Sony DCR-TRV39 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Robin Liss
Published on Feb 3, 2003 12:00 AM



The MiniDV Sony DCR-TRV39 is priced at around $1,000. It includes the same body as the DCR-TRV38. The camcorder has many great features, however it's only upgrade over the DCR-TRV38 is the inclusion of network capabilities. I really liked the DCR-TRV38, and I really like the DCR-TRV39, both are solid models - I just question if it's worth spending an extra $100 to surf the web on your camcorder.

Video Performance
This review is based on my impressions of the DCR-TRV39 when it was displayed at the CES 2003. The camcorders were locked down on tripods and pointed at a very bright scene where the lighting was perfected so that the camcorders would look nice. They were hooked up to Sony TVs and it was certainly not an environment where it would be fair to make any judgments about the video quality of the camcorder.

The Front
At the top in the center of the DCR-TRV39 is the 30 mm lens. The body is the same as the DCR-TRV38 so many conclusions in this review will be similar. As with the DCR-TRV38, the microphone is located right below the lens, with the IR sensor right below it. The DCR-TRV38 includes a zoom ring, which surrounds the lens of the camcorder - it's a step of feature that isn't included on the DCR-TRV19, DCR-TRV22 (Specs, $999) or the DCR-TRV33. At the bottom of the camcorder, embedded in the IR sensor is a recording tally lamp.

The Right Side
There is a lot 'going on' on the right side of the DCR-TRV39, however none of it gets in the way of the operator's ability to use the camcorder. Located in the back towards the top of the camcorder is the power dial, with options for Off, Camera, VCR, and Memory (still playback). Towards the front of the DCR-TRV39 is an area that includes virtually every port. Covered by a hard piece of plastic, this 'patch bay' on the camcorder includes the S-Video in / out port, Mini A/V in / out port, Firewire port, Microphone in, Headphone out, Lanc / Control-L and USB ports. When I first saw the camcorder a red flag went up in my mind that all these ports, when in use having cords poke out of them - would get in the way of the camcorder operator. However after fooling around with the DCR-TRV39, and having someone with a bigger hand than my own test out the camcorder - I don't think placing the ports on the right strap was a mistake. They are far enough to the front of the camcorder that they will not get in the way.

The Back
At the top of the back of the DCR-TRV39 is the viewfinder. Located directly below the viewfinder is the battery slot. To the left of the battery are two buttons, the focus button and the backlight button. To the right of the battery is the record on / off button, which is located towards the top of the back so that your thumb directly 'hits' the button if you are holding the camcorder through the side strap. Above the record button is a 'lock' which you can click on or off which locks the camcorder in the record mode which the dial has it set at. Below the record button is the Memory Stick slot. Memory Sticks slide in and out of the slot with a spring mechanism. You can 'click' the memory stick in to place or click it out.

The Left Side
The entire left side of the camcorder is taken up with the 3.5 in. LCD screen. The large screen is quite nice. Folding it open reveals only a speaker and a display button - this is because with the DCR-TRV39 and the other models introduced at CES, Sony has moved virtually all the camcorder functions into the touch screen LCD, so there is no need (a negative in my opinion) for any buttons. On the outside of the LCD screen is a nice counter which displays battery info or tape location info. The entire screen is covered in a metallic shiny finish that distinguishes the DCR-TRV39 and the DCR-TRV38 from other models in the line.

The Top
The top of the DCR-TRV39 has a lot of buttons - or at least when compared to the other parts of the camcorder. Towards the front of the camcorder (the lens) is the hot shoe where you can plug in a light or microphone. To the right and behind the hot shoe, is the night shot on off button. Behind that is the edit search buttons and behind that is the zoom controller. Lastly located all the way towards the back of the camcorder is the photo button for taking digital stills.

Manual Control
Focus
The DCR-TRV39 completely fulfills everything I would want in manual focus control - via the focus ring. It allows you to easily adjust the camcorder's focus with out shaking or disturbing your shot. The camcorder however also has other focus options - the most obvious is automatic however there is also the spot focus feature, enabled by the touch screen. When you get into spot focus (selected via the touch screen menu) a box appears on the LCD screen. The DCR-TRV39 will automatically adjust the focus to where ever you touch on the camcorder's screen. It's a great in-between for people who aren't quite comfortable using the focus ring but understand that the camcorder won't be able to take full automatic control in all situations. I think it's a really good utilization of the touch screen's capability. When using manual focus the DCR-TRV39 also includes a neat feature that has been included on Sony's digital still cameras but never on a camcorder. The expanded focus indicator automatically zooms the image in (though not the image actually recorded to tape, just the image displayed on the LCD screen) 2X so that you can make more accurate focus adjustments. It's nice because the professional method of focusing is to zoom in as close as possible on the subject you want to focus on and then zoom out to compose your shot - now the camcorder does it for you automatically.
Zoom
I like the zoom control on the DCR-TRV39. The actual slider is the same size as that of the DCR-TRV38, but larger than that of the lower models, the DCR-TRV19, DCR-TRV22 and DCR-TRV33. It provides enough resistance and range of 'zoom movement' that you can achieve multiple zoom speeds quite easily. You can jump to a really fast or a really slow zoom with some room for error. Of course, I wish it was a rocker switch but the zoom control is much nicer and larger than that of other similarity priced camcorders.
Exposure
Going with the theme of few buttons and lots of functions controlled through the LCD screen, Sony has moved the exposure control inside the touch screen - something I'm really disappointed with. This is the biggest downgrade of the DCR-TRV39 in my opinion when it's compared to the model it's replacing, the DCR-TRV27. It is impossible to adjust the exposure control (which there are 22 steps of) with out opening up the LCD screen, and shaking your shot. It makes it hard to use the camcorder in situations other than point and shoot. You can put the camcorder in automatic exposure mode, or select from seven preset exposure modes, or you can use the Spot Metering function. The Spot Metering function allows you to adjust the exposure of the camcorder just like the Spot Focus function - by touching on the appropriate area of the LCD screen. However you can't use any of these exposure controls with out opening up the LCD screen. If you are shooting handheld, opening up or even touching the LCD screen is going to create shake in your shot - the one thing you want to avoid at all costs. If your shooting on a tripod you will run into the same situation, even the slightest touch of the camcorder, even if it's locked down, will give a little shake - and you can't adjust the exposure with out touching the LCD screen. I think this is a major mistake with the DCR-TRV39, and the entire 2003 line of camcorders. I don't mind the touch screen - in fact I really praise Sony for the Spot Focus and Spot Metering functions, I just feel that the inclusion of a menu button and a jog dial would be great because it would give the user the option of adjusting all these picture element's with hard buttons.
White Balance
Sony offers you four white balance options with the DCR-TRV39. You can set it to indoor, outdoor, hold (which is manual) or automatic. White balance is accessed via the menu through the touch screen.

Still
Sony packed a one Mega Pixel CCD with the DCR-TRV39 making it produce 1152 x 864 pixel resolution stills - which are saved to Memory Stick. The camcorder saves the digital stills to Memory Stick, and it comes with a free 8 MB Memory Stick to work with. You can also save MPEG-2 video to the Memory Stick using the MPEGX feature. As for still quality, for the same reasons I withheld judgment on video quality, I'm not going to attempt to judge the still quality of the DCR-TRV39 at this time.

Low Light Performance
I am also going to not judge the low light performance of the DCR-TRV39 because it was impossible to do so at CES. Sony has included both normal Night Shot and Color Night shot with the camcorder - however as with past models I would recommend against using any of the video you shoot with these modes. I am a little weary of the low light performance of the DCR-TRV39 however. This is because Sony has used a smaller CCD with the camcorder. Usually there is a strong connection between small CCDs and bad picture quality. The CCD is just 1/4.7 in. - the same as the lower model the DCR-TRV33 but not as large as the 1/4 in. on older Sony camcorders (the 2001 models). Larger CCDs produce better low light images because each pixel as more actual area, allowing it to take in more light. Professional camcorders will include 1/3 or even 1/2 in. CCDs.

Audio
The DCR-TRV39 does not skimp on audio options. You can use the on-camera microphone, however as with any camcorder this is not going to produce the best results. You also however can use the microphone in port, and you can monitor the audio that the camcorder records using the headphone out port.

Handling
I think the DCR-TRV39 will handle quite well. It has enough bulk and weight to it that you will be able to get a good grip and a stable shot out of the camcorder - however it's small enough that it isn't unmanageable. Sony did a really good job of port placement. They created a 'patch bay' of sorts placing all the ports in one place and as has been a problem with many other camcorders, your hands don't get in the way of all the cables coming out of the camcorder. My biggest complaint however is that it's impossible to adjust the exposure and white balance of the camcorder with out opening up the LCD screen, and opening up the LCD screen will create a lot of shake. I like the option of being able to control the camcorder via the LCD screen but I think that Sony should have included some buttons as well. Hopefully in next year's model Sony will keep the touch screen LCD but also bring back the exposure wheel which was a much better solution.

Other Features
Bottom Loading Tape Mechanism
I certainly don't think Sony would advertise this as a 'feature' - it's a terrible part of this camcorder. You are forced to load tapes from the bottom of the camcorder which means that if you are shooting on a tripod you have to detach the camcorder, unload the tape, put the new tape in, and reattach the camcorder to the tripod. It creates more steps, which will take longer, which will mean more lost footage if your shooting a long program. It's a move that Sony has made in order to consolidate the size of the camcorder but I don't believe it's worth it. Of course I should note that this isn't new to the DCR-TRV38, Sony has been putting bottom loading tape mechanisms on their camcorders for years.
Analog - Digital Pass Through
A feature that became all the rage about two years ago and now is standard on most camcorders (except for the DCR-TRV19) is analog to digital pass through. It allows you to use your camcorder as a digital camcorder. You can plug an analog source into the S-Video or A / V port, say a VCR, and record it to MiniDV tape as a digital signal or route it through the camcorder into a computer.
Battery Info Feature
Sony's latest feature add-on is the new Battery Info feature which allows you to check the battery life of the camcorder with out turning it on - or rather with out turning it on completely. You just press the battery info button and the total remaining battery life, both using the LCD and the viewfinder is displayed on the LCD screen. It's a neat and useful feature however I won't exactly describe it as point to make your decision on - in fact I doubt you'll use it often.
Network Capability
The only upgrade of the DCR-TRV39 over the DCR-TRV38 is the addition of Network Capability. It's not Bluetooth, but rather just the ability to surf the web, post pictures and e-mail with your camcorder. The camcorder gets it's Internet access using a supplied adapter. The adapter plugs into the USB port and lets you plug a normal phone line or an ethernet cable into the camcorder. The DCR-TRV39 includes a stylus to use the screen. The network capabilities of the DCR-TRV39 haven't changed from previous models. I think it's a nice feature - however I don't see many plausible situations where you're going to want to surf the web on your camcorder. I can possibly see a use for the function that allows you to e-mail videos or stills to people or post them to the web, but I even question how many people will use this feature.

Comparisons
The DCR-TRV39 is the exact same camcorder as the DCR-TRV38 except it adds network capability, and costs $100 more. I really loved the DCR-TRV38, and really think it's worth your money. The DCR-TRV39 on the other hand - I really question. The only reason you would want to buy the DCR-TRV38 over the DCR-TRV39 is for the network capability, and I don't think this feature is worth $100. If you like the DCR-TRV39, but don't need the network capability, go with the DCR-TRV38. Only buy this camcorder if you are sure that you are going to surf the web and e-mail with your camcorder on a regular basis.

The DCR-TRV39 replaces the DCR-TRV27, with both being introduced for around $1,000. This is a slightly complicated comparison. I would not consider the DCR-TRV39 a better camcorder than the DCR-TRV27, however, if you're deciding between the DCR-TRV27 and the DCR-TRV39, compare the DCR-TRV27 to the DCR-TRV38, not the DCR-TRV39. When you compare the DCR-TRV38 to the DCR-TRV27, I would go for the DCR-TRV38, because it has slightly better features and it's $100 cheaper. However which ever comparison you do, the camcorders are very close. Both include a Mega pixel CCD that is 1/4.7 in. The only downgrade of the DCR-TRV39 when compared to the DCR-TRV27 is moving the exposure control inside the touch screen. However you do get the inclusion of Spot Focus and Spot Metering control making it a better choice for the new user. I give the edge to the DCR-TRV39 and DCR-TRV38 combined, over the DCR-TRV25 and DCR-TRV27, however, I would pick the DCR-TRV38 over both the DCR-TRV25 and the DCR-TRV27.

Conclusion
I really liked the DCR-TRV38, I think at $900 it's a great camcorder with a ton of features. The DCR-TRV39 upgrades the DCR-TRV38 with the addition of network capability. I'm not too happy with this feature. It's useful, but certainly not worth $100. If you are interested in the DCR-TRV39 and not absolutely sure that you are going to use the network capability, save yourself $100 and go with the DCR-TRV38 - it's a great camcorder.

If you're looking at the Sony 2003 line, take a look at the DCR-TRV38. It's a really great camcorder and I might even pick it over the DCR-TRV70 (Review, Specs, $744.99) and DCR-TRV80, because it does video well and that is what a camcorder is supposed to do. There are no 'unneeded' add-on's, such as huge pixel count CCDs or web surfing capabilities.