No comments about SVP HDDV-3001 12MP Max. 6-in-1 Multi-Functional Camcorder with Rare Huge Flip LCD! (8GB SDHC Card Included).

1 comments about SVP HDDV-2880Bk 16MP Max TOUCH BUTTON 2.5-inch 270 DEGREE LCD Digital Video Camcorder + FREE 4GB High Speed SD Memory Card.

1. THE CAMERA TAKES BLURRY PICTURES AND THE CORD DOES NOT WORK RIGHT.I WANTED TTO RETIRN IT BUT THERE WAS NO RETURN INFORMTIN.NOT HAPPY!!!!

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC90 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. Like other reviewers, I researched this purchase carefully and was very pleased with the overall performance of this combination video/still camera. Video quality is great.
   
   Some issues - buttons are designed for holding the camera eyepiece to the eye. The secondary controls on the screen are ok, but otherwise it is awkward to use the camera at waist level. Still camera focus is slow and unreliable. Stills can take "forever" to snap - especially #2, 3.
   
   Finally, the camera has completely shut down on me twice in 6 months and I am sending it back again for service - just before the holidays when I would really like to have it. This unreliability is unacceptable.



2. I shopped around for a while before I bought this camera. I checked out many reviews and I have to say, I'm VERY happy with this camera. I wanted something that worked in low light. This was the most important feature I was looking for. I had a Canon video camera, and I now have very few videos of my daughter growing up because if there wasn't enough light it would make interference on the tape. This camera works very well with normal indoor lighting. You don't have to turn on extra lights. (It also has nightvision which works in very low light)
   
   The only complaints I have are 1) the battery doesn't last more than an hour - but I don't video that long anyway 2) the memory stick doesn't hold many pictures - but I'm spoiled with my digital camera holding lots.
   
   In general, I would highly recommend this camera. You can download the video to you PC really easily and burn it to DVD.
   
   Oh, and in some reviews it mentions that the zoom is hard to use. I don't find that to be true at all. It is sensitive, but not hard to use.



3. As an owner of the Sony DCR-HC30 model DV Handicam, I want to warn everyone about my horrible experience with this product line. Design and feature-wise, these Handicams are great. The problem is, they are built like junk.
   
   From the day I opened my box, I got a message that told me that the heads were dirty and needed to be cleaned. In retrospect, I should have returned it for a replacement then and there. But being a basically optimistic guy, I decided it just got dirty in transit, and I got a head cleaner and cleaned the heads. It worked fine for about 30 days - just about the amount of time in Sony's crappy labor warranty. And from that point forward, I have gotten dirty head messages constantly, which at first could be `cleaned away,' but now, even when the message is gone, problems persist.
   
   I often get bars across the screen during playback, and I have already determined that I have lost many a precious memory of my infant children. Sony's solution to this situation is their standard "flat rate" repair program, truly a bargain for $250 or so - more than half what I paid for the camera in the first place.
   
   And Sony wonders why their brand value has all but disappeared? They are just another electronics brand now, and one with sub-par quality and service at that. Guess I'll be buying Samsungs or Canons next time around.
   
   Are you listening, Sony?



4. This is one of the best camcorders in the market today and I would definitely recommend it to anyone planning to buy a Mini-DV camcorder
   
   Positive factors:
   - Very small and easy to hold with one hand. Can be easily attached even to a mini-tripod with ease.
   - Excellent widescreen video and hi-fi audio. Your videos finally get that "Hollywood" feel when you shoot movies in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format). Even if you don't have a widescreen TV currently, you will very soon have one as more and more people are buying them. So its better to buy this camcorder and shoot in 16:9 format to enjoy your movies later in widescreen format.
   - Includes widescreen rotatable LCD so what you see is what you get when you shoot in 16:9 ratio (widescreen format)
   - Good battery life. One extra battery is enough. You can easily manage a day's worth of shooting with two batteries before recharging them again
   - Includes docking station making it easier to connect to computer or TV. If you have a good computer with a firewire port, please buy a firewire cable to connect the camcorder to your computer. You can download your movie in excellent clarity in .avi format and edit it as required
   - Make sure to change the audio setting to 16 bit (instead of the default 12 bit) for very good hi-fi audio
   - Touchscreen menu system is great. You don't have to search for any buttons as they are all available in the touchscreen menu itself.
   - 10X optical zoom is more than sufficient for ordinary home videos. Anything more produces more "shaking" and would necessiate the use of a tripod. When you shoot without a tripod, 10X is the best zoom you can achieve without worrying about shaky videos
   - Widescreen still photo. The photo clarity is OK not too good. So please don't expect great shots. Since the photo is in 16:9 format, you can take panoramic photos and cover more people in group shots
   - Nightshot: Cool feature that records using infrared light. Useful for shooting at night as you can record a video even in 100% darkness
   - Color widescreen viewfinder - Very useful when you are running down on batteries and need to use the viewfinder. The color widescreen viewfinder gives an excellent picture and is as good as the LCD in clarity
   
   Negative factors:
   - Outdoor videos especially in bright sunlight are overexposed. So please adjust the white balance when shooting outdoors. Add the white-balance menu to your shortcuts so that you can easily access it and return to default once you start shooting indoors
   - Sensitive microphone may pick up button clicks (best to turn off the button click "beep" sound).
   
   Notes:
   - Use a fresh cassette after recording 2 or 3 times on the same cassette. The head tends to get dirty if you re-record on the same cassette more than 3 times
   - You can edit movies in Windowx XP using Windows Movie Maker, but beware it does not support 16:9 ratio video. Hence your videos look ugly as you shot them in 16:9 but Movie Maker converted it to 4:3. Invest in Pinnacle Software version 9 or 10 for better movie editing capabilities. Pinnacle is the only software, I am aware of, that preserves teh 16:9 ratio. Even Roxio could not allow 16:9 format.
   - You can also invest in wide-angle lens as it gives excellent coverage



5. Tuve este camara por año y medio, la usa bastante. Cualquier dia simplemente dejo de funcionar. Se daño el bus de datos que esta al lado del carro del cassete. Se daño simplemente por "mucho uso" o mas bien falta de calidad. Además la camara tiene problemas cuando enfoca fotografias. Es muy linda pero muy, muy delicada. No volvere a comprar filmadoras Sony me pase a Canon, que son menos lindas pero mas fuertes.

5 comments about JVC GR-D370 MiniDV Camcorder w/32x Optical Zoom.

1. Works well. Packaging of item was good and package came to destination in good condition.



2. Product is working good and clarity is fine.
   But I found the next version product (with remote)
   cost lower than this product.



3. I used this for several occassions now and I thought this was a good buy. I was able to transfer video to my computer pretty easily. There is an SD slot on this for still pictures but nothing for moving video.
   
   I'm hesitant to buy newer cameras with Hard Drive capabilities or High Definition, because they cost way too much right now. It'll go down by next Christmas, but until then, I'll stick to this one.



4. First one I bought was defective upon purchase. Returned for new one at JVC advise. Second one broke after 5 uses and 6 months. Was told by JVC it would cost me $145.00 to repair. Total piece of junk and JVC will not stand behind their own product. Bought a Sony for about the same price and it is working just fine.



5. Everything positive written about this camera is true while the camera is working. Specifically impressive is the image quality (I shop for cameras like I shop for TVs...what's the picture I want to see? This looked sharper and more film-like than others in the store at the time).
   
   If you're curious, we only had the 90 day warrantee and after two years it quit in storage. The hardware evaluation to fix it is around $50 last I checked, and ordering the suspected damaged bit (the CCD) cost more than I bought the original camera for. Haven't yet found a place that'll recycle it since it's slightly older, and I feel bad paying too much for replacement parts and worse for buying the exact same thing over again.
   
   I think I just joined that club of "Charge me more and build a durable working product rather than making it cheaper and having it promised not to die within a certain timespan."

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS31 MiniDV Camcorder w/26x Optical Zoom.

1. We returned this video camera due to video picture quality. The camera requires a lot of light to have a decent video, even after changing settings, the video had a "grainy" look. We just needed something basic to replace our 10 year old video camera and thought this would work, but the picture was worse than our previous camera. Purchased the PV-GS65, next model up with 3CCD's and love this model. As a matter a fact we still had the GS-31, used the same tape, shot the same footage, and reviewing the two different shots, the GS-65 did 100% better.
   
   The camera has a great feel in your hand, although the menu button can be difficult to press.



2. I bought this camera for its great price, good reviews, and overall reputation as a great camcorder for the novice shooter. I returned the camera after three weeks, however, due to abysmal low light performance among other things.
   
   The catalyst for purchasing this camera was the impending birth of our first child. I took the camera to the hospital and filmed some of the labor/delivery and follow up. Unfortunately, when we returned home to view our footage, much of it was grainy and plagued with shadows and silhouettes.
   
   The camera does include a light and a MagicPix option, but unless you're using a tripod, you're bound to end up with a strobe-light effect (Perfect for recreating "Thriller music videos," but not much help otherwise.)
   
   I also found the image quality with the GS31 to be fairly lackluster and pixilated. Granted, you get what you pay for, but I was really taken aback that my 1992 camcorder shot much better footage.
   
   That being said, the camera did a lot better in good/outdoor lighting (albeit still somewhat pixilated), and the zoom is incredible. The camera is very light and smaller than I anticipated.
   
   In the end, I returned the camera in favor of a more significant investment (...)
   
   I will say that Amazon did a great job with customer service throughout. Also, if you do buy this camera, make sure to buy the DV cable (firewire for Macs) through Amazon or some other online retailer. (...)



3. I liked it and it is working fine.
   
   Cons
   no USB cable and night times is not the right time to shoot video or photo both.



4. its nice light small but its an ok i give it 3 and a half star...



5. It's an ok camera. For what I wanted, it worked. I was just wanting something that would record video better than my camera phone, and therefore it did the job nicely. If you want better picture quality, less noise, better dynamic range and the ability to add a mic, then look elsewhere. But if you just want a camera for quick captures that doesn't cost an arm and leg, then this camera will do just that.

1 comments about Digital Concepts Digital Camcorder with Built in Mictrophone - Pink.

1. The specs are not listed anywhere in the description, so here it is:
   
   - Resolution of 320x240
   - 351 second capacity
   
   Besides the low resolution, the mic won't record anything more than 1' away. The software won't let you do anything to your video other than extract it from the device.

5 comments about JVC GR-D270 MiniDV Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom.

1. Great for those of us who are new at this type of camera and affordable.



2. Haven't used it A LOT...but so far...easy to use...works in low light...decent sound...great video...



3. Good product, had it for a year now. Wish I had bought the one with a jack for an external microphone. Consider that if you are buying a camcorder that will be used for recording teachings or other educational event. It has good sound pick up but not good enough for proper recording of teachings.



4. this camera is an excellent camera. i bought it and it took great videos and good still pics. about a year after i got the camera i started getting an error message on the screen. it said that the unit was in safeguard mode eject and reinsert tape. upon doing so, nothing happened. the message still showed up on the screen. i tried everything i could think of to reset the camera. i removed the battery for several hours and tried again and the message still appeared. i have recently sent a message to jvc and am waiting for a reply on how to solve this problem. if you buy this camera make sure you get an extened warranty on it.



5. Excellent product with awesome zoom. Battery that comes with it last a long time as well. I would buy this product again without any hesitation. I have not used thew camera part yet because I have a digital camera. But I will use it sometime.

No comments about SVP T100-Black 16MP Max. True HD Camcorder with 2.4" LCD (SVP 8GB SDHC Memory Card Included).

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV230 Digital8 Camcorder.

1. This is junk. It has not worked since the day I got it. Have returned it for service three times. Has never been fixed. Sony refuses to replace the camera. If I did not have so much invested in accessories I would just throw it away and buy a Canon.



2. I bought this camera in November of 2001 and am very happy with its performance and features.
   For all those that complain about the grainy picture: read your manual that came with the camcorder! With this camera you have the option of different exposure settings. I have found that the AE(automatic exposure) setting tends to make the picture look grainy, especially when filming indoors. This can be corrected by using the 'sun and moon' exposure or one of the others. Take the time to try each setting in different lighting and surroundings and view them on your television to see which ones you like best.

   Some pros about this camera
   * light-weight
   * very good lcd color screen
   * excellent image stabilization
   * very good color representation (with right exposure)
   * excellent compatibility with computer OS's & programs
   * great stero sound
   * excellent remote control

   Some cons to consider
   * changing tapes is awkward, tape loaded from bottom
   * camera hum audible on tape if shooting quiet scene
   * digital zoom is not focused (keep on analog zoom)
   * battery does not last long when using the lcd screen
   (about 1/2 hour)

   This cam does not have a digital media storage card for photo stills but I don't consider this a con. High cost models are beginning to come out with decent resolution photo still capability integrated into the camcorder and until the price falls, buy a seperate digital photo cam.
   Very good camera overall!




3. I read all the negative reviews and whining in the reviews of the Sony TRV-230 Digital 8 camcorder, and bought it anyway for use of live-action reference for my animated projects. I didn't need stellar image quality, anyway, so the complaints didn't apply to me. I was suprised when I got this thing.

   The image quality is wonderful! It has natural looking colours, excellent sound reproduction for a built in microphone and is razor sharp. While it is true that indoors you may have a bit of grain, it isn't a detriment like the people here would make it out like. I lit my subjects evenly and brightly, and the grain disappeared. Scratch one problem. If you have good lighting, there's no grain. Very simple. But, if you do not have even, bright lighting, it can become very grainy indeed.

   The camera has a mind-boggling array of effects, all of which can have a nice effect if used in moderation. The effect I particularly like is the "flash" effect. If you crank it down to one bar, you get a nice cinematic look that is very similar in look to 35mm film at 26fps. The lens is very good, but in very bright situations some glare can appear on subjects. However, all cameras do that in some respect so if you're doing a lot of outdoor shooting, Sony has some lens filters that you can screw on. Scratch another complaint.

   I especially liked how virtually everything is near your thumb. Record mode, play mode, zoom. The zoom is amazing, but you can forget a 700x zoom. It gets blurry around 400 or 500x, but as someone else at Amazon put it, who needs that much zoom anyways? If you really want to shoot something, then get off your [behind] and shoot it.

   The remote is also handy, as well, especially if you are doing stop-motion/steadycam work. It may seem like a toy, but when it's on a tripod, you don't want to jolt the camera when you're doing stop-mo. It has most of the functions of the camera itself.

   One complaint that I have is the tape loading mechanism. Most 8mm camcorders have a simple door, shove in the tape and slam the door shut --- just like a cassette deck. Not this one. It has a fancy little motor that wheels out the cassette like some kind of science fiction movie. It definitely looks cool but if it breaks down, how are you supposed to get the tape in? demerit point for Sony there. I did like the bottom tape loading mechanism, though, because most 8mms have the door where your palm is, so you have to slip your hand out. Not so here. Tripod could be a problem, but a display tells you how much tape you're used and how much tape is left, so it doesn't reall matter because you have more than enough notice to change the tape anyhow.

   It is a simple point and shoot camcorder which does a good job. It also suits me well in professional ways, as it runs circles around all the other broadcast cameras at Cogeco. This camera exceeds quality than any of the other cameras at the Cogeco studio, before or since. It takes some photography know how and a true artistic eye to get professional quality out of this camera, but it can certainly be accomplished.




4. Several of the previous reviewers complained about the poor picture quality especially indoors. I thought the same until I
   turned off the elctronic stabilization. Aside from the tape ejecting on the bottom I find this camcorder to be a good value.



5. This is not a bad camera but I am having trouble with it not wanting to record or playback tapes. I have tried different tapes thinking maybe it was the tape but no matter what I do, it won't work. Took it to the place I got it, they had to send it away, which took forever, and all they done was use a headcleaner on it. They said they could not find out any problem with it. I brought it home and it started doing the same thing again and I bought a Maxell head cleaner and used it several times on it and it worked okay for awhile. Now it is back to doing the same thing again on not recording or playing back a tape. Do not know what the problem is. It just could be that I got a "lemon." I have contacted Sony but have never heard anything back.

4 comments about Panasonic PVGS50S MiniDV Ultra Compact Digital Palmcorder (Silver).

1. This is a great camcorder and a great buy. It's tiny, full-featured, and well designed with the usual Panasonic attention to ergonomics and practicality. The battery life is extraordinary for a battery this size. On the downside, the digital photo mode has fairly low resolution, but remember that any camcorder you're using as a digital camera will NOT have a flash, and that's very limiting anyway. So don't buy this (or any camcorder) to be an all-in-1 device or you'll be disappointed. On the plus side, the ability to record MPEG-4 video to either the DV tape or the SD card is great, although it will be an *.asf file and not .mpg (and no, you can't easily convert), so your file sharing may be limited. You'll likely prefer to record in regular mode instead and then capture it on your PC (via firewire) and save it to mpg. Overall a very impressive camcorder and a good operating manual, although you won't even need it to do the basics. And that's rare these days! Well done, Panasonic.



2. I love the camera for the purpose of recording those unforgettable moments, but when using to take digital photos....it's not so good. The pictures have a very low resolution and when the photos are printed (from both photo center and my home printer) they look like a computer screen picture. Even with the light feature on, they aren't very nice printed.



3. This Panasonic DV camcorder is a solid performer and a great value. I've been using it for several months, and it hasn't let me down at all. Battery life is good, picture quality is great, and audio quality is acceptable.

   The basic features of this camera are intuitive and easy to use. You can have it out of the box and recording in no time (after you charge the battery). Video quality is high, and playback on the LCD screen is easy and watchable. It comes with nearly every imaginable cable, so you can hook it to whatever you want. However, I highly recommend a firewire (IEEE 1394) card for capturing video to a PC. I've used Pinnacle Studio software flawlessly with this camera, and produced very high quality results.

   This camera is chock full of features. To be honest, I haven't used many of them, not yet having learned how. The instruction manual is 102 pages long, and you'll every last page if you're going to exploit all the features of this camera. However, it's not necessary to do so to get your money's worth. One note: still picture quality won't match that of a good regular digital camera, so I wouldn't recommend using it for that purpose, although it comes equipped with an SD card slot that enables the capture of stills.

   This is a small, lightweight camera that will just barely fit in your hand. It'll go everywhere without being a burden. It's worked great for me, and I can highly recommend it. Enjoy.




4. This camera specs well and packs a lot of features. Using the features can be difficult and in some cases, too easy. On several occassions, I have hit the photo button while trying to find the zoom button. The IEEE 1394 (firewire) port failed. While mounted on my tripod, you cannot replace the battery. The battery release is on the bottom of the camera which is obstructed by the tripod. The sound quality is marginal. I am being generous with a three star rating. If you plan to use the camera frequently, invest time understanding your objectives and match the capabilities of the camera. This camera is small and awkward for me to use. I was happy to receive it as a gift but would not have purchased it for myself.