Sony DCR-DVD101

Pros: Easy to use, compact, features, USB2.0 (but no FireWire), good controls, battery

Cons: Price, poor digital stills, noise in low light, slow DVD operation

The Bottom Line: I don't quite understand why somebody would pick the DVD-based camcorder over the tape one. Yes, the discs look shiny and more high-tech than tape. Yes...

Review: I have received the S ony DCR-DVD101 mini-DVD camcorder as a New Year's gift. If the gift givers read this review, I would like to thank them for such a nice gift. As any gift, this one is appreciated, despite ...

Pros: Neat purple color

Cons: Low resolution and pixels, very expensive for the quality

The Bottom Line: Video quality is good, until recording under lower light conditions. For the price, upgrading to DVD201 or a competitor gives much better value.

Review: I recommend to those considering the Sony DCR-DVD101 to scroll down and read the end of this review, then read my review of the DVD201 and consider that model instead. Customers of mine coming in to browse the camcorders often linger around the mini ...

Pros: Small, um...

Cons: $$$, poor performance, bad zoom

Review: Being a sony and all, of course it is going to be insanely expensive, but also, being a sony, you'd expect it to have good performance to back up all those benjamins you lost. Not so here. The 120x digital zoom is unusually small for a camcorder, not to ...

Pros: Smart styling, major controls are easy to operate

Cons: Video quality is poor, random "slow-motion" effect very annoying.

The Bottom Line: The image quality just isn't there, and isn't that what you buy a camera for? I'm frankly surprised Sony sells something this bad.

Review: I received this camcorder for Christmas. I like the styling and the mini-DVD format, but the picture quality is terrible. On Christmas morning, my wife recorded me reading a book to my daughter while she sat on my lap. My daughter has brown hair, and ...