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[B][U]Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105E[/U][/B]The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105E, despite its cryptic title, is a digital video camcorder that records on to a miniature DVD, as opposed to the older type of mini videotape.
These DVD disk types are not the standard 12cm size that you would buy your favourite movies on, but a smaller, 8cm disk. They do generally work in the same way as the standard DVD size though, and are in fact catered for in many DVD players with a smaller groove in which to hold the disk in.
Being a DVD camcorder, it negates the need to do any sort of video transferring, or to keep a tape recorder handy.
It’s compact, and easy to use with one hand. The two record buttons (video and photo) are well placed for easy access, as is the zoom function, which by all accounts are the features mostly used by camcorder owners. It comes with a lens too.
Viewfinder or LCD display!
The camcorder comes with two methods of seeing what you’re taping - a viewfinder, that requires you to place the camcorder up near or against an eye, or an LCD colour display screen, that flips out from the left hand side. It generally come down to personal choice which you use, though using the viewfinder will preserve the camera’s battery for a lot longer than if using the LCD display.
The LCD is flip-able though, which enables you to record yourself more easily.
Unlike older camcorders, the Handycam’s LCD display doubles as a touch-screen, which allows you to access most of the additional controls.
Filming some video!
The camcorder allows you to record in the older 4:3 square-like TV screen size, or in 16:9 widescreen, which the likes of the BBC, ITV, Channels 4, Five and Sky currently broadcast in today. The inclusion of two separate microphones on the front of the camera also allow for stereo sound.
You can set your video quality level to either HQ (High Quality Play), SP (Short Play), or LP (Long Play), which will give you 20, 30 and 60 minutes of recording time respectively. While HQ naturally gives you the better visual quality, the lower setting are by no means poor, and extend your recording time quite a bit. These recording times will be reduced if you also take photographs.
It should be noted that HQ should not be confused with “high definition”, which this camcorder does not record in.
The Handycam gives you two modes to record in, “Video” and “VR”. The former gives you less editing abilities, but is compatible with standard DVD players once finalized, whereas the latter gives you more editing ability via the camcorder, but may not be compatible with standard / older DVD players. You’ll need to use your own judgement when deciding which format to record in.
It comes with the expected zoom features, which works pretty well and allows for a fairly decent zoom. You can also turn on “Nightshot Plus” using the switch on top of the camcorder, which will start immediately while you’re recording, and also includes a fader, which allows you to fade in to or out of your recordings.
The camcorder also includes some picture effects - that allow you to record in black and white, pastel or mosaic, and some digital effects - that enable you to record in “old movie” mode, or in “Luminance key” mode, which means you can take a still photo and replace a brighter area of it with a video recording.
Taking a photo!
A handy feature of the Handycam is being able to take standard photos too, with the inclusion of a 1 mega-pixel digital camera.
To take a photo, all you need to do is select the option with the same “on-off” switch, and use the photo button provided.
It does seem a little odd to do this though; offering a separate button to record video or take a static photo, but then require the user to select which mode they want to use. It would have been better to be one or the other, but not both.
You can alter some of the photograph settings, such as exposure, white balance, etc as well as use the zoom feature in the same way that you would when recording video.
The photographs are of an acceptable quality, but don’t come close to a stand-alone camera, especially as nowadays 6+ mega-pixels is the norm for such things, compared to the 1 mega-pixel the Handycam offers.
A little bit of built-in editing!
The camcorder give you some very basic editing features if you make use of a rewritable DVD. If you use “Video” mode, you’re restricted to being able to delete the last video clip or photo that you’ve taken, where as using “VR” mode lets you delete any clip or photo, or divide video clips in two.
Using “VR” mode may however, reduce the compatibility of your finished DVD in some standard DVD players though.
Finishing off your DVD!
Once you’ve filled up your DVD with video and photos, the Handycam lets you finish it off with it’s built-in finalize process. The finalize process will create a DVD menu, consisting of a thumbnail of each of your video clips and photos, and turn it in to a fully functional DVD. The process takes about 2 minutes, and can be reversed if you’re using a rewritable DVD disk, allowing you to add more video later.
There is a choice of 4 DVD menus, all of which aren’t in any way mind-blowing, but are good enough, considering you’re more likely interested in the video on the DVD. You can also write out your own DVD title with the on-screen keypad.
If you want to copy your video onto a standard 12cm sized DVD, Sony have included the Nero 6 software, which will let you copy your mini DVD content to a regular DVD.
Viewing your video and photos!
As mentioned, because the camcorder stores the video and photos on an 8cm DVD, it is possible to play it back on a standard DVD player or computer that can play DVD’s once it’s been finalized. The photos are stored as standard JPEG image files, so placing the DVD in to your computers DVD drive will also allow you to view or copy them over to your hard drive, and print them out or order them online.
You can of course also view your video and photos directly from the camcorders viewfinder or LCD display, without having to do any finalizing or connecting any wires.
The camcorder also comes with a standard A/V connector, which you can plug directly in to a connectable TV, video recorder, etc, to play-back your video and photos on your telly, without having to fill up or finalize the DVD first.
When using the camcorder directly or A/V connection to playback, the camcorders zoom in and out features will work as normal, as well as the touch screen allowing you to move your zoomed in video to the left or right, up or down.
Overall rating!
I would give the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105E a 7 out of 10, or 75%, as for a general-purpose camcorder, without anything too fancy, it can be quick and painless to record your day-to-day stuff, as well as take photos without the need to carry a separate camera.
It’s probably best suited to people who aren’t interested in making movies, but as a general camcorder to tape your kids growing up and your dogs digging up the garden, with a DVD copy being made without any hassle.
If you’re considering this camera though, you may want to first look at the newer DCR-DVD106 model, which replaced the one being reviewed here.
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[B][U]Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105E[/U][/B]The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105E, despite its cryptic title, is a digital video camcorder that records on to a miniature DVD, as opposed to the older type of mini videotape.
These DVD disk types are not the standard 12cm size that you would buy your favourite movies on, but a smaller, 8cm disk. They do generally work in the same way as the standard DVD size though, and are in fact catered for in many DVD players with a smaller groove in which to hold the disk in.
Being a DVD camcorder, it negates the need to do any sort of video transferring, or to keep a tape recorder handy.
It’s compact, and easy to use with one hand. The two record buttons (video and photo) are well placed for easy access, as is the zoom function, which by all accounts are the features mostly used by camcorder owners. It comes with a lens too.
Viewfinder or LCD display!
The camcorder comes with two methods of seeing what you’re taping - a viewfinder, that requires you to place the camcorder up near or against an eye, or an LCD colour display screen, that flips out from the left hand side. It generally come down to personal choice which you use, though using the viewfinder will preserve the camera’s battery for a lot longer than if using the LCD display.
The LCD is flip-able though, which enables you to record yourself more easily.
Unlike older camcorders, the Handycam’s LCD display doubles as a touch-screen, which allows you to access most of the additional controls.
Filming some video!
The camcorder allows you to record in the older 4:3 square-like TV screen size, or in 16:9 widescreen, which the likes of the BBC, ITV, Channels 4, Five and Sky currently broadcast in today. The inclusion of two separate microphones on the front of the camera also allow for stereo sound.
You can set your video quality level to either HQ (High Quality Play), SP (Short Play), or LP (Long Play), which will give you 20, 30 and 60 minutes of recording time respectively. While HQ naturally gives you the better visual quality, the lower setting are by no means poor, and extend your recording time quite a bit. These recording times will be reduced if you also take photographs.
It should be noted that HQ should not be confused with “high definition”, which this camcorder does not record in.
The Handycam gives you two modes to record in, “Video” and “VR”. The former gives you less editing abilities, but is compatible with standard DVD players once finalized, whereas the latter gives you more editing ability via the camcorder, but may not be compatible with standard / older DVD players. You’ll need to use your own judgement when deciding which format to record in.
It comes with the expected zoom features, which works pretty well and allows for a fairly decent zoom. You can also turn on “Nightshot Plus” using the switch on top of the camcorder, which will start immediately while you’re recording, and also includes a fader, which allows you to fade in to or out of your recordings.
The camcorder also includes some picture effects - that allow you to record in black and white, pastel or mosaic, and some digital effects - that enable you to record in “old movie” mode, or in “Luminance key” mode, which means you can take a still photo and replace a brighter area of it with a video recording.
Taking a photo!
A handy feature of the Handycam is being able to take standard photos too, with the inclusion of a 1 mega-pixel digital camera.
To take a photo, all you need to do is select the option with the same “on-off” switch, and use the photo button provided.
It does seem a little odd to do this though; offering a separate button to record video or take a static photo, but then require the user to select which mode they want to use. It would have been better to be one or the other, but not both.
You can alter some of the photograph settings, such as exposure, white balance, etc as well as use the zoom feature in the same way that you would when recording video.
The photographs are of an acceptable quality, but don’t come close to a stand-alone camera, especially as nowadays 6+ mega-pixels is the norm for such things, compared to the 1 mega-pixel the Handycam offers.
A little bit of built-in editing!
The camcorder give you some very basic editing features if you make use of a rewritable DVD. If you use “Video” mode, you’re restricted to being able to delete the last video clip or photo that you’ve taken, where as using “VR” mode lets you delete any clip or photo, or divide video clips in two.
Using “VR” mode may however, reduce the compatibility of your finished DVD in some standard DVD players though.
Finishing off your DVD!
Once you’ve filled up your DVD with video and photos, the Handycam lets you finish it off with it’s built-in finalize process. The finalize process will create a DVD menu, consisting of a thumbnail of each of your video clips and photos, and turn it in to a fully functional DVD. The process takes about 2 minutes, and can be reversed if you’re using a rewritable DVD disk, allowing you to add more video later.
There is a choice of 4 DVD menus, all of which aren’t in any way mind-blowing, but are good enough, considering you’re more likely interested in the video on the DVD. You can also write out your own DVD title with the on-screen keypad.
If you want to copy your video onto a standard 12cm sized DVD, Sony have included the Nero 6 software, which will let you copy your mini DVD content to a regular DVD.
Viewing your video and photos!
As mentioned, because the camcorder stores the video and photos on an 8cm DVD, it is possible to play it back on a standard DVD player or computer that can play DVD’s once it’s been finalized. The photos are stored as standard JPEG image files, so placing the DVD in to your computers DVD drive will also allow you to view or copy them over to your hard drive, and print them out or order them online.
You can of course also view your video and photos directly from the camcorders viewfinder or LCD display, without having to do any finalizing or connecting any wires.
The camcorder also comes with a standard A/V connector, which you can plug directly in to a connectable TV, video recorder, etc, to play-back your video and photos on your telly, without having to fill up or finalize the DVD first.
When using the camcorder directly or A/V connection to playback, the camcorders zoom in and out features will work as normal, as well as the touch screen allowing you to move your zoomed in video to the left or right, up or down.
Overall rating!
I would give the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105E a 7 out of 10, or 75%, as for a general-purpose camcorder, without anything too fancy, it can be quick and painless to record your day-to-day stuff, as well as take photos without the need to carry a separate camera.
It’s probably best suited to people who aren’t interested in making movies, but as a general camcorder to tape your kids growing up and your dogs digging up the garden, with a DVD copy being made without any hassle.
If you’re considering this camera though, you may want to first look at the newer DCR-DVD106 model, which replaced the one being reviewed here.