~~THE SHARP VL-E780U 8MM CAMCORDER~~STOP! I DON'T HAVE MY MAKEUP ON!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Lightweight; small in size; easy to record images with the large LCD monitor screen.

Cons: Cannot pop an 8mm cassette tape directly into the VCR for instant viewing.

The Bottom Line: 
For a compact, lightweight, and easy to use camcorder at a moderate price, the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder is a great choice.

Author's Review
Many years ago, we owned one of those conventional camcorders that were quite large, heavy, and cumbersome to use, not to mention painful on the shoulder after an extended recording period. While I liked being able to take a standard VHS cassette directly out of the machine and placing it into the VCR for instant viewing, the small viewfinder that required lots of squinting during the recording process left much to be desired. So after this old camcorder stopped working properly and we were unable to find a local repair shop that could fix it, we finally decided just to buy a new one about two years ago now. Off to Sears we went, where we discovered just how much cheaper camcorders had become over the years despite the many technological advanced that had occurred in the meantime. After paying almost $800 for our old model, we walked away with a new Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder including a 64x digital zoom and easy to view LCD monitor screen all for $499. With a new baby on the way, we were pleased that we found such a nice model at a rather moderate price.


~~~The Camcorder~~~

Weighing in at a mere 1.65 pounds and measuring approximately 7 inches in length and 4 inches in height, the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder with its 4 high resolution color LCD viewing screen is very simple for the average user to operate and quite attractive in its overall design appearance. Supplied with our machine were many accessories, including the battery pack, AC adapter/battery charger, DC cable, infared wireless remote control (including 2 "AA" batteries), audio/video cable, lithium battery, shoulder strap, and lens cap. Many other optional accessories can be purchased separately if desired, such as an extended battery pack, car battery adapter, tripod adapter, and sun hood, just to name a few. Requiring the small 8mm cassettes for recording, this camcorder with 64x digital zoom and 16x optical zoom provides a much more enjoyable video-shooting experience than using those larger and quite heavy older conventional models. Easily held in front of your body with both hands with the help of the adjustable hand strap while aimed at your subject (or even yourself!), the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder with auto focus and image stabilization easily records both video and sound with the touch of a button while providing for instant playback with color and sound directly from the machine or connected to your TV.


~~~Ease of Recording~~~

After completely charging the battery pack and inserting a blank 8mm cassette into the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder, set the time and date and then remove the attached lens cap and place the machine into the "camera" position before beginning your hifi recording session. The LCD monitor will momentarily focus on the subject at hand before recording will begin. At the right of the screen with be the word "Auto" when easy recording in the full auto mode is desired. Center your subject inside the frame and then press the "Rec/Start/Stop" button to begin recording. Zoom in (telephoto) and out (wide angle) as needed to move visually closer to or farther from your subject without having to physically change your position by moving the power zoom control switch to the left (W) or right (T). Stabilize the camcorder as still as possible to prevent image shakes in the hand-held position, or use a tripod for very stable recording. To pause the machine into the standby mode or to stop your recording session altogether, simply press the "Rec/Start/Stop" button again. Playback can occur instantly by rewinding the tape and placing the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder into the VCR mode and then placed into the power OFF position when recording is complete. Take special care not to touch the LCD monitor screen as smudges can occur.


~~~Camera Recording Times~~~

When used with the standard included battery pack, the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder will provide up to a maximum of 100 minutes (1 hour and 40 minutes) of continuous recording time without having to recharge the battery. However, the actual recording time equals only approximately 45 minutes since using the zoom and other functions as well as turning the machine on and off frequently can reduce power consumption by more than 50%. When this camcorder is turned on, the battery power remaining will automatically be displayed in a 3 level colored display (green for a full to medium charge left and red for a low charge remaining), and a warning message will appear when the power becomes very low. Replace the battery with a spare, or charge the drained one fully for 3 hours by using the included battery charger. It is recommended that about every 10 times or so the battery is charged that the battery pack be fully drained until the viewcam is inoperable before recharging. Otherwise, the operating time of the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder battery pack may become shortened. Install the lithium memory backup battery to save the date and time settings, which will last for about 1 year of normal recording use.


~~~Playback~~~

Once your recording session is complete when using the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder, instant playback can be chosen by viewing directly from the machine or connecting it to your TV or VCR. Use the enclosed cables as directed in the owners manual for proper set up. About 10 minutes before the tape reaches the end during the recording mode, an on-screen indicator will begin to display approximately how much time there is left. The tape will automatically rewind when playback reaches the the end of the tape. Adjust the volume control as desired during playback in the VCR mode. Both a rewind and fast forward video search may be chosen during playback, as well as a still (freeze-frame) picture option by pressing the appropriate buttons at the bottom of the LCD monitor screen. Date and label each full 8mm cassette before storage so your favorite shots will be easier to find and watch at a future date. Just think of all the memories just waiting to be recorded on video with the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder!


~~~Other Useful Features~~~

To control excessive length, here is a listing and brief description of a few other features that can be found when purchasing the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder:

**Setting and Recording the Time and Date: have the correct time and date inscribed on video.

**Setting the 64x Digital Zoom: allows for powerful close-up recording.

**Digital Quick Zoom (Extend Zoom): used to instantly zoom in on a particular subject.

**Quick Return: during playback of a recording, quickly return to the end of the last recorded scene to continue the recording session with this feature.

**Edit Search: find the point of the tape you wish to begin recording at without switching from "camera" to "VCR" mode.

**Fade In and Fade Out: use this feature for a smooth fading in or out of a scene is desired.

**Wide screen: to get that feel of watching a movie in the theater, record video scenes with this function.

**Digital Image Stabilization (DIS): stabilize images by electronically canceling relatively small image shakes that are often annoying in close-up shots.

**Record a Five-Second Still Image (Snapshot): a useful feature with normal sound when recording a subject such as a photograph.

**Still Recording: useful when recording still images such as a sign during sightseeing.

**Backlight Compensation (BLC): improve the picture quality of subjects darkened with backlighting with this feature.

**Gain-Up (Cat's Eye): When recording in a poorly lit or dim location, "LIGHT" is displayed on the monitor. Using this feature will result in a brighter picture.

**Macro Shots: shoot close-up, magnified images such as flowers and insects while making title frames for videos.

**Self Recording: rotate the LCD monitor 180 degrees vertically for recording yourself as the subject. Use the included remote control for this purpose as well.

**Strobe Recording: produces special effects with normal sound.

**Playback Features: use the program search, tape counter memory feature, and remote control here.


~~~Advanced Features~~~

Along with the above helpful options, there are several other advanced features that can be found on the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder. They are:

**Superimposing a Title: choose from eight separate preset titles to use at your convenience when shooting your video (Superstar!, Happy Birthday!, Happy Holidays!, Wedding Day, Congratulations, New Baby, Our Vacation, The End).

**Changing the Preset Titles: make a new title of your own by changing one of the preset titles, with a maximum number of 15 title characters that can be used.

**Auto/Manual Focus: in the auto focus mode, the viewcam will automatically focus on whatever is placed into the center of the screen. Other situations (described in the owners manual) may require the machine to be switched to the manual focus mode for better results.

**Scene Menu: set the camcorder to one of four specific scene settings (sport, snow-sand, twilight, party) to enhance certainly shooting situations.

**Picture Effects: record the subject in black and white or sepia color to produce a dramatic antique effect.

**Picture/Backlight Adjustments: if the picture is difficult to see because of dark lighting, the monitor picture can be adjusted as necessary.

**Editing: edit videos by removing any unwanted sequences from the tape or by transposing one sequence with another by using the built-in LCD monitor without having to connect the camcorder to an external TV or VCR source.

**Recording from an External Source: record or edit videos from another source, such as a TV or VCR by using the supplied audio/video cable if desired.


~~~Overall Recommendation~~~

If you are looking for a moderately priced, lightweight camcorder that is easy to use while producing high quality video and sound, consider purchasing the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder from your local electronics store today. The 68x digital zoom allows for clear close-up shots while the LCD monitor screen contributes to an enjoyable video-shooting session for the user. There's no more awkward squinting while trying to peer through a small viewfinder on many other models available on the market today. I truly did not realize how much I enjoyed using this viewcam until my husband accidentally dropped ours and we had to send it off for repair! Now that our Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder is back in our possession, I've used it on an almost daily basis as I seem to be making up for lost time. Special occasions and every day events will be preserved for years to come as our children grow up and the short-term memories fade. What priceless possessions those small 8mm cassettes will later become!


For more product information on the Sharp VL-E780U 8mm Camcorder and other accessories, check out their website online at:

www.sharp-usa.com

Questions or comments?
1-800-BE-SHARP

SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Sharp Plaza
Mahwah, NJ 07430-2135