Sony Handycam CCD-TRV68: Review and Test Footage

SUMMARY-
The Sony Handycam CCD-TRV68 was released in 2001 alongside the CCD-TRV49, CCD-TRV58, CCD-TRV78, CCD-TRV88, and CCD-TRV98. This model appeared to be intended for the mid-range level consumer, but it lacked some aspects that previous model years were given. The body is hollow and tends to feel cheap, the feature list is smaller, and a it contains few annoyances that are just plain stupid.

CAMCORDER BODY-
The camcorder body is constructed of a pretty basic plastic, similar to what you'd find on any Sony camcorder from the 90s. Something about its construction, though, just gives it this cheap hollow feeling. Compared to the CCD-TRV65 (I have one of these as well, more comparison below), the camcorder doesn't feel as rugged.

The lock-power switch combination option has been replaced with a single power selection wheel next to the battery compartment (in the place that the lock/standby lever used to be). The focus control was moved from the front of the unit, between the screen and microphone, to the menu selection wheel that controls all the other options. Volume and screen brightness controls are no longer located on the side of the LCD monitor (volume was moved to the control panel inside the panel, but brightness was moved to the settings menu). The LANC jack was removed completely. The button interface for playback is no longer the amber-backlit soft-touch style, but rather, a basic array of buttons that have the decals embossed onto them. The microphone jack was removed, and the headphone jack was moved to just below the viewfinder. The price of Sony's cost cutting in this department are rather glaringly obvious.

INTERFACE-
The menu system is the basic Sony tape-camera menu system, containing all the options and quirks where you expect them. It has the basic Program AE modes, and retained the full suite of Sony Picture Affects as well. The digital zoom can be set from off, to 40x, to 460x on the CCD-TRV68; to see digital zoom on other models, consult the specs in the comments, (though, as you can see in the video, digital zoom lowers video quality considerably). The 16:9 wide mode option allows the user to capture video better suited for wide-screen televisions and monitors, just make sure you select 16:9FULL mode (as CINEMA mode will only cut off the top and bottom of the 4:3 picture). The camcorder has steadyshot as well, like most Sony camcorders; rather annoying caveat is that steadyshot supposedly doesn't operate in 16:9FULL mode (would be the only reason you want to use CINEMA). It has an option for turning on or off the nightshot light. LCD settings include brightness, backlight intensity, and the color/contrast. Tape settings include the recording mode, allowing the user to set between LP or SP quality/speed. ORC TO SET, which, when enabled, makes the camcorder change settings to better suit the recording environment. Tape remaining option shows how much recording space you've got left. Setup menu and others contain pretty general options: clock, date, font size, language, demo mode, world time, beep (camcorder's menu sounds), display (hide the display's decals), and the recording lamp.

There are also three EXTREMELY annoying things about this camcorder that I can't exactly wrap my head around. The CCD image sensors in these models tended to stop working entirely, this was reflected in MANY Amazon reviews, but Sony did not, to my knowledge, fix this problem (from what I understand, other models did not have this problem). The battery life was also rather short, especially now more than ever, with the ever decreasing supply of Infolithum L series batteries on the market. The annoying part is that Sony manufactured an AA alkaline battery case that fits these models, but it doesn't work on this one (it worked with the CCD-TRV65). Instead you get a popup text that says "infolithium batteries only", which is absolutely absurd.

COMPARISON TO PREV YEARS-
I have the CCD-TRV65 from 1998, so will be mostly comparing to that. Frankly, in almost every way, this camcorder is worse; the only exceptions found so far is the addition of a video light and a longer optical zoom. The video quality is worse (personal opinion, admittedly), the manual lens cap gets in the way and makes noise in windy scenarios, the mic jack was removed, the construction is cheaper, the microphone is mono instead of stereo, the counter is dumbed down, no remote was available for this "trim level", the accessory shoe was removed, and start/stop mode was removed.

CONCLUSION-
In conclusion, think it would be better for the consumer to have bought the CCD-TRV65 if possible. Had they bought this hoping for a typical good Sony camcorder, they'd have risked being disappointed.

SPECS IN PINNED COMMENT.

6/10

Anything I forgot to include in this review, or anything I got wrong? Put it in the comments! Thanks for reading :D

Camcorders on Reddit:   / camcorders