List of Sony Handycam Digital8 camcorders with analog/digital passthru

[Brad]

I compiled a list of North American Digital8 camcorders with the analog passthrough feature when I was looking for one. There may be a few more; if you know of one let me know. The key words in the manuals seem to be "signal convert" while in their marketing they use terms like "analog-to-digital pass-through".

Note: This list applies only to North American (NTSC) models. The foreign PAL variants with "E" on the end of the model name (for Europe) differ due to import taxes (thanks Richard_G). Any other variants from other regions of the world may also differ.

Models with Pass-through

2000

• DCR-TRV120, DCR-TRV320 (manual PDF HOTLINK)
• DCR-TRV720, DCR-TRV820 (manual PDF HOTLINK)

2001

• DCR-TRV230, DCR-TRV330, DCR-TRV530 (manual PDF HOTLINK)
• DCR-TRV730, DCR-TRV830 (manual PDF HOTLINK; they share their manual with the 828, which I can't find as a North American model)

2002

1. DCR-TRV240
2. DCR-TRV340
3. DCR-TRV740
4. DCR-TRV840

2003

1. DCR-TRV350

2004

1. DCR-TRV460

2005

1. DCR-TRV480 (no S-Video)

Models WITHOUT pass-through which are sometimes claimed to have it (non-exhaustive)

1. DCR-TRV260
2. DCR-TRV280
3. DCR-TR7000

Note regarding the model numbers

Sony's model numbers worked like this... DCR-TRVabc

a = higher number was more expensive / fancier feature set for that year's range of models
b = this number plus 1998 is the release year

• The first year's models were from 1999, so b=1, so DCR-TRV110, etc.
• The 2005 model year breaks this pattern. It should be the 7th generation, but is numbered as the "8 series".

c = always 0 for the American models?

[SixFiftyThree]

I think PAL camcorders with passthrough are pretty rare, if they exist at all. There is a reason why but I can't remember. I know there's PAL DV walkmans, namely GV-D200E and GV-D800E which can be used for this purpose, and also include TBC and DNR (don't know how effective).

For NTSC, isn't there an issue with black level when using this method though?

[Richard_G]

It's only the high end PAL ones that have passthrough, most of the consumer level camcorders don't. The reason is down to the import tax applied to them. The tax applied to a video recorder is higher than that applied to a camcorder. As a camcorder with passthrough has a video input, it can be used as a video recorder as well as a camcorder. Very few consumers that buy a camcorder will ever use the feature so Sony had it disabled on the PAL models to keep the import tax and hence the retail price down. No point in selling something at a higher price than an equivalent from their competitors with a feature that 99% of customers are never going to use.

[SixFiftyThree]

@Richard_G Thanks for the detailed explanation, that's exactly what I recall reading about. Do you know if those high-end models provide any stabilization features on analog input?

[Richard_G]

No idea. I've got a VX2000E which has passthrough as standard and a DCR-TR8000E with passthrough enabled with an external widget (something you used to be able to buy to enable it on PAL versions that didn't have it as standard). There is no mention of TBC in the manual for either. I've also got a pair of VX1000E camcorders but even they didn't have passthrough.

[JimTheGreek]

I compiled a list of Digital8 camcorders with the analog passthrough feature when I was looking for one. There may be a few more; if you know of one let me know. The key words in the manuals seem to be "signal convert" while in their marketing they use terms like "analog-to-digital pass-through".

This is for NTSC. The PAL variants with "E" on the end of the model name may or may not be the same.

Pass-through

2000
DCR-TRV120
DCR-TRV320 (same manual for both)
DCR-TRV720
DCR-TRV820 (same manual for both)

2001
DCR-TRV230
DCR-TRV330
DCR-TRV530 (same manual for these three)
DCR-TRV730
DCR-TRV830 (same manual for both and the 828, which doesn't seem to exist in NTSC form)

2002
DCR-TRV240
DCR-TRV340
DCR-TRV740
DCR-TRV840

2003
DCR-TRV350

2004
DCR-TRV460

2005
DCR-TRV480 (no S-Video)

No pass-through but sometimes claimed to (non-exhaustive)

DCR-TRV260
DCR-TRV280
DCR-TR7000

You are wrong, DCR-TRV230 doesn't support passthrough....

[Brad]

[...]This is for NTSC. The PAL variants with "E" on the end of the model name may or may not be the same.
Pass-through
[...]

2001
DCR-TRV230

You are wrong, DCR-TRV230 doesn't support passthrough....

Page 74 of the US manual confirms that I'm correct with regard to the NTSC version.

I changed the original post to be more clear. Added color-coding, bolding, and more information (gleaned from the other posts in this thread).

[Deichbruch]

This thread has been a great source of information for me, thank you very much @Brad.

I was in the market for a PAL camcorder with analog/digital pass-through, and based on the information I found here I was able to look through various online manuals fairly quickly and determine which PAL Sony Digital8 camcorders support signal conversion. Here's the non-exhaustive info I compiled and perhaps it helps someone else in the future.

PAL models that support signal conversion:

• DCR-TRV330E
• DCR-TRV345E, 355E, 356E
• DCR-TRV480E (Note: No S-Video port)

PAL models that do not support signal conversion:

• DCR-TRV210E/TRV310E
• DCR-TRV120E/TRV125E/TRV320E
• DCR-TRV230E/TRV235E/TRV325E/TRV430E/TRV530E
• DCR-TRV145E/TRV147E/TRV245E/TRV250E
• DCR-TRV270E/TRV285E

My particular use case is for digitizing content from a connected VHS video recorder through the camcorder's DV/Firewire pass-through, as well as be able to digitize my father's library of old Video8 home video tapes.

[siratfus]

Hello Guys, so this list of camcorders with analog passthrough... does that mean Audio/Video IN? Does this mean the camcorder can act like a recording deck? You can input source from computer, TV, dvd player, etc., and record onto the 8mm tape? I know my question may be a little strange. Most people want to digitize their 8mm tapes, but I'm trying to figure out a way to record onto them. Hope someone can chime in.

[Brad]

Hello Guys, so this list of camcorders with analog passthrough... does that mean Audio/Video IN? Does this mean the camcorder can act like a recording deck? You can input source from computer, TV, dvd player, etc., and record onto the 8mm tape? I know my question may be a little strange. Most people want to digitize their 8mm tapes, but I'm trying to figure out a way to record onto them. Hope someone can chime in.

You can, but note that Digital8 models can only record in digital mode even if they can play back analog tapes.

So using these models, you can make a Digital8 recording from AV input to 8mm tape.

If you want a camcorder that can record analog from AV input, Google "Hi8" "Recording video or TV programs" -Digital8 for results where this phrase appears in Sony manuals.

Here's an example from the manual for CCD-TRV87, CCD-TRV67/TRV17/TRV37/TRV57. Of those 5 models, only the bolded one supports input.

[siratfus]

Thank you Brad! That's very helpful! Can you clarify a few things?

1. When you say the Digital8 models can only record in digital mode, that means I have to buy the 8mm tapes specified for digital 8, correct?
2. Whereas, the CCD-TRV87, I can buy regular 8mm tapes?
3. Also, will all digital 8 models have this A/V input? I just asked someone on eBay selling a DCR-TRV820, and the seller says there is no A/V in. Wondering if the seller could be wrong.

[Bwaak]

When you say the Digital8 models can only record in digital mode, that means I have to buy the 8mm tapes specified for digital 8, correct?

Read this: Differences Between 8mm Tapes including comments. TL;DR: tape quality is important for Hi8, less so for Digital8 as long as bits are not being lost. I just recorded digital on regular 8-mm tape - no problems.

Whereas, the CCD-TRV87, I can buy regular 8mm tapes?

It is a Hi8 camcorder, the way it is meant to work is that you need higher quality tape to record in Hi8 mode. OTOH, all 8-mm is metal, either MP or ME, so I don't know whether the difference between basic 8-mm tape and higher-grade Hi-8 is significant. AFAIK, 8-mm cassettes have detection holes, so supposedly you cannot record in Hi8 mode onto a regular 8-mm tape, but from what I've read you can make a hole to trick the camcorder into thinking it is a better tape.

You can see I am not a power user of 8-mm format

Also, will all digital 8 models have this A/V input? I just asked someone on eBay selling a DCR-TRV820, and the seller says there is no A/V in. Wondering if the seller could be wrong.

What stops you from searching for an operating manual for a particular model?

[Bermuda1]

I am using a TRV230E right now to capture Video8 cassettes via DV/FireWire. So I can say for certain that pass-through works on this model. I have not tested it with a connected VHS recorder. However, I can confirm that the manual (applicable for several models) does not state that the TRV230E supports pass-through.

[beyonslay]

Hi, thanks for your feedback, I'll try it too.

Tutuapp

[Alwyn]

I am using a TRV230E right now to capture Video8 cassettes via DV/FireWire. So I can say for certain that pass-through works on this model. I have not tested it with a connected VHS recorder. However, I can confirm that the manual (applicable for several models) does not state that the TRV230E supports pass-through.

I wouldn't class playing a Video8 or Hi8 tape as "passthrough". "Passthrough", to me, means connecting an external analogue source eg VCR and outputting it over DV. If that capability exists, the menu will have an "AV>DV Out" option (as you say, not in the manual for the 230E).

[The_Doman]

I wouldn't class playing a Video8 or Hi8 tape as "passthrough". "Passthrough", to me, means connecting an external analogue source eg VCR and outputting it over DV. If that capability exists, the menu will have an "AV>DV Out" option (as you say, not in the manual for the 230E).

Most of the European(E) camcorder models came without the DV-in option enabled to avoid extra import taxes for being a "VCR recorder" and not have that menu available or mentioned in the manual.
But the AV-In/passthrough function should work at default with the newer generation (2nd+) D8 camcorders.
By reprogramming the camera you could enable the extra menu option with DV-In function.

I have now read about this AV-IN issue and as I understand it, AV-IN will be enabled when I enable DV-IN. I enabled DV-IN two years ago with a free software and it worked well.
Then obviously I have AV-IN enabled. So the problem might be the scart itself. Are five pins enough or will I need a scart with all pins?

This is how I use the analog-in of my Sony D8-TRV120 (European PAL).
It came with the DV-in disabled but analog-in was working without modification, even directly through the firewire in the PC.

When DV-in is enabled correctly on my TRV120 there is a extra menu option to switch between DV-in and Analog-in.
Those functions can't work at the same time.
If you have no menu option you can possible try to unplug the firewire cable to see if the analog-in works correctly.
To use the analog firewire passtrough option the DV-in should be disabled or you should find a way to enable the special menu to switch bewteen DV/Analog in.

[Alwyn]

If you have no menu option you can possible try to unplug the firewire cable to see if the analog-in works correctly.
To use the analog firewire passtrough option the DV-in should be disabled or you should find a way to enable the special menu to switch bewteen DV/Analog in.

Lots of ifs, buts and maybes there. Have you actually had any success with a camcorder that does NOT have the menu function?

I enabled DV-IN two years ago with a free software and it worked well.

How?

By reprogramming the camera you could enable the extra menu option with DV-In function.

How?

DV-in should be disabled or you should find a way to enable the special menu to switch bewteen DV/Analog in.

How?

So I can say for certain that pass-through works on this model. I have not tested it with a connected VHS recorder.

Asking another way... what analogue gear did you try to prove it was passing-through?

[The_Doman]

If you have no menu option you can possible try to unplug the firewire cable to see if the analog-in works correctly.
To use the analog firewire pass-trough option the DV-in should be disabled or you should find a way to enable the special menu to switch between DV/Analog in.

Lots of ifs, buts and maybes there. Have you actually had any success with a camcorder that does NOT have the menu function?

Yes, my Sony D8 DCR-TRV120E camcorder.
I still use it regularly for DV pass-though.
It is back to factory default without the DV-in function/menu for many many years now because i didn't use/needed that function anymore.
Also i don't even know exactly anymore how i enabled it and sure not want to risk messing up the (precious) camera.
Analog pass-through works from factory default with that model by just connecting analog and firewire, but you can't record to tape as that function is disabled.
You can easily try it with other similar models if it works or not, if yes the analog input video should appear on the LCD screen.

ago with a free software and it worked well.

How?

How?

How?

This very old page with info is still up i see:
S51KQ: LANC, DV-IN, ANA-IN, Enabling DV-IN on D8 & DV
Again, all this is now very old and probably not needed/usable anymore.
Also programming the camera was risky, possible resulting in disabling your camera totally when not doing it correctly.

Asking another way... what analogue gear did you try to prove it was passing-through?

What/how to prove? I don't know really.
But this from VHS/DMR-ES10 was not too long ago captured using that same DCR-TRV120E camcorder.

Your DV-AVI captures DO support aspect ratio (and interlace) flags so most good players should display it correctly.
See this DV sample i uploaded some time ago here:

[Attachment 78850 - Click to enlarge]
Captured DV 720x576 format, should play correctly in 4:3
https://forum.videohelp.com/attachments/78851-1714910879/VHSDV_BRTN_Testcard.avi

[Alwyn]

Fair enough, I just wanted to clarify how you did it. I didn't want other visitors to this post thinking that passthrough occurs even if it is not in the manual. It's obviously not desirable to buy a camcorder if you don't absolutely know it will do passthrough (if that is a feature you want). Of course, playing V8 and Hi8 tapes in a D8 for DV output is a different scenario.