http://colonybmx.com.au

Re Print: Homage - The Sony TRV900

“It was video camera simplicity at its best.”

10 May 2018

Sony TRV900 2

Words and Photo by Rob Dolecki Originally published in DIG 94 'The Video issue' May 2013

This is going to sound like a bunch of nerding-out to the tenth degree about video cameras. But when talking about such a classic camera as the Sony TRV 900, I’ll do it anyway. Sometime around the end of 2001, I decided to buy a video camera. This was before HD cameras had become the norm, and it was all about DV tapes and Sony cameras; they were the undisputed ruler of the camcorder market, particularly with their timeless VX series cameras. Post-VX2000 release, Sony was also offering a more affordable three-chip camera called the TRV 900. It almost seemed like every BMX videographer had begun using a 900 at that time. Stew Johnson, Chris Rye, Will Stroud, etc.; Ryan Navazio went through four of them during his early years of filming. The first Animal video was also filmed almost entirely with one.

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing

What made this camera so special? For starters, it was small; you could throw it in any backpack and just cruise (Bob Scerbo, the most diehard TRV 900 fan you will ever meet, still does that often today). Its almost “cheap” aesthetic styling gave it more of an appearance of a video camera that you’d find in a discount department store. You could roll into the greasiest hood, whip out the camera, and not worry about attracting too much attention.

It was also possible to get the then-coveted .3 Century fisheye lens to fit, and in essence, have a look similar to the VX 1000 fisheye (Century also came out with a "baby” death lens around this time, and with the 52 mm adapter ring/JB weld modification, using the baby death helped prevent the front of the camera from potentially being ripped off due to the weight of the regular .3 lens, which was almost the same as the camera itself). That bonus alone could produce similar footage to the bigger VX brothers, at least during the daytime. It was pretty amazing.

But the camera definitely had its flaws, like producing ultra-grainy footage from dusk on into dark and a poor audio quality. The fire-wire input jack is almost sure to fail after a few years of use. And the playback menu’s matte clear coating on the plastic face would wear away after literally a few dozen uses (when buying a used TRV, examining that menu was a good gauge for seeing how much the camera had really been used). Not to mention little things like the "Sony" letters on the side, which would conveniently start falling off after a few years. But the camera is a workhorse, and despite the HD revolution, with a small cult-like following, some are still in use today.

Megatour Mt2 Trv900 Will Stroud Rd

Will Stroud's TRV900 set-up. Props Megatour 2 - 2003. Photo by Rob Dolecki

Not long after I bought mine, Sony decided to discontinue the 900 and release the TRV 950. Users of the 900 were excited about the prospect for an improved version. Better in low-light? A 37mm mount for the baby death? Better sound? Maybe even some kind of top handle with start/stop record button? I think everyone was disappointed when they actually saw one and could test it out. Yeah, the 37mm lens mount was a great addition, eliminating the need to modify a baby death lens. But everything else about the camera was horrible. Shitty color rendition. Even worse (!) in low light. Goofy “pro-sumer” features like a pop-up flash for still photos that were probably captured on a one-kilo pixel sensor. The camera was an utter failure. And on top of that, TRV was no longer in production because of its release. Soon, 950s started popping up for sale everywhere and the desperate search (usually in vain) for a used 900 was the only redemption for one’s video capturing ability. Sure, Canon had their GL-2 available, but other than Glenn Milligan (sorry, Glenn), who would want to use that piece of garbage? It was a sad time for TRV die-hards.

Despite being over a decade since their last production run, TRV 900s can still often be found on eBay today. I guess their continued prevalence shows the durability, longevity, and relevance they had, and that they are one of, if not the most classic DV video camera ever made. OK, maybe that’s a personal opinion, and I might be biased because it was the first legitimate video camera I had ever bought, and I may sell mine soon (box included). In reality, there are better candidates for something like the title “best DV video camera ever produced.” But that’s not the reason for recognizing the 900 here. While skateboarding really solidified the legendary status of the Sony VX1000 and 2000, it's safe to say that BMX was responsible for the TRV 900 becoming a classic for affordability, size, and footage quality. It was video camera simplicity at its best. Now if only Sony would make an HD version…

Previous

Setups: Kriss Kyle

And His BSD Passenger

Next

Setups: Ethan Corriere

And His FIT Savage

Related Content

Maintain  I  V  Cover  Photo
Play Button

Maintain I.V Trailer

Premiering right here this Tuesday, December 15th...

13 Dec 2015
WIZ BMX 2009 RD 1

Re Print: Wiz - First Time For Everything

Dedicated to the riders who have truly influenced bike riding

19 Feb 2015
Dave clymer backyard jam flip 1994 PD 1

Re Print: 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Backyard Jams

"By '97 the events had just got out of control!"

14 May 2015
craig cambell fastplant london2 2010 RH

Re Print: The Craig Campbell Interview

The man who invented peg grinds and the 540 wall ride. One of the most influential street riders of all time...

26 Mar 2015
DIG Legends BMX alternative 2

Re Print: Alternative Legends of the DIG era

Featuring Josh Stricker, Jimmy Levan, Paul Buchanan and Taj Mihelich

4 Dec 2014
hawk-lacey-kennedy-hoder

Re-Print: First Encounters

Recognise these guys? Our earliest photos with some of the best in the game…

2 Oct 2014
Stew Johnson bmx aggro man AW

Re-Print: The Eddie Roman Influence

Stew Johnson reflects on 3 of his all time favorite videos, and the man behind them...

30 Oct 2014
Nutter Trails BMX shark bite PA 08 RD

Re Print: When Nutter Got Bit By A Shark

“It was just one of those things"

26 Feb 2015
Legenday-sandm-product-title 1

Re Print: Legendary Products - S&M Slam Bars and Redneck Stem

Legit Influential Classics of the Modern era

21 May 2015
Maintain Ii V Cover Art 72 Dpi
Play Button

Maintain II.V Promo

OUT NOW!

7 Dec 2017
adam roye for Dig high res

Re-Print: Adam Roye - Creating A Cult

"I like shit that's a little fucked up" - A true BMX artisan speaks his mind

15 Sep 2014
Ralph sinisi bmx crop BC

Re Print: First Hand Account

That Time Animal's Ralph Sinisi Broke His Femur Filming for Nowhere Fast...

10 Sep 2020
http://www.divisionbrand.com/news/

Latest Content

O87c ja sn Ihqdefault
Play Button

ALEX KENNEDY - PROJECT Xtras

"That pop!"

8 Oct 2025
P Ugc5d Ew U3 Ehqdefault
Play Button

MOTO-TOUR ISSUE 02

UNDER 13 TAIWAN TOUR

8 Oct 2025
WSXC1 AE Nbkhqdefault
Play Button

WAR PARTY - WE OUTSIDE BABY

Renato Rancso, Boyd Hilder, and Raph Jeroma-Williams

8 Oct 2025
0ls M Aewc Qghqdefault
Play Button

Junior Cunha - Brazilian Frequency

His third Subrosa / Shadow video

8 Oct 2025
O YAL9 Zi LA0 Yhqdefault
Play Button

BOYD HILDER - JETLAG UNPLUGGED

Unseen Hilder

6 Oct 2025
O M9z YI0js W Mhqdefault
Play Button
0n0nssvm A Uohqdefault
Play Button

MIKI FLECK 'ELECTRIC ZUIN'

240v on those spots

3 Oct 2025
B7 Cl Ny w Dbchqdefault
Play Button

LISMORE ROAD TRIPPIN'

NOTHING BEATS A ROAD TRIP!

3 Oct 2025
K7lg 7k5yl4hqdefault
Play Button

Vans x Odyssey Anniversary Collection 2025

"In honor of their 40-Year Anniversary, Odyssey have partnered with Vans on a new limited-edition collection"

2 Oct 2025
13 J4 Ao Oc Akghqdefault
Play Button
Overtime Thumbnail Colour v2 copy
Play Button

OVERTIME

Ft. Chad Ferch, Kent Fuller, Matt Perrin & More

1 Oct 2025
NSA08 Ouah Zghqdefault
Play Button

Shred BMX - Think Different

Perspectives from the Cleveland scene

30 Sep 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

VANS ODYSSEY 2025 COLLECTION FF RAMP 003

"The inspiration was right in front of our eyes" The story behind the Vans X Odyssey 40 Year Collab

An interview with Nuno Oliveira (Odyssey) and Justin Villano (Vans)

25 Sep 2025
07 2025 Huffy Sledgehammer Launch Project 132

Product Drop: HUFFY Sledgehammer frame

Huffy returns to BMX...

22 Sep 2025
Team kevin peraza boh winner 2025

BATTLE OF HASTING 2025 - TEAM PERAZA TAKES THE WIN

Results, Livestream re-runs, DIG Highlights & more

27 Aug 2025
Dig book cover mock better CROP

DIG - THIS BIKE COULD BE YOUR LIFE - "DOCUMENTING OVER 30 YEARS of D.I.Y. BMX CULTURE" PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN

An all new photo book from DIG focusing on our magazine history and the rise of the mid-school

1 Aug 2025
Thumbnail 2

Product Drop - ODYSSEY '85 Splatter kit

Nord, Walsh stems and Hazard lite rims

29 Jul 2025
Shirt swell k0150m back

Product Drop - KINK 2025 APPAREL

For Fall/Winter

23 Jul 2025
Big boyd black

Product Drop - ODYSSEY BIG BOYD RIMS

Boyd Hilder signature BIG BOYD rims in Black and Coffee.

11 Jun 2025
LOW Street station Saturday Jarvis 1 copy

MONSTER ENERGY 'CASH UP' 2025 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Another Year - New Locations - Even More Jams!

26 May 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

26 May 2025
Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall

BRUNO HOFFMANN INTERVIEW - 'FOREIGN'

"I think the scene is doing good..."

21 Apr 2025
RIXIN BIG APPLE ANGLE RAW ON WHITE 2500

PRODUCTIVITY - RIXIN Big Apple Frame

Billy Perry's signature frame - Built around what he needed.

8 Apr 2025
Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025