Sony TRV350 Digital8 versus Canon ZR65 miniDV

[catdog6]

I'm ready to buy one. Does anyone have experience with both of these?
Which has better quality? Reliability?

My grand plan is to convert old VHS and 8mm movies to DVD. The Sony will read the old 8mm tapes but it seems to be alot larger.

Thanks for the help!

Kevin

[catdog6]

Ok.. I give up.. If anyone has any advice on a Digital 8 or miniDV camcorder I would appreciate it.

Thanks

[TOMMO]

Hi, I have the TRV340. It is excellent. Yes it plays 8mm tapes that can be captured through firewire. It is a new unit so I cannot comment on quality over time, but everything worked as it was described. Widescreen mode is great. Movie quality is excellent - even in snow.

MINIDV - never had a unit myself but have used one - small and fiddly but the results were good.

No regrets about getting the Sony.

[catdog6]

Thanks for the input Tommo.

The guy at Best Buy said the miniDV would be better quality than the Digital 8. I've read somewhere that they're the same.

Which is true?

[xxiangg]

I had an older Canon model ZR40 and was happy about it. I prefer DV over Digital8
because its size. The smaller model is always easier to carry arround. Althouth
there are a couple problems with the older Canon model. Once is poor performance
under low light. The other is the motor noise picked up by its microphone. But it
produced beautiful results most of the time. In addition, I used its passthrough mode
dititized many of my old Sony 8mm tapes. I think size, price, and picture quality are
the main factors for me to choose Canon.

[TOMMO]

It all depends on the lenses. Sony do produce good lenses, which are fitted to the Digital 8 units. The Sony Mini DV have Carl Zeiss lenses, but the picture quality is excellent on the 340.

The final image quality is the same - like for like - between digital 8 and mini dv.

Obviously this statement is frought with dangers, and it may not stand true across the board on extremely high priced and high quality units.

Depending on where you live in world, there are other alternatives, my previous unit - a Sony TRV120 - was stolen, so it was replaced with the 340. Great, but if I had been buying a replacement over here in the UK, I would have purchased the 240 has this had DV IN. In the UK the 340 is DV IN disabled, but has most of my stuff goes onto to DVD+R then it really did not matter.

Really it is all down to preference, I am 45 years old, the eyes are not that great and my ability to use modern gadgets seems to be deminishing. The Mini DV units are simply too fiddly for me. It is as simple as that.

[marisag427]

I have the Sony TRV17 which is about a year old. It's a MiniDV. I love it- the quality is great and it's small, yet not miniscule. You can play your 8mm through a passthrough, and even record onto a dvd.

I'd go with MiniDV since that is the highest quality out right now. Doesn't have to be sony, whichever brand you decide. But it also depends on your budget.

[catdog6]

I've decided to not get the Sony because after reading the reviews it seems that the battery life is short, it takes poor pictures indoors (orange tint). I am concerned about the reported motor noise and poor color quality of the Canon series. I know I'm beating this to death but it's alot of money.


Kevin

[yg1968]

I have the Sony DV camcorder TRV-25 and I haven't noticed any orange tint when I film inside. The battery life is OK (2 hours and a half, I think). You can buy a longer battery life from Sony for extra money. Perhaps, you should buy your digital camcorder at a store where you can return it in order to try it out.

[TOMMO]

I've decided to not get the Sony because after reading the reviews it seems that the battery life is short, it takes poor pictures indoors (orange tint). I am concerned about the reported motor noise and poor color quality of the Canon series. I know I'm beating this to death but it's alot of money.


Kevin

No orange tint with mine. yes the battery will run down quicker if you use the LCD but that is common. I bought the long life battery that is an extra.

[marisag427]

I don't have the orange tint problem with my Sony either. And I purchased the larger battery as well. I usually just plug it back in when I'm done with it at home. When I take it out, I bring along the extra charged batter, and on longer trips, the quick battery charger.

Good luck in your decision.