5 comments about Canon Optura 40 MiniDV Camcorder w/14x Optical Zoom.

1. I will give 5 stars for the Optics - just amazing pictures, especially in daylight. I shot a few pictures under a 60 Watt (yellow) light and the picture quality was surprisingly good.
   
   What I liked most about this Camcorder:
   
   1. Great image quality, especially in daylight (comparable to the panasonic 3 ccd model which is much more expensive)
   
   2. Very sleek and compact. Love the look of it
   
   3. Robust. My 3 year old has already dropped it twice and the camcorder has taken it very well.
   
   4. Very good Mic. Audio quality of the recorded movies with the built-in mic was amazing
   
   5. The LCD is big, bright and has crisp images
   
   What I did not Like (complaints):
   
   1. The manual sucks. It is just a little more than a complete listing of all the menus that the camcorder provides. Not much explanation and no good flow.
   
   2. The camcorder "automatically" chooses between optical and digital zoom. There is no way you can manually control that
   
   3. The battery lasts for just 30 minutes (at least in my case). I had to buy a high capacity battery seperately to make it meaningful.
   
   4. The camcorder provides a 12 bit and a 16 bit audio mode. But if you choose 16 bit mode, then later on, you cannot mix audio with the movie using the Audio dubbing feature. The audio dubbing just stops if it sees a 16 bit clip, it works only with 12 bit. Very annoying and very nonsense. I think the reason is that the camcorder stores both, the original as well as the dubbed audio and needs the extra bits for this. But nevertheless, annoying.. (In my enthusiasm, I recored two tapes in 16 bit mode and now am stuck, I cannot mix in audio without first converting them to 12 bit and there is no easy way of doing that).
   
   But overall, this camcorder is a champ.



2. I received Optura 40 as a gift about a month ago. This is my firs DV camcorder.
   The quality of movies is amazing, colors are just perfect, and it performs quite well in a low light condition. The are also night modes that turn night in a day (not too realistic, but would be great for recording a wildlife at night for example). Quality of pictures is also great - I do not have to buy a separate still camera, 8X10 enlrgements came out fantastic, and combined with 14X optical zoom you can make it a spy tool. The camera is quite easy to use and intuitive. I really enjoy using this camera. The ability to record 16:9 picture is according to some specialists the best solution on the market unless you want to spend big money on 16:9 CCD camera.
   
   The downsides:
   MANUAL!!! I was close to returning the camera to the store after getting frustrated with it. Just sucks.... everything is actually in there, but it as readable as a phone book.
   
   Software - Why there is not a single software for DV capture to a PC? I realize that a lot depends on the card controller, but there has to be a more or less universal solution. So far, Windows Movie Maker 2 fails to properly record sound in DV quality, Ulead has a similar problem and the only one working properly is Adobe Premiere 7.... But maybe it is my Firewire card, who knows...If thre is anyhing more frustrating than recording DV onto a computer, I have yet to find it. I feel Canon could include a simple capture utility and editing program.
   
   Still picture quality with low light is too grainy, looks like the camera tried to go to the highest ISO settings, the results are not too encouraging.
   
   Battery life is about 1 hour without the LCD (elongates somewhat when the battery goes through a couple of initial charge cycles).
   
   Because I am left handed I also use my left eye to see through the viewfiner, but occassionally I start and stop recording with my nose. Fortunatelly the left handed are a minority.
   
   I also had an impession that the camere motor become a bit more noisy recently, but it could be due to a very quiet scenes.
   
   Overall, I love it!!! I think that the quality far outweighs some minor quirks.



3. Canon Optura 40 MiniDV
   
   My family just bought the Canon Optura 40 MiniDV Camcorder w/14x Optical Zoom; it is a digital video camera. I fell in love with this camera as soon as my mom charged it up and turned it on. I immediately wanted to take the camera out and start taping the first thing that came to mind. I started with video taping my house just like I was on MTV's cribs. I went in all of the bedrooms of the house, then I went to show off the cars, next I went into the back yard and taped the pool and all of the extensions that we've added on to the back yard. There were three excellent features on this camera; they were the readable buttons, flip-out side panel-viewing window, and the long battery life.
   The best part about the camera was the simplicity of the buttons. The buttons on the camera are located on the underneath the flip out screen. The buttons had their symbols on them and also had the function written above. After messing around with the camera for a few hours, I had remembered the order of the buttons. A slight down side to this camera is that it is for right handed people in general, which allows you to have your fingers on the buttons at all times.
   The next item is the viewing window on the camera. The camera has a flip-out, rotating, side view panel. This panel has crystal clear imaging that is amazing. Looking at a tape that I had taken a few months prior; I was amazed of how the crystal clear images of the tape place me back in the moment. The tape was of a parade in North Dakota. With me living in Arizona, and to feel as if I were back in North Dakota is truly breathtaking. The reason why the picture on the screen is so realistic is the vivid colors. Even in low light the picture quality is superior.
   Battery life is another huge plus with this camera. The battery on the camera can almost last one tape; however, this isn't continued use. If the battery is used continuously it will last about an hour. The battery takes approximately fifteen minutes to charge up. This is a huge plus, if you are in a hurry and need another battery right away or even if it is a back up battery.
   There are several other wonderful qualities to this camera: compact, lightweight, comfortable eye piece, clear voice recorder, extraordinary playback, and exceptionally easy to travel with. This camera has a high rating from most of the people that own it. It is definitely worth every penny spent. It is highly recommended by most to go take a look at one soon.



4. After doing a great deal of research I purchased the Optura 40. It was highly recommended by Consumer Reports and reviewers on this and other sites. I also purchased the Video Light since most reviewers mentioned poor low light performance as the main drawback to the camera. First of all, the light created red eye in my child, the main subject of my recordings. Without the external light video of indoor events, my main place of recording, was grainy and dark. Second of all, the automatic zoom was terrible. It was almost always out of focus. Third of all, the noise when the camera is recording is extremely loud. I had to look up tips online for how to adjust the camera so the noise wouldn't show up on the actual tape. I have a Sony analog with low lux and 16x zoom which I held side by side with the Optura and used to record the same things. The Sony was far superior. For the price of this camera you would think you could expect good low light performance and zooming. Canon can't manufacture a camcorder that doesn't make loud mechanical noise? I don't understand how everyone could say this is a good camcorder. Needless to say we have returned the item and are going to start looking at Sony digital camcorders.



5. Wonderful! I don't know much about video, but I just plugged it in and it worked. I am really pleased with the quality of the video and the nice way it connects to the software that came free on my computer (iMovie).
   
   Yesterday I took video in falling snow. I set the camera to Snow/Sand setting, and it took care of everything. Nice feature.
   
   The manual is minimal. I hope to find something better online.

5 comments about Canon Elura 60 MiniDV Camcorder w/14x Optical Zoom.

1. I had this camera for about 2 years.
   The quality of the pictures and movies with low light is very
   very bad.
   It is also heavy and not so easy to use.
   On top of that, mine stopped turning on completely and had to
   send it back for repair.
   I was very disappointed with the camera from the beginning, even
   before it broke.
   Thankfully someone stole it from me and I do not have to dispose
   of it anymore.



2. Add me to the list of customers who have been burned by Canon camcorders...and for me this is the second time around and with a completely different camera.
   I owned an expensive Elura 2MC and liked the camera a lot - until it began eating tapes. I took care of this camcorder, live in a dry climate (i.e., have no condensation issues), and used the camera as intended so was surprised and angry that it failed. Unfortunately the tape-eating problem surfaced just before a trip so instead of having the camera serviced I shelved the Elura 2MC and bought a new Elura 60 - a downgrade at something less than half the cost of the Elura 2MC. My reason, though, for sticking with Canon was I was a fan of Canon optics and I assumed the failure was either a random event or a problem isolated to the Elura 2MC.
   Needless to say I nearly blew a gasket last night when my Elura 60 refused to accept tapes (I tried several). The problem, thankfully, does not appear to be the same I had with the Elura 2MC but the camera is not functional and in my view it is completely unacceptable that expensive camcorders from a top tier company like Canon should have these failures. I will likely send this one in for the dreaded repair but I intend to buy a new Sony and donate the Canon when I get it back.
   I gave Canon the benefit of the doubt but will not go back to the well a third time.



3. Had this camera for 3 years. It has always had problems, and the thing just keeps getting worse. Had numerous problems including the 'eject tape' warning, no tape detected, viewfinder has gone out, buttons stop working, photo camera doesn't work, zoom malfunctions and randomly starts zooming in or out, and now something is seriously wrong with the digital chip, as I can't play back the tapes.
   All these problems with 1 camera. Wow. What a piece of junk. Seriously, avoid this camera at all costs.



4. Our Elura 60 also has the "Remove the Cassette" problem that other reviewers have posted. Search for this error code and you'll find thousands of pages of frusterated Canon owners and no fix to be found.



5. I have owned it for 3 years and 4 months. Within the first two months, we had to return it for service because it didn't have any picture. I was told the whole lense assembly needed to be replaced. Now it has an eject tape error and the tape won't eject. It makes grinding noises. It has been well cared for. People who give it good reviews haven't owned it very long

5 comments about Panasonic PVDV51 MiniDV Digital Camcorder.

1. If Celia reads this review, I would like to know what specific cable you bought from Pinnacle to use to transfer still pics to the computer. I can't seem to find any info on that. Amazon has cables but I don't know which one I need. It would be helpful if on the despcription of the product, there was a despcription of the accessories and what you need, not just a list.

   the video is very good on this one and I find it very easy to handle. I'm just frustrated about not being able to get the still pics on the computer.

   Another big note. We have had this less than 2 years now and we had the same case break by the handle that the guy had mentioned above. Not happy with this camera at this point. Going to move up to a DVD camcorder and not panasonic(if they even make them!)




2. To tranfer video to a PC you need a Firewire port on the PC(I use the one on my sound card) and a firewire cable. I got the cable at Circuit City when I bought the camera. If you have Windows XP, Movie Maker will open by default when you connect the camera. If you want to purchase DV editing software, Pinnacle's Studio DV comes with a firewire card.



3. I bought Panasonic PVDV51D camcorder about 5 months ago and it is already giving several problems. The picture gets split into several small rectangular squares and it is very difficult to watch it. I called the panasonic service center and they said it would cost me 149$ (plus 12$ shipping and handling)flat rate service charge no matter what the problem is! ( about half the price of a new camcorder). I would strongly recommend not buying it or buying extended warranty since the warranty that comes with the new product is deceptive i.e. though it covers parts for a year, they would charge you too much in the form of LABOR charges.



4. I purchased eight of these cameras last July 02 and they have been a huge disappointment. I have many of the precursors to this model, the pvdv-101. There are two issues with the Pvdv-51. Out of eight cameras, three of them had case breaks in the exact same spot, just where the hand strap connects to the rear section of the camera. I am a teacher and use these in a high school setting. With the first camera break, I blamed student negligence. However with the third that happened (in my hand!) it's clear to me that there is an engineering fault. I suspect the grade of plastic used isn't strong enough but that's only speculation.

   The second major problem has to do with the video heads. From the first week of use, these cameras have been plagued with head clogs. I use only Sony Premium tapes (do not mix brands). Again, I have other Panasonic cameras that I use and they do not have these problems. The dry erase tapes will work for most clogs though sometimes the tape has to be run through many many times to clear the problem. Some clogs have not been fixable and are waiting to go out to have their heads "professionally" cleaned.
   

   ...

   Finally, Panasonic's customer relations has been poor with this issue. I have had no success on the phone or in print resolving my problem and will be switching to another similarly priced camera when replacing these models. I've been testing a Canon ZR-60 and am pleased with it's performance. This camera also has an external mic input which the Pan does not.

   Over the years, I've invested more than 100 grand in equipment in Panasonic and this is my first major disappointment.




5. I am using this camcorder for last 2 and half year (well, I don't use it much). And for some time facing the problem of picture geting split into several small rectangular squares, which is very difficult to watch. And recently this camcorder broke where the plastic hooks with the hand strap (you can see a very cheap plastic being used).

5 comments about Panasonic VDRM70 DVD Camcorder with 2.5-inch LCD w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. These instructions suck! They leave out vital information on procedures (like the exporting and burning onto disks) and then stick it somewhere else in the book. It does not give the "how to" in step by step format. I have had this complicated mess for a year and still don't have it figured out. Recording is a breeze but getting it off your dvd-ram onto your computer is a load of crap and best of all I have yet to find a place that sells the magical dvd-r's that are compatible to this thing. I finally exported my recording from the dvd-ram into the software and now I will have to thumb through these instructions for days to find out the small paragraphs just thrown about in bits and pieces throughout this manual to figure out how to save it to a dvd-r (wherever you find the ones that go with this fickle panasonic camcorder)



2. I have had this camera for about a year. I have used to record sports events, home events, etc. I have been satisfied with the recording capability. I did have to upgrade my home dvd player so that I can use the DVD format. I have been able to transfer movies to my PC for professional editing using third party software from Pinnacle and Dazzle. The software supplied by Panasonic for PC operations does not work, period. I have tried to contact Panasonic for support, and have received absolutely no response, not even an acknowledgement. There is no way I can find to replace or upgrade the software, or to get a human to answer questions. Customer support is crucial to me, I will not buy another Panasonic product given my experience to date.



3. One star is one too many for this camera. It will only work with RAM discs with frequent errors. Found many errors in owners manual. The drive motor has gone bad and now I have nothing. Panasonic wants $500 to fix it! I don't see myself EVER buying another Panasonic ANYTHING !



4. I've had this camera for a couple of years and think it is great. In response to a couple of the negative comments posted here: 1) Using DVD-RAM discs is a huge advantage over other cameras like the Sony. It is great to be able to re-use the discs. 2) Yes, it's true that the software that comes with the camera isn't very good. I don't use it. I use Ulead Video Studio, which works great with this camera. It is even easier to use if you get a DVD-RAM drive for your PC (which will cost less than $20). I shoot a disc's worth of video, import it into Video Studio, then erase the disc and shoot some more. It is good to format the discs now and then - that should prevent disc errors. The picture quality is quite good. It is only lacking in low light, which is true of nearly all video cameras.



5. I got this camera as a Christmas present and loved it for awhile until my Dell broke and I finally got a new Mac!! I was surprised to find out that that this camera does NOT work with Mac's unfortunately. Now I can't even use it because burning to a DVD and then bringing it into iMovie reduces the quality so much, it's not even worth the hassle. When I used this camera on my dell, it worked perfectly though so no worries there!
   
   Despite it not working on Mac's, I have to say I was NOT impressed with the image quality. The auto focus is constantly searching and the manual focus doesn't work too well. I've used Sony MiniDV cameras and they are SOO much better for image quality. It's a good camera for anyone taking simple video and not taking too much action shots. Okay Camera, but there's better ones for your money out there.

2 comments about JVC GRDV3000U MiniDV Digital Cybercam with 3.5" LCD, 16 MB SD Memory Card & High Res Color Viewfinder.

1. I purchased this camera not to long ago so I'm still new to it. Video is pretty good and adjusts to light well. Optical zoom (10x) is nice, but digital does degrade video as with all cameras. I'm happy with still pictures and found out I had set resolution to the third highest level. I will be even happier to see the ones I take on highest level. I bought a few extra memory cards so I can continue taking pictures. 16mb that comes with camera is nice to begin with, but some space is taken up with special effects (sounds). As with most cameras, I'll be checking into extra battery. S-video in and out can be a nice feature seeing I'll be putting home video onto dvd or cvd. Viewer screen is nice size for reviewing and showing pictures or video. Loaded with features that I haven't had a chance to use yet, and you can put camera into total manual and manual focus for videoing far away with other things moving in front where autofocus would be trying to compensate. Onscreen controls are easy to use. DV port to sony laptop took some time to get to work, but heard of alot of people having problems with this with other cameras and computers. Happy so far.



2. everything is nice,except the most important feature: challenge with exporting movies from the camcoder to the computer. Pentium 4 processor is highly recommended and it seems that all the files (no matter what quality you choose, refer to the manual) are at MPEG1 compression which practically renders them UNUSABLE! It takes cca 250MB of memory per one minute at normal quality! Everything else is impressive (don't get upset about the manuals and support, it could be better).

5 comments about JVC GRDVP7U Digital Camcorder w/ 1.02 Megapixel CCD, MPEG4 Video, and 8MB SD/ MMC.

1. This is one of the best mini-dv camcorders available today. I liked the MPEG-4 email clips that it can do at a press of a button. Send full motion video through the internet without the megabytes. Video quality is very clear although it is very much light dependent. Still pictures can be better but for a camcorder this size, it is very very good. I would still recommend a digital still camera for serious still pictures. Overall I am very happy with the camera and will recommend it to anyone looking for a small digital camcorder!



2. This camcorder has passed my test, very successfully. I give it very high marks and is well worth the price! I brought it for my Philppine vacation and...boy, did I make the best of it!

   I played around with all the feautes, ended up using what suited me best, e.g., widescreen format (awesome), night owl (so,so, need to keep camera still), framed photo capturing, fade to black inbetween shots (great feature-makes your shots seem professionally filmed), and wind reduction, are along the others I learned to use and have adapted. Being able to switch from video mode to memory mode (for taking digital stills) has never been easier. It takes a few seconds to adjust but its quick enough. What I would do is capture some events in video and wish to also capture it in digital stills so that I can develop it. Just a small switch allows me to do this.

   The functions/features may seem complicated at first, but like anything else, you got to "grind" the info at hand and get use to it. Hey, its the only camcorder on my trip, so I had to make the best of it! The only disadvantages it has that I found, but easily tolerated, is the image focusing. The camcorder sometimes has trouble auto-focusing when it can't seem to find its target or focal point. Its also hard to take sharp dark video and image shots when the "Night Owl" is set. Its required that you keep the camcorder still as best possible, or else it will come out blurry. As you'll find out, its hard to keep a camera very still! But in the brightest of days, especially found in the Philippines, the outcome of pictures and video, is impressively sharp. Outstanding, digital quality video!

   Overall, the advantages very much outweigh the disadvantages unanimously! Its very stylish, would just place it in my pocket and ready to shoot whenever. Its got a full load of features that are very much necessary and impressive, allowing a professional outcome. Most important of all, the camcorder produces great quality digital video!! Can't say much about the digital 1.02 Mpx, but its good enough for a camcorder. The emphasis of this review is pretty much its digital quality video, it is quite impressive!

   I've personlly returned to this site to make this review because I feel that I owe it to other fellow customers of how much I appreciated this camcorder. I do own one and will not return it, unless in need of repair, of course.




3. After a week of heavy use while travelling in difficult lighting conditions and varied temps (0 - 40 deg C), indoors and out, shooting action, I still love this camera. Great pictures with honest color and no jaggies, fast reaction to subject moving in and out of shadow/sunlight, good sound, and easy to use even with gloves on. Battery life is short from monitor but recharges fast/easily with inverter in car and changes fast on fly. Spares are lightweight and fit handily in tiny belt-sized camera bag, so I still vote for convenience factor (I carried 2 spares). Downloads to hard-drive a snap. Menus easy to work and intuitive, and the blank search feature a plus to prevent broken timecode. Major improvements from previous top-of-line Sony. Purse-size will make it a constant companion, so no photo-ops missed. Highly recommended.



4. This camera is great while recording in bright light scence. The video quality is amazing. When I play it on my Sony WEGA TV, the color blue, green and red is so vivid. It looks just like DVD at all!! I am really satisfied about this. But unfortually when you use it in a low light condition, indeed, like previous reviews said, the color just washed out, the forcus can't stop changing. I really don't get it why a bright len like this (F1.8) has such poor performance in low light.
   There are several more constraints I want to mention. The email (mpeg4) quality is really .... Even in a bright daylight outdoor condition, the email clip looks almost black and white. It's totally unacceptable. Further more, if you want to use its still image funtion. You had better buy another one. The still image quality is so poor. It looks like the camcorder just capture it from its video mode. I hope that you can understand what I said. I believe it just a function to "simulate" the digital still camera. I guess this is why its shutter speed is only available in 1/250, 1/60, 1/30. I am so glad that I didn't buy another bigger memory card, because I will never use it from now on. Turely, the still image function is really nothing but junk at all. As for battery, 700 mah is just not enough, you can use it to record around 40 mins with LCD on. Another backup battery is necessary or you can buy the car charger. It will take about half hour to fully recharge it. Or you can buy the 1400mah one but it's too expensive. (Other third party battery is much cheaper but poor quality)
   Conclusion:
   Best "video" camcorder I have ever seen. Execellent video quality in bright light. It is so small, campact and light weight. I can even put it in my canon powershot s30 digital camera carrying case. If you don't plan to use it as digital still camera, then go for it. Definitely worth it. Right now I am quite happy with the combination with JVC DVP7U and Canon S30. I can get great video and photo picture from them



5. Having put two years and about 50 hours on the camera, I must say it has done remarkably well. The zoom got a mind of its own about 8 hours ago (zoom-ins do not stay they, they zoom back out slowly and automatically). It has held up well otherwise. Interface with Mac OS9's FINAL CUT PRO was flawless. With Mac OSX (10.3.9) and I-Movie, not as responsive.
   
   This is my third JVC camcorder and they've all done really well, considering I use the camera about three times as much as a "frequent" user would. It's size is nice for carrying in the same bag as a still camera (i.e. Canon S50) as the stills really suck on this camera, you gotta have a real camera with you at all times.
   
   I also recommend ALWAYS using a tape media instead of CD/DVD formats! Tapes are not light reactive (before and after usage) and can recover from high heat exposure better. They are also MUCH cheaper per minute.

4 comments about Canon DC22 2.2MP DVD Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. Warning: Do not buy this camera if you expect to do anything other than record pictures and view them on the small window! The support software is hidious and will not work. You CAN NOT connect to a computer using the ROXIE software and the software upgrades are a bait and switch!



2. While I have some reservations about this camcorder, I believe that it is the best mini-DVD recorder for most people.
   
   Briefly: this camcorder is easy to use, can take decent pictures and excellent video at a reasonable price.
   
   Number one on my list was that it needed to be easy enough for my technophobic wife. Operation is as simple as 1,2,3,4: Turn it on, put in a blank DVD, press record/stop, finalize the disc.
   
   There are a plethora of manual controls if you want to go beyond auto mode. You can choose from two manual modes: scn & P. Scn is for an intermediate user who knows what the outside conditions are but isn't ready to control every aspect of shutter speed, white balance & so forth. There are 8 scn settings, including sports, snow, fireworks and night. The expert user can select P mode and can control even the most obscure settings. I prefer to use auto mode most of the time and when appropriate switch to scn.
   
   Now, inspite of my 5-star rating, the DC22 isn't perfect. I'm very concerned that one of my kids will get ahold of it and it will be sionara. It is delicate. There is a lot of technology crammed into this small camera. Another gripe is that the joystick is difficult to use. You use the joystick frequently because it is the primary way to navigate the menu screens and change your settings in the function screens. I frequently have to repeatedly press down on the joystick before it will take. While these are major issues, I made my rating based on the competition.
   
   Sony gets the ratings in most magazines. I disagree. Sony camcorder use propietary technology such as the Sony memory stick which you don't find at every Walmart & Target. Also, the reviews will tell you that the Sony's that offer still photography aren't much better than a cell phone. When it comes to the lense & the chip technology, Canon holds its own. And, personally the Canon feels better in my hand. But, you can be the judge of that.
   
   Briefly, about the still quality: It is as good as you can find on a camcorder. However, the colors often appear more vibrant than they really are and the still detail is not as good as even a 3.2 megapixal Canon camera. I prefer the prints over a disposable, but I would rather have a Canon Powershot model for this duty.
   
   Here are some other nice features. It uses mini-SD cards. You should have no trouble finding 1-2 gig cards that will handle 1,000-2,000 stills at one time. It includes a standard usb cable for transferring stills. It includes a cable that does have a proprietary camera end but the other end has standard AV attachments for plugging into a tv or other video device. With this cable you can transfer video data either way. It also has a rechargeable battery that lasts 1 1/2 hours and a power cable that can be used for recharging and for general operation of the camcorder.
   
   As far as the media type, DVD-R, it is the standard. Why would anyone get a mini DVD camera that uses other formats? DVD-R is what will play on your home DVD player. If you recorded on DVD+R or even DVD+/-R DL (this recorder can use DVD-R DL) you would be limited to playing your DVD's on this DVD player or loading them onto your pc and editing them. If that's your gig, the editing software is easy to use and can create professional looking event DVD's.
   
   I recommend this camcorder for most people. If you prefer to edit your videos and create a final product with the highest quality video possible, it is still no match for mini DV players. But lets face it, my wife wants to point and shoot and play it for friends without having to do a lot of work. And the last thing I want to do is sit at a pc for hours going over raw video footage in order to create semi-professional movies. Also, don't waste an extra $200 getting the DC40. The stills suffer from the same coloration issues so even though it offers 4.3 megapixals, it won't replace your still camera.
   ****Revised 1/30/07****
   Per request, here is my take on DVD type. I prefer to use DVD-R at the 20 or 30 minute quality. There's very little difference in quality. However, if you attempt to record at the 60 minute/per disk quality, you will notice a difference. It's easy enough to change DVD's during filming. Just open it and stick a new one in. It takes 10-15 seconds before you can begin recording again, so you probably won't miss much. The reasons for choosing DVD-R over DVD-RW and DVD-R/RW DL are cost, durability and universality. DVD-R disks will play in any DVD player... not so with the DL disks. You will need a Dual Layer compatible player. DVD-RW degrades more particularly if you erase and re-record. The surface is softer because it is made to be burned to, erased and re-burned. Therefore there is a greater risk of data loss. Now you might wonder about erasing useless video and/or editing. If I want an edited video (which I usually don't), I would copy the raw footage to a pc and then edit and burn a new (preferably full-size) DVD-R.



3. Received this item as a gift, was so thrilled to have it for the kids first day of school. Luckily I was playing around with it the day before and found out what a piece of crap this camera is. I recorded and then tried to finalize and found that the amera could not read the disc - amazing since it s the canon one that they even provided with the camera!! Then I lost everything I recorded. So, I tried 3 other dvd-r discs -- which are not cheap and the frikin camera could not read those either. What a piece of crap -- lost everything. I read the manual and even called the Canon people -- all they were able to tell me is geesh, that is not supposed to happen. I can only hope 6th ave. will accept the return tomorrow. Please stear clear of this item, unless you like to record things and only see them once and them loose them.



4. We received this camera as a gift. We loved the features and the nice crisp image... until we tried to watch it on anything other than the camera's own tiny screen. My husband is pretty computer-savvy, but we couldn't get the camera to connect via USB without crashing the computer. Every time. The roxio "my DVD" software, in a word, sucks. You must register to use it, and it makes us re-register every time we boot up. Plus, it won't access the DVD. Finally, you can supposedly "finalize" the DVD to watch it directly on a DVD player or computer, but "finalizing" only ruins the DVD, so your memories are kaput.
   
   My in-laws got us a Canon because optics were supposed to be the most important thing about a camera. But we found out the hard way that being able to watch the videos may be even more important than image quality. Who knew that for close to $400, that was even in question? Canon should offer a product recall to everyone who bought this piece of junk.

5 comments about Sony DCR-IP1 MicroMV Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I love the unit, but the lack of NightShot and a flash limit low light shooting...In normal lighting, the resolution is excellent....

   The still-camera mode is more of a novelty given its relatively low resolution, but I have used it for e-mail and Ken Burns-style transitions in my home videos! Battery life is very good for a camcorder this size...

   The unit's ultimate feature is its incredibly small size...You can carry it on your belt with the available HandyCam case and its not much larger or heavier than a last-generation cellular phone. It even fits in a coat pocket!

   Some will argue that consumers should wait until next year when tapeless units this size will appear, but tape-based units have one significant advantage....When on vacation, one can always bring extra tapes. When your tapeless unit is out of memory, downloading to a laptop is less convenient and having spare memory is an expensive option!

   This is a perfect camcorder for the consumer looking to capture family moments and not wanting to feel encumbered carrying a camcorder. Given its small size, I find I am carrying it more frequently than I did my previous larger miniDV camcorder.




2. If you use iMovie your forced to use analog input. Why? Sony won't release the compression scheme to developers.

   If you have an Apple, skip MicroMV.




3. Video nuts may not like the artifacts that this unit produces. If you are outputing to VHS tapes, it won't matter, but if you are into capturing the highest fidelity possible for future generations, or for display on a large flatscreen TV, you should try this out in the store before buying. Just play the output hooked up to a large flatscreen. Now compare to another camcorder you are considering. I'll bet the DCRIP1 comes up short, but it is a judgement call if it is significant enough. The camera I use for family shots is a Triple CD Sony TRV950- and it produces near HDTV like quality, far outstripping the DCRIP1.

   Near HDTV quality means zipideydoodah if you miss the shot because the camcorder is not always available in your pocket. Because of this, 3 times as much video is being taken with the DCRIP1 in my house.

   I haven't had any problems converting the tapes to DVDs. I used the Sony provided MovieShaker app to rip them to disk, then MyDVD to shoot them to DVD. More hassle because this unit isn't automatically recognized by standard Video applications due to it's nonstandard driver. (Gee- what a shock that Sony often ignores standards). It is nice the MicroMv tapes have memory to store the stop points and recording date/time of the clips, but the feature is only a nice to have. If it was more taken advantage of my software programs I use, it would be a relevant feature.

   This extreme portability might not be worth the price premium. After all, there are some good Mini tape camcorders that though not pocketable, are very close to this unit in size, and probably have better video output quality.

   My unit quickly had a problem with lens cover not opening completely. It is an annoyance and probably coverred by warranty but I don't think I'll send it back, since it is easily slid open manually. This sort of think may be an inherent risk due to the hairy mechanics on minature cameras. Might be something to consider if you are in a more dusty or marine environment as I am.

   The integrated camera is what you'd expect for a 1Mpixel. I took some snapshots- but there are many very decent >4Mpixel pocketable cameras so don't rely on this one for being an all in one. Maybe in a few years we will get a true all in one camcorder/ digital camera. We aren't there yet.

   I'll echo what someone else said about low light. It is ok, but not like the ones that take shots in utter darkness.

   If you decide to buy- get some extra tapes off the net because the local stores charge a fortune for the MicroMVs- that is, if they even have them. I bought both tapes and camera from Amazon. Very fast delivery, no complaints or hassles as usual.

   One last thing- The battery life on these puppies is a lot better than the old days. My habit was to buy two extra batteries. I didn't for this unit and probably won't need an extra. If you are going to be shooting a lot before getting to another outlet, that's another thing but I shot for a full day at disneyland and still had plenty of juice.




4. I've owned an unit for 4 months now, and it's everything I expected it to be, plus a little bit more.

   What I loved:
   - Portability: if you aren't taking your camera with you, you aren't making those memories. I needed something that I would want to (or at least, not mind) carrying everywhere. And this one is perfect. Till the next 'world's smallest' camcorder comes along!
   - Image quality: I have a regular television and this has more than enough resolution for that. The DVD's do have lower resolution than you'd ideal want (especially if viewed on a laptop screen), but I found it easy to live with that flaw
   - Battery life: Pleasantly surprised. I'm getting a full day's output out of this on a single charge. Like another reviewer put it, you likely won't need another battery

   Not-as-bad-as-I-thought:
   - Noise: A little whirring as you record, but isn't loud enough to be a problem
   - MicroMV compatibility: The supplied software (especially Movieshaker) is really good. Last I checked, two of the biggest software editors (Ulead and Pinnacle) supported this format. Sony's support for this format continues to be a little suspenseful - they've denied abandoning it, but haven't committed to supporting it in the future either

   the low points:
   - Still image resolution: Less than 1 MP! Why, god, why?
   - Low light photography: Doesn't really exist. Neither does a flash for the camera




5. I've had mine 3 yrs. No problemo. The still imaging is useless but the camera itself for video is great. You can only transfer movies to the computer if you've saved it on a memory card. If you record on a tape, you are out of luck.

No comments about Canon XHG1 1.67MP 3CCD High Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom.

4 comments about Mustek DV3032 3.1MP Multi-function Digital Video Camera w/ Voice Recorder & MP3 Player.

1. I ordered this camera and it only records five minutes of video!



2. if you want it to record more you need to purchace an sd card...you can get a one gb for $75.00



3. I brought this camera and the picture quality was great! The down side is the video portion only gives you seconds, but hay you didn't spend a lot for the camera. The software that comes with the camera was very easy to use and for a younger person who is just learning to take pictures and use the computer it's wonderful.



4. I was given this camera as a gift and actually have enjoyed it. There are some things to consider though. On the good side it really does work as a digital camcorder, a still camera, an mp3 player and a voice recorder. Pretty good for such a a small and inexpensive package. Now the drawbacks. As a camera it struggles with low light situations (indoors) because there is no flash. There was a tripod included with mine and if it was set on that with the timer it does OK but to hold it in my hand the pictures are often blurry because of the longer exposure time. The camcorder mode also struggles some in low light, the movement on the screen seems jerky during recording, (though not so much during playback.) When the lighting is good both function very well and the pictures are just fine. The voice recorder works very well and the Mp3s are fun to have along. (Though you will want to get an sd memory card to go along with all of this.) I personally like that it has everything so compact and that it uses AA batteries. (The cheap ones that cam with the package have lasted two hours and are still going strong.) The camera itself does not have the finished feel of my pentax or Minolta cameras and the viewscreen is very small, (hence the longer battery life), but for the price and size I think this is a fun simple to use camera.