1 comments about Klegg/Genesis V1803 DV Camcorder.

1. Small and works great. Got this for my wife on a whim and she loves it. Got rid of here bulky camcorder (which really wasn't that bulky).

5 comments about JVC Everio GZ-MG30 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom.

1. Frankly, I like my MG30. The only thing that gives me pause is its propensity to physically generate heat to the point of becoming uncomfortable to hold. This is a well known problem within the JVC line itself. (Much like Honda cars and bikes having BAD RINGS. They've known forever - but they just never correct it...)
   
   For all the reviews that we read and write, nothing is ever gonna replace actually holding the equipment and shooting with it. You can have the best camera on the planet and if it's uncomfortable to you, then you're simply not going to get the most out of it.
   
   Me? I'm a workin' newsmedia junkie and actually have nearly 20 separate video cameras - and nearly as many digital still cameras. Why? Cause no company is ever gonna MAKE the "perfect" camera. In fact, they go to great lengths not to. So it's up to me to know which voodoo combination of cameras I'll need to coax the best work out under whatever the conditions. In fact, the old "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" thing is fully in play here. Some folks actually LIKE the block/blended foilage look - or a special off green SAW II tint...
   
   To that end, the Everio is a FUN TOY/EASY CARRY, but in low light, it can look like connect the dots - even with much personal tweakin' of the settings.



2. I brought this cam at an extremely low price ($80.shhhhhhh). I had already seen the camera at stores and was already interested in the no need to buy recording media feature. I must admit that and the fact tht it transfer to the pc was a strong selling point. However once I got the camera and began using it I saw the problems I was having with it. I was having problems with finding software to burn it to disc. The Power Producer did NOT do the trick. It froze several times and so did Power Dirctor. I was having nooooo luck with Adobe Premiere 2.0. I even tried doing a capture first then seeing if i could saveit as a MPEG and use a different program. No such luck. It would not read the camera. However becasue I'm a stubborn S.O.B. I kept messing arond with it and found out that Nero Premium 7 (which I already had on my pc)did the trick. the only error I found with the program was my fault and I learned from it. That mistake was to NOT compress the files. Try to burn the files at their actual file size (even if you have to make it a 2disc burn). The difference is extremely noticeable. Also record at the Ultra settings.
   
   As for the poor indoor light quality issue, That IS a problem. Even after playing arund with the different light settings on the camera I found it "ok" at best. One setting made it too cool (a blueish "washed" tone) another setting made it too warm (orange tone). One trick that might help is to try and make sure you and the subject are between to unshaded lights. That has worked the best but still set your light settings first. Also you can purchase an external light and attach it to the camera (not sure how to do it.but it will compromise the lightweight feature.)
   
   As for the digital camera settings...just stick to a true digital camera WITH A FLASH.The camera pics are about as good as a cellphone.
   
   Overall this is a good camera for the price (mine and retail). I know some people are thinking to wait til the bugs are worked out to buy it.... but I got a feeling the light issue will be resolved with an external light that can be purchased (more money for JVC) as opposed to a standard upgrade to newer models.
   
   The main thing I would wait to see is if the .mod files become more common and therefore readable in more programs.Hopefully this will happen



3. The camera itself is simple to use right out of the box and takes very nice still pictures. The video, however, leaves a lot to be desired. For whatever reason, JVC has decided to use a proprietary "MOD" format and no programs (3rd party or stock) on my media rich macintosh can play these files. Go figure, but my little Palm Treo can create video files that are easily uploaded and viewable, so why can't JVC? Very poor showing from JVC in my opinion.
   
   To rectify the situation (every time I upload videos - arrggggg), I have to upload the video directory off the hard drive of the camera, remove some .MOI files, run this 3rd party program so I can export the videos into the Mac's standard video editing tool, then export of this tool to viewable video for Macs & PCs. This is ridiculous - it takes over an hour start to finish and makes this video camera - or ANY of JVCs' similar units a DO NOT BUY.
   
   JVC - go back to drawing board please and write standard file formats, ok? You guys are not in the software business so please do what you do best and simply build good video cameras, leave the software formats to the professionals.



4. it does a lot of amazing things, you wont need any special cables just the only cable to transfer everything to your computer, it is a camera and a cam-corder, it has great pictures and i've made a lot of good quality short films with it. Good editing system.



5. I lost 6 hours of important video recording while trying to negotiate their very confusing software. I returned the camera.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV520 Digital Camcorder.

1. When we bought this camcorder I was a little worried, since I never handled a camcorder before. I had no problems! It was so lightweight and easy to use. I love the display that tells you how much time is left on the battery. I would recommend this camcorder to everyone!



2. DCR-TRV520. I bought this Digitial 8 camera (I am not a previous user/owner of any camcorder) about 4 weeks ago after much prognosticating over the miniDVD format in the Panasonic and Canon brands for a similar price (I would have gone for the Sony miniDVD but didn't want to pay the extra bucks). So I made my decision based on the extra features of optical stablization, manual focus and the greater zoom capability - also I trusted the Sony brand more, but that reason was entirely subjective. I have not been disappointed with this camera. The stabilization is excellent - in fact, while I like compact cameras and would have preferred miniDVD because of size, this camera is not that much bigger, and increased size and weight may be an advantage as the camera feels solid and steady to hold. The auto focus is excellent - I may never need to use the manual focus unless I want to get really fancy. The zoom capability works very well, even at the highest mag., and is more useful than what I would have thought. This alone places it above the other miniDVD cameras including the Sony which have lower zoom. With iMovie, $50 from Apple (I have a Mac G3), the only extra I needed was the $30 Firewire cable (4 pin-camera, to 6 pin-Mac) and I was importing and editing the video. Also, I put in a Hi8 tape of our wedding and was amazed that this non-digital format was automatically transmitted from the camera into iMovie as digital information with no apparent loss in resolution! Regarding memory stick, with iMovie there does not seem to be a way to directly import the stills, but if they are first copied to the tape, then they can be imported. However, the resolution after doing this is no better than a still made with iMovie from video. Maybe the resolution will be better after direct import, but I doubt it. In Photoshop a video still and memory stick import from tape has the same pixel count as specified for the still camera - 680 x 460 I think or thereabouts. Some people say the memory stick stills suck in resolution - they are not that bad. Hey, you're buying a camcorder first and foremost, not a digital camera. One other reason I got this camcorder was that some reviews said the Canon and Panasonic miniDVD didn't work too well at low light levels. I've never tried those cameras, but I can also tell you that this Sony I bought works great at low light as well. Sony 520 versus 320 - I went for ther 520 because of the bigger LCD display - I'm glad I did - the extra size is excellent as you can replay what you have shot and easily see it on the screen. Overall, this camera has no weaknesses and some advantages. Another thought - if you are considering buying Hi8 or even 8 so you can get a cheaper camcorder - don't! There is so much you can do with digital if you have the computer. and the video quality if better. Its worth the extra bucks. Cheers!



3. I've owned camcorders before but never digital. Before I made my choice, I did a lot of research on the net. The Sony products always seemed to show up on the recommended lists. I have a friend who owns the DCR-TRV320 and decided to check it out. I was very impressed with the camera. The features of the 320 and the 520 are basically the same. I like the bigger LCD screen on the 520 though and went for that instead. I Nightshot feature is GREAT on these cameras. You can shoot virtually anything up to 10 feet away in TOTAL darkness. I recommend this camera to anyone looking for a high quality, fully featured digital camera. But note that you can always save some bucksn if you opt for the DCR-TRV320. One extra note though. Get yourself a longer lasting battery with your new camera. Or at least a spare one. Anyone who's owned a camcorder will tell you the same!



4. I've had my TRV520 for a little over a year now and I'm very pleased with it. The quality of the video when transferred to VHS is very high. The camera is implicitly easy to use and handle. But to be honest there were one or two things that I found disappointing: The quality of the stills taken are not that great. Unless the light on the subject is very good I find that the images are quite grainy. Do not buy this camera for excellent digital photos. You won't get um. The images are just okay. I'm in the market for a digital camera now. Another thing I find annoying is that the camera shuts off if there no activity for 3 mins. This is a 'battery saving mechanism' but I have not found a way to disable it if the the camera is plug into the AC outlet. Other than that, I think it's a very good buy and I won't be changing it anytime soon.



5. It is not perfect,but I have used it at least once a week for two and a half years now. The zoom is out of this world! I have taken photos as close as two feet and really far away and have gotten super clear shots. I have taken still, moving and portraits. I like it. My friends like it too. It has a lot of flexability for taking pictures. For example; I run the camera and then when I plug it into my firewall I am able to take out still shots,the ones I want.I can also put my film on a video cassette.Personally, I would have rathered gotten a full version of the MGI software for the price I had to pay for the camera though. But I do like the software. I also shoot a lot in the dark. I'm using the night shot & super night shot right now.Super night shot works well although if there is a lot of movement, the pics are distorted. I plan to buy a light soon. Bottom line, I don't regret my purchase.Mechanically, I have had absolutely no problems. I have an 8 hour battery and I use the lcd screen to film. It is sufficeint.

No comments about Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder + Pro Deluxe Accessory Kit.

No comments about Panasonic PV-VM202 - Camcorder - optical zoom: 10 x - Mini DV - silver.

5 comments about Canon ZR300 MiniDV Camcorder w/22x Optical Zoom (High Metal).

1. This really is a great camcorder that I have been using for more than a year now. I have not seen any problems so far. I has excellent video quality. It is quite handy and easy to carry. Also, unlike some, I do not hear a playback noise. I also used to have Canon ZR500 and ZR600, but I can say that this one is better than those. I totaly recommend Canon ZR300.



2. I bought this camera more than a year ago, but I was updating some reviews when I realized I never wrote one for this product. Well, I just have to say that it's a wonderful camera that shoots high quality film. I do some video editing as a hobby, and I am happy to have the Mini-DV's available for transfer to my PC. If you are going to do any editing, always get Mini-DV, it'll make your life much easier. The only complaint I have is shooting under low light situations where the picture becomes pixelated and could use improvement. All in all, a great camera at a great price!



3. I have had little problems with this product at all.
   only complaints:
   -poor battery life (even with upgraded)
   -no frame record mode on camera ( if there is can someone please reply on this)
   thanks



4. Nice picture quality, nice zoom. It would also be nice if this camcorder functioned half of the time. Does "remove cassette" mean anything to you?
   My advice: Never buy Canon. I've used GL1's and GL2's that have also had this problem.



5. If you want to know how good this POS from CaNOT is, just do a google on Canon ZR-300 "remove the cassette". This message will appear after very light use and the tape will constantly eject. Lots of other people have had the same issue. Have missed 2 very important occasions because of this problem. My last digital camera which was also a Canon stunk too, I will never again support the Canon team as they try to pedal worthless overengineered under QC'd pieces of junk to the American market. They also have a proprietary software system in their copiers that you have to pay 5k and be a dealer to do anything with. Here's hoping Canon's sales drop and they go bankrupt.

4 comments about Canon Optura 60 MiniDV Camcorder w/14x Optical Zoom.

1. After some reasearch on the different camcorders available on the market, I had no doubt that the Canon Optura 60 was the superior choice. After receiving the unit I had no problem getting set up and was snapping pictures and making videos in no time.
   
   One feature that sets this camcorder apart from others is it's ability to take high quality 2 mega-pixel still shots, recording them to a Secure-Digital card. From my previous experience with Canon cameras it seems that they really know what they are doing in terms of digital photography and the Optura 60 continues to amaze. The camera has produced still shots that are equal or better in quality to my Olympus C-740UZ.
   
   The video quality is excellent and it is very easy to copy your still shots and videos using USB 2.0 OR Firewire to your Windows XP PC.
   
   Despite a complicated array of features, the camera can be very simple to use for those who just want to set everything to "AUTO", then point and shoot.
   
   Goods:
   * High res 2 mega-pixel stills stored on SD card
   * Built-in flash and 14x optical zoom
   * Optical image stabilization to ensure minimized "shaky hand" effect
   * Easy to dump videos and stills to XP PC
   * Amazingly wide array of features packed into a small sized unit
   * Excellent still picture quality
   * Good performance for shooting 'on the fly'
   * Continuous mode for quick sequential still shots
   * Can snap 640x480 still shots to SD card while recording video to tape
   * More...
   
   Bads:
   * Package does not include a DV tape
   * Included 16MB MMC card is far too small
   * Included battery is a little short-lived
   * Firewire DV cable not included
   
   Additional items I bought:
   * Pack of DV tapes
   * 512MB SD Card
   * High-capacity BP2L14 battery
   * CB2LT battery charger, enabling charging of both batteries at once (one in camera, one in charger)
   
   You'll also need a carrying case that snugly fits the Optura 60 and the above items.



2. Do an internet search on "Canon remove cassette" before you buy. This is a well known problem with all the Canon digital camcorders. AND don't rely on the Canon warranty to fix it! They will try to blame it on something the consumer did.
   
   I got the cassette eject problem after less than two months. Canon tried to charge me $170 because they "thought" it had sand damage. After much wrangling they finally admitted it was the capstan motor. After more wrangling, they agreed to fix the capstan motor, but would not "remove any sand." I think they were trying to classify my camera problem as something other than the capstan motor. Maybe the factory service center is accumulating statistics on types of repairs and it makes Canon look better if the problem can be attributed to something the consumer did, rather than their own faulty workmanship. I've had the camera back for a week and so far it's ok. I counted nine grains of sand in the compartment where the battery goes and two grains on the lens cap. What do you expect with normal beach use? If these things are so extremely delicate Canon should not be marketing them to consumers. I've been videoing at the beach since 1991 with a Sony and I've never had any sand problems. I take good care of my electronic equipment, but Canon made me feel like some half-assed teenager, instead of the fifty-something grandmother I am. I think it was very underhanded the way they tried to make out I was at fault. I spent hours on the phone with them on my nickel. This experience has soured me on Canon. I will NEVER buy another Canon product. THEY DON'T PLAY FAIR!



3. So, my main criteria for choosing a camera was compatibility with my iMac. I am a photographer, so I also like decent picture quality. Ease of operation is another plus. This camera meets all my specs.
   
   Set up was relatively simple. Attach the strap and lens cap, pop in the memory card, attach the battery, plug it in to charge for a bit and you are ready to go.
   
   The kit is missing a couple of things: a bigger memory card would be nice(as always is the case), and a tape would be nice. As it is, you need to go out and buy a tape before you can record. Minor detail, but slightly annoying if you were already anxiously awaiting the UPS guy so you could get started recording, a firewire would be a nice inclusion, as well.
   
   You'll need the manual to program the time and date. The menu operation is funky and poorly designed(teeny tiny button that you push up or down to scroll and have to hit center-on to select). This is my fifth video camera in ten years, tho, and I've never spent too much time using the menu, so... I can live with it.
   
   Software was easily installed and no problems getting video to my computer. Plug and play.
   
   The video and sound are great. I paid a couple hundred more for my Sony DVD300 and the quality is TERRIBLE. I like that it has a night light- it isn't the most powerful, but it's something. There is a mode for low-light recording that doesn't ruin the color(you don't get that green night-vision look that all my other cameras have).
   
   I'm not big on taking digital still photos with a video camera- I use my Nikon D70 for that, so I can't say much about that. All in all, I think this camera is a great deal for what you get. Relatively easy to use and Mac friendly.



4. Video Quality: 5 (16:9 on 42" plasma = approx DVD quality)
   Audio Quality: 3.5 (no complaints yet)
   Image Stabilizer: 3
   Stills: 2 (would not use this for stills)
   Expandability: 5
   Included Battery: 3 (will not out last a cassette)
   Features: 4
   
   I chose this because I needed a camcorder with good video resolution in 16:9 mode. Most camcorders suffer in the 16:9 mode when compared to their 4:3 performance. Also the Optura 60 has an Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) which is superior to Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) in that it does not degrade image quality as much as EIS. However OIS does not make the picture as steady as some EIS based ones.
   The audio seems fine - some have complained that motor noise surfaces in quiet conditions. The set and func button are badly placed as you can't see them when the LCD is open. Top Loading cassette system is always a winner compared to bottom loading for when you use a tripod.
   Connectivity is excellent - IEEE, USB, Mic-in, A/V out, s-video out. The camcorder also does Analog-to-Digital pass through. So you can use this to convert your VHS stuff to MiniDV or directly to a computer. Works well with Mac; iMovie controls the camcorder just fine and importing video was easy. The accessory hot shoe is also an added bonus for expanding - external mics, video lamps - and the camcorder can communicate with these add-ons.
   Overall, excellent value in a market where each new model year of camcorders seems to be reducing feature and functionality. Best value when you consider the $100 MIR that Canon is offering

No comments about Cobra Digital DVC4000W 12.0 Megapixel Digital Video Camera.

No comments about Preowned JVC MiniDV Camcorder - Gray (GRDA30US).

No comments about Panasonic HDC-DX1 Hi-Definition 3CCD, DVD-RAM Camcorder, Leica Dicomar Lens, 12x Optical Zoom, Optical Image Stabilizer, 3.0" LCD Screen.