Sony Says Nuts to Digital!

The thing about Sony is that it is the accepted standard in newsrooms for in-field recording. Myself, I am an American and I guess I have gotten over the shock that other people besides Americans can produce quality products - many years ago.

But it was a shock to learn that Sony (think BetaMax) was THE leader in newsrooms for professional video equipment in the field.

I am like the other reviewer who has an older Sony Handycam that has lasted for years - and I was just wanting something better. The thing about the Sony is that you will get tired of it - before it quits working.

Sony guarantees head-life (recording ability) to newsrooms at 500 hours - but guestimates that a head-life is around 2000 hours. This means that you will need to run the machine in recording mode for 24 hours per day - seven days per week - for one full year, BEFORE you would wear out the head. And this is only the guarantee to be professional quality level.

No wonder the silly things last so long! I read the other review who owned one like me, and I thought I would look deeper - and ever was I suprised. Most folks buy something because it does something - and yes the Sony does something - but I would like to add a few words here.

I suppose why Sony Consumer Products (which is what the TRV128 falls in - as does my older) last so long is that they are a leader in Professional Products. Think for yourself if you work with a product everyday professionally - you would expect the same from the lower priced items - so Sony has a reputation I did not know it had! And I would venture to say most folks did not know.

But that is well and good. The thing is that a Video Camera is a Video Camera. This of course is an Analog Video Camera instead of a Digital Video Camera.

The main thing about Video Cameras is they are supposed to look good on your Television when they play back. Yes Digital might look great on your Computer - but it takes 1GB per minute (or therabouts) and you are not going to be sending much DV video to your Aunt Mary over the Internet.

Most folks still need to playback their video over a television and most television is analog. DV has 500 lines of resolution - and the Hi8 this uses has 400 lines. But do not get confused over this - resolution is meaningless when it comes to TV. TV is an area of 640x480 pixels for US TV - DV not much higher. The effective area of capture is more important - and this is where this camera shines.

Being analog it could not care less if what it is looking at has a busy background - or a still background - it is basically 1/4 film (film being 35mm and Hi8 being 8mm - tape) - so that matters nothing. It has a CCD unit - but only to help the camera automatically choose lighting, exposure, contrast and the like. A Digital camera needs 3 CCD units to capture color correct - not counting for image problems - etc. And still only produces after all of that - an image only the size of a televison screen.

Folks who are not into photography should not buy this camera as it will challenge you to learn to do things yourself. But if you wish to learn settings, camera control, etc - then this is a good basic video camera that a digital could never dream equallng no mater the price.

If you look at the Masters of Photography - Digital never existed - they were Masters because they knew their camera and how to use it. Digital is for Dummies. But Sony helps those not into really learning evrything with their EasyCam Button. Press it - and you will be taking videos not quite like a pro - but have something you will be proud of.

I kind of believe this camera was designed for mates of video professionals who look at their mates professional work and expect their work to be on par (within reason). The reason I say this is because of the extreme ease of use to use it. The EasyCam feature coupled with the fact that the CCD is only used to control environment (lighting, contrast, etc) makes this an impressive camera.

The thing about analog is that it will alwys be here - no matter computer makers wanting to sell digital down your face. We see in analog - we hear in analog - so analog renderings will always seem more true to our world than digital.

Digital is a great transport mechanism - but we are not bees with hundreds of eyes - we are humans and we experience our world in an analog way. If you wish something to faithfully reproduce what your eye sees and you ear hears - then this will be your camera - and if you wish to learn how to use your eyes and ears better - you will need an analog camera to experience your senses.

Wish I could grab you before you buy a digital camera and ask you if you are at least 35 - when you were a kid did you like to take pictures? If so - no digital camera will satisfy you. And for younger olks raised on digital - try some film - and if you are serious - digital will not be what you want.

This camera will help both age groups achieve themselves in photography.

In closing - just try it - most places will let you give it back. When you open the Sony Box it says if it does not work - do not take it back to the store - let them know. Sony is - I think - really dedicated to providing a quality product and they will stand by their name.