Problems with: (Sony Camcorder Model: CCDTRV16)

[-isee-]

I have had this camcorder for sometime.(6 to 8 yrs - rarely have used it that much.) Everything works, but the recording button. It will only record went you hold the button down. Once, you release it - it stops recording.

If you send it into get repair, they charge about two hundred flat rate just to fix , it or give you an quote on parts and what it would cost.

I'm just wondering, if there is any easyer way to fix this?
or would it just be easyer geting an new one then fixing it, as it is today throw out and buy new because its cheaper to buy new then fixing it?

I'm up for any suggestions.
Any help would be helpful.

[Smokey]

Currently on Amazon there are two of those units on sale from private sellers, both at $40. Nowadays it isn't difficult to find a decent DV cam for around 500ish. I would recommend at this point retiring the unit and purchasing a new DV model. Its a shame you say you hadn't used it much, but with the way things are built, 6-8 years can definitely be the lifespan on it.

[dale@fcg]

You can purchase a decent camcorder for even less than $500 depending on features wanted. If not interested in bells and whistles like on the fly dvd making, 3 ccd's, etc., then concentrate on a few specific features that are most important to you and find one with those features.

Most people just use their camcorders for family events and vacation, which means that low light performance is important, as much indoor videoing is done, and you don't have control over poor lighting in living rooms and dining rooms at family events. On vacation, a zoom is important as many sightseeing venues don't allow you to get very close to your subject. But don't get fooled by digital zoom. it's useless. Only go by a cam's optical zoom.

A 20x optical zoom is really good, and as for low lighting perfomance- you gotta research independent ratings and reviews via video mags and google on that because all manufacturers claim image stabilization and such; but you a there is a real difference in quality from camera to camera. I found a JVC-33US a year ago that was discontinued ($250), but at that point it was top rated for low light on all cameras under $600, and it has a 16x optical zoom. Sadly, they replaced that model with the 250 model and took out the low light features to offer more useless bells and whistles (stupid supply and demand winning out over practical quality- gotta keep up with the Joneses' ya know)

Canon has reputation of having best glass/optics, but they don't necessarily put good zoom on lower end cameras. Sony is another good option, but they tend to include the bells and whistles which drives the cost up.

[dale@fcg]

maybe i need to recant on the canon's with low zoom. May issue of PC Mag has the canon zr100 ranked as a great buy with no bells and whistles for under $300, and it has a 25x optical zoom.

the eulora seriesis also noted as a terrific option as a mid level cam