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Sharp VLNZ100U MiniDV Compact Digital Viewcam w/3" Color LCD, MMC/SD Memory Card Slot & USB Interface

Sharp VLNZ100U MiniDV Compact Digital Viewcam w/3" Color LCD, MMC/SD Memory Card Slot & USB Interface

List Price: $599.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Won't connect to the computer for Video Transfer
Review: The camera records good video images, I'm very happy with that. The controls work fairly well, though the menus take some getting used to. I like the two handed operation, thought it's easy for the right thumb to accidentally punch buttons that turn off the auto-focus... The still images are very grainy, but I don't use this camera for that very often.

That's the good, here's the ugly: I got this camera to download digital video into my PC through the onboard 1394 connection. It simply doesn't work. I called Sharp tech support: "We can't guarantee that the 1394 interface will work with any other devices except another Sharp camera." Then why the h-e-doubletoothpicks doesn't the manual say that? Why does their advertising trumpet the ability to download video to the computer? Smacks of false advertising to me.

Totally bogus.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not so good as it appears in the picture
Review: No place to put the hand on,and the LCD quality is not so good.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Dirty Video Head Problems on first new tape
Review: I had the same problems as others did. I am glad that I tested this out before it was too late to return it. I only used this once with a brand new Sony miniDV tape. It was OK the first time I played it, but the picture dropped out the second time around... pixelation... sound drops out... If this happens with one tape, I would hate to imagine what happens in a year when the warranty runs out. (reminds me of the early GM cars)

I saw the problems that other people had and thought... hey it won't happen to me. Well...I happened to me (and it ...). Make sure that you test this thing carefully!!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Playback quality was totally unacceptable.
Review: I opened the package and tested the Viewcam with a brand new tape in a fairly clean room. Played back image was terribly distorted with several horizontal mozaic-patterned bars. During further recording, "head dirty" warning sign occasionally came up. Cleaned the head with a brand new cleaning tape, without any improvement. I returned the Viewcam and bought a SONY TRV-18, which, to my surprise, played back the very movie without any problem. This means, in my case, the Viewcam recorded the image successfully but could not show its achievement on its own monitor.
Still pictures were OK though. Sensitivity is lot better than my FinePix 4800 and the image quality was better than TRV-18.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Little Wonder
Review: I just just got this little wonder,and it is a joy.It is easy to use right out of the box,and its size of a digital camera makes it even better.The video is no dvd quality,but it is far better than vhs.The still pictures are great to,and you can store over 150 pics.Uploading to the pc is easy.This camcorder fits in a digital camera pouch making lugging this camera around a joy.All and all this is a great camera at a great price.If you have money to throw around,then go purchase a cannon,or sony,if not this little wonder will work wonders for you.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Wish it worked well
Review: I tried two of these. The first one would pixalate the picture and the sound would drop out. Also there was a green flashing tint when I tryed to capture from my other 8mm camcorder to convert the tape to digital. Amazon was very good about getting me a second camera in short order. Unfortunantly, it had a loud tape drive motor that the mic would pick up while recording so you always had a buzzing whine in the background. I liked the camera and wished it had worked well. Still pictures were very weak but it was cool to have that ability at all. Don't give up your dedicated digital still camera. Light sensitivity is a couple of years behind. Good light, good picture- poor light, well, you get the picture.
Can't beat the price but I think I will wait to see what else comes along. As I said, if it had just worked properly I would have been satisfied for the price.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: worked out well but BEWARE!
Review: i purchased this camera a while ago and received it yesterday. the firewire transfer works!! but beware>>>others are saying it doesnt..so i really cant recommend it. its small and convenient with decent video quality. i use a belkin firewire. if it doesnt work it seems that sharp is kinda saying "too bad" and not doing anything..so be careful!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A fine camcorder
Review: I've had no trouble at all with this camcorder. The video quality is good, although not on par with Sharp's better camcorders or Sony's or JVC's, but you get better-than-VHS quality for an incredible price. (I can't believe they now offer a [better] rebate!) I've had no problems connecting to three Macintoshes or a Sony VAIO desktop. Maybe the other reviewers had drive-incompatibility issues on their PCs.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good value
Review: Great value for the price. Very easy to use. Took me some time to hook up with USB of older computer. W2000 will see the usb port very easily. Video pics are fatastic. Only disappoitment is the still pics, good for closeup, bad for bigger scenery. But worth every cent for the price.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Don't Get It
Review: Well I have to say that Amazon.com was very good about replacing the camcorder. They are now sending me my 3rd sharp VLNZ100U camcorder. Very Nice ppl they are. Now the camera on the other hand well that is another story. It takes good video but it just doesn't want to play it back to the computer. The video comes back all digitized and full of bars. I figured maybe it was because it is going into the computer, so i unplugged the firewire, same thing, just chunked video. I would recommend buying this camera if you JUST want to RECORD. Don't think about playing it back. ROFL a one way camcorder.


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