Sharp VLNZ50U MiniDV Compact Digital Viewcam with 3" Color LCD Screen

Rating:
Summary: Everything fine - until it stopped working
Review: I was actually quite happy with this camcorder for the first 3 months that I had it. Then one day (of course after the 90 day warranty on labor provided by Sharp) the thing stopped working, probably having short-circuited somehow. Sharp, it appears, has only two service outlets in the whole country which charge a minimum of [$$$] for labor plus shipping etc. Needless to say, as long as the product quality is as low as it appears, it might soon become an expensive experience. I DO NOT recommend this product to other customers.

Rating:
Summary: Everything fine - until it stopped working
Review: I was actually quite happy with this camcorder for the first 3 months that I had it. Then one day (of course after the 90 day warranty on labor provided by Sharp) the thing stopped working, probably having short-circuited somehow. Sharp, it appears, has only two service outlets in the whole country which charge a minimum of [$$$] for labor plus shipping etc. Needless to say, as long as the product quality is as low as it appears, it might soon become an expensive experience. I DO NOT recommend this product to other customers.

Rating:
Summary: Another One Bites the Dust
Review: Like many others here, my camera also suddenly stopped working one day. I've had the camera exactly 2 years and have taped about 16 hours total. I also have taken very good care of it - never been dropped or damaged in any way. The Sharp-recommended repair facility wanted $40 just to look at it. I opted to send it to a facility that does free estimates... just learned it will cost $225 to fix the power source. Even though the repair shop will guarantee everything for 6 mos, we will likely spend a little extra just to buy a newer, better camera.

Rating:
Summary: Stopped working
Review: The camera was ok, considering when I would take still pictures the pictures would come out blurry. But then one day out of the blue It stopped working. It's like it had a short circuit. Then I was reading other reviews, I come to find, that I am not the only one that this has happend too with this camera. Of course this happens right after the 3 month warrenty is over. Oh they will fix it for you, but for a heavy labor charge. I would not recommend purchasing this camera at all. To top It all off the costumer service reps were very rude.

Rating:
Summary: bare bones
Review: This camcorder has good picture and sound quality, but comes with no software (nor is any availible) to transfer dv to computer via firewire. Also battery life is about 20min not 1.5hrs.

Rating:
Summary: First Camcorder/Viewcam
Review: This is my first camcorder and I am able to make outstanding movies in the first ten minutes. A simplified menu and ease of use make this viewcam the greatest entry level camcorder. I have purchased a separate digital still camera, because it affords a better picture resolution than any camcorder still shot. Good luck and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Decent camera when it works
Review: Two weeks after I bought it the camera will not play back what I record. The only way I know it actually captured anything is that it will play back if you hit play and fast forward. This means that I can not get what I have recorded off the MiniDV tape and I can not show anyone what I have recorded! Until it stopped working the camera was awesome, especially for the price.

Rating:
Summary: It doesn't even rate the 1 star
Review: We purchased this camera specifically for use with my PC. I will directly quote the Sharp advertisement under features for this camera. "i-Link (IEEE1394) PC Port - I-Link is a digital port for transferring full motion video and sound to a PC equipped with a I-Link port for video editing on a PC." I have a Sony Vaio that is equipped. We spent a month going back and forth between dealer and Sharp only to be finally told by Sharp that Sharp has no support for this camera for the I-Link. I think that is false advertising.