Sony Handycam DCR-SX30 reviews: Sony camcorder

Here’s a list of the questions other shoppers have asked owners of the Sony Handycam DCR-SX30

1. I am having trouble downloading footage on to my computer. For some unknown reason to me it is not finding the camera when I connect it.
   
   Vanessa asked on 29 Jul 2010
   1. WE HAVE FOOTAGE ON OUR CAMERA FIRST TIME USE IN MAY AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS YOU BUT IN THIS BUSY LIFE WE HAVE NOT GOT ROUND TO FINDING OUT WHY OUR D.V.D. CAMERA TO DISK WONT RECOGNIZE THE CAMERA..WE HAVE REPLAYED ON T.V ON THE PICTURE IS VERY GOOD..THE EASE OF USE FANTASTIC ..I HOPE WE CAN BOTH FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG ..I WILL BE GETTING IN CONTACT WITH THE MAKERS.. CAROL
      
      carol replied on 30 Jul 2010

       
2. i get a warning thet recording may not be sucessfull when switching to the memory stick
   
   
   simon asked on 29 Jul 2010
   1. Hello Simon,
      
      As far as I remember not had that problem myself. I did have a problem when first inserting a memory stick rather than using the internal memory, but after a couple of attempts and further reading of the manual I got it sorted. Sorry if this reply isn't helpful. I will try out what you have said and see what happens.
      
      Kind regards
      
      John replied on 02 Aug 2010

       
3. I would like to know if this camera has a pause button or something like that because I would like to use it during recording and then continue in the same video.
   
   Lucy asked on 10 Aug 2010
   1. no it is on or of hope that helps
      
      carol replied on 10 Aug 2010

       
   2. It only has a pause on playback.
      
      John replied on 12 Aug 2010

       
   3. Provided you leave the 'door' open, you can stop recording then restart immediately; if you close the door, the camera takes a few seconds to become available for recording. However leaving the door open for long periods consumes battery life. Each time you stop, it creats a new file, but there is software available that will enable you to create a continuous 'film show'.
      
      Malcolm replied on 20 Aug 2010

       
4. Malcolm: Thank you very much and which software is available to create continuous film?
   
   Lucy asked on 25 Aug 2010
   1. Hi Lucy,
      
      The PMB software that comes with the Handicam can produce a continuous display either on your pC screen or by burning a CD. It's rather clunky software (particularly the CD burning), but I've just produced 6 CDs of our trip to NZ and Australia, including some still pictures (that you can display for 3 o4 or 5 secs) and some header slides that I converted from powerpoint. I had to buy the conversion software (AVS Image converter), but it's quite cheap and easy to use (with one minor irritation).
      
      Hope this helps - happy to help further if you wish
      
      Malcolm
      
      Malcolm replied on 26 Aug 2010

       
   2. we can not get the film that has been recorded.. onto our panasonic dvd hdd recorder from camera any advice please4r
      
      carol replied on 26 Aug 2010

       
5. i wanted to ask what is this mean E:61:10 keep on flushing on the screen and it won't focus anymore
   
   A shopper asked on 16 Sep 2010
   1. Sorry, I don't know. I guess either a fault or some obscure setting that the camera has. I suggest you try to find an independent camera shop who may be able to advise or (if its still in Warranty) refer to Sony.
      
      Malcolm replied on 16 Sep 2010

       
6. hi i bought this handycam , can you please let me know how much external memory does it support.
   
   
   
   shashank asked on 04 Oct 2010
   1. we went to russia and other countries for two weeks and it still had plenty of space left and because i wanted to try it out i used it a lot very simple
      
      carol replied on 04 Oct 2010

       
   2. Hi,
      
      I went to Scotland for nearly two weeks and was using it for wildlife videos and photos, I put in a 4GB memory card and had plenty of memory. If you look at page 47 of the operating guide it gives length of time for 4GB external memory and if you want to put bigger memory cards in just multiply the time.
      
      Hope this helps.
      
      John replied on 05 Oct 2010

       
   3. I have an external memory card - 8Gb (it might take more) - we went to New Zealand and Australia for four weeks and took lots of clips and stills. Even edited down, there's about three hours' worth. This is from both the camera and the external memory
      
      Malcolm replied on 07 Oct 2010

       
7. hi i bought this handycam , can you please let me know how much external memory does it support. i mean whether it supports 8gb or 16gb or 32 gb memory stick duo or memory stick pro duo
   
   shashank asked on 05 Oct 2010
   1. Hi,
      
      Ihave an 8Gb Sony memory card in my camera - I don't know whether you can install cards with more memory, but I expect so. Your instruction manual or local Sony dealer should be able to help.
      
      
      Malcolm replied on 05 Oct 2010

       
   2. Hi,
      
      I cannot see any reason why you shouldn't use any size memory card as long as it's MSPD. Personally I'd prefer to use smaller memory cards such as 4GB just in case the larger ones got lost. They contain a massive amount of video/photos and if it got lost it would be heartbreaking!
      
      Hope this helps.
      
      John replied on 05 Oct 2010

       
8. I had recordings on my camera, and now cant find them. I have not dowloaded them or deleted them.
   
   when i ran out of internal memory iI bought a memory stick. I have the recordings on this still, but cant find original recordings before this.
   
   is it possible that they have somehow been recorded over?
   
   Carolyn asked on 21 Nov 2010
   1. Hi Carolyn,
      
      First off I wouldn't have thought you would have lost recordings on the internal memory, but I'm no expert. I've just read page 34 of the operating guide, subtitled Changing the recording media, try checking this out and if this doesn't help get back to me and I'll think of something else to help.
      
      As of yet I've not got round to downloading anything be it on the internal memory or recording stick yet.
      
      Cheers
      
      John replied on 22 Nov 2010

       
   2. There is a menu option that shows you EITHER your internal memory pictures OR you External memory card pictures; you can't look at all of them together.
      
      Malcolm replied on 25 Nov 2010

       
9. is this camera compatable with windows 7
   
   joyce asked on 25 Nov 2010
   1. Hi,
      
      Probably, but I don't have Windows 7. You would need to load the software onto a W7 machine and see if it loads OK. The Instruction booklet should also say, or try Sony.
      
      Malcolm
      
      Malcolm replied on 25 Nov 2010

       
   2. I don't have W7 so have no idea. In my instruction booklet it says Windows XP with SP3 and Windows Vista SP1. Ring Sony they will advise you.
      
      John
      
      John replied on 26 Nov 2010

       
10. The sony website says min illumination with night shot - does that mean it has nightshot? Im looking for a camera with night vision infrared? Can anyone help?
    
    Carl asked on 25 Nov 2010
    1. Hi Carl,
       
       I've not had to use mine at night yet. Looking at the instruction booklet on page 40 it mentions in the scene selection night view. It would be best to ring Sony to get the best advice.
       
       Hope this helps.
       
       John replied on 26 Nov 2010

        
    2. Hi,
       
       Sorry, this question is probab;ly a bit technical for me. It certainly has an auto flash that operates when the camera detects poor light, and I've taken quite a lot of pictures at night (e.g., City views with lots of lights).
       
       Malcolm replied on 29 Nov 2010

        
11. I can't get the external memory stick to work, it will only work off the internal memory, I have lost the instructions, can anyone advise what I need to do to get it to work off the external memory stick.
    
    Trevor asked on 27 Nov 2010
    1. your memory stick may not be working . you could try another one .the instructions may be available to download from sony
       
       carol replied on 27 Nov 2010

        
    2. There is a menu option to switch between internal and external memory. Select the Home icon on the mimiscreen, and you should be able to find the option.
       
       Malcolm replied on 29 Nov 2010

        
12. I keep getting a message on the camcorder screen saying there is no room on the memory, i have brought a new memory stick and the same message appears, how do i resolve this problem?
    
    Fiona asked on 26 Dec 2010
    1. IF YOU DONT HAVE A BOOK YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ONE FROM SONY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME
       
       carol replied on 27 Dec 2010

        
    2. I've never had that problem. Do as Carol says and either download the instruction booklet form Sony or ring them up, the number was with my box etc.
       
       John replied on 30 Dec 2010

        
    3. You have to switch between cameras memory and 'external' memory (i.e., the memory card you bought and inserted into the camera. Can't remember exactly where, but it's in the menu system or can be found in the instruction book
       
       Malcolm replied on 07 Jan 2011

        
13. i can anyone tell me how to transfer video footage from my camera onto a dvd,
    thanks...sue.
    
    sue asked on 11 Feb 2011
    1. Hi,
       
       I bought software called PMB to convert your camera video clips onto a DVD. I also bought AVS4YOU software which converts a Powerpoint image into a static .jpg file (e.g., for a header slide) which can also be burned onto the DVD interleaved with the real video clips.
       
       Neither software was expensive, but both are clunky to use; I guess you get what you pay for. However, I proved that it can be done.
       Malcolm
       
       Malcolm replied on 12 Feb 2011

        
14. thanks malcolm. is it not possible to copy video footage from the camera and leads we got with it. i have an old sony videocamera that i could just plug leads into tv or dvd recorder and away i went..salesman didnt say i needed anything extra when i bought the new one. sue.
    
    sue asked on 12 Feb 2011
    1. I cannot answer your question but when I purchased mine the salesperson told me I'd be able to take photos while videoing, they obviously hadn't read the correction which was taped to my compact disc which said, " you cannot capture a photo from a movie recorded on Memory Stick PRO Duo media.
       
       I've had my camcorder a year now and haven't downloaded any photos or video as yet. That's not to say there isn't anything on it because the internal memory is full and a 4GB external is almost full.
       
       If I find out what you need to know I'll post you back.
       
       Regards
       
       John replied on 13 Feb 2011

        
    2. Hi Sue,
       
       Not so far as I know. Clearly you can copy from camera to computer with the software provided - maybe there is another option that would allow you to copy to DVD, but I haven't found it. However, I think that PMB came with the camera; I do rememebr buying the ppt to jpg converter, but that's not strictly necessary, only if you want to interleave static header slides. Do you still have your camera manual and/or CD that came with the camera? that should clarify the position re PMB.
       
       Malcolm replied on 13 Feb 2011

        
15. HI
    i haven't used the camera for a qwhile but last night i wanted touse but battery dead so put on chrager but no light ....i can't switch it on any more....any suggestion... thanks
    
    
    zebpun asked on 25 Apr 2011
    1. Hi,
       
       Other than buying a new battery I don't really have an answer. If it was me I would contact either a Sony dealer or Sony themselves, they should be able to answer your question.
       
       Hope this helps!
       
       Regards
       
       John replied on 26 Apr 2011

        
    2. Hi I am not an expert on detail of the circuitry involved but the light seems to me to indicate the charger rather than the battery. Check the connections and the fuse in the plug. I do agree about checking with Sony and with a dealer at least.
       
       Regards
       
       John replied on 26 Apr 2011

        
16. I've got the camera with my videos on it, but somehow I lost the cable to transfer the video from the camera to the computer and the software installation disc. How can I get the video on my computer?
    
    Ann asked on 02 May 2011
    1. I may be able to help with the disk because I am sure you can down load the Sony PMD software from the Sony site.
       The cable needs to be purchased perhaps from a Sony shop or borrowed from someone in your area.
       
       John replied on 02 May 2011

        
    2. Nothing to add as I would have said the same.
       
       Regards
       
       John replied on 03 May 2011

        
17. can i get fisheye on this and can you increase the shutter speed
    
    
    jojo asked on 02 Jul 2011
    1. not that i have found
       
       carol replied on 03 Jul 2011

        
    2. 1. I'm afraid I don't know what fisheye is.
       
       2. I would doubt you can increase shutter speed, because this is primarily a camcorder plus stills option and that sounds more sophisticated than you would expect. However, the manual should clarify.
       
       Malcolm replied on 04 Jul 2011

        
18. do you know where i can get an adapter and mains lead to charge the battery
    
    beryl asked on 17 Sep 2011
    1. e bay
       
       carol replied on 18 Sep 2011

        
    2. I would try your local Sony shop. You cannnot afford to get the wrong plug and then damage the camera when trying to insert it.
       
       John replied on 19 Sep 2011

        

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