Both reviews I've read on this product seem scattered and incoherent, so let me see if I can clear-up some of the misconceptions about Sony's DVD camcorder 101. I've had mine for 6 months now and am getting used to it. Despite what you might hear about the DVD format, this isn't an easy piece of equipment to use. You will have to put some time (translate: hours) into the learning process involved in using the camcorder and the powerful but heavy-on-the-steps PIXELA ImageWriter software that works with the camera.
br / For me, the camera works great...it does just what the manual says it will do and it does it well. I find the images to be clean and clear, the sound to be excellent, and the buttons and internal program to be logical and understandable. Buy an extra battery and a filter to protect the Zeiss lense-aftermarket products should cost you less than $100 for both and well worth it. I was under the impression that I could just plug my MiniDVD into a drive and burn right away to peripheral DVD drive-just like with Video copying-BUT I was wrong. You have to download everything to your computer hard-drive (and you better have lots of space!), then edit it, then you can make a copy. This process yields a clean product but, yikes, it takes alot of time and effort. Hopefully, some future software package will just automatically cover the many steps necessary to burn a simple DVD. In the meantime, you guessed it, manual keyboard labor!
br / Now, the Pixela software is another story; It's complicated and confused the heck out of me. It's designed to be universal in format, hence, not words just icons! But, again, once you learn the language of the program you can get it to do what you want, but be prepared to sweat it out and make lots of silly errors before you land in the world of ImageMixer extraordinnaire...
br / Now, I'm having lots of fun with the camcorder. It's handy and small and the stabilizer works better than I imagined. But, be forewarned that the doggone stuff is complicated to transfer and is best suited for the computer-literate geek!

I just borrowed my friend's Sony 101 to covert my analog footage to DVD and I thought that it worked great. After converting all my old analog home movies to DVD I thought I would take it out for a spin and see how well it records overall.
br /It takes great pictures and allows you to save them directly to your DVD vs forcing you to download the images to your computer. I was also able to preview the video footage before I finalized the DVD. You also just hook the Camcorder up to the TV to view your films instead of downloading them to your computer. If you are more interested in watching your home movies vs editing them, then this could be a good camcorder for you.
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These are great for quick DVD renditions of home video, but a bit tougher if you have to spend time in the very-difficult-to-learn and use ImageMixer software. If all you want is to shoot your home movies and make a DVD really fast, this is the camera for you. Great lens, great machine, lousy lousy software. ImageMixer (Pixela) support was very good, but the software leaves a lot to be desired. This camera is not compatible with the MAC platform, a real shame.

We have had one a few years now, our first video camera dvd. It was easy to setup, try out and plug into the tv or pop in the dvd and see what we took. We love the features it comes with and the editing part we didn't really have much trouble once we read the instructions. I'm sure if you mess around with it without reading the instructions it would be confusing. But once you know what your doing, your fine. We have used this at home as well as on numerous trips over the years. We had no problems or flaws with sony or the camcorder. Original batteries are still working fine and recharging. We have two batteries we carry with us as well as extra dvd's as they do fill up fast; but what a better way to store your memories!

I purchased this camera over a month ago and I have had nothing but headaches when it comes to the software. My intention on purchasing this camera was to burn extra dvd's just in case the original dvd was damaged. After spending weeks on my pc and speaking with tech support with Pixela it was determined that my 6month old DVD burner was not compatible with their software. Now I have tried to use two other software programs but they will not recognize my camera being plugged in. I am at a loss as to what to do next. If I can't burn extra dvd's I don't care to have the product. OH and don't even attempt to contact Sony for support you will just get the run around. As for the camera I am pleased I am just having problems with the camera to pc operation. If you are purchasing for plug and play you will be fine. The compact design is great, I carried it on my fanny pack all over Disney World.

First of all, for you people with a short attention span - DO NOT GET THIS CAMERA !!! Now for everyone else, this camera has been one of the biggest thorns in my side in recent memory - it started pretty good - it is easy to take video and pictures the LCD screen is good the zoom is above average for the price and the on screen picture is good. But try to move on from there. The Image Mixer software must have been written by morons. It is convuluted time consuming and not compatible with anything (except perhaps a 1985 version of Super Mario Brothers) - Then came the issue of it writing over previously recorded video for no reason - And finally it decided that anytime you removed a disc and put it back in - it had to be reformated. I contacted Sony who politly told me to use a disc rescue service and have a Sony center check it out - I have been on many boards that talked about the same problems - I have never kicked myself so much over a piece of electronics - Avoid it at all costs

Unless have no need to edit. This is completely incompatable with non-sony software.
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br /It almost works with Adobe Premier Elements, but causes crashes. To use with an Apple, you have to convert the format to MPEG (MPEG4 works best) and the signal is horribly distorted in the process.
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br /The Pixela software is buggy, but works, but not well. If you think that because it is a USB device that it is easy to use, you are wrong. (as I was)
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br /Not to mention Sony's history of installing viruses on your computer without permission.
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We also bought this product after our first child was born and loved it at first. Now, only four years later, the screen is shot; we've received numerous error messages over the life of the product; we have three DVDs that we were able to review once before finanlyzing and now the camera no longer recognizes them; and Sony informs us that we must have it shipped to them for repair at a cost of $250.00. Extremely dissapointed that our camera is now premanently disabled after only four years and our only remedy is to pay $250.00 to hope that they can fix it.

we were given this $900 recorder right after the birth of our child so we got some great movies of him.At 6 months we got a format error on display screen and weren't able to discharge dvd.called sony troubleshooting and not very helpful staff read from a manual which didnt apply to our model, called 3 times each time told warranty ran out(3months) and to send it to them for $250 they would look at it.so now i have a camcorder that doesnt work and a company that doesnt stand behind its product

This camera has been great. Camera records around 30 minutes on premium video quality and longer at medium to low quality. Easy to use and nice to have ready to watch DVDs

Firts. I did not buy this Camara in Amazon. I bought it at SAMs club. The box of the camara does not have any information on the specs. I bought it and my USB 2.0 ports are somehow not MAC compatible. The Port does not even recognize a device connected. It is a shame that Sony does not care for the customers. I have been buying Sony products for the last 15 years. It is time for a change ...

I received the camera as a gift from my mother, so it is difficult to complain - however, I am very unhappy.
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br /The ImageMaker Pixela software is terrible. It is not user friendly at all. I tried to use Microsoft Movie Maker but you must first download the images in the Pixela software. The the movie images have to be converted - it takes many steps to actually be able to send mom a movie (with two kids, never!!)
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br /The still images are so grainy that I am embarassed to show anyone that they came from the camera that was purchased for $800.00. I read the directions thousands of times to try to see if I was doing something wrong, and the directions are not worth the paper that they are printed on. I called Sony and asked for assistance and they troubleshot the camera with me. They asked me to push buttons that did not exist. The tech support people had no clue and said that for $250.00 I could send the camera to them and they would look at it.
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br /I don't think so!! Time is flying by and I am not able to take even decent pictures of my family with the camera. I am hoping that someone buys me a different camera for Xmas and I can sell this one on Ebay!