Sony DCR-DVD301 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I bought this camcorder (300 model) because I was having a horrible time converting my DVs into DVDs, mainly because of limitations on my computer.I am disappointed. It comes with USB2.0, no firewire. And to make matter worse, the bundled software (very poor quality) uses some legacy systems (or win socks?) to recognise it. No other software on my system (incluing Nero) can use it as video capture device. So you are stuck with what Sony deems fit for you.However, if you just like to get the DVDs from you camcorder and play it on your DVD player, you are OK. Please keep in mind that you may end up buying lots of DVD-R, because many DVD players still don't accept Sony's format of DVD-RW. Not to mention that DVD-R are still around $7 each.

This is a great handycam if all you want to do is shoot and play your movie on a dvd player. The kids love being able to watch thier events right away. The picture quality is not that good. I am still trying to figure out how to copy a dvd-RW to a full size disk so I won't have to buy thoses expensive little dvd's

I should've stuck with my mini dv camcorder. Wanna know why? How about losing an entire disc worth of footage in the blink of an eye? Yeah that's happened to me twice and now I'm afraid to use the camera. Once I got slightly bumped and there was a disk error. Another time I was standing stock still with no one around me and got the same error. Then there were the numerous times I was in the middle of filming sometihing great and lost the moment because there was an error that froze up the camera until it reset itself. I wish I could return the damn thing but it's over 30 days. At least with tape you can splice it if you need to. I think this format is a ploy to get consumers hooked on the novelty of being able to put the dvd right in their dvd players. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!

I am not a video camera person by all means. And when I decided to buy this video camera i was afraid that the electronic features would have been too difficult to use or that the video camera would have not been that reliable. Knowing Sony's and Amazon reputation and after I read some of the other reviews I decided to go ahead. Boy I am happy I made that decision. The video camera is very simple to use, the instructions were easy to follow and the results are more than satisfactory.Maybe the battery that came with the video camera could have been more powerfull. Besides that, as far as I am concerned, I am very happy with my purchase.

Much like the first review, I am very pleased with the camcorder. HOWEVER, I had a tremendous disappointment on it's first use. We welcomed the arrival of our newborn son and used a MEMOREX dvd-r (which is supposed to be compatible) to record many special moments of his first three days at home. Included were his first home bath, first pediatricians appointment, clips from the first long nights, and other video from a proud papa. We planned on sending a copy of the DVD to his 80 yr. old great-grandma on the west coast. Recording went fine, but once finalized, the handycam cannot read the disk, as it shows a disk error. The memorex disk also fails to play in the computer or other devices. Devastated when realizing that the video was lost. Have used Sony dvd-r since and no problems. Hesitant to try other brands. Tips: pay the extra money and get Sony disks and always download a backup copy to your computer before finalizing and removing the disk. Do those two things and the camcorder will be a 5-star purchase.

I use this camera for training purposes. I need every recording to come out perfectly so that I amy critique the participants. The camera does everything it says it will do but it does not read discs well. Last week, of 3 participants in the room, the recordings failed twice. Bah, humbug Sony! I can't afford to lose a recording when my clients are paying for the training.I'm looking for another camera.

Perfect condition. Even came with DVDs.

I was a SONY 100% loyal customers until I bought this camera (camcorder, computer, DVD player, pen drive..all SONY). First of all, if you are like me and like to edit your videos, don't think that you can just pop the disc in your computer and off you go. For capturing video it is just like any other camera: you have to connect with a cable. It is not very tolerant of low light either (my old one is) so you better be ready to buy a good light for any indoor shooting that doesn't have an excelent light.It has also given me Disc Error massages with two discs, after I have finilized them. This means that that the great trip to Mexico that you thought you had recorded for posterity, it's all gone.You can also take digital photos as well as video. This feature it's not bad. Except, that you cannot see the photos until you finalized the disc. It means that if you took 20 pictures that you need to see today, you have to render your DVD-R disc useless for further recording, or wait until you fill the whole disc to see your pictures.Too bad. The concept seems like a good one but not fully developed. Shame on SONY for bringing something to the market when it's not ready.