Go digital. Capture high-quality digital audio and video with Sony's DCR-TRV280 Digital8 Handycam camcorder. The DCR-TRV280 features Digital8 recording for three times the color bandwidth of VHS, providing you with stunning video performance. The CCD imager captures clear and detailed images for consistently outstanding image quality. With Sony's NightShot Plus infrared system you can capture natural-looking video, even when shooting in low light.

Specifications

1/6-Inch CCD Imager, 460K Pixels Gross
1/6-inch CCD Imager with 290K (effective) pixels provides great detail and clarity along with outstanding digital video performance

20x Optical/990x Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than with previous types of digital zooms

2.5-Inch SwivelScreen LCD Display (123K Pixels)
Provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resolution. The high-resolution 123K-pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback.

Multilanguage Menu
Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, or Traditional Chinese.

NightShot Plus Infrared System
With Sony's NightShot Infrared System you can capture natural-looking video, even when shooting in low light. Record subjects up to 10 feet away using the built-in infrared system, but without the overall monochrome color common with earlier low-light recording systems.

Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes
Program AE modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Portrait, Beach & Ski, Sports Lesson, Landscape, Spotlight, and Sunset & Moon modes.

End Search
Automatically advances the videotape to the last five seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previously recorded videos.

Photo Mode
Using Sony's Adaptive Frame Interpolation for better image quality, you can store hundreds of individual still images with seven seconds of audio on the videotape.

Manual Focus
Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the dial. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations in which either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's autofocus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.

i.LINK DV Interface
A digital high-speed bidirectional interface which provides Audio/Video communication between two compatible devices. This connection allows for pure digital transfer between devices equipped with an IEEE1394 interface, such as camcorders, digital VTRs, capture cards, and PCs.

SteadyShot Picture-Stabilization System
Picture-stabilization system uses motion sensors to detect and compensate for camera shake without compromising picture quality, as some other digital stabilization systems do.

Stamina Battery Power-Management System
Using the optional NP-QM91D InfoLithium battery, the DCR-TRV280 can continuously record for up to 12 hours on a single full charge, providing extra-long battery life.

Easy Dubbing
Connect the Handycam camcorder to a VCR to effortlessly make VHS copies of your home videos. The camcorder can control up to 59 brands of VCRs

USB Streaming
Stay connected to family and friends by broadcasting live video with audio over the Internet using the USB interface. You can even play back your favorite recorded scene on the camcorder's tape. It's like having your own video-conferencing system.

InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System
Charge the battery at anytime--unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are not subject to a life-shortening "memory effect." Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, either in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Picture Effects
Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Monotone, Solarize, Slim, Stretch, Pastel, and Mosaic.

Battery Information
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging or when the camcorder is turned off. The display will show how much the battery is charged in 10% increments and the recordable time left on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.

Built-In White LED Light
Brighten your video, and reduce shadows when shooting in low-light situations. The LED light uses considerably less power than do bulb-based light systems, with the same light output.

Titling
Add professional-looking titles to your video. Select from 8 presets, or customize 2 titles with up to 22 characters.

Fader Effects
Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Mosaic, White, Monotone, and Stripe.

Easy Handycam Button
Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people, so with a press of the Easy Handycam button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out," leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.

Review

This is easily the best value DIGITAL camcorder out there today, hands down. 'Digital8' is just as good as 'MiniDV' in terms of resolution and picture/audio quality. Why pay more for MiniDV? For under three 'Benjamins', you get reliable digital video and audio quality with over 500 lines of resolution, and a proven medium (Digital8) whose videotapes cost half as much or less than MiniDV tapes. The video quality in low light is also excellent, with a low light switch and feature that works great. And size-wise, the camcorder is not much larger than a MiniDV unit. It is feature-rich and comes with all the accessories you would need, including a charger, battery, lens cap, A/V cable for connection to your TV, a USB cable and software for connection to your PC or Mac. The owner's manual is one of the best i've ever seen, with very intuitive diagrams and easy to operate instructions. And the battery level meter and 'time left' indicator on the LCD view panel is very useful and amazing in it's detail and usefulness. Folks, this is one serious digital camcorder that is available 'for a song'! Great job Sony!!!

Source: http://www.amazon.com