though it may take some getting used to. The 12X optical zoom and 48X digital zoom is more than adequate for most users. The manual focus ring is handy, though rather slow in speed. This camcorder also features still photo mode (640 x 480 pixels). You have options of saving the stills onto the provided floppy disk adaptor and drive, or you can buy the Sony’s PC Card-to-Memory-Stick adaptor (a better option). In video mode, this camcorder is well-equipped with professional features such as ND (neutral density) filter, fader, backlight mode, several digital effects, color bar generator and zebra pattern for overexposure warning. I own a TRV-900E (PAL model) which has NTSC Playback mode also. I’m not sure if the NTSC model as PAL playback mode as well.

Performance

After shooting several DV tapes, it becomes clear that this camcorder is still a leap ahead of other consumer camcorders on the market today. The clearest difference is the color saturation, even under indoor lighting. The 900 handles these conditions with minimal picture artifacts and good color balance. I even compared it with Panasonic’s 3CCD unit, and the Sony seems to have better color accuracy. The auto-focus on this camcorder is also fast, yet very smooth and accurate. Default auto exposure and white balance settings are all very capable for everyday filming, and you can even adjust the auto exposure level to suit your taste. This camcorder is rated to handle as low as 4 Lux lighting condition, and it seems to live up to expectation. Though colors are dull and the picture is somewhat grainy, you won’t find more than a handful of camcorders (with an exception of nightshot function) that outperforms the 900. Since the 900 has been around for some time, it doesn’t have the nightshot feature like the newer models do. But personally I’d rather add a video lamp than having a grayish picture from the nightshot mode.

The audio performance of this unit is definitely above average through its built-in stereo microphone, which can also be manually adjusted. You can record audio in 12 or 16-bit mode. The 12-bit mode allows you to add another audio track later during editing. On the downside, the motor noise (from the tape mechanism, I assume) is audible during playback when filming in quiet environment.

The TRV-900 also features DV In/Out port (iLink) that’s useful for transferring digital videos to and from computers. I find this feature extremely useful together with Apple’s iMovie software. I have made a few short movie of my son and was able to transfer it back to DV and VHS-tapes with ease. You can also input analog signals (from your old Hi-8, VHS-C) onto DV tapes (digital format) with the TRV-900, a feature that is still available only on hi-end models. The provided battery lasts only about an hour when using viewfinder, and less with LCD screen. You’ll need bigger batteries like the NS-F750 which is good for 250 min. on LCD use, or if you’re serious, go for higher capacity NS-F960. And one last gripe, with such expensive camcorder, you still have to charge the battery when it’s on the camera – not a good idea. So, you may want to consider a desktop charger also.