Sony Digital8 Handycam Camcorder - DCR-TRV280

Product Details

Sony Digital8 Handycam Camcorder, Model DCRTRV280

Go digital… Capture high-quality digital audio and video with Sony’s DCR-TRV280 Digital8® Handycam® camcorder. The DCR-TRV280 features Digital8® recording for 3X the color bandwidth of VHS, providing you with stunning video performance. The CCD imager captures clear and detailed images for consistently outstanding image quality. With Sony’s NightShot® Plus infrared system you can capture natural looking video, even when shooting in low light.
Don’t let its compact design fool you, the DCR-TRV280 carries great power with the Stamina® battery power management system, which allows you to continuously record for up to 12 hours on a single full charge1. Editing and sharing hours of video is easy with the i.LINK®2 DV interface, which allows you to easily connect your camcorder to your TV or PC.

Key Features:

• 1/6" CCD Imager with 290K effective pixels
  
• 20X optical zoom lens with 990X digital zoom
  
• 2.5" SwivelScreen™ LCD display1
  
• SteadyShot® picture stabilization system
  
• NightShot® Plus infrared system

Features:

• Digital8® Recording
  The Digital8® recording format delivers 3X the color bandwidth of VHS with significantly less video noise providing stunning video performance. Digital8 records digital audio and video comparable to MiniDV on affordable Hi8 tapes.
• 1/6" CCD Imager, 460K Pixels Gross
  1/6" CCD Imager with 290K (effective) pixels provides great detail and clarity along with outstanding digital video performance.
• 20X Optical/990X Digital Zoom
  The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition the Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.
• SteadyShot® Picture Stabilization System
  Picture stabilization system that uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera “shake" without compromising picture quality like some other digital stabilization systems.
• 2.5" SwivelScreen™ LCD Display1 (123K Pixels)
  Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high resolution 123K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.
• USB Streaming
  Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio over the internet using the USB interface. You can even playback your favorite recorded scene on the camcorder’s tape. It’s like having your own video conferencing system.
• i.LINK®2 DV Interface
  A digital high-speed bi-directional interface which provides Audio/Video communication between two compatible devices. This connection allows for pure digital transfer between devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, such as camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards and PCs3.
• InfoLithium® Battery with AccuPower™ Meter System4
  Charge the battery at anytime because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony’s rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening “memory effect". Sony’s exclusive AccuPower™ meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.
• Multi-Language Menu
  Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean or Traditional Chinese.
• Easy Dubbing
  Connect the Handycam camcorder to a VCR to effortlessly make VHS copies of your home videos. The camcorder can control up to 59 brands of VCRs.
• NightShot® Plus Infrared System
  With Sony’s NightShot® Infrared System you can capture natural looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 10 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.
• Stamina® Battery Power Management System
  Using the optional NP-QM91D InfoLithium® Battery, the DCR-TRV280 can continuously record for up to 12 hours on a single full charge5, providing extra long battery life.
• Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes
  Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Portrait, Beach & Ski, Sports Lesson, Landscape, Spotlight or Sunset & Moon modes.
• Picture Effects
  Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony’s Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Monotone, Solarize, Slim, Stretch, Pastel and Mosaic.
• End Search
  Automatically advances the video tape to the last 5 seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previously recorded videos.
• Fader Effects
  Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Mosaic, White, Monotone and Stripe.
• Titling
  Add professional looking titles to your video. Select from 8 presets, or customize 2 titles with up to 22 characters.
• 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. The display will show how much the battery is charged, in 10% increments and the recordable time left when using the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
• Photo Mode
  Using Sony’s Adaptive Frame Interpolation for better image quality, you can store hundreds of individual still images with 7 seconds of audio on the videotape.
• Built-In White LED Light
  Brighten your video, and reduce shadows when shooting in low-light situations. The LED light uses considerably less power than bulb-based light systems, with the same light output.
• Manual Focus
  Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the dial. 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.
• Easy Handycam® Button
  Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people, so with a press of the Easy Handycam® button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are “locked out" leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.

Specifications:

• Imaging Device: 1/6" 460K Gross Pixel CCD
  
• Video Actual: 290K Pixels
  
• F: 1.6 – 2.4
• Focal Distance: 2.5 – 50mm
  
• 35mm Conversion: 42 – 840mm
  
• Filter Diameter: 37mm
  
• Optical Zoom: 20X
  
• Digital Zoom: 990X
  
• Focusing: Full Range Auto/Manual (Dial)
  
• SteadyShot® Image Stabilization: Yes
  
• Minimum Illumination: 4 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot® Infrared System)
  
• NightShot® Infrared System: NightShot® Plus
  
• Shutter Speed: 1/60 – 1/4000 (AE Mode)
  
• Viewfinder: Black and White, 90K Pixels
  
• LCD: 2.5" Color1 (123K)
  
• Video Input/Output: No/Yes (Special)
  
• Audio Input/Output: No/Yes (Stereo, Special)
  
• USB: Yes
  
• USB Streaming: Yes
  
• White Balance: Auto
  
• Exposure: Yes, Dial (24 Steps)
  
• Power Consumption (VF/LCD/VF+LCD): 2.5W/3.4W/3.6W
  
• Supplied Accessories:
  • AC-L15 Power Adapter/In-Camera Charger
  • NP-FM30 InfoLithium® Rechargeable Battery
  • AV Cable
  • USB Cable
  • Lens Cap
  • Shoulder Strap
  • CD-ROM with USB Driver (PicturePackage™ Software Ver. 1.5 for Sony)

Approximate Dimensions:

• Width: 3 3/8"
• Height: 3 7/8"
• Depth: 6"

Approximate Weight:

• Unit (w/out Tape and Battery): 4.85 oz
• Shipping: 5 lbs

Warranty Information:

• Manufacturer's Warranty(authorized online retailer):
  • 1 Year Parts / 90 Days Labor
• 4 Year Extended Service Warranty:Click here for details

• Operating Guide

Manufacturer's Model Number: DCR-TRV280

Footnotes:

1. ©2004 Sony Electronics Inc.
   Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Sony, AccuPower, Advanced HAD, Handycam, i.LINK, InfoLithium, Memory Stick, the Memory Stick logo, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, NightShot, Picture Package, Remote Commander, SteadyShot, SwivelScreen, and worryfreedigital are trademarks of Sony. Carl Zeiss and Vario-Sonnar are trademarks of Carl Zeiss. PictBridge is a trademark of CIPA. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Features and specifications subject to change without notice. Non-metric weights and measures are approximate.

Questions and Answers