5 comments about Canon DC410 DVD Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom.

1. I just sent this camera back unused because the very limited choices of DVD-R brands and types makes it useless to me.
   
   After ordering the camera, I went to several stores in my area and was unable to find any of the "approved" discs.
   
   At the last store I checked,I got some good advice about a better model(flash drive)in a different brand and purchased it to replace this one. I am already using it and can burn any type of DVD on my desktop.



2. Before buying a camcorder (1st camcorder purchase in 17 years) I checked Consumer Reports which listed this model as a Best Buy. Because of the multitude of choices out there, I leaned on them for guidance. But as usual it comes down to Sony and Canon slugging it out with JVC a distand third. For me, quality of results, affordability, ease of use and features are important in the order listed. This camcorder seems to strike a reasonable balance (at least for me) on these features. I was able to become fairly proficient in the operation of this camera within 1 hour and am pleased with image stabilization, audio and video quality. Low light level video is grainy but that is typical of cameras in this price range (<300.00). I was real close to purchasing one of the Sony offerings until I read the CR review. I purchased this camera kit on Black Friday for 200.00 and it included a Canon bag and 5 DVD's. Some have complained about lack of USB support but its not hard to copy the DVD to your hard drive and convert the Codec to JPEG. I would suggest using the following conversion software: [...]. Not all work but this one does. Also, do not use Memorex, or Sony DVD-RW discs. Maxell works fine. I would agree that Flash Drive Camcorders are easier to load to a PC, but its also very convenient to shoot a disc and immediately load it into a DVD player as this does. The Hybrids are nice but I suspect they have sacrified other elements to allow both formats in the same package for a low price. Overall I am happy with my purchase. One more thing, when you budget for a camcorder and you are reasonably serious about your purchase, keep in mind that you will want a bag big enough to hold accessories including your digital camera, a light for in-door shooting, extra discs, video editing software, extra batteries and a charger. This can all run 150 to 200 in addition to your initial camcorder purchase.



3. We bought this camcorder after considering quite a few other models. It seemed to have all the benefits of a compact camera and I liked the idea of no memory cards to transfer data. Our daughter's first child's birth was something we wanted to keep forever. Unfortunately, the camera and camera bag were left in a parking lot, never to be seen again. A heartbreaking consequence as the disk contained those precious moments. The disks that come with the camera are for permanent recording, so I suggest that you invest in the read-write-edit disks so you can edit your recordings. Also, do yourself a favor and upload your recordings to your computer as soon as possible, just in case the camera is lost; or remove the disk completely and put it in the disk case, away from the camera. I never had the opportunity to use the camera, so I can not confirm or deny the assets to the Canon DC410, but I like the products and it appeared to be a quality unit. I guess we are just back to using our 12-yr. old Canon camcorder again. Oh well, so much for new technology. The old one still works fine!



4. Although the description says it has a USB port, it does not. That was the main reason I ordered it. Also the Sony 3" DVD+RW that are shown next to this camcorder for purchase are NOT compatible with this camcorder. I complained to Amazon about the incorrect description of this camcorder and I'm surprised they haven't changed the description. Can't say anything about the camcorder because I didn't use it.



5. Nice little camera. For the money it is one of the best that could be purchased. It isn't hight definition but the picture quality is great for standard definition.

5 comments about JVC GR-DA30US MiniDV Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this to be used on my ATV trips. I mounted a Ball Head on the front rack of my ATV and mounted the camera on that. Does a great job. Picture quality is better than expected. My JVC with a hard drive cuts off apparently caused by the magnetic field from the ATV engine. This camera suffers no problems due to that field. For my purpose, it is excellent.



2. A great camera for the money. It does what you might expect from a more expensive model. Strongly recommend!



3. Very nice product indeed, no complaints at all except for some "minor details" i'm about to point. First, video quality is average, don't even think to ask for HD-like video because it ain't happening, but it's okay, if i wanted an HD camcorder i would've bought one. Second, there is no hot-shoe to attach lightning devices on it, it's amazing the lack of such essential issue in a camera that has no lights!!!, so in my particular case i had to buy an adapter which attaches on the tripod mount. Terrible design flaw there, what where JVC's engineers thinking of????. Third, ah my dear JVC friends, a Firewire cable would be a VERY NICE touch from you, and the cost of such device is ridiculous so you can't argue "cost reductions for competitive sell prices"... but nope, no Firewire cable included.
   Despite all of the above i'm quite satisfied with the product.
   And last but no least, Amazon's service: Flawless, as usual. I appreciate that.



4. I love the product. The picture quality is second to none. I love that the camera is compact and that I can point and shoot. I also like the fact that if I am holding the camera and videoing, the picture is really steady. The only thing I would like to see if the ability to plug into my computer and download.



5. Although lightweight and handy this camera isn't that good... No night vision or light, very sensitive to humidity and won't turn on... zoom isn't that great... I would recommend to spend a little more on something better...

5 comments about RCA EZ201 Small Wonder 60 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder (White).

1. I bought this player from walgreens on sale,got it home like the ease of the buttons and film quality was good, but it does not record at nearly the specified recording times and does not recognize my memory card at all. Taking it back and getting my money.



2. Buddy & I mounted this to a hang glider to film his flight. His landing was a bit of an event and we were eager to see the playback. However, we received a "File error" message & no video. Subsequent experimentation yielded the discovery that the camera would turn off when in the "record" mode if bumped by a rap of the knuckles. If you plan to mount this cam as a "sport camera" (on a bike or motorcycle, e.g.) you may want to test it first. Striking the bottom portion of the camera (as in knocking on a door) was more likely to cause a power off situation.



3. I don't know why so many people expect this camera to be like an HD camera or something. It's cheap, small, and just plain FUN! I make all of my youtube videos with this camera. If you turn on a lamp...it helps a lot! I highly recommend this for someone looking for something quick & easy!



4. We chose to get an older model camera for our 8 year old, with good cnet reviews, to save some money. We're pretty happy with this camera, except for the fact that because it is an older model, the software does not work with our computer with Windows Vista. That is dissapointing to me, but my daughter doesn't know the difference. She's having a great time with it and we've found a different way to edit and store her videos. I really wish this camera had a still photo option though.



5. I read a review on here that says the EZ201 works with Windows Vista, but it does not. I bought it and I like the way it works, but I cannot install Memory Manager on my computer from the device, nor from the files, nor from Audiovox/RCA web site - they don't offer a download for 201 because it's supposed to come from the camcorder, and they don't have a patch for it either. I called the service center and they said it is not compatible with Vista. Now they didn't sound like the sharpest tools in the box, but if it was compatible or if there was a patch, it would be on the RCA Small Wonder web site and it is not. Now I have to contact Discount Jungle to find out how to return it. What a pain in the neck. I guess the moral of the story is beware older models of technology as they might not be compatible with newer Windows OS. I guess it's worth paying the extra $ to get something that is not already outdated. I know that Amazon doesn't take any responsibility for what its vendors sell through their web site, but you'd think someone would let the consumer know that this EZ201 does not work with Vista. Boo.

5 comments about Flip Mino Camcorder, 60 Minutes (White).

1. It fits in my shirt pocket, so I take it everywhere with me to catch those special images. I love the portability, and the image quality meets my needs. So far, so good.



2. The Flip Mino HD is an impressive little gadget. Its video quality is far beyond what you would expect from such a tiny device, and its small size and intuitive interface make sure it always claims a space in your pocket. I really can not say enough good things about this product's features.
   
   However, I don't recommend buying one. Just four months after purchasing this camcorder BRAND NEW, it has stopped working entirely. It doesn't turn on, it doesn't show up on my computer, and it certainly doesn't record videos any more.
   
   My camera is in flawless physical condition, so I am lead to believe that the innards of these devices are of very shoddy quality. I have scoured the internet and found many others facing the same situation I am. The manufacturer recommends that we place a paperclip in the reset button, which has not resolved the problem for myself or for thousands of others.
   
   The warranty covers an unacceptable 90 days after purchase. This company must have very little confidence in this product to only offer support for 90(!) days. I doubt they are ever surprised to receive angry phone calls or product reviews.
   
   In short, this is an impressive and fun to use product that unfortunately has a lifespan of about 3 months. For that reason, I do not recommend it.



3. I purchased Flip Mino in May, 2009. It's a wonderful product. Easy to use and carry. Until yesterday, I could only make two minutes of video. Other memories are gone. I am trying to get hold of the customer support. I know I am out of warranty time.
   I'll wait and see what they'd say about it. The memory card is built in. There is no way for me to configure it.



4. I bought a Flip Mino thinking that this was the ideal size camcorder for my purposes, to record my grandchildren as they grow up. To look at the video clips that I took, I wanted to put them onto a DVD that I could play in my DVD player, rather than my computer, which will be upgraded or otherwise changed every couple of years. I found that this is a very hard thing to do. The only way I found to do this is to upload the video clips to Flip for a charge of about $20. I am willing to pay this. But with my old camcorder I could make permanent copies myself, which was MUCH more convenient. I think Flip is stopping this service in March. So I don't know what I'll do with videos I take next year. I would NOT recommend the Flip Mino because of this difficulty. It takes fine video clips, but then what do you do with them if you want to keep them. Search me. Maybe if you are a computer geek you can solve this problem. But I think a product should have a wider range than this for its customers.



5. CAUTION-- if your thinking about buying this product-- STOP NOW!!!! I purchased the camera when it first came out (less then a year ago) and now it's dead. I called tech support and the only offer a 90 day warranty and that's it. There is no repair service or anything for the product. So you are stuck with a piece of junk plastic. If you don't want to have a headache, DON'T BUY!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom.

1. I've had the camera for about a month now. Very pleased with the picture quality, the ease of use and durability. I guess time will tell if it was worth the money, but so far I'm happy.



2. I am filming outdoor hunting with this camera along side the cannon hx-al with a hunting partner, this camera is a lot more portable and easyer to use, the only fall back to this compared to the hx-al is about 10 min. of filming light at the end of the hunt witch is passed shooting hours in missouri. I paid about 1500 less than the other guy for 10 min. of light. picture quality is great and it is easy to transfer to my computer to burn to cd.



3. i compared this camera on auto with my ux5 shooting the same sunlite scene and to my surprise the consumer grade camera had a brighter picture. in low light the fx7 was dazzeling. but for the difference in price(5 times higher) i send it back to amazon for refund really really surprised amazon service superb



4. I used to have a Sony DCR-VX2100, new FX7 is better in everything (well, low light performance almost). Compact, easy to use with excellent picture output. Bought directly from Sony. Do not think - buy and you will be happy!



5. This camera has tons of features that I haven't tried yet. I taped a hockey tournament and banquet and found the camera very easy to use. I like the dual zoom feature-the zoom on the side goes slow/fast depending on how far you push the bar. On the handle you can select slow or fast zoom and thats nice for doing music videos as it pans in and out at a fixed rate regardless of how far you push the bar. The sound recording is great but it picks up voices in back of the camera too so I'm going to invest in a directional mic. The viewfinder swivels almost 90 degrees so you can tip the camera almost straight up such as filming the release of balloons. You dont have to bend your head all the way back as you do with fixed viewfinders. All the controls are easy to use with your hand under the grip strap. The lens hood has a built in lens cover which is a nice touch. This camera does the 1080i HD and uses iLink to download to your computer. I use Studio 12 to make my movies but studio 12 requires 2.66 GHz of processing power for HD and I only have 1.8GHz. The camera can convert your HD to standard def with a built-in setting on the iLink screen.

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC52 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom.

1. This is a great little camcorder. I purchased it to replace a 9 year old Sony Digital8 camcorder. I did not want a hard drive, or DVD. The picture quality is great, far exceding my old top of the line Digital8. It is small, easy to use, and so light. It will be easy to take on trips, which is really the reason I bought it..the 8mm camera, which by the way still works like its brand new, is just a little too big to carry around on vacation. I like the touch screen menus, which my 8mm does not have. And once again, the picture quality is awesome, which for me is all it really comes down to. The only thing I use this camera for is recording my kids as they grow up, I am not a video professional.



2. This is my second DCR-HC52. My first one got soaked by a rogue wave and died a slow, moist death (although its battery survived and is now my back-up battery). This unit is simple to operate and provides a nice image (I process using the Mac's iMovieHD). There are no bells and whistles although one can customize the functions a bit and manual focus is possible. Once you get used to the touch screen it does the job. For the money I think you can't do better than this if miniDV format is what you need.



3. I purchased this camcorder a year ago and used it less than 10 hours. I ejected a cassette and now the compartment won't close. The camcorder is also flashing a C:32:11 error code. Its dead!
   
   Sony's customer service suggests removing the battery or dc cable and resetting the camera which didn't work. A web search of the error code turned up a huge amount of comments and solutions on this issue including banging the bottom of the camcorder with a hammer. Since the camcorder didn't work I tried the hammer solution...it still doesn't work! I can't find anyone in my area to repair it and Sony wants $200 to repair (if they can) it.
   
   I choose to replace the DCR-HC52 with a Sony flash camcorder which has fewer moving parts, uses memory cards instead of cassettes and uses all of the accessories I've already purchased.



4. A little dissappointed in the indoor quality. Always use sony products but would look into flash memory or hard drive next time.



5. Bought this after reading the reviews here at Amazon. Went to Best Buy and they recomended this one as well. We have 2 kids in different sports that play at the same time, which was the need for the purchase. Checked tracking 2 days before it was supposed to arrive, the info shown that the shipping company had not yet picked it up ? I emailed customer support had a response back that night that the order was lost? They shipped out another FedEx no charge and I still receive it on the orignal date that was promised !!!! I will continue to use Amazon as my first choice for purchasing as long as the customer support stays this good !

No comments about Sanyo VPC-CG20 High Definition Camcorder & 10 MP Camera (Black).

5 comments about Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. This is a fantastic camcorder...meets all my needs and then some. i was impressed with the low light video quality! I film social dancing in a dim club and it looks preety good.



2. I am very impressed with this camcorder. Although I haven't got to use it a lot I feel you get a lot of bang for your buck. The high def quality is outstanding. I have had no issues with any of the functions. The manual that comes with this is packed with all the info you need, however it is confusing the way they have it put together and does take some time to extract the information from it. I know Canon support is outstanding as I have used them before, but not for this camcorder. I think this camcorder will do almost everything a camcorder of much higher value will do. Amazon had a good price for this camcorder, I checked around. Also shipping was fast!



3. This camera was just perfect for the thing I wanted: to shoot my first documentary film.
   The image is great and it's the perfect size to carry it everywhere but to hold the image still at the same time. I recommend to buy the accesories if you want to shoot at night. I'm saving to do that soon. Good luck



4. When it comes to picture quality, this is the Crème de la Crème of prosumer video cameras. In my experience, as of February 2010, no other brand or camcorder comes close to the video quality of HV40. Using a tape based video cassette recorder feels antiquated after giving up audio cassette tape recorder years ago for digital sound on MP3 player but I tried one hard drive AVCHD camcorder and I had to be return it because the grainy picture was way inferior to my previous Canon HV-20 camcorder. Those hard drive or DVD camcorders are not compatible with every software either. And as long as you keep Mini-DV's and the camcorder, you can play them for ever because software format keeps changing with time and the software format in vogue now may be outdated in future.
   
   The major advance in this camera over its previous incarnations, HV-20 & HV-30, is the 24P in native & cinema modes, which makes the picture look like professional movie. Otherwise I do not find much difference from earlier versions.
   
   PROS
   1. 2.96-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor captures sharp, bright, color saturated HD video and beautiful, color infused pictures on Mini SD card. Vivid images will just blow your mind. You can even capture still images from the tape.
   2. DIGIC DV II image processor is fast.
   3. Good image stabilization.
   4. The controls are well placed and intuitive.
   5. Regular mini-DV tapes Sony DVC-60 PR/5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack) can be used with excellent results and you don't have to buy expensive HD Mini-DV tapes Sony High Definition Minidv Videocassette (2-Pack).
   6. Good images even in low light and then there is built-in flash.
   7. Works well with both iMovie & Final Cut Express on Mac.
   
   
   CONS
   1.This Canon HV40 camcorder does not come with any video editing software. The still picture Canon software is slow and basically useless and does not add much to built-in Windows or Mac software. You do not even need to install Canon photo software.
   2. Needs a very powerful computer with Firewire port.
   3. But does not come with a Firewire cable! Canon is selling this camera for one thousand dollars (MSRP) and they can't enclose a one dollar cable? Make sure you order 4-Pin to 4-Pin FireWire Cable with the camera. I bought one for less than a dollar Firewire DV Cable Camcorder For Canon Sony Sharp JVC and it does the job.
   4. No separate battery charger and if you record for more than an hour at a time you may want to buy one extra and keep a charged one with you all the time.
   5 .So many components - Canon HV-40 camera, battery, charger, cables, Mini-DV tapes etc. - but no bag to store and carry them with this one thousand buck camera! They want to pick your pocket for another fifty bucks for a Canon branded bag for this camera and its accessories. But I bought Zeikos ZE-CA48B Deluxe Soft Medium Camera and Video Bag for ten bucks and it is almost as good, if not better than, Canon VIXIA HV40 HG21 HG10 DC410 DC310 HV30 DVD Camcorder Canon ZR960 MiniDV dc220 dc320 dc100 dc210 Camcorder Case Bag Messager Bag.
   6. Huge files on hard drive. For me the HD files are coming to almost 750 MB per minute on Final Cut Express. Make sure you have a huge hard drive to be able to use and edit the HD files recorded by Canon HV-40. But this drawback is probably with all HD camcorders. I use Western Digital My Book World Edition 1 TB Network Attached Storage WDH1NC10000N (White) which works flawlessly but now it has its big 2TB & 4TB brothers - go for the biggest one you can afford. You are going to need it for all the HD video that you will record with this camera.
   7. Of course, you need a high-priced HDTV to enjoy all those videos in HD!
   
   Overall Canon HV-40 camcorder is is the best in this category but you may want to look at one of those pocket Flip camcorders or its competitors before you buy Canon HV-40: you will probably use them more. They are lighter in weight and pocketable so you can have them with you more often. And they are very easy to use and upload recored files to computer or web sites. Now with new cell phones being able to record good quality video, even Flip video recorders are in the process of becoming obsolete. After all, the best camera is the one you have with you!
   
   Now you can use Canon HV-40 to record on mini DV tape, watch it on TV and store the tape and not even bother to use the computer. But if you want to edit or upload the best quality HD video or you if you are the budding or amateur film-maker, no other camcorder can beat Canon HV-40 for picture quality. If you add all the other ancillary stuff needed to transfer, edit, store and view the HD video recorded by Canon HV-40 - a mighty computer with Terabytes of hard drive space - it is pretty expensive purchase. Canon HV-40 has so many advanced features that I have just skimmed the surface. I am not an advanced user but my son is a film maker and he loves this camera. For an average Joe or Jane, this camera is probably an overkill but its earlier editions, are only slightly less complicated to use and not not any cheaper than HV-40.



5. This camera shoots amazing video. The battery that it comes with does not last to long on a charge, or maybe I just left it connected to the camera. In the manual it say's to remove the battery when not in use. Other than that I highly recommend the HV40. Good for prosumers or just your own personal recordings. I just also bought the wide angle lens for it and it looks great. In my opinion this camera shoots video quality than can be compared to $2,000 or $3,000 cameras.

5 comments about Sony DCR-DVD650 DVD Handycam® Camcorder.

1. Overall the product is good...easy to use. Like the DVD feature. However, what about a flash or light???? You always need a flash...or a light. I returned one recorder because they said the DCR - 650 had a light capabilities. And it didn't...so very disappointed in that. Also, the lense cover has to be manually opened & closed....which sometimes I forget before starting to record. And actually...the lense cover that opens has broke....now...thank goodness it broken on open instead of closed. Overall....wish I would shopped further...in fact, still within 90 days...might return.



2. I HAVE THIS SONY DCR-DVD650 SONY HANDYCAM SINCE LAST SUMMER. I LIKE THE CAMERA. i WOULD LIKE TO USE A MEMORY STICK, HOWEVER THE MANUAL CLAIMS I CANNOT USE A MEMORY STICK ON THE 650 BUT ONLY ON THE 850. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF I CAN USE A MEMORY STICK AND JUST HOW TO DO IT? THANKS.



3. This video camera is exactly what I was looking for. I am not someone who is good with gadgets and technology. I wanted a camcorder that would be easy to use, and easy to play back my videos. I didn't even need to read the directions to figure this one out. You put the mini-DVD in, press record, and you're good to go. Then when you want to play it, you just eject the mini-DVD and play it right in your DVD player. My #1 consideration in purchasing a camera was that I could easily record my family and then just as easily share the videos with others. I wouldn't know anything about editing software or special features, but for us, this camera is perfect. The picture quality is also very good, and the camera is small and easy to carry around.



4. Delivery was exactly as planned, no problems. The person I purchased it for seems to like it.



5. Good Product.
   Simple and easy to use. Captures and records images with great resolution for a camcorder that is not high definition.
   The battery could last a little longer, but the product is very good.
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P3O3O0/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

5 comments about Flip Mino Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black).

1. It fits in my shirt pocket, so I take it everywhere with me to catch those special images. I love the portability, and the image quality meets my needs. So far, so good.



2. The Flip Mino HD is an impressive little gadget. Its video quality is far beyond what you would expect from such a tiny device, and its small size and intuitive interface make sure it always claims a space in your pocket. I really can not say enough good things about this product's features.
   
   However, I don't recommend buying one. Just four months after purchasing this camcorder BRAND NEW, it has stopped working entirely. It doesn't turn on, it doesn't show up on my computer, and it certainly doesn't record videos any more.
   
   My camera is in flawless physical condition, so I am lead to believe that the innards of these devices are of very shoddy quality. I have scoured the internet and found many others facing the same situation I am. The manufacturer recommends that we place a paperclip in the reset button, which has not resolved the problem for myself or for thousands of others.
   
   The warranty covers an unacceptable 90 days after purchase. This company must have very little confidence in this product to only offer support for 90(!) days. I doubt they are ever surprised to receive angry phone calls or product reviews.
   
   In short, this is an impressive and fun to use product that unfortunately has a lifespan of about 3 months. For that reason, I do not recommend it.



3. I purchased Flip Mino in May, 2009. It's a wonderful product. Easy to use and carry. Until yesterday, I could only make two minutes of video. Other memories are gone. I am trying to get hold of the customer support. I know I am out of warranty time.
   I'll wait and see what they'd say about it. The memory card is built in. There is no way for me to configure it.



4. I bought a Flip Mino thinking that this was the ideal size camcorder for my purposes, to record my grandchildren as they grow up. To look at the video clips that I took, I wanted to put them onto a DVD that I could play in my DVD player, rather than my computer, which will be upgraded or otherwise changed every couple of years. I found that this is a very hard thing to do. The only way I found to do this is to upload the video clips to Flip for a charge of about $20. I am willing to pay this. But with my old camcorder I could make permanent copies myself, which was MUCH more convenient. I think Flip is stopping this service in March. So I don't know what I'll do with videos I take next year. I would NOT recommend the Flip Mino because of this difficulty. It takes fine video clips, but then what do you do with them if you want to keep them. Search me. Maybe if you are a computer geek you can solve this problem. But I think a product should have a wider range than this for its customers.



5. CAUTION-- if your thinking about buying this product-- STOP NOW!!!! I purchased the camera when it first came out (less then a year ago) and now it's dead. I called tech support and the only offer a 90 day warranty and that's it. There is no repair service or anything for the product. So you are stuck with a piece of junk plastic. If you don't want to have a headache, DON'T BUY!!!!!!!!!!