If you want to make quality digital video recordings that you can easily edit and incorporate into a low-budget movie, a training video, a product demonstration or a multi-media business presentation, then pick up the Sony DCR-TRV 110 Digital8 Handycam and take a look through the viewfinder.

The DCR-TRV 110 won't produce studio quality video: for that you'll pay much more. It's overkill if all you need is home movie quality. But as part of Sony's video camera line that uses the widespread 8mm analog cassette format, the DCR-TRV 110 uses a conventional and relatively inexpensive recording medium to produce high quality digital video.

The appeal of this camcorder is that you can use it right out of the box. Features are comfortably accessed and clearly marked and auto-focus and auto-exposure features allow a neophyte to concentrate on creative rather than technical aspects of recording. For more capable users, it can be switched to manual focus and exposure.

The DCR-TRV 110 has a relatively compact design, with a modern square silver body, a standard black-and-white viewfinder and a flip-out 2.5-inch color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen. Both the viewfinder and LCD screen display battery power, zoom and other such meters in an unobtrusive fashion.

A simple seesaw button adjusts zoom (20x standard or 360x when enhanced by digital processes) or wide-angle settings and the DCR-TRV 110 responds quickly to adjust the focus between distant and close-up shots. Other intelligent features automatically handle image sharpness, color balance, brightness and contrast. Sony's SteadyShot Picture Stabilization uses motion sensors to detect camera movement, minimizing the effect of hand-held camera shake.

Unlike older video cameras, the DCR-TRV 110 starts recording almost immediately, so you can actually record your subject before it vanishes. There are three recording modes, start (and stop), 5-second burst and (for those who have ever accidentally recorded endless minutes of ground or sky) Anti-Ground mode, for which you have to keep the record button pressed down to continue recording. This makes it easy to record only what you need and make efficient use of chargeable battery power (10 hours when fully charged) and tape length.

An Edit Search feature lets you review without going into playback mode, so you can start recording from where you left off, preserving continuity when additional takes are required.

In addition, the DCR-TRV 110 provides eight effects: Black & White, Sepia, Negative, Art, Solarize, Pastel, Slim, Stretch and Mosaic. Also included is a digital photo mode for taking still shots, a cool NightShot infrared system that allows recording in total darkness, digital effects and CD-quality stereo sound recording.

Images can be output to a computer, a VCR or a TV, using a standard audio-visual in-and-out cable or, without the need for any cables, by way of Sony's LaserLink Infrared Transmitter (an infrared receiver unit is required on the viewing device). The DCR-TRV 110 comes with a remote control for primary camera functions and has a built-in speaker, so full playback is possible from the camera itself.

Image sharpness, color balance, brightness and contrast seem to be handled very well most of the time, but there are drawbacks to the automatic features. The auto-focus seems to stumble a bit with images that contain lot of foreground clutter. Acute changes in light sources cause the camera to linger over the adjustment of brightness, contrast and color shades.

In addition, a rotary dial controls effects, so changing effects on the fly requires cycling through unwanted effects to get the one you want.

The DCR-TRV 110 weighs about two pounds, which is heavy to hold during protracted recording. It is not easy to wrap a hand around the square body for any length of time, so a little more thought could be given to making the camera grip more comfortable.

Lastly, it should be noted that digital video recording halves the recording time available on an 8mm videocassette.

Reviewer's rating: 3.75 / 5

Comments: This all-purpose, intelligent, digital video camera is an admirable choice for experienced and inexperienced users. Some compromises are inherent when using automatic functions.