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Hardware & Software Reviews
These reviews are by club members of their own equipment.
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Sony DCR-TRV33E Handycam
 Reviewer: Jim Taylor. Date: 14th Aug 2006.
Pros: Excellent picture and sound (although some motor noise), analog inputs, 1-Megapixel CCD, photo mode, features, Size and Style, Ergonomics, good low light performance.The TRV camcorders are the only ones with decent indoor/low light performance in this price range. Memory stick. Well laid out menus. Good automatic functionality (focus/exposure).
Cons: Supplied battery capacity is low. No separate battery charger. No in-built flash. Difficult zoom controls. Manual controls are not practical. User's manual is TOO simple. Must remove tripod base to change tape. Optical zoom is super fast, and needs a light touch. The remote control could have more uses. Does not seem to be compatible with the Rode VideoMic.
Bottom line: The Sony DCR-TRV33 provides excellent picture quality and features for a very reasonable price. Highly recommended. This is a feature packed branded camcorder that you can bet your £400.00 on. If you have some more money to spend, consider microDV series.
Relevant comments:
Dear Mr Taylor
Thank you for your recent enquiry. The gain on the microphone input of this camcorder cannot be adjusted manually. I am sorry for any disappointment my reply may cause.
With regards
Peter Shorney
For and on behalf of
Sony United Kingdom Limited
GLITCH!
16th March, 2007.
A glitch has developed on this camera (see 3 images above). I have sent a demo of this glitch to two addresses of Sony and so far I have had no response from them.
Date: 11th April 2007
I can now report that my Sony DCR-TRV33E has now been repaired by Sony FOC. The reason for the free fix being a faulty batch of CCD chips Sony had been supplied with.
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Rode VideoMic
 Reviewer: Jim Taylor. Date: 15th Aug. 2006
Pros: Lightweight. High Pass Filter. The clamping ring on the accessory foot was too large and fouled the camera body; Rode in Oz sent me a replacement foot FOC with a smaller clamping ring :-)
Cons: Performance was disappointing on my Sony DCR-TRV33E; although it seemed to work better on a friends Panasonic. Worked much better with a 20db attenuator. Might obstruct some controls. Windscreen works only for light winds. Windscreen needed the fur to be trimmed to avoid it being visible in the viewfinder on the widest shots. Unbalanced 3.5mm Stereo Mic input.
Bottom line: Easy to use, and an affordable microphone. Prospective user must determine before purchase if it is compatible with their camera.
Thread of an email re problem: From: Jim Taylor [mailto:james22taylor@btinternet.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 8 August 2006 5:09 AM
To: Support at Rode
Subject: Attenuator for Videomic
Hi
I would like to be able to interface my new Videomic with a mic level input on a camcorder. Could you let me know the resistive values for a potential divider that will do this job. See attached diagram.
Many thanks
James Taylor
############################
From: Chris Turner
To: 'Jim Taylor (in)'
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 6:43 PM
Subject: RE: Attenuator for Videomic
The Videomic is a mic level microphone (although it is a little hot) have you tried turning down the gain on your video camera?
############################
To: Sony United Kingdom Limited
Hello
Is it possible to turn off the automatic gain control on the microphone input on this camcorder, and adjust it manually?
Thanks,
Jim Taylor
############################
Dear Mr Taylor
Thank you for your recent enquiry.
The gain on the microphone input of this cammcorder cannot be adjusted manually. I am sorry for any disappointment my reply may cause.
With regards
Peter Shorney
For and on behalf of
Sony United Kingdom Limited
############################
Hi Chris
I have been informed by Sony that it is not possible to control the gain on this camera! (Sony DCR-TRV33E)
I have made a test .avi of a music box tune that demonstrates the problem but, although it is only a few seconds long, the file size is approx. 100MB! Could you accept it via email? Failing that I have attached a .jpg of the waveform shown in Sound Forge.
James H Taylor
############################
From: Jim Taylor (in) [mailto:james22taylor@btinternet.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 8 August 2006 4:08 PM
To: Chris Turner
Subject: Re: Attenuator for Videomic
Hi Chris
The videocamera in question does not have a line level input socket which I understand the Videomic requires. Plugging the Videomic into the mic input seems to overpower the input circuits and is very loud in the headphones. The signal is so strong in the headphones I can hear shot noise quite easily. With there being such a strong signal into the mic input I am worried that distortion may occur.
Many thanks for responding so quickly.
Jim
############################
From: Chris Turner
To: 'Jim Taylor'
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 4:35 PM
Subject: RE: Attenuator for Videomic
The mic shouldn’t need any attenuating, is there a problem?
Cheers Chris.
############################
Hi James.
Chris is on vacation and I picked up your question.
With only a Mic level input, you are right….You will need to attenuate as follows:
(You seem to know what youre doing) so go ahead with care:
A 20dB attenuator can be made from a 4.7K ohm series resistor followed by a 470 ohm resistor to ground.
Let us know how you go.
Best regards
Colin at RODE in Sydney
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