Canon ZR90MC MiniDV Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: rewind mechanism destroyed four of my tapes
Review: I bought the predecessor to this model over a year ago, and have made a total of 15 tapes of my kids. Being busy parents, we never have time to watch them, and have maybe seen a total of 5 of the tapes. Total time operated in this period (whether recording or playing) is less than 40 hours. Last night we decided to rewind some of the more "recent" (taken in the last 6 months) tapes, and 4 out of 4 tapes we tried to rewind would get stuck in the middle of the rewind and the tape would get mangled up. Now I have 4 destroyed tapes, no way to see them (except buy a new camcorder), and Canon said no way under any circumstances they would help in any way because it is out of warranty, even if I had not used it at all. I have written the president of Canon USA and will never buy any Canon product ever again, if they are going to produce such crappy quality product and not going to stand behind it when it has such a gross malfunction.

Also agree with the crummy low light performance. You might think that it is a good value, but I would have gladly paid more for something reliable (as I THOUGHT Canon was), after all, the whole reason you go to digital format is to preserve your memories, not destroy them.

Rating:
Summary: Canon ZR 90 for Easy Use
Review: I bought the ZR 90 for its easy use and multi-applications. It delivers!! Okay, I too have read that it needs an add-on microphone. Not for my uses! I use it for digital video and stills and for webcam communications. It delivers!!! I did go to a 64MB SD memory card....but that was an inexpensive,simple matter....one trip to Wal-Mart. I researched before buying and have not been disappointed. Do suggest Canon include firewire cable in the package--can't download video without it. The ZR 90 is everything I expected and delivers higher quality pictures than expected. I have no complaints about the sound.

Rating:
Summary: Only use this camera outdoors
Review: I had high expectations for this camera and was extremely disappointed. Sure it has a great zoom and is easy to use, but that doesn't amount to anything when the picture quality is poor. The camera performs decently when in sunlight, but if you're trying to take some video indoors, your picture will be extremely grainy. The low-light/night mode on this camera is worthless, so don't even bother. I would return it if it weren't a 4 hour drive to the store I bought it from and only 6 days left before they won't accept a return. There's also a 15% re-stocking fee if I do manage to make it there in time. If only I had bought a Sony Handycam. I probably would have been much happier than I am right now. If it was possible to give this camera a zero star rating, I would have.

Rating:
Summary: Only use this camera outdoors
Review: I had high expectations for this camera and was extremely disappointed. Sure it has a great zoom and is easy to use, but that doesn't amount to anything when the picture quality is poor. The camera performs decently when in sunlight, but if you're trying to take some video indoors, your picture will be extremely grainy. The low-light/night mode on this camera is worthless, so don't even bother. I would return it if it weren't a 4 hour drive to the store I bought it from and only 6 days left before they won't accept a return. There's also a 15% re-stocking fee if I do manage to make it there in time. If only I had bought a Sony Handycam. I probably would have been much happier than I am right now. If it was possible to give this camera a zero star rating, I would have.

Rating:
Summary: Canon ZR 90 for Easy Use
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 ZR90 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: 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 ZR90 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: Good for Simple Projects, Kids
Review: These cameras are very user-friendly. I teach video classes for children ages 8-15 and even the youngest of the group are able to pick them up and go. They capture the best images when used outside; image quality is significantly sacrificed indoors when using automatic mode. They seem to be fairly durable but inconsistently so. Of the handful we have at work, one has started dropping frames during import (into iMovie, FinalCut, and Premeire) while the others do not. It is frustrating that you cannot utilize auto-focus with some of the special effects. Also, the digital steady-cam is pretty useless. All in all, it is not a good camera for extemely important or professional quality footage. However, for kids who want to document their new skateboard tricks, or learn how to make movies using their home PC, or for vacations and stuff like that, it is a good camera with a fair price. It is small, easy to operate, and fun. PERFECT for mini-filmmakers.

And Canon is generally VERY good about owning up to problems with their products. So the other review in which the woman says they were unhelpful seems extremely atypical to me. I have had several problems with products and they have been entirely supportive. I only buy Canon cameras. I think you always get the best bang for your buck with Canon products.

Rating:
Summary: Best Value @ This Price
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. You'll need to pick up a Firewire for $10-15 because Canon doesn't include one in this box.

I recommend visiting http://www.canondv.com/zr90, there you can view videos of this camcorder. That will help you see if this camera is right for you. Sony, Sharp, Panasonic and most every respective brand have 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. As a professional I wonder why someone wouldn't mention Panasonic, JVC or Sharp now and then. You would have to spend at least $595.00 to find a Sony that compares indoors or out. Even then you won't find features like Canon's Digic technology.

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. Unless you are shooting pro video the Canon mic is adequate and features a handy wind filter if you decide to activate it.

Rating:
Summary: Great BUT one thing
Review: well...the camcorder is great and i love the size and shape of it . I have had it for 1 week and my LCD is always so blurry so i thought maybe it's just the Lcd so I connected the camcoder to the T.V and it is still blurry. The good thing is I think it has great sound and recording is just one really simple step. I like the camcorder except the fact that the screen is blurry. I am wondering if the screen is blurry just because it is new...I'm not that sure but...I love the Canon brand.