Sony DCR-TRV480 First Impressions Review

by Nick Hyacinthe
Published on Jan 24, 2005 12:00 PM



Digital8 is slowly becoming an irrelevant medium, but Sony stays loyal to its digital8 users with the DCR-TRV480. It’s bulky design is far from elegant and chic, but style isn’t everything. This model offers a 20x optical and a 990x digital zoom option with a 1/6 inch CCD and 290K effective pixels. Other than the zoom, all of this camcorder’s control options are accessed through the touch screen LCD. One of the more welcoming features is the camcorder’s digital still capabilities; stills can be captured on either tape or Memory Stick with the standard 640 x 480 resolutions. The most notable feature on this model is its backward compatibility; the ability to play older tapes and media helps the user enjoy memories and projects from years past.

Video Performance
Camcorder access at CES is limited; handling and examining the camera in such an environment is challenging. It is impossible to truly assess Sony’s DCR-TRV480 video performance. However, this model shares the same video specs as last year’s DCR-TRV460 therefore one can assume that they will share similar performance results. Under a normal outdoor setting of 3000 lux the colors were accurate but a little washed out, and overall image was fuzzy. Although this performance is not ideal, the DCR-TRV460 held it own with MiniDV camcorders such as the Canon ZR80. Once this camcorder arrives at our facilities it’s video performance can be tested thoroughly.

The Front
Governing the front of the DCR-TRV480 is the 20x optical zoom lens decorated in metallic silver. To the Lens’ immediate left resides a circular, built-in LED light. The video sensor can be found underneath the LED light. Further down, at the feet of the camcorder, awaits the stereo microphone.

The Right Side
The USB, DV, and A/V ports are housed beneath a dark gray port cover at the edge of the camcorder’s right side. The bottom loading mechanism dominates the camcorder’s bulky right side. A gray hand strap surrounds the bottom of the loading tape mechanism.

The Back
The rear of the DCR-TRV480 is outfitted in dark gray coating. At the top right corner are the mode lamps (Tape, Memory, and Play/edit) in small white lettering. The battery takes up most of the real estate on the back of the DCR-TRV480; it rests at the center of the camcorder’s backside with the other features and functions spread out on it’s sides. At the edge of the right corner is the power and mode selector switch. Beneath the power switch sits the record button, accentuated in bright red coating. On the Left side of the battery is the Memory Stick slot with the LED light and back light button further out towards the edge.

The Left Side
The left side has gray finish which contrasts with the rich black on the opposite side; it is home to the camcorder’s 2.5 LCD swiveling Touch Screen LCD. At the bottom of the LCD are the alternate zoom and record buttons. This can create handling problems, but there are luckily other means of accessing these functions. At the top of left side, also sporting gray, are the Display and Easy mode buttons.

The Top
The NightShot Plus switch and the telephoto zoom toggle are found at the top of the camcorder. The Night shot plus switch is in the middle of the DCR-TRV480’s crown. Further back rests the silver zoom toggle, which is small in proportion to the camcorder’s large frame. Trailing behind the zoom toggle is the photo button, also clad in silver. With all that space an accessory shoe should have been offered.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
The Easy Mode button feature on the DCR-TRV480 is a point-and-shooter’s best friend. Once activated, the camcorder is in complete automatic control mode, and all necessary manual control functions will be calibrated and performed by the camcorder. I found that these automatic functions made truthful adjustments and had a swift response time. The DCR-TRV480 offers a Spot Metering and Spot Focus feature; these features are accessed in the menu button through the touch screen LCD. The user can adjust focus and exposure to any specific spot on the screen; adjustments are made in an instant.

Overall Manual Control
All Manual control options must be accessed through the menu system with the use of the touch screen LCD. The DCR-TRV480 offers several manual control options, but utilizing them is troublesome. The integrity of the shot is jeopardize because user is forced to rummage through a litter of menu options in order to access and engage manual focus and exposure adjustments. The exposure adjustments are done not by varying f stop, but rather by pressing the ‘+’ icon until the desired effect occurs; while Focal measurements are indicated with pictograms of a portrait and mountain. Not having numerical measurements hinders the user from making precise modification to the quality of the image being captured. Manual Shutter Speed control is not a viable option for the DCR-TRV480 user, instead auto exposure setting are provide: Sport, Spotlight, Portrait, Beach & Ski, Sunset/Moon, and Landscape.

Zoom
The camcorder comes is outfitted with 20x optical and 990x digital zoom. Bear in mind that using the digital zoom to maximum capacity is impractical; it will severely distort the image. A small metallic silver zoom toggle is located at the rear of the top of the camera. The toggle is comparatively tiny when considering the massive body of this model; making it tricky for the user to control the zoom speeds. The zoom soft buttons at the bottom of the LCD screen are an alternative zooming method. Over time one will be come accustomed to its touch. Once the Zoom is employed, I did find it to be fairly responsive.

Focus
Focus can only be initiated in the menu with the use of the LCD screen; having to riffle through the LCD screen during recording can be distracting. Once manual focus has been chosen the adjustments are made by pressing one of the two icons (mountains, portrait) on the touch screen.

Exposure (Aperture)
The manual exposure settings can be accessed from the menu on the touch screen LCD. Manual exposure adjustments are not made in f stops but rather by pressing the + or — icons on the sides until the adjustments are made. Not having numerical measurements hinders the user from making accurate and precise exposure adjustments. The DCR-TRV480 offers several auto exposure settings: Auto, Portrait, Spotlight, Sport, Beach, Sunset/Moon, and Landscape can be found in the menu system. These settings are limiting since the user will encounter unpredictable environments; without manual shutter speed control and numerical exposure measurements the user is hindered from accurately controlling the quality of his or her images.

Shutter Speed
No manual Shutter Speed option exists for the DCR-TRV480.

White Balance
Unfortunately, the DCR-TRV480 does not offer manual White Balance to its user.

Gain
Manual gain is not an available option.

Still Performance
The DCR-TRV480 captures 640x480 still at 290K in Camcorder and Memory mode. The Memory Stick slot can be found on the left corner of the camcorder’s rear. The ability to capture stills on a Memory Stick sets this model far apart from Sony’s other Digital8 model the DCR-TRV280 (Review, Specs, $219.95)

VCR Mode
VCR mode can be accessed by sliding the Power / Mode switch to Play/Edit. The LCD must be open in order for the user to operate the VCR mode through the menu system; playback is operated by taping the superimpose VCR icons that appear at the bottom of the screen. The DCR-TRV480 can be connected to a computer with it’s USB and Firewire, and AV ports found underneath the dark gray port cover wrapped around the right edge of this model. Stills can also be displayed on a desktop with the memory stick.

Low Light Performance
Due to the hectic CES environment, camcorders could not be tested for low light performance. The DCR-TRV480 has the same image specs as last year’s parent model the DCR-TRV460; both are equipped with a standard 1/6 in CCD with 290K effective video pixels. An educated assumption can be made that the two will produce similar low light performance results. The DCR-TRV460 at 60 lux and 15 lux displayed excessive grain; the colors lacked life and richness. The gray scale displayed a brownish tint. Stay tuned for a full review.

LCD/ Viewfinder
The DCR-TRV480 provides a 2.5 swiveling LCD Touch Panel screen; it is the base of operations for most of the camcorder’s features and options. The LCD screen itself displayed crisp and clean images, but was a little washed when viewed at an angle which not uncommon amongst most camcorder at that price. The Viewfinder extends about two inches towards the user and rotates up about 45 degrees. It’s valuable mobility is useful for smooth shot transitioning, but unfortunately the zoom is the only operational feature when the viewfinder is in use. The Viewfinder can only be operated if the LCD screen is closed.

Audio
The DCR-TRV480 has a stereo microphone located in the front with the ability to capture audio at 12 bit or 16 bit. A speaker sits behind the LCD screen. Sony’s DCR-TRV series continues to lose points on its lack of an accessory shoe and external microphone port; with all that space on the camcorders body there ought to be enough room to include these features. At CES, I could not assess whether or not the motor noise problem of last year’s DCR-TRV460 has been passed down to his year’s entry.

Handling
A user with big hands will handle this camcorder with comfort and ease, but those of us who are not in the starting line up for the Los Angeles Lakers will need a brief adjustment period. The DCR-TRV480’s buttons are in reasonable reach of the user’s thumb and index fingers. The zoom toggle is accessible, but found it rather small for this camcorder’s size.

Out of all of this camcorder’s features, the LCD touch screen menu system is most responsible for awkwardness and handling issues. Manual control adjustments are made difficult by an LCD screen littered with menu options. It is a great inconvenience to make adjustments in the menu, especially during recording. If this feat is attempted it will most likely result in footage that is not viable. A user, who uses manual mode, is likely to miss out on some important moments. Sony’s other Digital8 model, the DCR-TRV280, has an equally troubling alternative; the LCD hides a horde of control functions in the belly of the camcorder. It should be noted that the camcorder does offer an Easy mode, which will do all the work and thinking for you.

Ports
The DCR-TRV480 has USB, Firewire and A/V out ports that are located underneath a dark gray port cover on the edge of the right side. A memory stick slot rests at the left corner of the camcorder’s rear. There is a DC in-port in the back near the battery station. This model does not have the S-Video port that was found on last year’s DCR-TRV460 front.

Other Features
Backward Compatibility
Backward compatibility allows this camera to play older tapes and media.

Spot Metering
Spot metering allows the user to make exposure adjustment to any specific part of the image being captured.

Spot Focus
Spot focus helps the user adjust focus to any particular area on the image being recorded.

Spot Metering
Exposure can be adjusted on any part of the screen with the touch screen LCD of the DCR-TRV480.

Color Slow Shutter
The Color Slow Shutter feature will slow down the shutter and brighten up the image in color.

Navigation Function:
Navigation function paragraph

Widescreen Mode
A digitally manipulated 16:9 widescreen option can be accessed in the menu system of the DCR-TRV480.

Analog to Digital Pass Through
Analog to digital pass through paragraph

Conclusion
The $350, DCR-TRV480 has slightly smaller dimensions than last year’s DCR-TRV460, but it is still immense and bulky. The one great addition is the backward compatibility feature which allows the user to play older tapes and media. This is a great feature because it allows the user to playback old and new memories with ease. Besides these improvements, the two camcorders share the same imaging specs; 1/6 inch CCD with 290K effective pixels behind a 20X optical and 990x digital zoom lens. All indications suggest that these two camcorders will give the same video and low light performance.

As with last year, the LCD screen touch panel is still an inconvenience. The LCD hurts the camcorder’s handling because the scavenging through vast menu system impede the user’s shot. By the time the user finishes fumbling through the menu system in the 2.5 inch LCD, the prized moment being captured will have passed.

The spaces on these camcorders need to be put to better use; a bad combination of too much vacant real estate and awkward positioning of control features trouble these camcorders. Putting aside nostalgia, the consumer ought to consider more current alternatives. For few dollars more, a consumer can receive the same if not better performance.