Canon ZR85 Camcorder - Feedback from a Camcorder Newbie

Author's Rating:

Pros: Very easy to use, buttons clearly marked, small size

Cons: Picture a bit dark in some light settings

The Bottom Line: 
This is a great first camcorder and very easy to use.

Author's Review
I would like to start off by saying I am not so much gifted in the area of complex electronic devices. My husband has a very nice digital camera, yet I still purchase disposable cameras before every vacation because I don't understand its multiple settings. I have not yet mastered the art of setting the VCR to record on one channel while you watch another. I have never before owned a video recorder of any type. However, even I can handle the Canon ZR85 Mini DV digital Camcorder! This camcorder was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law, and it has since been taken on two vacations, so I feel like I have gotten an opportunity to get a feel for its features. So far, I have been pleased with this model.

Physical Features
The camcorder is very small, and light enough to throw in a purse or backpack for the day. It fits nicely in the palm of my hand and is secured with a handstrap. The handstrap is on the right side of the device. This is a comfortable position for both videotaping and playing taped material. The left side of the camera has the screen where you can see what you are taping, and also play back the tapes. Above that screen are rewind, fast forward, play/pause, and stop buttons, which are pretty self-explanatory. Next to the screen there is a menu button and a dial, which is used to make more detailed setting selections.

The camcorder uses 'mini DVs', which are little baby video tapes. We purchased ours at a cost of about three for $15.00, and each had an hour of recording time. These DVs can be recorded over again, just like a VCR tape. The DV loads at the bottom of the camcorder, after an 'open/eject' button causes the cassette compartment to spring open. Also on this side of the camcorder is the power button. You can select between 'camera', 'play(vcr)', and 'off'. Additionally, there is the option to switch between recording to the tape and memory card, in case you run out of tape at the very moment you are filming a thrilling celebrity siting or something like that.

The Zoom - Get a little closer!
The zoom feature is my favorite part, and I will admit to making a ten minute practice tape the day I got the camera which consisted primarily of me zooming in on people's noses. The switch says W on the left, and T on the right. W stands for wide angle and T for telephoto, but I had to look that up and it doesn't really matter. To zoom in, you push the lever to the left. To zoom out, you push it toward the right. This model will zoom to magnify the image up to 20 times with this lever, which is really very significant. There is also an option to turn on the Digital Zoom, which can be set up to 80 or 400 times. I don't really use this option very much, as I find it hard to hold the camera still and it seems to shake a lot when it is that focused in on an object. This option can be turned off or on by using the menu button and dial.

Say Cheese!
It is also possible to record photos, or still images, using this camera. You simply use the menu button to select 'photo rec', and then press the large photo button directly behind the zoom. The first press locks the photo in the frame. If it is ok, pressing photo starts the recording of the image for approximately six seconds. If you want to get really fancy, the instruction manual details a way to record a photo on the memory card at the same time as recording a video on the DV!

I'm on TV!
It is easy to play back the video on a TV screen and record it to a VHS tape in this way. In my only previous experience with camcorders, I remember having to use the tape in a special adaptor to see it in the VCR. Here, you don't have to do this. The camcorder comes with a cable with red, yellow, and white prongs, like one you might use for a video game system. These prongs get plugged in to the correspondingly colored holes on your television. The other end plugs into a hole labeled A/V towards the front of your camcorder. After you set your tv to the 'video' setting, you can simply press play on your camcorder to see the video on the TV.

By pressing 'record' on your VCR, you can record the video onto a VHS tape. What I really liked about this was that you can start and stop the tape that is recording, so you can cut out boring stuff that is recorded on the mini DV when you are making your tape. You can also combine footage from more than one tape.

Image Quality and Sound
I have very little to compare the camera quality to, as this is the first camcorder I have ever owned. However, I was pleased with how clear the images were when we watched them on TV. Our outdoors shots were beautiful, whether the sun was out. In terms of indoor shooting, the tape was ok when it was in a well lit room. However, in our dark apartment I couldn't seem to get the lighting quiet right for a wonderful feature length film of my kitten playing with a sock. It was certainly adequate, but it looked darker than in real life.

The sound was shockingly good, I couldn't believe how much this camera picked up around the area I was videotaping! Not only was it very clear, but could pick up sound from long distances. When videotaping my sister cheerleading at a basketball game, not only could we see her from up in the bleachers but we could basically hear what she was saying as well. The audio mode can be changed to reduce low sound and wind noise by turning on the 'wind screen' if you are filming in an area with a lot of background noise.

Overall...
As a technology wimp, I have been surprised and impressed at this camera's ease of use. The buttons on the camera are clearly labeled and self-explanatory. Probably within five minutes of owning the camera, I had already figured out many of the basic functions without even reading the instruction manual. Since reading the 90+ page manual, I am realizing the camera does even more cool things than I thought it did. The picture quality isn't perfect in all settings, but we are using it for home movies so I didn't really expect professional quality in all light levels. Additionally, sometimes the camera is a little bit shaky...oh wait, that's me! Overall, this was a great choice for a camcording beginner like myself.