5 comments about Canon Optura 30 MiniDV Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom.

1. The Pro's
   
   1. I don't see what all the fuss is about with the low light? From what I was reading I think Canon made some changes around July of 2004 to improve this feature. I was worried about this so I did a test in the basement with minimal lighting. The result was a little bit grainy but if I you are shooting video footage in the dark what do you expect? Compared to my other JVC it was 3 times better in the low light performance.
   
   2. The next best thing is the WIDE ANGLE!!!! My JVC stretches and distorts the image like most other camcorders but the Canon was AWESOME!!!! Turn off the image stabilizer and you get an even wider angle. I have a big screen HDTV and this feature is a must for Widescreen HDTV owners. Truly one of the best features.
   
   3. Color and Resolution - Near perfect. I do a lot of landscape and outdoor shooting so I was going to go with the Panasonic 3 CCD for the color rendition. To my surprise the resolution and color clarity on this camcorder was damn near perfect. The Blues were great, greens good, reds a tad off, yellows a tad off but overall the 1.3 MP sensor and color filter do a superb job, I could not ask for more from a non 3 CCD camera.
   
   4. The next best thing I loved about this camera was the stabilization. I often shoot while driving and with my JVC sometimes I would get car sick just watching some of the footage I took! I zoomed in 12X and purposefully shook the camera, then I turned off the stabilization and did the same thing. The results 10 times better with the stabilization. It also did not chop the frames like some other camcorders do.
   
   5. The Miscellaneous Features, I like the feel of this camera, small compact and light. I liked the Output and input jacks. Firewire, USB, S-Video, etc etc this baby has it all.
   
   6. Last but not least the price. $450 after [...]!!! I'm a penny pincher and this camera more than met my expectations
   
   7. Comes with Pinnacle Studio 9 SE, great software for the average video editor.
   
   
   The Cons
   
   1.The battery has a short life. Take a hint go to E-bay buy a cheap knock off or 2, I got 2 NB-2LH batteries for $25!!
   
   2. As with all digital stills from a camcorder. If you haven't read any other reviews yet they all say the same thing and it is true with all camcorders, The CCD is meant for live moving pictures, not stills, They are OK but cannot compete with my 3 MP Kodak



2. First, about the camera. I've only had the Optura for about two weeks. I've only used it indoors and the quality is acceptable under moderate indoor lighting. Is it great? No, but it's also not a pro camera. The quality seems to be a little better than the Sony it replaced, as far as I can tell. That's about all I can say at this point. I did notice the battery going down pretty quickly, but at this point for my family, a battery that needs to be charged often isn't a big deal. If and when it is, I suppose we will purchase another battery. Considering we paid $425 including s/h and after the rebate (from MPSuperstore) I can't complain too much.
   
   Normally I wouldn't post a review without using the camera more, but I just have to respond to the guy who posted about his ZR10. First, buddy, if you aren't reviewing the Optura 30, why are you here? Second, after my experience with a Sony MiniDV -- with less than 10 hours of record time I've got a malfunction that could cost more to fix than to replace it -- I could say the same thing about Sony. Yeah, I'm pissed as hell. And I surely won't be buying another Sony camcorder. But I'm not about to make a blanket statement that all Sony camcorders suck b/c I'm not exactly qualified to say that. And to say that all Sony products stink just b/c my $500 camcorder prematurely kicked the bucket, well, that's just foolery.



3. I shot over twenty hours of footage on this camera with brilliant results. The 2.2 megapixel ccd makes for outstanding video quality outdoors. Because my video is shot in widescreen, my friends often tell me my home movies look like independent feature films. When there is enough lighting, you will be impressed with this camera.
   
   Unfortunately, when the lighting goes down, this camera has pretty poor results. For instance, you will often see ghosting of video because the automatic shutter kicks in to open the aperature more. Don't bother with the night mode because it has a terrible strobe like effect making video look completely unacceptable.



4. We have owned this camera for over a year and our feelings are mixed:
   
   For outdoor filming, this camera is outstanding. The color and picture quality are top notch.
   
   Unfortunately, indoor filming is very poor (even during the daytime with all of our windows open and lights on). We bought the camera to film our young children and find ourselves not turning the camera on as much as we should because there is not enough light (and we have a very bright house).
   
   The manual settings on the camera are nice (one of the primary reasons we chose the optura30), but the menu is not very intuitive and the manual is not very helpful.
   
   Field of view is also quite small - recommend using a wide angle lense. We also recommend trying out any camera in person in an average lighted room, not an overlighted show room.



5. Does what you ask reasonably well.
   I got this product because it met four requirements. Uses same battery as two of my still cameras. Has genuine optical stabilization (I need this for technical reasons), has a reasonably long zoom range with decent optics, and its digital.
   Not many complaints yet. Like most of the new gadgets, it takes a while to learn to use all the features. Build quality is good.
   
   Main complaint is that the batterlife is kinda short with the batteries that I swap out from my still cameras.
   
   The night function is not so thrilling. If you want excellent low light capabilities, look elsewhere.

5 comments about JVC GR-D250 MiniDV Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom.

1. Tried it indoor and outdoor.. It works fine.. And dual voltage charger is a added advantage too.. Works great and a good starter camcorder..



2. JVCs are great if you don't need any accessories or never need customer service. if you do you are in trouble. I bought a JVC video recorder last year and despite it being new it came without most of the accessories offered with it--things you'll probably need such as the cable to connect it to the TV and the one to connect it to the computer. I had to buy each of these for $40 each--they would not ship them, and also had to buy the software that was supposed to come with the camera. after all that, the leads broke, then the zoom button would stick, and finally the camera started eating tape. the customer service was useless and I finally just threw it out. I had owned this JVC product for less than a year and will never buy another one.



3. I recorded about 5 tapes in this unit and now I get the famous "Lens Cap" error that seems to plague JVC Camcorders. It will record audio, but no video. This Camera is not on the JVC repair list. What a piece of junk.
   
   Customer Support is a mis-nomer with JVC. They know they have a problem, but refuse to even listen. Do not buy a JVC camcorder.



4. Camera was great until the "Lens cap" error message came on in the middle of recording my son's first band concert. Have emailed JVC about so called free repair which isn't free because you still have to pay for shipping back and forth to repair center. Stay away for JVC.



5. After waiting several weeks for this item I checked the UPS tracking system and learned that the product was damaged in a train derailment. I emailed back to Amazon and was told they would look into it. A couple of weeks after that I finally got a refund (after I'd had to pay interest on my credit card, of course.) And to top it off, Amazon keeps asking me to review the product, which is kind of pissing me off, really. I'm happy that the issue was resolved, but upset that I had to be the one to initiate the communication to get it resolved. Having said that, I would still shop from Amazon in the future.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS29 MiniDV Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom.

1. Very small and easy to carry. Neat on the zoom, a bit hazy on the image stabilization but overall a good buy for the buck.



2. I like the camara and the zoom was good. I returned it because I was very disappointed with the resolution. In todays world, I expected better.



3. I bought this camcorder recently and am very happy with it. It is very easy to use and has good recording quality. The low light indoors isn't great but no camcorders in this price range are. I've used it several times and it works fine. I recommend this and the price is unreal.



4. This is very nicely built, simple features, takes still pics as well.
   As long as your not a professional filmer that needs HD, go for it.
   Video & sound quality is great.



5. I WANTED A NEW CAMCORDER. I DO LIKE THE VHS-C VERSIONS, BUT THE QUALITY IS NOT AS GOOD AS A HI8 FROM SONY WHICH I HAVE. I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND ALOT OF MONEY. I KNOW A NEW CAMCORDER WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE. I FIGURED, IF I CAN FIND A USED, BUT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH A GOOD PRICE, I WOULD BUY IT. AFTER LOOKING AROUND ON AMAZON, I FOUND THIS GREAT LITTLE CAMCORDER. I WAS SO SURPRISED HOW SMALL AND COMPACT IT WAS, WITH FEATURES OF A VHS-C AND A HI8. IT USES MINI DIGITAL TAPES WITH A 90 MINUTE RECORDING TIME. IT HAS A BUILT IN LIGHT, LARGE LCD SCREEN, A JOYSTICK TYPE OF CONTROL, WHICH IS VERY EASY TO USE. YOU CAN PLAYBACK ON YOUR TV WITH THE RCA CABLES, OR USE A PC WHICH I SEE IT CAN DO, BUT I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, CAUSE I USE MY DIGITAL CAMERA. IN FACT, YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES ON THE CAMERA MODE. YOU HAVE TO PRESS IT LIGHTLY, CAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU CAN GET MORE THAN ONE PICTURE OF THE SAME THING. YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THE SHUTTER WHEN YOU ARE TAKING THE PICTURE. THE ZOOM AND VOLUME CONTROLS ARE ONE IN THE SAME. WHEN YOU PLAYBACK WHAT YOU RECORD. ZOOM FOR RECORDING, VOLUME WHEN USING PLAYBACK. IT SAYS STEREO ON THE LOWER FRONT OF THE CAMCORDER. THE BATTERY LASTS A LONG TIME, BUT YOU ALWAYS NEED ANOTHER ONE, WHICH I ORDERED FROM AMAZON. IT COMES WITH A BATTERY CHARGER LIKE A VHS-C, SO YOU CAN USE THE CAMERA, WHILE CHARGING ANOTHER. IT FITS RIGHT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, AND THE CONTROLS ARE GOOD FOR A RIGHT HANDED PERSON, IF YOUR A SOUTHPAW, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS, I KNOW, CAUSE MY SISTER IS A LEFTIE AND IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY. IF YOUR RIGHTHANDED LIKE ME YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM. THE ONLY THING I DID NOT LIKE WAS, THE PLAYBACK IS NOT AS CLEAR AS A HI8, AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE CAMERA SLOWLY, CAUSE IT GETS BLURRY. ONE GREAT PLUS IS THE VIEWFINDER IS IN COLOUR WHEN THE LCD DOOR IS CLOSED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, IT'S VERY HELPFUL. OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT A BETTER PICTURE QUALITY, YOU NEED A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL, OR A HI8 WHICH I FIND HAS THE BEST QUALITY WHEN IT COMES TO USING TAPE CAMCORDERS. IF YOUR GOING ON A TRIP, IT'S FANTASTIC. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY AROUND THE OLD-FASHIONED CAMCORDERS, WITH EXTRA TAPES AND LARGE BATTERIES. EVEN THE BATTERY IS VERY SMALL, BUT DOES NOT LACK QUALITY. THE CAMERA IS SMALL, THE TAPES AND EXTRA BATTERY ARE SMALL, HOW CAN YOU LOSE.... I'M GIVING IT A 4 RATING FOR THE BLURRY PICURE YOU CAN GET IF YOU ARE MOVING AROUND TOO FAST WHILE RECORDING. I HAVE YET TO RECORD OUTSIDE CAUSE I JUST GOT IT. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I HOPE THIS HELPS. THANK YOU.

1 comments about Sony DCRTRV33 MiniDV 1megapixel Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Color Viewfinder & Memory Stick capabilities.

1. Sony DCRTRV33 MiniDV 1megapixel Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Color Viewfinder & Memory Stick capabilities
   
   I've owned this camera since June 2003, and I've run a lot of tape through it. Overall, the Sony DCR-TRV33 MiniDV is a pretty straight-forward camcorder to use, but I wouldn't give it more than a three star rating.
   
   On the Pro's list:
   
   The camera records nice clear images in natural, daytime lighting. It's light weight allows stable handheld shooting even for extended periods. The reversible, flip-out, 2.5" LCD color display is easy to see when shooting indoors or in subdued outdoor lighting. The touch screen controls are responsive and fairly easy to locate and use with practice. The mini-DV cassette is easy to load and remove, as is the memory stick and the battery pack. All of the controls are within easy reach, when the camera is held in the right hand. The LCD viewfinder allows for a good clear viewing image when the LCD panal is closed. The supplied NP-FM30 battery pack gives about 30 minutes of recording time when the LCD display is used, and about 50 minutes with the viewfinder. (I purchased the optional NP-QM71D extended battery pack, which runs continously for between about 165 minutes and 205 minutes.) The 219-page operational manual that comes with the camera is a great step-by-step, user-friendly guide.
   
   On the con's list:
   
   When shooting indoors in the evening, turn on all the light fixtures or expect a poor image quality recording. When shooting outdoors in bright sunlight, the operation buttons on the LCD are hard to see. The still images (snapshots) are very poor quality. The location of the combination Power-VCR-Camera-Memory selector makes it easy to unintentionally change from one setting to another when the tiny lock switch isn't in the lock position. Even when shooting in the wide-angle mode, it's difficult to get more than one person in the shot unless you're a fair distance from the action.
   
   Bottom line:
   
   Even with it's drawbacks I'd still recommend this little compact MiniDV recorder to the amateur to intermediate user.

5 comments about Sharp VLSD20U Digital ViewCam with 3" Color LCD Screen.

1. This camcorder brought us three unpleasant surprises:

   1. It is not completely compatible with Apple Computer's iMovie. The first few seconds of video are lost and cannot be imported after every Stop/Start break in the camera footage. It also leaves lots of square artifacts at the beginning of an export to tape. Both very frustrating.

   2. After two years of admittedly heavy use (hey, when else will he be a baby again?), the auto focus mechanism went quite mad. It simply wouldn't hold focus under any circumstances. This sort of thing happens, I suppose, but then for the big surprise...

   3. There is, in all of the United States, exactly ONE place that Sharp allows to work on their digital camcorders. Our camera has now been there for six weeks and the best we can get from them is that "the part is on order."
   On order? These guys are the only repair facility for the entire U.S. and they don't have parts stocked?!? This isn't a little garage outfit that would go broke stocking spare parts for every camcorder ever made; this is a monopoly that knew darned good and well that anything that went wrong with this camcorder model was going to come to them. They should have had a ready supply of parts.
   Repeated calls to them got us nowhere. A call to Sharp Customer Assistance got us nowhere.

   If you like surprises like these, then this camcorder and the rest of the Sharp line are for you.




2. I have had the Viewcam for a year now, and feel that I can make an adequate review of it now. So here it is. Problems/Repairs: 0. Things that impressed me: Resolution quality over VHS/8mm, low-light capabilities, sound quality, overall size, and that cool swivel action. Things that did not impress me: Cost of DV tapes, Resolution quality compared with newer miniDV cams, still shot pics, battery life. Overall: This is a very handy little camera, and I have enjoyed using it. It had firewire, which is the only way to go if your editing on your PC - and the picture/sound quality is far superior than any other format (don't let the whole Digital8 thing fool you). The price on Amazon was a steal at the time, and I do not regret getting it at all.



3. Excellent choice for a digital movie camera. Takes stills from 1 to 16 frames per snap. Hook up to a TV to view movies or review thru the lcd screen, Never had any problems.



4. small enough to take everywhere.....it's been all over the world and through some tough climates and still works great! Large LCD for viewing eliminates the need for a view finder, which most people don't use with todays DV camera. Functions easy to access. Takes 37mm filters. Suggest purchase of two batteries so you can cut back on down time when shooting. Liked it so much....getting one for my son in the military!! Looking for underwater case...if available.



5. Hi, I bought this camera to take it on a Millennium trip to Isreal, Egypt, Greece...and it did not disappoint. Amazing. I think I've replaced the battery only once. IT comes with a charger so make sure you get that too. Easy to use. Be careful when loading the tape so you down force it. Never had problems with it but it looks pretty delicate when you see the fancy mechanism. Great almost 3 inch playback. Great zoom. Now all I have to do is edit all of these tapes. Saw that it isn't the best for Apple's MOVIE program but I'm going to use directions on HOW THINGS WORK -- for editing Mini-DV -- wish me luck. Swivel makes it easy to shoot vertical or horizontal. Easy to give to a pal to use. Like that you can get 90 minutes on one tape. Be careful, I recently somehow taped over a vaulable tape so pull that little green tab on your digital video tapes so you can't re-record accidentally. SO MUCH FUN -- makes even an event you DON"T WANT TO GO TO -- ie some party or wedding or something a lot of fun. Because the results are so good and the SOUND IS AMAZING. REALLY AMAZING SOUND for mini-dv -- plus you can put it in a tote bag or a large purse if you're a lady. No need for big camera bag. The stabilization tech eliminates need for tripods etc and it seems to work just as well inside a room at night vs during the day.....worth every penny -- and if you can get one used--well-- do it today!! js.

No comments about Canon FS11 Flash Memory Camcorder with 16GB Internal Flash Memory + Deluxe Accessory Kit.

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No comments about SVP HDDV-3000 12MP Max. 6-in-1 Multi-Functional Camcorder with Rare Huge Flip LCD! (4GB High Speed SD Card & Tripod Included).

5 comments about Sony DCR-DVD403 3MP DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. After using this camcorder for over a year, I am very pleased with it, and highly recommend it.
   My only desire for the camera would be greater control of the zoom. It is easy to zoom in and out fast, but a slow, smooth zoom takes a gentle touch on the zoom lever.



2. Poor lens cover design this is an offical money trap dont buy this product
   311 spending towards a quality cammera!



3. Nice images. Compact, easy to transport. Keep the manual handy as there are a lot of functions that are easily forgotten unless the camera is used often. Found this unit is not too nice to other disc manufacturers.
   Use Sony discs to avoid disappointments.



4. The Sony DVD403 Handycam takes great pictures and is easy to use, but beware! The software that comes with it messes up your computer BIG TIME! We have had to rebuild our computer and leave the software off. I have been told that "Sony is aware of this problem and is working on it" but I am very disappointed that they did not notify me of the problem. They could have easily done so since I registered the camera with them. If you have been experiencing problems with your computer not wanting to shut down and/or 'blue screen' and you have the software for this camera installed - that could be your problem.



5. I've owned this camera for about 18 months now. I wanted a camera that could shoot both decent video and stills, and would do mpeg2 encoding to save me the work of converting DV-AVI files to mpeg2 myself. This camera largely met those goals but has lots of annoyances too.
   
   1. The lens cover. If you read the reviews here you'll be well aware that the lens cover on this camera is very prone to failure. In my case the lens cover will not close. There was no apparent reason for the sudden failure; I have always taken good care of the camera and only use it lightly.
   
   2. The PC software is truly appalling. Forget about doing anything useful with it. I use it in its first couple of steps just to get it to extract the individual mpeg2 files out of the DVD VOB files it creates, and then manually rename each one with the date and time, then I copy them out of the temp directory and quit the app. It's way more tedious than it need be just to do this, and useless beyond this basic task (and it crashes and/or hangs frequently so often requires several attempts).
   
   3. If you use non-Sony media the camera complains, and you cannot access the non-Sony media on your PC until it is finalized. This is pure evil manufacturer lock-in BS; I don't believe there is any technical reason for this as non-Sony media support multi-session writes.
   
   4. The still camera works great in good light but not in low light. The pictures are more reminiscent of CMOS sensors than a CCD.
   
   5. It's a Sony. That means don't expect any of these issues to be fixed or even acknowledged. Once Sony have your money you're dirt.

No comments about Digital Concepts Crayola Digital Camcorder Green.