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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest
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alaTest.com
Editors' rating: 87
Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 61 reviews of Sony DCR-DVD810 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 75/100 and users 88/100. Comparing these reviews to 103109 other Camcorders reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 87/100 = Very Good.
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news.com.au
Editors' rating: 80
Summary: The DCR-DVD810 is an impressive standard-definition camcorder that combines three recording formats for the price of one. If you like the idea of instant DVDs but also want the versatility of flash memory, look no further.
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goodgearguide.com.au
Editors' rating: 75
Summary: The DCR-DVD810 is an impressive standard-def camcorder that combines three recording formats for the price of one. If you like the idea of instant DVDs, but also want the versatility of flash memory, look no further.
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Digital Camcorders. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of digital camcorder.
Disc formats
Mini-DVD camcorders record high-quality MPEG-2 footage directly to a mini DVD-R or DVD-RAM and can deliver more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution, depending on camcorder quality. Recording directly to disc makes it convenient for playing directly in set-top players and for storage.
Best for: Trendsetter; home and vacation moviemaker; business videographer.
| DVD-Rs can be played in home DVD players |
| Easy searching and random access to video segments |
| Convenient and stable format for archiving |
| Selectable image-quality levels, including high-quality variable-bit-rate recording |
| Both video and still images are recorded on disc (instead of on a cassette and a memory card) |
| Video recorded on DVD-R cannot be edited on a computer |
| Video on DVD-RAMs can be accessed only via a DVD-RAM drive |
| Relatively short recording times at highest-quality modes and unpredictable recording times with variable bit rate |
| Relatively expensive discs |
| Less reliable for live recording; a single bad bit can render an entire disc of video unrecognizable |
Supporting manufacturers:Canon; Hitachi; Panasonic; Samsung; Sony.
Read more in the Digital Camcorder Buying Guide
Memory card format
Video cameras using a memory card format are able to achieve an ultracompact design. Because they record highly compressed video, they're best suited for gadget lovers who want to use their footage mainly on Web sites and in e-mail. Digital camcorders that record MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 to memory cards may be picky about the cards you use since those encoding schemes require the ability to write to the card more quickly than most standard cards can handle.
Best for: Trendsetter.
| Allows for very compact camcorders |
| Easy searching and random access to video segments |
| Selectable image-quality levels, including high-quality variable-bit-rate recording |
| Both video and still images are recorded on disc (instead of on a cassette and a memory card) |
| Relatively short recording times |
| Video is highly compressed |
Supporting manufacturers: Panasonic; Sony.
Read more in the Digital Camcorder Buying Guide
See more Memory cards products
Exposure control
Every digital camcorder has a fully automatic mode that lets you simply point and shoot, but it's best to be able to adjust your exposure setting a little. Special shooting modes for capturing subjects lit by a spotlight or other specific sources can be helpful. For full control over exposure, you'll need a camera that lets you manually set both the aperture and the shutter speed. Advanced camcorders offer zebra stripes, which highlight overexposed areas with a striped pattern so that you can fine-tune exposure. Low-light performance is the Achilles' heel of many digital camcorders. Look for a model with a minimum lux rating of seven or lower. Many camcorders offer special low-light shooting modes, but they don't all work the same way. Some simply slow down the shutter speed so that you get full-color but impressionistic-looking footage. Others use an infrared emitter to capture greenish monochrome video in total darkness.
LCD and electronic viewfinder info
More pixels usually mean better viewfinder and LCD image quality. Look for a sharp LCD that's easy to see in bright light; adjustable screen brightness helps, too. The larger the LCD, the easier it will be to see (and the more power-hungry it will be); for all but ultracompact camcorders, look for at least 2.5 inches. An EVF that you can tilt with a diopter lever for adjusting focus will give you more shooting flexibility. Almost all EVFs and LCDs on consumer camcorders display color, although some video enthusiasts prefer black-and-white EVFs, which can make it easier to judge exposure. Touch-screen LCDs have begun to appear on a few consumer video cameras, usually for menu navigation and spot focusing. Some users find them convenient, while others prefer not to have to use the LCD to access camcorder controls.
See more LCD products
