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General discussion

Im so confused with my Sony DCR-DVD610

Feb 19, 2008 2:19PM PST

Guys, I just purchased a Sony dvd610 has the hard drive deal. Any ways how come I cant make a video without a cd rom if I purchased the memory stick. I paid $60.00 for the memory stick and it says the only thing I can put on there is still images! What a load of crap! I wanted a camera that I can understand(Simple) and make short videos and be able to stand my hiking trips. Any one have any recomendations for a camera for me? I'm returning my Sony today. I was not impressed with Sonys tech support.

Thanks, Josh

Discussion is locked

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The DVD61There are a few things confusing about your post...
Feb 21, 2008 10:23PM PST

1) It is a DVD storage camcorder... not a "hard drive deal".

2) Since it stores video to DVDs, it needs DVDs to store video - sorry, I can't figure out a way to put this... Hence, no DVD, no video capture. It was never advertised to be a "hybrid" to capture video to DVD or memory card. If the salesman told you that, then you should return it for a full refund as it was misrepresented.

3) The memory stick is for stills - that is how that camcorder was designed. See "#2 - returning the camcorder", above...

4) DVD based camcorders provide the worst available quality. Next best are hard drive and some flash memory camcorders - and best video quality comes from miniDV tape based camcorders.

All Consumer camcorders are "simple" and make short videos. Whether they can stand your hiking trips is up to you - they are pretty sophisticate pieces of electronics, and rough handling is not normally advised.

I would suggest something like a Canon ZR800. It is miniDV tape based, and if you break the camcorder, it is cheap to replace.

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Circuit City
Feb 25, 2008 10:33PM PST
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The Sony dcr-dvd610 is a hybrid
Nov 10, 2008 8:45AM PST

I felt complied to respond because you gave such bad information to someone just asking a simple question. The Sony dcr-dvd610 is advertised as offering hybrid movie recording. The manual explains on page 28 that you can use the internal memory, a disc or a
Memory Stick PRO Duo. I don't want to be rude but if you don't know what you are talking about you might not want to respond so rudely to someone asking an innocent question. Not all of us are techies!

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didn't see this when I responded...
Feb 2, 2013 2:49AM PST

Sorry I didn't see that you found out how to fix it or that you even responded... Silly

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handycam
Feb 2, 2013 2:38AM PST

Hi Josh,
I know this is from 2008 and you have probably bought another camcorder by now but I just wanted to say that you can/or could have recorded movies to the memory stick. I, like you, was also pissed off for a bit because Sonys customer support sucked. Thanks to a friend of mine though I figured out how to switch the storage format from DVD to memory stick. All you have to do was click the home button, go to manage media, click on movie media set, click on memory stick, and follow the directions that are being displayed on the screen. Since the camera is now 5 years old and if you are still looking for a camera that isn't very expensive for hiking, the handycam is pretty durable. Again sorry for posting on an old thread but I had the same problems that you had.

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Thank you killerclown443
Mar 5, 2014 9:20AM PST

I want to Thank you killerclown443 for your post to this old thread. I bought a new Sony DCR-DVD610 on 12-23-08 with a 4 year service plan on 12-23-08 direct from Sony at the SonyStyle.com website. I had so much understanding the complex nature of this camera that I put it away. It has now been over 5 years and it has never been used. I recently removed it from the shelf in my storage room to try & learn how to use it. Your answer to Josh has been 1 additional thing that has helped me as I only begin to learn how to use this new 5 year old camcorder. If anyone knows of an available video that teaches how to use this Handycam in step by step detail I would greatly appreciate you passing that on to me.