Unlike other compact, standard-definition camcorders that offer hard disk drives for storing video, the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD 650's primary storage method is DVD recording. Users can record video to a variety of DVD formats with the Handycam 650, specifically DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL. The camcorder became available in February 2009 and is still in production as of April 2011. Reviewing the specifications of the Handycam 650 can help you better understand its video recording and overall performance capabilities.
Imager and Resolution Specs
At the core of the Sony Handycam 650 is a 0.125-inch, Advanced Hole Accumulation Diode (HAD) charge-coupled device (CCD) imager. This imager is responsible for converting beams of light that enter through the camcorder's lens into electronic signals. When shooting in the widescreen 16 to 9 aspect ratio, the Handycam 650 can use its Advanced HAD CCD imager to record video with a resolution of 410K pixels. When shooting in the 4 to 3 aspect ratio -- the standard for basic television broadcasting -- the Handycam 650 can provide a video resolution of 340K pixels. In addition to recording video, the Handycam 650 can capture still images. At the 16 to 9 aspect ratio, images can have resolutions of 250K, while at the 4 to 3 aspect ratio, they can have resolutions of 340K pixels.
Lens and Zoom Specs
The Sony Handycam 650 utilizes a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with an F1.8-6.0 aperture. By altering its focal distance from 1.8 millimeters (mm) to 108 mm, the camcorder's lens can provide a maximum optical zoom of 60x. Optical zoom provides natural magnification and is the result of a lens moving physically closer to an object. The Handycam 650 also provides digital zoom at a maximum of 2,000x. Digital zoom requires interpolation, which means the camcorder crops away perimeter pixels and interjects new, foreign or unnatural pixels to increase perceived resolution.
Display and Viewfinder Specs
For focusing on subject matter -- and for viewing stored videos and still images -- the Sony Handycam 650 provides two monitors: a liquid crystal display (LCD) viewing screen, as well as a color viewfinder. The LCD screen is 2.7 inches diagonally and can provide multiple viewing angles by pivoting up to 270 degrees. It also has a touch-panel for ease of use. Both the screen and the viewfinder of the Handycam 650 have display resolutions of 123K pixels.
Dimensions and Battery Specs
With its display screen in the closed position, the Sony Handycam 650 is 2.25 inches wide by 3.625 inches high by 5.125 inches long. The camcorder weighs approximately 13 oz. with its rechargeable, 7.2 volt (V) lithium battery attached. This battery requires an 8.4V AC adapter for charging.
Tags: Sony Handycam, aspect ratio, 340K pixels, camcorder lens, have resolutions, record video