5 comments about Sanyo Xacti HD1000 4MP MPEG4 High Definition 1080i Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. Took longer than expected for shipping, but a great price and equipment quality was worth the wait.



2. I love this handsome toy to dead! Here are my reviews:
   
   VIDEO:
   Mac does not fully support 1080i, so I had to download a codec to views my videos (ghost effect, but clear) otherwise it won't play. However 720 is perfectly fine.
   
   My experiences of using P, A, S: P comes out everything shaky; A is digitally clear (each frame is still and vivid); S is analog effect (see continuous motion when view frame by frame).
   
   PHOTO:
   Use P to get the most saturated results, A, S are always overexposed. The night scene selection is cool, I get both background and my models clear, flashlight must be turned on.
   
   Drawback: At a low light situation, videos come out with significant digital noise. To take pictures, It's noway to find where the models are, I end up taking a few shots then choose the best from them. Also this is not a wide angle kinda camera, but the zoom is amazing if you don't have shaky hand.
   
   Conclusion: It is still worth the $. Eventually everything goes HD, why stay with old technology?



3. This is my first review, but I figured that I better spare some of my co-Amazon shopping mates the misfortunate and trouble I had to endure by purchasing this camera.
   
   I purchased a brand new VPC HD 1000 camera over 3 months ago from Amazon. I was quite happy with my previous Sanyo VPC 5 camera, and I figured that this purchase would be a successful one as well... However, the camera I received did not function well from the very beginning. From a time to time, some of the images and videos were corrupted by parallel lines that obscured up to half of the image. Although this phenomena appeared already from the very beginning, I decided to contact Sanyo first rather than replace it through Amazon (and maybe this is a good point to give Amazon the credit for its superb costumer care!)
   
   So, I filed a service request in Sanyo's Fisher costumer relations (less than a month after purchasing the camera). Their replies were very slow and rather unhelpful. Eventually, after sending multiple reminders, they replied saying that there is a problem in the circuit board or the cable that connects the circuit boards to each other inside the camera, and this should be serviced by a Factory Authorized Service Center.
   
   To my astonishment, although this is evidently a manufacturing problem, I was asked to ship the camera to their service center on my own expenses. I did so, and expected to see my camera back, or at least a replacement within few days... however, after calling the service center couple of times, I understood that they are waiting for some part to arrive so they can fix the camera...
   
   To summarize, today, more than 3 months after I purchased the camera, after paying about 70$ more than the current price, and spending additional money and time for insured shipping of the camera to the service center, I still haven't received a working camera...
   
   I have already given my father may old camera, so for the last 3 months, while traveling, I didn't have any camera. Bottom line, although feature-wise this camera may potentially look appealing, if you will be unlucky like me and get a lemon, or if anything ever goes wrong (which is not unlikely for a device that combines mechanics, optics and electronics), you will be terribly disappointed. So do yourself a big favour and reconsider cameras from different brands.



4. I have owned the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 for almost 1 year and I have a lot to say about it. What I really wanted was a small camera that would be great for backpacking trips and traveling abroad. My previous video camera used a built in hard disk drive which I later found out couldn't be used over 10,000 feet. Not a good feature for me when summiting 13,000+ foot mountains in the Sierras. The HD1000 with its SD/SDHC flash memory recording technology is the answer for me!
   
   My wish: a small, light video camera costing well under $1000 that takes great videos and great still images. Must record to SD memory cards, have image stabilization, be easy to use, have good battery life and a mircophone jack.
   
   The reality: The HD1000 is so great in many ways-- good battery life, easy to use, etc. But...here are three reasons why this camera is not perfect:
   
   1) image quality for videos is good, but not amazing. You won't be competing with the Discovery Channel, but the videos that you shoot in bright light will be a lot of fun to watch. I would give the grade of B+ for video quality. Still photo image quality is another story. I am very picky about the quality of images and this camera sucks at taking still photos. I would give the grade of C- for still image quality. This will be less of an issue for people who are not picky.
   
   2) No optical image stabilization. The digital image stabilization that Sanyo uses on the HD1000 and even the newer HD1010 just plain doesn't compensate for people's shaky hands. You must hold the camera very steady, especially when zooming, or your videos will be a headache to watch. I demand optical image stabilization on future models Sanyo!
   
   3) Lens crop factor/ lens angle. The Sanyo HD1000 has a lens that can zoom up to 10x which is great. Using no zoom at all, the lens is equivalent to about 35-36 mm on a 35mm camera. Translation: you need to stand at least 10-15 away from a group of people to get them all in the video (unless they are huddling). My primary use of the camera is for backpacking and traveling, so I want something for people and landscapes. The lens on this camera is too narrow. The only solution is to buy a wide angle lens which screws on to the front of the camera and gives a viewing angle that is fantastic. But the wide angle lens is big and heavy, and ruins this camera's sleek, lightweight design. Nevertheless, 90% of the video I take with the HD1000 is with the wide angle lens screwed onto this camera. I just can't tolerate the video any other way. It is unfortunate that my camera is now so bulky.
   
   CONCLUSION: So far technology has not provided the average consumer with a cost effective all-in-one video camera/still camera that will knock your socks off. The HD1000 is a good device and I am glad to own it, but it has some flaws that really bug me. I guess the best way I can balance the pros and cons is this: if you wait for the perfect device to come around, you will miss out on taking videos until then. In the meantime consider picking up the HD1000 and having fun with it while finding out what you like and don't like about a camera so that you can define for yourself what your next perfect camera will be like.



5. I just purchased this unit knowing it was becoming obsolete as far as the model for Sanyo. I would have to say if you consider the price, functionality, options, quality and size, this is a great deal!
   
   My observations:
   
   1. It is Mac compatible, expect in the "highest" HD movie recording setting. There are plug-ins that allow you to playback the video on your Mac, but for iMovie you will still have issues importing. The next lower quality (resolution) setting for me is still better than my mini-dv tape unit, and works fine with iMovie. I suggest MPEG Streamclip, a free utility to help you out.
   
   2. The still camera function is better than I anticipated.
   
   3. Get at least a 8gig SD card. Look for sales.
   
   4. I would search the web for advice on how best to set the camera settings, as well as if you are a Mac user for optimal results
   
   Enjoy!!!

5 comments about Canon ZR850 1MP MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom.

1. This is damn good camera, and for the price it really is a deal. I've shot my first short film with this camera, and am going to buy two more for my first feature film next year. I love it!



2. We purchased this camcorder for our wedding and honeymoon. The camera is great: small size, easy to use, good quality. However, toward the end of the honeymoon, the camera stopped working. We contacted the seller, and they were very nice and asked us to return it for an exchange. We have not received our new camera yet, (I can update this review once we do) but we're looking forward to having it back. The cons of buying this camera were obviously that we did not have it for part of our honeymoon, so we have no footage of my husband parasailing or us swimming with dolphins -- which was the reason for purchasing the camera -- and we had to pay shipping to return the camera only two weeks after purchase.



3. It is a gift for my dad , but before sending it out I did test it and seems to be working just fine.I cannot give any other details about its performance!YET!



4. I just got this camera today and have already decided to return it. My first problem was the graininess of the photos. Even on the highest quality setting in good lighting, the photos were grainy. I was willing to overlook that since I bought this as a camcorder and not as a camera. But I was stunned by how loud the motor is on this thing. When I played back my video, it sounded like I recorded it standing next to an airplane that was about to take off. I was hoping to use this camera to record a seminar, but the video would be useless with all that noise from the camera drowning out the speaker. I got a really good deal on it and thought it would be a shame to have to return it, but there's no point in having a video camera that requires you to dub over all the videos you record because of noisy playback. It also doesn't make sense to me that you have to go into the camera's menus to get the LCD light to turn on. I think an on/off switch somewhere on the camera would have made more sense and would have been easier to use. Personally, I do not like what's available on the market for ANY digital camcorders I've seen that are in the home-user price range. I think I'm going to downgrade back to Hi8 and just take my chances that I'll be able to find a place that stills sells the tapes.



5. Canon's ZR850 is a quality product. It's user friendly. It takes great pictures and videos. I bought it from Amazon.Com who gave me a great deal.

5 comments about Panasonic SDR-H18 30GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. 
   I just got this camcorder so I'm still learning about it but so far it is light and compact and easy to handle. THe instructions are clear and simple and easy to follow. The lighting seems to be good and the pictures clear. So far I haven't transfered the picture to a DVD so can't comment on that.



2. I got it to upgrade from a tape-based camera that had a difficult user interface. This camcorder has an excellent interface and is easy to shoot good videos with. What's not to like?
   
   I can't get the videos out to download to a useable computer.
   
   1. It is really hard to transfer usable files to a computer. I can transfer to an XP computer, but my computers with video editing software are a Macintosh and a Vista system.
   
   The Macintosh cannot read the files at all, even though they are imported by Panasonic's software to the Mac successfully. Quicktime and iMovie both give error messages that the file is not a video file.
   
   The Vista computer can display the video from the SDR-H18, but there is no audio. Back to silent movies.
   
   By the way, it can make a DVD on the XP computer, but the DVD is just a bunch of unedited clips transferred to DVD.
   
   2. Even on overcast days outdoor shots get "solar flare" diamond-shaped internal reflections into the picture. So it is not a decent outdoor camera.
   
   So for the purpose I had planned to use the camera, it is pretty much useless. I don't enjoy only being able to watch the video on the viewfinder.



3. I really enjoy this little gadget. It's small enough to fit in the same bag as my digital camera and the quality of the pictures is excellent. Easy to use.



4. I love the camera. It does everything it was marketed to do. I wouldn't buy again from Amazon though. The seller charged me over $30.00 for a 3 day delivery and it took 10. Amazon wouldn't help and the seller never responded to any emails.



5. This camcoder requires ImageMixer 3 software to watch videos on PC and I did NOT get one with my purchase and trying to find help on internet to buy this software is not much encouraging either. I found like around $30 to buy IMAGEMIXER 3 SOFTWARE to make your videos work on PC. This is ridiculous. I would NOT recommend this camcoder.

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

1. This video camera is a steal for what it can do. I just got it and have been recording a lot of concerts and outings with friends and it shoots really good video. Its also great that it fits in your pocket. I still recommend carrying around a camera because the pics dont come out that good at nite, plus its kinda hard to have some stranger take a pic of you and your friends. By the time they figure out how to take a pic, the moment has passed. Its great that its waterproof, records in ipod format and that you can use sd cards to record on.
   
   The things I dont like about it: I wish there was more optical zoom, the battery life is about 45 mins to an hour of continuous recording. The price of aftermarket batteries are cheap, but they dont last as long as the sanyo battery. The picture quality in low light conditions sucks. The color of the camera is kinda funky, but the things that it can do makes up for it.
   
   Overall, I still recommend getting it. Great price, great video & sound quality, perfect size for carrying in your pocket, sd cards, cheap aftermarket batteries, and records in ipod fomat.



2. You need this camcorder if you do a lot of outdoors activities. I have higher end cameras I take with me camping but I leave them in the trailer all weekend because I'm afraid they'll get damaged (like the last two!). This camera is VERY high quality construction, flip out screen hinge is tight and all the components feel solid. Definitely get extra batteries as the battery doesn't last all that long (maybe I need to adjust my screen brightness?? had not had it long enough to know), but with a large capacity sd card (bought an 8gb card for under 20 bucks on Amazon) you can shoot all weekend (the movie timer showed 6 hours of record time on an empty card)... I love this camera already, highly recommend it!
   
   PS- the video review was what did it for me, those people did a great job!



3. It's very simple to use and you don't need to read a manual.
   Multi use for photos and video so it's the only thing you need for travel. Waterproof makes it great for rainy days and any water related activities even you are not in the water literally.



4. The light is very good in the pictures.
   Very portable. The battery could be better.
   I recommend.



5. The Sanyo Xacti is amazing. Its small and compact, waterproof, takes excellent video and surprisingly good still photos. Its almost the perfect camera. I would like to add HD support and a slightly better autofocus system but other than that, pretty impressive.

5 comments about Panasonic SDR-SW20 Waterproof Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Red).

1. I have read all the complaints about video quality but unless you are shooting at night or in very dim lighting you have nothing to worry about. Besides, there should be no surprises related to quality if you read the spec's before you bought the camera.
   
   That said I have been using this camera in fairly heavy surf here in Southern California and I'm extremely pleased with it's durability so far. The tiny rubber gaskets worried me at first look but after having the camera thrashed a bit in heavy white water and just general rough play I'm not worried anymore. The video quality underwater is amazing. Definitely the most fun feature of the camera. And the main reason I bought it! Any clips you watch on youtube or any other site do NO justice to how clear the quality is. Those websites use compression software that kills video quality. When you watch the videos on your T.V or computer they look perfect.
   
   The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because I find getting the videos to play on my computer is not as easy as they made it sound. I also noticed the "squished" effect that the above reviewer mentioned and I intend to download the SDCOPY software they recommend. I also have noticed that randomly the sound becomes muffled and a buzzing can be heard. Again the above reviewer mentioned that this could be due to water contacting the mic.
   
   Other then those 2 problems (which are by no means major) I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for a durable water proof camera to use swimming, surfing, or any other adventurous outdoor activity. For the money I think it's a great bargain.



2. Well, I was VERY excited about receiving this camcorder, the only thing missing from my arsenal for my kayak fishing expeditions...a waterproof camcorder to get thos underwater shots just below the kayak when something interesting wass on my line or stirring below the surface. Two trips, 2 submersions and now 2 trips to Panasonic repair center in Illinois. Not what one would expect from Panasonic. Of the footage and photos I was able to take I was very dissapointed in the color...very bland. If I could do it over again I would go with the little Pentax W60, primarily a digital camera but with excellent video capabilities as well and highly endorsed by other kayak anglers.



3. This is a good overall camcorder for under water and recording kids soccer games. Not excellent video quality, but good for underwater, kite surfing, playing in the water with the kids. I found the software included very helpful in quickly getting the video footage onto dvd without too much to learn. Very simple and easy for basic needs.



4. Great for all "WET" sports. Just had it out in the ocean jumping waves on a PWC and it got soaked and took great videos. Finally able to download onto my MAC computes with ease now. The stillshots are adequate. Am waiting to take videos while snowboarding.Would highly recommend the camcorder for any "wet" sports.



5. I have used this camera since early 2008. The best things about the camera are the small convienent size, waterproof and it uses SD cards. The camera has turned out to be our camera of choice unless we want good quality still photos. I used the camera underwater in Aruba and St. Johns. The 8gb SD card lasts a long time and requires at least two battery charges to fill the SD card with pictures. A typical weeks vacation does not fill one SD card for me. Just in case I bought 2 SD cards and 3 batteries and I never run out. 3rd party batteries work well and are inexpensive.

5 comments about Sony Professional HVR-A1U CMOS High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. At first i wanted to buy the DVX100B ,i did not know that better products could exist, in other hand every time i called DVX100b dealers they were very rude, i really don't understand why !!!!!and they told me i could not use the DVX unless i purchased the lens which was so confusing, so after arguing many time because of their rude and cold attitudes i decided to call Panasonic them self, they told me that NO lens should ever been purchased for that camera to work, and that the lens already comes attached , they also said that such dealer are illegally their try to rip people off big time , seller like bestcameraprice, or express cameras and other expocameras ,are doing the same stupid thing , and on top they are very rude, like it's out of style,!!! it also look as if it's the same Dealer that has several website and try to act up as different one from the other be ware!!!
   I started to accept the possibilities of using other brands,for my work, cause i was looking for the Hollywood look and 24fr/PS and a pro camera, so i stared looking around after many ,many long, and sometimes frustrating hours Thank God i discover the SONY HVR A1 the Perfect one " The one hat gives you 24fr/s and the Hollywood look, and the craziest of all it delivers AMAZING HIGH DEFINITION which the DVX 100B don't so in conclusion the Sony HVR A1 is a great Professional Power Pack Camcorder it is a slap in the face to those that are accustomed to the same thing !
   The HVR A1 is a must have.



2. This is a great camcorder, taking nice videos.
   One thing I like to see in their next version is using hard disk, instead of using tape. Tape is not reliable. HDD is a lot easier for repeat use.



3. I have been shooting consumer video since 1981. I started with a reel to reel system, worked with a camera and VHS portapack, did 8mm, Hi-8 and replaced my Digital 8 camcorder with this HDV camcorder earlier this year. Primarily, I use it for family functions, but I do shoot things that require me to gather better sound than what comes out of the built-in mics. The primary reason I bought this camcorder was - at the time - it was the lowest price HDV camcorder that had a way to connect to external audio sources. I wanted a Canon A1, but didn't want to wait the extra year or two it would take to save up for that!
   I also liked the idea that it used tape. I have a DVR that I fill up all the time and then have to dump onto tape or DVD to store what I want to keep. Also, in my informal in-store tests, the picture with the AVCHD codec just didn't look as good... at this time. I use standard DV tape mostly, but I clean my heads regularly and only record on the tapes once. I can think of two lost half-seconds of video where the key frame was corrupted in about forty hours of collection.
   Primarily, I found three things to be important going from SD to HD. One, picture stability. Use a tripod as much as you can and don't make sudden movements. Two, you need a lot of light to shoot good HDV. Three, focus is absolutely critical in HD.
   The touch screen menu system took me awhile to get used to. However, you can adjust the menus to have a personal set of menus; putting the menu selections you use mostly at the beginning of the list. Even so, Murphy's Law seems to dictate that you need to hit at least two menus to get to what you want. On a tripod, I find I can navigate quickly to the fader button without too much shake; this is much harder to do when I am doing a handheld shot. Also, I strongly suggest you get an LCD protector for the screen.
   In bright light, the camera is fantastic. I've shot landscapes that just blew me away watching on a 46" plasma HDTV. My son played flag football and I covered that - a la NFL films - all in close up and with lots of action in the frame. It looked great and very clear, even in slow motion.
   Inside, it's a little different. Family functions tend to take place in low light: table lights, kitchen overhead light, that sort of thing. The camera is not designed to shoot in those light levels (to be fair, no HDV camera seems to be at this time). The video can get very grainy (especially with a lot of dark areas in the frame) and the colors tend to go reddish. I'd say it compares to my Hi-8 camcorder from the early 90's in terms of sensitivity. On the small LCD screen, it's pretty much impossible to determine how grainy it will look. You won't be able to tell until you play it back on something normal sized and then the artifacts can be distracting. I would say anything below a bright kitchen needs some additional light. I've tried a couple of LCD lights that fit on the camcorder, but I haven't found one that I like yet, so I won't recommend one at this time.
   However, so far, the stuff I have shot at school seems to look fine under lots of fluorescents. And HDV seems to have a wider range than standard video. You can have a lot of light and dark in a frame before you completely blow it out and have white glowing blobs instead of kids in a spotlight against a dark background (parents have had camcorders for an entire generation; you'd think they would have noticed this by now!). And the camera does have a "Zebra" function that will alert you to areas of your frame that need to be toned down.
   The final thing is focus. Again, in bright light, this isn't too big of a problem. Even in flag football, the auto focus worked remarkably well, adjusting to the focus point within a second in almost all cases. Indoors, it does okay with one big exception that I just found out: Christmas tree lights totally screw it up. I don't know what it is, but our tree lights, my friend's tree lights and my aunt's tree lights all had the auto focus totally confused. However, the focus can be manually controlled by a switch on the side and through the dial at the front of the camera. I quickly zoomed in all the way, focused and then began to shoot. In any case, I recommend you zoom in all the way before you shoot as it is very difficult to tell on a three inch LCD screen if the scene is properly focused, but it is very easy to tell when you are watching it on a 46" HDTV!
   There is a single button on the side called "ASSIGN" that you can have set up to do a number of things. However, you cannot assign ANY function to the button, just SOME functions. For example, you can't set it to black fader.
   A "nice to have" would have been an HDMI out. You have two proprietary outputs for standard video and component HD video that I have hooked to my HDTV permanently. I need both of them because the component only outputs the video, so I have to use the RCA outs of the standard audio as well.
   The 10X zoom is okay. I think I would have liked about 15 - 20X though, especially since I primarily use the camera with a tripod. Another issue with a tripod is when you eject a tape. It exits from the bottom, so - at least on my tripod - you have to take it off the tripod, take the connection plate off and then reconnect it after you put in a new tape. This is an annoyance for me about twice a month as I generally shoot 60 minutes of tape every couple of weeks; not critical, but more of why did they change it from the top loading mechanism on my Digital 8 camcorder?
   The battery life with the original stock battery that would get sucked dry in less than an hour. However, I picked up a six hour battery and got rid of that issue. Actually, that helps to balance the camcorder in my hand when I use the audio breakout box which fits on the top of the camera towards the front. I use that a lot because the built-in microphones seem to pick up more sound from the sides rather than straight on and they really seem to pick up a lot of wind noise. The external microphone that comes with the camera isn't bad. I shot a football game with thirty mile an hour gusts and only the worst ones came through the wind screen.
   The camera will shot still pictures to a Sony MemoryStick. I have a 1GB stick and can fit something like 800 pictures on it. The pictures are okay (no flash) and they are in the 16:9 format of the camcorder. One nice thing is to be able to take a still while recording video. Again, in flag football, I could be shooting the action and then taking a still or two while the kids were running and the 10X zoom was much better than my 3X on my snapshot digital camera.
   The camcorder comes with a hood for the lens with a built in lens cover. Unfortunately, if you want to put on any filters, the lens shade can't be used. I have a clear filter on my lens to prevent scratches, use the 37mm lens cover from my Digital 8 camcorder and generally live without the hood.
   All in all, I'm pleased with the camera and generally astounded with the quality of the video. It took me a couple of months of use before I was totally comfortable with the camera layout and didn't accidentally turn it off when I wanted to start shooting. It's taken me longer to figure out how to best shoot in HD versus SD, but I'm getting there! I'd recommend the camera though there are now consumer level camcorders with external audio options that you might want to research before buying this one.



4. I purchased this camera last month, and almost at once I knew it was not the camera for me. For several years, I've owned and used a Sony DCR-VX2100 3 CCD Mini DV Camcorder, and have been truly impressed with it. I thought that buying a high definition camera from the same company would be a great move. I was so wrong.
   
   The HVR-A1U is the most disappointing camera I have ever come across in my life. It is astonishingly slow to auto focus, and at lower light levels makes nearly continuously adjustments. Even with the CCD turned up to full brightness, the picture looks washed out. Admittedly, I used it mostly at 480i, but even in 1080i mode, the result was no better. So much for the manufacturer's boasts about the Zeiss Vario-Sonna lens; they are, in my opinion, thoroughly unwarranted.
   
   The sound quality was also poor, despite the large mic, and when rewinding tapes, this camera makes the most horrendous noise. It is actually designed to do so since the noise changes pitch as the tape spools from one segment to the next. The sound is irritating at all pitches, and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to listen to it.
   
   The camera was also a lot smaller than the photos lead one to believe, so check the dimensions if you're used to a bigger, semi-professional camcorder.
   
   I returned this camera after trying it for 10 days. Buyer be warned about this one.



5. I recently had the Canon GL1 and thought it was time to upgrade to Hi-Def. After reading about 30 customer and 20 pro reviews it was the only camera that was offered pro features and great image quality worth way more then the price. It is all because of the CMOS sensor the camera uses. It consumes less power, less money to produce, better image quality then CCD and does not smear light. Some people say it's a consumer camera because it only has a one chip sensor instead of three like a CCD sensor but a CMOS sensor is a lot different then a CCD. A single chip CMOS sensor is three mega-pixels just like three CCD chips. It should be considered a pro camera instead of a consumer camera.
   OK; now what the camera can do..... It has a touch screen which is handy but you have to keep wiping it off because it smudges easily. The personalized menu is a great idea; you can have all your most used items at a touch away. The cineframe and cinematone features are a good idea if you want your movies to have a more professional Hollywood look to them. The picture quality in good light is almost identical the image quality of the Sony Z1U which cost $4,000 and that's really amazing!! The low light performance is not that good, this is a downside of the CMOS sensor. I really like the exposure lever, one strange thing is that the camera does not give exposure increments like F1.6 ..... F2.6 it just gives you a bar. Three quarters of the bar is for exposure and the last quarter of the bar is gain which digitally brightens the picture and makes the picture real grainy. Just make sure you adjust the exposure manually in dark places and turn the gain off by not going to the last quarter of the bar. It has some other great features and that I am not going to go in to but you can read about them on this page. One other thing is that this camera is quite compact and I am really amazed at the picture quality that it takes.
   Over all it is great camera and a good choice for any one who needs a good Hi-Def camera for a low price.
   I hope this review helps and I will be adding more to this review.
   06/29/08
   I don't know what the problem was with the guy below me. I think he had problems in low light with the camera, this camera is not the best in low light. The auto focus is a little slow indoors but it's a lot better in good light. He also had problems with the mic, there are a lot of settings for the mic and you have to set them right to get good sound. When rewinding tapes I did not think it made a horrendous noise but it does make different pitches as you rewind it. The camera is small, they made it compact so pros could get great images in tight places. If you need a good low light camera go with the Sony V1U.
   07/18/08
   Price went up $300 from when I bought it, I guess I made a good investment.

5 comments about Sony HDR-HC9 6MP MiniDV High Definition Handycam Camcorder 10x Optical Zoom.

1. This is our first HD camera, so we didn't really know what to expect. (Note that for video review, we played the output via HDMI to our Sony Bravia 46" HD TV.) In full light, the picture is fantastic; you get some blur and artifacts during movement or in shadows, but I don't know if that is normal or not for an HD camera, so I'll take that at face value. Night shooting without the IR light (Nightshot) is pretty grainy, even with an add-on light. The Nightshot IR functionality works great and is a lot of fun to play with. The built-in IR light seems to work well up to 7 or 8 feet and then drops off.
   
   Still shots are pretty poor; even in picture mode, they look like video captures; the contrast and color balance are bad compared to a dedicated still camera, but that seems to be common with most if not all dual use cameras so, again, take it at face value. Note that it does have a built-in flash (I couldn't find that documented anywhere).
   
   It is small and light; you can almost stick it in your pocket, even with an extended life battery. Contrary to the CNET review, I didn't have any issues with the touch screen functionality.
   
   Video and still import work fine; I had to buy a different firewire cable (the one included has the small end on each side, my PC has a large firewire connection). The Picture Motion Browser did not work; it crashed with an error when trying to open on Vista. Sony were absolutely no help; they just kept sending me to knowledge base articles that were of no use, and refused to make any effort to help (given that I just dropped $1500 on camera and accessories, you'd think there would be more love there).
   
   On the whole, I'm pretty happy with the camera, although I'm disappointed that I have to carry two devices to get quality stills, and I'm very frustrated with Sony's support for their worthless software. But, at the end of the day, I paid for an HD video camera, not a still camera or software...so, four stars for the video functionality.



2. Justin Paxton's review is right on the money. I couldn't have done better. If you want a miniDV tape format camera (for all the right reasons such as image quality, editing capability, shelf storage) then read his review carefully. I also agree, that this camera needs a 20x-25x optical zoom lens. I've been holding out until such a camera comes on the market at this price range. A 10x is basically useless to me.



3. I love this camera! The image is good quality and the colors are vivid. I would recomended!! The only thing is that the battery doesnt last long, only about 1 hour so I would recommend a second battery but they are expensive.



4. I picked up this camera back in March 2008 for a one day Amazon sale of only $[...]. Amazing price! The detailed reviews are spot on. Video is stunning to say the least. I firmly believe that HDV is THE way to go still for many reasons. Highest bit rate of all HD Camcorders, The tapes are CHEAP these days and you can use regular tapes just fine, no need for any expensive HD tapes. An 8 pack of DV tapes can be had for less than $[...] at Costco or Sams club. Tapes are easy to archive as well. They will last forever if you take care of them. If you have a hard drive based camcorder or flash based and you run out of room on your vacation in the middle of nowhere, your out of luck. The flash chips are expensive and editing software still hasn't caught up or on to either hard drive or flash based cameras. This camera worked perfectly with iMovie HD for editing. You can now burn a Blu-Ray Video disc on a regular DVD using Toast 9 and playback on your PS3. This means you can get up to 9GB of 1080i video data on regular DL DVD. Of course you can also downrez to 480P if you wish and burn to regular DVD to send to the grandparents. I wish it had a 25X optical as the 10X seems a little weak.
   
   Here is my one major complaint about this camera. No analog passthrough! The only connections to this camera for input are digital. That means if you wanted to use this camera to passthrough any old VHS tapes so you could edit and burn to dvd on your computer your out of luck. I wish I had known this before I sold my old regular Sony DV camcorder. Other than that one problem this is a great camera. The build quality is solid, it doesn't feel cheap in your hands and the controls (at least for me as I have had 3 Sony camcorders now) are easy to learn and simple to use. Very highly recommended.



5. I like this a lot. Maybe it's just because it's my first HD camcorder, but I do a lot of video editing and dvd burning of youth sports videos (for my kids teams) and this is the first camcorder (including borrowed from other parents) that I've been able to actually get really good quality DVDs burned. Old VHS-C, Hi-8 and other DV camcorders (including hard drive and mini-dv) always look fine on my tv when plugged in directly from camcorder to tv, but once all the compression and burning and whatever is done and it's on DVD it never plays nearly as good. I know I'm converting the HD tapes into DV to burn but the end-result has been a much better quality DVD than the mini-DV tapes on DVD.
   
   I like pretty much everything about this camcorder, especially all of the outputs and the placements and ease of the the battery, but the zoom is the one thing that I wish would feel a little better. It's hard for me with my big hands and fingers to do a nice, slow zoom in and out during a shot. I touch it a little and it doesn't really move, than I add a little too much pressure and it zooms in too far, too quickly. I think I'm getting a little better at it though, it just takes a bit more caution for me. Also, though it's not a big deal, I wish the eye-piece rotated up like my old hi-8 handicam does. I haven't tried taking pictures yet but I'm not that picky and I'm sure it's going to be just fine for me. As for battery time, it seems pretty typical to me, as far as the batteries that always come with the camcorders go. I always like to have two batteries so I'm covered anyway. I also prefer to shoot thru the eyepiece not looking at the LCD so that saves a ton of battery power.

5 comments about JVC Everio GZ-MG335 30GB Hard Drive Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom (Includes Everio Dock).

1. I love this camcorder. It is lightweight, easy to use, and I especially love the HDD. If you have a Mac, make sure you buy this version with the dock. I originally purchased the GZ-MG330 only to discover that it does not have a firewire port. Only the dock can connect to a Mac via firewire. With the firewire cable, your video clips are easy to import to iMovie. I haven't had a chance to use it too much, but so far it's great. The "laser touch" feature seems to work well and I like how it turns on and off when you open the screen, rather than having to turn a switch so a particular mode.



2. great product, easy to use and handle, plenty of on-board recording time. easy to connect to computer or dvd/vhs recorder. First bought a panasonic of the same size, but the jvc was much easier to use. Very satisfied.



3. JVC GZ-MG355 is a good value camcorder. The price paid was about $30 less at retail stores plus there was no tax charged. All I wanted was a camcorder to capture vacations and home activities with family. High definition was not needed. Video quality is very good in daylight and indoor lighting. Have not had a chance to do any night scenes. Controls are relatively simple to use. The laser touch along the side of the screen is much better than touching the screen itself like on the Sony model. I would hate dirty screens or scratched up screens. If you need an extra battery, buy a JVC battery on line and save some money. There are two complaints I have about this product. One is that it might be too small for people with big hands or fingers. The "on" button is small and may be a little awkward for big fingers. The other thing is the lens cover, which is manually operated rather than automatic so sometimes you forget to close it up. Other than that, I would say go buy this model.



4. I bought this camcorder to replace an old Panasonic MiniDV recorder. After reading the reviews I decided to give it a try. My first issue was volume, if the people in the video did not speak very loudly, you could not hear them during playback mode. This improved once the video was downloaded to the computer though. My second issue was with the orange tinge that alot of my video took on. Unless I was in direct lighting, everything came out an orange and tan color. My biggest issue was the fact that the included software did not work with Vista - the movies played ok in Microsoft Photo Gallery but I could not use the software. I contacted JVC who directed me to the software's website, and I would have to pay at least $35 for the Vista version of the software. Next problem I had was after taking only about 5 minutes of video, the battery light flashed red and the camera turned off. The battery had a full charge and died after 5 minutes!! Ok, it could have been a defective battery but at this point, I was pretty much done. Also, the docking station was a problem. When I hooked the docking station to my external DVD burner by firewire, it kept telling me to connect a USB cable! It was as if it had no clue that the firewire was connected. Then, to really make me hate this camera, the next time I turned it on a message came on saying that there was a memory failure, a broken something or other, click on "recovery". All this and I had the camcorder only 2 days!! Needless to say, I returned it. I was very disappointed in the quality of the video and the camcorder itself. I had to work way too hard to make it functional.
   
   I didnt give this one star because I'm sure that the software would work nicely on XP, and the camera itself is very light and fits your hand comfortably. I only wish it would have worked better, I think I would have really enjoyed it.



5. I bought this product about a month ago for a Disney World trip. I'm not very good with new products, but I have to say, this was easy! The daytime videos are perfectly clear. The night recordings were just as nice as well. The only thing that I'm noticing is TONS of wind noise, even though the guard is turned on, and I'm not sure what to do about that, if anything. Other than that, no complaints. It was simple to transfer files, and burn DVDs.

4 comments about Sony HDR-UX10 4MP DVD High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 15x Optical Zoom.

1. An excellent HD camcorder. Saves to DVD+RW or ProDUO (I use the 4 GB Sony). Pictures are crystal clear, and the 5.1 surround sound is excellent (sounds exactly as if you're outdoors). An excellent price, too! A great buy, IMO!



2. An excellent HD camcorder. Saves to DVD+RW or ProDUO (I use the 8 GB Sony). Pictures are crystal clear, and the 5.1 surround sound is excellent (sounds exactly as if you're outdoors). An excellent price too, listed as top buy in Money Magazine.
   
   -Sanjay



3. I'm very happy with this camcorder. The definition is awesome especially in good lighting, not so good in dim lighting, but I think that goes for all camcorders. It's recommended to play back the DVD's on a compatible player like Blue Ray to get HD, as a matter of fact in the instructions it warns against playing the movies back on regular DVD players because it could erase/damage your disk. I recommend buying the double sided mini DVD disks, each side holds about 25-30 min of video.



4. Excellent HD cam at a low price,
   - it's a SONY!,
   - the video quality is very very good, 1080i! FULL HD, crystal clear.
   - the 5.1 channels mic records amazing sound.
   - the menus are easy to use, if you dont get it: use the "easy" button, it sets up the cam and you're good to go.
   - the photos are very good taken thanks to the "Steadyshot" feature and the integrated flash. You can take photos at any time during video recording.
   - the "night shot" func. really works.
   - it fits in your hand perfectly and it has a good weight, not too light nor heavy.
   - transfers to PC are easy and fast. just connect the usb, it's software detects it and download the videos, one it's done you can watch the videos on Windows media player, if you have any issue doing so, just google: "ffdshow" and download this codecs pack, so your pc can play almost any kind video out there.
   - If you have a PS3, just plug the memory stick and play the vids.
   - The photos can be transferred without using the sony software just copy/paste.
   
   Opportunity:
   -The Slow motion feature could be better, you won't get good video quality using this function, it's helpful if you just need to observe something in slowmo but not if you want to make an artistic video or something like that. What i do is take the regular video on HD and slow it down with Windows Movie Maker ;P (You can speed it up too)
   
   This a very good HD camcorder for the price; you can't go wrong with SONY.

5 comments about Panasonic Pro AG-DVX100B 3-CCD MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. This is the camera you need to shoot videos, movies, commercials, shorts, weddings, sporting events, family gatherings, and just about everything else in between. I own several formats of movie cameras both video and film and have worked with just about every brand and type of Prosumer and normal grade camcorders around and this is by far the best thing since film. It can look any way you want it to, if you know what your doing, and have a few extra bucks for attachments and learning booklets and or dvd's. Nobody said making movies was easy, but its the greatest job a person could ever have or dream for. This camera records 16:9 similar to but less than HD quality but with a great film look. If you buy the panasonic anamorphic adapter it adds the ever so famous dof look that every movie has. Over all this is the best digital 24p film quality movie camera for under $5000.



2. this camera suprised me with how good it was, i knew it had been used in tv before, and in a few films, but i had no idea what i had gotten myself into. the image quality on this is beyond anything else. and the built in microphone does wonders. only flaw i have about it is the zoom. this camera comes with a 10x optical zoom. which is still nice, and i dont know how much more zoom i really need, but it would be nice to have 20x. but for the price you pay. you cant go wrong



3. I bought my first DVX100b around May-June 07, and my second this April of 08. Impressed enough to buy a second one.
   But really this camera is a well rounded DV camera. Its about as good as you can get with out going HD.
   The shots are solid as well as the quality of image. It does not take much to learn the controls, yet in no way is it consumer level technology. Between the white balance controls, the light gain levels, and the 3 filter settings this camera can adapt to a wide range of settings. The color and clarity of the image is brilliant but where the DVX100 really impressed me was in low light conditions. I am a wedding videographer and I was terrified of the reception because theres usually very little lighting and the footage looks black. The DVX100b can keep a good quality image while in very low lighted settings.
   The only problem I really had was when I first used it, it was difficult to keep a steady shot. Still with practice over time it becomes easy to hold and have a steady shot.
   Above all this camera is freindly for those who have never used a pro camera before, and customizable enough to fit even the best of professional videographers. I recommend this camera to any videographer out there, I especially recommend this camera for those that are beginning and need a camera that can hold you together until you get your style down.



4. I bought this camera on Amazon with $[...] Panasonic rebate. the item quality build is top notch. Look very professional.
   -Pro : Image quality is excelent with Leica lense, sound quality with XLR connector built in -48V , no external -48V needed, 24P is main buy of this camera, I used to have GS400 this is big upgrade for me, thanks for the DVXUSER.COM that offers a lot of information you can learn from that.
   -Con : personally I think not good for travel due to the weight of the camera if you have a strong arm then will be OK. Because during traveling you do not carry tripot and carry camera long time that make your arm get tired. I use the GS400 for travel.
   Conclusion : excellent image quality , quality of sound, decent zoom, only minor problem is the weight factor for me.



5. I'm not going to rant on & on about all the features & how they compare to ALL the other models, you will go NUTS trying to keep each models pros & cons straight in your head & get dizzy after a while!! LOL I know I did!
   After TOO much research, I broke down & finally bought this camera & let me tell you, we have been nothing but pleased in that decision! One of the key deciding factors, besides the most 'BANG" for the buck, was ALL the online user help groups with very active forums & myriads of artcles & info to ANY question that a new user could EVER need! We have had it for a year & we have yet to call Panasonic with ANY questions, as they are readily answered by a quick post or search on the dvx user forums! I am currently looking for a good fluid head for our camera as my son wants to film hunts this year & bought a tree arm, but the 503 Mafrotto, is proving to be elusive,as it has been discontinued , but happens to be the one my son "NEEDS" wouldn't you know!! LOL
   
   Anyways, I highly recommend this for the new (or experienced!)
   "PRO" filmaker, It's been a 100% POSITIVE experience for us! Hope this helps...
   
   BTW, I know HD is the new wave of the future & the ultimate way we will eventually switch over to, but not until the prices come WAAAAYYY down!