Sony DCR-TRV280 Camcorder Review

The DCR-TRV280 is this year’s low-end addition to the Sony Digital8 series. What it lacks in manual control options it makes up for in price, and what it lacks in chic packaging it compensates for in ease of use. It’s the only Sony model that does not feature a touch screen LCD; instead control functions are dispersed atop the massive frame–to the user’s ultimate benefit. The camcorder has not evolved from its predecessor, the DCR-TRV260 (Review, Specs, $543.27); both share the same bulky design and imager.

Video Performance(4.5)
For the past couple of years Sony has shipped their DCR-TRV series with a 1/6 inch CCD and 290K effective pixels. Their lowest-end model, the DCR-TRV 280, is no exception. The Sony DCR-TRV280 was tested at 3,000 lux, the equivalent of a bright sunny day, and it performed fairly well. The camcorder produced an image with a modest amount of grain and accurate, although washed, colors. Not surprisingly, this model performed similar to its parent model, the DCR-TRV260. The DCR-TRV280 doesn’t include the touch screen menu or still capabilities of the DCR-TRV480, but this may be a good thing.

Video Resolution(6.5)
Imatest Digital Imaging Software allows us to calculate the precise vertical and horizontal resolutions of the camcorder’s video. The DCR-TRV280 was tested in both 4:3 and 16:9 modes. This model produced roughly 242.7 lines of vertical resolution and 271.8 lines of horizontal resolution, creating 65,965.86 lines of real resolution. In 16:9 mode the camcorder provided about 227.8 lines of vertical resolution with 325 lines of horizontal resolution, producing 74,035. lines of real resolution.

The Front(8.0)
The front of the DCR-TRV280 is big--like everything else about this camcorder. The camcorder’s lens barrel terminates on its gray left side, above some decals, which in turn are above the camcorder’s stereo microphone. On the black right side towards the top, the DCR-TRV280’s video light is placed above the infrared sensor. This setup is similar in design and color scheme to last year’s DCR-TRV260.

The Right Side(8.0)
The right side of the DCR-TRV260 is, like the front, almost exactly identical to that of the DCR-TRV260 of last year. The right side of the camcorder is where the user places his or her hand, and it is substantial enough for even the largest users. The Digital8 tape mechanism folds out from the bottom of the camcorder’s right side, making it a bottom-loading device. This can be problematic in during recording; if a user needs to switch tapes, the user has to completely disengage the camcorder from its tripod. The right side also features the Sony DCR-TRV280’s faux-suede strap, which stretches the length of the camcorder’s right side and hugs its lower edge.

The Left Side(9.5)
The left side of the DCR-TRV280, along with the back of the camcorder, functions as the camcorder’s main control center. Since the DCR-TRV280 is one of the only Sonys this year that lacks a touch screen menu system, nearly all the buttons you can imagine have been shoved underneath the LCD screen. Buttons include: all playback buttons, buttons to access the camcorder’s menu system, exposure adjustment, volume, burning DVD/VCD (Sony VAIO Computer required), and title creator. Above the LCD screen are two buttons, the slimmer of which is for Display/Battery Info (the other is for Easy mode). These features are all similar to those of last year’s DCR-TRV260. But one improvement has been made on the DCR-TRV280 over last year’s model: the addition of secondary buttons for record and zoom on the LCD margin.

The Back(9.5)
The back of the DCR-TRV280 features, like last year’s model, the camcorder’s battery port, black-and-white viewfinder, and a group of buttons which provide convenient access to some of the camcorder’s manual controls. They include a button to turn on the video light, the fader, backlight, and the button used to toggle in and out of manual focus mode. Below these buttons is the dial used to navigate the camcorder’s menu system and adjust focus. To the right of the camcorder’s battery pack is the red primary record button and the slider used to switch between Camera mode, Playback mode, and Off. Beneath the camcorder’s battery is the DC in port, used to charge the camcorder, and a strap loop for a neck strap.

The Top(9.0)
The top of the DCR-TRV280 is, like that of the DCR-TRV260, sparsely populated. It features the camcorder’s nicely-rotating viewfinder, which can move up and out towards the user’s face. Immediately to the right of the viewfinder are the camcorder’s photo button (for taking still images to tape) and primary zoom control, located under the index finger. The camcorder’s Night Shot Plus selector switch is located towards the front of the camcorder on the top.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (9.0)
Sony has offered an Easy Handycam mode on the DCR-TRV280. When set to this mode, the camcorder will calibrate and adjust all image control functions, leaving the user free to concentrate on simply holding the camcorder. This feature is attractive for beginners who are intimidated by the manual controls. The Easy Handycam button is a welcome addition considering the lack of manual controls that are offered by the DCR-TRV280. The automatic functions perform well; most adjustments are made quickly and accurately.

Overall Manual Control (3.0)
Several significant manual control options are absent from the DCR-TRV arsenal of options, namely manual white balance and manual shutter speed. Sadly, not only is the DCR-TRV280 lacking in manual control options, but the few that are offered are restrictive. Focal length and exposure are not given in precise numerical measurements, which hinder the user from accurately calibrating and adjusting manual focus and exposure.

The DCR-TRV280 is one of the only Sony camcorders that is not equipped with a touch screen LCD; therefore all of the control functions are situated throughout the body of camcorder. Manual control functions and menu options are selected with the depressible jog dial found at the rear of the camcorder. The dial is awkwardly placed, but in a short amount of time one can get acclimated to it. Even though the button placement isn’t ideal the setup is more efficient than the cumbersome touch screen LCD menu system found on Sony’s other camcorders.

Zoom Control (7.5)
A tiny zoom toggle controls the DCR-TRV280’s 20x optical zoom lens with 990x digital zoom capability. Using the digital zoom to its full capacity will produce a distorted image. (Digital zoom is a gimmick; it allows manufacturers to spit out a bit impressive-sounding number without actually adding any meaningful function or improvement.) I was skeptical of the tiny zoom toggle, especially one on a camcorder this big, but the toggle is fluid and provides great control for various zoom speeds.

Focus (4.0)
Unlike the other camcorders introduced this year, engaging the manual focus control function on the DCR-TRV280 requires the user to press a gray focus button found at the rear of the camcorder. As the DCR-TRV280 lacks Sony’s touch screen menu, focal adjustments are made with a depressible jog dial resting underneath the focus button. Using the dial will require practice, and perhaps a few sacrificed shots, because it is not within reach of the user’s primary fingers. Although this design is cumbersome it is still a better alternative than the touch screen menu plaguing most Sonys. A focus ring or dial within easier reach of the user’s fingers would have been ideal, but the jog-dial-impaired Sony may not know the best placement for one.

Exposure (Aperture) (7.0)
No true numerical measurements are provided to the user when implementing manual exposure adjustments. Instead of F-stops the user is given a +/- meter, which prevents accurate and defined modification. Image quality should not be a place where assumptions are the best guide. The user can engage manual exposure by pressing the exposure button found sheltered underneath the LCD. The awkward depressible jog dial is used to make manual exposure adjustments.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
Manual shutter speed is not an available option for the DCR-TRV280 user. Sadly this is becoming a common theme for most Sony camcorders. To compensate Sony offers Auto Exposure presets: Spotlight, Portrait, Beach & Ski, Sunset & Moon, Sport, and Landscape. These adjustments are certain windows for exposure and shutter speed that are made to specific predetermined conditions.

White Balance (0.0)
Inexplicably, manual white balance is not offered by the DCR-TRV280. The camcorder does not even provide indoor/outdoor presets, leaving the user victim to it automatic white balance adjustments. Manual white balance is vital when achieving usable quality images. This lack is inexcusable.

Gain (0.0)
Manual gain control is not available on the DCR-TRV280.

Other Manual Control (0.0)
No additional manual controls are provided by the DCR-TRV280.

Ease of Use (9.0)
The Easy Handycam mode allows the user to relinquish control over to the camcorder. This is suitable for beginners and point-and-shooters who want an uncomplicated shooting experience. Automatic adjustments are relatively seamless and swift. For the daring souls that want to control the quality of their images, they can do so with relative comfort. The design is cumbersome and the button placement is awkward, but with a little practice the user can make those adjustments with ease.

Still Features (0.0)
The DCR-TRV280 does not have any digital still capabilities. 640 x 480 stills have to be recorded onto tape and then transferred to a computer with a FireWire or USB cable. These ports are found underneath a plastic gray cover at the edge of the camcorder’s right. If digital still capability and Digital8 sensibilities are essential to your needs, you might consider the DCR-TRV480.

Still Performance (2.0)
Stills are captured on tape at 640 x 480 with 290K effective pixels. For an idea of the quality of color and sharpness refer to the video performance paragraph.

Low Light Performance (3.0)
The DCR-TRV280’s 1/6 inch CCD with 290K effective video pixels was tested in varying low light conditions. At 60 lux, which is comparable to a fairly lit office, the camcorder image was plagued with a significant amount of grain and dull colors. At 15 lux the image displayed excessive grain with colors becoming listless and muddled. Although this model and last year’s DCR-TRV260 displayed similar images, last year’s model showed stronger yellows and greens while this model generated stronger blues and purples. The DCR-TRV280 does not offer manual white balance which severely hinders the user from achieving accurate quality images, especially in low light.

Zoom Power/Ratio (20.0)
The DCR-TRV280 is armed with a 20x optical zoom lens and a whopping 990x digital zoom (as if digital zoom means anything…)

Wide Angle (8.8)
The Sony DCR-TRV280 displayed a wide angle of 45 degrees in 4:3 mode; while in 16:9 mode the wide angle reached in 51 degrees.

VCR Mode (6.0)
To access the DCR-TRV280’s Play/Edit feature one must slide the mode switch on the edge of the camcorder’s rear. Unlike other Sony camcorders, the DCR-TRV280 does not have a touch screen menu system, so all navigation buttons are sheltered underneath the LCD. With the omission of the touch screen the user can’t navigate through the footage at variant speeds, but with the aide of a computer the camcorder can burn footage to DVD. The button for this feature is located underneath the LCD screen.

LCD/Viewfinder (7.0)
The DCR-TRV280 does not have a touch screen LCD. The 2.5” color LCD displays 123K pixels and shelters most of the camcorder’s control functions. The viewfinder is also equipped with 123K pixels, yet it displays black and white images and cannot be operated when the LCD screen is open. The viewfinder is mobile; it extends about an inch and swivels 40 degrees upwards towards the user.

Audio (5.0)
The DCR-TRV280 can capture audio at 12 bit or 16 bit with the aide of the stereo microphone at the bottom of the camcorder’s front. Since the DCR-TRV series is apparently still lacking manual audio levels, audio can only be monitored during playback with a small speaker hidden underneath the LCD. The bulky DCR-TRV280 also lacks an external microphone port and accessory shoe. These exclusions impede the user from efficiently monitoring and recording quality images. Equally bothersome is the loud motor noise of the Digital8 format.

Handling (5.0)
The DCR-TRV280 has a bulky and cumbersome design, but with time one can get acclimated to this heavy camcorder. The buttons are awkwardly placed throughout this model’s frame, most notably the depressible jog dial which is used to adjust manual control functions and navigate through the menu. The dial is placed at the far bottom of the camcorder’s rear away from the user’s primary fingers. The exposure button is also awkwardly situated underneath the LCD, which forces the user to push against the body of the camcorder when making adjustments and potentially disrupt the shot. With time one can learn to minimize if not eradicate the shuffling and fumbling that is caused by the gauche design. Although these button placements are not ideal, the alternative of a touch screen LCD is even more problematic because it clutters the screen with menu options, and requires tapping to access features and controls.

Portability (2.0)
The DCR-TRV280 is a relatively heavy camcorder with an awkward design. It isn’t easily tucked away into one’s pocket or even a large purse, nor is this Digital8 camcorder a fashion accessory. Digital8s are bulky by nature because of the large format, but With proper preparation and the right camcorder bag this model can be travel-friendly.

Battery Life (7.8)
Sony supplies a NP-FP30 lithium ion battery with the DCR-TRV280. If the user continuously records with the LCD open the camcorder will function for 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 20 seconds. This is slightly less than the time stated in the user manual, which stated an estimated time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. (We use fresh batteries for this test, but bear in mind that as the battery ages its maximum continuous recording time will decrease.)

Media (8.0)
The DCR-TRV280 uses an 8mm Digital8 format that captures up to 90 minutes of footage, depending on whether it’s in SP or LP mode. The camcorder captures stills on tape as well.

Editing (8.0)
This year Sony has shipped all their camcorders with Picture Package software, providing the user with a comprehensible editing tool. Low-end edits like splicing and fades can be accomplished using the DCR-TRV280 by itself.

Compression (8.0)
The DCR-TRV480 uses standard Digital8 compression which compresses video into a DV signal, the same signal that is used with MiniDV camcorders.

Widescreen/16:9 Mode (7.0)
The Widescreen mode on the Sony DCR-TRV280 can be accessed by pressing the menu button and initiated with the depressible jog dial. Once Widescreen has been initiated, the rectangular shape of the image changes into 16 units of width for every 9 units of height. Black bars appear on the LCD when viewed, but the 16:9 image is squeezed during capture to a 4:3 aspect.

16:9 image squeezed into 4:3 frame for editing

4:3 Standard aspect view

Scan Rates/24P (0.0)
Variable Scan Rates are not available on the Sony DCR-TRV280.

Ports (6.0)
At the edge of the DCR-TRV280’s right side sits a dark gray port cover for the DV, A/V, and USB ports. The DC in port rests at the rear of the camcorder underneath the Battery slot.

Other Features (4.5)
Burn DVD/VCD
The DCR-TRV280 offers a Burn DVD mode, which allows the user to burn the Digital8 footage into DVD with a computer or a DVD burner.

Fader
The Sony DCR-TRV280 has the ability to put in a fade transition between two shots. Simply press the fader button at the rear of the camcorder.

NightShot Plus
NightShot Plus brightens the image by utilizing an infrared light.

Super NightShot
Super NightShot Plus is a stronger version of the NightShot feature. It is accessed through the menu using the depressible jog dial.

SteadyShot
The DCR-TRV280 provides the user with an electronic Image Stabilization feature.

BackLight
The BackLight function will brighten the LCD screen.

Color Slow Shutter
Color Slow Shutter brightens the image by slowing down the shutter speed and allowing more light into the picture without sacrificing color. It is an alternative to infrared night shot, which doesn’t capture a lot of color.

Comparisons
Sony DCR-TRV260
Sony’s DCR-TRV280 is a reincarnation of its predecessor, the DCR-TRV260. The camcorders may sport different looks, but at their cores are identical imaging specs. Both are equipped with a 20x optical zoom lens and a 1/6 inch CCD with 290K effective video pixels. Other than the S-Video port, which seems to have been lost in the rebirth, the DCR-TRV260 will provide similar video performance and features at a lower price.

The DCR-TRV480 is the big sister model of the TRV280, and therefore sports a larger ticket price of $350. They share similar features and imaging specs, but differ on the TRV480’s digital still capabilities and backward mobility. The TRV480 can capture stills on a MemoryStick Duo at the standard 640 x 480. Its touch screen LCD is troublesome and hinders the user from smoothly adjusting control functions while recording.

DCR-HC21 (Review, Specs, $329)
For those looking to indulge their capitalist urge with a more current format, the DCR-HC21 is available for a price ($369) similar to the DCR-TRV480. This camcorder has a slightly better imager than the above mentioned Digital8s with 1/6 inch CCD and 340K effective video pixels. Unlike the DCR-TRV480, this model captures stills to tape similarly at the standard 640 x 480 resolution. The format may have changed, but the horrid lack of manual control persists with the exception of the much-needed manual white balance option. Interestingly, while the DCR-HC21 performs better than the DCR-TRV280 at 3,000 lux and 60 lux, at 15 lux it lost all its color, performing just a little worse than the Digital8.

Canon ZR100 (Review, Specs, $219.95)
At a street price of $280 dollars the Canon ZR100 is comparable to the DCR-TRV280. This camcorder is equipped with a 20x optical zoom and 340K effective pixels. Both camcorders are void of an accessory shoe and microphone jack which certainly limits one’s ability to capture quality audio. This MiniDV camcorder offers a wealth of in-camera effects, better manual controls options, and better lowlight than the TRV280, all in a slim and chic design.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (7.0)
The Easy Handycam option makes this a good camcorder for point-and-shooters and novices.

Budget Consumers (7.0)
This camcorder is geared to the frugal at heart, though low cost of course means sacrificing certain functions and features.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (1.0)
The DCR-TRV280 is not a Still Photo/Video Camera Hybrid considering that its stills are captured to tape at 640 x 480.

Gadget Freak (1.0)
No prominent gadgets are found on the DCR-TRV280.

Manual Control Freaks (1.0)
Manual Control Freaks would be repelled by the lack of manual white balance and shutter speed.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists (1.0)
The DCR-TRV280 is not suited or designed for the Pros/Serious Hobbyists.

Conclusion
The Sony DCR-TRV280 is for the frugal Digital8 enthusiast. For under $300 Sony has offered an outlet for the nostalgic, and those afraid of change, by essentially repackaging the DCR-TRV260’s imager with a silver and dark gray coating as this year’s DCR-TRV280. The camcorder provides a means of artistic expression, but significant tools for refining that expression--controlling the quality of one’s image and vision--are lacking. Manual white balance and shutter speed are once again excluded from the DCR-TRV series, restricting user control over the quality of the image. Sony does offer an Easy Handycam feature which allows the camcorder to take over most image control functions. This camcorder is definitely suited for the hardcore point-and-shooters and novices who fear the responsibility of making crucial decisions pertaining to the quality of the capture image. For those that aspire to create as opposed to simply capturing, I urge that you look elsewhere.