• What's elliott?
• About elliott
• Contact us

t o p i c s

• Business
• Commentary
• Destinations
• Help
• Leisure
• Technology
• Vault

s u b s c r i b e

• Elliott's E-Mail, a free weekly newsletter, is your insider resource for moneysaving ideas.




• Read back issues. Like what you see? Now you can become an underwriter.

a l s o

• Referring sites
• Public relations
• Visit Tripso
• Home


s e a r c h

• Find a story.



Copyright Elliott Publishing. All rights reserved. For more information, call (305) 453-4781 or send e-mail to us.

Which Camcorder? The Envelope, Please
The Travel Technologist · January 23, 2002

I know the suspense must be too much for you to handle. After last week's column on buying a camcorder for your spring travels, you just had to know which one I picked. And where I bought it.

Well, wonder no more. I chose the Sony TRV900, a versatile, proven camera that fit my list of technical specifications. I purchased it at B&H Photo, an authorized Sony dealer, using its website and following up with questions on its toll-free number.

I'll get to the "how" in a moment. But first, let me explain why I narrowed it down to the TRV900.

Canon, JVC, and Panasonic all offer camcorder models that come with the kind of features that are important to travelers. For example, I think it's critical that any camera you travel with uses the MiniDV format (those are the smallest digital tapes); that it features a three-chip imaging system for a clear picture; and that it's light, flexible, and plays well with your PC. All the camcorder manufacturers sell products that fit the bill. But which one is the best?

To find out, I spent a considerable amount of time searching through online magazine reviews and newsgroups (details are in last week's column) and after weeks of surfing around, the TRV900 had begun to emerge as a front-runner. What put it over the top was a word-of-mouth recommendation from a professional photographer I've been acquainted with for several years.

We met on location for another story I'd been researching. "I'm thinking of buying a camera," I said. "Any recommendations?"

"Yeah, this one," he answered, showing me the TRV900 he cradled in his hand.

A camcorder being used by a pro. Who would have thought? I gave him a disbelieving shrug.

"Let me tell you something," he confessed. "The footage I've shot on this has been on the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, PBS, and lots of local TV stations."

That's when I knew the TRV900 would do just fine, thank you. Then I asked him where he'd bought the camera, and that's where B&H came into play. I'd been calling around and comparison shopping, with no luck, but hadn't tried B&H yet. The photographer said that the pros he knew all shopped at B&H.

"They're straight shooters and they offer fair prices," he assured me.

I bought the TRV900 for $1,579.95. Not the lowest price, but I figured that if that's where people in the know go for their camcorders, it's a safe bet. I saved $420 off the manufacturer's suggested retail price, which was enough to afford a much-needed extra battery, a wireless microphone system, a tripod, and a lens filter.

Some of the more sophisticated camcorder users among you are probably wondering why I didn't go for the top-of-the-line DCR VX2000, which includes several additional features and shoots in a higher resolution with more advanced processors. To be honest, I didn't think the $1,000 extra would be worth it. There are times when I'm shooting in low-light situations when I pine for a VX2000, but when all's said and done I'd rather spend that money on my mortgage.

In most respects, the TRV900 is the ideal camera companion for your next trip. At about two pounds, it's one of the lightest video cameras on the market. (And unless you buy a bigger, longer-lasting lithium-ion battery, it stays light.) The camera handles still images, too, although its strength is shooting full-motion video. It's extremely easy to use as well. I pulled the unit out of the box and began using it immediately. I've only had to refer to the manual a few times.

There are only a couple of minor problems with the TRV900. First, it's a battery hog, particularly when you're using the LCD screen to watch the video you're shooting. As a result, you must buy an extra battery, which as I've already mentioned can add to the weight of your unit. Another issue is the cassette ejection system, which takes some getting used to. I found myself punching and prying at it every time I wanted the tape to come out.

Finally, I wasn't happy with the way the TRV900 handled itself indoors, especially in low light. I imagine that the next generation of camcorders will address this, and in the meantime, how hard can it be to just turn a few extra lights on?

Now that I've determined which camera to buy and where to buy it, I need to figure out what to do with the film I've shot. But more on that next time.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion. The Travel Technologist appears weekly on this site. This story was also published on SmarterLiving.com.