Quick Review Camcorder : Sony DCR-DVD203

The best thing going for the DCR-DVD203 may be the 2.7” widescreen LCD. This allows you to actually view a full-size, widescreen picture when shooting in widescreen mode. The next step down, the standard-size screened DCR-DVD103, must add black bars to the top and bottom of the picture to simulate widescreen, just like they do with movies on TV. For your money, though, this might be the better option. You can still have playback in widescreen on your TV, and the CCD probably won’t suffer from the same blue noise problem.

The Sony DCR-DVD203 features a 1.07 MP CCD, the same imager found on last year’s DCR-DVD301 and DCR-DVD201 and this year’s MiniDV camcorder, the DCR-HC42. Our testing found images to be bright, but to the point of over-saturation. The CCD also created a fair amount of blue noise across the color spectrum. If you typically shoot in well lit environments and want a sharper picture, you might take a look at the comparatively priced Hitachi DZ-MV780 and Panasonic VDR-M75. The DCR-DVD203 shoots in two modes: standard 4:3 aspect and widescreen.

The DCR-DVD203 comes equipped to accept a 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound mic, though you’ll have to purchase that on your own. It comes built-in on the DCR-DVD403. This surround sound function may sound cool, but if you’re looking for more audio control, look for a camcorder with a microphone jack. With one of these somewhat mixed down audio can be imported into the camcorder, instead of relying on the camcorder’s built-in jobby. An accessory shoe is fitted to the top of the camcorder for any necessary accessories, but be warned: Sony has begun producing new, smaller-than-standard “Active Interface Shoes.” Previously owned flashes and microphones may not fit.

Easy shooting is the name of the game in DVD camcorders, and Sony has always been at the top of this heap. Most of the interface takes place through a large, easy-to-read menu on the touch screen LCD. Manual controls are limited to focus, exposure, and white balance. All of these must be adjusted by tediously maneuvering through the navigation on the LCD screen, clearly geared towards a user seeking convenience above all else. If these controls still prove too much to decipher (unlikely), the DCR-DVD203 includes an Easy button, relegating nearly all functions to the camcorder’s able decision-making skills.

Playback is a snap now that this year’s Sony DVD camcorders accept all DVD formats: DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+/-RW. While they limit serious forays into editing, any of these formats are ready to pop into the family DVD player.

In low light conditions, the DCR-DVD203 produced pretty poor results. Overall, the blue noise increased exponentially as it got dimmer, far from the crisp, brilliant performance of the DCR-DVD403. However, at even lower light conditions, the DCR-DVD203’s over-saturation problem becomes a tradeoff; the colors blur (particularly yellows/greens and light grays/whites) but the picture is generally brighter than that on comparable camcorders such as the DCR-HC42.

The Sony DCR-DVD203 suffers from a number of problems that might be cleared up by investing a little more in the upgraded DCR-DVD403. If cost and convenience are your motivating factors, take a look at the less expensive DCR-DVD103.

Sony DCR-DVD203 - THE BOTTOM LINE.... Rating: 167.22

Likes

-LCD -Ease of Use -Automatic Control -Zoom Toggle

Dislikes

-Video Performance -Low Light -Manual Control

Sony DCR-DVD203 Compared to the...

Sony DCR-DVD301 Rating: N/A	Sony DCR-DVD403 Rating: 210.65	Panasonic VDR-M53 Rating:170.50	Panasonic VDR-M75 Rating: 164.37	Hitachi DZ-MV780  Rating:177.65
Better	Better	Better	Better	Better
-3.5" LCD -Affordability	-Imager Specs -Audio -Built-in Flash -T*Lens -Video Performance -Digital Still Capability -Low Light Performance	-Video Performance -Low Light -Optical Zoom Specs	-Imager Specs -Manual Control -Digital Still Capability -Navigational System -Low Light Performance	-Imager Specs -Manual Control -Video Performance -Digital Still Capability -Low Light Performance(slightly) -Portability -Navigational System
Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal
-Imager Specs -Digital Still Capability -Manual Control -Automatic Control	-Automatic Control -Manual Control -Ease of Use -Ports -LCD/Viewfinder -Portability	-Manual Control (both are poor) -Portability	-Manual Control	-Manual Control -Ports -Widescreen Mode
Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse
-Design -No Widescreen LCD -Optical Zoom Specs -Ease of Use -Audio	-Optical Zoom Specs -Affordability	-LCD -Imager Specs -Widescreen Mode -Ports (no USB) -Media Compatibility (no DVD-/+RW) -Automatic Control -Ease of Use -Digital Still Capability -Audio -Navigational Mode	-LCD -Design -Audio -Media Compatibility (no DVD+/-RW)	-Media Compatibility(DVD-/+RW) -Ease of Use -Automatic Control -Optical Zoom Specs -LCD -Design -Audio