5 comments about Sony DCRPC330 MiniDV 3.3-Megapixel Handycam Camcorder.

1. This was my first-ever camcorder purchase, so I wanted to make sure the camera was a solid performer.

   The other two candidates were the Panasonic DV953 and the Sony TRV950.

   To help me choose, I took a crash-course in MiniDV cams (by reading the reviews) and found that most of them kept harping on things that I didn't care about. Things like bottom-loading the tapes vs top-loading; Single CCD vs 3 CCD; the number of shutter speeds. Jeez, 99.9% of people aren't going to pass up a good camera because they need to remove it from the tripod to change a tape, but these folks make it sound like a show-stopper.

   I bought the PC330 over the other two for simple reasons:

   1) My wife wants very few buttons to have to worry abouy. With this camera, you point and shoot; most of the functions are hidden in the touch screen menus that you rarely have to use.

   2) The stills are actually better than my 3.2 megapixel Fuji A303.

   3) It felt comfortable to use - much smaller than the other two cameras.

   I believe the cons to this camera that will affect most users are:

   1) The akward placement of the still button. You really have to bend your index finger into a strange position to use it. The zoom control is placed as the natural landing spot for your index finger.

   2) The microphone is located behind the hot-shoe. This is only a problem if you plug something into the shoe - the mic is essentially blocked from your subject.

   3) The flash doesn't pop out far enough to clear most add-on lenses. If you attach a wide-angle or zoom lens, you will see a significant shadow of it in still pictures that use the flash. This is certainly not a critical flaw, but annoying.

   4) This is probably only a problem for newbies to Sony camcorders, but the zoom control at your index finger is just about the same size as the mode/power switch at your thumb. I don't know how many times I've intended on zooming by moving my thumb -- which causes the camera to switch modes. I chalk this one up to user unfamiliarity; all of my friends with Sony's had the same problem at first.

   I bought some nice accessories and found one very valuable. The HVL-IRH2 IR/Video light. This plugs into the hot shoe and provides a 3 Watt video light AND a great IR light for shooting in total darkness in a small all-in-one unit. It uses the battery power from the camera, which drains it FAST, but it also means it doesn't need its own heavy battery. We use this to record our kids sleeping; the IR produces no visible light in the room. Keep in mind, the video will look like a nighttime Baghdad bombing (green), but it's not very grainy at all.




2. I WANTED TO HAVE IT ALL. A CAMCORDER THAT TOOK EXCELLENT VIDEO AND GOOD STILLS. THIS PRODUCT DISSAPOINTS IN THE LATTER. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT THE STILL PICTURE QUALITY THAT THIS CAMCORDER TAKES ARE ALREADY BETTER THAN ANY CAMCORDER OUT THERE. WHILE THIS MAY BE TRUE, I MUST WARN THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THINKING THAT THIS CAN REPLACE YOU 2 OR 3 MEGAPIXEL CAMCORDER....IT WONT.
   THE STILL PICTURES, ALTHOUGH 3 MEGAPIXEL CAPACITY HAVE JUST WAY TO MUCH NOISE INTEREFERENCE (THATS MY BEST GUESS) FOR THE PICTURES TO BE SHARP. THE PICTURES COME OUT SOMEWHAT FUZZY RATHER THAN SMOOTH. WHEN VIEWED AT 2016 x 1512 YOU CAN CLEARLY NOTICE AN UNEVENESS IN THE COLORS. THE PICTURES ARE JUST PLAIN BELOW AVERAGE COMPARED TO WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM EVEN A 2 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA.
   WITH THAT SAID, THE STRONG POINTS OF THIS CAMERA IS IN ITS VIDEO. THE VIDEO IS REALLY CLEAR AND SHARP. ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY FIRST CAMCORDER AND I DONT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO COMPARE TO, BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST VIDEO QUALITY CAMCORDERS OUT THERE.
   HAVING BEEN LET DOWN BY THE POOR STILLS, BRINGS ME TO GRIPE ABOUT THIS CAMCORDER BEING SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN PREVIOUS SONY HANDYCAMS LIKE THE PC105 AND ALSO LARGER THAN SOME OF SONY'S NEWER MODELS. ALTHOUGH THESE SMALLER HANDYCAMS DONT HAVE 3 MEGA PIXELS LIKE THE PC330, BUT I HAVE COME TO THE CONCULSION THAT MAYBE 3 MEGAPIXELS AREN'T NECCESARY, WHAT THE POINT IF THE THE STILLS ARE GOING TO BE SUBPAR ANYWAYS. I PROBABLY WOULDVE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO BUY THIS HIGHLY EXPENSIVE CAMCORDER, AND INSTEAD GONE WITH A CANON OPTURA 300, WHICH IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE, BUT WITH THE MONEY LEFT OVER, I COULD BUY ME A NICE 3 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA THAT TAKES DIGITAL PICTURES THE WAY THERE SUPPOSED TO LOOK.



3. A palm-sized camera that almost shoots as well as the low-end 3-CCD cameras, made by a reputable name (Sony), and a price under $1400? Yes, Sony has done it.

   Exterior - With the vertical orientation of the body and the smaller thickness, this camera will fit well in your palm. The main controls are positioned comfortably where your fingers will most naturally fall. The design allows for basic operation without jostling the camera. As I primarily work in filming live band performances in local clubs, this unit allows me to shoot a high-quality product and not disturb those around me, as most are never aware that I am recording. The only drawback is that the infra-red controls are a switch on the case, as opposed to an internal menu. On more than one occasion I have accidentally turned on the night mode.

   Lens - The lens is very sharp and distortion-free. Its size of 37mm is a standard size, and I have been able to purchase several lenses and filters without requiring any adapters or step-up/down rings.

   Lighting - As per Sony's reputation for low-light shooting, this camera does not disappoint. Besides requiring only 7 lux for standard shooting, it offers a NightShot (infra red) and a Color Slow Shutter, which preserves bright colors in super-low lighting.

   Auto-Features - The auto-exposure and auto-focus are very responsive, except in cases of two rapid changes in light, like a camera flash, for instance. This is where I find the only weakness in this unit. The manual focus ring, while great in concept, does not actually operate on a wide range, so it is only for fine tuning, not necessarily artistic alterations. However, the touch-panel screen does have a Spot-Focus feature, which when used correctly can simulate camera movement.

   LCD Screen - The image produced on the LCD screen is quite sharp and a very accurate representation of what is being recorded. It also has a switch for the backlight to save battery power when it is not required while viewing the LCD undera a bright sun. A characteristic that sets this camera apart from most is that the LCD Screen is also a touch-panel for access to the options menus. At first I was hesiatant about this feature, but I have found it to be a favorite part of mine. In low lighting situations, I no longer have to remember where specific buttons are, as the menus are well-illuminated. The panel requires very little pressure, so I can operate it without shaking the camera. And, to top it off, it allows custom menus, so that I set up my most-used options on the first screen. Generally I can change the settings to what I want with only two quick taps on the screen.

   Accessory Shoe - The Intelligent Accessory show can connect to and electronically control, and supply power to flashes and micrphones.

   Power - The supplied battery will run for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at maximum consumption, the long life will generally provide 7-8 hours.

   Progressive Recording - This feature is designed for those who wish to extract still images from video. It records at half the frame rate, but produces a clearer image, without the herring-bone effect of motion in the normal digital frames.

   I have had this camera for four months now, and have found only a couple of minor imperfections which do not amount to much when compared to the rest of the DCR-PC330. I highly recommend this unit to anyone and everyone who can afford it. You will not be disappointed.




4. It's slim, compact, looks great, great zooming, and it delivers more than you can expect from a regular camcorder. It is definitely in the "professional" range of camcorders.
   I have used the DCR-PC330 in different occasions varying from soccer and basketball games to family reunions and birthdays. This camcorder has always delivered above my expectations. Yes, the software that comes with it is not great, but windows movie maker would work just fine if you're not looking for extra professional quality and you have a few hours to spend.
   
   However, the battery life is short, the stills are to be trashed, and the memory stick that comes with the camera is a joke. I would recommend you buy a cheap camera if you want stills. I bought one for 80 bucks which delivers better quality pictures than the DCR-PC330



5. We got this camcorder shortly after it came out (and paid a pretty penny for it). They hyped up the 3.0MP at the time which wasn't suitable for decent photos even then. We never used the still photo capability so in retrospect we paid for some features we didn't need.
   
   Over the last 5 years it's given us some great video memories (I still need to get them off the tapes into a computer for permanent storage) and I have no issues with the video quality. My primary gripe is that it has broken three times now. It gives an error code of E:61:10 and can no longer autofocus or zoom in/out. We've had it repaired twice now, at over $200 a shot. So not only does it break, they make you pay such exorbitant repair fees. Now it's broken for the third time after having just been repaired 14 months ago. It has reached the ridiculous stage. Three breakdowns in 5 years for the same problem.
   
   So while I'm here shopping for a non-Sony camcorder (planning on going back to Canon), I thought I'd leave this review here for posterity.

5 comments about Canon Optura 300 MiniDV Camcorder.

1. I bought this camera as a supplement to by TRV80 to use on hiking trips in the southwest when space and weight are a factor. I love the picture quality and the 2 megapixel shots are definitely better than sony's although not quite as good as a dedicated digicam at the same resolution. As for why I chose this unit over the Sony's 330, it was largely due to price. I could buy two of these cameras for the cost of the sony and since I do not need the hotshue or the minor increase in still resolution, I felt the Canon was more cost effective. I should point out that the rest of this review will focus on problems I had with the unit. I can't be sure if these negatives are common with vertical compacts like this or if the issues are Canons alone so I will let you be the judge. Also, if you are planning to use a tripod or have a way to brace this camera while shooting, most of what I am about to say will be irrelevant. However, if you are using it on the go and will be taking action shots or using it at maximum telephoto range, you may be disappointed.

   Location of Microphone - It is located on the top of the viewfinder (by the way, the viewfinder is fixed and cannot be adjusted). Up until now, I did not notice that I breathe heavily as it never factored into my other videos. This unit had me holding my breath while I shot so I did not ruin the scene.

   Location of Zoom - This problem will vary with the size of someone's hands but I found it to be difficult to operate and hold the camera steady unless I used my pinky to control the zoom. My hands are small and I needed the top three fingers to steady the camera while I moved it. This problem is further exacerbated by tendancy of the zoom too move to quickly if not properly controlled.

   Photo/Tape switch - A seperate switch is used to move between the SD card and the Tape. Sony integrates this function on the start-up dial switch which makes it easier to remember to turn to the desired setting when turning the camera on. As it was, if I had last used the photo setting and turned the camera off and then wanted to shoot video, I almost always screwed-up and started recording in MPEG format on the SD. Not a terrible problem but it wastes time and may cause you to miss quick moving wildlife scenes.

   In fairness to the mechanical functioning of this unit, it probalby deserves four stars and not three. However, if you do not need the still camera feature, there are better cameras out there for your money and I just can't excuse the location of the microphone.




2. I bought this goodie for less than $700 bucks from onecall.com, an authorized canon dealer so this qualifies me to a get a free 128MB SD card.
   PROS: Really compact compared to lot of other cameras i compared with that had the same features, it really fits in my jacket pocket. Out door videos are amazingly great, had to be with 1.3MP of video quality, the other option i was looking at was sony 330 but that was way too pricey for me.
   Still shots are exceptional although you cannot compare it with a stand alone digital still.
   Menus are not complicated, even my wife can use it without hassels.
   I had read reviews about the motor noise from the tape but i found that it had absolutely no noise when you record at the desired sound level in a quite atmosphere.
   I know lot of reviews state that the microphone placement is bad as it sits right on top of the view finder but i didn't find this to be a serious problem as it picks up the subjects sound very well. The only problem with the mic placement is the sound variation when you speak vs. the subject speaking.
   Zooming capability is amazing, the zoom is really smooth when compared to sony.
   Image stability is excellent as long as you stay with in the optical zoom, once you hit the digital zoom(beyond 40X) you need to be really still, the manual provides you with few tips to increase the stability. Also, i rarely go to the digital zoom as 10X optical is more than enough for my use.
   lots of predefined shooting modes.
   This goodie provides a lot of digital effects.
   The previous review said that s/he acciendtly recorded MPEGs instead of DV, but the on screen icons give you a clear indication of the media you are recording on, so no problem their as long as you see the on screen info.
   LCD resolution is fantastic and i liked the fact that it is not too big, there by minimizing my battery drain.
   The best feature i personally like compared with sony pc101/105/109 is that this one has all its control on the body, sony has a touch screen menu option and you could mess up your screen if you are not really careful.
   Cons: The most outstanding problem i found with optura 300 is the low light recording. This provides 3 various low light recording but in the dark the super night shot mode any moving images create a drag effect and the recording resoultion is also grainy. Having said that the indoor + low light mode is adequate when shooting inside a home with no day light. The only problem is when it is pitch dark sony seems to be doing better.
   Battery life is terrible, the battery provided with canon lasts 30-40 minutes, so i had to go in for an upgrade on the battery.
   but i guess all camcorders have the same problem.
   Overall it is a great camcorder for indoor and outdoor use.



3. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who is in the market for a camcorder. I purchased the optura 300 several months ago and have been utilizing it heavily ever since. The camera takes excellent movies of both indoor and outdoor events. I could not be happier with my choice. I did purchase a longer-lived battery which has worked out well. I keep the standard battery charged as a backup, but the larger battery has never died on me even during days that I shot a significant amount of footage.

   I would like to point out of few issues I have had with it:
   1) The instruction manual leaves much to the imagination, especially with how to download the recorded motion pictures onto a PC. There are many other gaps in the manual.

   2) This camera is not for the technologically challenged. I would guess that this is not limited to this specific camera, but is an issue with the entire class of cameras. To burn DVDs and do any kind of editing, the user must have a video capture card & firewire installed on their PC. In addition, downloading movies onto a PC requires LOTS of hard drive space. I installed a 2nd hard drive for this purpose. In addition I needed to install a DVD RW drive so I could burn DVDs. I also upgraded my RAM. Although all of these are easy installs in newer PC's, it can be a daunting task just for a person to figure out what is actually needed not to mention knowing how to actually install it. Combined with shortcomings in the manual, I could see this being fatal for some users. If you are technologically challenged, I would recommend the cameras that burn directly to DVD.

   3) At the extreme end of the zoom, the camera seems to have trouble focusing and is very shaky. This is not that big of an issue as long as the user keeps this in mind while framing the video.

   4) I am not really happy with the quality of the still images captured by this camera. These images can be saved onto a flash card or onto the digital tape. With perfect lighting, the images are good, but I have found that when the flash is needed, the images are completely over exposed. The red-eye reduction feature does not work at all to reduce red eye.

   Please do not let these negatives taint my review. I love this camera but I wanted to put all the issues that I have found with it out there.




4. I bought this camera just a day before my trip to Alaska and it worked out great. Since there was not much time to read the thick manual, the controls were intuitive enough to operate. The video quality was great.
   Pros:
   - Great size. Very compact
   - Great video quality with 2 Mega Pixals
   - Easy to operate.

   Cons:
   - Still pictures come better in light. Not good if the light is less
   - Red eye reduction does not seem to work well for still pictures
   - In the video, the sound recording seem to pick up wind and other noises more than you actually hear.
   - Some times still pictures are not in focus.




5. I bought this camcorder in the fall of 2003 (it is Jan 2005 as I write this). We bought it to take with us on our trip to Disney World. It replaced our Sony 8mm Steady Shot camcorder that we bought back in 1994. I wanted a camcorder that was small enough to pack into a belt pack. The old 8mm required a good-sized camera bag that was a pain to lug around places like Disney World.
   
   I really liked the fact that the camera could take still pictures too, as it meant there was a chance we wouldn't have to lug our Olympus D510 (2MP camera).
   
   It worked quite well for that trip. An added benefit of it being so small was the fact that I could bring it along on long hikes. I took it with us the next year when we went to South Dakota to hike the Black Hills & Badlands.
   
   Outdoors, this camera is excellent. The still photos are OK, I wouldn't recommend getting this camera to replace a camcorder AND digital camera, you won't be satisfied.
   
   Inside and in low-light, however, the camera leaves a lot to be desired. It is understandable, the small lens can only gather so much light. I would say that our older 8mm camera performs better in low light. For indoor shots, I usually try to make sure we have ample lighting. The lack of an acessory shoe on this camera prevents you from attaching one of those [annoying] video camera spotlights.
   
   The swing out LCD is the right size for viewing, it rotates around completely so you can use it for self-portraits, or just getting some really odd-angled shot (my relatively new Canon A85 has a similar LCD, though much smaller).
   
   The one thing that I find is the most useful as of late is something I did not research as a requirement when shopping for a camcorder. The Analog->Digital pass-through feature blew away two other Analog Video capture cards. My old Dell (4550) came with a video capture card that would drop numerous frames. I bought an ATI All-In-Wonder card to import all my old analog and it didn't even compare to the pass through on the canon. Now I connect my old 8mm to the Optura 300, set the video mode to pass through and capture the video through the 1394 port, storing as .avi (on a nice big drive).
   
   I've never used any of the funky digital effects. I would suggest saving your $$ and not making the inclusion/lack of effects part of your criteria for choosing a camcorder. You can do everything you need in your video editing software (I use Adobe Premiere Elements 1.0 now).
   
   Somehow I have become a Canon-Fan over the past few years. When I bought this camcorder it was the only Canon gadget I owned. This past year I added the Canon A85 and the Digital Rebel to my collection of digital toys. To add to that last note, I am 'looking' at another camcorder and am only looking at Canon models (the Optura Xi to be exact).
   
   I realize it might be late in the game to be rating this camera as the Optura 400 & 500 are out now. If you are researching those please take my experiences with Canon & the Optura line as positive notes on their offerings.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS14 MiniDV Camcorder w/22x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this only a few weeks ago & it's been a wonderful camera. I've used it to capture all sorts of life's moments, mainly our cats being crazy. I've also used it to capture digital images. I've not spent a whole lot of time using the camera, but enough to know how to use it fairly well. I'll start with the digital images 1st, and then move onto video.
   
   The Digital Pictures:
   The camera does not include a SD card so I had to purchase one separately, which is definitely a bummer. Luckily I was able to get a small 16mb Panasonic SD card off an auction site for $8 after shipping. I have no plans to capture a ton of pictures so 16mb was fine. I took about 18 pictures after I finally got the SD card in the mail & the pictures looked fantastic... At least on the camera they looked good. I never messed with changing the quality around so the settings were default on the camcorder.
   
   When I finally got the free USB cable in the mail & hooked my camera up to my pc I was pleased with how easy it was for Windows (2000 Pro. in my case) to recognize the camera. Immediately it installed without me having to do anything extra & it added a new drive letter in my computer where I was easily able to copy the images or move them to my pc. When I started opening the images with ACDSee & Adobe Photoshop I was not please at the quality of the images. Not only were they fuzzy & dull looking, they were only 640 x 480 in size. This may be adjustable by changing settings on the camera itself, but I have not had time to do so.
   
   The Video:
   This is overall the best thing about this camera. I've recorded a lot of nothing as stated above, but the camera does a terrific job of capturing it all & keeping the image clean & colorful. I've hooked the camera to my TV & it all looks great. The camera has to be pretty still if you zoom into things or else the video becomes slightly blurred while trying to stabilize itself.
   
   There are a lot of different functions to the video recording as well, it has many more options and special effects then I thought possible for a camera of its price range. The footage I recorded at night looked great with the backlight on. I was however unable to tell any difference with the soft skin effect. Unfortunately the battery is easily drained & a second battery is recommended.
   
   The Pros:
   Great Video, Light Weight, Easy To Hook Up, Lots of Extra Features, Zoom 22x, Firewire, Fun, Comes With Power Cord So Camera Can Be Used Without the Battery
   
   The Cons:
   The Cover for the ports is flimsy, Digital Pictures Fuzzy, Not Much in the Box, No Included Software or PC Cables, Short Battery Life, No included SD Card, No Included DV Tapes
   
   I've not had time to test this out or not, but for other noobs to the DV Camera world might be interested in knowing that with a firewire cable capturing video from the camera is possible. Firewire is the only way to do this as USB & USB 2.0 cannot keep up with the frame rate & chop up picture quality. So if you want to use your video & make a home dvd you can do so with this camera as well as other DV cameras that have a Firewire port.
   
   One last feature that's available that I never had time to mess with & do not care to, is the ability to use the camera as a webcam.
   
   Overall the camera is terrific & worth checking out, if you really want it to take fantastic pictures I'd probably save $100 & pickup the pv-gs12 & use the $100 to get a digital camera or look at the latest model.
   
   ::UPDATE::
   Someone asked how do you get the free usb cable? The answer is simple fill out the card that says you get a free usb cable when you return it. I believe it was much like a warranty card, or was the warranty card... mine was with all the other paperwork.



2. I purchased this a month ago. ITs awesome.
   I spent 17$ to get the cd today. But now I do not have the usb cable. I noticed in the previous post that the reviewer mentioned that reviewer got the free usb in the mail.
   Can you please share the info on how to get it so that others can benefit as well.



3. I purchased this camcorder about 2 months ago and everything about it is great. I took it on vacation with me, the sound and picture quiality is flawless. The camcorder is so light you can take it with you anywhere. The battery on my camera lasts longer than the advertised amount. Mine lasts about 2-3 hours ddepending on how much I turn the camera on and off between filming. This camcorder is great for someone who wants good quality without spending an insane amount of money.



4. I bought this camera at BestBuy and after using it for one week returned it for a Sony DCR HC20 and ate the $60 restocking fee.
   What I liked about the Panasonic was the seperate charger, and the fact that the battery lasted pretty long.
   What I did not like was the following:
   1.EIS -electronic image stabilization- which was in my instance not usable. I recorded in a low lit family room with the EIS and the image quality was not acceptable. Well looking in the manual, it does mention that you have to deselect it in low light situations
   2. Magic pix - well I guess if you want to have fun with making odd pictures then this function is for you, but I just want to film my family + pet like they are then it is not.
   The picture comes out lit totally goofy, I filmed my wife and she was all bluish, greenish.
   3. External light
   Well this is why I got upset. Once you turn the light on the image was so grainy that I had to just laugh.
   
   So after turning those features off it was ok, but I paid for them. So after much thinking I swallowed my pride and paid $60 restocking fee and got the Sony.
   Well the low light feature in my family room works great and the picture is great.



5. I had 2 big vacations planned for 2004 and was looking for an affordable entry in the digital camcorder market that would produce decent results. This Panasonic more than filled the bill. Video quality was outstanding and using Pinnacle Studio I was able to easily edit raw material in to some entertaining footage backed by music and other effects. The output really exceeded my expectactions as a relative newcomer to the "movie world".
   
   Pros: Great price, excellent video and sound quality, easy to transfer movies to PC, very compact size, plenty of features, battery life actually slightly better than advertised.
   
   Cons: Video seems to be "jumpy" when using the light (this may be user error as I have not researched), no cables or useful editing software included with camera.

5 comments about JVC Everio GZMC100 2MP 4 GB Microdrive Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. It has all the perfect features, but one down-site is Zoom noise. The noise appear when you recording at a quiet place and zoom in/out fast. I think the mic is too close to the lens motor.



2. I bought this camcorder at Bargain ultimate through Amazon. It was delivered to me as promised and I got everything as I expected. I realy like this camcorder. It's so convienent to carry and shoot.



3. I run trails. I need three features in a camcorder:
   
   1. Shockproof and weatherproof. I've trashed two Mini DV camcorders, sending each back to the factory twice for repairs. Tape drives can't handle bouncing in a backpack. Also they can't handle rain.
   
   2. Small and light.
   
   3. Good picture quality. Mostly I pull still photos out of the video. For running, as with most sports, shooting 30 frames per second instead of 1 or 2 frames per second with a still camera is the difference between getting the right shot or getting almost the right shot. As Mark Twain wrote, the difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. I'd rather have a 0.3-megapixel video still of the right shot than 8 megapixels of almost the right shot.
   
   When MPEG camcorders (which record onto memory cards, not tape) came out I looked at three: the Panasonic SV-AV100, the Samsung SC-X105L, and the JVC Everio GZ-MC100U. I ruled out the Samsung because it records only low-quality MPEG4, not the better quality MPEG2. The Panasonic is smaller and lighter (6 ounces) than the JVC (11 ounces), but the JVC can also shoot 2 megapixel still photos. The Panasonic has a 1/6" CCD and a smaller lens. The JVC has a 1/3" CCD and a somewhat bigger lens. I presumed that the JVC would have better picture quality than the Panasonic. (Panasonic recently announced the better-quality SDR-S100.)
   
   I've used the JVC for a month. In general it's pretty good. I have several video stills that are just the right moment. In one, a woman winks at a friend. In sports shots I captured the athletes at just the right times. The pictures are good enough to use for most anything. And the camcorder is small enough that I have no excuse not to bring it with me everywhere.
   
   On the downside, the video colors are always somewhat weak, even in daylight.
   In low light the colors desaturate to black and white. This is good because you can shoot video in quite low light. The 2-megapixel stills have better color but still look a bit "off." The lens is acceptable except for high-contrast subjects, such as branches against a bright sky, where it completely loses detail. No, this camcorder doesn't look as good as my big camcorder or my still camera, but it looks acceptable, and it's with me when the big camcorder and camera are left at home.
   
   The biggest problem in my pictures is slow shutter speed. If I use the 10x zoom handheld I get motion blur. Sports subjects are often moving so fast that they blur. The shutter speed isn't adjustable but my guess is that it's always shooting at 1/30 of a second, to give the CCD enough light.
   
   The JVC also works as a voice recorder. This feature works extremely well.
   
   Downloading the video to a Macintosh requires the free application "MPEG Streamclip" plus Apple's $30 MPEG2-Quicktime coder. Importing to iMovie becomes a 2-step process. No big deal.



4. Pros:
   Its really small. I mean small. It will fit in most medium size camera cases.
   
   The still pics are acceptable. I have a sony p41 4.1MP and it comes close. With the 10x zoom I dare say it's more usefull than no zoom and more than makes up for pixels.
   
   It is extremely simple to use and to figure out.
   
   The .mod files really are simple to use and transfer. I bought a card reader and can burn dvd straight from the microdrive. The dvd does not have to be 'rendered' unless you add effect or modify the files. This saves sooooo much time! There is some processing time in making the menu but way faster than time for time because it records in the actual format that ends up on the DVD.
   
   There is a shutter setting for low light condition that saves this camera from being useless in many indoor conditions. The draw back is slightly less accuracy in movement. Movement will blur past 1/30 shutter speed but its better than looking at black and 1/30 is actually a pretty darn good compromise between light and action.
   
   Microdrive/ compact flash and Secure digital formats are getting cheaper and cheaper so you can expect to achieve great recording times. There is an economy setting that does 5 hours on 4G, that's better than mpeg 4 at 30 fps! And the quality is only slightly worse than the highest setting!! I can't see needing more memory than 4GB.
   
   The 10x Zoom is good and is touch sensitive so you can zoom really slow or fast. I bought a .45 wide lens and a 2x zoom lens that will expand its capabilies. Both lenses were $50 on ebay. I got the Camera for $375 on ebay and there don't seem to be many around.
   
   In my opinion the 4GB microdrive is a way better medium than the mini DVD format because there are no recurring costs and the full size dvds that you end up burning are cheaper and you won't have one event spread out on three mini dvds. I'm also guessing that there is a much lower error rate on the flash memory than a spinning disk. It was tuff to pass on all the new mini dvd cams comming out but I'm really glad I did because of the 1hour limit. Of course with the 1 hour battery limit your still changing something out in the middle of taping. Still better than minidvd though.
   
   Cons:
   
   In medium light conditions the auto focus is kind of slow. It can 'hunt' or lose focus for up to a few seconds. Kind of lame but it doesn't happen all the time and it can be manually focused in challenging environments. I'm sure other cameras do a lot better than this in autofocus.
   
   Don't expect good low light results on automatic settings, you won't like it.
   
   There is definately a heat issue with this unit. I have not recorded long time periods but the manual says it shuts down if it gets too hot. I kept it on for an hour goofing around and heat was definately concerning. I think the source is the battery but as long is it stays on and records I'll forgive it.
   
   Battery life is not impressive. Youll get 50minutes to over an hour on a battery so if you want to fill the memory in one outing buy two extra batteries. The battery life is actually the average among camcorders but the draw back on this unit is you can't buy a buff aftermarket battery because of the size restraint. You have to expect some comprimise because of the size though.
   
   The screen size is also kind of small as far as camcorders go but I'm okay with that as I get no enjoyment out of even the biggest screens, I just want to get it to DVD and sit on the couch. I do wish you could close the screen and maybe save battey life while recording, but that turns the unit off. I put it on a small tripod and record a live performance so I don't need to monitor anything.
   
   While this unit is amazingly small and will most certainly make it to events that you might not want to look like a tourist at, it seems very dense. It's got some metal in there or something and I would be very scared to drop it unlike featherwieght digital cameras of the same size.
   
   If your a video quality freak you might not want to get into this camera. The colors while acceptable are dull and I'm sure the cheapest miniDV cam looks better though you might end up a library of miniDVs that require too much labor to get to DVD.
   
   Start up time is about 7 to 10 seconds from power off to record. That's really not that bad but not as good as many digital cameras, and if your johny on the spot looking to film the next rodney king video you might want to consider this.
   
   Conclusion:
   
   If size and convenience is what you want than this camera will fit the bill. If you want this to compete in low light and video quality with similiar priced miniDV camcorders, none of the mpeg2 cameras can come close in price/quality. I'm sure the technology has not matured yet so I wouldn't pay new full price for this, that would be crazy.
   
   Overall I'm blown away by this thing because it does the job of a digital camera and a camcorder to a very acceptable degree and I'm more concerned with size portability and convenience than impressing Speilburg with video quality so it's a match made in heaven for me. Again I would not pay pay full new price for this 'about to mature' technology but if you can find one in good condition for close to 400 or less your in for a great experience!



5. I've had this unit for about 2 weeks now, and I really like the convenience of its size and digital file transfer, but I'm very disappointed with its color performance. In less-than-ideal lighting conditions, the image is dark and the color is very washed out. With bright ambient lighting, it's acceptable, though not nearly as vivid as my old Sony Digital 8mm. I concur with most of the cons already mentioned here, including the slow boot-up time and mode switching between video, photo, and voice recorder.
   
   I've also had numerous instances when it has trouble locking focus on a subject. This is annoying, and from my experience so far, I don't feel that the manual focus options are easy enough to make an override effective in these cases.
   
   Battery life is short. With my limited use so far, I do not feel that it would last an entire hour under normal use. In three days, I got about three 10-minute sessions on a single charge. Sure, it may have lost a little charge over the course of a few days, but under the circumstances, I consider this very short battery life. However, I did notice that there are eBay sellers selling knock-off batteries and chargers for very attractive prices.
   
   The included software, though extremely basic, makes it easy to quickly create a DVD. Using the provided templates, you can make a DVD with a simple menu, chapters, photo slideshow, and transitions in just (10) minutes (not including recording time).
   
   Overall, I would have no MAJOR complaints with this cam if it weren't for the low light/color problem. I consider the other issues to be relatively minor. Personally, I wouldn't value this unit over $300, considering the quality of most cams out there these days. But, for the price I paid ($240 special at ABC Wharehouse), I may keep it just because its small size gives me no excuse for not taking a camcorder everywhere I go with my young son. Elusive memories captured in sub-par color are better than missed memories any day!

1 comments about Sony Handycam DCR-HC26E - Camcorder - 800 Kpix - optical zoom: 20 x - Mini DV.

1. I bought this camcorder for a colleague in Nigeria and he was absolutely thrilled with the camera. It was smaller than I thought it would be but the picture quality is excellent. The basic controls are easy enough for a child to operate, but there are lots of options to explore with the touch screen controls.

5 comments about Panasonic VDRM50 DVD Camcorder with 2.5-inch LCD w/18x Optical Zoom.

1. PROs: Very easy to operate, even my wife handled it well :). Using DVD-RAM disks saved my budget since I've used a single DVD-RAM disk (app 20CAD$) for the last three years. Software that came bundled ('DVD Movie Album SE' and 'My DVD') is easy to install and easy to learn. Battery life could be better, but it works fine for me (about 1-1.5 hours, screen was on all the time). All cables (TV connection, PC connection, charger) are nicely marked, no confusion here. They even included an S-video cable for TV, so you have a choice of composite or S-video connection. Neat. I like that I can put the small DVD-RAM disk in my laptop, and do all the editing, I don't need to daisy-chain the camera itself to my laptop.
   
   CONs: As you know, DVD-Ram disks need cartridges. For many people this is a hassle, but I'm used to it. I love the additional protection that cartridge offers. Original recordings are in 'raw' DVD format: .vro and they need to be reformated to .mpg. Not a big deal with DVD Movie Album SE, BUT: the size of finished movie in MB is huge. A 2-minute movie takes well above 100MB if you keep the default settings in the software. The price of recordable DVDs keeps dropping, but anyway, the movies could be smaller in size.
   
   Overall, this is an excellent camera if you are an average computer user and know how to get around with movie encoding/decoding.



2. The camera functioned well, but is in no way compatiable with Vista or and newer systems. Drivers are not available, so thusly this camera is an peice of junk. Would never recommend it or Panasonic to any one.



3. I bought this camcorder back in September of 2004 for the birth of my daughter and this is one technology that just didn't pay to be an early adopter. Here's a quick summary of my experience
   
   Pros:
   1. Navigating thru recordings is significantly easier (and timelier) than MiniDv or tape.
   2. Camera size is nice
   3. Outdoor recordings have good quality (not great)
   
   Cons:
   1. Have to use Panasonic DVDs for recording. We tried buying other brands which were significantly cheaper and the camera started rattling. Customer service thru Panasonic was horrible and after sending in the unit for repair, they sent it back saying nothing was wrong and we just have to use Panasonic DVDs (why didn't they just say that on the phone????)
   2. Inside recordings are poor quality due to low light limitations. We purchased an external light which helps, but adds to the cost and also makes it more of a hassle to use
   3. DVD-ROM software is proprietary and not readable on most DVD drives. We actually had to purchase an external DVD-Rom burner
   4. Actual time to create a DVD can be as long as 4 or 5 hours for a 1-hour DVD. It only takes about 10 minutes if you record with a DVD-r disk but that also comes with problems (many of my files didn't transfer properly and you have to deal with the format and finalize process).
   
   Overall not a total disaster but definitely not a good technology experience. Hopefully Hard Drive based units will be better but I'll wait it out a little while to let them work out the kinks.



4. The VDR-M50 was an average camera around 2005, but is now obsolete. If you are buying this second hand then be warned that Panasonic supply no drivers or tools for Vista, so you need third party tools such as Roxio Creator to extract your movies from the DVD-RAM disks - probably not worth the trouble. Picture quality is just OK even on the highest quality setting. The VDR-M50 has some nice features including in-camera editing facilities but these are not enough to redeem it.



5. I have had this camera for about two years. I have gone through about 20 CDs and today the second one errored out and lost the data. No more video of my son's birthday. Just like that. The discs are working fine and then they come up with an error and that's it. Throw away your disc and your memories. I have used two kinds of media and both have had the same problem. Go to Panasonic's support web and site and there is NOTHING. Their FAQ on camcorders is a short marketing piece, so you're basically on your own. There must be a thousand better products than this one. Don't buy it unless you don't mind losing your video.

5 comments about JVC Everio GZ-MG20 20 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom.

1. When we received the camera, it had been previously used. We were initially given a run-around, but Amazon gave us a good discount on the camera that made us happy. They couldn't replace it with a new one. The camera seems to have a sharp picture and excellent sound. It is amazingly small. It seems like a great choice for general home video. The software is a little daunting. Follow directions very carefully. The freedom from tapes and discs is nice feature... will also run longer w/o interruption to change discs or tapes.



2. The quality is awesome, the ergonomics is just super (the four way stick in the LCD for starters), the transfer capabilities are nice (just plug it in to ANY PC and it becomes an external hard drive with video files, although you have to rename the .MOD to .MPG), and the zoom/frame rate is great. (Upto 32X optical and .5-4000 fps - this is really good for shooting as you like).
   
   For those who complain about the grainy stuff, try changing the frame rate yourself - lower frame rate for poorer lighting condition (so that the poor lighting gets registered on the CCD more slowly but rigidly), or change the white balance. I have had very little lighting problems , and that too only when shooting at really bad lighting conditions (in night for eg)...
   
   Other than that, the camera is perfect for trips; it's amazing to see that the product turns out to be as good and heavenly as it was advertised.. for the first time.
   
   Some personal gripes (from the stand point of a HDD camcorder), are that you can't record from a video source directly :D, and that you need to wait for 4 seconds before you can start recording after switching it on (it shows the same JVC animation every time, possibly to warm up the HDD meanwhile), and that you need to recharge it often if you are shooting it with the provided battery. If you can add 90$ more the 4 hour battery will make this cam one of the best. Also the digital stills are like crap; I mean 640x480 stills, worse than the ones in the cell phones.
   
   But the overall thing is that you can shoot the videos and then transfer and burn them to your DVDs.. the problem is, with such a camcorder you would want to shoot everything that moves and is colorful and waste the 20GB soon enough...
   
   I have owned a JVC VCR way back, and it was pretty good too, and that made my judgement about a industry first HDD camcorder from JVC...



3. The 5 main reasons I purchased this camcorder:
   1) Size. It's barely larger than a can of soda!!!
   2) Hard drive. Nice not to not ever have to buy blank tapes or discs.
   3) Ease of use. The controls are well designed. Had most everything figured out in no time.
   4) Downloading to the computer is a breeze.
   5) Reviews from other owners. Everyone seems to like it for the most part.
   
   Very happy with my purchase!



4. I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-XXX. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree - it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.



5. First off, I want to say that the camera shoots pretty good footage outdoors, not at all superb quality, but passable for just archiving personal footage. Indoors is another story, out of the box the low-light conditions pretty much blacked out the playback.
   
   After researching, and changing settings, with help from a review on a similar camera, the indoors picture is pretty good. With the lenses and filters I purchased for this it actually has it to a B-. What I did was set it to M mode, shutter speed to 1/30 and set it to cloudy. You can also gain up while in this mode for a brighter picture, but it does add some grain.
   
   The hard drive is so easy and convenient. I didn't bother installing any of the included software because I use Sony Vegas to edit video. Sony Vegas doesn't recognize the MOD format the video files are saved in, so again I did a few minutes of research to find out that you can simple highlight the MOD part of the file name/extension, backspace 3 times and type MPG. This instantly converts it to MPG format, which Vegas and all of my other playback programs recognize.
   
   Sound is great, for a built in speaker it was almost one of the best I've heard on a simple video camera. The lense comes with threads to attach wide-angle lenses, and filters to make the picture even better... all in a camera a little over 5 inches long!
   
   I was really pleased with this camera, and recommend it to anyone who really needs a good camera, but nothing extravagant- for people who rarely use it. It takes a few minutes of tweaking to get it right indoors, but most cameras aren't cut and dry to begin with.
   

2 comments about JVC GRDVM96U MiniDV Compact Digital Camcorder w/2.5 " LCD, MPEG4 Movie Mode & 8MB SD Card.

1. I bought mine from a different website, but since I have been a long time customer and user of of Amazon.com website, I thought of giving this review to aid other customers old and new. I have this mini cam for about a month now and I used it when I vacationed in California just last month. I never regret buying it. My family and friends have a great time watching our pictures on TV everytime we return from one of our siteseeing trips. I just give it a four star for now because I still have not use all it's features yet. There's just too many to read and install in order for me to fully utilize it. Overall, I think I got my money's worth. It's convenient and easy to use (the still and video cam only). It can get great pictures, and you can use the auto flash if the lighting is not good. The LCD monitor is not so clear on a bright day, but who's complaining, just delete your not so good shots and just keep the best. I haven't used the viewfinder that much since even in 35mm camera I find the viewfinder too small, I used the LCD most of the time. You just need to buy additional battery, which I did. I bought the BNV840 before but it weighs just the same as the camera itself, so I end up exchanging it with BNV312. Plus the former one needs a different charger which I have to buy separately. I will definitely recomend this with anyone. Also I bought a 128mb SD memory card in addition to the 8md that is included in the video package, though I haven't used up my 8mb yet.



2. Pros: Small Format - That's it
   Cons: Battery life, Low light video Quality, Ergonomics, Software
   Recommended: No
   It took me about 1 hour (!!!) to figure out how to hold this thing. The ergonomics are unacceptable. Either one finger is on the microphone or on the autofocus. 2.The battery life is about 1/2hour, I bought an additional battery (1 1/2hours) for [$$$] which boosts the price. But this new battery sticks out of the camera... 3. The Still camera (1 Megapixel) doesn't meet current Quality standards => you will need a additional digital Camera. 4. MPEG4 format, is so low in quality, that you can barely recognize anything. 5. You can't plug in a microphone, which limits the use of this camera. 6. Software that came with it is worthless=>get XP Moviemaker (free download at Microsoft) or Video Explosion (CNET Editors Choice). 7. If you shoot at night, the picture is grainy and low quality. Indoors you need a bright room to get good quality. 9. Camera has a lot of features that you don't really need (i.e. Transition features like fading). It's better to use Video Editing software 10. Viewfinder is black and white and too small to see anything. However you will probably never use it since the Color LCD does a great job. 11. Camcorder only comes with a 8MB Smartmedia card, upgrade to at least 32MB necessary => boots price 12.Summary: Buy this camera if you are a beginner or don't use the camcorder too often. Don't buy it if you have high quality standards. And don't think about using this camera for still printouts.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV19 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and Remote.

1. I absolutely LOVE this camcorder and the NightVision Feature is Ultra Cool. The unique hi-tech touch screen is also an added plus. I had a problem with the LCD but it was fixed for free by SONY and I've had NO PROBLEMS since. Can't say enough great things about this gem. All kinds of features, "LIKE BACKLIGHT" and excellent DV Quality! A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
   
   Calvin



2. I have been using this camera for four years now and had been very happy until my camera fell victim to the "CCD issue" in which the screen goes blank when trying to record. Some history...this CCD problem happens in almost all of these models and has resulted in a class action suit against Sony. They now have to repair all TRV-19 cameras free of charge, including shipping to and from your home. (If you need more info on this please visit the Sony website.) I went forward with the repairs and when I received my camera back it was working correctly and the repairs appear to have been made but a small cover piece is missing. I phoned the customer service number on my invoice and the supervisor states this piece was not on their inventory taken when they received my camera and there is nothing else they could do. So I have a functional camera now but not in the same condition that I sent to them and they really could care less--it's my word against theirs. So much for customer service. If you need to send your camera in please take lots of pictures of the condition before shipping and remove all removable parts because there is a good chance you won't get them back. I was really wanting to purchase a Sony big screen TV but this experience has ruined that plan for me. I WILL NEVER BUY FROM SONY AGAIN. I know most (if not all) electronic corporations have customer service issues but this one takes the cake. They did not want to do the right thing in the first place my fixing a problem that has been confirmed as a manufacturing defect. It's disheartening that it took a lawsuit to get Sony to do what they just should have done in the first place! And...I missed getting my baby daughter's first crawl on video because of this defect--wouldn't you know the camera broke down right then...ugh! Yes...I am frustrated. I hope some of my vent has helped you...thanks for your time.



3. Can I use the USB port save the movies to my computer? I wanna make Youtube movies,Can I & how well dose it work???????????...?
   
   
   elliot2698 (at) yahoo com ,I wanna buy one ,
   elliot
   Eureka Northern Califoria



4. Bought this handycam when it was new. 2003 I think. Probably have went throught 50+ tapes, and this camera hasn't flinched. Bought the extended warrenty and haven't used it. Just what i was looking for.



5. OK......I have had the DCR-trv19 for several years now and the CCD bug got me while I was on tour with the camera. I was very mad but found out the sony will fix it for free and pay for the shipping. Just google your camera's model # with the letters "CCD" also and the link will come up where you can sign up and print out your shipping receipt. It's a slam dunk. a great camera and they support it to the end. Even though I have a hard disk recorder and an HD camera, I still use this little gem alot. It's small, durable and great pic quality.

5 comments about Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 5.1MP MPEG-4 High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. In my opinion this is not a marketable product. The cameras features are irrelevant if it does not work. There is clearly a design fault and the product should be withdrawn from sale until there is a fix. When it did work it was a convenient pocketable unit. As for HD - possibly at high noon in the Sahara, but in anything but perfect light the results are dissappointing.



2. I saw a review for this camera in a magazine when they first came out and it sounded like a great thing. I ordered one from the PX. It took forever to come in and when it did there was no picture, only a black screen. The PX doesn't have the best track record for electronics, so after I took it back, I bought another one somewhere else. It came in and worked. I thought it took great video, nice vibrant colors. There is a large delay when taking pictures, so you have to anticipate what will happen during action shots and click a few seconds in advance, and don't even bother taking pictures while taking video. It leaves a noticable glitch in the video stream. I used this camera very little. I pulled it out for band concerts and such to take a few pictures. I always stored it in a padded case, etc. Anyway, after about 6 months I turn it on one day and I have a black screen again. My husband called the company...apparently this is a known issue which occurs frequently. My camera should have still been under warranty, but the guy said because of its model number it was made in Japan so the warranty didn't apply. (I thought they were all made in Japan). Anyway, we could send it all in (in the original packaging) and they would repair it. We did. They charged us over $200! I have used the camera 6 times since it has been repaired. I have treated it gently and handled it with care. Yesterday I turned it on to make sure the battery was charged and ready to tape my daughter's graduation and the black screen was back. I want to cry. I'm out a lot of money and I have nothing to show for it but a defective product that should have been recalled.



3. 5 days after the one year warranty expired I turned the camera on and there was no preview image on the view screen. Everything else seemed fine, it took pictures (although blank), the sound was working, voice instructions were OK too. Checked some HD1 forums and found this to be a very common problem with HD1's. Called tech support and was told I was to pay for parts and labor since it was out of warranty. Labor was only 90 days anyway. I asked the tech if there was a possibility of a recall and was told "no". Too bad, it was a good video camera. Stills need quite a bit of light. Stay away from used HD1's. I think I will stay away from Sanyo after this experience.



4. I was amazed to read the reviews that mirrored my personal experience. This will be my last Sanyo anything... Sanyo should have provided firmware to fix their lighting shortcomings and paid for the massive amount of camera failures.



5. when it worked, it worked great, but after about 2 weeks, the screen went black and stayed that way. luckily, i bought it used for cheap. unluckily, that voided the warranty. last sanyo product i will ever buy...ever. cant even find a place in my town that sells or can fix them. not willing to pay 200 dollars to get it repaired by the company. big ripoff. really pissed. i guess ill just have to live with throwing 350 dollars out the window.