Presenting the Sony DCR-TRV103 Digital8 camcorder from 1999. This was the first in a series of camcorders from Sony which attempted to bridge the gap between analog and digital formats by recording DV-spec digital video onto standard Hi8 video tapes, and also offering playback of analog Video8 and Hi8 tapes, so you could still play your old analog tapes in your new digital camcorder (although it cannot record in analog). This model has outstanding low light sensitivity and has performed flawlessly for me, despite being a decade old. Even the original Sony battery still holds a charge very well. Unfortunately, Sony basically defeated the purpose of the Digital8 format by continuing to offer both analog Video8/Hi8 and digital MiniDV camcorders alongside their Digital8 camcorders for the entire time they were in production (1999-2006). The only other company which ever sold any Digital8 camcorders was Hitachi. Also, the larger size of the 8mm tapes prevented these models from ever becoming as small and light as MiniDV camcorders. Nonetheless, these Digital8 camcorders still have a following and they fetch a good resale value on sites such as eBay.
@cloudsonfirex You don’t need any drivers. Just plug in the Firewire cable, turn the camcorder on, and Windows should recognize it as something like “Sony video device.”
i have this camera is 0 lux with3 night shot options. also mine broke. the tape wont play or record anymore. do you know why perhaps it doesnt work ? i never dropped it or anything. it just stopped working
@letoiny eBay prices for this model seem to be averaging around $200 lately, for a DCR-TRV103 in good working condition and with the original accessories (battery, AC adapter, remote, cables, etc.). But Digital8 camcorders on eBay tend to be overpriced, so I’d consider that to be on the high end of what you can expect to get for it.
@giammyzanna It is a control link for synchronizing it to a VCR for editing. This feature only works with certain models of Sony VCRs so it was never widely used.
great video test! I would like to see a few more minutes of that low shutter night shot mode. I want to get this camera since I need something to transfer my hi8 tapes to my PC and my old camera broke. This TVR103 looks like it beats my hdr xr200 in low light and night-shot performance.
@survivor030406 Firewire is the highest quality because it transfers the video digitally, exactly as it was recorded to tape. With S-video capture, there is some quality loss because the video signal is being converted to analog and then back to digital again.
at 3:10 the text says that the outputs can be used as inputs. How is this accomplished? Is there a setting in the os menu that changes the inputs to outputs?
These HI8 camcorders are better then these flash.HDD camcorders exspecially while filming at night. I loved using my many different Sony camcorders. Currently I have the trv330. With the right filters you can make CCD look HD almost.
A family member of mine gave me this camera. None of my computers or laptops have firewire. What would be the best route to go for streaming with this camera? It came with a S-Video to RCA cable, but I’m not seeing a way to make that work. Should I get something like Dazzle and use the cord that it came with?
@Skogul000 For the best quality, add a FireWire (IEEE1394) card to your computer. An analog video capture device will also produce acceptable results when capturing the camcorder’s S-video output, as I did in this video. That may be somewhat easier to set up since the capture device will just plug into one of your USB ports.
got mine from an old couple who only bought 4 tapes for it and only filled 2…. What a find.. I use mine for the fact that I regularly make DVDs out of peoples old tapes
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i have the dcr-trv 240 but i dont have the cd to make my computer recognize the device, do you have any recomendations?
@cloudsonfirex You don’t need any drivers. Just plug in the Firewire cable, turn the camcorder on, and Windows should recognize it as something like “Sony video device.”
nice camcorder! i just bought a sony handycam vision ccd-trv108 with nightshot from ebay waiting for it to come!!
wow 1 lux, my camcorder is $200 and it’’s rated at 3 lux
i have this camera is 0 lux with3 night shot options. also mine broke. the tape wont play or record anymore. do you know why perhaps it doesnt work ? i never dropped it or anything. it just stopped working
I want a Sony digital hi8 camera now!
how much can I sell one of these for in a house sale?
@letoiny eBay prices for this model seem to be averaging around $200 lately, for a DCR-TRV103 in good working condition and with the original accessories (battery, AC adapter, remote, cables, etc.). But Digital8 camcorders on eBay tend to be overpriced, so I’d consider that to be on the high end of what you can expect to get for it.
What is that plug near the eject button?
@giammyzanna It is a control link for synchronizing it to a VCR for editing. This feature only works with certain models of Sony VCRs so it was never widely used.
yes!!! TAPE! : D
yaay, viewfinder, time to tape outside =)
great video test! I would like to see a few more minutes of that low shutter night shot mode. I want to get this camera since I need something to transfer my hi8 tapes to my PC and my old camera broke. This TVR103 looks like it beats my hdr xr200 in low light and night-shot performance.
one question, is the result any different if you transfer the recording by s-video or fire-wire? Thanks!
@survivor030406 Firewire is the highest quality because it transfers the video digitally, exactly as it was recorded to tape. With S-video capture, there is some quality loss because the video signal is being converted to analog and then back to digital again.
@survivor030406 Please see my video “Night vision spy camera $10 high gain microphone test”.
at 3:10 the text says that the outputs can be used as inputs. How is this accomplished? Is there a setting in the os menu that changes the inputs to outputs?
@survivor030406 No, you just hit the record button when the camera is in VTR mode.
will x-ray vision work on this one?
@survivor030406 All Sony Nightshot cameras will do it to a certain extent, but the old Hi8 analog camcorders do the “x-ray” effect the best.
looks like my friend’s camera…except this one is digital…
These HI8 camcorders are better then these flash.HDD camcorders exspecially while filming at night. I loved using my many different Sony camcorders. Currently I have the trv330. With the right filters you can make CCD look HD almost.
A family member of mine gave me this camera. None of my computers or laptops have firewire. What would be the best route to go for streaming with this camera? It came with a S-Video to RCA cable, but I’m not seeing a way to make that work. Should I get something like Dazzle and use the cord that it came with?
@Skogul000 For the best quality, add a FireWire (IEEE1394) card to your computer. An analog video capture device will also produce acceptable results when capturing the camcorder’s S-video output, as I did in this video. That may be somewhat easier to set up since the capture device will just plug into one of your USB ports.
got mine from an old couple who only bought 4 tapes for it and only filled 2…. What a find.. I use mine for the fact that I regularly make DVDs out of peoples old tapes