> I would like to know your opinion about...
> Sharp MD-SR50 to start recording natural sounds...
The Sharp MD-SR50 came to market in 2000, and was
distributed primarily in Europe and Asia. It's
a little larger and heavier than minidisc models
sold today. The SR50 had no remote control; The
otherwise identical SR60 included one. This
model is occasionally available on Ebay, and
sells for $60 to $75 when it appears.
I have never used an SR50 so I can't speak from
personal experience. There are several links to
descriptions and reviews at
http://www.minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html
and you can find trouble reports for this model
at http://minidisc.ch/problems.asp
A quick Google search turns up two commonly
reported problems: short recording time (as
little as 60 minutes with one AA batery), and
sometimes losing the input from the microphone
when you adjust the record volume. Both
issues raise concerns about this recorder's
suitability for field use.
A minidisc with similar size, and features
but with a good track record is the Sony MZ-R37.
See http://www.minidiscussion.com/rev_MZ-R37.html
These units were sold in large numbers in the US,
so they are almost always available on Ebay for
$50 or $60. Independent minidisc repair specialist
David Popovits considers the MZ-R37 to be among
the most durable minidisc recorders made.
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