Sony DCR-TRV510 Camcorder Review

by Robin Liss
Published on Jun 22, 2001 12:00 AM



The DCR-TRV510 is a Digital8 camcorder with a MSRP of $1299. Sony Digital8 records a digital signal onto standard 8mm or Hi8 tapes. Sony claims it is possible to record up to 500 lines of resolution on a Digital8 tape. The compression allows you to record only an hour of video on the standard 120 minute 8mm and Hi8 tapes. Hi8 and 8mm tapes are much cheaper and more available than the MiniDV tapes that most consumer digital video cameras use so this format provides advantages. The format offers a 16-bit PCM digital audio, which MiniDV tapes also have. It is possible to use the IEEE1394 or FireWire digital Interface with the Digital8 camcorders to digitally edit or copy your videos. Sony did not specify the possibility of hooking up Digital8 and MiniDV camcorders through the FireWire interface. Chances are, however, it is possible. The 510 model has a 20x optical zoom and a 360x digital zoom. The camcorder has the Control L editing protocol that allows you to edit. The camcorder has a 4-inch LCD screen and a color viewfinder.

This is Sony’s upper end Digital8 camcorder. Digital8 offers beginners and intermediate users an opportunity to go into Digital Video without having to deal with the inconvenience of expensive, hard-to-find tapes. If you want a reliable digital camcorder that uses inexpensive tapes, the DCR-TRV510 is perfect.