Review Of Sony DCR-DVD650 Camcorder

Sum ‘n’ Substance:

Sony DCR-DVD650 is the digital camcorder with multiple uses, quick start and ideal camcorder for standard video. HD drive & flash media versions make it not the most competent version among the ones in market.

Thumbs up:

• Simple and trouble free functions
• Recording on DVDs or Memory stick with flash app.
• Significant performance on autofocus.
• Short term purchase  – $299.99

Thumbs down:

• Soft Video
• Not the best quality in recording on DVDs
• Lesser  variable options for users

Inside the trunk: The features are pretty unique. Burning DVD is the most significant feature in the camcorder. But with rising popularity of memory stick & HDD models, it makes it low in demand. With multiple specifications & cost efficient models from market give it a tough fight in staying relevant in market in today’s edge.

The whiz-kid speaks: Burning to DVDs can be useful solution as long as user is burning it on the spot with recording of 20 minutes. Otherwise, multiple options in market reduce the usefulness. Burning DVDs wasn’t the most productive solution otherwise especially with memory stick and HDD models present in lower budget bracket as well.

Razzle- dazzle: Sony DCR- DVD650 is 2.2 h x 3.5 w x 5.1 d inches a camcorder. The lens is 60x megazoom lens with foal length range of 1.8 mm – 108 mm. It’s effortless to use with navigation options of touch screen and a rather amusing lack of options for variations.

Recording & storage however has many options. You can either record the data on Sony’s Memory stick or transfer the data by burning CD while you away from computer. The problem is in viewing the final content on Hi def TV or with rather high comforts with HD visual content.

For those lookers wanting more from camcorder must go for DVD850 available at $ 200 extra at $429. This model provides 16 GB internal flash memory with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio 7 better recordings as well.

Let’s get back to Sony DCR-DVD650. It has the LCD screen with size of 2.7 inches & 123 x pixels resolution. Lens aperture has range of F/1.8-6.0. The resolution for video is 720×480 and for photo, resolution is 640×480. With just 2 colors available, i.e.: black & silver, these become pretty boring and obvious options to choose from. The rest of features like shutter speed, manual focus adjustments, Carl Zeiss zoom lens & Li-ion rechargeable battery are pretty much of a standard anyways. It’s nothing fancy, just usual stuff you are used to.

For conclusion, its good size for DVD burner, Memory Stick Pro Duo card slot, and an uncovered mini-USB port. It gets even the simpler with lock button for advanced feature. Along with that, other buttons include a button for auto exposure adjustment for backlit subjects and playback mode button. For users comfortable with home & menu adjustments, it’s an easy repetition.

But it won’t be that easy for first timers. For first timers, Sony’s menu focuses on context based options & all the other options would be in the home. With enough exposure & habit, it would become a piece of cake.

Inside dope: Sony DCR-DVD650 has the adjustment features that would help you get better results. However, due to its stress-free design, there aren’t as many as you would want to explore & experiment with. The standard version of Auto mode set for white balance, scene choice & focus performed accurately. But you want to try your own application on the features of focus, exposure, its one spot touch on touch screen for that.

The accuracy of autofocus was especially admirable in low light. It performed well for hunting situation challenges. Though 80 minutes on camcorder and 90 minutes on memory stick should be really good for continuous recording, extended battery with claimed battery life of 11 hours would be quite essential & worthy purchase for longer recordings.

Features available in scene modes have options for lowlight like twilight, candle, sunrise, sunset and fireworks & bright light like auto, landscape, portrait, spotlight, sports, beach and snow. Other features are almost absent with manual lens covering, no color effects & absence of light for photo & video as well. White balance gives options of auto, outdoor, indoor and manual. But its way to short of list of features anyways.

Nitty-gritty: The general output looks soft. Only Tele macro mode could have a kind of sharp output for video. There is clips are noisy along with digital artifacts except for You-tube ratios. That also includes the clearly visible purple edges around the subjects. So that’s the case.

Now its upto you, okay? If lo-res recordings or just noisy videos for sharing are your type, then, Sony DCR-DVD650 is yours for take if just clicking is your game irrespective of quality of results. But then, you might as well click on camera phone, right? Sony DCR-DVD650 is nevertheless an admirable result for white balance and exposure in the category for sure. But you better become ready to overlook noise, digital artifacts & compromised quality.

Well… With the rate at which we are growing & evolving standardized camcorders would not be present to be seen in 2011, you know. It would be incapable for the exceeding demands of user. So, it’s a recommendable option only temporary multi-purpose recording for beginners. Make sure that you use memory stick before transferring on disc as it makes it easy. Yet record on DVD in case you aren’t stable.

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