Sony DCR-DVD405

244 reviews

Dec, 2024

Positive
usability (175)
image quality (73)
portability (67)
price (57)
size (30)

Negative

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 244 reviews of Sony DCR-DVD405. The average rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. Reviewers really like the size and price. The portability and image quality also get good feedback, whereas there are mixed views on the memory and reliability.

usability, image quality, portability, price, size

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Sony DCR-DVD405 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 84/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 244 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(63% of reviews)
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Showing 1 - 209 of 220 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (24)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony DCR-DVD405

alaTest has collected and analyzed 2 user reviews of Sony DCR-DVD405 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.co.uk. Reviews about the battery and price are overall positive. The size and image quality also get good feedback, but there are some critical comments about the portability.

usability, image quality, size, price, battery

portability

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony DCR-DVD405

alaTest has collected and analyzed 197 user reviews of Sony DCR-DVD405 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. Views about the size and portability are overall positive. The price and image quality are also mentioned favorably. There are some negative comments about the reliability.

usability, image quality, price, portability, size

reliability

88% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405

Better-than-average video quality; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound recording; decent still photos.

No video light; occasional compression artifacts still noticeable; slightly grainy low-light video; LCD too small for touch-screen operation.

The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405 is a solid DVD camcorder, as long as you don't mind fiddling with a touch-screen interface on a too-small display.

May, 2006

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Expert review by : Easy Camcorder (easycamcorders.com)

Expert Review

The DVD405 is Sony's direct follow-up to the popular DVD403. Sony did offer a new top model, the DVD505, this year, which uses a CMOS sensor. The DVD405 uses the same 1/3” CCD as last year, but the imaging system seems to have undergone some changes...

Well placed in-camcorder flash, -Easy mode, -Zoom toggle, -Thumbnail playback menu structure

High compression levels with DVD format, -Minimal manual control capabilities, -Mic input can only be engaged through the proprietary hot shoe and thus only with Sony brand products, -Poorly structured menus are controlled through touch screen...

Apr, 2006

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Expert review by : James Murray (camcorderinfo.com)

Sony DCR-DVD405 Camcorder Review

The DCR-DVD405 is Sony's penultimate DVD camcorder this year, and the follow-up to the enormously popular DVD403. Very little has been added in the way of features since last year, but the price has dropped by a hundred bucks to $900 (MSRP). Sony does...

In the end, the Sony DCR-DVD405 and DVD505 may be more similar than Sony counted on. The $200 price gap suggests that the CMOS sensor would provide significantly better results. It's either that, or the 505's "Smooth Slow Record" feature is so...

Mar, 2006

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Expert review by : James Murray (reviewed.com)

Sony DCR-DVD405

The Sony DCR-DVD405 has a 1/3" CCD with 3.31 gross MP. This are the same specs of the imager found on last year's DVD403, the model which the DVD405 is replacing. This imager gives an effective pixel count of 2.05 MP in 4:3 aspect ratio and 2.06 MP in...

Mar, 2006

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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com.au)

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405

Better-than-average video quality; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound recording; decent still photos.

No video light; occasional compression artifacts still noticeable; slightly grainy low-light video; LCD too small for touch-screen operation.

The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405 is a solid DVD camcorder, as long as you don't mind fiddling with a touch-screen interface on a too-small display.

May, 2006

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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.co.uk)

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405 review

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405

Better-than-average video quality; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound recording; decent still photos.

No video light; occasional compression artifacts still noticeable; slightly grainy low-light video; LCD too small for touch-screen operation.

The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405 is a solid DVD camcorder, as long as you don't mind fiddling with a touch-screen interface on a too-small display.

May, 2006

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Consumer review (newegg.com)

Great Camcorder!!

Did tons of research and price comparison before selecting this model. Hunted for value plus quality and I feel this camcorder delivers the goods.

Excellent camcorder. Easy to use, video quality is exceptional. Great value

None so far

Nov, 2006

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Consumer review (newegg.com)

Fantastic

Price may seem high (although newegss price is very reasonable by comparison), but it is well worth it. The Samsung DV recorder had such a grainy picture. The picture is CRYSTAL clear from the Sony. We have recorded probably 6 hours or so and its all...

The picture quality is unreal. We had a DV recorder and were never happy with the video. It is a night and day difference ; Sound quality is also great

The only problem I have wit hit is the diplay of "Sony disc rocommended" every time you turn it on if it does not have a Sony DVD in there

Aug, 2006

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Consumer review (newegg.com)

The first few days were good

I own Sony TVs, DVD players, and radioes. This the first product from that company that so fast. Newegg is great.

Newegg is great 1 e-mail and my issues where on the way to being fixed

I started using the DCR-DVD405 on Thursday it failed the next Tuesday. Suddenly it decided there was something wrong with the disk. I put a new disk in same problem. I was using Sony -R so I went and got a Sony -RW still won't work. So I'm RMAing the...

Apr, 2006

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Consumer review (newegg.com)

very clear

I like this DVD405 Digital Camcorder. you can record on DVD or memory card. It's small and make very clear DVD video. also you can digital photo

I wish the battery is better ; NP-FP60 only use one hour and half. Sony battery charge too much. I will find other battery for this Camcorder,I use Verbatim 1.4GB 2X DVD-RW to replace Sony DVD. It's cheaper and ok

Mar, 2006

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