Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205
Starting at: $499.95
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: Generally fast autofocus and autoexposure.
The bad: Middling video quality; no windscreen filter for microphone; small LCD with impractical touch-screen-based menu system.
The bottom line: The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205 is as middling as its sibling, the DCR-DVD305; however, it eschews the impractical features of the DVD305 for a lower price tag, making it a better bargain.
The one dubious omission in the DVD205 is a USB connector, but that's mostly a problem if, like me, you work on a laptop with no DVD drive. The DVD205 is a little more compact, a little more cheaply constructed, with a slightly smaller 2.5-inch LCD.
... Expand full reviewThe one dubious omission in the DVD205 is a USB connector, but that's mostly a problem if, like me, you work on a laptop with no DVD drive. The DVD205 is a little more compact, a little more cheaply constructed, with a slightly smaller 2.5-inch LCD. Since the 2.7-inch LCD on several of the higher-end models is small enough to aggravate the pain of the touch-screen interface, 2.5 inches doesn't seem significantly worse.
The two models share the same 1-megapixel CCD and 12X zoom lens, and as with the DVD305, that means a subpar 690,000 pixels used to capture video and 1-megapixel stills. So, unsurprisingly, the DVD205's video and still quality mimics that of the DVD305; they're pretty mediocre, with rampant edge crawl, noise, and motion artifacts. On the upside, it also means that it shares some of the DVD305's finer points, such as the support for wide-screen video as well as its reasonably fast autofocus and autoexposure systems.
There aren't any really decent DVD camcorders in the same price range as the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205, but you can find better ones, such as the Hitachi DZ-GX3200A. And if you pry your wallet open just a bit further and shop around, you can get a significantly better model, such as the Canon DC40 or the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405. Hide Review
Compare to other digital camcorders
Compare selected Senior Editor Lori Grunin has been covering digital imaging and all types of tech for two decades and photographing for four, but the stat she's proudest of is the approximately 5,000 photos she's taken of cats (and some dogs) for the animal rescue where she volunteers.
User Reviews
See all user reviewsMost recent user reviews
Showing 3 of 3 reviews
"Good Video, but for Dummies like me I bought it and then found out no firewire - no connect to mac." By roswell100
Pros: Pretty Simple, DVD's once formatted easily play in any DVD Player
Cons: Can't download - can't edit on mac
Summary: If you want a simple dvd digital camcorder and play them in your dvd player easily this is not a bad bet.
However, if you are interested in having your library of video on hard drive and being able to edit that library I would not recommend
"Disappointed in battery compatibility" By Shelley5267
Pros: dependable product
Cons: cant use generic batteries
Summary: I purchased this camera based on past experience with sony products but was much disappointed when I went to purchase an extra battery for this camera only to discover that sony has added technology to their cameras and batteries that won't allow you to use any battery but sony ... Expand full review
Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Optical sensor type: Advanced HAD CCD
- Effective sensor resolution: 0.69 megapixels
- Flash type: Built-in
