Sony DCR-SR220 4MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder

rating: 4.67

Sony DCR-SR220 4MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder

records video to a built-in 60GB hard disk drive or optional Memory Stick Duo cards * digital photo mode with top JPEG resolution of 2304 x 1728 * records digital photos to hard drive or optional Memory Stick Duo cards * Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel audio from built-in zoom microphone * 2-11/16" widescreen touchpanel LCD * 16:9 widescreen mode for video and digital photos * built-in photo flash *

Sony DCR-SR220 4MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder

Sony Hybrid recording to hard disk drive or Memory Stick media Hybrid recording technology delivers a new level of flexibility for transferring your video footage and digital photos from the camcorder to compatible viewing devices. Record to the camcorder's internal hard disk drive, or choose instead to record to removable Memory Stick Duo media or Memory Stick Pro Duo media. You can even select from various dubbing functions to easily copy video or still images from the hard disk drive to Memory Stick media -- without using a PC. Images recorded or transferred to Memory Stick media can then be played directly on a PS3 or PC to share your memories with friends and family.

Dual Record While recording video in high definition, you have the ability to capture still images directly to Memory Stick Duo media (sold separately).

Memory Stick Pro Duo media slot Capture still images directly onto Memory Stick Pro Duo media (sold separately) for easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick devices (sold separately).

Sony Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1-channel recording Featuring Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects in sync with the camera's zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.

Dolby Digital 5.1-channel recording Record in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound with the camcorder's built-in microphone. Recording in 5.1-channel surround sound allows you to experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all directions, so you can enjoy your personal home movies the way you experienced them while recording.

Dynamic Range Optimizer Powered by the exclusive Sony's Bionz high-speed processing engine, D-Range Optimization preserves image data in bright highlights, such as suppressing "whiteout" in skies. When shooting in backlit settings, D-Range Optimization reveals more detail in shadows, preventing "blackout." As a result, the captured image appears as natural as the original scene.

Easy Handycam button Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," letting you focus only the buttons essential for recording.

Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lensProfessional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses are designed specifically for compact camcorders, and utilize precision ground optics to maintain the sharpness and contrast found with larger lenses.

Active Interface Shoe Sony's proprietary hot shoe makes it easy to use Intelligent Accessories, such as external lights and microphones, by providing power and on/off capability directly from the camcorder.

USB 2.0 interface The USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your camcorder to a PC for fast transfer of video and still images for editing.

InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System Unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect," so you're free to charge the battery at any time. Additionally, Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Sony Quick On Missing an important scene can be frustrating, especially if the reason is because your camcorder is turned off. With the Quick On feature, the touch of a single button places that camcorder in Sleep mode. Another push instantly wakes the camcorder, so you'll always be ready to capture special moments.

Stamina Battery Power Management System When using the Sony InfoLithium Battery, the Stamina Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.

Battery information At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. When using the LCD screen or viewfinder, the display will show how much the battery is charged -- in 10-percent increments -- and the recordable time left.

Fader effects Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black and White.

Scene Selection modes Scene Selection modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach, Candle, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, and Sunrise & Sunset.

Picture Effects Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia.

Face Index Face Index makes it easier than ever to find and play back the right video scene. Using Face Detection technology, Face Index indexes your video footage according to the faces detected in each scene. When it's time to play back video, simply search for what you want by selecting from among the detected faces displayed in the index.

Film Roll Index Like chapters in a book, Film Roll Index helps you easily find desired scenes in video footage. When using this feature, the camcorder previews the beginning of scenes and can create scene indexes set at specified display intervals (3, 6, or 12 seconds and 1 or 5 minutes).

Sony Super NightShot Infrared System With the Super NightShot Infrared System, you can capture video in total darkness (0 lux) up to 10 feet away.

Manual focus Manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.

One-touch disc burn Easily burn a DVD copy of your footage using the supplied software. Simply connect the camcorder to your PC via a USB cable and press the One-touch disc burn button.

On-screen Zoom and Record buttons For additional control of the camcorder, Zoom and Record buttons are features on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows for more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low-angle shots.

Progressive shutter system A mechanical shutter system that provides progressive scan performance while utilizing an interlaced scanning system. Digital still images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.

Multi-language menu Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, or Brazilian Portuguese.

Sony DCR-SR220 4MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder user reviews

"This was my 2nd camcorder. The last one was purchased about 6 yrs ago and was a Hi-8 Sony. This camera has fantastic resolution on my 36" Sony Wega Tube TV. The Hard Drive is great to see different videos very quickly (instead of waiting for tapes to rewind.) It is not so clear on my father in-law's 58" Plasma though. High Def would be better. But for recording my family's Birthdays and swim meets its GREAT!

A big thumbs up for the amateur family videographer.

Aaron "

--- Mad Aaron rated: 5

"I film a lot of high school football (at night under the lights) and I bought this camera to replace my mini-DV tape Sony handycam. I'm glad I made the switch although the other Sony did a great job. I get high quality images even when the field lights aren't that bright.

I'm switching to Adobe Premiere but I was using Windows Movie Maker to put together my clips. Unfortunately Movie Maker can't accept the Mpeg-2 clips this camera generates so I have to convert them first.

I'm very happy with the camera but the reason for a 4 instead of 5 is that I don't think the "Quick On" feature works as quickly as it should. I click it between plays to put the camera on stand by. I have to be really careful to click it again after the team breaks the huddle because there's a little delay coming back on. Even more, there's a delay when I click record back out of Stand by. I've come close to missing the start of a play, especially at first.

After I put the clips together I upload them so that other parents can watch. I can't include a link here but if you search for "knob noster alumni" you can look undero Panther Pride | Football highlights to see clips taken with the camera. The google versions aren't as good because they get compressed a lot so if you have high speed internet I recommend downloading the higher quality clips.

Weeks 1-4 were taken with the Sony mini-DV and weeks 5-7 were taken with the new Sony. "

--- R. Krause rated: 5

"I did a lot of research to purchase a camera for a family vacation . I originally was convinced I needed a High def camcorder . Once I read how difficult it was to use the AVCHD format, I quickly convinced myself to stick with the proven platform of MPEG-2 . I went for hard drive over the canon mini Dv for ease of use and no tapes needed. So far, the camera has been extremely easy to use and download videoas to my computer. Still pictures are decent but not stellar. Easy to charge and review images/videos on the touch screen . I can't imagine why you would need more for family type videos. "

--- xrayjay62 rated: 5

"I first got a SR200 and then saw that Sony released a successor, SR220. So I returned the SR200, bought the SR220 thinking the successor will be better. The SR200 was a good camera, but I liked the grip and size on the SR220 better.

After I got the SR220 I compared the videos with some samples that I took from the SR200 before returning it. I was just disappointed. The details were far better in the older SR200 and there was less noise. I did notice from the specs that the CMOS sensor on the SR220 is smaller in size than the SR200. "

--- MadMax rated: 3

"I actually returned the sony DCRDVD 308 and purchased this camera instead. I wanted a camera that worked decently in low light conditions. For the price and without having the camera look like I'm from the local news station, I'm very pleased. I was having problems with the 308 not being able re-focus after zooming in and zooming out in low light conditions.... but don't seem to have that problem with this camera. I don't use the night vison feature because that shoots pretty much almost in black and white-but very clear. The color in the regular setting even in lower light is pretty darn good (for a camera that isn't a 3cc). I usually shoot with a tabletop tripod but don't always have the opportunity to use one- and find that the built in stabalization has worked wonders. If you read the manual, you have a lot of options for different settings, too. I agree with the last reviewer, though. I did purchase an extra battery and highly recommend doing so.
I film bands (mostly my husband's) and purchased the extra microphone with the stereo surround sound. It is worth the price! The sound quality is phenomenal! With the 308 I was having problems with lower frequency sounds (bass rhythms or deeper voices)picking up a hissing sound, but don't have that with the 220 even without the extra microphone.
My only disappointment is with the picture taking function in lower lighting conditons-but I'm still working with that and plan to call sony to see if I can work a little more with the settings. But in daylight it takes decent photos. I programmed the camera so the photos go to the memory stick and the video records right to the hard drive. But I bought the camera for the video capabilities, which I have been very pleased with. I have had no problem downloading what I have recorded quickly right to my computer and then right onto a disc to view on my television.The camera is also very small, easy to handle and carry and very user friendly.
"

--- Julie Springer rated: 5

"When my miniDV tape camcorder finally died, I knew that I would be getting a hard drive based camcorder, but I didn't know it would be so hard to pick the right one out, so I did a lot of research and finally chose the Sony Handycam DCR SR220. My biggest concern with this model was that I didn't think the 15x optical zoom would be enough. The real selling points were the good sized hard drive, the better than average lens, the excellent video quality and really good still picture quality (4 mega pixels, which is a lot better than most camcorders). This camera turns on quickly and is very easy to use. The software that comes with it isn't terrible, but if you use Adobe Premiere and Photoshop you will probably stick with that. Getting the videos and photos to the PC is very easy and quick, especially compared to DV tape. This camcorder has some very cool features too, like night vision (video in total darkness). "Drop protection" which I thought might include a parachute :-) but it doesn't. It just moves the sensor away from the hard drive and locks in place as well as shutting off the camera. The manual does say that this can be turned off if you need too, in case you are taking video while you are sky diving. It also doesn't work well in non-gravity environments such as outer space. Overall I am very pleased with the quality, ease of use, and mainly the speed of using this camcorder as well as transferring video and photos to a PC. As far as the 15x zoom goes, I did try out the smart digital zoom up to 30x and it was actually better than the optical zoom on my old Panasonic camcorder, so I am satisfied with that. My only recommendation would to be purchase a spare battery and travel battery charger. The reason for this is that the battery can only be charged while in the camera and in the docking station, plus you always have a spare. I think anyone looking for a hard drive based camcorder that doesn't require super zoom features would be very pleased with this camcorder. "

--- Larry Regedanz rated: 5

$495.73@amazon.com

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