https://www.kunstform.org/

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

jim bauer BMX portrait RA

Re Print: Jim Bauer - 5000 Miles - 3 Days - 1 Photo

"How much better it could have been if I had full leathers and an Echo helmet."

23 Apr 2015
jason enns bmx WM

Re Print: My Favourite Photo

Featuring Joe 'Butcher' Kowalski, Ian Morris, Brian Castillo, Jason Enns and Keith Terra

1 Jan 2015
merritt IN OFFICE 1

Re-Print: Artisans - Merritt's Sean Curran

"The ratio of good design to bad design might be the best it’s been in a long time."

11 Dec 2014
Paul HORAN BMX van RD

Re Print: Inside Story - Paul Horan

"Life on the outside might get shitty from time to time, but you have no idea..."

27 Nov 2014
Maintain  I  V  Cover  Photo
Play Button

Maintain I.V Trailer

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

13 Dec 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
NAVAZ BMX editing RD

Re-Print: One Question with Ryan Navazio

"You can film stuff with those cameras and it feels more like a memory when you watch it."

23 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
HODER MUG 2

Re Print: Mike Hoder - Full Bleed

"Got no wisdom left, just teeth"

9 Oct 2014
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
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
cult crew bmx holga 2010 graphic

Re Print: What If? Cult Trip 01

A look back at our exclusive coverage of the first ever Cult Trip

27 Feb 2018
http://colonybmx.com.au/products/

Latest Content

U9y7wim OTN Qhqdefault
Play Button

STAYCLUUT

Stijn Hens, Jordan Hango, Joe Jarvis, Reed Stark and more

27 Oct 2025
V Zs QXRG58 Bohqdefault
Play Button

GUTTER - One for the Ditch (Trailer)

An Irish scene video

27 Oct 2025
N N Tfa OD Ayr Ahqdefault
Play Button

RED BULL SESSION AT MELLOWPARK

Garrett Reynolds, Courage Adams, Lara Lessmann and more

26 Oct 2025
Cwhv Rb Y Bw Uhqdefault
Play Button

GnarBarn BARNBRAWL - Team Kansas

State vs state

26 Oct 2025
Is Ye IO rt Skhqdefault
Play Button

GnarBarn BARNBRAWL - Team Illinois

State vs state

26 Oct 2025
L Mo XV66 Gv0shqdefault
Play Button

GnarBarn BARNBRAWL - Team Iowa

Iowa heat

26 Oct 2025
X Od Q6r V Qjb8hqdefault
Play Button

GnarBarn BARNBRAWL - Team Wisconsin

State vs state

26 Oct 2025
G Jx32u Ry7 X4hqdefault
Play Button

SEAN GARDNER - RAW CUT

EARNING EVERY CLIP

25 Oct 2025
3g Djhajae P Ihqdefault
Play Button

Alex Capalongo - Work Bmx

DIG locals sequel

25 Oct 2025
Yb7 D01j Kpi Mhqdefault
Play Button

ALEX DULEBA - JUST ENOUGH DVD

Grinds on point

24 Oct 2025
FAOGVXA6pt Ihqdefault
Play Button

WAR PARTY - WEBEFILMING - 013

Filming with the Colony crew

24 Oct 2025
1 Gt m WBXB8 Ihqdefault
Play Button

Launch Box - Fall 2025 - A Profile Mixer

Autumn randomness

24 Oct 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Battleinthe Streets 92

REPO: Battle In The Streets Jam - Vancouver

"one rider walked away with the $1000 cash prize"

27 Oct 2025
IMG 2986

Inside KHE Bikes - 44 years of BMX history with Thomas Göring

“I didn’t have a proper cutting machine at the time, so I hand-cut each peg. They all ended up different lengths.”

24 Oct 2025
Dig motobunka collection square Recovered

THE DIG X MOTO-BUNKA COLLECTION

An all new collaboration with Japan's finest

22 Oct 2025
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