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Sony DCR-DVD201

DVD camcorder

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Item# 158DDVD201 offer details

Item# 158DDVD201

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Sony

Our take on the Sony DCR-DVD201

It's a slam-dunk — DVDs are ultra-popular, and camcorders are cool, so a DVD camcorder has to be a winner! Take the DCR-DVD201, for example: it records movies and photos to mini DVD-R and DVD-RW discs that are playable in most current home and PC DVD players. It's even more compact than last year's ultra-popular DCR-DVD200. And if you don't have a DVD drive in your PC, you can transfer video by way of the USB 2.0 jack and supplied cable. It doesn't get much better than that!

Well, yes. The DCR-DVD201 also includes a 1-megapixel CCD. That larger CCD permits photos at a top resolution of 1152 x 864 — and that means your pictures are detailed enough to print as 3" x 5"s and put in a frame. You also enjoy the features that Sony Handycams are famed for, such as a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lens, for clear, color-accurate shooting. With 10X optical zoom, you can zero in smoothly on distant subjects. Super SteadyShot®, which compensates for hand shake, helps reduce shaky, tough-to-watch video. Using Super NightShot® Plus, you can film all day and into the night; it can capture video in near or total darkness. And the 2-1/2" color SwivelScreen™ LCD makes framing shots a breeze. Plus, the included software lets you copy scenes to your computer, then edit them!

Read a hands-on review of a Sony DVD Handycam at CrutchfieldAdvisor.com

Details:
  • records in high-quality DVD-Video and DVD-VR formats (DVD-Video is MPEG-2; DVD-VR is a modification that works only with DVD-RWs and permits functions like playlists and editing)
  • records to mini DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs
  • recording capacity of one disc: 20 minutes at HQ setting; 30 minutes at SP setting; 60 minutes at LP setting
  • 1-megapixel CCD
  • digital photo mode
  • auto exposure bracketing
  • photo resolution options: 1152 x 864, 640 x 480
  • 2-1/2" color LCD viewscreen
  • color viewfinder
  • stereo Dolby® Digital audio
  • variable-speed 10X Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 120X)
  • Super SteadyShot
  • Super NightShot Plus
  • auto and manual focus
  • shutter speed: 1/4 - 1/4000
  • Auto Exposure settings
  • white balance control
  • manual exposure control
  • digital picture effects
  • A/V input/output, including S-video
  • USB 2.0 interface (backwards compatible with USB 1.1)
  • Intelligent Accessory Shoe
  • microphone input
  • 2-9/16"W x 3-1/2"H x 5-3/8"D
  • weight: 0.94 lbs. with battery
  • warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor

Supplied Accessories:

  • blank mini DVD-R disc
  • A/V and USB cables
  • remote control
  • AC adapter/charger
  • rechargeable InfoLithium® battery ("M" series)
  • shoulder strap
  • Pixela® ImageMixer 5.1 CD-ROM (Windows® only; software does not work with Macintosh® computers)

Requirements for PC:

  • original (pre-installed) USB port
  • Windows® Me, 2000 Professional, or XP Home/Professional
  • For additional requirements, see Detailed Info.
 

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
General
LCD Screen Size (inches)
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2.5
Viewfinder
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Color
Total Pixel Count
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1,070,000
Effective Pixel Count for Video
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690,000
High-Definition
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---
Aspect Ratio
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Not given
Manual Focusing
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Yes
Filter Diameter
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25mm
Optical Zoom
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10 x
Digital Zoom
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12 x
Night Imaging
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SuperNightShot+
Image Stabilization
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Super SteadyShot
Built-in Video Light
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Yes
Built-in Memory
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---
Max Recording Time w/ Included Battery
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120
Digital Still Camera Features
Effective Pixel Count for Stills
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---
Built-in Photo Flash
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No
Still Image Aspect Ratios
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Inputs and Outputs
USB Port
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HDMI Output
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Mic Input
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Stereo
Dimensions
Weight With Battery (ounces)
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0.9375
Width (inches)
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2-9/16
Height (inches)
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3-1/2
Depth (inches)
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5-3/8
Warranty
Parts Warranty
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1 Year
Labor Warranty
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90 Days
Image Sensor Warranty
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---

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • DVD camcorder
  • Single-sided 1.4GB 30-minute mini DVD-R blank disc (DMR30)
  • NP-FM50 InfoLithium battery pack (7.2V/8.5Wh/1180mAh)
  • Wireless remote control (RMT-835)
  • CR2025 lithium battery (installed in remote)
  • AC-L15B AC adapter with attached 68" cord (DC output: 8.4V/1.5A)
  • 81" AC power cord
  • 55" USB cable (has a mini-B Version 2.0 USB connector on one end and a USB type A connector on the other end)
  • 60" A/V connecting cable (with stereo RCA audio plugs/RCA composite video plug/S-Video plug on one end and a proprietary plug on the other end)
  • Lens cap
  • 27" Fabric shoulder strap
  • Cleaning cloth (3-1/4" square)
  • Pixela ImageMixer (Ver.1.5) and Sony SPVD-011 USB Driver CD-ROM
  • Software instructions sheet
  • Operating Instructions
  • Important Safeguards
  • "Note for Windows Users" sheet
  • "Notes on disc handling" sheet
  • "Note on playing back on a DVD player" sheet
  • Digital Handycam Accessories catalog

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features
Remote Control
Supplied Software
Specifications

Features

Advanced HAD CCD: The DCR-DVD201 features a 1/5" Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD imager with 1,070,000 gross pixels. The 690,000 effective video pixels provide excellent detail and clarity for exceptional digital video performance with up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution. The 1,000,000 effective still image pixels give you great looking digital photos.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens: Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating offering less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

2.5" Color LCD Screen: The DCR-DVD201 features a flip-out 2.5" LCD monitor with 123,200 pixels for excellent viewing clarity. When the LCD screen is out, it can be rotated up to 270 degrees, allowing you to choose the best angle. You can also push the panel flat against the camcorder until it is flush with the side, with the screen facing outwards.

Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization: SteadyShot picture stabilization system uses motion sensors to remove unwanted picture shake. The Super SteadyShot system controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of video like some other image stabilization systems. The Super SteadyShot feature may be turned on/off.

Super NightShot Plus: This unit is equipped with NightShot Plus and Super NightShot Plus, advanced versions of Sony's NightShot, which allow you to shoot a subject in complete darkness (0 lux) using infra-red technology. With NightShot Plus, you can record natural color images in low-light conditions without the blurring common with other low-light recording systems. Super NightShot Plus records at a maximum of 16 times more sensitivity than NightShot Plus. You can make the colors deeper by using the built-in infrared NightShot light. You can also record clearer pictures in color by activating the Color Slow Shutter function.

Dolby Digital Stereo Audio Recording: This advanced form of digital audio recording, with sophisticated noise reduction technology, provides outstanding, lifelike sound quality in almost any situation.

Progressive Shutter System: This mechanical shutter system provides progressive scan performance, while utilizing an interlaced scanning system. Digital still images will be sharp and clear with excellent definition.

10X Optical/120X Digital Zoom: The camcorder has a 10x Optical Zoom for bringing your subject up close. It also features a 12x Precision Digital Zoom, to give you a total zoom capability of 120x. The digital zoom can be set to 20x or 120x, or turned off if desired. The digital zoom interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zooms.

DVD Format Video Recording: This innovative camcorder records movies and photos to mini-DVDs. The DVD recording format delivers digital video and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV. Playback of the DVD media is simple and convenient. After finalizing the disc in the camcorder, the DVD disc will playback in most DVD Players, computers and even PlayStation 2 video game consoles. The camcorder records in high-quality DVD-Video and DVD-VR formats (DVD-Video is MPEG-2; DVD-VR is a modification that works only with DVD-RWs and permits functions like playlists and editing). Still images are stored as JPEG files.

Recording Mode: You can select one of the following recording modes: HQ (High Quality), SP (Standard Play), or LP (Long Play). Using a single-sided mini DVD-R or DVD-RW, you can record approximately 20 minutes of video in HQ mode, 30 minutes of video in SP mode, and 60 minutes of video in LP mode.

Digital Still Memory Mode: Digital Still Memory mode captures high quality still images at 1152 x 864 and 640 x 480 resolution directly to mini DVD-R or DVD-RW media. Images are stored in the JPEG format providing easy transfer to PCs for e-mailing, printing, or sharing with family and friends. Each image can be recorded using one of two quality settings: Fine or Standard.

Backlight: When you shoot a subject with the light source behind the subject or a subject with a light background, you can use the backlight function.

Self-Timer Recording: If you want to record yourself, the self-timer recording feature will automatically start recording 10 seconds after being activated. Using the self-timer, you can record moving images or still images.

White Balance: When the white balance is correct, all other colors will be accurately reproduced. This camcorder can adjust the white balance automatically, plus it gives you the option to perform manual white balance adjustment. Besides auto white balance, you may select Hold mode, Outdoor mode, or Indoor Mode to suit your shooting needs.

Wide Mode: You can record a 16:9 aspect ratio picture, which will play back properly on a 16:9 widescreen television. As you are recording, black bands appear on the top and bottom of the LCD screen.

Burst Mode: The DCR-DVD201 features a continuous shooting mode for capturing multiple images of the same subject. The burst mode allows you to shoot up to 4 still images in 1152 x 864 size, or up to 12 still images in 640 x 480 size at about 0.6 second intervals.

Exposure Bracketing: If you are not sure of what exposure to set the camera, exposure bracketing lets you take three images at about 0.6 second intervals at different exposure settings. One image is taken at the set exposure, while the other images are taken at one step above and below the set exposure.

Program AE: You can choose one of the following Program AE modes to suit you specific shooting requirements:

  • Spotlight: prevents people's faces from appearing excessively white when they have a strong light source shining on them
  • Portrait: brings out the subject while creating a soft background
  • Sports: minimizes camera shake on fast-moving subjects
  • Beach & Ski: prevents people's faces from appearing dark in strong light or reflected light
  • Sunset & Moon: allows you to maintain atmosphere when you are recording sunsets, general night views, fireworks displays, and neon signs
  • Landscape: for recording distant subjects

Fader (for movies only): You can fade in and out using a standard fader. You can also fade in using overlap or wipe modes.

Picture Effects: You can select one of the following Picture Effect modes:

  • Sepia: picture appears in sepia
  • B&W: picture appears in monochrome (black and white)
  • Pastel: picture appears as a pale pastel drawing
  • Mosaic: picture appears mosaic

Digital Effects: You can choose from the following Digital Effects:

  • Luminance Key: allows you to replace a brighter portion of a still picture with a moving picture
  • Old Movie: this camcorder simulates an "old movie" by automatically setting the wide mode to On, the picture effect to Sepia, and choosing an appropriate shutter speed

Review: This feature lets you quickly check the last recorded scene on a mini DVD-R or DVD-RW.

Delete: On a mini DVD-RW, you can delete the last scene on the disc.

Disc Title: You can give each disc a title up to 20 characters in length. If you do not enter a title for a disc, the camcorder will enter the date the disc was first used as the disc's default title.

Visual Index Screen: The Visual Index Screen shows thumbnail images of movies and still images when playing back on your camcorder or DVD player, making scene selection simple.

Playback Zoom (PB ZOOM): This feature lets you enlarge images during playback. The magnification can be adjusted from 1.1x to 5x.

Slide Show: This function allows you to play back all the still images on a disc in sequence.

Finalizing: In order to play back your recordings on DVD players or computers with DVD-ROM drives, you need to finalize the disc. Once a mini DVD-R is finalized, you cannot record on the disc again. You can however "unfinalize" a mini DVD-RW, allowing you to use it again for recording.

Playlist: Playlists can be created on DVD-RW discs recorded by the camcorder in DVD-VR mode. By creating a Playlist, you can rearrange your recorded scenes, cut and divide scenes, and create the playback order that tells your story in the most effective way. Note: Performing these functions within a playlist does not affect the actual data recorded on the disc.

Editing Original Data: You can edit the original data of a DVD-RW recorded in DVD-VR mode. You can delete movies and still images and you can divide a movie.

High-speed USB 2.0 Interface: The camcorder's USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect the unit to your computer for fast transfer of video and still images.

Disc Duplication: When the camcorder is connected to your computer, you can make a copy of a finalized disc. You must first download all the data from the finalized disc to your computer. Then, insert a new disc into the camcorder and download all the data from your computer.

Intelligent Accessory Shoe: The Intelligent Accessory Shoe conveniently gives you the option of adding accessories such as lights, flashes and microphones.

Flash Modes: Using the Intelligent Accessory Shoe, you can add an optional external flash for shooting in low-light conditions. When flash is connected, you can choose one of three flash levels: High, Normal, and Low. You can also set the camcorder for one of the following flash modes:

  • Flash On: the flash fires regardless of lighting conditions
  • Forced Red Eye Reduction Flash*: the unit pre-flashes to reduce red-eye, then the main flash fires regardless of lighting conditions
  • Automatic Flash: the flash fires automatically when lighting conditions warrant
  • Automatic Red Eye Reduction Flash*: the unit pre-flashes to reduce red-eye, then the main flash fires automatically when lighting conditions warrant

*Note: the optional flash must be compatible with red-eye reduction feature

Remote Control

Dimensions: The RMT-835 remote has the following dimensions: W=1.633", L=3.699", D=0.53".

Functions:

  • Photo: for recording still photos
  • Data Code: displays data code (time/date/camera settings of recording)
  • Scan/Slow:
    • Play Mode: lets you quickly scan through video in forward or reverse direction
    • Pause Mode: lets you view video in slow motion in forward or reverse direction
  • Visual Index: displays thumbnail images of recorded stills or movies for viewing
  • |<<, >>|: skips to next or previous recorded still photo or video scene
  • Play/Stop: begin/end video playback
  • Pause: to pause video playback and display still frame
  • Power Zoom Control: zoom in (tele)/zoom out (wide)
  • Up/Down/Left/Right/Enter: cursor controls for menu navigation
  • Start/Stop: starts and stops recording video

Supplied Software

Overview: The camcorder comes with Pixela ImageMixer Version 1.5 for Sony DVD Handycam, which includes the SPVD-011 Sony USB driver. The supplied software allows you to do the following: view scenes on your computer, copy recorded scenes to your computer, edit scenes that have been copied to your computer, and duplicate discs.

System Requirements: To use the supplied software, your computer must meet the following requirements:

  • OS: Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, or Windows XP Professional pre-installed
  • CPU: Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or faster, AMD Athlon family processor or a compatible processor. (Pentium III 1 GHz or faster is recommended)
  • Software: DirectX 8.0a or later
  • Sound: 16-bit stereo sound card with stereo speakers
  • Memory: 128 MB or more
  • Hard Disk: 2 GB or more. In order to create a disk, the hard disk must have about three times as much free space as the disk which is being created.
  • Display: 4 MB or more of VRAM; minimum of 800 x 600 at 16-bit high-color (65,000 colors)
  • USB Port: must be provided as standard

Specifications

Approximate number of still images that you can record on a single-sided mini DVD-R or DVD-RW (dual-sided discs have twice the recording capacity):

Image Size Image Quality Number of Images
DVD-R DVD-RW
640 x 480 Fine 5100 5400
Standard 8100 8600
1152 x 864 Fine 2150 2250
Standard 4100 4300

Recording Time:

Battery Pack Recording with the viewfinder Recording with the LCD screen
Continuous Typical Continuous Typical
NP-FM50 (supplied) 115 minutes 55 minutes 105 minutes 50 minutes
NP-QM71/QM71D (optional) 285 minutes 140 minutes 265 minutes 130 minutes
NP-FM91/QM91/QM91D (optional) 430 minutes 215 minutes 400 minutes  200 minutes

Playing Time:

Battery Pack Playing with the LCD closed Playing on the LCD screen 
NP-FM50 (supplied) 125 minutes 115 minutes
NP-QM71/QM71D (optional) 305 minutes 285 minutes
NP-FM91/QM91/QM91D (optional) 465 minutes 430 minutes

Charging Time:

Battery Pack Full charge 
NP-FM50 (optional) 150 minutes
NP-QM71/QM71D (optional) 260 minutes
NP-FM91/QM91/QM91D (optional) 360 minutes
 

Product Reviews

Review Summary

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1-1 of 1 items Sort Results By: Date Reviewed | Rating | Helpfulness
 
5 out of 5

excellent choise in camcorder

Written By georgiapeach9361, morganton,GA on Friday, May 06, 2005
 
takes excellent picture,movie making is so easy. still pictures are exceptional. night shot is supurb. use of the camcorder is so easy. i will rate the durability of the mini cam excellent an comfortable in my hand.all the functions from forward to rewind to edit ect work easily. i was an amature an received my dvd camcorder for christmas. i was so excited an still am. i take it with me every where. so watch out you may one day be on sandi,s hidden cammera show. i give my camcorder a 10 star plus!!!
23 out of 26 people found this helpful
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For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Sony DCR-DVD201, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/ISEO-rccbcspd/p_158DDVD201/Sony-DCR-DVD201.html ).

Sorry, the Sony DCR-DVD201 is no longer available for purchase.

Sony DCR-DVD201