Sony DCR-TRV14

I disagree with this review because... I have lived with my Sony Handycam since the summer of 2003 and I find it an excellent piece of kit. I have used it both for my hobbies (astronomy, airshows) and professionally (I work for the UK MoD) and its been shook up in tanks and subjected to all kinds of abuse in the form of extreme temperatures and rain and it still comes back for more. Its small and compact but perhaps is seen as large compared to more modern devices and perhaps a little outdated but some people are on limited budgets and you can pick one of these babies up on internet auction houses for between £60-100. When new they were around £350-ish... Tapes originally were around £10-20 each, I picked up three today (12 July 2008) for £11. Down side, at 120x digital zoom there's some pixalating and when shooting near the sun (OK NOT directly) the iris casts it pattern on your scene. I would also say be very careful of the tape eject mech, its liable to damage - I have warned you. When mounted on a tripod you will find you have to remove the camera to replace the tape. I would also recommend a UV filter (30mm) to protect the lens from accidental damage, cheaper and easier than repairing the camera... Am not sure what TerryC is talking about 'overcast', I find play back very good. Dark area's come out very well and are balanced with the bright area's. When my Father was alive and lived in a home the camera was very easy to connect with his television so I could show him what I had been doing the previous week. I would agree the display does struggle in bright sunlight but it does have a viewfinder and well, show me a video/mobile phone/digicam display that is bright in sunlight, bet you can't... I keep all my filming's but some people may like to connect to a computer and create films, this never interested me but a friend of mine did with both his Sony and mine and he created some great films for his place of work and mine as well as our local astronomy society. I also have attached my Handycam to a telescope and filmed Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the moon.

Over all an excellent video camera and any one today buying one of these would be purchasing yesterday's technology which is not far removed from today's. I would have no problems recommending one and in fact I did - another friend of mine did buy one. It is today a good cheap video camera that will not disappoint.

I too found that bright sunny conditions were a problem, but I have never found one that isn't, especially as this price. I paid £270 (A.J. Electronics) and quite honestly it is much better than the competition. I wholly disagree with the playback comments, the sound through my TV was in perfect stereo, and the picture brightness was supurb with both clarity and precision. For a bog standard entry level battery it holds charge relatively well unless you are constantly recording. I managed 80 mins on my first attempt, and that was with playing around with all of the functions. The touch screen LCD does lead to a hell of a lot of finger prints, but it works really well, with only the slightest touch required. The only thing that I find slightly annoying is the black and white viewfinder, it makes it very difficult to see exactly what you are recording when using the zoom. The image appears so small, and vague, unless you really press you eye into the rubber, and then due to the pressure you put on it, it retracts, to fold away. Rather funny unless you are the one with a camera lens inserted into your pupil!! Seriously though, its excellent, and so small it never leads to aches or even an extra bag to put it in. Very Pleased with it.