Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

Comments

1. Colin says:

   September 19, 2010 at 1:33 AM

   Review by Colin for Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   I own this camera, and it’s my best friend. Well not really, but it’s the most amazing camera I’ve ever had. You get what you pay for, and you get a lot from this camera.This is however, NOT a camera that the general public should buy. It’s far to expensive, and really wouldn’t be worth it to someone who will be using this for filming say a birthday party. There are many features on this camera, which make it as wonderful as it is, but these features would likely be unused by someone new to video cameras. So if you are in this boat, save your money and get a different camera.What’s great about it? The image quality is better than anything I’ve seen before. With 3CCD, it’s good. Unlike the XL-1S, the GL2 has a 2.5 inch color LCD. However, I rarely use this. It takes up more battery power, and you can’t see it when there’s sunlight. I love the audio controls, and how it’s not only stereo microphone, but you can control the levels of your left and right audio, right there, on the camera. I love to convert analogue video into digitial video, and it’s almost too easy using the GL2. It’s great for getting your older stuff into a digital format, and being able to easily get it onto your computer. What’s bad about it? Really not a whole lot. The 1.7-megapixel photo mode is really uneeded. 1.7-megapixels really isn’t that good. The included 8MB card for these pictures isn’t enough. If you’re going to want to take digital pictures, then get a digital still camera, and don’t use the GL2 as a still camera. But I can’t stress enough that if you aren’t going to use this for more professional projects, then you really shouldn’t get this camera.
2. J. Nosek says:

   September 19, 2010 at 2:29 AM

   Review by J. Nosek for Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   This unit is pretty awesome especially with frame.
   
   Also, a noteworthy thing is this camera first does 16 x 9 and then encoding producing a higher quality image than a comparable Sony model.

   I’ve actually owned the precursor unit to this one, the GL1, and was also pleased with it.

   This camera has the hotshoe feature and the longest OPTICAL zoom in its class.

   Optical VS Digital, optical definitely wins.

   This camera is all-a-round useful and also, this unit is actually the preferred camera of choice for many sports film-makers.

   If you take this thing to the slopes like i have, strangers will come up to you and instantly recognize the unit.

   Great with kenko lenses.

   Only actual thing I’ve seen is that it doesn’t like low light, so adding a VL-3 is a must, or a VL-10 is recommended.

   One thing to watch out for is that you must keep care of the camera. For example, you must get yourself a tape-head-cleaner. The Maxell’s are a good buy, but you could go OEM if you want to.
   
   Also, don’t cheap out on the cassettes.
   
   In my 6 years of using the GL1/GL2, I’ve always used TDK and JVC tapes. The JVCs come in a 6-pack and can be found a a best buy. The TDKs also come in a 6-pack, and you can find them at Costco.

   For more reference, I have pushed this camera beyond its specification as it has been rained on, snowed on, and frozen to the point where there is actually lag in the LCDs and yet, it still works like brand new.

   Definitely a good buy !
   
3. L. Welsh says:

   September 19, 2010 at 2:41 AM

   Review by L. Welsh for Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   I bought a GL2 because I had used the GL1 and I liked it. The GL2 was just past the warranty and I kept getting the error message on the screen that said “Remove The Cassette” I paid almost $250.00 for the repair facility to replace the tape transport system which they said was bent. No camera in the world gets better treatment than this one believe me, $2,200 is a lot of money to me. Now the camera is doing the same thing again after less than 6 hours of use. I would strongly suggest doing some searches to see just how many people are having this problem. Mine is anything but an isolated incident. Go to google or dogpile and do a search under gl2 remove the cassette or go to camcorderinfo.com and read the many complaints about this problem in the Canon forum area.
4. Pattie says:

   September 19, 2010 at 3:19 AM

   Review by Pattie for Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   Watch out for the lower prices listed for this item. I almost fell for a scam and, in fact, lost $64 to Western Union before I realized that I was being scammed.

   DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH ANYONE WHO INSISTS THAT YOU SHOULD WORK WITH THEM THROUGH AN OUTSIDE ESCROW SERVICE.

   http://www.waywired.com/FraudOnLine/EscrowSTD.cfm outlines how the scam works and this guy’s experience was exactly the same as mine all the way down to the story about why the guy was selling so cheap. The e-mail was almost verbatim except for the product information.

   The tell sign is that an e-mail address is mentioned in the product description. You should not contact the seller directly. The safest method is to use Amazon.com’s system to pay.

   I have called Amazon.com’s customer service regarding the e-mail address of the guy who tried to scam me. If someone tries to scam you, report them to Amazon.com, to their e-mail provider (AOL, Yahoo, etc.) and especially report the incident to http://www.ic3.gov — which is the FBI’s fraud report website.

   You should also know that Western Union is not connected to escrow services of any kind and they are particularly vulnerable to these kinds of scams, so DO NOT USE WESTERN UNION’s transfer service to pay for any item.

   See their website for more information on how to protect yourself: http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqSecurity.asp

   I hope passing along this information will help others not be a victim like me.
5. Gnomealicious says:

   September 19, 2010 at 3:19 AM

   Review by Gnomealicious for Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   Not for the faint of heart… if you want to shoot a little league game, bbq, or basically don’t have much experience with cameras this isnt the one for you. However if you have outgrown other DV cameras then by all means go ahead because it really is the greatest camera ever. I am a film student and have been using the GL2 for the past 2 years. The incredible image quality has saved many an ill fated piece. Its versatility makes it a must have for anyone who wants to shoot in a variety of situations. Bottom line, if your experienced and know exactly what you need, you can’t go wrong with this camera, but if you’re new too this and are unsure of the features you need, go with something cheaper.
6. William H III says:

   September 19, 2010 at 3:23 AM

   Review by William H III for Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   After having used an old bread-loaf-sized Sony 8mm camcorder with great success for many years, I felt it was time for an upgrade. Modern feature-packed MiniDV cameras have become very reasonably priced, as the DCR-HC36′s barely $300 price tag attests, so it was only a matter of which features I wanted – I prefer a powerful telephoto lens, and Sony has a curious habit of reducing zoom power the higher up the product line you go, so even though the HC36 is middle-of-the-road in the Sony camcorder lineup, its full 20x optical zoom made it a natural choice.

   Modern MiniDV cameras are also very reasonably sized; occupying less than half a cubic foot, the HC36 weighs in at less than a pound even with the battery and tape. That’s about large cheeseburger size, or the size of a digital camera from a few years ago. Despite toy-like dimensions, the sculpted duo-tone exterior and handsome chrome lens bezel lend to a quality look and finish.

   Those of you intimidated by the arms-length list of features who “just want to hit record and go” will be glad to know that the HC36 has an Easy button. Located right next to the Sony logo on the left side of the camera is a blue button labeled – yes, really – “Easy”. Pressing this button puts the camera into everything-automatic mode, and also increases the size of text on the display (very handy for the reading glasses set), allowing the old-school and I’m-not-technical school alike to record full quality video. You don’t even have to know how to flip out the LCD screen, the Easy button literally makes the camcorder point-and-shoot.

   The more technically inclined are accommodated with tailored personalization. Nearly all the camera’s functions are controlled by the touch screen LCD’s menu system, but Sony uses a clever shortcut; A personalized menu which you can set to display the features you want – any camera function, such as exposure, white balance, etc., can be set as a menu button; A single touch of the LCD brings up the menu of buttons you’ve set to display. No scrolling through menus to get to some deeply-buried function, just press the screen and there’s the menu that you made with your functions. This system is in some cases faster than physical buttons on the camera itself!

   And there’s no shortage of functions to play with. The HC36 features two different levels of night vision; “Nightshot Plus” employs an infra-red lamp on the front of the camera providing a fully lit view up to about ten feet even in total darkness, while “Super Nightshot Plus” bumps up the light sensitivity by slowing the shutter speed – great for distance viewing in low light, or shots of the night sky (night vision can see stars that you can’t). A Tele Macro function captures close-up sharp images from a few feet away, and the Spot Focus feature makes focusing a breeze – just touch what you want focused on the touch-screen and it focuses to that object.

   There’s the usual basic palette of picture effects and faders included, but the true video editor will of course want to use the computer, which is what the MiniDV format was made for. An i.LINK jack (i.LINK is Sony’s name for Firewire/IEEE1394, they’re one and the same) is provided for a quick and quality connection. A note to the uninitiated: *DO NOT use a USB connection to export video to your computer.* The USB format is slower and will result in poorer-quality video. Connecting by Firewire provides a better-than-TV image using the right software – I avoid using bundled software when possible, and would recommend using Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 or Sony’s own Vegas DVD program, both of which offer free trials to see which you prefer.

   The HC36′s still picture feature is a novelty; you must purchase/provide a Memory Stick Duo for the function to work, and while 640×480 VGA size images are nothing compared to a digital camera, it can be entertaining when combined with the camcorder’s other features – using the digital zoom and NightShot for example, you can capture an image from several hundred feet away in near darkness. Fun, but a real digital camera is still the way to go for photographs.

   Connections are the HC36′s weak point. The aforementioned Firewire jack is there, but the cable is not included. An analog video/audio jack (out only, no in) is provided along with RCA-ended cable to connect to your television or analog source, but because the jack and cable are non-standard and unique, should you lose the cable, you’ll have to go to Sony to get another. And there’s no mic input. The built-in stereo mic can record 16-bit high-quality audio, but a camcorder with this many features should have this one more.

   Overall, the HC36 is the sweet spot in the Sony camcorder lineup, a big-quality features-heavy camcorder in a small, lightweight package, with a tiny price to match. Five stars for Sony’s movie-making multi-tool.

   (Addendum: Why not DVD? DVD camcorders offer similar features, however you must pay hundreds more for a DVD camera than a similarly-featured MiniDV cam. They’re also noticably larger, and DVDs aren’t nearly as easy to work with – You must format a DVD before using it, which requires setting the camera on a steady surface and waiting several moments. Recording at the highest quality setting, a camcorder DVD will hold only 20 minutes, and then you must “finalize” the disc before playing it in any other DVD player. Should you need to replace the DVD during an important timely event, or forget to finalize the disc before giving it to someone or storing it, you’re pretty much out of luck. Because the DVD camcorder system is set up to just play the DVD as-is, editing or getting the video on computer can be a long and very complicated process. Whereas MiniDV tapes last an hour, were made for editing, and offer slap-it-in-and-go convenience. If you have the extra money and just want to play back video as you shot it, a DVD camcorder is a possibility, but at a fraction of the price and complication, the MiniDV cam is the bang-for-the-buck convenience-is-king winner.)
7. Charles Memminger says:

   September 19, 2010 at 4:10 AM

   Review by Charles Memminger for Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   The camera works great but …Neither Sony nor Pixela, the makers of the Picture Package software that comes with some Sony camcorders with mini-disks tells you that the software IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH WINDOWS XP, SERVICE PACK 2! It will crash your computer or not work properly. DO NOT install the Picture Package software if you have run Windows XP. If you have a DVD player on your computer, you can download the photos from the mini-disk without this dangerous software. Shame on Sony and Pixela for selling the software to Windows XP users or including it with the camera without a warning.
8. Patricia L. Dearing says:

   September 19, 2010 at 4:12 AM

   Review by Patricia L. Dearing for Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   I purchased the HC36 as a backup to a Sony VX2000. I filmed a play in low light and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the video. I was able to intermix the video from the HC36 with the VX2000 with only a slight difference in quality. The onboard mic was also excellent! more than I expected. I hadn’t planned on using the audio from this camcorder, but in the end I did use about 20% of the audio for a 2-hour production.

   I have owned several camcorders over the years and I’m always pleased with the quality of Sony. I will definitely use the HC36 as a backup for wedding shoots.
9. Spawn says:

   September 19, 2010 at 4:48 AM

   Review by Spawn for Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
   Rating:
   I bought this camera tonight, and after a little confusion, I am pleased. There are other reviewers out there that state you can only transfer the video to VCD. The problem is that the documentation is unclear about this. All you have to do is go to Start Menu>Picture Package>Handycam Tools>Video Capturing Tool.

   I shot a small test video, transferred it, and all is well. I will recommend getting a Firewire cord when you buy the Camcorder, as it does not come with one. The quality on the firewire vs. USB video is more than noticable.

   All in all, a good starter cam with more than enough features to keep you playing for some time.
10. Rudy Janto says:

    September 19, 2010 at 5:05 AM

    Review by Rudy Janto for Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
    Rating:
    I bought it a week ago. Tried some shooting and transfered from HC36 tape to PC smoothly with firewire connection (not USB)and Windows Movie Maker/Sony Vegas 6.0. The picture quality is good for resolution up to 720×480 (high quality). Don’t expect too much from this handycam, only the basic video shooting will do. If you want to make ‘Hollywood-like’ movie, this is not the right choice. You need to have spare battery, the standard is about 80 minutes. One of the reason I chose Sony HC series is you can have an optional battery(NPFP90) up to around 500 minutes. For me it is important as I don’t want to carry a lot of spare batteries and keep changing batteries while travelling in remote area.
    
    For me it’s a good product for what I paid.
11. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 5:10 AM

    Review by for Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick
    Rating:
    At 25 Mega bits per second, MiniDV is the digital video format of choice for amateurs and professionals alike. Shoot your movie, transfer it to the computer then burn it on a DVD. If you’re like me and want to make lots of quality home movies and still skip the costs of burning DVDs, a good choice is to store your movies on regular CDs as SVCD… The MiniDV tapes offer top-of-the line video & audio quality yet they are very small (tape width: 6.35 mm).The question is: which MiniDV camcorder?
    Important factors in my decision:* A quality camera lens. DCR-TRV18 is Sony’s least expensive camcorder that comes with the famous Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar lens! * CCD size: look for a camcorder with a 680K CCD or larger. That larger pixel matrix gives you steadier shots and more horizontal lines.* Low-light operation: went out after dinner and videotaped rows of flowers in the local park – the camera compensated very well for the insufficient light, the video came out great. Sony camcorders shine when it comes to operating in low-light (compared to JVC and Canon). DCR-TRV18 also has a “Night Shot” mode for videotaping at zero Lux (darkness). I used NightShot to record people dancing at a wedding reception. * Analog pass-through: many camcorders do not have inputs for transfering older analog tapes to MiniDV or to the computer. With DCR-TRV18 I was able to copy older S-VHS-C tapes, playing in my analog camcorder, to MiniDV tapes. I bought my DCR-TRV18… and I love it! Like I mentioned before, I edited my movies, added scene transitions and text then burned the MPEG-2 files on regular compact discs (40 min SVCD) to view them with my DVD player. If you need to take digital pictures, consider buying a separate digital photo camera … rather than a camcorder/photo camera combo (these combos could only take low-resolution photos at the time of this review).
12. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 5:11 AM

    Review by for Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick
    Rating:
    Just bought this camcorder after much investigating. I bought the TRV18 instead of the 25 or 27 because why pay the extra money for more mega pixels when they already tell you that these pictures are not printing quality just basically for e-mailing and transfering to CD. I also do not believe that $ 300.00 more is worth getting a larger viewing screen. Just got back from Disney World and the still photo’s and movies are great. We have a Sony HD tv and let me tell you the videos almost look HD. The night shot is just amazing you have to see to believe. This camcord is worth every penny…….If you want pictures to print then buy a digital camera if you want pictures to share on the internet then this does just fine. Size is great just put int in a purse or fanny pack and away you go.
13. Byron says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:08 AM

    Review by Byron for Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick
    Rating:
    This entry-level MiniDV is very easy to use, and very comfortable to hold. I am very impressed by its picture and audio quality when I play my movie on TV; though I think the color balance lacks depth and a bit light when I compared it with TRV-25. This camcorder allows you to capture picture and MPEG Movie into the provided 8MB Memory Stick (USB Streaming Only). I would not recommend either, since the still pictures are very poor(680k pixel), and 8MB memory stick is not going to capture any long movie either.If you want to edit or upload your movie on your computer, I would suggest purchase a firewire card as it provides much better quality than the USB option. The provided Sony software is very easy to use. (Love those video e-mail!)If you’re a big fan of Sony, I would suggest spend a little more to buy the TRV-25/TRV-27, which provides better picture quality and have megapixel. If price is an issue and you don’t mind if it is not a Sony, try the Canon MiniDV.
14. Gabe says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:36 AM

    Review by Gabe for Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick
    Rating:
    I am a student filmmaker of fourteen years. Previous to my purchasing of this camera, I had been using my mother’s PD-100P. (My mother is a film producer). I needed to stop using her camera because it annoyed her that I knew more about it than she did, and because I needed the convenience of being able to use a camera without supervision and whenever I wanted. Being parents, my mother and father forced me to do my research on camera’s, and made me earn all the money for it, instead of spending money I already had in savings. From the beggining I knew I wanted a Sony. Everybody in the business talked about how they were the top of the line, the best in every dimension. Still, I looked at Cannon’s, Fuji’s, Panasonic’s, and just about every other make. After my gigantic search, I finally decided to go with this camera because of picture quality, format, Firewire (i.Link), and because of the cost and size. I can tell you, I made the right choice.A few days after purchasing the camera, a friend of mine (who owns a Cannon) and I got together and did a two-camera shoot for a class production. When I brought the tapes home to edit, I was amazed at the diference in picture and sound quality. Even though we were mostly the same distance away, my camera picked up better quality, denser, and overall more dynamic sound than the Cannon, which I had been told had better sound than the Sony. Of course, the Sony also had much better and more detailed pictures as well. Overall, I was amazed at the quality.One more thing to mention that is a definit advantage over other consumer camera’s that most people overlook: the Intelligent Acessory Show. (IAS) The Sony line of camera’s are the only ones that have hot shoes (the devices that you plug in get power from the camera). Most other brands feature cold shoes (the devices you plug in have to get power from another source), meaning you must carry extra cords around whenever you want to plug in an external feature, and you have to make sure that there is always an outlet nearbye.The overall features of this camera make it the best buy for “the money” out there.OVERVIEWPros:
    -Size
    -Format
    -IAS
    -Firewire
    -Picture
    -SoundCons:
    -Only one con that I have found, and it is so minor, I didn’t even mention it in the main portion of the review. The hand strap is slightly uncomfortable.I hope this helps you decide which camcorder to buy.
15. Nicholas Salupo says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    Review by Nicholas Salupo for Sony DCRTRV18 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5″ LCD. MPEG, & Memory Stick
    Rating:
    I have had this camera for about 7 months now and i think it is a great camera. It does have its limitations. Low light situations are not the greatest, but acceptable. The photo function is only like 1 megapixel or less, but i did’t buy for the photo quality. (You want sharp photos get a digital camera!)In a well light situation the video quality is supurb and editing the video in the computer is awesome! Highly Recommended! Good Value for the money! Who needs a bigger lcd! If the video is sharp, clear and i can get it into the computer i am happy!
16. NutMac says:

    September 19, 2010 at 7:44 AM

    Review by NutMac for Sony DCR-HC42 1MP MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/12x Optical
    Rating:
    By many measures Sony DCR-HC42 isn’t the best camcorder in its class, but it strikes a good balance for many intended buyers. For instance, similarly priced Panasonic camcorder records more vibrant images. Canon’s similarly priced camcorder performs better under lower lighting situation. But it has few nice features that separate DCR-HC42 from these camcorders, particularly if you like widescreen composition.

    Let’s examine its pros and cons.

    Pros:
    
    - Excellent form factor, among the smallest and lightest camcorders in its price range.
    
    - Excellent DV Widescreen support, including great widescreen LCD.
    
    - Long battery life (nearly 2 hours in continuous shooting with LCD backlight turned off, about an hour in demanding situations). Optional batteries offer longer battery life.
    
    - Included docking station makes it easier to connect to computer or TV.
    
    - Very good outdoor performance.
    
    - Automatic settings work well.
    
    - Built-in lens cover.

    Cons:
    
    - Optical zoom is only 12X, which is inexcusable considering lower-end DCR-HC32 goes up to 20X.
    
    - Proprietary accessory shoes for attaching accessories such as microphones and light. These accessories aren’t cheap.
    
    - No headphones jack for monitoring audio recording.
    
    - Sensitive microphone may pick up button clicks (best to turn off the button click “beep” sound).
    
    - Not so good low light performance.
    
    - Most functions require you to access touch screen LCD.
    
    - Touch screen menu system can be complicated to use.
    
    - So-so digital camera image stills quality.

    Compared to lower-end DCR-HC32, DCR-HC42 adds many features in an attempt to justify higher cost, including DV Widescreen, widescreen LCD (LCD backlight can be turned off to conserve power), color viewfinder, noticeably superior CCD for better image quality, accessory shoe that powers external microphone and lighting attachments, and higher resolution megapixel still camera. If widescreen does not interest you, DCR-HC32 may be a better buy.

    DCR-HC42′s most obvious gimmick is widescreen. If you have HDTV set, this is the low-end camcorder for you. As of now, Sony is the only big name manufacturer that includes widescreen LCD, which while not necessary to capture DV Widescreen, helps the experience immensely. Many camcorders with conventional 4×3 LCD do in fact record DV Widescreen as well as standard DV but LCD will have either black bars on top and bottom or worse, squeezed to accommodate wider images onto narrower frame. It is worth noting that while DV Widescreen increases horizontal resolution, it does so at the expense of vertical resolution. DCR-HC42 has real-life DV resolution of about 400×300 and DV Widescreen resolution of about 450×250. But this is still better than “fake” widescreen DV camcorders such as DCR-HC32, which records widescreen composition onto 4×3 frames, which decreases vertical resolution without increasing horizontal resolution.

    Taking DCR-HC42 out of the box, I was surprised how small and light the camcorder was. My previous camcorder was bulky Hi8 model, and while I have played with many MiniDV camcorders at the store, its size still surprised me a bit. Recording a long footage without the use of tripod, I appreciated every ounce that DCR-HC42 sheds from heavier models.

    Recording indoor in lazy afternoon, I was disappointed by recorded footage at first. But tinkering with the camcorder taught me a trick that cleans up noisy low-light images immensely – the back light feature. This feature is designed to brighten up the subject set against brightly lit background (e.g., a person standing before sunrise) but significantly cleans up noise under indoor situation as well. Some footage takes on much smoother appearance with this feature turned on (helped further by using other features).

    One of my biggest pet peeves is touch screen menu system. While personalized menu feature helps immensely (in which you can assign up to 28 frequently accessed features available within few clicks), I much prefer using physical buttons. Features such as tweaking exposure, adjusting focus, selecting automatic exposure, and adjusting white balance require using touch screen menu system. Thankfully, very frequently used features, such as enabling fully automatic mode (called “EASY” mode), previously discussed back light feature, and zoom are physical controls.

    The main reason to choose MiniDV over other formats (e.g., DVD, MicroMV), is because the format is computer friendly. Using light weight compression algorithm (similar to MJPEG), DV format offers minimal digital artifacts and is highly suitable for linear editing. Before connecting the camcorder to computer, invest in FireWire (also known as i.Link or IEEE 1394) cable. This cable, along with FireWire connector on your computer, is necessary to edit DV footage on your computer with zero loss in quality. Windows XP includes Windows Movie Maker 2 which is good video editing software and works well with DCR-HC42. Sony includes video editing software, too, but it is pretty limited with many usability issues. If you are using Windows XP, stick with Windows Movie Maker. Macintosh users have even better tool at their disposal, iMovie HD, part of iLife `05. iMovie HD supports DV Widescreen, which lets you work with widescreen footage directly. Using this software, I was able to cut fairly well edited home movie.

    All in all, DCR-HC42 is a good camcorder for point and shoot crowd, and particularly appealing to those with widescreen TV set. Its touch screen menu system may detract some buyers, but the Easy mode works pretty well for “set and forget it” crowd. More advanced users will have to put up with touch screen menu, but it wasn’t so bad once I got use to it. If you record lots of footage under low light situation, this isn’t the best camcorder for you. DCR-HC42 shines under bright outdoor.
17. Rushang Mehta says:

    September 19, 2010 at 8:37 AM

    Review by Rushang Mehta for Sony DCR-HC42 1MP MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/12x Optical
    Rating:
    I bought this camcorder about a month ago and have used it for recording nearly 4 hours of video so far.

    Things that I like most about this camcoreder are
    
    1) Image stability
    
    2) Image Quality (Both Video and Still)
    
    3) widescreen mode (40′ angle for widescreen capture)
    
    you loose tiny bit of resolution in wide screen still images
    
    4) handling and portability
    
    all the manual conttols are well arranged
    
    smaller size allows easy portability
    
    5) Battery life (I got almost 1hr 30 mins each time)
    
    6) Touch Screen Menu (I wonder why some found it difficult)
    
    7) Ease of use
    
    Docking station
    
    9) Still Image modes
    
    exposure bracketing (three photos taken at various exposure)
    
    normal burst mode (three photos taken consecutively)
    
    10) LCD/viewfinder (2.7″ Widescreen LCD screen)
    
    it doesn’t solarize like others when viewed from an angle
    
    both LCD screen and viewfinder in color and 123K resolution

    Areas where this camcorder lags behind
    
    1) Low light performance
    
    2) Scan rate (it should be 24P)
    
    3) Optical zoom (It offers only 12x optical zoom)
    
    while DCR HC32/21 offers 20X optical zoom

    Overall
    
    This camcorder is good for
    
    1) Point and shoot users
    
    2) Techno freaks
    
    3) Outdoor video
    
    4) Indoor video with decent lights
    
    5) If you own a SONY laptop (ease of capturing movies and image)

    Recommended Accessories
    
    1) Tripod (set it up and operate camera from far using remote)
    
    2) External flash (Very useful, can be attached on top)
    
    3) Additional battery
    
    If you want to capture more than 1 hr video w/o recharging
    
    If using external flash
    
18. Ganesh Kumar Eswaran says:

    September 19, 2010 at 9:08 AM

    Review by Ganesh Kumar Eswaran for Sony DCR-HC42 1MP MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/12x Optical
    Rating:
    This is one of the best camcorders in the market today and I would definitely recommend it to anyone planning to buy a Mini-DV camcorder

    Positive factors:
    
    - Very small and easy to hold with one hand. Can be easily attached even to a mini-tripod with ease.
    
    - Excellent widescreen video and hi-fi audio. Your videos finally get that “Hollywood” feel when you shoot movies in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format). Even if you don’t have a widescreen TV currently, you will very soon have one as more and more people are buying them. So its better to buy this camcorder and shoot in 16:9 format to enjoy your movies later in widescreen format.
    
    - Includes widescreen rotatable LCD so what you see is what you get when you shoot in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format)
    
    - Good battery life. One extra battery is enough. You can easily manage a day’s worth of shooting with two batteries before recharging them again
    
    - Includes docking station making it easier to connect to computer or TV. If you have a good computer with a firewire port, please buy a firewire cable to connect the camcorder to your computer. You can download your movie in excellent clarity in .avi format and edit it as required
    
    - Make sure to change the audio setting to 16 bit (instead of the default 12 bit) for very good hi-fi audio
    
    - Touchscreen menu system is great. You don’t have to search for any buttons as they are all available in the touchscreen menu itself.
    
    - 12X optical zoom is more than sufficient for ordinary home videos. Anything more produces more “shaking” and would necessiate the use of a tripod. When you shoot without a tripod, 12X is the best zoom you can achieve without worrying about shaky videos
    
    - 1 MP widescreen still photo. You can use this feature if you forgot to bring your digital camera. The photo clarity is not good so please don’t expect great shots. Since the photo is in 16:9 format, you can take panoramic photos and cover more people in group shots
    
    - Nightshot: Cool feature that records using infrared light. Useful for shooting at night as you can record a video even in 100% darkness
    
    - Color widescreen viewfinder – Very useful when you are running down on batteries and need to use the viewfinder. The color widescreen viewfinder gives an excellent picture and is as good as the LCD in clarity

    Negative factors:
    
    - Outdoor videos especially in bright sunlight are overexposed. So please adjust the white balance when shooting outdoors. Add the white-balance menu to your shortcuts so that you can easily access it and return to default once you start shooting indoors
    
    - Sensitive microphone may pick up button clicks (best to turn off the button click “beep” sound).

    Notes:
    
    - Use a fresh cassette after recording 2 or 3 times on the same cassette. The head tends to get dirty if you re-record on the same cassette more than 3 times
    
    - You can edit movies in Windowx XP using Windows Movie Maker, but beware it does not support 16:9 ratio video. Hence your videos look ugly as you shot them in 16:9 but Movie Maker converted it to 4:3. Invest in Pinnacle Software version 9 or 10 for better movie editing capabilities. Pinnacle is the only software, I am aware of, that preserves teh 16:9 ratio. Even Roxio could not allow 16:9 format.
    
    - You can also invest in wide-angle lens as it gives excellent coverage
    
19. TheCommish16 says:

    September 19, 2010 at 9:17 AM

    Review by TheCommish16 for Sony DCR-HC42 1MP MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/12x Optical
    Rating:
    After much searching for the perfectly priced, and well performing mini DV camcorder, I came back to Sony’s HC42 model. I’ve owned a LOT of sony products over the year, and have yet to be disappointed. This is a solid camera, packing a touch screen, an upgraded lens, 12x optical zoom, and a docking station which connects your camera to the computer (via a firewire cord that YOU MUST PURCHASE separetly, it only comes with a USB cable for tranferring pictures) and is also a charging stand. It comes with some video editing software, but I would suggest Pinnacle 9 Plus, or a 3rd party if you are really into video editing. The picture quality is awesome, ease of use is great (it even has an ‘EASY’ mode, where high tech options disappear from the screen!). You cant go wrong at this price point. I wouldnt go for lower models, and the higher runs over 1000 bucks..this is the sweet spot. Enjoy
20. C. ACHANTI says:

    September 19, 2010 at 9:27 AM

    Review by C. ACHANTI for Sony DCR-HC42 1MP MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/12x Optical
    Rating:
    I had recently bought one and returned after observing its poor low light performance. This camcorder gives exceptional quality video in outdoors. In indoors with minimum lighting, it produces below average quality video and grainy pictures even with night shot. Especially if you are planning to shoot lot of video indoors (involving kids, for family events), this is not the right camcorder to buy.
21. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 10:06 AM

    Review by for Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2″LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    I had it for almost three months. I am generally happy with it although I feel that I could have gotten something else at a cheaper price with better quality if I didn’t want something so compact.First, the picture quality suffers significantly in any low light, like other posters have pointed out, but it is still acceptable for most amateurs and home-moving making purposes. By the way, when I say low light, I dont mean dark, but simply a low light environment like a room in a daylight without the internal lights turned on. The picture gets very grainy as darker it gets. But, it is still acceptable though. Having said that, the picture looks absolutely sharp under normal condition, especially outside under the sun.Second, the battery lasts about 45 minutes tops. You definitely need to get a second or even a third battery if you want to tape some of the popular home video taping events like graduation. Not using the LCD screen helps, but I bought a camcorder with LCD screen so that I can use it!Third, the digital image stabilizer is not that good. This is a common fault with other camcorders with digital image stabilizer. If you really want the smooth picture stabilizing function, you have to go with optical image stabilizer, which will set you back some more money.Fourth, Firewall connection cable (IEEE 1394) is not included, and you have to buy one. You cannot use USB connection to transfer movies from the camcorder to your computer. Be aware of this and add another $$$ bucks to the total cost if you don’t have one. Fifth, the microphone range is very limited. Unless you are within 10 feet of the camera, you will not be heard. Plus, if you talk while filming, you will be the loudest voice on the tape by 100 times over others around you. It is that sensitive. On the infamous Canon camcorder feature of picking up the motor noise, I think it is not that bad. You can hear it, but it is not really that loud. I will be surprised if most camcorders don’t record at least some motor noise especially at ones at this size. Unless you are absolutely sensitive about picking up some, very faint noise in the background, I would disregard this popular (almost religious) Canon complaint when thinking about purchasing this camcorder. Sixth, it is remarkably small, and it is about the size of my digital camera. So, I guess you are giving up on some features for the compactness of the device.Overall, the camcorder has worked fine without any mechanical problem in three months of ownership. I called the 1-800 call center for some technical help, and they were very helpful. I think you can get better features at a much lower price if you can deal with a camcorder that is not so compact but still fits in one hand.
22. Eric Majewski says:

    September 19, 2010 at 10:38 AM

    Review by Eric Majewski for Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2″LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    Armed with lots of research and my wife’s two criteria for selecting a camcorder (it had to be small and easy to use) we bought the Elura MC 40 for its list of features in a very small and very cool package — plus the canon quality. This one has all the features of a full-sized DV cam, but fits into a small, padded waist pack with a couple of tapes, batteries, and the charger without a problem. This was key as we are expecting our first child and didn’t want to add too much to the extra baggage we’ll be carrying.This one doesn’t have megapixel stills at 1020×960, but it’s still tons better than 640×480 on most compact cams, and we have a 35mm for the serious photography anyway. Lots of great on-camera editing and shooting features, and some basic photo and movie editing software included. If you’re going to do some serious movie editing, I’d recommend purchasing a better software package or taking advantage of one of Canon’s mail-in rebate deals.Mac users, you’ll love this one. We had a pre-USB Powerbook running OS 8.6 and bought USB and Firewire PCMCIA cards for it. It runs just great without spending the extra cash upgrading the OS like the card manufacturers say to. Also, I wouldn’t spend the extra cash on the expensive firewire cards that a Mac specific. I picked up an inexpensive IBM card [$$] at the local computer store, plugged it in, downloaded the supporting drivers from Apple, and it fired right up. You will have a lot of fun with this cam. We took it out for the first time on July 4th, and everyone was amazed by it. Plugged it into the S-video on the nearest TV, and we had a great time watching the day’s events!
23. iam42 says:

    September 19, 2010 at 11:08 AM

    Review by iam42 for Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2″LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    I bought this camcorder for a trip to Europe and I love it. I could store it in my jacket pocket when not using it and didn’t have to drag around a huge bag with a bunch of useless equipment. This is my first camcorder (and first camera since an old Olympus 35mm), so I’m clearly an amateur. It’s got more features than I’ll use in 2 lifetimes, so there should be enough to satisfy almost everyone. Video–is excellent, especially outdoors. Weather doesn’t matter, as long as it’s outside. It was cloudy all but one day and the video is awesome. Indoor is grainy if the light is too low, but reading reviews of other camcorders, I couldn’t find one which said “great video quality indoors.” All are grainy indoors. Live with it. You buy this for the size. Still Pix–are not great. But are you buying a camcorder or camera? If all you care about are still pix, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-camera. No small camcorder offers a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution with stills. Even the Sony MicroDV only offers 2MP still resolution. With the exposure set to “super fine” I was pleased with the resolution, but I’ve seen pictures from a 4 MP still camera, and the images don’t compare. The pix are not bad, but not excellent. But then, I care about video…not pictures–it’s a camcorder afterall. Sound–I think is great. Yea, there is the motor whine when it’s quiet. But guess what, after a few seconds, you tune it out and forget about it. It is not very annoying at all. It does tend to amplify the voice of whomever is doing the recording. But what microphone doesn’t amplify the sound closest to it? SD/MMC card–is only tested by Canon to 64MB (per customer service) which is bad. They recommend not using anything higher than 64. Battery–doesn’t last too long, especially the smaller one. I forked over the money to buy the larger battery and it is well worth it. This way, when it runs down, you pop in the small one and you have another 30-50min of filming.Ease of Use–I had filmed some items and was watching it on TV within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box. I had the still camera and fader/digital effects figured out within another 20 minutes or so. You must read the manual. It’s real easy. Buttons–are not small considering the size of the camcorder. If you need bigger buttons, buy a bigger camcorder. Remember, you buy this for the size. Overall–it is great. Fantastic outdoor video and sound pickup with unbelievable portability and ease of use. This is not a “professional” camcorder. It should be used for “hobby” filming and as a great travel-size camcorder. If you need more bells and whistles (external mic mount, attached light) you need a bigger camera. As far as the “save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony” crowd, I’ve owned many Sony products and find they don’t perform any better than anything else. But Sony always seems to want a few hundred more of your hard earned dollars to make you think their product is better. Ask someone about software compatability with their MicroDV camcorder…then watch ‘em squirm.
24. D. Resources says:

    September 19, 2010 at 11:47 AM

    Review by D. Resources for Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2″LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    Okay, I did a little bit of research before I bought. And I do mean little. I did read reviews here and other places. Most of the thumbs down reviews are correct about their statements. Here is what I dislike:
    1. There will be a some what higher pitched noise when veiwing the recorded data on Mdv tapes. However, if there is a decent amount of background noise or the object you are focused on is making noise/speaking, it is not that noticeable.
    2. Low light complaints are somewhat valid. It does become a little grainy and it records at a slower frame rate, so no fast movements by camera! The focusing during low-light mode is pretty bad if you are are @; which I would estimate, more than a 5x zoom. However, lowlight feature does “enhance” the availiable light quite a bit.
    And as long as you do not need a perfect 520 line resoultion (which I don’t), it is fine.
    3. Included battery will barely get you by, so plan on buying an additional one.
    4. The users hand will often get in the way of the optic finder or whatever helps do the focusing, if you are not mindful.What I do like:
    1. Size.
    2. Once you become a little familiar with it, it is pretty easy to use.
    3. Price, see below.
    4. The camera does have a lot of (special) features…but I will probably never use half of them. They are mostly a novelty thing.
    5. The still photo quality are not that bad at all.I haven’t used the included software, but one doesn’t buy a camera for the software anyhow. Plus if you buy soon it comes with, what I have heard, is pretty decent software as a rebate…. … … Or better yet, go somewhere to test it, record on an MDV tape and play it back on a good TV w/ a S Video input and listen for the hum and check the low light feature. YOu will know right away whether this is acceptable or not. For me it turned it is, especially for recording my 1.5 y/o.Generic conclusion, if you are going to use it mostly outside and for live action, go for it.
25. D. Kim says:

    September 19, 2010 at 11:57 AM

    Review by D. Kim for Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2″LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    Just picked up this camcorder the other day. I had been debating between getting one of Canon’s ZR cameras or an Elura for a while. Finally settled on the Elura, mostly due to it’s tiny size. Haven’t had too much time to play around with it yet, but so far I just love this camera. Fits right in the palm of my hand to carry around and shoot video wherever I go. Works great with iMovie using a firewire cable (not included, grrrr.) So far, my only gripes are 1) the included battery gives you less than an hour of recording time, making spare batteries … a must; and 2) the LCD screen and viewfinder is a bit TOO small… way smaller than on the ZR series. Definitely try before you buy. But those are small complaints given the overall coolness of this camcorder.
26. Amazonster says:

    September 19, 2010 at 12:45 PM

    Review by Amazonster for Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
    Rating:
    I purchased this camera as a replacement for Canon Optura 20 which was dropped and when estimate for repair exceeded price of this camera, I decided to move on. After using DCR-HC28 for several weeks, I believe this is a very neat package. Overall, I am very satisfied with this camera. One of the first things that I noticed is that color representation in low light conditions is much more accurate than that of Canon. I grew accustomed to adjusting Optura’s white balance indoor in order to get accurate color tones. Now I am finding, that automatic settings work just fine and, in fact, I didn’t have a reason to play with presets as of yet. This camera is more of a “point and shoot” type than Canon. It provides you with manual controls, but they are not easily accessible. Still, I have not found a reason to mess with these. Besides, for those, who would claim that manual settings are necessary for advanced/professional type of filming, I would point to the price tag and ask where and when did they last see an advanced/professional camera for under $300?
    
    This camera is also about half the size of Canon and combined with low price and weight, produces a package that I can drag with me while going to the beach, bicycling, hiking, etc and not having to worry about ruining expensive piece of electronic gear, as was the case with my Optura which, at the time when I bought it, cost me about 2.5 times of what I paid for Sony.
    
    So far, I’ve used this camera in about all of the lighting conditions that I would expect to ever having to consider. I have NO COMPLAINTS about its performance. Picture seems to be sharply focused and color tones are correct. Focus is fast enough to keep up with little kids or to shoot some sports/action. Sound quality of the microphone is quiet acceptable. There seems to be very little noise from drive motor and it is not picked up by the mic so it is not transferred to your recording. All of the essential controls and menus are within easy reach.
    
    There are few negative points that prevent me from giving this camera 5-star rating. Lack of any kind of accessory shoe or external microphone input is a drawback. It would be nice to have these, as it would increase range of conditions under which one can use it. Still, among my friends, who actually have a camcorder, about 90% don’t own an accessory light or external microphone, so if it was possible to lower camera cost by omitting these features, it is not a criminal move on part of Sony. The LCD display could have been a bit larger and it would not hurt if Sony would provide it with more freedom of motion – it only swings out to 90 degree angle and in certain situations it is a limiting factor.
27. Daniel R. Sullivan says:

    September 19, 2010 at 1:08 PM

    Review by Daniel R. Sullivan for Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
    Rating:
    Thought I should chime in because I am always looking for info on a product’s interface with my various computers. I love to play around with iMovie (for fun, not pro) and this camera made it easy as pie. I bought a four-pin to six-pin firewire cable for $15.00, recorded video, plugged the camcorder into my computer, opened iMovie, opened a “new project”…and it asked me if I wanted to import the video. I clicked “yes” and it began importing it all perfectly in real-time. Awesome. I hated my old way of having to convert files in order to play in iMovie. With this, it imported in mpeg4 and I needed no conversion or fancy software. I’m psyched.
28. R. Pathak says:

    September 19, 2010 at 2:06 PM

    Review by R. Pathak for Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
    Rating:
    i bought this handycam while on holiday in the usa, mainly to video my little cousin who is 18 months. the exchange rate meant that i saved £100 ($200).
    
    its extremely easy to use. the minidv tapes are very cheap and if you have a dvd burner you can get very good quality video’s directly. the battery life is sufficient but one of the best things is the sound quality and microphone pic up. i was 10 metres away on a wind swept beach but the camera picked up my voice perfectly. did nt give it 5 stars because it does nt come with a firewire cable and irritatingly i have to buy to different cables to use it on a sony laptop and a apple mac
29. Josh Hobbs says:

    September 19, 2010 at 2:21 PM

    Review by Josh Hobbs for Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
    Rating:
    We needed a camera for video commercials we are making for our websites, and looked long and hard and tried a handful of manufacturers. Ultimately, this little jewel has been an awesome camera for us. It is so easy to use, the picture quality is awesome, and best of all the price is SO right. I just can’t imagine having / getting a better picture from any other camera. Sure, maybe you can zoom a bit further with more expensive cameras, but for as inexpensive and solid of a solution as this is, we 100% believe it to be today’s sweet spot for mini cassette camcorders. We are however having to now buy a new Sony HC96 Camera, as we need to use a wireless microphone, and sadly this one does not have a port for an external microphone. Some additional cool items that we got with our HC28 that we highly recommend are a Wide Angle Lens, the cost is minimal but the value is huge (you won’t be disappointed), then you’ll want a long-life battery (currently they sell for around $80), and a larger than normal camera bag (as when you install the lens you’ll need a bag to accommodate). If you have plans on using Video Editing software to capture and take control of your camera via Firewire, this is the camcorder to get. This is the whole reason why we bought this camera. Finding a camera that worked well with our Ulead/Corel video editing software was difficult, but after plenty of trial and error, we found this unit to be the charm. If you are looking for a personal use family camera, to shoot video and subsequently share with your friends and family, you may want to consider a DVD Recorder camera. With a DVD camera you record 30minutes to one DVD, then you hit a button to ‘finalize’ it, then you can take the DVD out of the camera and play it on any home DVD player. It’s very simple. However for us, we needed to import our video into editing software via our computer, which was a whole different ball-game. Hope this helped, we sure wished we saw a review like this written before we went down the LONG road of LENGTHY reviews and research
30. Carl says:

    September 19, 2010 at 2:24 PM

    Review by Carl for Sony DCR-HC28 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
    Rating:
    Small compact and good quality picture and features. I like the touch screen LCD and the video guide that shows you how to take great videos. I have had the camera for a week and am blown away that they can deliver this much value for $200. FYI The camera does have AV output under the front right plastic corner panel there is a firewire output. It is a bit difficult to open and you think you are breaking the camera because it is made of the same material as the other portions of the camera housing. I was able to output video from this camera to my computer using firewire with both Roxio video editing software and Pinnacle Studio 8 software. Overall the camera is very good quality and provides a nice picture. If you plan on doing night or low light shots I would consider this camera before other makes.
    
31. Francesco says:

    September 19, 2010 at 2:30 PM

    Review by Francesco for Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)
    Rating:
    I have been doing research for months and really wanted to buy a Panasonic PV-GS400. Its video quality, four-way ring, 3.5″ LCD, 16:9 cinema mode, and overall prosumer features made it a camcorder legend (read review on http://www.camcorderinfo.com). I missed the boat, though, since it has been replaced by the PV-GS500, which is not the same camcorder. So I opted for this Sony. This camcorder takes excellent video, make no mistake; just check the reviews on CNET and especially Camcorderinfo for more technical information on this. After all my research, I feel that this is the best overall family camcorder because it is very user-friendly for all the technophobes out there, but it also allows some manual control for the user that wants to explore more advanced (read: manual) features. Word of caution: these more advanced features are accessed via LCD menu, and do not have one-push buttons or rings like the PV-GS400 or other higher end prosumer cameras, but rearranging the LCD menu and putting controls like spot focus, spot meter, focus, exposure, and white balance in the first screen of the p-menu makes this little (literally) camera far more usable. The review on camcorderinfo made it sound like rearranging the LCD menu was a job for the gods of technology. It is not. I read the manual in a half hour, and after another half hour all the menu items had been sorted based on my preferences: it’s just a matter of pressing p-menu on the LCD, scrolling all the way down, selecting the p-menu options, pressing the Sort button, and then moving the buttons around according to your preference. Now, it is really important to move all the buttons I mentioned above (spot focus and meter, focus, exposure, and especially white balance) to the first screen if you want to keep your sanity. The reason is simple: you will be using some of these features a lot. White balance, for example, offers four options: auto, outdoor, indoor, and one-push. If you want faithful reproduction of color, take my advice: use one-push. I noticed that the indoor option takes an orangey video, but if you get a white/grey card (you should, it’s about $18 for a Kodak one here on Amazon) or use any white surface (the back of a notebook for example) under the same light as your subject, frame it with your LCD and press one-push under the white balance menu option, your video will have a perfect color reproduction. Do you see why you want to have white balance in the first p-menu screen?
    
    Other things you should do: enable 16:9 and also 30p (if you have an HD TV or watch your movies on a computer screen) so that you do not have the flickering of 60i interlaced mode; enable the zebra pattern feature (at 100) to see what parts of your frame are over-exposed; enable 16bit audio (default is 12bit) for higher audio quality; enable guideframe (the criss-cross-like option to help you shot video according to the rule of thirds. If you do not know what the rule of thirds is, google it. It is a very important composition guideline unless you are Steven Spielberg. Then again, if you were Steven Spielberg, you would not be reading reviews on this kind of camera, would you?). Once all this is done, there are a few other things you need to do if you want to convince your friends to watch your home videos and actually enjoy them:
    
    - Get a microphone; the on-camera mic is bad. Get the HCM-HST1 with its funny windscreen (you will see and laugh) or the new $199 bluetooth lavalier ECM-HW1 if you have the dough; with the former you have to be close to your subject to get good sound; with the latter, your subject can be up to 30 meters (I think, check the specs) away and still get very good sound. An external mic is, along with extra battery and tripod, a must. You will thank me later;
    
    - Get the NP-FP71 battery. It lasts a couple of hours with the LCD open; this way you will not run out of juice while your kid is giving the performance of a lifetime; I was considering the FP90 battery for extra juice, but it is very, very big. Not worth it unless you are planning on shooting the next Sundance indie masterpiece;
    
    - Don’t forget the Sony BCTRP battery charger since you are at it;
    
    - Get the Sony ND filter package (and maybe the Polarizing package if shooot at water, metals, windows…) to shoot outside;
    
    - Get a firewire cable to connect your camcorder to your Mac or PC; it is better than the USB cable that comes with the camera;
    
    - Get a tripod. People get sea-sick when watching shaky, hand-held home videos. Disable the camcorder’s Steadyshot feature when you use a tripod. It is not necessary and reduces overall resolution. Remember to re-enable it if you are forced to shoot hand-held. The Sony $127 VCT870RM is an excellent choice for this camcorder. It is light, yet sturdy and with a pro look and feel. It offers smooth (very important) panning and tilting, and you can control your camcorder directly from the tripod’s handle (record/stop, zoom, photo), which is very, very handy; it means you can control your camera without taking your hands off the tripod handle or your eyes off the LCD screen; you’ll feel like a pro, which is priceless, especially for guys We are grown-up kids after all;
    
    - Monitor your audio. Unfortunately this camcorder does not have a headphone out connector, but you can use the AV out and some adapters to connect your headphones. Audio is very, very important, arguably more important than video quality, so monitor it for your important videos (weddings etc…);
    
    - Get the Sony DVC premium BLUE (not yellow) tape ($3 each, buy them in bulk) and stick with it until your camcorder dies. It is considered bad to switch tape brands (even though it is subject to hot debates these days), but I have read that Sony uses wet lubricants whereas other manufacturers (JVC, Panasonic, Fuji) use dry lubricants. If you use a Sony camcorder, stick with a Sony tape. Do not get the Sony DVC excellence or HD tapes. They are respectively $10 and $15 each, not worth it; get the premium tape and send me the difference ;
    
    TIPS to shoot great home videos:
    
    - Use a tripod and external mic;
    
    - Keep your panning (horizontal movement of the camcorder) and tilting (vertical movement) to a bare minimum while shooting. If you must pan, do it in one direction and then stop for 30 seconds or so). Do not pan back;
    
    - Keep your zooming to a bare minimum while shooting. Zoom in or out before the shot, then take your shot;
    
    - Consider yourself as a photographer: your camcorder stays still, only your subjects move within the frame; take hints from Hollywood movies; you’ll find yourself looking at Hollywood movies with a different (more critical) eye, once you start shooting yourself, which is great;
    
    - Use a reflector (e.g. JTL 36″ white/silver round reflector at about $30 on amazon) to reflect light coming from one direction so that your subject is lit evenly;
    
    - Use the 30-second rule: shoot at least 30 seconds of your subject even if your subject goes out of frame. This way you will have lots of room for editing;
    
    - Shoot the first minute of a tape on something non-important; when DV tapes screw up, they usually do so in the beginning;
    
    - Shoot your subject from different angles
    
    - Use wide-angle for introduction of scene and Telephoto for emotions. Here is where you may want to use your manual focus option to blur the background when taking a nice portrait shot of your kids (assuming they are not running all over the house J);
    
    - Turn your video into a story; don’t shoot randomly; shoot with purpose and edit brutally so that the final video is fun and interesting;
    
    - Do not use the camera fader and other digital effects; add them in iMovie or whatever editing program you use;
    
    - Google great video techniques online. There is plenty of advice. Check out http://www.current.tv/studio/survivalguide/ for some great tips

    Why this camcorder? Great for the family, light and easy to use, takes great, sharp videos even in automatic mode, relatively cheap at $600 or $700, better low-light performance than a Panasonic PV-GS500 at a cheaper price (even though the GS500 is also a good one. It does not offer zebra pattern or headphone out, though). Where to buy it? You can buy it here on Amazon like I did. You might be able to find online stores like Click for Digital that offer it for less, but Caveat Emptor: you will have to deal with pushy Brooklyn salesmen that want to sell you expensive extras because that is where they make their money, and you might wait and wait before you get your camcorder (even though they say they have it in stock). I wanted to buy this toy to shoot my daughter’s D-day and almost missed because of those guys. I promptly cancelled my order and ordered it from Amazon. No pushy people, and I got the camera the next day. Besides, if you have an Amazon card, that is a $25 gift certificate right there, which brings the price difference down to $60. In conclusion, we are in a transition from DV to HDV. HDV camcorders are expensive, do not offer 24p film-like mode (unless you spend $6,000 for the new Panasonic HDV camcorder), and HDV is slower to edit and impossible to watch on current DVD players (even though you can keep the tapes and rip HD DVDs once they become the standard). So, I bought this HC96 because I feel it is the best transition camcorder. After all, my daughter is not going to wait another couple of years in mommy’s tummy She needs a camcorder now! Hope this review will help. I’ve got to go back to my Birth Book now. Ciao.
32. C. Emch says:

    September 19, 2010 at 3:02 PM

    Review by C. Emch for Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)
    Rating:
    My HC96 is about 3 weeks old and I thought others might be able to benefit from more online feedback.

    Why you may want to buy it:

    Low Light Ability: The ability to take home movies both indoors and out, in all sorts of lighting, was among the most important criteria for me…and this is where the HC96 tremendously outshines others in this price range.

    Ease of Use: Not much is easier than pressing the “easy” button, and the results are still great. Simple for the whole family to use without having to read a manual. Again, best in this price range.

    Video Quality: Great results, with a picture that seems as good as the 3CCD camcorders out there. Competitive with best in this price range.

    Size: I personally like the size, able to be held and operated comfortably with one hand, small but not too small, and buttons are in logical positions (I didn’t like the button placement on the last version of this camcorder, the HC90..again personal preference…my suggestion is to go to a store and try them out before buying).

    DV Tape: I realize that this is “old camcorder technology”, but it takes great quality footage…and can be edited easily on PC or Mac… which is why I stayed away from DVD camcorders.

    Why you may not:

    Manual Control: It has some, but most is imbedded in touchscreen menus. If you are a manual video control freak, this is not the best option compared to others I tested in this price range.

    Size: The camcorder actually got a little bigger from the HC90 I tried (nothing significant). While I consider it small and portable for what it does, others may want a smaller “matchbook style” camcorder that increases portability further. I couldn’t hold the matchbook style options with any comfort.

    Media type: Some people may not want to tinker with their recorded footage. If this is the case, I’d just go with a DVD camcorder in this price range with a similar 1/3 size CCD (larger is better for low light ability). As for the hard disk options I looked it.. personally, the video quality was not in the same league as Mini DV and DVD footage.

    Handycam station: It’s an addition to last year’s model, and I don’t like it. To me, it’s another extra component to carry, store, and keep track of. I’d rather have the connections directly on the camcorder. Some, though, may prefer the station approach (hook it up once, then just set the camcorder into it to connect to PC or Mac…P.S. it works seemlessly with Mac OSX 10.3 and IMovie HD)

    Conclusion:
    
    This camcorder is for point and shooters who want to computer edit great quality footage. If you are willing to spend the extra for a larger CCD to get the low light and video quality, this is the camcorder of choice. Serious hobby shooters and artists may want to stay away…they should opt for something else for the controls they’ll need.

    4 1/2 Stars for family movie point and shooters. 3 Stars for Hobby and Film Artists.
33. K. G. Schneider says:

    September 19, 2010 at 3:19 PM

    Review by K. G. Schneider for Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)
    Rating:
    Francesco has done a great take on maximizing use of the DCR-HC96 and on its good features. I am a first-time camcorder buyer and want to provide a non-geeky take on this purchase. (I’m a geek in other parts of my life, but I’m missing the camera gene–I just don’t care: I want the pictures. Please.)

    First: I nearly had a stomachache over this purchase (DVD or DV? Sony or Panasonic? Etc.), but now that I’ve had the camcorder for a couple of weeks, I love it. It feels nice, it’s fine for small hands, and the buttons are all different enough so they’re hard to confuse. The menu on the LCD is very easy to toggle through, and the lightest of touches will work. The manual was clear, though I understood what to do almost without reading it.

    Even more to the point, in Easy mode, this camcorder does great, at least for my needs. Yes, you can get more out of the camera if you venture into the menu. But I took some short clips around the house, at night and during the day, and then Ifilmed a church service, with great results–all on Easy mode. The colors were pop-out bright and clear, the pictures had lots of definition, and there were no odd tones. Yes, it’s true: this camera performs well in low light, and by “low light” camcorder manufacturers mean anywhere indoors under normal indoor lighting conditions. It even performs ok when the conditions are worse than that, and I have the “cute cat moment” tapes to prove it.

    You may wonder why I didn’t go for the DVD camcorder. First, I wanted more editorial control over the files than the current generation of DVD camcorders allows. I’ve been very satisfied with editing files with the OEM version of Nero that came with my Memorex DVD burner (again, very easy to use). Second, I bought this camcorder primarily for indoor taping of church services. DV lasts an hour or so; DVD, 20 minutes, plus you have to finalize the DVD in the camera before changing it out. There’s nothing difficult about popping in a DV tape, and the transfer proved (almost) easy, though see my discussion of Firewire, below. Nevertheless, I can see where the DVD counterpart to the DCR-HC96 would have its appeal. In three years we’ll be using something different, anyway!

    As for the case, after contemplating several cases that have STEAL ME I’M A CAMCORDER written all over them, and also seem huge, I’m going to do what I did for my laptop, and sew a custom case made from quilted fabric lined with foam, and then it’s going into a backpack or a purse, depending on the trip. This thing is SMALL; I took it to church in a large ziplock bag tucked in my purse–not recommended for general transport, but that gives you the idea! You might not want to buy a case until you’ve seen the camcorder, in any event.

    I have not purchased an external microphone, and probably won’t for a while. Indoors, with the camera a few feet from a family member, it wasn’t needed. The voices were remarkably clear, and I did not hear the camcorder’s own sound. At church, the voices were clear (I was taping three pews back; note that everyone in the pulpit was miked). Is it professional-quality sound? Of course not, but it’s decent enough for most of us (the Easy button crowd). I may move up to a microphone, but I don’t feel I have to, anyway.

    The docking station is a dumb idea, because if you’re using an external tripod you’ve just lost the benefit of a quick-release shoe, which you have to remove to dock the camera. Sony, what were you thinking? The camcorder gains almost nothing from putting those ports on a second dock. Other than that, the dock doesn’t bother me. You don’t need the dock to charge the camcorder (but thank you, Francesco, for anticipating the “which battery” question I was just researching).

    On the other hand, the automatic lens cap is wonderful. Sony, you understand me!

    The Sony software, included, does a fine job transferring the files to my computer. It couldn’t be easier.

    I bought a tripod, and yes, that’s a good purchase. Amazon has a number of tripods under $20. You don’t need the most expensive as long as you aren’t going to wander away from the tripod with the camera on it. I compared filming I did with and without the tripod, and even with the camcorder braced against my face (using the viewfinder), there’s a tiny bit of a “Blair Witch Project” wiggly feel to the non-tripod films. Still, if Baby gets up and starts taking her first steps, don’t feel you need to set up tripod, reflector, external mike, etc.–just pick up this camcorder and let ‘er roll! You are almost certain to be very pleased with the results (and again, I found closing the LCD and using the viewfinder resulted in much less wiggle).

    The first purchases you should make (aside from several DV tapes) are a Firewire card and cable. Save yourself frustration: do not believe the Sony manual that you can successfully burn DVDs from film transferred to your computer with USB. I spent many weepy hours learning this the hard way. See camcorderinfo.com for many instances of people learning this the hard way. This isn’t unique to Sony, incidentally. I am using a high-powered laptop for this work (connected to an external hard drive), and I bought an external Firewire card for $30 and a Firewire cable for $15.

    In any event, for the price (which on Amazon keeps dropping–and I bought from Amazon because I’ve been shopping here a long time and felt nervous about using a new e-tailer for what is for us a big purchase), this is a great camcorder, particularly if you just want to point and shoot in indoor settings.
34. The Gadget Gourmet says:

    September 19, 2010 at 3:53 PM

    Review by The Gadget Gourmet for Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)
    Rating:
    I’ve used it for a week, got it to shoot a wedding so indoor light and audio performance are important to me.

    - low light color accuracy is really good. Incandescent lights don’t make everything really yellow.
    
    - low light sensitivity is good. Much better than my previous sony miniDV, seems to increase gain at the expense of a little more grain.
    
    - audio is sensitive but picks up tape hum. I can record someone speaking from 20 feet away but tape hums quite a bit. The buzzing sound can get annoying. I’m considering getting a mic mounted on top. Sometimes the hum goes away so this may just be a bad model.
    
    - body feels plasticky. Not like the Canon powershot cameras that I have, with sturdy metal bodies.
    
    - touch screen interface can be learned after reading the manual. It was not intuitive but now that I’ve read the manual and configured it the way I like it, I find it’s ok.
    
    - progressive 30p mode is great! My videos are meant primarily for computer display so I don’t like interlacing. Shooting at true 30p is just wonderful.
35. Ramesh Shankar says:

    September 19, 2010 at 4:53 PM

    Review by Ramesh Shankar for Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station)
    Rating:
    I’ve used this camcorder for about three months now. Most of the shooting has been indoors – parties, babyshowers etc. The camcorder output when played on a TV screen is very sharp and shows lot of detail.

    I am impressed with the low light performance. Color is good, with pleasing skin tones. The sound quality captured by the onboard mic is not great, but adequate.

    I have uploaded a picure showing the camcorder on my palm. I was surprised that it is so small (and light).

    Choosing this camcorder involved two compromises for me -
    
    1. 1-CCD over 3-CCD
    
    I wanted a 3-CCD camera for more vivid colors, but a 3-CCD will have worse low-light performance. Since most of my shooting was going to be indoors, I decided to go the 1-CCD route. This camera has superb low light performance and I am happy with the colors as well.

    2. MiniDV over DVD
    
    Most of the newer camcorders write directly to DVDs. Some even write to built in hard disks. However, the technology is fairly new and involves early adopter problems. The hard disk camcorder is susceptible to shaking / movement, and it will likely be the first component to fail. The problem with DVD recording is that the format uses lossy compression (meaning your raw camera output is compressed using an algorithm to DVD format).

    The MiniDV format, though old fashioned, is raw digital 1s and 0s – original uncompressed video data. So you can use the MiniDV takes as your high quality backup source to transfer the video to your computer. Then you can edit the video on your computer and transfer it to DVD.

    Of course, this assumes that you have the time and the patience to do video editing, but leave the door open on that possibility.

    Being a minimalist, I am against buying all kinds of bells and whistle accessories. However, it would be a good idea to get these two -

    1. LCD screen protector. You will be using the LCD touch screen everytime you use the camcorder, so it makes sense to protect against smudges, scratches and dirt. Get the 2.7″ LCD screen protector on Ebay. It’s about $5 shipped.

    2. The provided NPFP50 battery is woefully inadequate. You will be constantly looking at the battery life indicator instead of concentrating on the subject. You need a backup battery anyway when you are shooting a special occasion. Get the NPFP90 battery. This is a fat battery that looks akward on the camcorder; my wife remarked that it makes the camcorder look pregnant (see my uploaded pic in the user images). However, it lasts for about 5 hours or so, so you can just plug it shoot as long as you want.

    The only negative so far that I have on this camcorder, is the vertical smearing that shows when you shoot against a bright light source (a person standing against a window on a sunny day, or a bright light within a room). The image shows a vertical stripe that washes out the background. I searched the net and this seems to be a characteristic of the Sony HAD CCD. Nothing can be done about that, but it is a minor quibble.

    Good luck with your choice.

    P.S. I appreciate the film making process now after seeing the horrible quality of my home movies. The constant shake because of handheld movement makes the viewers sea sick (inspite of optical stabilization). The best way to avoid it is to use a small tripod whenever possible.

    Also, in movies or TV newscasts, how many times does the camera zoom in and out? The answer is never or very rarely, but with a camcorder everybody itches to zoom in and out constantly. This makes the video look very amateurish.

    I am now trying to edit the videos to make a slick and interesting presentation. This seems to be a whole new world. Very interesting though.
36. Jared Brodsky says:

    September 19, 2010 at 5:27 PM

    Review by Jared Brodsky for Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    I bought the camera after much research between the Canon Elura 2, the JVC 805U, and the PV-DV 401. Finally I decided to go with the Panasonic. It is absolutely amazing. With a 20x optical zoon and a 300x digital zoon not to mention its infra-red capabilities its the best camera in its class. I have worked with both the Canon Elura 1 and 2 and the controls are clumsy where as on the Panasonic there exactly where they should be. The video it produces are outstandingly crisp and clear for a single CCD camera. Coonecting via firewire was a snap, and it works great with Premiere 6.0. The only complaint I have is that in order to plug in the AC adapted while editing you have to remove the battery and that it only has 680,000 pixels for digital photo’s. I think I can deal with that.
37. Karl H Arnold says:

    September 19, 2010 at 5:49 PM

    Review by Karl H Arnold for Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    Buyers of Panasonic products beware! I purchased a Panasonic PV-DV401 in February of 2001 and the Tape Ejector Switch immediately broke while I was on vacation. I was not able to eject the tape in the camcorder. On March 10, 2001 I sent the camcorder in to the Panasonic repair facility in Elgin, IL, the only repair facility for Panasonic camcorders in the US. Almost 2 months later, I have still not gotten my camcorder back. I’ve called the repair facility numerous times (you have to leave a message on a recorder) to check on the status and my calls were not returned. I’ve also called Panasonic directly and routinely get the “it’s not our problem attitude.” Every time I ask to speak to a manager they disconnect me. I’ve now had to enlist the help of the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Protection Agency, and KRON TV Consumer Reports just to get my camcorder back! This product is defective and Panasonic’s repair service is notorious.
38. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:00 PM

    Review by for Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    I am a first-time buyer with a new kid. Pro:
    -Can make decent stills from the tape. Easier than getting junior to keep the right facial expression at the moment I shoot. Con:
    -Have to remove battery to power camera from AC. The charger can’t charge the battery and run the camera simultaneously. -No frame-by-frame advance button. At least not that I could find. -The USB plugin is inside the cavity where the LCD sits when closed. So you have to have the LCD open to use the USB out. It would be better placed with the rest of the jacks on front right….
39. sclark@organo says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:05 PM

    Review by sclark@organo for Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    I purchased the Canon ZR25MC for use at work. Once you add in the extras local electronics store threw in a decent bag and tripod, and Canon rebate, it was pricewise a better deal. In terms of features: I received the PV-DV401 as a gift and have not used it as much, but the following are my observations over a few days. The Canon does not provide software as does the Panasonic (the latter is useful to a subset of pc users). The ScanDisk reader is by far the simplest way to transfer digital stills to any computer (pc or Mac), works with both cameras. So far the Canon “doubles up” more on buttons for standard and special features. Panasonic has more specific buttons, makes the Panasonic a bit easier at times (such as low light feature). I find the Panasonic zoom fits & works easier with my grip. The Panasonic has more connection options for computers- Firewire/I-link and USB. The Canon has a smaller “hand profile”. The Canon digital video download into iMovie is pretty seamless; haven’t gotten there with the Panasonic. Will soon find out how readily the USB & Panasonic software works with a pc; will it be as pleasurable as iMovie?
40. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:40 PM

    Review by for Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
    Rating:
    The camera is great as far as looks go. Even the arrangement of buttons is perfect with the zoom, photoshot and menu buttons in easy reach. The 3.0 inch LCD display is a big advantage over the 2.5 inch display found in other comparable camcorder models. I would say the best part of this camera is its excellant video and infrared capabilities. Do not buy it as a still camera though, because even a base level digital camera can produce better still pictures. Overall a good product if all you want is excellant video.
41. Joel Fisher says:

    September 19, 2010 at 6:43 PM

    Review by Joel Fisher for Canon GL1 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Lens & Optical Image Stabilization
    Rating:
    This is one incredible camera. Here are some of the best features about it:-3CCDs-L Series Fluorite Lens-All Manual Controls-Progressive Scan-Optical Stabilization-Large Manual Focus RingOf course, we all know that 3CCDs are far better than one… I need not go into more depth there. As far as the lens goes, some have argued that they see no difference of quality over that of Sony’s. This may be due in part to the fact that they are looking for a difference in resolution. When compared in numbers to some of the 3CCD models of Sony, you may think that this is a lower resolution camera (which can be a very deceiving thing). It is recognized that a camera with a high resolution in numbers does not equal a pleasing, or sharper image. When you compare the color of a Sony and this GL1 (or any other Canon against a Sony, for that matter), there will be no comparison. The Sony will inevitably lean towards the blues, giving a very cold, unnatural feeling, which can often result in having to waste time in post, by adding color corrections. The Canon will have a much warmer, more natural coloring. With deeper, richer blacks.The Progressive Scan (or frame mode) is beautiful. It gives the footage a much more film like jitteriness, instead of the liquid smooth interlaced footage that is usually the only option you have on most Sony camera models. It is called “frame mode” because it captures 30 FULL frames per second, instead of 60 FIELDS per second (top field and bottom field) being joined together to make the 30 frames, which when slowed down will show interlaced lines. Some say …that Progressive Scan is only meant for a “digital motor drive” where you capture 30 frames per second with the intent of getting still pictures from it. Yes, this is a possibility… but no, video is not really high resolution enough to use this for any real purpose other than having a somewhat grainy image for a home web site. I have not heard of ANY professional using it for anything other than to shoot a real project, as true video footage. Video to film transfer locations prefer people to use progressive scan to shoot on their GL1 or XL1 for film transfer. It loses much less quality in the process. There are many commercials and documentaries (as well as independent films) which have started shooting in progressive scan on the GL1 and XL1, in order to get the higher budget film look.The manual controls on this camera give you such control, that you can achieve truly professional results. You have control over – Shutter Speed, Aperture, Gain, White Balance, Focus, exposure, etc. If you want the choppy effect of Saving Private Ryan, or Gladiator’s battle scenes, just up the shutter speed to 250 or higher. Or if you want a lot of background blur, open the lens way up.Ah, yes… the image stabilization. You won’t get anything close to it on other brands. They all have a slight shake, and jitter, never truly stabilizing it, especially when zoomed. This one has none. It only floats. And of course, if you want that jittery handheld look of some of the new films and such, just turn it off. But when you want smooth, non jittery handheld shots it’s always there.If you are trying to decide what camera to get, always go down the Canon road. Almost all of them have features that Sony only tries to make up for with home userish built effects and such cheesy non-professional effects that one can achieve if they have a computer to edit on (and still want the effects by then. Why record it permanently, when you might change your mind later). Some Sony users complain about how Canon does not have good still picture resolution. I say, “who needs still pictures on a camcorder??” That should be left to 35mm, or a digital camera devoted to that form of media alone. I have yet to see a printable, good looking still even from a Sony. Both the video format, and the small included memory cards cannot handle the resolution required of this. With all the manual controls, the far superior color, and the incredible look of progressive scan, one must have only the choice to go Canon. If you are an aspiring documentary or commercial maker trying to decide between a GL1 and an XL1 (not likely), the advantage of the GL1 (besides the price) is that it is small. This allows you to be in crowds shooting, without stares from everybody. Or shoot where you would otherwise be unable. This can also be a downfall. It may look wimpy to the client (of course, once they see the footage, they will probably buy one themselves). ….Lastly, I just want to say that I would highly recommend this camera, but if you can afford it, go with the XL1 (…), it is even better!
42. Shelley Gammon says:

    September 19, 2010 at 7:15 PM

    Review by Shelley Gammon for Canon GL1 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Lens & Optical Image Stabilization
    Rating:
    I have been using the GL1 for nearly 3 years now. I take it out on shoots for a website I work on… sometimes I create QuickTime Movies, sometimes I take stills from footage and convert the stills to .JPG files.The 30-lux capacity means you can walk into a subdued lighting environment such as a dining room lit by a single candle and get very good, balanced exposure. It is not like an infrared camera or anything, however… there must be SOME non infrared light, or you get nothing.The 30x zoom can’t be beat. You can be 50 yards away from a person and zoom in and get a shot of their nose… in many ways, it must be seen to be appreciated.Considering the features, the unit is light-weight, but newer digital camcorders of similar strengths are now on the market for far less and weigh half as much. Still, the GL1 is easy to hold with one hand while using the eye piece or the LCD panel.I only have a few criticisms. For one, the unit does not ship with a firewire cable. If you are ordering this item for its firewire compatibility, you will need to order a 6-to-4 pin firewire cable separately. (6-pin for your Mac, 4-pin for the GL1).Also, the GL1 has a tendency to eat tapes. For a while, I thought I was just getting deffective tapes, but a co-worker got a DV deck and the deck was able to view and use the tapes without difficulty. Just viewing the tapes on the DV deck seemed to “fix” whatever the GL1 perceive was wrong with the tapes. On occasion I will get an all red “WARNING: EJECT TAPE” display on the LCD panel… I then eject the tape, rewind it a bit on the DV deck and then I can use it fine for several weeks w/ the GL1. This has been a problem from day one and I have head-cleaning tapes.The unit has a tripod screw mount on the bottom and a hot shoe on top, so it’s a good piece of hardware for professionals.The battery that ships with the unit will only run for about 30 minutes on a full charge… but that’s 30 minutes of actual recording, rewinding, etc. I highly recommend getting an additional 2 hour battery as back-up, especially if you’re stuck somewhere and don’t have the luxury of having an AC wall socket nearby. You can run the camera straight off AC power, but it is awkward… you must run the cord from the GL1 to the charger and the charger is then plugged into the wall. This extra cord does not come with the unit and you must buy it separately. It would have been nice if they had included this cord as well as a DC charger for the car.Back when I was ordering this item, I spoke with Canon directly to ask them information about the firewire capabilities, etc. Afer speaking to a customer service rep. for over 1 hour, it was obvious that the folks answering the phones for Canon absolutely know NOTHING about their own products or terminology used in photography or videography… if the answers are not in the little book in front of them, they are worse than uninformed… they tell you the wrong information. If you want more information about the features of this camera, seriously examine the specs featured here on Amazon and read all of the reviews.
43. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 7:18 PM

    Review by for Canon GL1 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Lens & Optical Image Stabilization
    Rating:
    First, the visceral. The image quality is stunning, and the creative license and possibilities afforded through DV are staggering. With a GL1 and a good NLE like Premiere, the only limit is your creativity. Effects that just a few years ago started at tens of thousands of dollars on film can now be rendered realtime.Now the practical. I spent a fair bit of time looking through the market at the ‘low pro’ end. Canon’s GL1 and XL1 were clearly in the running, as were several Sony products. What finally sold me on the GL1 was the flourite lens, which to my eye has a noticeably brighter image, as well as the optical image stabilization, which provides a more natural looking view also. I have to say that I find the manual zoom feature useless as it’s a servo controlled focus rate, and very difficult to ‘stop’ in a slow focus. I’ve found that using the ‘automatic/manual’ focus switch to allow the camera to bring the subject into focus, then switching immediately to ‘manual’ to lock the focus is very effective as a workaround. The only time this doesn’t work well is at the limit of either the optical focus or the digital focus when the subject is poorly defined versus its background. In these situations, the rangefinding system seems to ‘hunt’, giving a nauseating soft in/out blur. Truthfully, using the camera under these cirucumstances is rare, and this is the only criticism I’ve got for the system. An often overlooked feature of DV is that the audio quality is about the same as CD, and is digital. This means that even your home movies now have DAT audio quality! Despite many comments to the contrary, I’ve been very favourably impressed with the quality of the audio, including the stereo separation.I also mentioned the XL1, but the only difference I could see was perhaps better audio, and for the considerable extra expense and size, it wasn’t a good tradeoff for me.
44. G. Hodges says:

    September 19, 2010 at 7:50 PM

    Review by G. Hodges for Canon GL1 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Lens & Optical Image Stabilization
    Rating:
    Almost amazing! The picture, the sound, the ease of using the GL1 is far above any other that I have ever used. The sound feature on the instant playback was a welcome change. I could hear a truck coming down the road even before I could see it. The picture is awesome. I caught fall color leaves on the snow. With the white, green, and fall color spectrum, it put the digital camcorder to the test. Downloads were superb! This Pro-Am is one to move up to or if you want the best start here.
45. j . p . f says:

    September 19, 2010 at 8:21 PM

    Review by j . p . f for Canon GL1 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Lens & Optical Image Stabilization
    Rating:
    This is by far the best camera for this price range. HOWEVER don’t pay more than 2100-2200$US for it. I bought it for even less than that. Its size at first gives it the appearance of being a “home-video” recorder and not quite the sleak professional look that the XL1 has. However don’t be fooled by this, it uses the same CCD system as the XL1, and just lacks the removable lens option in addition to a handful of other digital features. But the GL1 costs 70% less and produces very high quality images and video. Its size makes it VERY easy to carry around (just last weekend I saw someone with one at a bar in San Francisco). Its a great value and a great product, just hunt around and read up on it to make sure its what you want. Because Looks are VERY deceiving, this isn’t your dad’s old mini-betacam…this is a beautifully engineered camera that produces high quality results.
46. Tobias Hust says:

    September 19, 2010 at 8:40 PM

    Review by Tobias Hust for Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5″ LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot
    Rating:
    I work with camcorders since 1988 – S-VHSC, Hi8, etc. No question, no matter what kind of digital camcorder you compare with an analog one, it is superior. However, I found this camcorder particularly interesting and bought it since I left the `semi-professional’ field (and being now an electrical engineer in software development). Here are my findings:
    Pro:1) Awesome workmanship: The high-grade plastic case pieces precisely fit and give the camcorder a valuable finish, the buttons have a well defined ‘ignition’ point and the connectors for FireWire, USB, Analog Video etc. are ‘cemented’ into the case.
    2) Excellent cost / feature ratio: Although following the hype of marrying video with stills, this camcorder emphasizes on video (please, do buy a digital camera if you need digital stills). The outstanding optical unit with a real 22x zoom and one of the most effective image stabilizer in the market, combined with a friendly user-interface including illuminated buttons and a clean menu, this camcorder is a bargain.
    The picture quality is excellent. One note here: please remember that the miniDV standard builds on 5.7 Mhz video bandwidth. In other words, no matter what the (multi) colored CCD ship is capable of a resolution, it comes down to a maximum of 370,000 effective pixels needed for NTSC video. The 460,000 pixels of this camcorder seem more than enough.
    3) Accessories: Just in case you really care about the somewhat whining recorder server motors, please do buy the optional microphone – it’s an awesome addition if you do semi-professional sound-recordings. Also, Canon offers wide and tele-converters specialized for the ZR series. Not a novelty in camcording in general, but a serious affordable consumer expansion if needed.
    4) Internationality: Yes, there are other electrical power systems out there: the Canon switching power supply is not only very light, it also connects to almost every wall-outlet in the world with the right (optional) plug-adapter.
    5) Ergonomics: Oh yes, I thought about a palm-ready camcorder, too. But think about it: the optical unit including the lenses and the CCD has to fit into half the length of a regular camcorder like the ZR 50 (Palm recorders do not have more than 10x zoom, the ZR 50 has 22x). The camcorder fits right into my hand, the zoom button can be accessed naturally without shifting the camcorder in your hand (try Sony!) and the zoom button is depth sensitive – the deeper you zoom, the less sensitive is the camcorder zoom-button. Additionally, beside so many other brands out there, the digital zoom is even useable to a certain degree. It becomes affective once the optical zoom is exhausted to a 22x. However, if you want quality video, turn it off.
    6) Video Modes: Select one of the predefined video modes. One of the most impressive mode is the night-mode – if the moon strikes you, your ZR 50 will catch it. However, don’t expect wonders, every serious video-grapher recommends at least 100 lux (a unit of measuring light-intensity).Con:
    I couldn’t find a con so far – maybe the sound-quality the integrated microphone produces? Hm, given the size of the case, it seems reasonable…Yeah, I am enjoying this camcorder. Canon showed once again that a camcorder design can meet almost all of a consumer-customer’s needs:
    Rich functionality, lightweight design, extensible through optional accessories including lenses, robust workmanship.Recommended!
47. AWM says:

    September 19, 2010 at 9:22 PM

    Review by AWM for Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5″ LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot
    Rating:
    I purchased the ZR50 6 weeks ago. The ZR50 is my fourth Canon Camcorder (the most recent one a Hi8 with optical image stabilization). My goal with the ZR50 was to be able to get into digital editing, especially since I recently upgraded computers to a 1.8GHz P4 with 512M RAM and firewire ports. Here are the results so far-1) Motor noise pickup- Yes, it is there. It is a somewhat higher-pitched whine that you can hear if your ear is close to the camera while recording. I bought the DM-50 mike and have now used the mike extensively, including taping my daughter’s cello recital as well as a MS&HS spring concert which included vocals and a full Vivaldi concerto by a 15 member string ensemble. The DM-50 mike completely takes care of the motor whine. In addition, with the camera set at 16-bit recording, the recorded sound is CD quality. The DM-50 has three settings: boom, 1, and 2 (latter 2 are stereo). The best setting is the “1″ setting.
    2) General Impression- The video is great. It is the sharpest of all the cameras I’ve owned so far. The camera is surprisingly small (half the size of the Hi8mm), but fits well in the hand. The outside buttons are very handy. The LCD viewer is easy to read and has true colors. The manual is comprehensive. The remote is multifunctional. The digital image stabilization works very well (as well as the optical stabilization of my older camcorder). The 22x optical zoom is excellent (I turned off the digital zoom). I was able to take good close-ups of the students at the spring concert (using a tripod). The auto focus is very fast and stable, better than previous camcorders. The camera is clearly not perfect, but for the price, it has a lot of highly desirable features.
    3) Low Light Performance- This is not a strong point. The shutter speed for both low light and nightlight causes the images to be jerky when panning. I purchased the VL-3 light since it is powered by the camera battery. At 3 watts, it is not so obtrusive/intense as to be a huge problem for people looking at it. The light is very small, so it is easy to carry. The light is most effective within 6 feet or so. Outdoor video of spring flowers taken at night was fine.
    4) Batteries- I purchased the BP-535 battery which is quite large (in a relative scale sense). I used it to power the ZR50 during the 1 hr taping of the spring concert (and it powered the mike as well). When I was done, the indicator was showing 2/3 battery power still left.
    5) Bonuses- A) The ZR50 uses the same power adapter/charger (CA-560) as the G2 digital camera- less to carry. B) The remote will also work on my other Canon camcorders which can be a problem if you’re using both together. However, you can program the ZR50 remote to setting “2″ to avoid this issue. Very thoughtful.
    6) Still Images- Have not tried- have excellent digital camera for that.
    Finally, due to the small size, I can fit both the ZR50 camcorder and G2 digital camera with mike, light, flash unit, extra batteries, cables, etc. in a fairly small case. This is good.
48. C. Coln says:

    September 19, 2010 at 10:01 PM

    Review by C. Coln for Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5″ LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot
    Rating:
    I read about the motor hum being recorded on Amazon and other review sites. I didn’t want that… so I could afford one of the Sony camera like the new Micro-MV. Thing is, try as I might, I couldn’t make myself like the Sony cameras. I study usability and some industrial design and I still wonder what the Sony engineers were thinking when they designed their digital camcorder line. They’re hard to hold, the buttons are in unnatural places, and the camera doesn’t mold into your hand. The salesperson actually told me to hold it “with two hands” and it’d be fine. Have you ever tried to push a stroller around Disney World and keep track of a running four year old while filming him with a video camera? Two hands for the camera?!? Give me a break!I tested every single Sony digital camcorder, and I still kept coming back to this Canon. Yes, it has the motor hum – but the controls are within reach and I’m not being forced to try and focus with my pinky using a button that’s smaller than a pea (like the Sony Micro-MV). The picture is great.I took my new camera to Disney for a week….it fit in my small fanny pack, and with the digital photo options, I didn’t need to take a regular camera. So much easier and made the trip much more enjoyable. It’s not as great with still photos as a dedicated digital camera, but it’s been great for sending photos directly to relatives via the Internet and making photo CDs.I love this camera!!!!! I’d give it five stars, but I’m taking one off for the motor hum. They should fix that. I still recommend everyone go to a local store and actually hold the Sony cameras and try to focus and fit them comfortably in their hand, and then try the same thing with the Canon. That experience will speak for itself.
49. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 10:38 PM

    Review by for Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5″ LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot
    Rating:
    Most of the video cameras I have used in the past several years have been Sony’s. However, I have had very good experiences with both Canon digital cameras (G2, Powershot s300 and Powershot s230) and Canon 35mm cameras. Considering the excellent return policies that are out there, I thought that Canon was worth a risk. Note that I was in the market for a Mini DV camera and wanted to keep my budget under $1,000. The other camera I was considering was the Sony DCR TRV27.The packaging of the camera was very nice (especially when compared to the TRV27), with 4 color printing on the outside, and a little molded plastic tray inside to hold all the wires, battery, remote, and other accessories. Although I wouldn’t ever make an electronics purchasing decision based on packaging, this was a nice touch that is getting lost by other brands. When you consider that many camcorders are given as gifts, presentation does count for something.Inserting the battery and plugging in the power supply is quick and intuitive…no surprises here. Inserting a Mini-DV cassette is also fairly simple and loads from the bottom. Compared to the Sony, the loading mechanism is almost the same. Both have the counterintuitive feature of half-closing the tape compartment to trigger the mechanical tape insertion. Although this seems to be the “standard” tape insertion protocol for Mini-DV cameras, it might be easy for an untrained friend or family member to injure your camera if they change the tape.The Canon ZR50 body feels great in your hands. It is very balanced, appropriately light, and the on/off and record toggle buttons fall naturally under your thumb. The on/off/record buttons are big enough to easily manipulate which is a BIG advantage over the tiny, cramped Sony buttons. If you want very simple controls, or are giving this to a novice camcorder operator, the Canon ZR50 might be a great choice. The play/rewind/forward/stop buttons that you can see in all the photos of the camera are also very big and intuitive. You can even change the backlight colors of the p/r/f/s buttons for an extra cool factor. There is also added perk that the p/r/f/s buttons can glow different colors when the camera is in Player mode vs. Camera mode; when my friend couldn’t get the camera to record, I could tell from across the room by the colors of the buttons that he was in the wrong mode. The construction of the camera is really solid, and feels much tighter than the Sony. The swing out LCD screen and the viewfinder are adequate. Some people who held it made a comment that it had an overall “PlaySkool” quality to it, as if the camera was a rugged little toy. For some reason, this comparison does seem somewhat appropriate.Recording quality is where the camera falls short. I lined up the Canon next to an older Sony DCR-PC10 (since I didn’t have the TRV27 yet, this was the closest test I could do). Holding the cameras side by side, my friend and I shot indoors images, outdoors images, and zoomed in/out with the optical zooms. Comparisons were made based on video quality, color accuracy, brightness and sharpness.The Canon was consistently off in terms of color accuracy: whites tended to have a red cast and purples were blue. The Sony was very accurate and even its LCD was close to what our eyes saw. Light/bright colors were blown out when outdoors on the Canon, but the Sony captured more color detail in these situations.The Canon was roughly 20% darker than the Sony in low light. Using the Canon’s Low Light and Night modes did not sufficiently compensate for brightness. Image was very grainy and dark in situations such as normal office lighting. Grain became excessive on the Canon at moderate to high zoom levels, but was always present nonetheless. Sony was superior to the Canon in all these situations. Furthermore, the Sony image was approximately 50% sharper and retained better detail on subjects like the folds of a shirt or leaves on a tree. Manipulating the manual settings such as shutter speed, or the various AE modes did not significantly improve quality on the Canon.Quality comparisons between cameras held true when viewing on LCD screen, NTSC monitor direct from camera, or NTSC monitor after transferring DV files to Final Cut Pro.Finally, there is the issue of the tape whine that is commonly reported. The wine was clearly present. Since the human ear can hear any DV camera’s motor whine, I can’t completely fault Canon for recording ambient room noise – including its own motor! However, it is more aesthetically pleasing to have a camera that doesn’t pick up its own hum. Again, the Sony Mini DV did not pick up its motor noise.In summary, this camera would be a great pick if Canon could improve the quality of the picture with a special emphasis on indoor lighting conditions. Unless you are not concerned with getting the best video quality you can for a similar price, I would not purchase this camera. The Sony DCR TRV18, 25, 27 and 50 all have the same Mini DV mechanism (i.e. Mini DV quality), so you should be able to find a price point to fit your budget.
50. Anonymous says:

    September 19, 2010 at 11:26 PM

    Review by for Canon ZR50MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5″ LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot
    Rating:
    The camera does pickup some motor noise in quiet environments.
    I think that the mic gain increases with low noise resulting in this. I opened the mic housing and placed some dense padding material behind the condenser mic to block out motor noise. This worked great! I now have the perfect Camcorder! The picture quality is far superior to the sony tr series and this unit is much more ergonomic. I love this camera. If you don’t want to open the camera up, you can always buy the hotshoe mic. If your not a audiophile then the motor noise really wont bother you. Some posts are a little exagerated about the noise issue. The stills are ok although no digital camera yet really takes good stills. Low light recording is good although any professional camera man will tell you that you need at least 100 lux for best results in any situation no matter what camera you have.