Early Adopters Pick: Oct ober 2002. The world's first digital camcorder that also takes 2.1-megapixe l digital still pictures; weighs only 24 ounces and has integrated Bluetooth te chnology to transfer images to a computer without wires or cables.
Sony's 2-megapixel DCR-IP220 is a serious recording tool for the digital videographer who wants all of Sony's advanced features in a single camcorder. The DCR-IP220 records on the miniscule MicroMV tapes, offers Super NightShot and Night Framing modes, hologram autofocusing, and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, all of these hefty features add up to a fairly hefty price.
Assuming that cost isn't an object, this camcorder does pretty much anything you'd want it to. The MicroMV tapes--70 percent smaller than MiniDV--each have a 64 KB memory chip so you can scan through different sections of the tape like a DVD, locating scenes by their thumbnails.
The high-detail 2.5-inch LCD swings up above the camcorder, and pivots 270-degrees so you can view it from almost any angle--including in front of the camera. The LCD also serves as a touchscreen interface, with a stylus for accessing menus, and it displays both approximate battery life and remaining storage space.
For storing short clips and still images (at 1,600 by 1,200 resolution), the DCR-IP220 features a Memory Stick slot and includes an 8 MB stick. Its night and low-light filming capabilities are quite impressive--we were able to read details from across a darkened room with the Super NightShot mode. And the Night Framing mode takes bright, full-color still images in limited light.
Connectivity options abound, with FireWire (either camera to camera or camera to PC), USB, and Bluetooth support built into the camcorder. It also includes a color viewfinder, intelligent pop-up flash, and an adequate (although not stellar) 10x optical zoom.
Sony's DCR-IP220 isn't for the faint of wallet, but if you're not satisfied with anything but the best, this camcorder was built for you.
--J. Curtis Pros: - Excellent night modes
- Sharp, high-resolution video and image quality
- Unique and compact tapes
Cons: - Expensive (though chock-full of cutting-edge features)
- Only 10x zoom
