Rating: 
Summary: Purchased today
Review: I purchased the ZR80 mini DV camcorder online, and received it today... one thing I was disappointed about is that this camcorder has no SD card slot like some of the other ZR series camcorders do... still shots go directly on your DV tape (one tape holds about 700 shots) It's not that big of an issue for me because I own a fantastic digital camera, and would prefer my pictures to be taken with that... but it might be an issue for someone who was planning on getting it all in one package (and it can be a big convenience that way!)
The special effects on this camcorder are great, and the video I have taken so far is wonderful... Two suggestion though: PLAY with the settings and READ the book!! I have seen so many reviews of Canon camcorders that say they are no good in low light (BTW the nightshot is simple to use and highly effective)
Rating:
Summary: So far, great cam...
Review: I scoured the net for a camera (my first). I looked at many brands and moodels, all price ranges (price wasn't really a big factor, but why pay more if you don't have to?) I have had my camera for less than a week, but have been testing it non-stop. I need to make sure I understand it by the time I go on my vacation.I have read all of the reviews, both good and bad comments. It seems to me that some of the people who are rating this camera are looking ffor some professional heavy duty unit that has every feature on the planet. I really like this cam. It's easy to use, has great features and boasts a pretty great price. The night mode works pretty good. Does everyone here think they are getting a piece of military equipment or something from StarTrek? It picks up a good picture, and it's in color, unlike many other cams that have a green hue. The zoom (both optical and digital) works great! You can get very close up with the digital zoom, and as long as you are not trying to see an ant from an airplane, it's clear (not much quality degredation). I have hooked the cam up to my TV to see what the footage looks like on something other than the LCD, and it's GREAT! I can't wait to see what I can do with my MAC and iMovie!! The only CON for now is the power switch. It's a little harrd to manipulate with just your thumb (I'm getting better though). If you want a great cam for a vacation, or to shoot family footage, this cam is a good choice. Try to take what others say about this cam with a grain of salt. They expect too much.
Rating:
Summary: Canon ZR80 makes fine video
Review: Optics, the ability to deal with lighting conditions, and hand-held stability were the important factors in my buying decision. I edit my works on the computer, so effects were not important (and should be used sparingly!) The Canon ZR-80 is lightweight and well-balanced. The ability to return to 'easy' mode with the flick of a switch from anywhere in custom settings is a great feature. The camera turns out nice-looking video with practice. Another plus: I was able to train a cameraman for a family event in less than one minute. I showed him the zoom and the pause, and off he went. As with most digital cameras, there is no video noise between pause and record. If you don't want to edit on a computer, the pause-record method makes for clean segues. Finally, as a previous reviewer writes, you'll need to purchase a firewire cable separately - a $20 to $40 item!
Rating: 
Summary: Works as promised
Review: Pros: Easy to use, great quality images in normal light and outdoors. Firewire interface works fast and flawlessly (both directions) with several different programs; tiny, lightweight, easy on the battery (don't use the LCD screen much); plenty of zoom; included battery charges quickly (but does not come with separate charger). Cons: Only one: lower quality images in low light; changing settings and night mode does help some, but still not as good as my old Canon analog camcorder. It does have an accessory shoe for a light. The bottom line: an inexpensive unit that's great for family videos (note: if you want a still image function, buy a digital camera!).
Rating: 
Summary: LOUD Motor Noise!
Review: The first ZR80 that we tested on Christmas morning had a lot of motor noise and it was very distracting when watching the tapes.
We exchanged it through Amazon, and the second one was even louder! The recordings are unwatchable because of the noise.
I wrote Canon directly, and their response was was "The ZR80 does produce some motor noise when recording on the tape. This
is considered normal for this camcorder."
I'll be exchanging this one for a Sony. Too bad, I like everything else about the camera and I have had good luck with Canon products in the past.
Rating:
Summary: A good camcorder with one huge drawback
Review: There are lots of things you look for in a camcorder. Features, quality construction, and something easy to use are all things to consider. In the lower price range a lot of camcorders are alike and you have to look at some small specifics to figure out what's the best buy. The ZR80 is a good camcorder, but it has one major flaw that its predecessors did not - it has no mike input. The built in microphones on almost all camcorders, certainly those selling for less than $1000, are notoriously bad. They generally pick up 180 degrees of sound. In a group situation, at a party for example, the audio sounds like utter chaos. Canons also seem to be especially prone to picking up motor noise from the camera itself. Thus, if you're interested in good sound you need to have a camcorder with a mike input. Unfortunately, Canon chose to reduce the features on their 2004 ZR line by taking away the mike input. Why they did this is astonishing because it makes no sense. If you want a Canon camcorder with good sound you really need to either get an older model - almost any of the older ZRs including the 45, 50, 60, 65 and 70, all of which have mike inputs - or forget the ZR completely and go for an Elura or any of their other product lines that have this necessary feature. If you're accustomed to the typical sound one gets from an on-camera mike (or you plan to never use it in situations with lots of sounds), maybe this model will be fine for you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Value
Review: We use Canon in general because of their amazing compatibility with a wide rage of formats. The ZR-Series is no exception. You are able to achieve high quality with ease. The VIC chip makes a big difference when you are importing a lot of video to edit on your PC/Mac. From importing DV to edit content on a Mac, to hooking it up to a high-end video recorder or even using it as a web cam, the features are unbelievable at this price. For Mac users there is a program you can download to make this camera work as an iChat web cam via Firewire. I also recommend that you visit Canon.com, there you can view videos about each of Canon's camcorders that will help you find the camera that is right for you. Sony, Sharp, Panasonic and most every respective brand has similar videos on their sites to help you compare. Of course Amazon.com has the best prices. Also I find it very odd that nearly every negative reviewer ends up mentioning Sony as an alternative. One would think someone would mention JVC or Sharp. You would have to spend at least $450.00 to find a Sony that compares. If you are serious about sound you really need a boom/shotgun microphone no matter what brand of camera you use. An external mic will help you capture directional sound. For voices, wireless microphones will always give you superior results. You can then mix both boom and wireless feeds to create dynamic sound.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Prefer ZR80 to ZR85!!
Review: ZR80 + (less than 1M camera(meaning useless)+USB cable) = ZR85
Don't pay for the poor camera in ZR85 that you'll never use!
Buy ZR80 instead of ZR85. Use a digicam more than 3.2M pixels to take good pictures, use ZR80 to take good video.
IEEE1394 (also called firewire cable) is the one to transfer video to PC or Mac.
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