5 comments about Sony DCR-HC62 1MP MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom.

1. I dont understand why Sony did not include the firewire/iLink cable with this as without it you cannot transfer video to a computer. I had to shop separately for the cable once i discovered this. that's painful..



2. I have had an awful experience with this camcorder worse yet with Sony Custome Service. I shot multiple tapes of irreplacable content and discovered that the transport was defective and that the mic pics up a constant rumble. Sony customer service was completely unresponsive and refused to replace the camera but insisted a service call of indeterminate length was what was in order. They had me appeal to their "Executive Review Board". Their answer was a curt "Service take it or leave it" I won't ever buy another Sony product. I urge you to do the same. P.S. The cameras performance wasn't anything special either.



3. The video quality is great as is the audio. I use this camcorder for blogging and drum videos and it has not disappointed. Importing footage via firewire (sold separately for 10 bucks on Amazon) is seamless via Windows Vista.
   
   Other than a minimal battery life that comes with the camcorder, it's great.
   
   Cheers



4. It's a excelent camera, as I read in last review you need the iLink cable to copy the video to the computer, and I order one at the same time I order the camera; and Amazon it's great, even I order with the super saving shipping, they ship the order the next day and arrive me 4 days after.



5. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PRFAYV4K81ZL A big part of the reason I bought this camera was for its smooth interval recording (time-lapse) feature. Strangely, Sony's higher end high definition camera HDR-SR5 does not have this feature. I have been quite satisfied with this feature's flexibility and user-friendliness. For some reason, the smooth interval recording has a 12 hour time limit, so if you want to do time lapses longer than 12 hours you have to stop the recording a couple times a day and re-start it and it will go for another 12 hours.
   
   For regular video usage it's a good camera. The 2000x digital zoom, if you haven't guessed, is comically useless (not that I expected anything more). The tele-macro capabilities are pretty impressive.
   
   As others have mentioned, it does not come with a firewire (IEEE 1394) cable that is required if you want to download video to your computer. I knew that before buying it and picked up a standard 4-Pin/6-Pin FireWire cable from Amazon through a third party seller (Phoenixgold) for under $1 plus shipping, so not a big deal. I could see how that would have been annoying had I been unaware that this cable was not included.
   
   P.S.
   The "audio sample in an outdoor environment" clip was shot with an Opteka .43x fisheye converter not included with the camera. Also, the audio was significanly compressed after I uploaded the video so it's not quite what you would hear straight out of the camera.

5 comments about Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 6MP Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (White).

1. I bought this camera for my 13 year old son to take with him to a snowboarding camp. It is perfect for him! We also wanted this since we lived on the coast and may want to take it in the boat and not have to worry about it getting wet.
   
   It is awesome for my son! Simple to use, he was able to figure it out instantly without looking at the directions. He was happy that it came with editing software (even though we haven't tried that yet). And we love that he will be able to load things on itunes for his ipod. I loved that the camera fits right in the palm of your hand.....a very natural feeling. The picture was clearer than I expected as well.
   
   We are extremely pleased with this product and I definitely recommend it for anyone that has preteens or teenagers and wants to let them use it w/o worrying about damage to fragile equipment.
   
   Awesome product! :)



2. I have now taken several hundred photos and a couple dozen videos with this little camera. It has functioned very well with no problems. I have been impressed with battery life and the quality of the images is realy quite good. Sound could be better but is fine and this should not be bought for purposes requiring great quality sound. I have used it in the rain and while kayaking and though I have not submerged it entirely, it has perfromed without a single issue. I used another's smaller version of the Xacti (not H2o proof version) and though they commented on the size diferrence I thought it was hardly noticeable. It fits easily in a shirt or pant pocket and spent much of its time recently in my zippered eyeglass pocket in a light raincoat (ie it is that small). I can highly recommend this camera for travel and all around use.



3. I bought this for my daughter and she loves it. But the on-board memory hold only 13sec of video, so make sure you purchase memory... Or like me, you will wait a week for the memory to arrive. (Amazon as the best price on the memory that goes with this camera... the camera has an 8 gig max. I purchased: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P9ZBFA



4. This was purchased December of 2007, it was used 3 times, and never submerged. I brought it to the lake and it was splashed a few times. I went to take a picture with it, and the view was all cloudy. I turned it around and there were water bubbles inside the lens! 3 days later the moisture remains, and there is no possible way to contact Sanyo from their website, or some place to send my camera to have it repaired. 380 dollars down the drain.



5. I bought this camera before my yearly fishing trip to Alaska and the camera functioned beautifully! I was looking for a camera that I could put in my pocket or backpack with out taking up a lot of room. The Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 has worked out perfectly. I dropped it in the frigid Alaskan waters a few times and the camera came out working like a charm! Don't let a few of these negative reports scare you into not purchasing this camera. This camera is not a professional camera! Don't expect professional quality! Do expect to have a lot of fun with it!!!! Any digital camera isn't going to produce the best results with out light, DIGITAL NEEDS LIGHT!!!! Its compact, rugged and easy to use. Do remember to make sure the battery compartment door is shut and locked before getting it wet. I have not experienced any of the problems that some of the other users mentioned in their reviews. Hope this review helps in making your decision. This is a great camera for the price. Have fun with it!!!

5 comments about Sony DCR-DVD308 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom.

1. The picture is clear and recording is easy, the only bad thing is that the discs are so expensive. Deleting is simple and makes recording even easier, because if you don't like it you can delete it.



2. Before I bought this camera, I read the reviews of this one and others to compare and I even compared Mini-DV and Digital and thanks to the positive reviews on this camera (and it was in my price range) I bought it. I was not disappointed. I have only had it a month and I have used it many times. The mic pics up well, and the zoom works great (which I use for my kids sports). I have downloaded video to my laptop, and burned DVD's. I took the advice of other customers and bought the longer life battery. The only difficulty I had was in not understanding that formatting meant deleting what you had already recorded on the disc, so I now know. My laptop did not have DVD burning capabilities so I did purchase an external burner and everything works great. I would recommend this camera to anyone who has a budget but wants a quality camcorder.



3. I am completely satisfied with the picture quality and zoom of this handy cam. I would completely recommend this handy cam.



4. Very nice camera/camcorder and the price was an excellent deal. The camera arrived quicker than I had expected. I used it this weekend at my brothers wedding and the video and pictures turned out great.
   Thanks so much, I am very pleased!!!!!!!!!!!



5. Sony DCR-DVD308 works beautifully and seems well put together. It's light, compact, convenient and generally well designed. Operation is very easy, though it is so light it is very difficult to keep steady on a long zoom, and the zoom is extremely rapid and difficult to make unobtrusive - both probably what you get in this kind of camera. It may be a wonderful camera if you just want to watch what you shot, conveniently immediately, on your living room DVD player. Not so much if you want to edit it for anything other than YouTube. The problem seems to be the specific MPEG-2 compression for mini-dvd storage (which is not limited to Sony). I shot one dvd and then tried to edit it, which was a bit of a nightmare. I did manage to find a converter so I could edit in Adobe Premier Elements but the result was jumpy movement and otherwise pretty inelegant. I had much happier results from my old analog 8mm tape camera and a capture card. I have seen some references to simple editing software supplied, but couldn't find it on either of the cds that came with the camera. Sony's highly rated Vegas suites were not developed by Sony and reviewers say they don't provide any proprietary advantages for editing these miniDVDs. I eventually found an obscure software that will edit in the camera's native format without conversion, and that might work better - for another $100. These are just moving snapshots for me, but if I put a lot of work into editing (and I do want to edit), I want decent results that I won't be embarrassed to share or hate to watch myself. Reviewers (I later read) say the quality of miniDV format is better though tape is less convenient. So I've stepped back a technology, ordered a refurbed Sony DCR-HC62 miniDV, and if it proves better, this one goes on Craig's list.

5 comments about Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9 9MP Flash Memory Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Silver).

1. I bought this camcorder so I could grab those spontaneous little moments-- events that don't rise to the level of effort needed to for my older and larger DV camcorder or Nikon D80 DSLR. I do get better video with my 6 year old Sony DV cam and better pictures with my Nikon but that's not the point. Its portability and convenience. Most of the time my videos and pics get thrown up on the web for sharing where the quality advantage of DV and a DSLR are negligible anyways. However, you will regret your purchase if you buy this as a "shortcut" thinking this will be all you'll ever need.
   
   --For Video:
   Outdoor quality very good--indoor is decent. Image stabilization only effective at low zoom. Digital zoom is worthless (as expected). I find myself needing to back up a lot to frame the video/stills because the lens has a very narrow field of view. (I'm not pro so I don't know the exact terminology there.) Better video than a point-and-shoot camera with a "video option".
   
   --For Pictures:
   I just don't see the 9.1 megapixel quality here. My older 5 megapixel point and shoot will beat this hands down and any other decent one will too. There is some sort of problem here. Taking pics at the high resolution still produces countless jpeg artifacts that are noticeable at first glance. For web sharing, the pics are fine, but don't even THINK about framing these. Exposure metering is outstanding however, a big surprise. Because of the flash's proximity to the lens, all of your kid's pictures will come out with them looking like the anti-christ because red-eye is horrible. However, the built-in photo editing can take most of it out.
   
   Would I buy this again? Absolutely. Ask yourself this question: If you were going to Disneyworld for a full week, would you rather lug around a heavy and expensive DSLR AND a DV camcorder--or just have this little inexpensive jewel in your pocket? (I've done both)



2. I bought this specifically to take on a trip to Ireland. It was just as I had hoped. I could pop it into my pocket and have it there for use as either a single shot camera or video. I bought extra memory and it never came close to running out of room. Battery life was excellent. The "pistol grip" style was great for video ( a bit less then that for single shots), and the quality was top notch. Could not be happier with it from a quality, convenience, price point view.



3. I purchased this after reading positive reviews. Even on the highest settings, indoor video and pictures are not very good. Outside shots are fine, but we take lots of video and pictures inside too. I tried turning on all the lights and opening all the windows but the video is still grainy. Several reviewers said that this is a good camera for the money, but mine is going back. Keep looking unless all of your shots are going to be outdoors.



4. Finally, one device that is good enough to carry as a camera and a camcorder. No more missed video clips. Hours of video on an 8GB card. Great Mac compatibility. In pure camera mode, picture quality is good, but shot-to-shot speeds and time to focus are slow. In video mode, the ability to take a 2 megapixel picture while shooting video is great - no interruption in video at all. Great price, great functionality, one device to carry. I'm sure this technology will improve, but for now, this is the magic point where you can buy one product for both uses.



5. I did lots of searching through compact camcorder reviews before deciding on the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9. I am very satisfied with my choice. I am not a professional and just wanted a tiny camcorder that I can pack in a small purse that also shoots photos for the kids, family activities, etc. This camcorder does exactly that and it takes great videos and photos at that. I also have a couple of the sub-compact cameras (the Panasonic Lumix models) which I choose because I wanted only one camera to carry for shooting photos and videos but was unhappy with the fact that you cannot zoom while shooting your videos with these models(nor any others that I could find in my price range). I almost resolved myself to thinking that I just 'couldnt have everything' until I started searching these compact camcorders and found the Xacti. Again I am not a professional and cannot critique this camcorder as such but I can tell you for my needs, it is perfect. The videos and photos are crisp as long as I pay attention to the proper settings and to my delight, I can shoot still shots WHILE video-recording! I was able to operate the camera out-of-the-box with the easy built-in menu, but plan to read the manual to get the full benefit of my camera's features. You have the 'simple mode' which I use because I just like to point and shoot but the normal mode with all the manual settings are there too for those who like that type of control. It's the perfect size that fits right into my small hand, the control buttons are easy to use. I've had no problems with the software and connecting to my computer to access my shots. The only complaint I have about this camera is it does have one of those pesky lens caps but I'm not likely to loose it because it does attach with a little nylon cord. Overall, this little camcorder went beyond meeting my needs by being tiny, taking great video and still shots, zooms while taking video, takes great still shots WHILE video-recording, and is easy to use. I did purchase an extra battery for backup plus a couple extra sd cards.

1 comments about Sanyo Xacti HD1010 4MP MPEG4 High Definition 1080i/1080p Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. Wow, finally a consumer camcorder that shoots 1080p! It is interesting that they released this without fanfare, as this is the first time in history that 1080p is available on an consumer camcorder (that I'm aware of - with exception to the Aiptek A-HD+ which is $149 on Amazon Aiptek A-HD+ 1080P High Definition Camcorder (Silver)
   
   The main differences between this model and the HD1000 is that there is now 1080p (30fps), improved image processing and higher bit-rate on the 1080i (60fps)(14mbps instead of 12mbps) and a 300fps slow-motion mode that works at 448 x 336
   
   Also, Amazon lists the weight incorrectly at 4 pounds. In fact the correct weight is 311g (11 ounces) - making this much lighter than the competition from Canon, Sony and the like..
   
   Right now there are very few reviews on the HD1010 on the net, so I thought posting this might help a few people ;-)

2 comments about RCA EZ205 Small Wonder Digital Camcorder with 2 Hour Recording and 1GB Included Memory.

1. Here are the reasons I bought this digital camcorder over others.
   
   1. It has a flip to front display that will allow you to see yourself while you are recording.
   
   2. Excellent resolution. The 640 by 480 video recordings are near DVD resolution (which is 720 by 480).
   
   3. Still pictures. This camera also takes 1280 by 960 still pictures. I don't know why they don't stress this in the sales information. This was a real deal maker for me.
   
   4. AA batteries. Some digital camcorders have to be plugged into a USB port to recharge. I'd rather just put in another set of common batteries and go on recording. Though I do use rechargeable batteries in mine. They work fine.
   
   5. The video is stored on a mini SD card. Want more recording time? Just swap in another card. Plus you can put the card in a reader and copy it to your computer directly, skipping the USB connection entirely.
   
   6. This camera comes with a nice carrying case and all the cables you will need for the same price other's charge for just the camera.



2. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1J7CRT5NJU46O RCA EZ205 Small Wonder Digital Camcorder with 2 Hour Recording and 1GB Included Memory
   
   This is my basic review of the EZ205. I hope it's helpful in determining whether or not to purchase it. One thing I did not mention in the video clip was the digital zoom, which is pretty much a non feature and tends towards big time blurry. Not a big deal if you're not planning on using it.

5 comments about Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9 9MP Flash Memory Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Black).

1. I bought this camcorder so I could grab those spontaneous little moments-- events that don't rise to the level of effort needed to for my older and larger DV camcorder or Nikon D80 DSLR. I do get better video with my 6 year old Sony DV cam and better pictures with my Nikon but that's not the point. Its portability and convenience. Most of the time my videos and pics get thrown up on the web for sharing where the quality advantage of DV and a DSLR are negligible anyways. However, you will regret your purchase if you buy this as a "shortcut" thinking this will be all you'll ever need.
   
   --For Video:
   Outdoor quality very good--indoor is decent. Image stabilization only effective at low zoom. Digital zoom is worthless (as expected). I find myself needing to back up a lot to frame the video/stills because the lens has a very narrow field of view. (I'm not pro so I don't know the exact terminology there.) Better video than a point-and-shoot camera with a "video option".
   
   --For Pictures:
   I just don't see the 9.1 megapixel quality here. My older 5 megapixel point and shoot will beat this hands down and any other decent one will too. There is some sort of problem here. Taking pics at the high resolution still produces countless jpeg artifacts that are noticeable at first glance. For web sharing, the pics are fine, but don't even THINK about framing these. Exposure metering is outstanding however, a big surprise. Because of the flash's proximity to the lens, all of your kid's pictures will come out with them looking like the anti-christ because red-eye is horrible. However, the built-in photo editing can take most of it out.
   
   Would I buy this again? Absolutely. Ask yourself this question: If you were going to Disneyworld for a full week, would you rather lug around a heavy and expensive DSLR AND a DV camcorder--or just have this little inexpensive jewel in your pocket? (I've done both)



2. I bought this specifically to take on a trip to Ireland. It was just as I had hoped. I could pop it into my pocket and have it there for use as either a single shot camera or video. I bought extra memory and it never came close to running out of room. Battery life was excellent. The "pistol grip" style was great for video ( a bit less then that for single shots), and the quality was top notch. Could not be happier with it from a quality, convenience, price point view.



3. I purchased this after reading positive reviews. Even on the highest settings, indoor video and pictures are not very good. Outside shots are fine, but we take lots of video and pictures inside too. I tried turning on all the lights and opening all the windows but the video is still grainy. Several reviewers said that this is a good camera for the money, but mine is going back. Keep looking unless all of your shots are going to be outdoors.



4. Finally, one device that is good enough to carry as a camera and a camcorder. No more missed video clips. Hours of video on an 8GB card. Great Mac compatibility. In pure camera mode, picture quality is good, but shot-to-shot speeds and time to focus are slow. In video mode, the ability to take a 2 megapixel picture while shooting video is great - no interruption in video at all. Great price, great functionality, one device to carry. I'm sure this technology will improve, but for now, this is the magic point where you can buy one product for both uses.



5. I did lots of searching through compact camcorder reviews before deciding on the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9. I am very satisfied with my choice. I am not a professional and just wanted a tiny camcorder that I can pack in a small purse that also shoots photos for the kids, family activities, etc. This camcorder does exactly that and it takes great videos and photos at that. I also have a couple of the sub-compact cameras (the Panasonic Lumix models) which I choose because I wanted only one camera to carry for shooting photos and videos but was unhappy with the fact that you cannot zoom while shooting your videos with these models(nor any others that I could find in my price range). I almost resolved myself to thinking that I just 'couldnt have everything' until I started searching these compact camcorders and found the Xacti. Again I am not a professional and cannot critique this camcorder as such but I can tell you for my needs, it is perfect. The videos and photos are crisp as long as I pay attention to the proper settings and to my delight, I can shoot still shots WHILE video-recording! I was able to operate the camera out-of-the-box with the easy built-in menu, but plan to read the manual to get the full benefit of my camera's features. You have the 'simple mode' which I use because I just like to point and shoot but the normal mode with all the manual settings are there too for those who like that type of control. It's the perfect size that fits right into my small hand, the control buttons are easy to use. I've had no problems with the software and connecting to my computer to access my shots. The only complaint I have about this camera is it does have one of those pesky lens caps but I'm not likely to loose it because it does attach with a little nylon cord. Overall, this little camcorder went beyond meeting my needs by being tiny, taking great video and still shots, zooms while taking video, takes great still shots WHILE video-recording, and is easy to use. I did purchase an extra battery for backup plus a couple extra sd cards.

3 comments about RCA "Traveler" Small Wonder EZ210 Digital Camcorder with 4 Hour Recording and 2GB Included SD Memory.

1. I just bought my small wonder recently, for a trip my family was taking to florida. I absolutely loved using this... It has a huge display, which makes it really easy to see what I recorded, and also comes with 2GB SD Card inside. I literally recorded for my whole trip without having to delete anything... It also uses regular batteries which I prefer, because I would'nt have had a chance to charge while on the beach... The pictures are good, and I am glad i picked a camcorder with this ability...
   
   also the ability to upload directly to Youtube was a nice feature, it was a one button process with the software....
   
   I did need to update the software, but it wasnt a big deal, and found it quickly on [...].
   
   Overall Great Experience!



2. I just received this camcorder, and i have used it so much since i received it. I have other expensive cameras, but this is so unique. It takes great videos and stills and has so much recording ability. Easy to use., no guesswork. At my job people are amazed how good the pictures come out and the videos. I would recommend this for anyone on the go and wanting the ability to use something so easy.



3. RCA EZ201 Small Wonder 60 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder (White) This product did not work well. There were lines and shadows in the picture. When I tried to put the jack into the product to videotape, the screen went black. I returned the product, after following the directions on the website for return, and obtaining the appropriate papers and return label. Amazon gave me $0.00 credit. They falsified my reason for return. When I emailed Amazon to try to find out why they did not give me my money back, they did not respond. This is the worst product, and if Amazon does not contact me, I am going to have to notify my credit card company to contest the charge. While I enjoy ordering from Amazon, this is the last time I am going to purchase any kind of appliance or electrical product from them. They do not stand behind their product, and do not notify the customer, other than to say they are keeping the return and not refunding or crediting the account. They also do not respond to inquiry. Very poor product and business practices. Maybe this product was one out of many that were defective. However, I'll never know, because Amazon is an unreachable entity.

5 comments about Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom.

1. This thing is awesome, full of options, plenty of features, and built solid. It's certainly the best camera in it's class. Easily accessible settings, quality glass, 20x zoom. Perhaps perfection if they would've designed it to be able to zoom and adjust the focus simultaneously, and had more of a matte box lens hood like the sony's. Great camera.



2. I chose this camera for the HD function and the manual rings around the lens, not to mention it seems to be the best deal for the money. For the record this is my first serious camcorder, and I am currently in film school so I already have a good understanding of how a camera (film or digital) works.
   
   For the HD remember that it's not "true" HD it's Canon's answer to it. I haven't finished a project in the HD function so I can't rate how close it comes to true HD, although I bet I won't find a difference with my naked eyes.
   
   The manual focus/iris/and zoom rings are great for small and precise control, but lag quite a bit when you really want a fast and smooth transition. You just loose that feeling of complete control when you really want to crank it for a quick zoom or focus change.
   Still the great amount of control built into the camera is great and fairly intuitive to use, and being able to save multiple presets with almost every option is great.
   
   Also for those looking for a camera that works with multiple lenses(like a fisheye maybe???), keep looking.
   
   End of the day, I'm very happy with my purchase.



3. Basically this camera is everything its cracked up to be and more. I bought it purely for the image quality (1.67 Million pixels per CCD, compared to Panasonic's 554k per CCD for the HVX) and the 24f/p "film look." I have not been disappointed.
   
   Firstly, the resolution is a huge improvement compared to regular DV. It gives you instant credibility and professionalism over other films shot on regular DV. You're also operating at 18.5 mbps during playback, which is far greater than DV. You've got a lot more to tweak, color correct, and work with. The lens on this camera is also a amazing, go out and take some night shots with it, you'll be amazed.
   
   Basically, film people like to talk a lot about the limitations of HDV and the compression etc. And rightfully so, it's a pain to realize that you're not getting exactly what you're shooting but compressed GOPs. But honestly, if you watch a short film on DVD that's been shot on the uncompressed Panasonic HVX and then watch one that's been shot on the Canon HX A1- they're going to look very similar if not indecipherable. (if the DP knows what they're doing).
   
   Ultimately this camera provides 95% of the look of what a professional camera, or in my case the HVX, does. I'm really not willing to shell out the extra 2 to 4 thousand to increase a few percentage points. Also, I think people, filmmakers in particular, tend to forget that audiences don't watch films for the amazing uncompressed footage but for the strong characters and compelling narrative.
   
   So far with the XH A1 I've shot two HD films that have gone on to screen at festivals. When the image is on the big screen, it looks great. I am very proud of my work and that I own such a nice piece of equipment to shoot my films with. It is also loaded with an incredible amount of options and features- which is a bonus.
   
   On a side note, the idea of P2 workflow is amazing to me, but I simply can't afford it. I've also heard the HX A1 works with a drag and drop Firestore hard drive that's only $400. This offers the same simple workflow at a fraction of the cost. : ) I'll put it on my list.



4. Since the purchase of this excellent camera We have been able to capture some of the greatest hunting footage my team has ever experienced. Camera has performed flawlessly in 30 degree weather and up. Beginners can pick this camera and be filming in no time at all! Some of the highly detailed settings are complicated but the auto mode eliminates the guess work on them. Fitting it in my budget to purchase TWO more of these by september. Will never use anything but a canon. Got an eight year old XL1 that performs just like a new one! What are you waiting for? ORDER ONE NOW!!!!!



5. I love this Camera, as soon as I can afford it I will get another one.

5 comments about Canon FS11 Flash Memory Camcorder with 16GB Internal Flash Memory and 48x Optical Zoom.

1. This camcorder was purchased for me by a friend who makes professional films. That alone tells you that this is an excellent product.
   It is so easy to use a toddler could make a good movie (provided they don't use it as a hammer!). Literally you point and shoot and it's in the can and the sound quality is excellent. In addition there are tons of features for those who like to do the techie stuff and get personal results. I haven't shot a movie since the days when Super 8 film started to get impossible to find. In those days camcorders were about the size of a bazooka. Well, I am glad I waited for this one to come along. The fact there are no tapes or discs to fool around with or purchase is another huge bonus. So, now I have about twenty years of filming to catch up with. Better get moving.



2. Pros
   
   Lightweight
   Small
   Solid State Flash Drive
   
   Cons
   
   Awful unnatural light performance (worse than my $175 still camera on video mode)
   No thread to attach filters
   LED light is useless
   
   Do NOT buy this camera if you intend to use it in unnatural light conditions (anything other than sunlight with the exception of maybe studio lighting).
   
   I recently got this camera as a replacement for a Panasonic Mini DV GS-230 that was stolen from me. Although I had not had it long the idea of carrying tapes had started to bug me and I thought this would be a good opportunity to upgrade to something with a HDD. I was offered a few options from my insurer, one of which was the Canon FS11. I must admit the idea of a solid-state flash memory camera excited me as I intended to use it for snowboarding and vibration can trigger HDD cameras to power down to protect the drive. I searched in vain for a review on the FS11 with no luck so I decided to take the gamble and boy was it a bad one. Upon receiving the camera the first thing I did was charge it up to have a play, as it was night time I just did the basic walk around the house filming random stuff. While filming I noticed that in rooms that had light fittings over the globes that the picture looked very grainy with purple and green pixels appearing of which my first assumption was that maybe it was just the quality of the LCD. I copied the footage to my PC and in horror found that it looked just as bad. As I had not had my other camera for long I only had limited footage to compare it to which included some footage shot at night in my study, I decided to replicate the footage as I knew the light would be the same. I shot some footage of me standing in the study and the new footage was awful, I could hardly see the details of my face, I compared it to the footage shot on the GS-230 which looked flawless in comparison. The first thing I did was to call the insurer and organized to exchange it ASAP and fortunately I was able to. To be honest I imagine the FS11 would have probably performed a lot better in daylight but as an amateur/hobbyist I was looking for a good all rounder and the FS11 seemed far from it. I ended up paying an extra $100 and got the Panasonic SDR-H280 and so far I am really impressed with the performance, funnily enough both of the Panasonics I have had are 3CCD cameras which are noted as having excellent colour definition at the expense of poorer quality in low light, from what I have seen they both perform 100 times better than the FS11 did. As an amateur I, like most am restricted to a relatively low budget and as a result cannot expect to have the best of the best however, considering the price I would expect much better performance, Canon should be ashamed and I hope that anyone who buys one still has the ability to exchange/return it.



3. I ordered the Canon FS 11 after thoroughly searching for a good tapeless unit. After receiving the camera and charging it promptly, I started taking closeup and wide angle shots both around the house and other places where good videography was possible. I got down to do the video editing. I could not import the clips onto vegas 8.0, since the camera was not recognized with the USB attachment. I installed the Pixela software for windows after some difficulty with the activation part of the software, since the software would not accept the camera serial number. I got the problem solved after calling canon and the software people. I thought it was going to be easy going to be a breeze in creating the DVD. Boy was I wrong, I wasted two or three DVDs getting only aprtial footage and not playable on sand alone DVD player. To my horror, I found that hte software permits only 99 clips, no matter how long the videos are. My video clips were only few seconds long each. I was disappointed at the way the software is designed. It is not user-friendly at all. Also creation of the DVD is not intuitive. I had to go through so many hoops to get the vidoe clips onto a DVD. Finally I got a playable DVD, but with no sound. I strongly recommend the camera for novice users based on quality of images, but the software stinks. The company is not of much help both by phone or on their web site. Hope this helps other future buyers.



4. Nice overall camera but Canon is now using MOD files which are not recognized by most editing/movie making software. For example Movie Maker does not recognize it. Therefore you must convert the MOD files to MPEG/AVI which takes a great deal of time and an extra step. BTW you need to get your own software to convert it.
   
   They took the easy out of using an SD card.



5. It is a tiny camcorder. It will easily fit inside cargo, jacket or baggy pockets. Of course with the extremely small size comes some limitations. This camera is not going to have the same picture quality as professional HD camcorders. But that said it is a very nice camera for shooting standard definition home movies. It has an excellent zoom. The battery and built in memory are going to give you about 3 1/2 hours of recording time. As for all the people who are complaining about trying to edit the footage (that is because they are not using Macs.) If you have an up to date Mac it is a breeze.
   
   I have an Intel Mac. I convert the footage with MPEG Streamclip (Which you can download for free at the Apple Web site.) And then it works fine with Final Cut Pro 6. I convert it to Quicktime and then choose the DV setting. It works great. It also works just fine without MPEG Streamclip if you are using iMovie 08'. The whole process is quick and painless. No going through the whole tape to log and capture the footage. So If you are looking for a tiny SD camcorder that you can take anywhere and edit it with newer Intel Macs, this is a great choice. I think you will enjoy this camera.