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Canon ZR10 Digital Camcorder

Canon ZR10 Digital Camcorder

List Price: $899.00
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Product So Far
Review: I just opened the ZR10 today and after reading lots of reviews from different sites, I was a bit wary. However, the ZR10 peforms well in most lighting situations after tweaking with it. However, it does not work in 0 lux, but who needs to record family members in pitch black? Also, I could detect VERY SMALL sounds when I used the zoom when I played back, but they were almost unnoticeable.

I have not gotten a chance to test its IEEE 1394 port yet. It should work as well as any other DV camcorder.

The Canon ZR10 is a bit old, so don't expect all the latest features and qualities. It doesn't have very many special effects, just the basics (wipes, mosaic, sepia and fades). Of course, you can always add the effects later on your computer. All the camcorders in the ZR family are surprisingly small; I could slip the ZR10 in a large pocket.

I bought the ZR10 because I needed an inexpensive solid camcorder that had (1) decent video quality, (2) an IEEE 1394 port for editing on the computer, (3) an image stabilization system, and MOST IMPORTANTLY (4) analog line in for converting my old analog movies to digital format. At first the ZR20 caught my eye, but I realized I would be paying (dollar amount) more for features that weren't necessary.

I have not had a chance to try the ZR10 "in the real world" yet, but I am confident that it will make me happy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A pleasure
Review: I own pro digital cameras, but I get an awful lot of use from this little Cannon. Scouting locations, special events, vacations, you name it I've used it. The picture quality is superb, though don't expect the same results as a $10,000 pro cam. It does not work well in low light situations, using the low light setting the camera must be held perfectly still, as in tripod, even then the results are not very good. But that's what camera lights are for. That short comming aside, buy this camera and you will want to take it with you every where you go. It will far exceed your expectations. It's easy to handle, fits snug in the palm of your hand. Well worth the price.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Horrible
Review: I used the camera once and when I tried to use it again it started giving horizontal lines on the recordings and then a CONDENSATION ERROR after that! I need to use it this weekend because my wife is having a baby and it does not work! Canon says I have to send it back to get it repaired. Do not buy this! Save the Hassle.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best money I spent all year
Review: I was so excited when I bought this compact and beautifully made machine. With it's color viewfinder, I was able to conserve quite a bit of battery power and still see the colors and moods I was shooting. Of course with it's more than ample battery, you can still get a lot of use out of it even using the viewing screen. I was suprised to see that somebody complained about the optical steady shot because though it doesn't get rid of all the shakes, it does help quite a bit. This is in comparison to the digital steady shot that most other cameras use. The difference is optical uses a prism inside the actual camera to sense movement, instead of using digital algorithms which don't work when filming something that is moving. I took the camera with me on a weekend trip to the San Juan Islands, and I got a lot of great footage on one single charge. Also, the ZR-10 works great with Mac's software imovie and iDVD software. I couldn't find a better software for beginners.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good with limitations
Review: I was very pleased with this camera when I first got it. I have a couple of issues that would have made me go with another camera had I known from the start... 1. Low light quality is very bad! I don't mean candle light. I'm talking about indoor night shots with all of the lights on. Picture comes out very grainy. Camera definitly needs a light. Daytime shots are great, crystal clear. 2. Still pictures go on tape. You then have to capture that picture to your computer. The quality is only a little better than capturing motion video. Pictures are scattered through out the tape. Could really use a flash for low light (see 1).

These things may not be a big to you, but it has me regretting buying this camera.

On the plus side, 1. The camera has a firewire hook up for connecting to a computer. 2. Has audio/video RCA hook ups for connecting to a VCR. You can record old tapes in DV, then edit on the computer and record back to DV tape and VHS if needed. 3. Has S-video out. 4. One of the smallest and lightest i've seen. 5. Battery last a long time.

Camera may work for you, but shop around

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Eats Tapes, Doesn't Record
Review: I've had this MiniDV Camcorder for about a year and so far, it has had to be sent back to Canon to be repaired 3 times. Each time, they say they had fixed it and listed the parts that they supposedly replaced, but after a few minutes, the problem returned. This camcorder is very compact, but has low video and photo quality with a small LCD.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Dirty Heads
Review: I've had this product a month and was very pleased with it. We had recorded about 20 minutes of video, part of which my wife had viewed once successfully. We then went to watch the whole tape again, and found that there were thick grey horizontal lines across the picture in playback mode. Based on the manual we used a cleaning tape which resolved the problem although after a further 10 - 15 minutes of viewing the problem re-occurred. A further cleaning again resolved the issue. I don't know if the heads were dirty when we got the camera or if the issue was the brand new TDK tapes we were using. We have bought some Panasonic tapes now which we will use for a week of two before deciding whether there is something more seriously wrong with the camera that needs to be checked out under warranty.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty nifty!
Review: I've never had a camcorder before--never even used one, not even the old VHS ones. But this baby's a cake walk. The manual takes a little shuffling through, and the buttons and menus need careful looking over (sorta that "Oooh, I get it" thing). But overall the camcorder is great. The picture quality is amazing (for the price). My living room is fairly dark (no overhead lighting), but I didn't have any problem with gloomy images; I went in and manually upped the brightness a little, and objects and people show up almost crystal clear. And the color balance is great--I've got a red plaid sofa in that living room, and the camera picked it up nicely. I ended up turning off the extra zoom power, though, since the image stablizer goes wonko when you zoom in tight (with the extra power). The 10x optical zoom is just fine for most things. All in all, I'm quite happy with my purchase--a nice camcorder, on sale, with free shipping...what more can you ask?

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Started eating tapes
Review: Just like thousands of others, I too now own this expensive paperweight. I BARELY EVERY used it in the last year, but now it has destroyed several tapes. IT EATS TAPES. DO NOT BUY! DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: STAY FAR FAR AWAY
Review: Just like thousands of others, I too now own this expensive paperweight. I BARELY EVERY used it in the last year, but now it has destroyed several tapes. IT EATS TAPES. DO NOT BUY! DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!


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