Reviewed by
Eric , Beginner

Price Paid
$800.00 at good guys

Summary
I recommend people just get a small MiniDV camera.. some of them are darn near the same size.. with all the support in the world.. all the programs you could ever want.. tapes you can find anywhere. Not to mention nightvision on every other camera but this one LOL

Strengths
Small so you will be more likely to just keep it with you and use it whenever.

Weaknesses
Is there any editing software that supports this thing? Let me know.. I can't figure it out (besides the sorry one included of course). With the lack of a decent Editor you end up buying a bunch more super expensive tapes because you can't just download them to your computer..(maybe you can.. but nothing is easy to figure out. Get this thing ONLY if a couple of sqare inches of space difference is a MUST for you.

Similar Products Used
MiniDV's and 8mm's

Customer Service
customer service? what's that? Speaka Engrish? lol

Reviewed by
Chris , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Summary
If you are planning on doing anything besides reshowing video on a television or monitor, this camera is a piece of crap. You simply cannot use any of the necessary functionality of medium-grade consumer DV editors such as batch capturing or device control and I have experience problems with the audio and video not syncing when exporting the final product.

Strengths
It fits in my bag when traveling.

Weaknesses
Everything else. . . the small size (its greatest strength) is also its biggest weakness when it comes to getting steady shots.

Reviewed by
dleonard , Intermediate , from Park Ridge, IL USA

Price Paid
$1400.00 at ABT Electronics

Summary
Great Camera (I actually have the IP7BT (Bluetooth version) It works great but the format is so new that support is lacking. It's a good thing that the camera is so good.

Sony support WHAT A JOKE!
Sony Support DIE! DIE! DIE!

I tried to get it to work with a SONY VAIO Digital editing station system. (finally found what I needed at a techie website.... Sony had zilch!)

BUT I DON'T RECOMMEND IT IF YOU NEED SUPPORT!

Strengths
TINY! Great images! Stored thumbnails on tape make NLE easy (once you figure out all the changes and Kludges)

Weaknesses
ALMOST TOTAL LACK OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Proprietary format (Although it is MPEG-2)

Similar Products Used
Sony MiniDV TR7 (Stolen so that's why I bought a new camera that I can keep in my pocket)

Customer Service
In a word SUCKY

Reviewed by
vuthy , Expert , from Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Price Paid
$1250.00 at Future Shop

Summary
I love this camcorder. I bought on July 19, 2002 based on its size and the quality Carl Zeiss zoom. It is so small that I can carry it around any where and any time. It is pricey, but as people will certainly use it more often thanks to its size and convenience, I am sure that you will log more use-hours with this one than any other ones that you have had up till now, which means that the price per minute of video of this camcorder will be the lowest one.

Strengths
Size, image quality (Carl Zeiss zoom lens), features and convienience

Weaknesses
Price (even the battery and special carrying case are over priced), so small that you have to manipulate it with care if you don't want to drop it.

Similar Products Used
Sony 8 camcorder purchased in 1991

Reviewed by
bigmorg , Intermediate , from Jamestown, NY USA

Price Paid
$1116.00 at onecall.com

Summary
Size was what drove me to this camera. I wanted something compact and lightweight to carry. 12 ozs. is all it weighs. Picture quality is A-one. Editing software was a pleasant bonus. (You will need a min. 600 Pent.III to video edit). Overall, very pleased. Sony did a nice job here.

Strengths
Good optics and zoom abilities. Small. Light. Many effects and good bright backlight compensator. The features on this will amaze you. An "End Search" takes you quickly to where you last ended recording. Easy charge...leave battery in camcorder to charge. Remote. Stereo. 2-1/2" flip out color LCD monitor.

Weaknesses
Pricey....but I do feel I got value here. The speakers for playback on camera itself are a little weak, but most people will play back on home TV. You will need to buy the better(NP-FF70)battery (130 min.).Unit comes with a 60 min.battery. MV tapes also a bit pricey $13 to $15 each. They are 1 hr. and are about the size of a microcassette tape. It will take a couple of evenings for you to get to know this girl and how to use all the features but once familiarized you'll love it!

Similar Products Used
Micro MV is pretty new stuff, but I do still own a Sony 8 which I bought in '94.