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

1. This is my 4th DVX100 (all still in operation BTW) and I like the updated features and the new tape loading mechanism. The quality is superb and the handling balance is what I've become accustom to with this camera. This camera is still viable for any work performed today and should be a very usable camera even when HD penetrates more i the market, If you are making a decision on a dependable pro video camera with durable features, this is the one to choose hands down!



2. It really doesn't need much review.. everyone would tell you is a great camera.
   I use for tv channel material as well as training videos, etc.
   Is the best you can get without spending $4000+



3. 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.



4. 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



5. 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.

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV 3.3MP Digital Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Handycam Station).

1. Spent weeks researching which camcorder to get and decided on this one. Why? The large sensor (1/3"), the MiniDV tape format, the hot shoe for either external mic or video light...and the almost universal positive reviews. Do not regret getting it at all, but here are the things that I found lacking...most solved by some ingenuity and throwing more money at Project Camcorder.
   
   After I got it, read reviews for the few Sony mics that would work with the hot shoe, and nobody seemed impressed. Oops. However, I bought a mic jack adaptor that fits onto the hot shoe, so I can connect an external mic of my choice. So got a used shotgun and found cabled workaround to use my Olympus stereo digital voice recorder as an external mic. Realized with iMovie that I could even record the audio track separately on the voice recorder (say for a seminar speaker) and replace the soundtrack in iMovie. That would free the hot shoe for a video lamp. Anyway, so far I've worked around all shortcomings, even to using a portable dvd player as a large video monitor.
   
   I hope to keep working with the camera, but so far am so satisfied with the picture quality under all circumstances that I have not gone beyond the Easy Mode. I do not do large long programs, but short YouTube programs, and mostly shoot short video segments that are edited together. The still feature is nice also, to get sharper still images to work into the program. Would buy the camcorder again, and might buy another one day to for "two-camera" work.



2. This is the first digital camcorder I've owned. It replaced our old analog Canon. I researched cameras for months before I decided on the Canon Elura, which very shortly after became very hard to find. We are on a budget, and I wanted the most bang for my buck. So I researched for several more weeks and decided on the Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV. I wanted to stick with the MiniDV format based on the reported superior video quality (of which I have not been disappointed...much better than our analog), and also because I have many analog cassettes I wanted to transfer to digital. This was one of my main purchasing requirements and this particular camera advertises the analog-to-digital passthrough. However, I have not been able to do the transfers because I would have to still be able to play the analog tapes on the old camera while the transfer is taking place, and our old camera doesn't work anymore which is why we were in the market in the first place. So I'm disappointed about that and will have to figure out another way to play the tapes while they are connected to the new technology.
   Other than that, I have been pleased with the camera. The only other things I can think of after using it for a few months are: it needs a light!!! Still photo quality is okay, not great; would be better with a light. I will have to (eventually) purchase one for the shoe. Zoom under the right hand placement is a little too sensitive (my Canon had the same kind of toggle switch, but much better sensitivity). A lot of reviews I read stated more than a lack of enthusiasm for the LCD panel. I don't mind it at all and didn't think it was that bad. Of course, I read the instruction manual from cover to cover and played with the functions a while to get used to everything before I did any serious recording. The only disadvantage I have found with it is when I am trying to edit the bank of still shots (I only recently purchased my video card) the LCD buttons cover up the bottom of the photo and I can't tell sometimes if it's a keeper or not, especially if it's a closeup. Too much of the face is covered up by the buttons.
   I am a mother of three young children and overall this camera serves my needs. I would purchase this camera again. Hopefully, though, in the future Sony will make a few improvements to make an even better camera in this price range.



3. I bought this product to replace an aging JVC miniDV recorder and am absolutely thrilled. We used it to record a focus group sitting around a table in dim light (using the sony bluetooth microphone) and had excellent results both visually and audio-wise.
   We also recorded our greyhounds doing their chasing after things thing and the camera had no trouble keeping up with them.
   Much improvement over the old JVC.
   Can't wait to use it for some upcoming seminars and some utube stuff.



4. Overall, this maybe be the best non-professional camcorder I've personally ever seen, maybe disconsidering only the gs-500, but I was still amazed by the picture quality, and specially, by the vivid and strong colors that the camera providaded, which everybody told me I should expect the opposite... But it's not a perfect camcorder, far from that. The Handycam station, though a conceptually great idea, is incredibly irritating to use, not only because of the fact that it doesn't effectively lock at the camcorder, leaving it open for many outcoming risky situations, but also because it makes impossible to hold the camera over a tripod and connected to some source at the same time. Also is important to say that, despite the fact that the Touchscreen provides possibly many more ressources of menu in the camera, it is also very uncomfortable to be greasing the lcd screen with the finger all the time and to make contorcionism in some situations to be able to reach the menu.
   
   Except for those facts, and an extra compleinment about the few-button remote control which makes it pratically unuseful, it's a grat piece of recording machine and I would recomend it to anyone willing to have the best movie-like experience!
   
   Bruno S.,
   Brazil.



5. I've had this camera for 6 months. 4 of those months have been spent fighting with Sony to service it.
   
   Stay far, far, far away.

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC52 1MP MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this camera, comes with Windows Computer edit software, but guess what? I does not have an USB port, I learn that the manual I checked was also for the DCR-HC54 which has USB, but this cam has not. Now I should pay expensive hardware in order to get to see my videos on computer.
   
   I will not recommend this stuf, I whish I could change it!!
   
   :(



2. Item was straw purchase; I purchased it for someone else, a friend who has never chosen to use any form of credit card. But anyway, the camera works flawlessly in it's chosen use, filming skydiving students/customers while mounted on a helmet.
   
   Only a little lack of info on Amazon site, but easily obtainable on Sony site was the lens size/thread pitch so a wide angle lens could be purchased. Overall, no complaints, camera and Amazon worked as expected.



3. First let's correct the Amazon description, this is a 40X optical zoom camera, not 25X as seen on the product itself.
   
   This is a great camera to start out with, the simplicity of Mini DV tapes makes this a good value choice. DVD camcorders in this price range suffer from bad battery life, and disk errors that can render your disks useless. The Mini DV tapes are tried and true.
   
   I use an Apple computer at home and the camera connects to iMovie with no problems using the iLink port on the camera. All you need in most cases is a Firewire 6pin to 4pin cable, and you are good to go.
   
   The video and audio quality are good, and the night vision is fun too. This is not a upper level camera so don't expect several bells and whistles, but it performs great, and has the basic features most people will ever need. The battery life is fair, but that is expected, all camcorder companies want you to buy an extra battery, but at least Sony gives you several options.
   
   With a full charge and a new tape, expect about an hour of record time.



4. I have been renting a Sony DCR-HC21 from my college for a month or so now. I'm a photographer by trade but I really became interested with editing digital video so I looked around for a camcorder that was a bit above mid range. This is it, it has enough professional functions to make it just right for me. Ability to recored in 16:9 widescreen, touch screen LCD, ability to control exposure, manual and auto focus, 40x optical zoom, and at $234.99 it's an awesome buy.
   
   The one Con I can think of is that the battery provided with the camera is very poor. Only lasts for 115 minutes, which seems nice but in comparison to the NPFH50 that lasts for 3 hours it's poor. Do yourself a favor and buy the NPFH50 Battery for $26 here on amazon.
   
   The other thing that I can't fathom is that none of these minidv camcorders come with the firewire data cable. It seems like including an 8 dollar cable wouldn't be that difficult, Sony afterall bundles the software needed to transfer the video to your PC.
   
   All in all this is the best camcorder for the money, I chose this over the Canon ZR900 and I'm glad that I did. It's well build and has all the features that an amateur or professional would want.



5. Had to send it back. Arrived but camera would not focus at all. Send it back and bought a Canon Z900, which works fine.

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC62 1MP MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom.

1. Sony does not tell that you can't download your videos from the camera via the usb port. You have to us the Ilink / Firewire port; which ment I had to buy an $80 computer card and a $50 Sony cable. I regret this purchase.
   
   Shirley



2. We wanted a compact, easy to use camera with a reasonable optical zoom and this camera is just that. No bells and whistles (no audio inputs, no manual controls) but easy, nice pictures, and most important it's small. You must get a longer-life battery.



3. I dont understand why Sony did not include the firewire/iLink cable with this as without it you cannot transfer video to a computer. I had to shop separately for the cable once i discovered this. that's painful..



4. I have had an awful experience with this camcorder worse yet with Sony Custome Service. I shot multiple tapes of irreplacable content and discovered that the transport was defective and that the mic pics up a constant rumble. Sony customer service was completely unresponsive and refused to replace the camera but insisted a service call of indeterminate length was what was in order. They had me appeal to their "Executive Review Board". Their answer was a curt "Service take it or leave it" I won't ever buy another Sony product. I urge you to do the same. P.S. The cameras performance wasn't anything special either.



5. The video quality is great as is the audio. I use this camcorder for blogging and drum videos and it has not disappointed. Importing footage via firewire (sold separately for 10 bucks on Amazon) is seamless via Windows Vista.
   
   Other than a minimal battery life that comes with the camcorder, it's great.
   
   Cheers

5 comments about Canon ZR930 1.07MP MiniDV Camcorder with 48x Optical Zoom.

1. I returned the first camera for replacement and I am about to return the second. Neither one would be recognized by my new XP Pro Dell computer or two other XP machines using 2 different firewire cables. Dell says my computer is working properly and Canon says they know of no similar problems with the new ZR930. I'm NOT saying it's a bad camera. I'm saying I know of three totally different XP computers that doesn't see it as an input device.



2. I got this camera because it has an external microphone input (the ZR-950 does not) and a 1 megapixel pickup. The picture quality is excellent. The 48x zoom lens is a major plus. I had no problem having either my Toshiba XP or HP Vista PCs recognize it so I could edit the tape. ...and, the price is nice.
   
   There is a down side. Despite claims, the camera has no built in light. You supposedly can flip the monitor and use it as a light, but a cell phone is about as bright and you then lose the monitor for monitoring! For some reason Canon designed the camera with no accessory shoe, so there is no place to mount a real light, or the shotgun microphone that you might otherwise want to plug into the camera.



3. Good camera. Better video quality than the ZR-800 and has a microphone input so that you can really do some nice filming with this camera. No light on the camera, despite advertising. There is NO motor noise at all, despite what others write. Canon haters have been complaining about motor noise on Canon cameras for years, but there is none on this device.
   
   For the price, in decent light, there is probably no better camera.
   
   The down side is--the firewire does not work. I have a Mac and a PC. And a firewire port. The port sees other devices. It will not see this camera, and believe me, I have tried it all. In short, it is VERY difficult to get video onto a computer for editing and movie making, despite Canon's claims that it can be done via the firewire port. I even bought 2 different cables to make sure. Instead of plugging in the camera via firewire to my laptop, I have to export the video by plugging in an analog miniplug from the camera into my rca input jacks on my DVD recorder, record the video onto a standalone DVD-Recorder I have in my bedroom, and then put the DVD-r into the computer and input the video into iMovie. Very inelegant and very time consuming, multistep process.
   
   In short, I HATE companies who just out and out LIE to their customers, and, sorry Canon, that is what you have done here. How could they possibly have shipped a camera with a firewire port and not have known that is not functional? Doesn't connect to a Windows XP PC, does not connect to a Mac. Gigantic disappointment



4. Great camera. I shopped around for months and went with the new model over the 800 series. I have had no problems at all connecting it to my computer with firewire using Nero capture software (express?) and a cheap no name firewire card with XP. I haven't noticed any motor noise, and it takes crisp high quality video. I got this one becuase of the mic jack, and I plan on buying a bracket to mount a mic and a light. They have brackets that mount to the bottom, you do not need an upper shoe.
   
   The only problem I have noticed is with the 48x zoom you need a really steady hand (or a tripod) or else it will get jumpy.



5. I got this camcorder for my birthday last month, and I have to say that it is great. It takes awesome video, and has multiple setting for every situation. I took this camcorder skiing and the snow setting keeps the snow from being blow out, which really pleased me. The other settings also work great, including the automatic setting which is great to just film something quickly.
   
   The internal microphone works well, but if you want you can also use an external microphone. This camcorder has a microphone jack which is becoming an increasingly rare feature on budget camcorders. While it doesn't have an accessory shoe which would be nice you can use a cheap flash bracket to mount a mic.
   As an all around camcorder this one is great. I am using it as a secondary camcorder with my Sony VX2000, and the video is comparable. It is hard to tell between cuts which video came from which camera.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this camcorder if your looking for a good all around camcorder that takes great video!
   
   Pro's:
   Light
   Cheap
   Great Video
   External Microphone Jack
   Multiple Settings
   Works Great with my Mac
   
   Con's
   Slight Motor Noise but only in very quiet situations.
   And I can't think of anything else.

5 comments about Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom.

1. I am happy with this cam because of it's ease of use and the additional features. It works as well as a higher price Canon I used to have minus some features like a remote control. Of course, I am simply interested in capturing the action and am not concerned about making a high quality movie.



2. If you are looking for a easy to understand and control camcorder this is the one. i love that its very easy to change the settings on it and it also has a 37x optical zoom!! i record everything my baby does and the video always comes out great. even the battery life lasts a while so its always good to take with you. I highly recommend this camcorder if your under a tight budget.



3. camcorder works very well but has to have a lot of light to be effective.



4. This was a gift for my daughter & her husband. They said that they were happy with it.



5. Before I purchased this camera I read the reviews on Amazon. I was pretty skeptical about buying this video camera after reading the reviews about the motor noise and somewhat cheap product. After ordering from Amazon, the video camera came in less than a week from Beach Camera. I paid $147.00 with free shipping. I am completely amazed that a Japanese company can ship a camera of this high quality to the US with such a devalued dollar and still make money on the product. I am very happy with my purchase! This is my fourth video camera. The camera has above average optics. Has features found only on more expensive cameras, like an external mike input. Has decent special effects. The one disappointing quality is that the camera does not have a hotshoe for a video light. The camera does not do well in low light situations. But I did not buy it to shoot in darkness! It has both a viewfinder and and a decent viewing screen. It is hard to find a viewfinder on a $500.00 video camera these days. I wanted a hard-drive camera but they are still costly and are still not of mini-dv quality (That is why the professional video cameras are still mini-dv and not dvd or hard-drive). Overall I am very satisfied with this camera and would highly recommend this camera to anyone.

5 comments about Canon ZR950 1.07MP MiniDV Camcorder with 48x Optical Zoom.

1. This is a solid camera for a great price. Has options for SD cards for still photos. Native wide screen support and decent battery life. Works great with iMovie. Still photos could be higher resolution, but this isn't meant to be a digital camera replacement.



2. In the product description Amazon.com lists as a feature that the ZR950 has a microphone input: "The microphone terminal on the ZR950 makes it especially useful for educators and trainers to carefully capture the audio they need to make most effective use of the video they shoot. It's also handy when you want to easily record a live narration for your footage."
   
   However, having hands-on experience with this camera and from reading over the manual it does not have any audio-in jacks. This is a fine camcorder, but if you're buying it to record lectures and want to record from a microphone source you're buying the wrong tool. The Canon ZR930 and the ZR900 both do state that they have microphone input on the canon website. Also, among the older models, the Canon ZR800 has audio-in as well, however the ZR830 & ZR850 do not. This is not made clear initially from Canon's website and required a good deal of research. I wish they listed that spec in their comparison page.
   
   At any rate, these are good cameras, at a good price. Just be certain to get the 930, 900 or 800 if you need audio-in. I'm not sure why they removed that feature from their higher-end camcorders, it seems counterintuitive to me.



3. The product I received was a defect. The camcorder could not get normal images for outdoor recording. It had red and green dots all over the LCD and viewfinder with indoor recording. I had to return it. It ruined my daughter's birthday party.



4. I ordered this camera, not expecting it to arrive early. It came two days early and is a great value for a beginners camera. It would be a great gift for a grad or father.



5. I bought this for recording family stuff. It records good with good sound. I am very unimpressed with the still pictures, especially in low light. It doesn't come with any software for capturing or editing your videos. Windows comes with one. There is no firewire cable to transfer your video to your computer either. I picked one up for cheap. It doesn't come with a sd card for still pictures. Overall I am happy with the camcorder, the zoom is great and the video is sharp. If you plan on taking a lot of still pictures you probably wont be happy. My phone takes better photos than this.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. You can spend more and get more, but you can't get more at this price! Picture quality is excellent, you would need to go HD to get better. Sound is good. Recording to tape means better quality than current digital storage and longer uninterrupted recording, at least at this price range. The down side is that dubbing to my computer is done in real time (1 hr video takes 1 hr to load). I consider that a small price to pay for the picture quality and cost of the camera. It is small and light, controls are easy and intuitive after a short time with the manual. Comes with a remote, which is great for operating it and not being it everyone's way. I would like to see mic inputs and head phone out jacks, but at this price, I am not complaining. Low light seems a little grainy, so I am looking for a good light to attach to the shoe (which does not appear to be a "hot shoe", rather only a place to attach something. Makes a great web cam when not filming the grandchildren. Excellent choice for family video. Interfaces well with my iMac and iMovie!



2. I am a hobbyist who shoots a lot of live video of bands in clubs. I have a Panasonic DVX-100B as my primary camera, but needed something more economical for a second. I bought a GS320 after reading reviews around the web. The control I have over the image is great, with individual controls for iris, shutter speed, white balance, and more. The sound quality is really good, too. Loved it so much I bought another. Does well in low light, although ultralowlight introduces noise into the picture, which is normal -- in general, if you want to shoot decent video or still photos, you need light. Duh. I am very impressed with the way this camera's mics handle loud music. It it possible to clip the audio, but that takes a bit to do. I shot The Band Of Heathens from stage level with the camera just about on top of the monitors and got great audio. It was after that experience that I decided to purchase my second GS320. Now I have three great cameras to create videos of live performances of my favorite indie bands.



3. Overall, the PV-GS320 is great. The video quality is great for the price. The joystick for manual controls is slightly annoying, especially for focus. A manual focus ring and mic input would have been nice. Connects and operates perfectly with my Mac and Final Cut Pro. Overall, great video quality for a small, consumer camcorder.



4. To get a camera with a 3CCD lense for under $400 is pretty amazing. Now, it's not perfect and definitely consumer-grade but it can shoot a professional-grade shot in the hands of an experinced user. I would recommend getting 37mm filters and maybe some accessory lenses if you want to have more fun and flexibility. The BIG think that's lacking is an audio out to lest recording levels from the mic input. That is quite annoying but I guess we'll have to pay more to get into the pro range for that feature. It is a great value at a low price and we've bought several.



5. I purchased the Panasonic PV-GS320 model to replace the PV-GS85 I'd been using for five months. Although I'm missing the more powerful optical zoom of the 85, the much more realistic color balance of the 320 worth the change. I think I could only change this excellent camera if I find a significantly better HD model. Videos in standard and widescreen modes are beautifully captured when using adequate illumination. Still pictures are also very good in standard size, but pictures in widescreen mode have less resolution.
   
   I recommend this camera to those needing great recordings on mini-dv format.

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

1. I had trouble connecting to my computer. The problem turned out to be that I had external hard drives plugged into the fire wire ports. When I removed all other fire wire connections, it connected.



2. I bought this camera from amazon. The price was the best price. The shippment came before I was expecting. I bought it to give a gift to one of my family members for their 25th wedding anniversary. I have already have Canon ZR 300. I am very happy with that too. Canon makes great. product.



3. I was quite apprehensive after seeing many reviews about this product.
   
   Agreed that the picture quality is not as good as the 8 mm tape camcorders, and the manufacturing lacks sturdiness, but its an excellent value camcorder. I only paid 180 for it.
   Its quite easy to use -- even the wheeltrack on the display screen.
   Primary reason for me to get this was the combination of camera and camcorder plus its quite light compared to my old 8 mm Sony.



4. I had a ZR200 Canon that I take everywhere. It was easy to use so after many hundreds of hours of filming sports events etc. it died. I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars so I purchased this for about the same price I would have had to fix my old camera. This is an excellent camera expecially for price. Excellent Buy! I recommend this without any reservation. You can't go wrong!!



5. I bought this camcorder to make some fundraising movies for my 3 day breast cancer walk. It has been SO easy to use, and to create some GREAT looking videos. I took it out of the box, and shot some video then plugged it into my VISTA laptop and downloaded the video in about 3 minutes... Great for a first or casual user. Has some nice options like widescreen and SD card for still photos. The light only works very close up but is a nice option if you are interviewing someone at night. All in all I couldn't be happier with this camera, and the price is AMAZING for the features you get... (lots of USEABLE features without all the useless bells and whistles that the $$$$$$ cameras have - that you never use anyhow) If something were to happen to this camera I would replace it with another zr850... The only thing I wish it had was a mic jack... but the built in mic does a fantastic job... see some video made with this camera at www.myspace/adels3day.com

5 comments about Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. Everything you read about this camera is true. I owned one for a couple of days and the picture was extraordinary... the camera was a breeze to use...
   
   And then I turned up the audio. Whoa. What's that humming?!
   
   Now, I had seen plenty of reviews (even on the older HV20) warning of a little tape noise in the audio. I own two other Mini DV cameras, and you do hear a little bit of the mechnism working. But this is different. It's disruptive. And I'm not alone in my thinking here. Do some digging and you'll find a few other reviews cropping up online with this complaint now.
   
   If audio's not a big deal to you, or you plan on using extrenal mics, I'd say this is still an insanely great camera for you. But if you're getting it to grab baby's precious moments or anything like that, I have to strongly warn against getting this due to the tape noise in the audio. I consider it a deal-breaker.
   
   On the upside, I'd like to note that I got a great deal on this camera using one of Amazon's partners on here, Butterfly Photo, and they were prompt, courteous, and easy to deal with when I returned the camera. Recommended. I'll likely be using them again to order my new camera (gonna give the HF100 a try instead... possibly an ever-so-slightly less perfect picture quality, but most reviewers are saying no moving parts = prestine audio and for me that makes it a far better overall final product.)



2. I have owned the Canon HV30 for a little over a month. I have used it strictly for wildlife video in combination with the Canon TL-43 1.7x tele-converter and the DM50 directional microphone.
   
   The picture quality is fantastic for a camcorder at this price. I shoot in HD 30p with Cinema Mode enabled. I also enable peaking and use focus assist magnification for better manual focus.
   
   [..] there is not a full manual mode for adjusting exposure. Also the manual focus wheel is a little small.
   
   The following url address is a two minute video shot entirely with the Canon HV30. While my skill level with camera is at a novice level, I think you will agree the picture quality is very good.
   
   [..]



3. Great camera! There's a great website hv20 dot com that show how to get the most out of this camera and answer questions that are vague in the manual. This camera doesn't need more help but there's a lot more you can do than what comes out of the box. The video quality is superb, but the sacrifice is that you might want to buy an add on mic. I got the canon boom mic for another $150 to get a great whole package.



4. I've spent the weekend shooting and editing with my Canon HV30, and overall, I'm very pleased with it. The image quality and color reproduction (when you switch "vivid" on in the settings) is superb. It's small, lightweight and the controls make sense. In a couple of hours I was able to put the manual away and know what I was doing. Low light performance is pretty good, with just a bit of noise all the way at iso 1600 (outside at night). It shoots very well indoors in normal lights and the auto white balance works perfectly as well.
   
   It isn't all perfect, however. The manual focus control is inaccessible and sloppy. Thankfully the autofocus is very accurate and doesn't do a lot of hunting for what to focus on. The other problem is the zoom control. It is WAY too sensitive. You can set it for variable speed, but the slightest tremble in your finger causes a bump in the speed. I think I can learn to handle it. I'll just have to be very aware of keeping a light touch. I don't think I'll be able to work with the manual focus.
   
   The camera doesn't come with a firewire or USB2 cable to connect to a computer. You need to buy that separately. But I was able to download hidef video effortlessly to iMovieHD using a Mac without any other installed software.
   
   The built in microphone sucks. Definitely get Canon's optional shotgun mike Directional Microphone DM-50. That will handle just about any sound situation you run into. Also count on getting an extra battery pack or two. The included battery won't shoot long enough to fill an hour long tape. There are different sizes of batteries. Get the biggest one you can afford, along with the outboard charger, so you can be charging up the next battery while you are shooting. Also get at least four blank DV tapes to work with. You don't want to switch framerates, resolutions and aspect ratios on the same tape if you can help it.
   
   Your whole kit, including all the accessories will fit in a very small camera bag. Pretty slick. And the quality of the movies you'll shoot will amaze you. Played back on a hidef screen, this camera is capable of producing very professional looking video.



5. I had this Camera when it first came out, and so far I am very pleased... Camcorder looks and feels as a regular Camcorders however the wild factor is the Image Quality, its stunning in clarity and contrast... This is a great Camcorder for those who are looking to capture their best memories in HD mode... Under $1000, this is the best HD camcorder one can bargain for...
   
   One disappointment with this Camcorder is that the video editing software is not included... It comes with software however it is only for editing Still Images (Photos)... With that said, you need to buy your own Video editing software if you want to create DVD's on your Laptop or Desktop... Please also beware that there are very few robust software's in the market that can convert your video files into DVD's... This is where mini tapes lacks improvement, you can watch your video through your camcorder in full HD with stunning clarity however you can't convert your files into Full HD DVD... There is software that can do the job (Vegas Pro 8) however with a price tag of $500; it won't be an option for many buyers...