The Sony DCR-TRV460 Digital8 Handycam camcorder gives you the best digital features at the price of an analog. Just some of its numerous features include a huge 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD display, a monstrous 20X optical zoom, NightShot Plus infrared recording, USB streaming, and Stamina Battery Power Management System. It also includes touch-screen operation through the LCD display and digital still image capture onto convenient Memory Stick Media. Plus, Digital8 recording means high-quality digital recording on inexpensive Hi8 and 8mm video cassettes, so you get professional results without paying professional prices. It’s the digital camcorder that anyone can afford

Specifications

Digital8 Video Recording:
Digital8 recording format delivers 3X the color bandwidth of VHS with significantly less video noise providing stunning video performance. Digital8 records digital audio and video comparable to MiniDV on affordable Hi8 tapes

1/6" CCD Imager, 460K Pixels Gross
1/6" CCD imager with 290K (effective) pixels provides great detail and clarity, with exceptional analog video performance.

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

Backward Compatibility
The DCR-TRV460 is capable of playing back 8mm, Hi8 and Digital8 video tapes for maximum convenience for those who have an existing library of analog cassettes.

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

InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System
Charge the battery at any time because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony’s rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "memory effect". Sony’s exclusive AccuPower meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes in the viewfinder or the LCD screen.

Digital Still Memory Mode Capable with Memory Stick Media
Digital Still Memory Mode captures high-quality still images at 640 x 480 resolution directly to Memory Stick or Memory Stick PRO Media. Images are stored in the JPEG format providing easy transfer to PCs for emailing, printing or sharing with friends and family.

Analog-to-Digital Conversion with Pass Through
Convert and/or record any analog NTSC video source to digital video via the analog inputs. Analog NTSC video can also be passed through the Digital Handycam camcorder directly into a PC via the i.LINK interface in real-time for easy PC editing of your analog footage.

Easy Dubbing
Connect the Handycam camcorder to a VCR deck to make VHS copies of your home videos quickly and easily. The camcorder will control up to 59 brands of VCRs.

Stamina Battery Power Management System
Using the optional NP-QM91D InfoLithium battery the DCR-TRV460 can continuously record up to 10 hours on one complete charge, providing extra long battery life.

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, Sunset & Moon modes.

Picture Effects
Get creative when recording or playing back videos with Sony’s Picture Effect modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Monotone, Solarize, Pastel and Mosaic. Effects available in Playback mode: Negative Art, Sepia, Black & White and Solarize.

End Search
Advances the video tape to the last 5 seconds of the recorded scene. This prevents accidentally recording over previous recorded videos.

Fader Effects
Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black, Mosaic, White, Bounce, Overlap, Wipe, Monotone and Random Dot.

Review

Purchased this camcorder about a week ago. Ease of operation and a great operators manual help sort out technical items. Picture quality utilizing only standard grade 8mm tape is excellent. I can only imagine the more expensive metal particle or metal evaporated tapes may have even higher quality pictures. Have not had time to check out the camera picture quality using the memory stick. I do not expect any disappointments. Sony make a terrific camcorder product. Consumers reports recommends this as one of their "Best Buys" for digital camcorders. Sony & Panasonic both continually excell in the catagory as "Models requiring the least amount of repairs" or "Most trouble-free manufacturers". The battery that comes with the unit gives approximately 67 minutes of recording time on a normal charge. A full charge will give approximately 74 minutes. Recommend purchasing the FM-50 battery for extended recording/playing time and for nothing else, simply to have a back-up. I own a DVD recorder that allows me to transfer audio & video from my camcorder to DVD's . The camcorder has an A/V output for the consumer interested in transfering their home movies/digital images to DVD's. It also features an S-Video output for capturing even higher quality video.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/