Sony DCR-SR82 ¿ Camcorder Digital Handycam de 60Gb

Comments about Sony DCR-SR82 60GB Handycam Digital Camcorder:

This is the first type of digital camcorder i've owned. It took me a while before i purchased and i must say that i am really pleased with the quality of the product. Wide angle could be a little wider but the zoom is fabulous. The built in mic is really good picks up everything and lets not forget the Night Shot mode....Impressive the only thing is i wished it had a pause button.

Expertise: Prosumer

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: 8mm camcorder

Comments about Sony DCR-SR82 60GB Handycam Digital Camcorder:

I purchased this camcorder because of the high capacity hard drive, but the picture quality is not as good as that of my DCR-TRV280, which uses digital 8 tapes. I'm planning on going into a video business doing event recordings and wanted something with a higher capacity than the average cassette camcorders. I thought about getting a professional camcorder but they also use tapes and they are mighty expensive. I figure a consumer camcorder can do just as good a job as a professional one, if you know what you are doing, so I settled for the DCR-SR82. I found a way to beat the battery capacity of camcorders long time ago by carrying a jump starter, or other D/C power source, in a bag over my shoulder with a power inverter plugged into it and the A/C power cord of the camcorder plugged into the inverter. I use a lawn mover battery when I'm running my 250 watt A/C camcorder light. This way I can run my camcorder and light for hours but I still had to change tapes when an event went too long. I was thrilled when they came out with the high capacity HDD camcorders. I figured I now have both The recording and the power supply capacity licked, but the DCR-SR82 was a let down. I did an integrated birthday party and family reunion the other day and was disappointed with the quality of the video. It was washed out and hazy. You couldn't see the faces of the people in the background, even the subject was hazy unless I was shooting close. You have to pan extremely slow to avoid a blur. I can pan faster with my DCR-TRV280 and my other VHS camcorders and get no blur. I wasted money to buy the shotgun microphone and the stereo microphone for the DCR-SR82, and now I might have to put it aside and go back to my DCR-TRV280. I did a retirement party for a former co-worker with the DCR-TRV280 and she loved it. She's getting married in June and want's me to do her wedding. I was preparing to use the DCR-SR82 but will have to scrap it and use the DCR-TRV280 instead. I will just have to take some extra tapes along in case it runs longer than one tape can hold. I was thinking of passing on my DCR-TRV280 to my niece when I bought the DCR-SR82. Good thing I tried it first. Now I have to hold on to my trusty old DCR-TRV280.

Problems Encountered: 1) Poor picture quality.2) Still picture shutter button is too close to camcorder zoom switch, you get confused with them at first until you get used to it.3) Panning has to be done painfully slow to avoid blur.4) When external mic is attached your fingers rest right on it, though they say noise will be created if you touch the stereo mic. You have to painfully curl your fingers, keep them straight up in the air or, if you are very acrobatic, open them very wide and keep them around the microphone.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: DCR-TRV280

Items I Recommend: Stereo mic, zoom mic, light, extra batteries or alternative power supply, if doing event recordings.

Comments about Sony DCR-SR82 60GB Handycam Digital Camcorder:

My first Digital Camcorder, replacing my old VHS,nice and small fits great in the palm of my hand, easy to use, like that it has more than one stop start button. Like how flexible the monitor is. Just wish the Wide angle was wider. I would give up some zoom for a wider wide. Am now considering purchasing a Wide angle adapter. Wish it came with some editing software. Want to burn DVD after doing some minor cut and splice, with the ability to create a DVD menu, but have not been able to find proper software. Still waiting for Sony to get back to me on that.

Problems Encountered: Pictures are not clear when there is back lighting.Sometime is slow to focus, but not often.