They Make Camcorders Too?

Author's Rating:

Pros: Features, Looks, Friendly, Digital

Cons: Battery Time, No Built-In Light

The Bottom Line: 
Canon has a good camcorder with lots of good things and a few downsides.

Author's Review
I have spent a lot of time working with this camcorder. I used it to film a documentary-type video I had to present. I was thrilled with the extraordinary abilities of the Cannon MiniDV but a little disappointed in some things. I would recommend this to any casual home user who is looking to digitally record occasionally. It's a perfect way to record your video tapelessly (is that even a word?)-- no more of those bulky tapes lying around. And, with the aid of special software and hardware, you can "burn" your video onto CDs or DVDs. And you can also take digital still pictures with it too.

Specifications
One of things that should be considered when buying any camcorder is its weight and size. This one weights just over a pound and is relatively compact. It has a 2.5" LCD display which is pretty much the industry standard-- nothing special there. This camera has a phenomenal 22x optical zoom... so you can capture things far away with detail and ease. Usually, $600 cameras do not have that capability. I am always annoyed with batteries on these type of devices. Why is it that the battery only lasts around 3 hours? I hate that-- but, in the scope of things, its not that big of a price to pay for such a camcorder.

The Things You Can Do
The actual process of taking video is OK. The menus are easy to read and almost anyone can edit the video and add special effects. I used Apple iMovie software to edit the video-- which allows for editing that the camera itself does not have the capability to do. The camera is a little bit noisy when recording-- and the built-in microphone picks up the noise under certain conditions. In my opinion, that is a minor issue that should not go into your decision. I just wish they'd made the lithium ion battery last for a little longer. (Note: I have rated the battery life as "Excellent" because it lasts over 120 minutes) But charging is not a hassle and does not take up a lot of time. There is no built-in light in it. As a result, you need a separate light source when filming in dark areas-- the quality is not that good when filming without daylight. You can also view the movie you just made on the camcorder itself or plug it into a larger television and watch it there.

Useful Tip: If you want to zoom your video be sure to zoom FROM the camcorder WHILE making the video. If you use the digital zoom (as opposed to the optical zoom) the picture quality will not be as crisp and clear.

The Royal Verdict
If you think you need one then consider this one from Canon. It does what it is made to do very well. There are certain things it cannot do-- read the specifications before buying carefully. In the time that I used it, I loved it! The quality was fantastic and it was very user-friendly. If price matters for you (and I know it does!), then be assured that $600 is a good deal. Its looks are extremely hi-tech and sleek but not at the "top of the line" as Sony. It coms with the things you need to get started immediately. It's a good all-around deal for casual home video users.