Sony TR-81 Hands-on
Salvatore Saieva
and in the mags. Yesterday I stopped by a Wiz in the neighborhood to see
if I could get some time alone with the camera. First off I'd like to note
that I'm not a camera buff or expert at any level. My interests, at this
time, in camcorders are strictly at a consumer level; I'll be buying one
in the very near future and I'm trying to learn as much as I can in order
to make an educated purchase.
Cosmetically, the TR81 is all that I'm looking for, it's very compact
and all the controls are where you'd expect. This is a Hi8 machine and
for me that's also important since I'll most likely be copying my Hi8
footage to VHS. It's also simple to use. This machine isn't crammed with
digital features, like the Canon A1 digital for instance, but it does have
one page of digital superimposition which can be transposed or scrolled
onto and off the picture. There are manual overrides for all controls
except for zoom, which is powered at two speeds. The manual focus (and
other settings like white balance, shutter speed, exposure, etc) are
activated by sliding a door open on the left side of the camera body.
While the door is open, autofocus is still active, but can be switched
to manual focus by pressing a focus button which is under the sliding
door. I played with the camcorder for about one hour, and overall I
really like it. But there are two things which I'm concerned about.
One of the touted features in the Oct. 1991 review of the TR81 in
Video Mag was the improved autofocus systems. Here I found some problems.
At the Wiz, the camcorder was mounted on a fixed monopod for display/demo
purposes looking on brighly colored movable puppets. Also in the scene
was a round bass drum with a bright red rim. The autofocus systems work
very well except when I zoomed in ``full screen'' on the
bass drum. Here the TR-81 consistently had a problem autofocusing. The
autofocus system tried over and over (three times) util it settled on a
focused image. However, if I very slowly panned across the drum the camera
had no problem holding focus.
Also bothersome to me was the focus in the viewfinder. It just didn't
seem right. I tried adjusting the viewfinder focus ring but I just couldn't
seem to come to a balance where the picture and camera displayed settings
(like date/time, tape counter, etc) were all in focus. I probably could
live with a `slightly' blurred tape counter but I thought this should have
been better.
I should also say that I was able to figure out how to work digital
superimposition and most other controls without having the manual at
hand. However, as much as I tried, I couldn't figure out how to set the
date/time or how to erase the digital superimpostion memory. All the other
camera features worked intuitively.
The salesperson at the Wiz lead me to believe she could be flexible on
the $1299 (might have been $1279) price tag. Although, she said they
didn't have any in stock when I was there yesterday.
Overall, I'd say that even with the found autofocus and viewfinder
problems the TR-81 is a pretty good camera. Though I'm hesitant to
lay out the credit card right now. I think I'd like to read some
more reviews first on the Hi8 Yashica and Richo models.
Sal.
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Salvatore Saieva Internet: sai...@alehouse.acc.qc.edu
Queens College, Academic Computer Center BITNET: sai...@qcvax.bitnet
65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, N.Y. 11367 DeskNet: (718) 997-5907
awk, sed, grep, lex, yacc, make, >, <, |,... ``I got the Power!''
Nicholas Bull
I've only used it for a weekend and this is my first camcorder so
I don't have a great deal to compare with. It makes a beautiful
picture and is very easy to use. The autofocus has a little
trouble when pointed at surfaces with little contrast (e.g.,
white wall in a dark room) but don't they all? Otherwise, the
autofocus does a very good job, even when you forget the camera
is running and it's just swinging by your leg as you walk along
<g>.
Two comments on the previous letter: I've not noticed any
viewfinder focus problems except when I forgot to pull the
viewfinder out all the way. Also, setting the date and time is
very easy once you look at the manual. There's a button on top
of the camera titled something like "clear memory" that I guess
clears any titles that one has filmed.
I haven't played with any of the titling features yet. The
manual overrides all work in an obvious manner. Reading the
manual after playing with the camera simply confirmed that my
guesses as to how things were supposed to work were correct.
The camera seems to do a pretty dang good job at doing what I
think such a camera should do. For me, this is somewhat like
having a 486 as my first PC instead of starting with an XT and
moving up in steps. The XT gives you a feeling for what the
computer can do eventually. The 486 is pretty close to doing
what you wanted the XT to have been able to do. Needless to say,
fifty years from now (or maybe five) both the 486 and the TR81
will seem stone-age.
Nick
Salvatore Saieva
>
>I just bought a TR-81 (for $1020 at Vienna Camera in Virginia).
>I've only used it for a weekend and this is my first camcorder so
>I don't have a great deal to compare with. It makes a beautiful
>picture and is very easy to use. The autofocus has a little
>trouble when pointed at surfaces with little contrast (e.g.,
>white wall in a dark room) but don't they all? Otherwise, the
>autofocus does a very good job, even when you forget the camera
>is running and it's just swinging by your leg as you walk along
><g>.
>
I'm happy to hear that you are having good experiences with the TR-81.
I'm seriously considering this unit for my very own and I'll probably
be making a purchase before the end of Oct. I'm a bit concerned about
problems that Greg Rogers has had with two separate TR-81 units. Did
you happen to see his recent posting with Subj: ``Fed up with Sony TR81?''
I was wondering how you found the unit to perform during playback.
Sal.
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LEVINE EUGENE T.
CWO about a week ago. I purchased it for $949. This is my first camcorder
and it is wonderful. I have recorded about 1 hours worth of material so far
and watched it several times on my elcheepo TV (no a/v jacks). I have
NEVER seen my TV look better. I didn't see any "time-base glitches". I have
only recorded in 8mm and not Hi8. Are "time-base glitches" only Hi8? Do they
only show up when using a/v jacks? Could someone elaborate on what exactly
a time-base glitch is, what could cause tham and what I should look for.
On another front, the Control-L front that is. I have heard that the TR series
is capable of single frame advance if you use the optional wired remote from
Sony (EM-80 or something like that). Anyone know about this for sure?
--
/ E. T. (Gene) Levine OCLC Inc. \
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james michael vickroy
I'm posting this for a friend. Any replies should go to him.
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Sony TR-81 Hands-on
Summary:
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Organization: Online Computer Library Center, Dublin, Ohio.
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Just my two cents about the TR-81. I received my Nikon VN700 (TR-81) from
CWO about a week ago. I purchased it for $949 + $20. This is my first
camcorder and it is wonderful. I have recorded about 1 hours worth of material
so far and watched it several times on my elcheepo TV (no a/v jacks). I have
NEVER seen my TV look better. I didn't see any "time-base glitches". I have
only recorded in 8mm and not Hi8. Are "time-base glitches" only Hi8? Do they
only show up when using a/v jacks? Could someone elaborate on what exactly
a time-base glitch is, what could cause them and what I should look for.
On the Control-L front. I have heard that the TR series is capable of single
frame advance if you use the optional wired remote from Sony (EM-80 or
something like that). Anyone know about this for sure?
Please post or email to e...@rsch.oclc.org. Replys will bounce!
-Gene Levine
--
/ E. T. (Gene) Levine OCLC Inc. \
| colnet!sppy00!etl 6565 Frantz Road |
| OR: e...@rsch.oclc.org Dublin, OH 43017 |
Gregory S Rogers
using a jog shuttle on a remote. Since no one else has answered, I will.
The answer - Yes and No!
Yes! The TR-81 can be advanced a single frame using the Sony SLV-R5UC's remote
control (the RMT-V5A) by using the jog/shuttle wheel. Of course the noise bars are still present in the still frame.
No! The TR-81 can not do reverse single frames using the jog/shuttle control.
If you turn the jog wheel for reverse single frames, the TR-81 does FORWARD
single frames! Don't ask me why I don't know. Incidently, both of my TR-81
worked this way. So I'm pretty sure this is built into the design. Also, using
the shuttle edit keys on the remote is much smoother than the awkward edit
search keys on the TR-81 and accomplishes exactly the same thing in playback.
Incidently I started this discussion on time base glitches and I've gotten mail
from many people. Thanks for all the helpful information. The net result is
some people have seen the problem and others haven't. It may be related to the
tape or the internal setup of the camcorders transport. In any event if you
buy one you may not have the problem or you might. Not very helpful, huh? My
conclusion is that this is a very marginal design if some units have the same
problem and others don't. Or if this product works with one brand of tape
and not another. (I used the tape supplied with the unit by Sony!!). Or if
an otherwise good tape (very few dropouts, etc) might misbehave. So you
conclude whatever you like. I'm taking my 2nd one back today and I'm
envious of those who get one that works properly.
If you do have the problem it will be up to your dealer and the service
department to satisfy you. Don't expect any help from the Sony people at
their 1-800 number.
P.S. Several responses implied I had an axe to grind with Sony. Nothing
could be farther from the truth. I have a lot of Sony equipment and have had
very few problems, and none that went unresolved by my local dealer. I posted
to see if I had an unusual case of two defectives in a row, or if this was a
design error that others had seen. I was trying to decide how I should
proceed. I would encourage others to post their problems to this net on
products and ignore the 'Ford vs Chevy' nonsense the motivates some replies.
P.S.S The previous not withstanding, I will now comment on several letters
about the Sony Super VHS deck, the R5U. I already got one, and I don't intend
to take it back. O.K? Yes, I agree with most every criticism about the front
panel and remote control layout. It is very poorly thought out. But I really
like the edit monitor mode, with its two PIP displays and text that reminds you
which displays are PB decks, which are record decks, which VCR is waiting to
record, etc. This stuff keeps me from getting confused when operating two
VCR's or camcorders while editting. Maybe nobody else needs it, but I really
like it! Before somebody says these displays are too small to use, it only
takes one press of a key on the remote to switch them to full screen and back. My biggest complaint is the syncro-edit button on the front panel,
which you need to do editting, isn't on the remote at all!! This keeps me
from leaning back in my chair and editting from 10 feet away. If anybody
knows of a secret (2 button pushes or something) way to 'press this key' from
the remote PLEASE I BEG tell me.
I don't want to start anymore discussions of 'glitch problems' BUT if you've
got an R5U and see the auto tracking light flash and a major glitch run
through the picture during PB, about 1 sec after starting a record ----
ITS A DESIGN PROBLEM. THEY ALL GOT IT (At least the FIVE units over a year
that I've tested, all got it). Theres a work around just be sure
the material you are taping over was taped at the same speed in the same mode
VHS or Super VHS, as you a now recording in. That should eliminate the problem.