| | |  | Point-and-shoot Digital Cameras | Home » » » » Sony DCR-DVD7 DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom | | | | | | | Description: | | CL) MU) SONY DCR-DVD7 DVD CAMCORDER | | | Features: | |
• 1/6-inch CCD imager with 680K pixels
• Compatible with DVD-R and DVD-RW formats
• 10x optical zoom with Super SteadyShot picture-stabilization system
• 2.5-inch hybrid color touch-panel LCD
• Easy Handycam Button locks out advanced controls; perfect for beginners
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 9.5 inches | | Product Width:
| 7.0 inches | | Product Height:
| 5.5 inches | | Package Length:
| 9.3 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.9 inches | | Package Height:
| 5.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.45 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 15 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 15 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
164 of 172 found the following review helpful:
 Sony DCR-DVD7 - Nice size but missing a few featuresMay 16, 2005
By Jake Zinn
Review for the Sony DCR-DVD7.
Last week I found myself about 2000 miles from home and needed an easy to use, lightweight, and small camcorder. I found the DCR-DVD7 and decided to try it. It worked well for my needs except in the area of digital stills.
I noticed this camera at first because of its shape. It looks like a digital camera - not a camcorder. It is small enough (if you have big pockets) to fit into your pocket.
The camera is very easy to use and even has an Easy button to make taking video a snap.
Pros
The pluses of this camera are that it is small and takes acceptable video. Has a good feel and form factor. The camera has quick and smooth focus. It turns on and is ready to shoot in a very short time even for a DVD based camcorder. All the I/O ports work good (USB and Video-out). It has a nice bright LCD display. It can take literally thousands of digital images. When you finish shooting video, you have a ready-made DVD to show friends and family. You also have a long lasting archive of your images that you can edit later.
Cons
For me the biggest downside of this camera is that it takes terrible digital still images. The pictures have visible pixels and the color is not as rich as with Sony still cameras. A unit of this price should take at least acceptable still images. Some of the pictures I took with the camera look worse than the old Apple Quick-take cameras of 10 years ago could produce. The camera has no Firewire port. As an Apple computer user, this camera is unfriendly when it comes to editing-no Apple supported software and it is a difficult task to put your video into iMovie for editing. For all these lacking areas it is a bit pricey.
(Comments: - JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY FROM SONY READS THIS STUFF - This camera has a great form factor and has huge potential. IF it had a headphone out-jack, you could have a portable DVD player and MP3 Player that could be watched/listened to on a plane or any other type of trip. IF it took better digital, stills it would be good buy because it could replace a digital camera and camcorder. Some other reviews I have read criticize this unit because of the video quality of this unit but I found it to be acceptable for home use. Great concept I wish that Sony would make some small improvements and this unit could be a fantastic product. )
Conclusion
Overall, if you need an easy to use camcorder that is small this camera would be a good choice. (DVD archiving is also a big plus for those who shoot video but do not always edit it right away.) If you are looking for great quality images and size does not matter look elsewhere.
30 of 30 found the following review helpful:
 Coolest and smallest DVD camcorder in the market!Jan 20, 2006
By J. Balderas
I'd like to share the reasons why I bought this camera and strongly recommend it:
1. Innovative design and size. I absolutely love the design and compact size of this camera. As any other innovative products, the form factor of this camera received mixed reviews. I think it is perfect, I have no problem handling and holding the camera when filming. You have to give credit to Sony: there is no other DVD camcorder in the market this compact, even after a year in the market.
2. Media support. This should be the number one criteria when buying a DVD camcorder. I have read several reviews from other DVD camcorders complaining about issues finalizing the discs or playing them on standard DVD players. I have had no issues whatsoever with discs burned with this camera, and finalizing the discs is a very smooth process: one click and a few minutes. This camera supports DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW. Most DVD players will play all of these formats. The DVD+RW format allows you to view the disc in most DVD players without finalizing the disc, while the DVD-RW format allows you to edit and delete scenes from the disc when used in VR format (though this format is typically supported by DVD recorders only); both rewritable formats can be formatted and reused as many times as you'd like. Note that the capacity of the discs is 30 minutes in SP mode (or 60 in LP mode); this is a limitation of the size of the discs, not the camera. You can buy double-sided discs which will allow you to record 60 minutes in SP mode, but you have to manually swap the disc, so it is equivalent to using 2 different discs.
3. It's a Sony camcorder. I have to mention that I have not owned other brand of camcorders, just because I've been extremely satisfied with Sony camcorders. They not only have a cool design, but they are also the best in terms of ease of use and reliability. I cannot vouch for the quality of this camcorder yet, but I expect this to last, it seems well built. It also comes with a Carl-Zeiss lens, which are among the best in the market.
4. Other nice features worth mentioning:
* USB cable allows you to copy any or all of the recorded scenes to your computer, even if the disc hasn't been finalized.
* Almost all the functionality is driven by the touch panel, and the main menu is programmable which allows you to add only the features you use the most.
OK, so this camera is not perfect, it has some areas for improvement:
1. If you are buying this camcorder to take still pictures as well as recording video, this is not your camera. The resolution of the stills is only 640x480 (less than 1MP), the quality is so poor that it is not even worth using it for stills.
2. Poor low-light filming and no NightShot feature included.
3. No upgradeability, because of its compact size there is not a lot of room for attaching typical add-ons: microphone, flash, or headphones (though you can use an adapter on the A/V cable). The battery provided lasts for about 90 minutes, however you can buy a larger battery, the NP-FA70 which will lasts up to 180 minutes.
4. At the original MSRP of $699, this camera is expensive, if you pay less than $500 for this camcorder, you are getting a good deal. If you're willing to pay over $600 for this camcorder and you're not crazy about its design/size, you might be better off buying the DCR-DVD203, at least you'll get a 1MP digital camera.
41 of 44 found the following review helpful:
Sony DCR-DVD7 Excellent Video - Easy to use (point & shoot)Jun 11, 2005
By S Pelaccio
We needed an easy to use, lightweight, quality video camcorder that anyone could use. The Sony DCR-DVD7 is GREAT. Worked excellent on vacation, our beach video images are excellent - the "EASY BUTTON" makes the whole experience of shooting video a snap. When we reviewed the video the quality was surprising very good for the price of this camcorder. We have a JVC camcorder that we paid double the price for which I find difficult/complicated and too heavy to use.
NOTE: The DVD7 is so easy to use - for example; I was holding one dog (7 month old wiggly puppy)in one arm, and using our DVD7 with the other hand to capture our other dog playing tag with a sand crab, and the video images turned out steady, focused, and clear.
As for digital still images - I did not purchase this device for still images. If all I wanted was still images, I would use a disposable camera for on the beach, and our Sony digial camera for other times.
Now for the software: easy and fun to use.
**Battery - really does last a full hour! And I was using it for video, and play-back of the video, not still pictures.
Overall impression: I wanted a point & shoot camcorder with great video images. Here is all you do: insert the DVD, turn on the power, touch the "EASY Button", and shoot. If you want a lightweight, easy to use, excellent video images, and a battery that lasts a full hour, the DCR-DVD7 is exactly all these things.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
ExcellentJul 07, 2005
By CS
I've been using this for about 2 weeks now and I love it! It is very user friendly with touch-screen controls. I only wish the DVDs could last longer than a half hour, but for the size of this model I can over look that.
35 of 40 found the following review helpful:
Easy to use; great size; quality resultsJun 14, 2005
By Joe Sutsko
The video is great. Even at the LP setting the quality is good. Being able to put 5,100 stills on one DVD is great. I always carry one DVD for video and another for stills.
Small, compact and easy to use. What more could you want?
See all 15 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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