Camera is easy to use and a sturdy rugged design. The buttons are solid and all have a positive feel to them, no chrome to wear off. The zoom is easy to control. Some of the cameras I tried would pick up the sound of the zooming onto the tape, this camera is silent. Lots of goodies, remote (so you can sit back in your chair as you watch your videos), being able to zoom in on a video during playback, and time lapsed videoing. When looking for a camera make sure that you have enough optical zoom. Digital zoom is just blowing up the best optical picture that you can get. I've tried some cameras with 10x optical, but the picture quality really suffers, and even more so when you use digital zoom. This camera with 20x zoom and 560x digital zoom makes for great shots of people without getting in their face and does a nice picture job on zooming in on objects. The steady shot feature is the best out of all the cameras I looked at. Other cameras have their own versions, but Sony has perfected this feature. Very handy when looking at your home videos. Nothing more annoying than watching a shakey video. Which brings me to the weight of the camera. This camera isn't the lightest, but that's because of the size of the tape and technology in it, but the lighter the camera, the harder it is to keep steady. The O- lux with super nightshot works great, you can see in the dark! In low light I was happy with the performance. I've used the camera around the camp fire and was able to take some great video. The battery life is relatively short even if you don't use the LCD screen, but Sony as the infolithium battery which tells you exactly how much time you have left on the battery at all times. Like with any camera, you will need to buy a second battery anyway. The USB streaming function with the Pixella software is virtually useless. Very disappointing, because that is why I bought this model. (Other wise I would have bought the TRV308). I went out and had to buy a Firewire PCI card with a cable (IEEE 1394, I-link). Now your talking great camera to PC downloading. Its like your LCD screen is on your computer. Cut, paste and re-record the video onto your camera or email it. Overall Sony knows how to make a product. They try to think of everything, even the lense cap has a handy clip to hang it out of the way when you are filming. Plugs and cable ports are handy and easy to get at. Whatever camera you get, buy a UV lense, 10 bucks takes the glare out of outside video shots and adds an extra layer of protection to the actual video camera lense. I spent alot of time going from store to store buying, trying and returning 4 different brands of cameras in this price range. I am very satisfied with my purchase.

I think the first question when buying a Sony digital camcorder is, Mini DV or Digital 8. Both Mini DV casettes and cameras are smaller but more expensive. The price is about 1.5 fold for about the same specifications. As they use the same recording system there isn't a real difference in picture quality and data transfer. Digital8 camcorder's recording pattern allows digital recording on 8mm or Hi8 tapes but only TRV 140 can't playback ! In fact the most important difference between them the size and the weight of the camera because of the size of the casette. TRV 140 is the cheapest D8 camera. Its most important spesification is x20 optical zoom. 560 digital zoom is useless as the quality destroys completely after x40 digital zoom. LCD monitor is perfect. TRV 140 has the USB connection but you can't transfer quality videos to your PC with it. I think you need to use the i.LINK DV Interface (IEEE1394) on TRV 140 if you want to transfer quality videos to your PC. Of course you have the A/V out which can be used by a TV card but the quality differs. USB connection brings the ability to use your camera as a webcam and transfer still images to your PC but nothing else. Built-in light is effective only 2 meters so you need extra light in larger places. Built-in infrared light system lets you capture video from a up to 3meters away, even in total darkness but the sceene is black and white and qualility is poor for moving objects. You can see the others on the LCD even when you can't see your own hand because of the darkness(!). It is posible to use an external infrared light system. TRV 140 records high-quality 12-bit or 16-bit digital stereo audio but it is a bit more noisy at 16 bit. When you watch your video on TV picture quality is realy wonderful. You can connect your camcorder to a TV by A/V out, scart connector or S video cable. S video connection doesn't transfer audio and it doesn't bring an extra quality. The cable isn't included in the package and no need to pay an extra in my opinion. TRV 140 has a DV out connector but not a A/V in. Some digital camcorders can capture MPEG digital video and store it directly to the memory stick but TRV 140 can not. Movie length ranges allowed by the capacity of the memory stick and it is only some seconds. MPEG movie function can be usefull to share via the internet and you can get performance by using USB connection but nothing else. You have to pay minimum 150- 200 $ more to have a camcorder which can produce MPEG movies. There is also the photo function in TRV 140 but the quality is not like a digital camera. Photos are like paused images in good quality. In fact camcorders can not take quality photos as a megapixel digital camera. Transfering the photos to a PC is also not practical as a digital camera too. Battery life is realy satisfactory. You can record a 60 minute casette even the LCD monitor and sometimes the built-in light is on. The remaining battery and casette is always displayed. Steady shot picture stabilization of Sony with motion sensors works very well. As a result TRV 140 is the cheapest digital camcorder and there is not any reason for not to buy it. All digital8 camcorders are bigger and heavier than Mini DV camcorder but there is not a big difference in picture quality. Don't even think of buying a Hi8 camcorder instead of TRV 140. You will see that digital videos and sounds are very different than analogs. Perhaps TRV 140 is the best choice if you don't want to spend too much on a digital camcorder. Be sure that it is not poor of some technology as it is cheap !!

... After some browsing I was convinced to purchase this camera because of its solid technology and advanced features in a surprisingly affordable package.pThe highlights are: Digital technology using Hi8/Digital8 tapes, Hi-Fi Stereo, 560x digital zoom, 20x optical zoom, USB streaming, Super Nighshot, Steady Shot, built-in light, LCD screen, and the infoLithium technology.pThe camera includes a complete and detailed guide, a stereo A/V connection cable to hook up to your VCR or TV, a full featured wireless remote commander (with batteries), the NP-FM30 battery pack, a USB cable for video streaming to your PC, a shoulder strap, plus the AC power adaptor. It also includes a CD-ROM with Sony's USB drivers and Pixela's ImageMixer software for Macintosh Windows (including 2000 and XP).pI am new to this whole digital video camera world as this is my first video camera, and I can say that after just a couple of hours of use I find myself very satisfied and excited with this new investment. The main purpose of my purchase was to use it to record family events and share the family moments using my PC. Obviously one of my first tests was the digital streaming using the USB connection.brI found the digital streaming very simple to use and well documented. The only gripe is the bundled Pixela ImageMixer software. It didn't work quite as expected and I had to resort to MS MovieMaker, which incidentally works excellently with this camera. I own a PC clone with Windows XP Pro and I couldn't find any glitches or incompatibilities here. You can record your pictures using various levels of quality; in high quality mode the USB performed quite well, although not quite comparable to streaming directly to a TV or VCR. The available option of using an I-Link, IEEE 1394 cable (not included) should provide a faster data transport (100-400 Mbps) and a better streaming experience, but I am currently unable to test this feature.pThe camera can also be used for still pictures, with capacity for more than 550 pictures using one tape. This is a fantastic feature, plus the still pictures may be combined with your videos at the same time. Later on you can use the built-in search functionality to easily obtain and view (or transfer) your stills.pAdditional nice features include:br* Fader effectsbr* Digital effects such as Still, Flash, Luminance key,Trail, Slow shutter and Old-moviebr* Auto Exposure - these are preprogrammed modes used for different shooting conditionsbr* Interval recording - The camcorder automatically records and standbysbr* Cut recordingbr* Zooming during playbackbr* Scene search by date, photo searchbr* Digital video editingbrOverall, this is a very affordable, easy-to-use, full-featured video equipment and that is why I highly recommend it.pPros: Affordable Digital technology, ease of use, many advanced features, great documentationbrCons: Camera is a little heavy and big compared to recent models, poor software

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF DIGITAL8 a 520 line video hi-fi stereo!!pThe DCR-TRV140 Digital8 Video camera recorder (Digital Only). This camcorder is awesome. This is Sony's introductory level Digital8 model. The DCR-TRV-140 is a low price, high value, versatile and sophisticated video cam. This is all you will ever need.pBottomline - This is what you get; uses Hi8 or Digital8 video tape (the simple difference is a 120 minute Hi8 tape converts to a 60 minute Digital8), 20x Optical Zoom (Most important zoom which maintains hi-res feature), 560x digital zoom ( loses hi-res feature when magnified - I recommend staying with OPTICAL ZOOM ONLY!), 2.5 hi-res color LCD screen (opens 90 degrees can be rotated 180 degrees with an auto mirror image), built-in light with 5 foot range, remote control sensor, Steady shot (stabilizer), USB streaming, DVIn/Out - Sony iLink (BEST FEATURE - A 4 pin 2 way FireWire(IEEE-1394) for direct digital video stereo transfer with no signal loss), digital effects, frame recording, hi-fi sound, interval (lapse) recording, SUPER NightShot ( shooting in a dark room without light), backlit feature ( allows to subdue rear light to increase foreground subjects lighting) and much, much more.pThis camcorder comes with a 3 hour battery (its real life is about 75 minutes using the LCD screen. The actual battery time remaining is displayed on the LCD screen. The stabilizer eliminates the camera jitter and the hi-res digital pictures are awesome. The supplied video cables allow you to hook up to a tv or vcr. The video transfer via USB (with supplied PC software) or the awesome Sony iLink (FireWire)allows a 2 way direct digital link to a DVD recorder (ie Philips DVDR-985, DVD+RW (rewriteable) or DVD+R (one time) SEE MY DVDR-985 REVIEW).pIn Summary - this is an OUTSTANDING DIGITAL8 Video Camcorder. Again this a DIGITAL ONLY unit. The DVR-TRV140 is a great economical way to move into the hi-res (520 line) digital world. Transferring to PC or DVD burner is so simple and digital pictures hfi stereo sound is the only way to go. Enjoy.

It is safe to say that any product you buy from Sony is a high-quality product, at least in my opinion, and in the case of the Sony DCR-TRV140 Camcorder, it is no exception.pThe quality of the video is excellent; the "Nightshot" view is useful, however, I don't see any use for it for me.pIt should be noted that while the Sony DCR-TRV140 does have IEEE1394 FireWire support (using a 4-pin port on the camera) it does not include the cable necessary for you to connect your camera to the computer through the IEEE1394 protocol. This cable can be purchased separately for around $40 at Sony, or other retailers.pThe USB Streaming is excellent, and the software included with the Camcorder is very comprehensive and easy to use; however, I like using Windows Movie Maker 2 to import and edit my movies.pAt any rate, to edit the movies, all you have to do is connect the USB cable to the camera and to your USB port on your computer then record the digital video.pIf there is at least one thing I would change about this camera, it would be the support and user-guides for the camera. There is a user manual, which does provide basic information, but I found for my needs--which is that of the average user--it is not comprehensive enough.pDespite that downfall, I certainly would recommend this fairly low-cost camera to anyone interested in entering the digital video sector of the digital world.

It is safe to say that any product you buy from Sony is a high-quality product, at least in my opinion, and in the case of the Sony DCR-TRV140 Camcorder, it is no exception.The quality of the video is excellent; the "Nightshot" view is useful, however, I don't see any use for it for me.It should be noted that while the Sony DCR-TRV140 does have IEEE1394 FireWire support (using a 4-pin port on the camera) it does not include the cable necessary for you to connect your camera to the computer through the IEEE1394 protocol. This cable can be purchased separately for around $40 at Sony, or other retailers.The USB Streaming is excellent, and the software included with the Camcorder is very comprehensive and easy to use; however, I like using Windows Movie Maker 2 to import and edit my movies.At any rate, to edit the movies, all you have to do is connect the USB cable to the camera and to your USB port on your computer then record the digital video.If there is at least one thing I would change about this camera, it would be the support and user-guides for the camera. There is a user manual, which does provide basic information, but I found for my needs--which is that of the average user--it is not comprehensive enough.Despite that downfall, I certainly would recommend this fairly low-cost camera to anyone interested in entering the digital video sector of the digital world.

I bought it after a couple of weeks of deliberation and after almost deciding to by the canon zr-45. The main thing in favor of the zr was its compact size. pThe trv140 on the other hand had great nightshot capabilites. I valued that more than size, so I bought the sony.pI got a good deal at circuit city. Since then, I've played with it some and am enjoying it tremendously.pThe following is not a comparison with any other camcorder, they are just observations about the 140.pThings going for this camcorder :p1. Good picture quality overall.p2. Great nighshot capabilities. It also has a light if you want full color images in the dark.p3. Really simple to use.p4. Setting up USB was no problem on my Win2K machine. Pixela worked on the first go, thought it did crash sometimes. But you won't find yourself using it that much. Firewire connectivity was equally simple and the picture quality was great. The USB connectivity is good for using it as a webcam.p5. Hooking it to the tv was also straightforward and the image quality was excellent.p6. Good audio capture.pThe worst of this camcorder: The motor noise, loud and clear ! Most camcorders seems to have this problem, but it is unmistakable on this one ! I believe software filters can take it out to some extent. Yet to try that.pMinor irritants:br1. The focussing is a tad slow.br2. Bulky compared to mini dvs.br3. The USB cable provided is too small.br4. No firewire cable.pI didn't really care for still images since even the high end camcorders have only a megapixel resolution which is no good for stills.brI didn't care for backward compatibility with hi8 tapes.pI just wanted to be able to use my cam anytime, anywhere and this one fits my needs and budget just right.pI would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the motor noise. That really seems like clumsy design on Sony's part. Also sony could have done better than to provide an amateurish software like PixelapShoot away,bramit

The video recorded with this camcorder looks very well on TV. Much better then Hi8 and little difference from more expensive models. However if you transfer the video to a computer the limitations of its sensor (290k active pixels) becomes visible, but still decent. The audio is decent but not directional at all. When recording a silent scene, the camcorder records it's own motor noise but this is not a problem since even a whispper will be recorded louder. The autofocus is VERY fast (compared with other brands), works very well even for reasonable low light. The digital image stabilizer works very well introducing just very little noise (Panasonic, JVC or Cannon are no match in this respect). There is no white balance manual control, and the manual exposure control is shared with manual focus. Both are quite useless since given the display resolution you cannot achieve better control then the camcorder does. Quite good low-light performance (while a little noisy), better then TRV240 and TRV340 which have a much smaller sensor (1/6" compared with 1/4"). Top loading tape (no need to remove it from the tripod to change tape, like the rest of D8). No analog video in. No Hi8 playback. Overall a very good value for the money! Don't even think about buying a Hi8 camcorder instead! You may consider however TRV740 for its better resolution, especially if you plan to watch your videos on a computer screen. Compared to miniDV you get the same recording quality in a bulkier and cheaper package.

This is (was) Sony's low-end digital camcorder. Snatch one up before they're phased out with next year's model. Crisp, clean video. Note the lux sensitivity on this low-end model exceeds the more expensive ones. The built-in video lamp is surprisingly effective.pUSB, S-video and firewire output is available for dubbing tapes. The firewire seems more tailored to dubbing direct to a Sony tape deck. Personally, I elected not to install the USB drivers because of problems mentioned with Win2K. I use the s-video input on my video card and it works wonderfully. You don't need the mpeg features on the high-end models, especially if you want to edit your video on your PC.pThe camera features nightshot and super-nightshot. What's the difference? Super is better, I guess. The manual is inadequate in describing some of the features, so you will be left to experiment. The nightshot feature has become notorious as a modern day, functional x-ray specs. If that's what you're looking for, keep looking. If you use the camera as intended, you can shoot in total darkness with a built-in infrared light source. An optional add-on infrared source is available for shooting around a camp fire or to film the candles on a birthday cake with wonderful clarity.pInto any great design a few low-points must fall. This camera does not feature the Intelligent Shoe and is not compatible with such accessories. There is a built-in mic with no provision for an external mic at all (my biggest disappointment). The built-in mic has great sound; but, with the automatic gain, it may pick up the motor noise in a quiet room. Finally, it records on Hi-8/Digital8 tapes in a format which is not at all compatible with other cameras. Use it to record then dub to VCD/DVD, or use the firewire to dub directly to a properly equipped Sony tape deck with an extensive set of editing features.

The DCR-TRV140 is Sony's lowest level digital camcorder, but it is not low-level at all. It records picture at a stunning 520 lines of resolution and sound in PCM digital stereo. You can truly see the difference in picture quality between Digital and Hi8 or VHS-C. The Digital8 system records digital pictures on inexpensive Hi8 tapes. It's got an incredibly large 20x optical zoom. Optical zoom is the most important type of zoom because there is no loss of picture quality. It also has a 560x digital zoom which is less important because, the farther you zoom, the worse the picture quality gets. One of the most amazing features of this camcorder is the Infrared Super NightShot. What it does is project an infared light, invisible to the human eye, allowing you to see in no light at all. It also comes with various special effects and fade options. The FM30 InfoLithium battery allows use for 3 hours (1 hour w/LCD). It includes an i.Link DV Interface (IEEE1394) for editing video on your computer. It also allows you to have streaming video via USB. This camcorder is a good, moderately priced introduction to digital video with features surpassing those of other brands.

Pros: Performance for the price, features, lookspCons: Size, pricey, still picture quality, no analog inputs or backward compatibility with 8mm/Hi8pSummary: The Digital 8 camcorders uses Hi-8 tapes (you can use cheaper 8mm tapes but it is not recommended) and perform digital recording. The Digital 8™ camcorders are usually backward compatible with 8mm or Hi-8 tapes - they can play your old 8mm or Hi-8 recordings. pAdvantages of D8 camcorders: p1. Ability to play 8mm and Hi8 recordings - TRV140 cannot do this br2. Hi8 tapes are a little cheaper than MiniDV br3. Sony D8 camcorders are cheaper than their MiniDV camcorders with similar features br4. Even inexpensive D8 camcorders usually have analog inputs and analog-digital pass-through - TRV140 doesn't pDisadvantages: p1. D8 is not widespread and if your D8 camcorder dies or becomes obsolete, you will have to get another D8 camcorder. br2. Hi8 tapes are larger in size than MiniDV br3. MiniDV is widely supported, unlike D8. If you need to play your tape on another digital camcorder or VCR, chances are they will be MiniDV. pAs you can see, two major reasons to get a Digital8 camcorder would not apply to TRV140 (you can buy TRV240, which has both 8mm/Hi8 playback and analog inputs). And the Hi8 tapes are not much cheaper than MiniDV. So the only reason would be: pYou want a digital camcorder from Sony that is inexpensive. pThe TRV140's main advantage is its price. But there is little sense in buying the Digital8 camcorder that lacks D8 features ...

When I first started to look at camcorders I didn't know exactly what I wanted. The number of features was overwhelming and I wasn't sure which ones would prove valuable. I ended up decided on a set of core features: digital recording, reasonable size, good zoom and computer connectivity.I finally ended up with the TRV-140 and it has been great. It is a standard handcam size, which means it fits comfortably in your hand but isn't tiny. The 20x optical zoom is very nice. I have yet to need the digital zoom and haven't even considered buying a telephoto lens.To connect the camera to your computer all you need is a firewire card and the right cable (4 pin to 6 pin). Transferring video was as simple as connecting the cable. Windows XP immediately recognized the camera and I was able to capture and edit film using the MovieMaker software included with XP.My only complaint is the battery life. The standard battery doesn't last very long, especially if you use the LCD. Consider picking up a second battery when you purchase the camcorder. Sony has a couple of offerings, but all are rather expensive. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the compatible batteries made by Duracell or Ray-o-vac.

When I first started to look at camcorders I didn't know exactly what I wanted. The number of features was overwhelming and I wasn't sure which ones would prove valuable. I ended up decided on a set of core features: digital recording, reasonable size, good zoom and computer connectivity.pI finally ended up with the TRV-140 and it has been great. It is a standard handcam size, which means it fits comfortably in your hand but isn't tiny. The 20x optical zoom is very nice. I have yet to need the digital zoom and haven't even considered buying a telephoto lens.pTo connect the camera to your computer all you need is a firewire card and the right cable (4 pin to 6 pin). Transferring video was as simple as connecting the cable. Windows XP immediately recognized the camera and I was able to capture and edit film using the MovieMaker software included with XP.pMy only complaint is the battery life. The standard battery doesn't last very long, especially if you use the LCD. Consider picking up a second battery when you purchase the camcorder. Sony has a couple of offerings, but all are rather expensive. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the compatible batteries made by Duracell or Ray-o-vac.

I purchased this camera for work as a replacement for another Sony. I am very impressed with each feature that has been improved since our last purchase. The zoom is excellent and stays in focus quite well. The nightvision works better than advertised and the microphone is awsome.pThe connection to view on a regular monitor are really easy using the input feature. When you consider the price, there is no downside to this one.

A nice entry point as far as digital camcorders go. If your not too high tech or your other equipment is not top of the line, you probably won't be able to tell much difference between this and the next model above it.

This is a multi-purpose photo equipment. It has a lot of utilities that makes it easy and convinient for you to use. You can transfer video to your PC and even capture and print video images using the USB connection and software supplied, or you can just transfer the video to your regular video tapes. Which ever options you choose, the process is very easy.pYou can also use it to broadcast recorded or live videos on the web. The Nightshot is also a beauty. And it is also very affordable.

It may not be listed in Apple's iMovie Compatibility list, but it works perfectly for me on my iBook 700 combo drive model with OS X v10.2.6. Just plugged it in, launched iMovie and it was instantly there...another great OS X experience!pEase of use was outstanding, just charge up the battery, pop in a tape and go. If you've ever used a camcorder, you could probably use this one without even looking at the manual, the controls are pretty standard and easy to learn.pVideo quality seems good, focus is quick, lcd display is bright and vibrant. The built-in floodlight worked well to light up the dark stairway (no windows or lights) in my house and take good video there. It works equally well for me indoors and out.

It may not be listed in Apple's iMovie Compatibility list, but it works perfectly for me on my iBook 700 combo drive model with OS X v10.2.6. Just plugged it in, launched iMovie and it was instantly there...another great OS X experience!Ease of use was outstanding, just charge up the battery, pop in a tape and go. If you've ever used a camcorder, you could probably use this one without even looking at the manual, the controls are pretty standard and easy to learn.Video quality seems good, focus is quick, lcd display is bright and vibrant. The built-in floodlight worked well to light up the dark stairway (no windows or lights) in my house and take good video there. It works equally well for me indoors and out.

Bought this camera as a replacement for my old (failed) Digital 8 camera. Same features as my other camera, at 1/2 the price as my old camera 4 years ago.pAdded feature this camera has: Time lapse video. And stop frame photograhpy.pFeature this camera does NOT have: Search mode while in Record mode. If you want to un-record a scene, this camera does not allow you to search, or rewind, while in record mode as the previous models allowed. You must change to playback mode, then rewind, then change back to record mode and hope the tape did not shift much while changing modes.

This is Sony's first attempt at the world of Digital 8 media. While the more expensive version are better, this one is great for its price. It has multiple recording modes (black white, solarize, etc), night shot super night shot, and color shot for a list of features as well as a light. It has an lcd screen that you can use insead of the eyepiece, which may drain more power but makes it much easier to record. I found that the nightshot isn't even needed most of the time, as well as the light during low lighting. The picture came out crystal clear in low lighting without turning on eiter feature, something that all camcorders do not do. The night shot allows you to see up to 10ft away in pitch blackness with amazing clarity using infared technology, and can be upgraded to 100ft if you really need it with an add on part. It can WRITE on Digital8 and Hi8 tapes, BUT CANNOT READ TAPES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED WITH AN ANALOG CAMCORDER. If you want to watch older Hi8 videos recorded with an older camcorder, buy the next step up from this one. The only problem I found with this camcorder is that recording images and movies on your pc doesn't come out great through USB media. You have to buy a $...I-link cable if you want high quality inages on your pc and, if you have an older pc, an I-link expansion port for your pc... Overall, however, I am quite impressed with the quality camcorder you get at such low cost.

This is Sony's first attempt at the world of Digital 8 media. While the more expensive version are better, this one is great for its price. It has multiple recording modes (black & white, solarize, etc), night shot & super night shot, and color shot for a list of features as well as a light. It has an lcd screen that you can use insead of the eyepiece, which may drain more power but makes it much easier to record. I found that the nightshot isn't even needed most of the time, as well as the light during low lighting. The picture came out crystal clear in low lighting without turning on eiter feature, something that all camcorders do not do. The night shot allows you to see up to 10ft away in pitch blackness with amazing clarity using infared technology, and can be upgraded to 100ft if you really need it with an add on part. It can WRITE on Digital8 and Hi8 tapes, BUT CANNOT READ TAPES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED WITH AN ANALOG CAMCORDER. If you want to watch older Hi8 videos recorded with an older camcorder, buy the next step up from this one. The only problem I found with this camcorder is that recording images and movies on your pc doesn't come out great through USB media. You have to buy a $...I-link cable if you want high quality inages on your pc and, if you have an older pc, an I-link expansion port for your pc... Overall, however, I am quite impressed with the quality camcorder you get at such low cost.

This is Sony's first attempt at the world of Digital 8 media. While the more expensive version are better, this one is great for its price. It has multiple recording modes (black & white, solarize, etc), night shot & super night shot, and color shot for a list of features as well as a light. It has an lcd screen that you can use insead of the eyepiece, which may drain more power but makes it much easier to record. I found that the nightshot isn't even needed most of the time, as well as the light during low lighting. The picture came out crystal clear in low lighting without turning on eiter feature, something that all camcorders do not do. The night shot allows you to see up to 10ft away in pitch blackness with amazing clarity using infared technology, and can be upgraded to 100ft if you really need it with an add on part. It can WRITE on Digital8 and Hi8 tapes, BUT CANNOT READ TAPES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED WITH AN ANALOG CAMCORDER. If you want to watch older Hi8 videos recorded with an older camcorder, buy the next step up from this one. The only problem I found with this camcorder is that recording images and movies on your pc doesn't come out great through USB media. You have to buy a $...I-link cable if you want high quality inages on your pc and, if you have an older pc, an I-link expansion port for your pc... Overall, however, I am quite impressed with the quality camcorder you get at such low cost.

This is a multi-purpose photo equipment. It has a lot of utilities that makes it easy and convinient for you to use. You can transfer video to your PC and even capture and print video images using the USB connection and software supplied, or you can just transfer the video to your regular video tapes. Which ever options you choose, the process is very easy.You can also use it to broadcast recorded or live videos on the web. The Nightshot is also a beauty. And it is also very affordable.

We bought our DCRTRV 140 to support a video project - we were up against the deadline and this little camera was so easy to use we were able to transition from a 11 year old Sony Hi8 video camera to this one in less than one day. The easy to use menus and immediate access to editing specials were so easy to pick up that we had all of our shots within 24 hrs. The easy access USB port and packaged software helped us to complete the video project for a school thesis in less than 2 weeks. Great Product, you can always rely on Sony...

We bought our DCRTRV 140 to support a video project - we were up against the deadline and this little camera was so easy to use we were able to transition from a 11 year old Sony Hi8 video camera to this one in less than one day. The easy to use menus and immediate access to editing specials were so easy to pick up that we had all of our shots within 24 hrs. The easy access USB port and packaged software helped us to complete the video project for a school thesis in less than 2 weeks. Great Product, you can always rely on Sony...

Went to Disney and was very pleased with the results. Easy to use and not cumbersome to carry around. Got stable pictures even on the roller coaster.

Went to Disney and was very pleased with the results. Easy to use and not cumbersome to carry around. Got stable pictures even on the roller coaster.

This camera is advertised here as being MAC compatible. It absolutely is not. Save yourself a headache, and only buy this if you want to connect it to a PC.

My wife wanted to tape a family event and I opted for this model. I never used one before but the set up and operation was easy. I have yet to read the manual from cover to cover but I was able to get up and running without it. The video came out nice in dim lighting.

I have had this camcorder for about a month and have really been empressed.Though you cannot transfer this to your computer well, connecting it to your TV is chrystal! It does not have the static sound to it. It is a great cam for those who are just wanting the best for their money.

...brIts a very good camera for the price and as my old camera was a hi-8 canon Ex1 I didnt have to go out and buy new tapes either as the 140e uses hi-8 tapes. I didnt use the pixelA software as it is rubbish, instead I use Pinnacles Studio8 which allows me to download and convert my video to burn to cd or dvd between different formats. Firewire works well and all functions are simple to use. Image quality is good.pThe only blots on its copybook are for me the disabled control facilities from the higher models (you can re-enable them if you know what you are doing) and the lack of DV in (again this can be fixed) finally the lack of an external mic socket...which I'm looking into sorting out...poverall...very good buy.pRay.

I have the 140e not so sure what the "e" stands for. I have had the camera for a few weeks now and am very happy with it. There are a few things I could add to my wish list though.br1. AV in and out (camera only has "out" so you cannot record vhs video)br2. Mic socketbrApart from that it shoots excellent quality video and it is a good buy.

while the picture quality isn't fantastic, it's enough if you're intending to put your film up on the internet.brthe cameras computer connectivity is a breeze if you follow the manual.

I am very dissapointed with SONY products in general. They have always been my preferred brand for TVs and other electronics over the years. But in the past 5 years we have purchased a home entertainment center and this camcorder and with hardly any use they are both broken and obviously out of warranty. The home entertainment center was fixed by Sony by them sending us a completely new unit - and it has the exact same error message as the old one - and we hardly used the thing and now it is broken, out of warranty and stuck on the "Standby" message which blinks continuously :( And For the Camcorder - we only used it occasionally and have recorded a total of 3 of the mini tapes and now SONY wants me to pay $211 flat rate to fix unit since it is out of warranty... Very dissapointing - especially since I always believed they made quality products. We will not purchase SONY products again.

I bought my camera over a year ago and I'm very please with all the options. Great zoom, great night shoot, take great quality movies and all. The only drawback I've found so far is the IEEE-1394 support. There's no way to sincronize it when capturing video using the firewire option. The sound is garbled when using with Vegas Foundry 4.0 and the capture run too fast out of sinc on windows movie maker 2. I tried everything including using my other computer which has a different type of IEEE-1394 card and the problem is the same. I tried getting some help from the people at Sony but all they say is they are not responsible with compatibility issues with third party firewire cards. It doesn't matter how many times you write them, that is the only answer you get. So, with that and all, is not a bad camera at all, just don't plan on using firewire for your movie capture, just be please with the usb or you can use the s-video option if you have a vide capture card.

I bought this camcorder years and years ago (not off of amazon) and I'm pissed mostly because the guy I bought it from told me it would play my old 8mm analog video tapes. IT DOES NOT!!! So if you are looking for a digital camera that allows you to do this, don't buy this camera. And if you aren't wanting to play analog tapes, go buy a miniDV camera, don't waste your time with Digital 8. Also, this camera does not have a microphone jack, so if you want to get decent sound, don't buy this camera. It also has a crappy battery life, and it's a lot bigger and chunkier than the image makes it look.

Es una camara muy buena, sin embargo la resolucion de las fotografias y el video cuando se pasa a la computadora da una calidad muy baja.

I bought this camera specifically for a trip to Disneyland. This camera had all the nice features I wanted for my price range, and I did get some good videos on my trip. However, the frustrations afterwards were so severe that I almost wish I hadn't gotten it. PIXELA: The included Pixela software for viewing images on a PC is horrible. All images I've seen and captured so far with that software have been horrible quality, full of large pixels, often so dark that they're indiscernable, the still shots are the size and quality of webcam pictures (i.e., horrible), the video stammers, and the number and size of downloads is surprisingly limited. When I called back to the store twice to complain, they kept asking "Doesn't your model have a memory post?" No. Apparently this is the...model that doesn't. When I called into Sony to ask why my darker stills were viewable on TV but completely black when viewed through Pixela, they couldn't even answer my question. When I asked why I was getting BMP formatted images instead of JPG images, they said, "Oh, your model doesn't have a memory post." Because of this, I have to run an additional piece of software I got elsewhere to convert the format of every captured image. I was highly tempted to return the camera, except that it took so long to be able to figure out how to install and use the software that I passed the return deadline. Pixela will not install correctly if you don't have an audio driver loaded or if you connect the USB cable too early. When running Pixela, if you get the order of the operations wrong (USB connect, camera on, run Pixela), Pixela will lock up so completely that there is no alternative other than to reboot your computer. The manual describes only Pixela and never hints that other software will work better with this camera; it was only by accident while reading customer reviews I learned that supposedly Microsoft Moviemaker will also work, and work better... Except that I can't find where to purchase it, and it's likely to be a heavy extra expense just to try to circumvent Sony's existing weaknesses. The only alternative for me was to do direct DV-to-VHS transfers, except that a rainbow noise problem occurs on video whenever there are overlapped recordings. I finally learned that this noise problem is due to lack of a flying erase head on my VCR, but when I attempted to purchase a new VCR to circumvent this problem, I learned that VCRs with flying erase heads are no longer made, since manufacturers are pushing DVD technology instead. Bottom line: If you don't also buy Firewire and additional video software, forget about making decent compilations of your footage. AUTOFOCUS: My footage of dark rides was full of alternating blurs since (like most digital cameras) autofocus has trouble on dark scenes, and there were several spans of at least 15 seconds where the autofocus could not focus at all. ERGONOMICS: The ergonomics is poorly done. While filming one show I had to fumble around in the dark to try to find the Nightshot switch, and as I did, I accidentally hit the color slow shutter button next to it (that I never even heard of), and the camera started freaking out and I couldn't get it to recover for several seconds, thereby ruining my live footage. Similarly, the on-off lock button is right next to the record button, and several times when attempting to rock the button to "off," I unknowingly hit the record button, as I discovered only afterwards when I saw all the error footage of the pavement between my intended scenes. Also, the lens cap continually falls off the side clip that is supposed to hold it out of the way. MANUAL: The manual is badly organized, unnumbered, incomplete, and impossible to understand in parts, unless accompanied by brute force experimentation. For example, I got a warning announcement to turn off the light on my camera on one ride, even though I had no lights on: what the manual didn't say is that the Nightshot option turns on an invisible but strong infrared light on the camera, which the infrared monitor cameras at Disneyland detected. Similarly, I found no mention whatsoever of "Firewire" in the manual, so I assumed the camera was incapable of Firewire connection. It wasn't until my 2nd complaint visit to the store that they pointed out an unmarked Firewire port, and told me for another [money] I could install a Firewire card on my PC... Except that I'd probably also want to upgrade my already large RAM and hard drive. It wasn't until I called into Sony that they told me that the i.Link cable mentioned in the manual is Sony's version of Firewire. The title creator is also poorly described. The manual never described how to use their editor in the section where I needed to create a customized title: I had to go through an elaborate example in an earlier, unrelated section. No general diagram or algorithm. SUMMARY: I've been filing complaints about this camera ever since I bought it 8 months ago, and now it's broken down and in the shop (a tape label seems to have partly come off and interfered with something). Daytime videos from this camera work very well if you watch them only on a TV, but anything dealing with a PC or still shots with this camera is so incredibly bad that I would recommend against anyone buying it. I ended up having to buy a second digital camera at twice the price just to get quality still shots. I recommend buying some other camcorder with a memory post and Firewire capability with non-Pixela software instead of this thing.