This camera is great EXCEPT for the motor noise. The hum comes through load and clear when filming school concerts, people talking, or anything else where it is generally quite in the background. Do not buy this camera if this will bother you! I am now buying a $100 external microphone to counteract this problem.

We purchased our Sony DCR-TRV 22 about a year ago and we have used it indoors, outdoors, night time, windy mountain tops, dark caves, poolside...you name it, we've tried it. And, we've been very pleased with this camcorder. It has a fantastic zoom on it, the night shot works great, the microphone worked well even in windy conditions. No, the still shots don't have a high enough pixel to print out into pictures but, we bought this to be a camcorder, not a camera! And for e-mailing, it works just fine.
We have found that every Sony product that we've ever purchased has performed wonderfully and we've been very pleased them. I do recommend this camcorder, and I know that when it comes time to replace this one...we'll be buying another Sony!

I got this as a replacement for my previous VHS-C camcorder, since video quality wasn't good anymore. I researched technology websites and at retail stores I tested as many DV camcorders as I could and I really liked this one over the others. Sony is a reliable brand, in video stuff you can say they are the best in the business.
Now that I own it I really like it and I think it was a great investment. Although, I would suggest you get video editing software should you want to create VCD's or DVD's I won't recommend any in particular because how software works depends on the computer and personal preferences, but I use My Dvd 5.2. And I like the VCD's and DVD's I have created even with 5.1 surround sound. I also use movie maker included in Windows XP to send video files to my relatives overseas.
The video quality is great and you can back up on VHS tapes too, in case you're no interested in creating digital discs. I have read reviews against the sound, but for me it's OK, the only thing it lacks is a flash in order to take better still pictures, which you can take even as you are shooting video.
I'm really pleased with its performance and I don't regret getting this camera. It was a great deal and worth every cent.

I bought this camcorder at a chain store. There is a hinge malfunction that prevents me from fully enjoying the capabilities of this nice device. Every time I hold the camcorder from the right side, with one hand, the cassette cover shifts a fraction of a millimeter. This is hardly a tragedy, but it's a darn neussance.

Sony camcorders are by far the best investment for what us regular people want from them. We want to be able to:
1. Shoot video in a variety of lighting situations, especially in the house and even at night.
2. Shoot nice quality video.
3. Operate the camcorder easily and comfortably.
The TRV-22 does all of this very well. I used to have the PC5, until I left it in a park somewhere. I couldn't afford another tiny camera so I did my research on this one. I am very pleased. It does everything the PC5 did and more.
First of all the operating system of the TRV19,22 and 33 is the old style, without all of the graphics the new system uses. Personally I like the old way better. In nearly all lighting situations the LCD, which is used to access nearly all of the cameras manual functions, is very simple to use. On most other cameras you have to push buttons underneath the LCD, or use a jog dial, but with Sony's, you get to keep your eyes on all of the action on the screen while choosing a fader, or using the spot focus.
I don't care what anyone says about low light capabilities when it comes to other cameras. I'm here to tell you that Sony's low light is fantastic. I recently compared the new JVC GRDX77 at home to my Sony. And the difference was incredible. With just one lamp on The JVC was very dark, and the Sony was bright and clear. Sure you can adjust the JVC but the quality drops quickly. And when you turn the lights off, the JVC is useless. Dont' believe the professional tests they do. They are only filming a stationary test pattern so there is no blur, which is what all the other cameras will give you in low light when you use their "low light features". I can't tell you how many times I have used the infrared nightvision. Camping, watching my daughter sleep, looking into dark holes or into any place the eyes can't see. If the world was plunged into darkness I would definitely want to have my Sony camcorder.
I've heard some things said about these camcorders are just plain false.
1. The cameras manual functions cannot be utilized while using the viewfinder. Wrong. Flip the LCD out and recess it with the screen outward, and by pushing the screen you can see the commands appear in the viewfinder.
2. When using the VCR function you can't get the on screen buttons off, which clutters it up. Wrong. Hit the display button on the camera body and the screen clears showing only the picture.
3. The infrared is a ghostly unpleasant green. Wrong. You can go into the menu and change the color to sepia, black and white or negative. I like to use sepia.
I love this TRV22. It has a hot shoe, if I ever need to use it. It has a mic plug in. It has every kind of plug and plug out you could need actually. Plus it has time lapse photography, something my older Sony was missing. The form of the body makes holding this camera wonderful. It fits perfectly in my large hands, but is still small emough that I will take it everywhere I go.
Please believe me, you will not regret spending a little extra mullah on Sony, or if your smart you'll just pick up an older model like this one for under $400.
Thank you for reading my review.

I use this camcorder mainly for making short video's and it is awsome. I really like the touchscreen becuase it gets rid of all of the buttons on the camcorder and is so much easier. Also something I haven't heard anyone say in the reviews is the record button on the side of the LCD screen as well as the normal buton by your right thumb. The button beside the LCD is really nice for if you are trying to get an angled up view of someone, or are holding the camcoder in an awkard position. The video has great quality under almost all circumstances, even if the still pictures aren't that great a camcorder is for video not pictures.

The only things I don't like are; the 10x optical zoom which is small but the digital zoom does seem to be better than other camcorders I have had, the battery doesn't last as long as many other sony camcorders but is still above averge, and it has a slightly smaller viewing angle than most camcorders, but I have a wide angle lens that can be used to compensate for that if needed. There is the quiet humming noise that others have talked about, but you can't hear it unless you have the volume turned up really loud so it shouldn't really affect your choice.

The V22 camcorder is a great buy and is perfect for if you are taking home video's, or are editing short movies. I am very happy with my purchase and recommend it to everyone.

Mine lasted 2-1/2 years. Then suddenly one day the screen went black while recording. Then it would work for a while but the colors were distorted, then it would just black out again.
It turns out this is a very common "Black Screen of Death" that is reported all over the internet and affects this model as well as other Sony camcorders. There is a class-action lawsuit regarding the affected Sony models.
Sony of course deny's that there's a problem and wants $289 to fix it. Some who have had it repaired report that the same problem occurs anywhere from 90 days to 1-year after the repair.
Stay away from the Sony camcorders until they fix these problems

I have only recorded 3 tapes since I bought it two yeas ago. Now, the sound starts to break off on good half of the tape during the playback. Used the sony cleaning cassette to clean the head according to the user's guide. The problem stays. The worst part is that Sony has the track record to deny the problem on its product even you can find the complains all over the web. Stay away from Sony! It's not the old sony anymore.

I have use the camcorder lightly for 3 years and it just started goofing up with bad recordings and gray bands across the screen, for no reason. I bought sony for it's reliability, thanks sony.

This camcorder beats my Dad's more expensive camcorders from Sharp & panasonic. Low light condition is not a problem for this TRV22. no to little noise. sound is very clear. zoom resistance is on the money. tons of manual controls. spot focus is just WOW, no other camcorder has this tech. very well built. compact and feels just right. stylist. cool to look at. overall excellent video captures. Got to have this one.