Sony Handycam DCR-TRV250: Test Footage

This line of the Sony Handycam was released in 2003 alongside the DCR-TRV150, DCR-TRV350, and DCR-TRV351 for Digital8 models, and the CCD-TRV118/CCD-TRV318/CCD-TRV418 for Hi8 models.
The Sony Handycam DCR-TRV250 was one of the entry level camcorders for this year's lineup. It had a few features that the lower level 150 didn't, like a USB jack for streaming video to a computer and a remote control sensor. It, however, lacks the ability to play back Video8 and Hi8 tapes, like the 350/351. The 350/351 also has a microphone jack, an LANC jack, and a Memory Stick slot.
That being said, the video from the 250 looks pretty good, I would go as far as to say that it can compete with today's camcorders, as long as the video is deinterlaced. The video light coupled with nightshot give it an outstanding scope of usability. The camcorder does a good job reproducing color, which may not come across well just because that's how importing tapes can be.
SPECIFICATIONS________________________________________________
Image Sensor: 1/6 inch CCD
Total Pixel Count: 460,000
Effective Pixel Count: 290,000
F: 1.6-2.4
Focal Distance 2.5-50mm
Lens Thread: 37mm
Optical Zoom: 20x
Digital Zoom: 700x
Minimum Illumination: 4 Lux (0 with Nightshot)
Viewfinder: Black and White with 113,000 pixels
LCD: 2.5 inch color LCD with 123,000 pixels
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES________________________________________
AC-L15 Power Adapter
NP-FM30 Battery
RMT-814 Remote Control
2 AA Batteries
A/V Cable
Lens Cap
Shoulder Strap
USB Cable
CD-ROM with USB driver
Camcorders on Reddit: / camcorders

[@epicchris1985]

Got to love the classic Handycams... Having got rather a few myself still haha

[@ethnmp3]

Lol looking to sell any?

[@epicchris1985]

@@ethnmp3 naaa. I like them all too much and use them for my KZbin channel

[@jasmineflores9013]

I can’t believe I found this exact same camera at GOODWILL with a case and a charger and some extra films in it 😭😭 for only 15 dollars in perfect condition I’ve been looking for one for yrs and I SAW IT THANK GOD

[@suburbanvisual]

I going to buy this type of camera for my personal project because I love footage that this camera make, somehow it gives the authenticity and nostalgic. Definitely will get it soon. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@KyoseGamer]

This camera, got something nostalgic :)

[@BenJonesVideographer]

I always enjoyed my old TRV350, it was pretty good for what it was! Unfortunately age got to it and it decided to be unreliable as hell. I'd still use one of those bad boys

[@FatCatTech]

They're fun little camcorders, plus the Digital8 format is fairly easy to import to a PC, so it makes for a good afternoon toy lol

[@pongespob]

And keep in mind this is a consumer camcorder. With good lighting and focus those Digital8 cams could take real decent video. You could probably get away with mixing up-close 16:9 shots taken with the Digital8 that have been up-converted to HD dimensions with HD video taken from farther away.

[@savnac]

How did you ultimately convert this into digital? What did you use to make this possible?

[@homevideos5026]

This model records with Digital 8. It's digital footage recorded to tape, so it's literally not 'converted' from analog to digital, it already is digital. Almost like the way video would be stored on a thumb drive, the tape is acting like the thumb drive. This technology is from a weird crossover period. It hasn't been feasible for many years to download footage from the tapes since Firewire was made obsolete, but with now Thunderbolt compatible USB-C you can simply record or 'download' the digital files from the tape onto your computer using a daisy chain of Firewire to Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt USB-C. The video I learned from was titled "How to connect FireWire devices into a Windows PC with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C" by Scott Schramm. I'm not sure about other recording techonologies (Video 8, Hi8) I just know this about Digital 8, because I own this model of camera and have recently downloaded old home video tapes from it. I hope that helps.

[@smoothlitz9048]

@@homevideos5026 I got a Mac book anything I need to transfer?? 🙏 thx

[@daybreakrainsower]

Thank you

[@oddfellow2182]

DID U KNOW IT HAS NIGHTSHOT?

[@joesmith-qy7sh]

Very nice video how were you able to get that aspect ratio?

[@horrortimeproductions5504]

If only the image sensor was a little sharper. These are excellent video cameras though, I have a DCR-TRV280 from 2005. :)

[@MonicaSmith-jk6sb]

What editing software do you use? I have a 250 myself but cant figure out how to adapt it to the KZbin 16:9 ratio unless i have to zoom in.

[@FatCatTech]

I use Vegas 13.0, I'd recommend just uploading the video in the aspect ratio it was recorded/imported in to avoid losing out on quality or having to stretch the video in editing.

[@crhalie]

You can enable a 16:9 Wide mode in the camcorder’s settings, looks great on my DCR-TRV110E and CCD-TR617E

[@Joscraft_05]

I´m starting to use again my old TRV255E from my parents! The quality, CCD sensor and all things is exactly the same as your TRV250 so yeah the quality is good! Even with my Video 8 tapes looks great. I like the old 4:3 image and having fun with the zoom (good thing that my camera have good SteadyShot) Also thanks god my parents didn´t go to the CCD-TRV128 version. God the worst Hi8 camcorder of the history...

[@jasminetanho184]

Hi! Can this camera record Hi8 tapes? If so do i need to do anything different? I thought it could only record digital8 tapes. Thanks!

[@FatCatTech]

Hello! Hi8 tapes make an acceptable substitute for Digital8 tapes on this camcorder, I actually used a Hi8 tape to record the test footage.

[@Joscraft_05]

@@FatCatTech Oh so this test footage is not at the "full power" of this Digital 8 camcorder because you used a Hi8 tape and even from your opinion looks very great! Nice.

[@yungash301]

Hello, what do you mean that it does not playback hi-8 tapes? Thanks!

[@FatCatTech]

This model will only play back videos that are recorded in the Digital8 format. Hi8 is an analog format, while Digital8 is a digital format. They're recorded on the same tape, just differently. Some camcorders will play both formats, but the DCR-TRV250 isn't one of them.

[@yungash301]

@@FatCatTech ok awesome thank you so much! Very helpful

[@nosebonk]

So this was recorded straight to an SD card?

[@FatCatTech]

This video was recorded to a Hi8 tape.

[@ponyenespiral]

This récords in 4:3?

[@goatmen7996]

Dose this camcorder have a hot shoe

[@JoseOrtega-vt6zn]

how did you export the video to digital???

[@FatCatTech]

Cameras like this one have a special port called iLink, it's just a firewire cable. I have a video on my channel all about my process of importing test footage from analog sources, this is a digital source so it should be a little shorter than that.

[@beamthedeer]

There are two ways I know of to get tapes onto your computer. Method #1: Firewire Most, if not all digital tape camcorders have a firewire port on them, for transferring the signal from the tape onto your computer, often through an editing port. (This applies to Digital8 and MiniDV only. This method will not work on Video8, Hi8, or VHS camcorders.) Method #2: Capture Card This can be done with every camcorder/camera that has a composite video out port. You'll just need a composite capture device, and recording software on your computer. (Editing software might be needed.)

[@kareemhamouda6453]

would you like to sell it?

[@ODPTV1]

How did you deinterlace the footage?

[@FatCatTech]

The deinterlacing work is done by AviSynth and QTGMC, I made a video about my import process on my channel. I've also included a link in the video's description for a tutorial about how to use QTGMC.

[@andycadosss]

does this camera take mini dv tape?

[@FatCatTech]

This camcorder records to 8mm tapes, which could be Video8, Hi8, or Digital8 tapes, but not MiniDV tapes.

[@andycadosss]

@@FatCatTech how do i pick the option for digital8? I wanna transfer it on to my computer, or can any of those be transferred?

[@FatCatTech]

@@andycadosss The camcorder will record in the Digital8 format regardless of the type of 8mm tape inserted (the manuals recommend that you do not use Video8 tapes, however). It should be able to be transferred the same way you'd transfer MiniDV. This particular model can ONLY play back tapes recorded in the Digital8 format (not necessarily pertinent to the type of tape, you can record Digital8 formatted video to Hi8 type tapes), it will not play tapes recorded in the Video8 or Hi8 formats.

[@andycadosss]

@@FatCatTech so let’s say i record in any of the other formats will i still be able to transfer on pc? Sorry new at this and I appreciate your help

[@andycadosss]

@@FatCatTech So can i record in any of those formats and transfer to pc either way?