Sony Handycam DCR-TRV14 Mini DV Camcorder

Well, my last 3 purchases on EBay were not good. The Hi 8 camcorder wasn't a Hi8 at all but an ordinary 8mm and two dif leads bought about the same time from 2 different sellers were also 'not as described' 1 wasnt even a lead but a circuit board! What about selling, well thats not been good either...scammed out of a £200 video ipod and nearly scammed again last week...and it is impossible to get through to a real person at EBay or Paypal to discuss...instead you are faced with a very complicated process orientating your way around the EBay and Paypal screens and programmes...and who's got time for that...eventually you just gives up and accept the loss. Standards are slipping all the time and sadly it is no longer a safe place to do business...

I bought this as my first step in to Camcorder. It's brilliant. Very simple to use and the touch screen is great. I got it with no instructions but found it connected to my PC with no problem. Getting video off it is a doddle. I use Nero 7 Ultra which is very easy to use and recognises this camera as soon as it is connected.
I have used it quite a few times during the holidays on days out with my family and have enjoyed using it. It's compact and light but records great video and sound.
I don't know how much this was when new but at £120 for a Sony with Zeiss lens and a touchscreen I'm feeling like I got a bargain. Sure the mini DVD cameras are all the rage now but this is fine for what I want it for. I may well upgrade it to a DVD one in a year or two but I bought this to see if I'd actually use one before splashing out hundreds. I have no complaints with this at all. One of my best Ebay purchase to date I think

i was looking for a cheap sony DV camcorder when i stumbled across the sony dcr-trv14. I was drawn in by the cheap price tag and after researching the product i decided to buy it.

It arrived 4 days later and i was eager to try it out. the same day i travelled to london with 3 of my friends to capture some footage of us skating in southbank. the camcorder was quite small but it can feel quite clunky compared to some of the more modern camcorders. The quality of the image was very good but it seems quite grainy in low light, which you would expect from most small camcorders of this type. The optical zoom was great. With additional features such as capability to capture photos and night vision it can feel wuite robust.

I couldnt expect more from a cheap sony handycam and i am extremely pleased i purchased this product

I BOUGHT THE sony MINI DV CAMCORDER DCR TRV14E at christmas 2003 and i paid £550 brand new from argos , its great if you want to shove it in your handbag itsgot picture quality and sound , and its really easy to use, ideal first camcoder for the beginner.

This is a mid range consumer DV camcorder.
What is good is :
compact size, general picture quality, mic input, variable speed zoom, image stabiliser, usual Firewire link...

Not so good is: No DV in, tricky loading tape when using a tripod and more subjective things like the Playback controls being via screen sensitive icons (some people may like this - I dont.)Viewfinder display in monochrome - srcreen preview is colour naturally (I quite like the monochrome display).

So a slightly more robust and bettere equipped model than your average entry level DV camcorder.