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

The DCR-IP220 boasts Carl Zeiss optics with an advanced multilayer coating. It features a 10x optical and 120x precision digital zoom, SteadyShot picture stabilization, and a super NightShot infrared system for recording in total darkness--new to MicroMV Handycam camcorders.

In addition to video, the DCR-IP220 offers enhanced digital still photo features, including intelligent pop-up flash and hologram AF--an autofocus feature designed to achieve accurate subject focus with minimal contrast in dark conditions. Through an MPEG movie AD mode, the DCR-IP220 also allows you to capture MPEG1 compressed video and audio for up to 60 seconds directly to Memory Stick media in four different quality modes: light, standard, fine, and super fine.

The MicroMV tape is 70 percent smaller than a MiniDV tape and provides up to 60 minutes of digital video footage. It has a 64K memory chip that allows for a multisearch function to access different recorded sections of the tape as one would on a DVD, creating a thumbnail image of each recorded scene on the tape. Additionally, whenever a MicroMV cassette is inserted into the camcorder or the VCR mode is used, cassette information is automatically displayed on the LCD, showing the first and last date of use, how much recording space remains, and titling capability so the user can title the videotape.

Connect to your PC or Mac via a super-fast IEEE 1394 port (also called FireWire). You can also connect wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled PC.

pros:
- delivers vibrant colors when shooting in daylight.
- 10x carl zeiss vario-sonnar T* lens.
- 2MP still capability.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, bluetooth, mic input, etc.
- has a built in pop-up flash for taking stills.
- steady shot and night shot.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- top-loading cassette.
- boatloads of optional accessories.
- manual focus/zoom ring on lens.
- has NightFraming which allows you to focus and compose your scene in total darkness with the aid of the infrared emitter, then shoot a full-color still with the pop-up flash. very cool.

cons:
- microMV format is proprietary and may go the way of betamax.
- microMV video quality is noticeably worse than MiniDV.
- images emerge washed-out when shooting indoors.
- uses an mpeg version that may not be compatible with your current video editor.
- Super Night Shot, Color Night Shot very choppy in low/no light.
- not Mac compatible.
- very bad ergonomics - zoom and photo shutter controls are poorly positioned.
- LCD can't tilt backwards - if you've had it before, you'll miss the ability to show kids themselves as you videotape them.
- the advantage of microMV is size but that's not reflected in this camcorder. this is the biggest microMV camcorder out there: 3.9"W x 3.0"H x 5.3"D, weighing 1.5 lbs. you can get smaller camcorders like the panasonic's gs70 or sony's trv33 or the pc105. granted, those have less features, mainly still camera capability (2.0 megapixel vs 1.0 megapixel).
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- the included 8MB memory stick (for a 2 megapixel still camera!) is unacceptable. you'll need at least a 64MB memory stick with if you want to take full advantage of the higher resolution pics you'll be taking.
- although bundling the camcorder and still camera together means you only have to carry one piece of equipment, it also means that if one breaks, you have to replace both.
- as an alternate to this bundling strategy, you can get a gs70 or trv33 or pc105 and get a 3 megapixel still camera and still save money in the process!
- battery life could be better.
- only 2.5" LCD and it's not as crisp as others in the sony line-up.
- non-intuitive menu system.
- bottom loading battery so you can't replace this while mounted on a tripod.
- the accessory shoe is not a hot shoe.
- no built in video light but you can get one less than a hundred bucks.

in the end, the microMV format is a deal breaker for me. it is sony proprietary and not widely supported. and the main reason for even using microMV (size) is not really reflected in this camcorder. if you're looking for a camcorder/camera hybrid, i'd say wait a couple more years (hopefully). the still quality is just not there yet. your best bet is to get a decent camcorder and complement it with a stand-alone digital camera.

i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.

PROS:
1.Great resolution and great quality video produced (530 lines and 2.2 megapixels). (5 star quality)
2. Digital zoom (X700) works fine using a tripod and produces somewhat clear images. Any zoom magnification up to X120, produces very clear moving images.
3. The still pictures are compatible with any 2.0 megapixel camera.
4. Low light video never appeared grainy.
5. Touch screen menu-Many options are available & can be reached quickly. It has a similar feeling to a PDA Palm pilot.

CONS:
1.Video Editing or video email is only possible if your computer system is Windows ME, XP, 2000, and above. If you have Windows 98/98SE and below, then you need to upgrade.
2.If you are into serious computer editing, then this is not the camera for you. The Micromv format is supported only by Sony's Movie Shaker (included), Ulead's MediaStudio Pro 7, and Pinnacle's Studio Deluxe 8.1 . MovieShaker captures with the best quality, but it produces pixellated moving images and stores the files as .mmv. After capturing, the file must be exported to mpeg/avi/etc format. To render 1min 46secs of mmv footage, it took me about 30 mins for mpeg 2 and 8 mins for mpeg 1. MediaStudio 7 captures micromv footage very easily (after downloading the patch) and offers the quickest,most compatable options (direct output to avi/mpeg). Capture is instantaneous (as is cpaturing from most DV camcorders). However, the quality is also somewhat pixellated and the playback is jerky in moving areas. I have not tried Pinnacle.
2. No microphone input jack! It is hard to record a speaker's message if you are in crowds of people. If you have large hands, you may end up covering the bulit in mic and receive no sound at all.
3. Tiny Buttons!It is very difficult to zoom using the very tiny zoom button. Also,the record button is sticking out and you can accidently knock it.
4. Touch screen menu. If for any reason the touch screen is damaged, then it is dificult to command function of the camcorder.

If you are not into Computer editing or emailing video, then this camera deserves a "5 Star Rating". However, considering that I bought the camera with the intentions of editing, I have to say that I am a little upset with the finished quality.

Cons: Expensive. MicroMV format may or may not equal MiniDV. Lens could be more wide-angle.

I found the camera easy to carry, though I kind of wish it had a neck strap. I think the size is about right - not too small to handle, but still very easy to carry. One complaint/frustration was that its lense doesn't seem to be as wide-angle as I'm used to - trying to tape inside buildings, etc. I found myself constantly backing into corners and still cutting people off at the waist, etc. - I may have to look into getting a wide-angle lense for this. Of course, I was trying to tape inside 150 year old houses with small rooms, so that didn't help. As for video and still quality, all I can say is that they look fine to me - I watched for pixelization or other artifacts reported as being problems with MicroMV, but haven't noticed any even in dark areas. I will say that experimenting with the night shot and super night shot, I don't see much use for them - I could hardly distinguish what I recorded in these modes. I was impressed by the ability of the still camera and flash to take decent photos of buildings from around 50 feet away in near total darkness. I didn't expect the flash to work at such a distance, but the photos came out quite well. One reason I selected this camera was that I thought it was better designend for use in underwater housings than the PC120BT I was also considering - primarily because the screen is on the back rather than flipping out to the side (which requires a much larger housing, or not using the screen). I didn't get a chance to try the camera in an underwater housing on this trip, but I still think the design will lend itself to this application. Ergonomically I prefer the IP220, but I have lingering questions about whether I sacrificed video quality by going with this model. But that's based on others's comments on previous MicroMV camcorders - not on any problems I've seen with my own camera or video. I haven't yet loaded video or stills onto my PC for editing, so I can't comment on that.

The pros:
1. Video quality is excellent, same for the recorded sound qulity which is crystal clear
2. Swivel LCD panel is very easy to use and innovative
3. Touch screen feature works well and is pretty user-friendly
4. The set sits perfectly in the palm and the finger position also fits very nicely with the zoom lever, photo button and record button

The cons:
1. Even with 2.1 Mega pixels CCD, IP220 does not provide the kind of picture quality as other Sony digital cameras (like DSC-70), especially at 1600x1200 resolution
2. The MicroMV to MPEG2 conversion through movie shaker 3.1 (MPEG2-TS)is incompatible with the regular DVD standard (MPEG2-PS), therefore, it is impossible to burn DVD for regular DVD player use without converting it through a third-party software (e.g. pinnacle studio 8)

I would recomment this unit to those who care more about the video quality than photo quality.