Rating: 
Summary: Nice features, but Indoor video horrible!!
Review: I got this camcorder last week and it has a good optical zoom, pretty cool digital effects and the analog to digital converter feature is a plus. I've only owned the camera for a couple days and I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. The low light quality leaves a bit to be desired but overall a very good camera. The manual focus can be a bit of a struggle because of the location of the buttons. For the average user this is a great point and shoot camera DV camcorder. However, I was very dissapointed by the indoor performance. Like all the digital effects, this indoor video is very, very grainy. Since we will be using the camera mostly inside, it is worth spending a little more to get better indoor quality. We had the Sony TRV27 and returned it to buy this camera just because of the price difference. Big Mistake! The Sony took way better indoor video. Outside, they are about the same. But despite that, this camera is to take short videos and import old VHS tapes to DV and download to the computer to edit. A must try!!
Rating:
Summary: Great and Easy camcorder to use!
Review: I own this camcorder and for the price there aint one better. It has everything you want. I think that hooking up to the computer for editing is great... by if you are not looking to edit your videos on a PC, don't let that stop you from buying this camcorder. Why? Because it's digital. The most advanced picture in the market. I has a Canon lens, of course, the same technology as those lens' at the major league baseball games. The quality of digital never fades out, and this camcorder performs great in well lit conditions, although poor lit rooms deliver poor quality out of this camcorder. Also, never leave out anything that you think you wont use, such as an external light, or a firewire cable for you computer because later on, you are going to want to get in the world of digital. Happy videoing!
Rating: 
Summary: Breaks after warranty expires
Review: I thought I made a good purchase. i didn't want a real expensive camcorder and this one had everything I wanted. However 13 months after i bought it the LCD viewfinder stopped working. Every other function worked except the only thing I could record was black. Plus the camera won't be repaired until after Christmas. If you choose to buy this camrea beware and buy an optional warranty because you will be repairing it.
This is the last Canon product I'll ever purchase!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent camcorder, excellent value
Review: I was somewhat skeptical of the reviews this camcorder got on here. However, after having it for 3 weeks I have found that this is a great product. For it's price it does have a few drawbacks but it is loaded with options. One of my friends, an amateur filmer, thought I paid $800 when I showed him all the specs. Here's a lowdown of the advantages and disadvantages:Pluses:
1) 18x optical zoom. Let's face it, you DO NOT want to use digital zoom. Digital zoom just "pixelates" your picture(i.e. makes it unclear and messy). If you are looking for good zoom, totally disregard digital zoom and get as much optical zoom as you can. I haven't seen any miniDV Sony camcorder with more than 10x.
2) All the options included. S-video to connect to your tv, 4-pin firewire to connect to your computer..... etc. etc. This sucker is loaded.
3) Low light performance. Ok, there is a lot of controversy on this, but I was filming surfing from a pier an hour after sunset and I still got workable footage. This wasn't even with the night mode on. The worst thing about filming in low light is you have to have a really steady hand because the camera doesn't focus as much. Also, make sure to stay on your object because refocusing can take up to 10 seconds.
4) No motor noise. I don't know what everyone else is talking about but on the playback there isn't any motor noise. I'll leave it at that.
5) Color viewfinder. Don't need to waste batteries by using the LCD.
6) It's made by Canon. Almost every electronic product I have is Canon. They have been excellent to me. When my digital camera broke after having it for a year they fixed it under warranty no questions asked. Minus
1) The image stabilizer. Compared to a Hi-8 this is a tiny camcorder. You will have to learn to make your hand ultra-steady if you want to get good footage. Still, I don't find this a drawback because you learn quickly how to keep your hand from shaking. Otherwise, buy a tripod. Accessories you should buy
I struggled with this area because what's included with the camcorder is hard to find. I bought:
1) A Tiffen 30.5 mm UV filter. You can shoot up-sun and the footage still comes out clear.
2) A BP-512 battery. You NEED one of these or a higher version. The camcorder comes with a battery but it barely lasts for an hour. The BP-512 lasts for around 2 hours if you don't use the LCD.
3) A Firewire 4 pin to 6 pin cable. I have an eMac and the firewire port is 6 pin, while on the camcorder it is 4 pin. With one of these you can edit your footage on your computer.
4) If you plan on hooking it up to the tv, buy an s-video cable. The camcorder only comes with an s-video to analog connector(the 3 colored things, red yellow and white)
5) Also, get a camcorder bag. You don't need a huge one because this thing is tiny. Any camcorder bag will work, you'll probably want one that has some form of water resistance just in case.
6) You might want a battery charger. The camcorder comes with one but I bought a TurboCharger anyway.
7) MiniDV tapes. No miniDV tapes come with the camcorder so unless you buy some you'll have nothing to record from. Summary
Overall, if you are looking for digital quality and don't have a whole bunch of money to spend, go buy this camcorder. Keep in mind that you'll need an extra $150 for accessories and you'll be set.
Rating: 
Summary: i would get it but HMMMMMMMMMMM HUMMMM
Review: I wouldn't get this camcorder. It looks really good with its [inexpensive] price, size, and nice features but it has horrible Indoor quality (stinks in dim light) and can you say HUMM? LOL. It has major motor problems and it comes on tape. If theres a quiet enviroment u will hear it but other wise u won't. It all depends. So what im saying its only good outdoors, in day time, and in loud environment. I would suggest checking out Sony Camcorders (trv22 or 19). I know they are really [costly] but sorry....camcorders are geting real [poor] these days and the only way is to get a sony ...Or maybe you could just get a used one so its not big on ur budget!
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera for the Price. Need to Change Default Settings.
Review: I've had my camera for a few days now and spent the weekend really putting it to the test. First thing is you need to change the default settings to accommodate for the low light problem. Here are the settings you should use (I read this on digital camcorder forum): * Program AE: Auto
* AE Shift: <= -1.0
* Shutter: 1/60
* White Balance: Indoor. With these settings indoor filming is quite good, still not perfect, but according to everything I read, these type of cameras (mini-DV) are never going to be great low light performers. When I filmed outside or in my workshop (which has ALOT of light) the quality was amazing. I love the 18x zoom on this camera. There are many different fading options as well as other effects (Black&White is cool). It also comes with a remote control that comes in handy. The LCD screen is a good size as well as very functional. Manual is good as well. I have not downloaded it to my computer yet, but from what I read it comes with good software which makes it easy. Bottom line, I do not feel you can get a better camera in this price range with all of the options as long as you do not use the default settings for indoor filming. Supposedly the Sony's are better indoor performers but they only come with 10x zoom (I really like the 18x) and they do not have any manual control buttons and the LCD screens are suppose to be pretty bad, plus they are more. Also, the battery that comes with this one only last approximately one hour.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Consumer Camera
Review: I've just bought this camera less than 2 weeks ago and i'm already in love with it. Very easy to learn and get used to, consumer friendly. Nice picture quality on the computer and you get the same if not better resolution when hooking it up to the tv. The battery life isn't very long but you can easily live with it unless you need to tape a sporting event which carries on for more than an hour or so. Recharger works fine, the viewfinder has very nice quality. Not recommended for pictures but you can freeze any frame you shoot during filming and export the photo on the computer but the quality isn't anything like a digital photo from a nice camera but it's acceptable. But for filming it is exellent quality, I've had zero problems with the computer compatibility and I have a macintosh so it should work on most other computers without a hitch hopefully. Has extra shooting modes for the more experienced person like sports, low light, night, etc ... which offers better shooting under those surroundings. I very much enjoy this camera and can't wait to see what is next. The only accessories needed are a firewire cable to the computer and a mini dv tape or so and if you wish a long battery
Rating:
Summary: Great All Around
Review: In my opinion, this is the best all around camcorder money at a great price. I used this camcorder every day for almost a year and the results were always fantastic. There werent ever any glitches or issues I had. This camcorder is small enough that you can take it practically anywhere. The quality is a huge step up from analog and Hi-8. I have absolutely no complaints.
Rating:
Summary: Poor customer service
Review: Just like consumer reports rates Canon as prone to repair, they were positively correct. We bought a ZR45 one year ago and it is already broken, costing us double the price of it to repair it. They will not do anything for us. They tell us now that if you go to humid climates with their camcorders you can get battery corrosion from the moisture, and that is what we got. There repair department and company have been horrible to work with, we are still not satisfied with their decision of not helping us just after one year. We will not be buying another Canon product.
Rating:
Summary: Decent camcorder
Review: Low light performance is bad and Canon customer service is awful, but the camcorder is decent for the price. You might be happier spending more money to get a better picture (look at the 3ccd camcorders from Panasonic) but this one will work fine for taping birthday parties.
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