Sony DCR-TRV480

364 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
usability (147)
price (102)
portability (71)
zoom (27)
design (24)

Negative
image quality (35)
battery (21)
reliability (18)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 364 reviews of Sony DCR-TRV480. The average rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. Reviewers really like the design and zoom. The portability and price are also mentioned favorably, whereas there are mixed reviews on the battery and image quality. Some have doubts about the reliability.

usability, price, portability, zoom, design

reliability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony DCR-TRV480 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 80/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 364 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(45% of reviews)
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Features

usability
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price
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portability
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image quality
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Showing 346 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 319 of 346 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (18)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony DCR-TRV480

alaTest has collected and analyzed 9 user reviews of Sony DCR-TRV480 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.co.uk. People really like the size and price. The design and usability also get good reviews. There are some critical views about the memory, while views are divided on the image quality.

portability, usability, design, price, size

memory

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony DCR-TRV480

alaTest has collected and analyzed 300 user reviews of Sony DCR-TRV480 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. Views about the zoom and battery are on the whole positive. The portability and price are also mentioned favorably. There are some mixed comments about the reliability. Some have doubts about the color and image quality.

usability, price, portability, battery, zoom

image quality, color

77% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Denny Atkin (cnet.com)

Image quality

Sony Handycam DCR-TRV480

Inexpensive; plays and digitizes analog 8mm and Hi8 tapes; responsive automatic mode; video light and infrared mode for night shooting.

Bulky; mediocre video quality; imprecise manual focus; black-and-white viewfinder.

With its ability to play and transfer your old tapes, the Sony Handycam DCR-TRV480 is an attractive choice if you're upgrading from an 8mm or Hi8 camcorder. But if you don't need 8mm or Hi8 compatibility, competing MiniDV cameras offer superior...

Nov, 2005

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Expert review by : Denny Atkin (cnet.com)

Sony DCR-TRV review:

Inexpensive; large feature set for the price; analog-to-digital conversion with no need for another player; built-in video light; USB streaming.

Bulky; mediocre video quality; black-and-white viewfinder; manual focus difficult to use; bottom-loading cassette.

The Handycam DCR-TRV460 offers an excellent upgrade from an 8mm or Hi8 camcorder, with digital video recording and the ability to view and transfer your old tapes. But if you don't need 8mm or Hi8 compatibility, competing MiniDV cameras offer superior...

Jun, 2004

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Expert review by : Easy Camcorder (easycamcorders.com)

Expert Review

The Sony DCR-TRV480 has the key feature that makes a Digital8 camcorder at least something of a viable purchase: backwards compatibility. Were it not for this feature, which allows you to view your old 8mm and Hi8 tapes, the Digital8 camcorder would be...

Aug, 2005

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Expert review by : Nick Hyacinthe (camcorderinfo.com)

Sony DCR-TRV480 Camcorder Review

Sony introduced its high-end Digital8 camcorder this year at CES. Other than a new color scheme and memory mode, the DCR-TRV480 has not evolved much from last year's DCR-TRV460. The camcorder still has the same 20x optical zoom lens with 290K effective...

Mar, 2005

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Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony DCR-TRV480

Every thing is nice to me except one issue

Battery life and the unavailability of flash disc everywhere

Jul, 2010

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Consumer review (cnet.com)

"good camcorder for whatever."

it is a good camcorder, especially these days because you can get it on ebay for cheap as [censored]. the sensor is alright in low light, not as good as the TRV19 or the TRV22 but it works. it has a high resolution sensor on it, that gives you a little...

nightshot, digital tape (not analog), lens extention threads, hot shoe, mic input, headphone output, memory stick recording, video input.

battery is sort of meh, old memory sticks are uber expensive, no option to choose between firewire or USB like my old digital8 camcorder, touch screens are dumb and break easy, bottom loading tape.

May, 2012

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Consumer review (viewpoints.com)

Sony Handicam is great quality at an affordable price ”

I purchased the Sony Handicam to record my daughter's gymnastics meets. Since the camcorder features a "sports" setting, I thought it would be ideal for these events. In my opinion, it does a great job and certainly meets my expectations; however, if...

May, 2010

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Consumer review (epinions.com)

Popular but flawed

When this camera came out it was a flawed camera that was still revolutionary. It looked like the ultimate tool for professionals with limited budgets- i.e. event videographers, independent journalists industrial video producers etc... This was a ...

PAL/NTSC recording.

Heavy, complicated, unbalanced, controls not easily located.

Sep, 2008

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Consumer review (viewpoints.com)

Great camera ”

Sony Handicam is easy to use.

Aug, 2008

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Consumer review (viewpoints.com)

great product, everyone should have one ”

easy to use, great picture , light and portable. so simple to use that your kids can help to make great home videos of vacations and family events, light wiehgt for travel and will fit in your purse easily, also sports strap to make it easy where ever...

Jun, 2008

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