Sony Handycam DCR-SR200
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: DCRSR200
- CNET Editor rating: Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 17 reviews
- More product information:
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Description:
- Capture it like you remember it with the DCR-SR200. 2MP ClearVid CMOS Sensor keeps your images close to reality and recording in 5.1ch surround sound lets you take in all the sounds as well as the sights. The Dual Recording feature gives you the power to capture 2.3 Megapixel still images the same time as you’re filming ... Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
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 |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 02/13/2012 |
User reviews
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Pretty good camcorder for the money
by andriy on March 19, 2007
Pros: God video quality ,good battery life, easy to use, comfortable to hold..
Cons: Poort low-light performance
Summary: I bought this camcorder at Best Buy for $750 (with tax) and I think it was worth it.
Pros:
- Ease of use. This camcorder is extremely easy to use. ...Summary: I bought this camcorder at Best Buy for $750 (with tax) and I think it was worth it.
Pros:
- Ease of use. This camcorder is extremely easy to use. All you have to do is press record, that's it. Menus are very easy to navigate through. I thought that the touch screen might be hard to use, but it isn't.
- Start-up time. It takes only about 5-6 seconds for it to start up and start recording.
- Audio quality. You can either record using 5.1 mode or in stereo mode. I did not try stereo mode, but 5.1 mode works great.
- Video quality. There are 3 modes for recording. I only recorded in HQ setting and picture quality is pretty good. It is not the best I've seen but it is very nice. I hooked up the camera to my 42" Sony high definition TV and the quality was good. When I hooked up the camcorder to a smaller, not a hi-def, tv and played the same video it looked even better.
- Video is very easy to transfer to the computer. All you have to do is install some drivers and import software that is provided. You don't even need to install the software, just the drivers. Once the drivers are installed, camcorder acts like a removable storage drive. You just copy and paste the clips from your camcorder. You're going to need some kind of video editing software to put the clips together to make movies since each time you stop recording a new is created .
- Quality of still pictures. The quality of still pictures is impressive for a camcorder, but it does not beat the quality of 4 mega pixel still camera.
Cons:
- Low light performance could be better. Video looks grainy in low light, but if low light setting is turned on it dramatically improves the picture. This is not an issue to me since I don't think I am going to be shooting at night all that often.
- Hard drive is getting a little warm if filming for an extended period of time. This can cause some discomfort.
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I chose this camcorder because because I did not want to deal with tapes or disks. All I wanted to do was to transfer the video to my computer easily and being able to edit it and burn to DVD. All of this is every easy to accomplish using this camera, so I am happy with the purchase.14 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great camera - Great recording in-doors - Would prefer mp4 instead of mpeg 2 codec
by brandonchatham on March 28, 2007
Pros: Great for recording in-doors, the storage, microphone, touch-screen, basically everything.
Cons: Would prefer mp4 instead of mpeg 2 codec
Summary: I bought the camera this last week and have been recording since. My first experience was recording a birthday party at a church, and the colors were perfect. Usually you ...
Summary: I bought the camera this last week and have been recording since. My first experience was recording a birthday party at a church, and the colors were perfect. Usually you can tell when someone is showing you a home-recording due to its "off-colors", etc--but this camera does an amazing job.
It has a 4 mega pixel still camera, but the focusing isn't the best. If you have a really steady hand, no problem, but if you are a little shaky, then expect your 4 mega pixel pictures to be a little pixelated.
In regards to the 2 mega pixel, still-camera during video record-- not so impressed. These still images come out really pixelelated (maybe if I didn't have such a shaky hand).
The storage space is plenty, its the battery that I am worried about. Looks like I will need to purchase another $100 battery to make sure I don't run out of time.
Also, MAC users should know that it IS compatible, but don't expect to import your MPEG 2 videos into iDVD for easy recording. You will first need to transcode them into some other format, and then you can pull them into iDVD.
Tuuch-screen is great, I have really fat fingers, so if it works for me, it will work great for almost anyone.
Has a built in-slot for a light, if someone wanted to add that.
Also, the microphone is awesome. Supposedly its a 5.1 channel system, and it is awesome. When watching a video, you always know from where the sound is coming, if its behind the camera, the left, or right.
Another cool feature is the auto-shutter. When you turn it to record mode the shutter automatically opens.
Night vision works perfect as well. Its was almost pitch black in a room, I switched it to night vision, and I could see everything.
If you have really short fingers, you might have trouble reaching the buttons, but thats why they have buttons on the screen as well, so you can control from there (zoom, home, and record).
I watched my home recordings on both an HD TV and a standard tube TV, and both looked beautiful! The wide screen recording makes it so the picture is beautiful on a HD wide screen.11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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An excellent camcorder
by capkarl on April 30, 2007
Pros: Easy to use and very good stills to boot
Cons: No viewfinder
Summary: I bought this camcorder prior to our 12 day cruise to Hawaii. I wanted the 100 because it had a viewfinder but could not locate one. I filmed everything and ...
Summary: I bought this camcorder prior to our 12 day cruise to Hawaii. I wanted the 100 because it had a viewfinder but could not locate one. I filmed everything and still have not filled the hard drive. Once I figured out how to properly hold the camera I had it on my hand constantly (actually follow the instructions in the booklet). The results are excellent. The video quality is as good or better than my old 8mm when watched on a 50" Rear Projection TV. The sound is spectacular. Hawaii was very windy so there is some wind noise but the surround sound picks up all the sounds you want to hear.
I also took over 100 still pictures not expecting much, (the majority of our other pictures were taken by my wife with a Kodak Z612) I was pleasantly surprised. I would even go so far as to say If you wanted to only take one camera it would not disappoint you. Had I known that the stills came out that good I would have taken more.
I like everything about this camera except the lack of viewfinder. In sunlight (not even bright) it is very difficult to see the screen. Sometimes I found it impossible to tell if I was recording or not. There is a red recording as opposed to a green standby displayed on the screen which in the sunlight was impossible to see sometimes.
On the ship or indoors the screen is just fine.
The best thing about this camcorder in my opinion is the touch screen. This makes it very easy to use.9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very happy with it
by yobrow on April 7, 2007
Pros: Easy to use, image quality, great low light ability, great specs vs price ratio
Cons: Um... no viewfinder?
Summary: A note about me:
First, I consider myself a technology addict. I research everything, probably way too much, and I like to know everything about what I'm buying. Secondly, ...Summary: A note about me:
First, I consider myself a technology addict. I research everything, probably way too much, and I like to know everything about what I'm buying. Secondly, I am an amature photographer, and once upon a time, I worked in a retail store, selling cameras and camcorders, so I consider my knowledge to be above average. After my son was born, I decided it was time to get a camcorder.
About the Camcorder:
What first drew me to the SR200 was the hard drive. The hard drive can hold several hours of video and is very easy to use. I did not want Mini-DVD due to their short recording times and high price. And, while MiniDV cassettes have the potential for higher quality video recording, it is the older technology on its way out and its not as easy to use. I see memory card camcorders as the wave of the future, and, within a few years, memory cards will have the capacities to take over the market... but I didn't want to wait a few years.
The next thing that drew me to this camcorder was its 1/3" CMOS sensor. The recording quality of this camcorder is great! Most consumer digital camcorders use a 1/6" (or similar) CCD sensor, but at the higher end you'll find either larger 1/3" sensors or camcorders that use 3 seperate sensors. These larger sensors deliver better results in low light with much less "noise" in the final picture. I was tempted by the Panasonic SDR-H200 in the same price range which uses 3 CCD sensors, but I have an affinity for Sony. If you're seriously looking at the Sony SR200 though, check out the Panasonic which has its own stand-out features.
The lens quality on this camcorder is also very good. While some may complain that the zoom is a mere 10x when some camcorders are getting over 30x, consider this: if you want more zoom, you're going to need a bigger lens. Small camcorders with large zooms have small sensors which impacts the camcorder's picture quality and low light ability. A camcorder with a large sensor and a 30x zoom would not be compact enough for most people and would cost much more. 10x is plenty with the type of recording I want to do, besides, I wouldn't be able to hold 30x still without the assistance of a tripod (steadyshot doesn't work miracles).
Ease of use is a big part of the equation as well. With the included docking station, this camcorder is a snap to use. Although I know how to import video the hard way, and convert it and edit it, that doesn't mean I want to do it every time. Plus, I want other people to use it, so an easy learning curve is very important.
In conclusion, this camcorder fits my needs wonderfully. The lack of a viewfinder might present itself as a negative in the future, but it hasn't yet. Other features like 5.1 surround and 4mp stills are icing on the cake and didn't really sway my purchasing decision. Your results may vary though, so my advise is to do your research. Go to the store and play with the displays. Determine what features mean the most to you. If you're not truely happy with the performance of a product, you're not going to use it, so what's the point of buying it?5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nearly Perfect But Not Perfect
by IFLYMAUI on April 5, 2007
Pros: So Many Great Features, Well-Built
Cons: No Viewfinder! LCD Screen is Impossible To See In Sun
Summary: I love/hate the Sony DCR-SR200. I won't write a major review here because SPECS are obvious here on CNET.
However, before you purchase the Sony DCR-SR200 (or similar ...Summary: I love/hate the Sony DCR-SR200. I won't write a major review here because SPECS are obvious here on CNET.
However, before you purchase the Sony DCR-SR200 (or similar SR camcorders) keep in mind that there is no viewfinder. You will have to rely on just the LCD screen or hopefully your personal judgement as a point and shoot...
The supplied LCD screen even at maximum brightness was sub-standard in composing the frame and you had to hold your hand over it in outdoor situations.
For that reason alone, this feature packed and wonderful camcorder fails miserably despite its other stunning features.7 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome Camcorder, Very Happy
by shaffer_c on March 14, 2007
Pros: Small, light weight, good record quality, big screen
Cons: Requires docking station to connect to PC
Summary: Just got it and am extremely happy with it. The screen is huge, the menus are easy to use and the autofocus is quick. Converted from outside recording to inside ...
Summary: Just got it and am extremely happy with it. The screen is huge, the menus are easy to use and the autofocus is quick. Converted from outside recording to inside very quickly. Already burned (not using Sony tool) a movie and played it on my 53" wide screen tv - quality was unbelievable. 4MP pictures! Only complaint is that you need the docking station to connect it to the PC, but I can live with that.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A FLIPPING AWESOME CAMCORDER
by ogdanaman on March 18, 2007
Pros: Great Video Qaulity Good Battery Life 4MPS! Still pictures!
Cons: A little large
Summary: The best you can get for any price I got it for like 700$ at best buy it has clear vid cmos the best in the market right now great ...
Summary: The best you can get for any price I got it for like 700$ at best buy it has clear vid cmos the best in the market right now great battery life and great videos and 4 MP images Ic an't ask for a better camcorder! I love this thing sooo damn much!
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I am very happy with the ease-of-use/quality of this camcorder
by onlinebuyer on May 24, 2007
Pros: Ease of use (camera and software), quality of stills, quality of video
Cons: price- that's it!
Summary: I love this camera. It's great for this mom who does all the video/picture documentation for our family. Now I can video the kids and get still pictures ...
Summary: I love this camera. It's great for this mom who does all the video/picture documentation for our family. Now I can video the kids and get still pictures at the same time. It's so easy to use. I could operate it and save videos/stills to my computer, edit them slightly, burn a DVD without reading the mauel- so it's got to be easy.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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One of the best Camcorder for starters. Great buy!
by bongvideos on September 15, 2010
Pros: Great capture on both audio and video specially with natural lighting.
Cons: Not so good on low light conditions but still the back light support helps.
Summary: This is a great HDD camera for personal use or even events. I have used this during my events and I could say that this camera did a pretty awesome ...
Summary: This is a great HDD camera for personal use or even events. I have used this during my events and I could say that this camera did a pretty awesome job. I would definitely suggest this to those who wants to start capturing their family affairs, gatherings, and meetings for documentation purposes.
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One of the best
by yme77 on April 7, 2010
Pros: Easy to use, takes clear pictures, no need for media storage inserts
Cons: Cant shoot a close up if there are layers (nothing with depth). Pictures while shooting video are grainy. Video in low light comes out grainy. Doesn't upload to websites well. You need to convert the MPEG-2 to a 4 in order to do anything with it.
Summary: I didn't think I'd like this product as much as I do so my expectations were rather low. I was surprised that the pictures came out so clear. ...
Summary: I didn't think I'd like this product as much as I do so my expectations were rather low. I was surprised that the pictures came out so clear. It seems that you can take video forever and it stores a whole lot without additional memory. Even shoots moving subjects well. I love the touch screen. However, I can't stand that it is so hard to share what I video tape. Sony sells video editing software made for this camera but it doesn't come with the product, it's an additional charge. That's just not good business. At the very least a free trial CD should come with the product. So if you intend of sharing video, I don't think you'll like this product. If you intend on shooting quality video and pictures (with a slight adjustment to learning the ins and outs of the camera), buy this camera. I've had it for 3 years or so and I do love using it.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: DCRSR200
- Description: Capture it like you remember it with the DCR-SR200. 2MP ClearVid CMOS Sensor keeps your images close to reality and recording in 5.1ch surround sound lets you take in all the sounds as well as the sights. The Dual Recording feature gives you the power to capture 2.3 Megapixel still images the same time as you’re filming video. With the supplied Handycam Station, you can even easily burn to disc with the One Touch Disc Burn feature. So not only can you capture superior footage, you can show everyone how good it looks in no time at all.
General
- Product Type Camcorder
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution 2.1 megapixels
- Effective Video Resolution 1.4 megapixels
- Digital Zoom 80 x
- Effective Photo Resolution 2 megapixels
- Camcorder Interpolated Photo Resolution 4 megapixels
- Total Pixels 2.1 megapixels
- Camcorder Media Type Hard disk drive
- Optical Sensor Size 1/3"
- Optical Sensor Type ClearVid CMOS
- Min Illumination 0 lux
- Analog video format NTSC
- Digital Video Format MPEG-2
- Special Effects Monotone,
Old Movie,
Sepia,
Pastel - Image Stabilizer Electronic (Super Steady Shot)
- Digital Scene Transition White fader,
Black fader - Min Shutter Speed 1/2 sec
- Max Shutter Speed 1/500 sec
- Shooting modes Digital photo mode
- Shooting Programs Candle,
Snow,
Beach,
Sports lesson,
Twilight mode,
Sunset,
Spotlight,
Fireworks,
Sunrise,
Portrait mode,
Landscape - White Balance Automatic,
Presets - White Balance Presets Outdoor,
Indoor - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic - Image Recording Format JPEG
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Widescreen Video Capture Yes
- AV Interfaces Composite video/audio
Lens System
- Type Carl Zeiss 10 x x Zoom lens - 5.4 mm - 51 mm - F/1.8-2.9
- Lens aperture F/1.8-2.9
- Optical zoom 10 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Min focal length 5.4 mm
- Max focal length 51 mm
- Filter Size 37 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- Low Lux / Night Mode Yes
- Additional Features Progressive shutter system,
Accessories hot shoe ,
Touch-screen control ,
PictBridge support ,
USB 2.0 compatibility ,
Dolby Digital 5.1 channel recording - Remote control Remote control - Infrared
- Software Sony Picture Motion Browser
- Included Accessories IR remote control,
Docking station,
USB cable,
Power adapter,
Audio / video cable Display
- Type 2.7 in LCD display
Connections
- Connector Type 1,
1 x USB,
1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x Microphone,
1 x Remote control,
1 - Memory Card Slot Memory Stick Duo card
Memory / Storage
- Media type Hard disk drive
- Internal Storage 40 GB Hard disk drive
- Image Storage 2304 x 1728
- Video Recording Modes HQ,
LP,
SP System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows XP,
MS Windows 2000
Battery
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Surround
Power
- Battery type - Lithium ion
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Features Rotating
- Resolution 123,000 pixels
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 3 month parts and labor warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Labor - 90 days,
Limited warranty - Parts - 1 year Physical Characteristics
- Width 3 in
- Depth 5.9 in
- Height 3.1 in
- Weight 1.1 lbs
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Sony
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
