Sony DCR DVD308 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom

Editorial Review
The Sony DCR-DVD308 DVD Handycam(R) Camcorder captures the powerful sound and sharp images you expect from digital photography and video. Instantly capture all your moments and record them directly to DVD-R/-RW/+RW/+R Dual Layer discs. The Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. Built for serious recording, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens delivers superior image quality -- and its 12x optical and 800x digital zoom make sure you never miss a detail. Its DVD recording lets you share your video more quickly than ever -- once your stills or movie has been recorded, simply pop the disc into any DVD player and watch it instantly. Preview your images on the large 2.7-inch SwivelScreen(TM) LCD display, and add multiple effects directly from the camcorder -- or transfer your images and video to a PC through the USB 2.0 port. Creating great video and sharing it quickly has never been this easy. Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens Aperture - f1.8 - f2.5 Touch Panel Full Range Auto & Manual Exposure Focal Distance - 3.0 - 36mm Shutter Speeds - Auto, 1/4-1/4000 sec. (AE Mode) Progressive Shutter System Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes - Beach and Ski, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports Lesson, and Sunset and Moon Compatible with DVD-R, -RW and +RW White Balance Modes - Auto, Indoor, One-push, Outdoor Picture Effects - Monotone, Mosaic, Pastel, and Sepia Fader Effects - Black, Overlap, White and Wipe Onboard battery information (displayed on LCD) Easy Handycam(R) Button USB 2.0 Port Optional S-Video out Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel Recording InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower(TM) Meter System Battery Life - Continuous recording for up to 8 hours on a single full charge Dimensions - 2-1/4 x 3-5/8 x 5-1/4 inch (54.5 x 89 x 130.5 mm) Weight - 16 ounces (4
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Customer Reviews

Edited video quality questionable

2008-06-22
Sony DCR-DVD308 works beautifully and seems well put together. It's light, compact, convenient and generally well designed. Operation is very easy, though it is so light it is very difficult to keep steady on a long zoom, and the zoom is extremely rapid and difficult to make unobtrusive - both probably what you get in this kind of camera. It may be a wonderful camera if you just want to watch what you shot, conveniently immediately, on your living room DVD player. Not so much if you want to edit it for anything other than YouTube. The problem seems to be the specific MPEG-2 compression for mini-dvd storage (which is not limited to Sony). I shot one dvd and then tried to edit it, which was a bit of a nightmare. I did manage to find a converter so I could edit in Adobe Premier Elements but the result was jumpy movement and otherwise pretty inelegant. I had much happier results from my old analog 8mm tape camera and a capture card. I have seen some references to simple editing software supplied, but couldn't find it on either of the cds that came with the camera. Sony's highly rated Vegas suites were not developed by Sony and reviewers say they don't provide any proprietary advantages for editing these miniDVDs. I eventually found an obscure software that will edit in the camera's native format without conversion, and that might work better - for another $100. These are just moving snapshots for me, but if I put a lot of work into editing (and I do want to edit), I want decent results that I won't be embarrassed to share or hate to watch myself. Reviewers (I later read) say the quality of miniDV format is better though tape is less convenient. So I've stepped back a technology, ordered a refurbed Sony DCR-HC62 miniDV, and if it proves better, this one goes on Craig's list.

Very Pleased

2008-06-17
Very nice camera/camcorder and the price was an excellent deal. The camera arrived quicker than I had expected. I used it this weekend at my brothers wedding and the video and pictures turned out great.
Thanks so much, I am very pleased!!!!!!!!!!!

Easy to use..works great

2008-05-24
I am completely satisfied with the picture quality and zoom of this handy cam. I would completely recommend this handy cam.

I love this camcorder! Thanks to reviews on Amazon.com!

2008-05-09
Before I bought this camera, I read the reviews of this one and others to compare and I even compared Mini-DV and Digital and thanks to the positive reviews on this camera (and it was in my price range) I bought it. I was not disappointed. I have only had it a month and I have used it many times. The mic pics up well, and the zoom works great (which I use for my kids sports). I have downloaded video to my laptop, and burned DVD's. I took the advice of other customers and bought the longer life battery. The only difficulty I had was in not understanding that formatting meant deleting what you had already recorded on the disc, so I now know. My laptop did not have DVD burning capabilities so I did purchase an external burner and everything works great. I would recommend this camera to anyone who has a budget but wants a quality camcorder.

good overall; except...

2008-05-06
The picture is clear and recording is easy, the only bad thing is that the discs are so expensive. Deleting is simple and makes recording even easier, because if you don't like it you can delete it.

need helps

2008-04-29
The Sony DCR-DVD308 DVD Handycam(R) Camcorder captures the powerful sound and sharp images you expect from digital photography and video. Instantly capture all your moments and record them directly to DVD-R/-RW/+RW/+R Dual Layer discs. The Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. Built for serious recording, the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens delivers superior image quality -- and its 12x optical and 800x digital zoom make sure you never miss a detail. Its DVD recording lets you share your video more quickly than ever -- once your stills or movie has been recorded, simply pop the disc into any DVD player and watch it instantly. Preview your images on the large 2.7-inch SwivelScreen(TM) LCD display, and add multiple effects directly from the camcorder -- or transfer your images and video to a PC through the USB 2.0 port. Creating great video and sharing it quickly has never been this easy. Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens Aperture - f1.8 - f2.5 Touch Panel Full Range Auto & Manual Exposure Focal Distance - 3.0 - 36mm Shutter Speeds - Auto, 1/4-1/4000 sec. (AE Mode) Progressive Shutter System Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes - Beach and Ski, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports Lesson, and Sunset and Moon Compatible with DVD-R, -RW and +RW White Balance Modes - Auto, Indoor, One-push, Outdoor Picture Effects - Monotone, Mosaic, Pastel, and Sepia Fader Effects - Black, Overlap, White and Wipe Onboard battery information (displayed on LCD) Easy Handycam(R) Button USB 2.0 Port Optional S-Video out Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel Recording InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower(TM) Meter System Battery Life - Continuous recording for up to 8 hours on a single full charge Dimensions - 2-1/4 x 3-5/8 x 5-1/4 inch (54.5 x 89 x 130.5 mm) Weight - 16 ounces (4

Sony DCR-DVD308

2008-04-27
Sony DCR-DVD308 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom This is an excellent mini DVD camera which has now been discontinued. The recordings on HQ setting play back on an upconversion DVD player on a HD TV with very good picture quality. It has very good low light capablities. Do not use the nightshot feature unless it is necesary because this creates a greenish hued picture. I have used both the mini DVD +RW and the DVD -R. Both work fine. Great value for the money.

Good DVD camcorder

2008-04-06
I bought this because my Hitachi DVD camcorder failed to record my daughter birthday properly. This Sony DVD camcorder is entry level and does what it suppose to do. Don't expect the world from this unit. All I do is record my daughter and then send the copies to my distant family. They love it. I don't edit or do any special effects so an entry level unit is all I need. You get what you pay for.

video cam excellent bargain

2008-03-20
Great bargain compared to others. Very please with shipping and delivery.
No problems.

Outstanding camcorder, excellent price!

2008-02-15
This is a great, easy-to-use camcorder. Many features including 25x zoom, automatic focusing, and a "steadycam" feature that just about eliminates picture movement when walking. Typical Sony excellence.

Cameras & Photography Products and Books

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PC Magazine Guide to Digital Photography

Editorial Reviews from Book News, Inc.
A couple of digital photography experts weigh the advantages and disadvantages of film vs. digital photography, and explain the basics underlying both types of photography. The Grottas provide reality checks on such issues as whether the number of megapixels really matter, and tips on camera selection, use, and e-mailing and organizing photos. The handbook includes color and b&w images, a glossary, and sidebars and Web links for further technical details.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland.

From the Back Cover The megapixel hype
The fact is a camera’s megapixel rating is only a measure of how many pixels (photosensitive sites) an image sensor has…. An image sensor is simply one component of an entire system that produces a digital photograph… So resist buying into the megapixel hype when you’re choosing a digital camera. From Chapter 1

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