» Sony DCR-DVD505 4MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Sony DCR-DVD505 4MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Comment: My camcorder worked pretty good app. 18 months. Suddenly I got unresponsive touch screen. Camcorder become useless - ($1,000!) only 18 months! I use to buy only Sony electronics - not any more...

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Repair Cost
Comment: I just wanted to post a review that I would have liked to be aware of before buying this camera. I bought this camera in March 2006. It has worked perfectly since that time and I have been very happy with it.

One week ago the buttons on the touch screen became unresponsive, making the camera completely useless, as all menu applications are controlled through the touch screen. You are unable to finalize a disc meaning you can no longer record video.

I did not get any kind of extended warranty so I am completely out of luck. I called and it will cost $211.00 flat fee to repair the camera, no matter what the problem.

So here I am, my second son is 6 months old and I have no camcorder. I called the service line and of course they are completely unsympathetic, and the $211.00 fee applies no matter the problem.

So I guess when budgeting for the camera make sure you add repair cost or at the very least buy the extended warranty.

I am very disappointed because I really enjoyed the camcorder, but I can't see spending $211.00 on a "used" camcorder that will come with a 90 warranty after repair. So sadly I have to shell out for a new camera.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Sony Camcorder
Comment: I gave the camcorder as a gift to my son who just loves it, he videotaped me too, I loved the quality of the tape on the big TV. I would recommend it to a friend.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Sony could do better
Comment: Definitely agree with other posts that the DCR-DVD505 is one of the best cameras around. However, if you are like me and would like to use a computer create feature length DVDs from those little discs you need to be a little computer savvy.

Sony could have done better to help, but is apparently not quite a software company like Apple...

If you have Windows Vista, forget it...your handycam driver will simply not work. Need to download a much more reduced feature-set driver from Sony (the import takes hours). Even if you have Windows XP, make sure that your flash version is circa ancient...i.e. version 6 or before otherwise even the XP driver. Here is my "protocol":

Step 1: Downgrade Flash to Version 6
-------------------------------------

1. First Uninstall the current Flash (using uninstall_flash_player.exe)
2. Next simply run fp_6.0.21_activex.exe

(Need to get both from Adobe site...just google for the exe files)

Step 2: Get all MPEGs from camera
----------------------------------

1. Connect Camera to Power Source.
2. Connect Camera to Computer.
3. Turn on the camera (just like getting to stand-by mode when shooting)
4. Press the right arrow "Play" key on screen.
5. Select Computer (disc).
6. You will see "Preparing" on camera.
7. Cancel any native Windows pop-up Prompts
8. Launch Picture Package (if did not start already).
9 From Picture Package Menu, select Viewing and Handling Pictures
9. Click on DVD tab after selecting Video Handling (in "DVD Viewer")
10. Click on DVD Handycam on left hand side menu.
11. Select Movies.
12. Confirm the folder choices, if prompted.
13. Select ALL clips and click on Copy to hard disk.
14. Wait until copying is done.
15. Finally! Now you have all the content in mpeg format to do what you wish with.

Step 3: Use the various mpegs to generate movies
------------------------------------------------

(Using NERO, Pinnacle etc)

1. Basically, using burn menu, join all the mpegs
in any sequence to capture the DVD menu chapters.
DO NOT use any third party stuff like movie joiner etc.

2. Now set the menu titles, background music etc.

3. Burn.

4. Create a DVD/jacket cover.

5. Done.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: High Quality Camcorder
Comment: I haven't utilized all of the features yet, but what I have has produced both high quality pics as well as video.

---

More Reviews for Sony DCR-DVD505 4MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom