Sony DCR-TRV350 Camcorder First Impressions Review

Unlike the lower model, the DCR-TRV250, the DCR-TRV350 includes a Memory Stick slot. The camcorder can accept current Memory Sticks as well as Memory Sticks up to 1 GB. The still resolution of the camcorder is 640 x 480 pixels. Stills are transferred from the camcorder to the computer via the USB port.

The camcorder also includes a remote, Firewire in out, USB port, Sony Steady Shot, a 2.5 in. LCD screen, a black and white viewfinder, a video light, Sony's night shot and Sony's Color Slow Shutter Night Shot. The DCR-TRV350 includes a 20x optical (dropped down from the DCR-TRV340), 700x digital zoom as well as Digital Program Editing. The DCR-TRV350 also has playback zoom, which allows you to zoom in on video while it's being played back.

The audio options on the DCR-TRV350 are improved over the 250. The camcorder has a microphone in option; however it does not include a headphone port. The DCR-TRV350 also includes a Lanc (Control-L) for external editing and zoom control.

The camcorder also includes a 3 watt light. Although it's low power it's a neat little addition. I would rather they included a headphone port or a hot shoe port there, but it doesn't matter much.

A problem with the camcorder is that the button to toggle between manual and automatic exposure control is hidden behind the LCD screen. With this model line, Sony has moved a lot of buttons and controls from outside of the camcorder to be hidden behind the LCD screen. Other important buttons hidden behind the LCD are the menu and display functions. You can not activate an AE (automatic exposure, pre set exposure modes for different shooting scenes) mode or adjust the manual exposure with out opening up the LCD. All the Memory Stick functions are also behind the LCD screen. When you're trying to shoot one handed and looking through the viewfinder, this poor placement seems like it would create a lot of problems. I really don't like this move because it makes long term handheld shooting hard.

I do like the large zoom control of the camcorder (larger than the new MiniDV models), but it has a very square feel. It's hard to make judgments about picture quality and handling because of the locked down environment the camcorders are shown in.

I've always been a fan of the Digital8 line and when we learned a few weeks ago that Sony was really stepping back from it, I was sad. Although I don't like the DCR-TRV250, I think that the DCR-TRV350 is a much better entry level camcorder than the 250. I am really un-happy that you are effectively unable to operate these camcorders with out opening the LCD screen, however, having not looked at the video quality or gotten a good feel for the handling, I am going to still recommend the DCR-TRV350, it looks promising.