Amazon.com Product Description

The Canon GL1 (and its big brother, the XL1) are helping to blur the line between consumer and professional video equipment. This camcorder borrows most of the professional-quality components from the XL1 and puts them into a more compact, affordable camera. Though it's small enough to carry around and doesn't cost much more than a top-of-the-line consumer camcorder, the GL1 produces such high-quality results that it could be used as a broadcast videocamera.

Great movies start with great CCD sensors, and Canon cuts no corners here. For the best possible picture quality, they use three separate 270,000-pixel CCDs (one for each primary color). To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the green CCD half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This shift allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000-pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 square microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competingcamcorders. This increased size increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in lower-light situations. Ultimately, the larger pixel size results in an improvement of 4 dB loss budget in sensitivity.

For great optical quality, the GL1 uses a fixed (nonremovable) 20x optical (100x digital) zoom L-series fluorite lens. The fluorite element in the lens increases sharpness and contrast, as well as helping to preserve color fidelity.

Audio is recorded through the built-in microphone, which features two pairs of pickup elements. Audio can be recorded in 16-bit mode on two channels on one track. Alternatively, audio can be record in 12-bit mode, where the audio track is divided into two, and two channels of audio are recorded onto one track, with the other left over for audio dubbing.

The electronics of the GL1 have many advanced features, including a number of programmed AE modes, as well as both shutter and aperture priority modes. There are two different auto modes, one of which allows you to adjust any setting manually, if you want, and the other, which adjusts every setting automatically and lets you adjust nothing. A spotlight mode automatically compensates for lighting difficulties when shooting a subject bathed in a spotlight. Finally, a sand-and-snow mode is designed to prevent dark, underexposed subjects in situations with bright backgrounds--commonly found in sandy and snowy areas. There are also three different shooting modes: normal movie mode, digital photo mode, and frame movie mode. Normal movie mode is for any time you want to shoot video footage. Digital photo mode records a still image for six seconds on the miniDV tape, and also captures any audio, such as a commentary. The frame moviemode records 30 still images per second, but it isn't intended to be used for shooting video. Rather, frame movie mode should be used as burst or continuous shooting mode, as you'd find on a still camera.

The GL1 uses an IEEE 1394 port for digital editing and for transferring footage to and from other IEEE 1394-compliant devices. The camcorder also has RCA (composite) audio and video ports, and an S-Video out. The analog inputs allow you to transfer old footage to DV for archiving. Built-in effects include a fader for transitions, black and white, slim, stretch, and strobe. Picture adjustment is also possible; you can adjust camera sharpness, softening orsharpening your subject, as well as the color tone and how dark or light the camera sets the auto-exposure level. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder with 3 CCD technology
• 20x optical, 100x digital, zoom with optical image stabilization
• 2.5 inch color LCD and color EVF
• Records digital stills onto MiniDV tape
• Comes with wireless remote, battery pack, and power adapter

Reviews (19)

feature packed
I have been using the GL1 for nearly 3 years now. I take it out on shoots for a website I work on... sometimes I create QuickTime Movies, sometimes I take stills from footage and convert the stills to .JPG files.

The 30-lux capacity means you can walk into a subdued lighting environment such as a dining room lit by a single candle and get very good, balanced exposure. It is not like an infrared camera or anything, however... there must be SOME non infrared light, or you get nothing.

The 30x zoom can't be beat. You can be 50 yards away from a person and zoom in and get a shot of their nose... in many ways, it must be seen to be appreciated.

Considering the features, the unit is light-weight, but newer digital camcorders of similar strengths are now on the market for far less and weigh half as much. Still, the GL1 is easy to hold with one hand while using the eye piece or the LCD panel.

I only have a few criticisms. For one, the unit does not ship with a firewire cable. If you are ordering this item for its firewire compatibility, you will need to order a 6-to-4 pin firewire cable separately. (6-pin for your Mac, 4-pin for the GL1).

Also, the GL1 has a tendency to eat tapes. For a while, I thought I was just getting deffective tapes, but a co-worker got a DV deck and the deck was able to view and use the tapes without difficulty. Just viewing the tapes on the DV deck seemed to "fix" whatever the GL1 perceive was wrong with the tapes. On occasion I will get an all red "WARNING: EJECT TAPE" display on the LCD panel... I then eject the tape, rewind it a bit on the DV deck and then I can use it fine for several weeks w/ the GL1. This has been a problem from day one and I have head-cleaning tapes.

The unit has a tripod screw mount on the bottom and a hot shoe on top, so it's a good piece of hardware for professionals.

The battery that ships with the unit will only run for about 30 minutes on a full charge... but that's 30 minutes of actual recording, rewinding, etc. I highly recommend getting an additional 2 hour battery as back-up, especially if you're stuck somewhere and don't have the luxury of having an AC wall socket nearby. You can run the camera straight off AC power, but it is awkward... you must run the cord from the GL1 to the charger and the charger is then plugged into the wall. This extra cord does not come with the unit and you must buy it separately. It would have been nice if they had included this cord as well as a DC charger for the car.

Back when I was ordering this item, I spoke with Canon directly to ask them information about the firewire capabilities, etc. Afer speaking to a customer service rep. for over 1 hour, it was obvious that the folks answering the phones for Canon absolutely know NOTHING about their own products or terminology used in photography or videography... if the answers are not in the little book in front of them, they are worse than uninformed... they tell you the wrong information. If you want more information about the features of this camera, seriously examine the specs featured here on Amazon and read all of the reviews.

The best in this price range
I've owned the GL1 now for almost 3 months now. It was a christmas gift to myself. It took me 3 months to decide on the GL1 (my 2nd choice was top of the line Sony). The picutre quality is GREAT. Plus, I wasn't impressed with all of the special effects that came bundled with the Sony. IMHO, a digital camera should take the best quality videos and NOT be used as an editing tool on the fly. I use the supplied cables to transfer the movies that I make to my PC (winXP) and do my editing using DV Studio PRO which comes with tons of special effects. The results are awesome....I can edit and make movies and do video streaming, create DVD, Video CDs, etc. etc. The camera is bulkier than the Sony but it has a nice handle with controls, which is not a big issue for me. The audio is sensitive and picks up lots of noise, this is probably an issue if you're doing interviews....as for other occasions, it's not a big deal for me, since, I usually add background music to go with the recorded sound.

Worth the Price
I bought this camera about 10 months back, and at the time made a compromise in choosing it because I couldn't afford the XL1S. What I've learned though after using it for so long now is that Canon didn't compromise on this camera. The GL1 has essentially every feature the aspiring film maker or video professional needs to get underway quickly and easily.

My favorite feature of this camera is the frame mode ability that allows you to shoot non-interlaced video, with results that are very similar in appearance to film rather than video. After shooting in frame mode and seeing the results, I've yet to shoot interlaced video again.

The one thing that this camera lacks is any ability to manually control the audio levels for the internal or external mics, which can sometimes give you less than optimal results in situations where the noise volume fluctuates noticably, or where you are trying to achieve a specific audio effect.

Summary - Excellent camera worth the price tag. Across the board, far more features and better quality than all competitors in its class. Probabaly the only camera that can top the GL1 in this class is the GL2.

A pleased user
I purchased my GL-1 almost two years ago with the original intention of using it to create videos of weddings and grandchildren. After comparing numerous available models and brands, I chose the GL-1 for its good reputation, high-end features, lenses, and of course for the more reasonable price.

It could be said that the GL-1 is among the worst of the best, but that is not a fair way of comparing its features to other camcorders. The GL-1 is top end material, producing similar or equal quality as equipment costing twice as much or more. The lower price mostly reflects the fact that the GL-1 does not have as many features as the more expensive models. It already has more buttons and settings than most of us even want to know exist anyway, so except for professionals and hard-core video fans, we amatures are plenty happy to leave the settings on 'automatic' and simply push the record button.

What really matters is the end result, and viewing a video on your television recorded with the GL-1 looks no different than a video recorded with more expensive models (well, unless you are one of those hard-core types who are very critical, but then too, every camcorder model produces slightly different results, so any differences noticed would be noticed in all). The major end-result difference will be noticed in audio quality. Recording video in a normal room setting is no problem, it comes out great, but in areas with high noise, winds, or too low of sound, the recording is sometimes less than desired. Too loud of noise causes distortion (avoid sitting directly in front of or even behind a rock group's speaker array, even if 75 feet away!), and when the desired sound to be recorded is too quiet, you may hear a slight humming of the camcorder's motor. Many users have solved the problem by purchasing additional audio recording equipment, which is of course an acceptable solution, but one that new owners should be aware of.

Every camera of course has it's good points and bad points, and except for the bad points of not-perfect audio, everything else about the GL-1 is good. Good balance, medium weight, easy loading, good battery life (1 hour with the factory battery, other batteries can be bought that will record for over 3 hours), and the appearance does say you are using high-end equipment.

All things considered, the GL-1 is right about in the middle, giving better results than all known lower-end models, but not quite as good of results as the more expensive models. The Gl-1 is Goldilock's "just right" choice (sorry, I just had to say that).

The Sony camcorder is said to be a little better, close to that of the Canon XL-1, and I did consider it, but at the time I had just overcome a less than favorable experience with a Sony product and I did not want to make another mistake. If you have the money to spare, get the XL-1 just because it's cooler looking, but for fast, easy, quality video, the GL-1 is a great choice.

Professional Quality Video...period.
I wasn't so sure about this camera because I had listened to the hype about Sony DV cameras. But let me tell you, I have never seen a mini DV camera pack such a punch for the price. Between the GL-1 and the much more expensive Xl-1, I cannot tell that much difference at all, maybe none at all. This camera captures truly stunning video. From reproducing each and every color vibrantly and crisp to the razor sharp picture quality. And I haven't even gotten to the microphone. It captures the audio very true to life. From soft whispers to loud bangs, the audio never becomes muddled or distorted. The menu buttons and function keys are all very well placed, and it takes a still photograph of a fairly decent quality, although it couldn't compete with a 2 megapixel photo camera. It has many different video modes,including toggling between Video and Frame recording, although most of the time you'll never need to take it off of automatic. Another sleek feature is how it captures video in low light. In low lighting conditions, the picture NEVER becomes the least bit grainy. I am continually impressed, and am impressing others with this camera. It is perfect for the beginner or the pro. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder
• 22x optical, 700x digital zoom.
• Color EVF
• Photo Mode records still pictures for approximately 7 seconds
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery; includes power adapter and A/V cable

Reviews (6)

Canon ES75 Camcorder. Exceeded Expectations!!!
This very affordable camera is a quality product in every respect. It was purchased to replace a 12 year old 8mm unit that no longer operated and it is fully compatable with the standard 8mm tapes.
This compact unit has many features that are not listed in the specifications. Besides the full menu of options, two very important features are a variable speed zoom control and an s-video output connection. I highly recommend this camcorder.

Nice little Camera
This camera is very user friendly. It has a wonderful clear, crisp picture as well as sound on the video. This little camera comes with alot of little features that would please any beginner.

Great value on an excellent product.
This is my first hi8 camcorder, though I've had a couple of the old VHS ones before. I was waiting to get one of these until the value caught up with the technology and I could get a high-quality camcorder at an affordable price. Then this little number came along.

The thing I like most about this camera is its color viewfinder. To me, that is a good tradeoff for not having a larger LCD screen, because those typically drain your battery much faster. This was a good compromise--I can see things in color without cutting my film time short.

This camcorder is loaded with special features, and has a 700 power digital zoom! With it you can get as close to something as you want. You only need to rest your filming arm on something or get a tripod--otherwise you won't be able to hold the picture steady.

A Canon is always a good bet for a camera or camcorder, and they have definitely not let me down with this one. If you're looking for a good bargain but still want a respectable brand and some special features, look no further than the Canon ES75.

Best value for a Hi8 camcorder
This is my second Canon camcorder. I loved my first, an ES970 that uses the regular 8mm format. After giving it to my uncle, I was shopping around for a new one when I saw this on Amazon. The price is right, and my very positive experience with the ES970 made it easy to order two of these, one for my parents.

Both my parents and I love this camcorder. It's very easy to use -- no manual needed for the common functions. Even my mom can use it after I gave her a 1-minute lesson. The buttons are easy to reach and feel solid. The 22x optical zoom is the best in the industry, perhaps of any consumer camcorders sold in the States. I haven't tried the digital zoom yet, since I believe digital zoom, in general, is useless.

The included LiIon battery is good, but I recommend buying an extended battery if you plan to go on a trip. My ES970's older-style NiMH battery lasted about 2 years before showing degraded capacity. The Canon LiIon batteries will probably last longer.

This is a great camcorder, perfect for any family. Don't buy into the digital camcorder hype if you aren't going to edit your videos on a PC anyway. This Canon's price makes it deserve 10 stars.

Easy to use
This is my first camcorder. I was reluctant to purchase one as I thought it might take too much time to learn how to use it. However, I'm taking a trip to Tanzania and felt a camcorder would be my best bet for getting the photos I wanted. I've been practicing at the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. The results are great even with my inexperience. I also copied my film onto my VCR. The results are very good; although I haven't yet mastered editing, I don't think it will be too difficult. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 200x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and color EVF
• Photo mode records still pictures onto tape
• Uses an included lithium ion battery; also includes power adapter, shoulder strap, wireless controller, S-Video cable, and stereo video cable

Reviews (10)

Best quality for the price
I've looked for a good DV camcorder to replace my old Hi8 camcorder. We need it to be compact to fit into one palm, and have image stablization. We also need it to have analog input to transfer old video. Some of the higher-end model have low-resolution digital camera capability, which is useless to us since we already had high-resolution digital camera. We tried to avoid spending extra money to pay features we don't need, and it leads us to Canon ZR20. Well, what a great buy! We spend less than our old Hi8 camcorder, and got a 3X better camcorder! The picture quality is super, the sound is great! ( I don't have the issue described by another reviewer.) Right after recording, we can also playback the video with sound on this tiny camcorder. All my families just enjoy playing with this new toy and have a wonderful time together. Highly recommended!

Canon ZR20 MiniDV Digital Camcorder
The Canon ZR20 is a Digital MiniDV camcorder with a 2.5" LCD and a color viewfinder.

Zoom And Image Stabilizer

The camcorder has 10x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom. The image is not shaky at high magnification levels, since the camera is equipped with a digital stabilizer.

Picture

The camcorder records video and still pictures. The still pictures can be recorded on a MiniDV tape and one tape can hold around 700 still pictures. The picture quality (the CCD has 460,000 pixels) in the video mode is very good with low noise level.

Sound

The camcorder has a stereo microphone and a built-in speaker. The microphone input allows you connect an external microphone. You can select between 12- and 16-bit recording.

Features

The camcorder comes with a Li-Ion battery, A/V cable, S-Video cable, power adapter, battery, remote and a shoulder strap. There are several AE modes, including fully automatic "Easy Recording".

But in addition to automatic settings (focus, white balance, etc.), you can manually adjust focus, white balance, shutter speed, exposure (AE Shift). The camcorder allows you apply faders and digital effects and has widescreen mode.

It also features FireWire (i.Link, IEEE1394) jack, so you can connect it to another digital camcorder, MiniDV VCR or a computer for editing or making a copy. The remote control allows you search for still pictures on the tape using Data Code recorded during the shooting.

The camcorder features both composite and an S-Video inputs/outs and LANC editing terminal. The timer allows to perform recordings at predefined time. There is a Low Light recording capability (low shutter speed and high exposure time).

Remote

Unlike entry-level digital camcorders from Panasonic, the wireless remote control is included here.

Bottom Line

The ZR20 is a nice camcorder with good feature set. But the menu system is unnecessary complicated and the Canon camcorders are not among the most reliable (unlike Panasonic ones).

Excellent, So Far......
I would like to take this time and give my input about the Canon ZR 20 MiniDV. First off let me say that the size of this thing amazes me enabling me to fit it in my pants pocket (compared to my old vhs). There aren't that many high end features on this but for the basic everyday recording this is an excellent camera. Be aware that this DOES NOT have NIGHT VISION if you want it purchase the ZR-40 series. I purchased this at the [store] that sells mac computers. It cost me [money] and for [the same amount] at [a different store] i could have got the ZR-40 but they were out :(. Overall i really do like this camera not overpowered with features but does the job well (my first canon camera). From now on i'll stick with them in the future (Much better than JVC and SONY). Down the road I'll upgrade my pc to firewire for video editing, that looks pretty fun. But if yourlooking for a good quality camera with a GLASS lens not plastic like the others and something stylish and small than go with any of the Canon ZR Series (10,20,25mc,30mc,40,45mc,50,50mc)

Hope this Helped in your camera buying experience!

excellent family camcorder
I bought this camcorder to use for family and work purposes. It is very easy to use, and the picture quality is good. It was simple to connect to my tv for viewing. I haven't tried to connect it to my computer yet, but I will have to get a firewire adapter for my desktop first. No video editing program was included, so I will have to get one of those, too. Although basic, the ease of use and small size make this an ideal camcorder for my needs.

Great little camcorder!
Very small and compact, but well laid out so for as the user is concerned. Has both a color viewfinder and a 2.5" LED that extends out from the left side. To save battery power, you can only use one at a time however. Some of the settings are a bit confusing, but going through the manual (well written by the way) will quickly supply answers to any questions you may have.

Low light capability is not as good as some others, but the camcorder works well in light ample to read by. By comparison with my Nikon FM (50mm F1.8), the Canon ZR-20 will do a good job
down to what would be about 1/60 of a second on ISO 100. It will do a fairly decent job a couple of stops lower, but gets "grainy" at low light levels. Daylight however is excellent. I also found the still feature works well in daylight, but gets rather "grainy" in low light (like an old "GIF" at about 320x240). I'd guess in good light that stills work out to be about VGA level (640x480), which serves.

This is not a digital camera, and if your major interest is in that direction, you'd be better off buying a regular digital camera. On the other hand the stills I've taken in daylight looked pretty good on a TV, and the recordings create images that are the equal of anything you can get off the air or from your local cable provider. This is using the video in and audio in jacks on a regular TV, as none of mine have the S-video feature. Which no doubt would be even better yet.

Tape loading seems a bit slow, but I guess this is the way it is. Works OK, but my old VHS camcorder is a lot easier to load.

Digital is definitely the way to go, and Canon optics seem to be
pretty good. Lens is a F1.8-2.9 zoom with a range of 4mm to 40mm. I'd guess this works out to about 40mm to 400mm on a 35. The digital zoom can be set at two settings, one giving 40x and the other 200x. The 40x setting is very marginal, and the 200x is nothing but a waste of time. On the other hand the optical zoom is good, and you can shut off the digital zoom if you wish.

If you're looking for a good small camcorder, this might be the one for you. It is small, but seems to be fairly well thought out except that the mike probably should have been mounted somewhere further away from the tape transport area... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Hi8 video format features 400 lines of resolution, thehighest quality outside of digital. Equipped with a 2.5-inch color LCDview screen and video light, Canon's Hi8 ES420V employs an integratedautofocus/autoexposure system that helps eliminate incorrect focus andexposure settings. Its 22x optical zoom lens is intensified by adigital zoom that enhances the range electronically to 700x.

There is also an additional set of special effects available duringboth recording and playback that will help add a little flavor to yourmovies. These effects include black-and-white, sepia, mirror, andmosaic, among others. Included in the package are an A/V cable, poweradapter, shoulder strap, and battery pack. ... Read more

Features

• 22x optical, 700x digital zoom
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and black & white EVF
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery
• Includes power adapter, A/V cable, and shoulder strap
• Hi8 camcorder

Reviews (2)

An outstanding electronic device (for the price).
I haven't used very many camcorders yet, so I don't think I can fairly compare the ES420V against the competition. I can tell you that while I was impressed with all the features of the camcorder, I found it hard to hold and confusing to use ONLY at first. The video quality was impressive though, especially considering the relatively low expenditure. Compared to the Canon Elura2, I'd choose the Elura2 -- it's a bit easier to use and includes impressive stills. If you're in the market for a camcorder under [price], the ES420Vis ideal!

great camcorder
i think this is a good camcorder. great ease of use and all the bells and whistles.

buy it now! ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• Progressive-scan CCD
• 10x optical, 40x digital zoom
• MultiMediaCard digital still storage
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor

Reviews (15)

GREAT CAMERA OVERALL
Wow, talk about small! I compared it to the Sony PC-100 mini DV before I bought the Elura 2 online -- its roughly half the size of the Sony, with the same size (2.5") LCD screen. I bought it for the promise of quality video and stills from its progressive scan CCD -- the Sony PC-100 doesn't have this feature. It basically allows a full 680k pixel image on each frame of video (and stills too) while most other cameras take interlaced images -- only half the lines of each image per frame. Anyway, it certainly doesn't disappoint. Video taken in daylight or otherwise bright settings are so clear, I found myself with my nose to the TV screen to see if I could pick up any noise, snow or artifacts. There was none. One caveat: images taken in less than ideal light, like at home at night with normal artificial lighting, results in images roughly equivalent to my old Hi8 in similar light. That is, in low light situations, there is noticeable noise and muting of colors. Except for this one shortcoming which may be common in other cameras, I would definitely give it 5 stars. I am extremely happy with its super compactness, optics, ease of use, and overall performance. I easily hooked it up to my computer through a Firewire connection (requires purchase of additional accessories), and editing family movies was a snap and trouble free. Unless you shoot mostly in low light, this is about as close to the ideal consumer camcorder as you'll find.

Good things come in small packages
This camcorder combines ease of use, picture quality and convenience in a very small package. It has a wide variety of features, most of which I have not even begun to play around with.

For travel purposes, I can't imagine going anywhere without this compact yet powerful camcorder -- you can throw it in a fanny pack and hardly even notice it's there (but be sure to buy the 2 hr extended battery if you plan on shooting footage for more than 1/2 an hour). It also doubles as a digital camera, but take note that the digital photos it takes on the multi-media card are not suitable for print-quality photos; rather, it's a handy way to take pics and send them over email or post them to a website with decent picture quality without having to go and buy a digital camera (or travel with both).

It's also great for capturing high-speed action with the digital scan mode. Tape a golf swing, hockey game or skiing action and replay it in slow-motion.

I have no complaints to level against this product, and I have no reservations recommending this if you're looking for a high-quality camcorder that you can take just about anywhere and not have to worry about weight and bulk.

Tape Eater
Sending mine back-- liked the small profile and features. Shot a few minutes of video on a new tape. Brought it home to watch it and ate the tape up when I tried to rewind it. I'm glad I was only trying it out, I'd hate to have the tape of something important get eaten by the machine.

Very compact suprisingly good camera
I was very sceptical about this camera upon purchase. My needs are for a camcorder for family activities. We never used the Hi-8 unit we have had for 5 years, just sits in the closet to bulky to be practical or convenient. The size is perfect for my needs. I was concerned about quality, robustness, and utility (would controls be impossible to reach).
Seems to work well for my needs. The battery winds down pretty quick (about 60 mins on a charge with no LCD usage and only recording usage). However seems to retain charge over a period of time (unlike some other comments read).
Pictures are very clear, and am amazed at the quality. Stability mechanism works well. Do not use the digital zoom, as feel this is only a gimmick and of little real use.
Controls are reasonably intuitive, seems like manual overrides for most anything, but use on automatic mode most of the time. Would like a wide angle lens, as equivalent of a 50mm lens. Quality definitely deteriorates under low lighting.
After 3 weeks of use give a heartly thumbs up, seems like a keeper.

best DV & camera
Very small...works great...easy operation...also films in B&W and sepia which i love...this is my 4th digital camera, and i like this one the best....only problem is the battery does not stay charged for long periods of non use...but recharges fast..maybe i should look into a larger battery? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Hi8 video format offers the highest quality outside of digital, and theCanon ES65 offers a number of great features for its low price. Digital image stabilizationworks with the 22x optical zoom lens to provide a clear, steady image, and a built-in videolight provides illumination in dark shooting environments.

To help ensure that you get the quality footage you want, Canon has included a numberof preset shooting modes. These modes will automatically adjust the settings of yourcamcorder for a variety of shooting situations. There is also an additional set ofspecial effects available during both recording and playback that will help add a littleflavor to your movies. These effects include black-and-white, sepia, mirror, and mosaic,among others. Included in the package are an A/V cable, power adapter, shoulder strap,and battery pack. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder
• 22x optical, 700x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
• Color EVF
• Photo Mode records still pictures for approximately 7 seconds
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery; includes power adapter and A/V cable

Amazon.com Product Description

Despite its compact size, Canon's Optura Pi is a full-featured MiniDV camcorder. A 12x optical (48x digital) zoom Canon lens gets you right in the action, while optical image stabilization helps prevent unwanted shakes and jitters from creeping into your important footage. The flip-out LCD screen is a large 3.5 inches.

A quick word about image stabilization. Most camcorders with image stabilization use digital image stabilization, which is a software-based method of correcting handheld wobbles and shakes. Though digital image stabilization works well, it does so at the expense of image quality, reducing the total number of pixels used to capture an image. In contrast, the Optura Pi uses optical imagestabilization, which continuously detects motion and adjusts elements inside the lens to compensate, resulting in a shudder-free image without any loss in image resolution.

A number of different programmed auto exposure modes (including sand and snow, sports, portrait, and low light) automatically adjust settings to take the worry out of shooting in challenging conditions. Besides the different programmed auto-exposure modes, the Optura Pi also offers three different shooting modes. You'll probably leave the camera set to normal movie mode a majority of the time. Digital photo mode lets you use the Optura Pi as a digital camera, recording a still image for six seconds on the miniDV tape, and allowing audiocommentary. There's a lot of flexibility here: you can switch between movie and digital photo modes and create a unique collage of stills and video. Finally, the digital motor drive mode uses the progressive-scan CCD to capture a full noninterlaced 30 frames per second. This means you can use the footage as a series of independent photographs.

As a DV camcorder, the Optura Pi has an IEEE 1394 port for digital editing, or for transferring footage between IEEE 1394 compliant devices, such as computers or other DV camcorders. The Optura also features S-Video input and output. The analog inputs allow you to transfer old footage to DV for archiving. Built-in effects include art and sepia. Various faders ease scene transitions. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• Optical image stabilization
• IEEE 1394 compliant
• 3.5-inch color LCD swivel monitor
• 12x optical, 48x digital zoom

Reviews (16)

Best Camcorder for your money!!!
I did a lot of research on digital camcorders. Unfortunately...didn't help much with my search. So I would like to help the site by telling everyone that the Canon Optura Pi is the camcorder to get. It is very difficult to find a camcorder with all the features that you need withouth spending $+ for it... It has excellent broadcast quality video. A superb progressive scan mode that allows you to snap high quality stills while filming. Awesome low light shooting without the need of nightvision. And lots more!! There are very few camcorders that can compare to the Optura Pi, but none of those camcorders can compare to the price. The Sony PC-110 and the JVC GR-DVL 9800U are similar camcorders but costs a lot more. This is one of the most overlooked camcorders in the market. But if you don't want to spend a lot and want the best possible camcorder, the Optura PI would be my #1 choice.

Excellent DV camera for the money.
My main draw to the Canon Optura Pi was the optical (rather than digital) image stabilization. Canon is the only camcorder manufacturer that offers this feature in this price range. The image quality is excellent, although the camera calibration can take some getting used to. Experiment with white balance settings, etc. until you find something that works well. The LCD screen is a little too bright, but otherwise looks good. This camera integrates flawlessly with my Macintosh G4 and iMac DV computers. My only complaint about this camera is that occasionally the picture can become blocky and behave erratically. However, I have discovered that this is a problem with ALL DV camercorders and is due to flaky DV cassettes. So, choose your tapes wisely! In every instance of picture glitches, the problem has corrected itself within a matter of minutes. As I said, this is probably the best camcorder you can get in without spending $2500 or more

Poor Quality, Costly Repair
Just passed one year warrant period, the eye piece viewfinder didn't work anymore. It seems that the sensor for the foldable screen went bad. Sent back to California Canon service center, and was charged for [money]. The customer service agent was very arrogant about Canon quality, and showed no sign of concern for my problem.

Recently half of screen became distorted during replay. Don't want to waste another [money], so tried lots of cleaning and changed the tape from TDK to Sony. The problem seems to be under control.

If it goes bad again, I will trash this junk, and buy a Sony.

Features Don't Make for Reliability
This product worked fine for a few months of light use. Then, during playback, the Optura Pi started adding image and audio noise to the tapes. One treasured video partially ruined.

Starts good, then craps
After a few months of light use, Optura Pi started recording (digital noise on audio and video) over tape during playback. Treasured moments partially ruined. ... Read more

Features

• Fits easily in 1 hand
• 12x optical, 48x digital zoom
• Optical image stabilizer
• Stereo PCM recording
• 2.5-inch swivel LCD screen

Reviews (10)

Has been the best 1 CCD camera.
I do corporate & personal video production & have found the Elura to be the best 1 CCD chip video camera I have ever used.
I have used about 8 1 CCD hand held cameras & the Elura's picture quality has been the best. I have been able to flawlessly edit the Elura's video in to the video taken by my Sony VX1000, which is a 3 CCD camera.
Canon changed the construction & parts on later models, I've tried a couple, & the picture quality is not as good as the Elura's.
My latest try is the Sony DCR-PC120BT. This is the latest 1 CCD camera with the new HAD CCD. It is a good camera, the claim that the HAD CCD reduces video noise is true but the color is not as rich as the Elura's. In my experience with what people look for in video color always wins.
It's interesting that the Elura was the first to use a mechanical focusing/shutter system, others like Sony & newer models from Canon use digital, & the claim that this would improve picture quality seems to hold true in my experience. Now the new Sony 120 is using a mechanical system.
The option of taking stills with the video camera is worthless. First of all the image quality is not good. The new Sony DCR-PC120BT has a number of new features to supposedly make the pictures good but they have terrible distortion when taken inside. Outside pics are okay but the end result is a pic that will only make a okay 4x5 print. If you go larger you loose sharpness & color. Leave the still picture taking to a still picture camera.

The Elura has proven to me to be a really good hand held video camera & worth the price. Yes it doesn't have all the features like new ones but how many people use them? When I video tape I want the focus on my subject not some strange color filter or digitized effect. I have had a couple cameras with the night vision & I have used it about 2 times.
If you want a good picture with good color the Elura is the way to go, if you want features to play with a couple of times get something newer.

I need Power Adapter for this product !
I need an Adapter ( power adapter) for CANON MV20 ( Canon DM-MV20E , it writes on the battery spot ). My cam is same as ELURA but the difference is that MV20 is" PAL System " and ELURA is on " NTSC System ". I guess that Power Adapter would be same for both types.If someone knows where could I find a product please let me know. Camera is perfect, no doubt.

Elura 2 problems
This has been one of the greatest cameras until...problems...And I have two of them! On fast re-wind they will sometimes destroy the tape. On both, I only re-wind on slow rewind. Now one will not accept a tape at all. I think someone rewound on fast and hurt the mechanism somehow. A call to Cannon did not admit that they have problems. Still trying to determine cost to fix...if possible. I am reading others on internet with Elura 40 which is similar and they are having problems with totally destroying the tape and $600 to repair??????

To be somewhat fair, I use mine with a helmet camera, carrying the camcorder on my chest. I have not crashed on it but it is not a perfect lifestyle. As a back-up, I bought another... Almost out of the box I had the rewind problems. I could live with those...until now! Changing brands of tapes made no difference.

I use the picture MMC side alot, but remember that it is only 2.0 megpixles and can't take much blowing up. But the pictures are e-mail friendly. The digital zoom is AWSOME!

Other than Tape problems, where you can loose everything, a great camera! 5 stars and falling fast!

Old Camera?
I bought this camera in 1999 - I thought it had been superceded by newer models but it looks like they are still selling it. You may want to check out the Canon site for details.

Newer models have the ability to take hi quality still pictures as well, some with "hard" (memory stick etc.) memory so that you don't have to wait five seconds for the image to record to tape as you do with the Elura.

You may also want to consider a camera with digital output other than Firewire - perhaps one with a USB connection and editing software included.

The camera does take great pictures; autofocus, light sensitivity etc. are good.

But I did have some possible quality issues: the lithium batteries gave out after about 1 1/2 years and it required a ... repair around the same time. I can't say the camera was subjected to hard use and my experience is similar to others who bought Canon DV cameras when they first came out.

Perhaps they've worked out the kinks by now .

Not a single snag......
This camera is small, but the optics are great and it does everything. All the controls are very intuitive, and I'm still discovering new things it does. I've used it snow boarding, on the beach, at a dim wedding reception and downloaded the footage/images right onto my computer. (Premiere is good) And best of all, no snags- amazing for such a complex device. Unless you absolutely must be able to change lenses (sheesh), this camera is great.

joe ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Hi8 video format offers the highest video quality outside of digital, and the Canon ES8200V Hi8 offers a number of great features for its low price. Equipped with a 2.5-inch color LCD view screen and video light, the ES8200V employs an integrated autofocus/autoexposure system that helps eliminate bad footage due to incorrect exposure and focus settings. Its 22x optical zoom lens is augmented by a 700x digital zoom. It also comes with digital image stabilization, which removes excess jitter in your shots, and a time-base corrector, improving recording and playback quality.

There is also an additional set of special effects available during both recording and playback that will help add a little flavor to your movies. These effects include black-and-white, sepia, mirror, and mosaic, among others. Included in the package are an A/V cable, remote control, power adapter, shoulder strap, and battery pack. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder
• 22x optical, 700x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
• Color LCD monitor and black & white EVF
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery
• Includes power adapter, wireless controller, A/V cable, and shoulder strap

Reviews (4)

Awesome Camcorder
I am so glad I purchased this camcorder! It was truly worth the money! Very light weight, easy to use. Very easy to play back or make a vhs copy. Many, many features that will make videoing a lot of fun! This camera was an awesome investment!

Great camcorder!
I had to replace my old VHS camcorder but didn't want to go digital yet, so chose the HI 8 format. I liked the features on the Canon, remote control, great zoom, fade and recording formats. I was able to charge and practice shooting within a few hours after it came in the mail. The size is great too, nice and compact. Very happy with the purchase!

A great camera to have
I've had my camera now for about a month and I love it. I didn't want all the technical stuff that came along with a digital camera so that's why I wanted the next best thing. Although, this does have a lot of extra features that I look forward to using in the future. It's small, light weight and very easy to use. Basically I wanted to document my kids growing up and this will certainly do the job. I did get a little frustrated at the beginning though when reading through the manual and tried to follow the vague instructions in setting the date. If you buy this camera and go to set the date, it says to use the controller to scroll through the month, year, etc. what they are talking about is the FlexiZone controller not the remote controller that comes with it. In my last efforts, I picked up the phone and called the 800 number, to my surprise, I wasn't left on hold very long and actually got a live person to help me through the process. I was very impressed and won't hesitate to call them again for any questions. One drawback now is getting a VCR that is "S-Video" compatible. But in the meantime, playing back the footage and seeing it on the LCD monitor isn't so bad. A great camera to have. Get it now while it's cheaper than when I bought it! A great buy certainly!

a quality camcorder
The ES8200v is a very good camcorder. It has all the necessary features, auto-focus, image stabilization, an LCD flip out screen, etc. It also has a good array of other features like the remote control, the digital effects, a 700x digital zoom, and the Flexi-zone feature that helps keep the important things in focus. The only thing i have found that this camcorder doesn't have is the Sony Nightshot feature, but I don't really see that as a deturent to purchasing this camcorder. Who wants to see home movies in that green, creepy light of Nightshot? It's not digital, but that's not really important unless you plan on making movies on your computer or something. If you just want something to take with you on vacation or something, this is the one to buy. I highly recommend it to all. Happy filming!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Hi8 video format offers the highest quality outside of digital, and the Hi8 Canon ES60 offers a number of great features for its low price as well. First up is the 22x optical zoom lens, which is anchored by a digital zoom that enhances the range electronically to 700x. To help counteract shaky-hand syndrome, digital image stabilization is built-in.

Canon has also included a number of preset shooting modes. These modes will automatically adjust the settings of your camcorder for a variety of shooting situations. There is also an additional set of special effects available during both recording and playback that will help add a little flavor to your movies. These effects include black-and-white, sepia, mirror, and mosaic, among others. Included in the package are an A/V cable, power adapter, shoulder strap, and battery pack. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder
• 22x optical, 700x digital, zoom with digital image stabilization
• Color EVF
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery
• Includes power adapter, A/V cable, and shoulder strap

Reviews (6)

Nice camcorder
I was given the ES60 as a gift, and I think its a wonderful camera, especially for the price. The digital effects and titling are great for filming events and holidays.

Greater starter camcorder
This camcorder is very affordable and easy to use for beginners. My husband has always strayed from "technology" but can use this camera easily. I like that the camera has many options (fading in/out, titles, dates etc.)that make using the camera a little more challenging (and fun) for me. You can definately afford this camcorder! My only concern: the viewfinder seems to put the pictures in a yellowish tint and it is distracting.

A lot of camcorder for the bread.
I just got this camcorder and did some filming with it. The
quality of the pictures was very good. The features are excellent also. The microphone picks ups sound well. If it
keeps working the way it is, it's a winner.

Canon ES60
I have just purchased the canon es60 and it is one of the best cameras I have ever owned! It is easy to use, very light, and at a great low price. My friends and I love to make movies on it. I had searched for quite a while after I decided on the canon, and the cheapest price I found was at Best Buy, but to tell you the truth it wasn't really that cheap. Then I decided to try the net and a friend told me about amazon.com and then I found it here for almost half the price at best buy! As I was saying, the menus are for me, easy too read and the picture is excellent. This is the perfect camcorder for the beginner photoist.

Great and Easy to Use!
I purshased my camcorder and it is great! You get all the standards for a low price. It's good for the beginning recorder and easy to use. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Canon ZR10 excels at providing quality digital video footage in a small form factor. The 10x optical zoom Canon lens gets you right in the action, while image stabilization helps prevent unwanted shakes and jitters from creeping into your important footage. The ZR10 has been designed for point-and-shoot simplicity, making it easy for even beginners to shoot great videos. A number of different programmed auto-exposure modes (including sand and snow,sports, portrait, and low light) automatically adjust settings to take the worry out of shooting in challenging conditions.

Besides the different programmed auto-exposure modes, the ZR10 also offers three different shooting modes. You'll probably leave the camera set to normal movie mode a majority of the time. Digital photo mode lets you use the ZR10 as a digital camera, recording a still image for six seconds on the miniDV tape, and allowing audio commentary. There's a lot of flexibility here: you can switchbetween movie and digital photo modes and create a unique collage of stills and video. Finally, the digital motor drive mode uses the progressive-scan CCD to capture a full noninterlaced 30 frames per second. This means you can use the footage as a series of independent photographs.

As a DV camcorder, the ZR10 has an IEEE 1394 port for digital editing, or for transferring footage between IEEE 1394-compliant devices, such as computers or other DV camcorders. The ZR10 also features S-Video input and output. Analog inputs allow you to transfer old footage to DV for archiving. Digital effects include art, black and white, mosaic, and sepia; built-in faders help ease scene transitions. ... Read more

Features

• Records in MiniDV format
• Digital image stabilization for reduced movie shakiness
• Captures digital stills
• 10x optical, 200x digital zoom Canon lens
• 2.5-inch color swivel LCD monitor

Reviews (40)

Bell and whistle dream- with a few flaws
I bought mine to replace a 5 year old Sony Hi-8. I was very impressed with the small size, recording quality, and the amount of bells and whistles that came with it. I was a little displeased with the zoom range of the lens. It dose not wide enough and shooting in tight spaces is difficult. It does however zoom to 200 with pretty good quality. Other complants are:

*The 2" viewing screen in not brigh enough to be seen clearly in daylight.
*The steady shot feature was barely works at all- If you are the type with shaky hands, this camera is not for you.
*The built in humidity sensor alarm is constantly going off. When this happenes you must shut off the camera, eject the tape and reinsert/ restart. This process takes nearly a minute and has caused me to miss several shots.
Besides the complaits I found it to be a very nice camera with dependable battery life- the supplied manufactures battery has never left me stranded, and cameras small compact size makes it easy to record in forbidon places- like rollercoasters.

Started eating tapes
We bought this camera in 2002 and now it has started eating and rejecting tapes. At first it would only eat the expensive tapes and worked fine with the cheap ones. Now, it does not work at all. I paid close to 700$ for this and now it is useless.
It is obvious that Canon goofed up big time on this one. They should read these reviews and do something about it instead of hiding.

STAY FAR FAR AWAY
Just like thousands of others, I too now own this expensive paperweight. I BARELY EVERY used it in the last year, but now it has destroyed several tapes. IT EATS TAPES. DO NOT BUY! DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!DO NOT BUY!

Fantastic!!!............untill.............
I have owned the zr10 for 3 years. Initially, I was thrilled to death over it's small form factor, quality of picture (in good light) and fantastic cd quality sound.

Now, it just eats tapes, so I can no longer enjoy it's small form factor, quality of picture (in good light) and fantastic cd quality sound.

Nope, it just eats tapes. It seems to enjoy eating maxell as well as TDK, but will eat just about anything you serve it. I have placed my camcorder on a diet of blank tapes. It is not to be trusted with the task of preserving the memories of my children. It is now, basically, a $600 mistake.

My advice to you? Buy from a company that will stand by it's product line.

Just wait yours will eat tapes too
All those that wrote great reviews about the camera will be back extolling how their camcorder now eats tapes. I've had my ZR-10 since Dec 2000 and now just in the last couple of weeks of Nov 2003 it is eating tapes and will not accept a brand new tape.

Luckily (maybe) I did buy the extended warranty that the retailer offered and it is still under some sort of warranty. We'll see.

Note: When I peeked inside it appears that the two fingers/rods that wrap the tape around the head are barely holding on. They move back and forth as you rock the camera in your palm.

Based on the other avalanche of reviews I will not ever buy another Canon product. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 200x digital, zoom with optical image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and color EVF
• 1.33 megapixel still shot capability uses MMC or SD memory cards, 8 MB MMC card included
• Uses included lithium ion battery; includes wireless remote

Reviews (17)

Great camera, terrific image quality.
I have worked with professional level Beta units, and prosumer DV cameras such as the Canon XL1. Although the Optura lacks some of their useful features, like zebra striping, it has fantastic image quality that rivals 3-CCD units, in a very compact package.

Having the flash is a must to make the still mode useful, if you ever want to use it. Exposure was good and image quality fairly good, considering it is only a 1.3 Mpx image.

I have larger hands but I found the camera very comfortable to hold. I have had problems with other Canon gear because I find they design for very small hands compared to Nikon.

I have not seen any of the rewinding problems reported in the other review of this product, after about 20 hours of use.

My only complaint is that low light performance can be weak. I would be concerned about trying to shoot good video in candlelight conditions (i.e. Thanksgiving Dinner) but those would be tough conditions for any camera. Nor would I ever consider using something like Sony NightShot -- I'm not interested in family video that looks like war footage.

A great camera, at a better price point than the comparable Sony PC-110.

Great camera but tape eating problem exists...
I bought this camera almost 3 months back. I am more than satisfied with the handling and the image quality. However, I also am encountering the tape getting stuck while doing a rewind. I thought initially that it was a problem with the tape but after reading the reviews, I am realizing that its a design defect. I would expect Canon to offer some solution since its been a decent investment in getting this camera. Besides that its a very nice camera and I am glad I chose this over a Sony.

Great DV
I debated between the Canon and Sony lines for weeks, trying each one. It came down to comfort and ease of use. The canon feels much better in my hand, and is much easier to use. Sony is a bit more difficult because it has more features. If you are going to edit on your computer (like me) you don't need any special features. The quality is great, like all camcorders much better outdoors than in. I wish someone would have told me about their whole setup so I didn't have to spend weeks researching, so here it is:

Camcorder: Canon Optura 100mc
Computer: Dell 600mhz, 384 RAM,
Hard Drive: 80gb External Maxtor 3000dv (need lots of room)
Video Card: Nvidia gForce2 400mx
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio DV Version 7.X

With the exception of the computer, I bought all of the other pieces after the camera and they all worked perfect. Already edited my own home movie from Thanksgiving and worked perfect.

Hope this helps

Optura 100 MC - Great video camera!
First of all, let me point out that I am not a camera buff, nor do I even know how to work a professional 35MM camera (with aperture, manual focus, etc...) I have always been a fan of technology and of opening the box and using the product without having to do much reading of the instructions. So, here's my review...

I've had this digital camcorder for about 6 months now. Previously, I had purchased a JVC digital camcorder. That one jammed up about a year and a half after I bought it and wouldn't accept video tapes anymore (I just recently got it to work again but I'm not sure for how long.) I knew of the Canon line of digital camcorders and owned a Advantix Elph camera so I trusted the brand name and bought the Optura. I was pleasantly surprised.

The camera takes great video, it could use a bit more light in dark situations so purchasing a light to mount on the top of the camera. I also purachased additional filters and lenses (wide angle and telescopic) but, to tell you the truth, nine times out of ten, I don't use them. As for taking pictures, the camera aspect is great at taking photos for storing on your computer or emailing, but the quality is just not good enough to print out, even at its higher quality level. The pixels can easily be seen and anyone would be able to tell it was a picture printed off your computer.

I purchased a longer lasting battery with the camera, and I highly recommend you do as well, because the battery they give you with the camera will only last about an hour and a half before needing to be recharged. I purchased a 4 hour battery for about [$$$] or less and it works great because I can always charge one while using the other.

In addition, a 128 MB card versus the card that comes with the camera would be a great purchase. The 128 card allows me to take up to 250 pictures at the higher quality level (I think abt 1 megapixel or so) before being filled up.

All in all, a great video camera but if you want to take stills, I recommend getting a real digital camera. Even without the camera functionality, I would buy this model again in a heartbeat. I was able to take great video of the birth of my first child and many other memorable moments since I got it!

best 1-ccd minidv
Owned Opyura100 for almost 1 year and very happy with it. Video quality is great and is very easy to use although standstill picture is only good for email. Optical stablizer worked very well. Recommend to anyone looking for small camcorder with excellent video quality. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Hi8 technology has been ignored lately (February 2003) because of the digital revolution, but price-conscious buyers can still find great picture quality and feature-laden Hi8 camcorders, and the Canon ES8600 is such an example. Some of its many features include image stabilization, built-in video light, time-base corrector for a more accurate picture, and digital effects.

Lens
The ES8600's powerful 22x optical zoom lens transforms distant scenes into dramatic close-ups with absolutely no loss of image quality. The extra-long digital zoom magnifies to 800x, revealing details too distant to be seen by the naked eye.

Canon's exclusive FlexiZone AF-AE (autofocus-autoexposure) functions keep you concentrated on the action rather than on trying to find the ideal setting for each moment. Simply use the FlexiZone controller to align the FlexiZone in the viewfinder with your subject, and you'll get perfect focus and exposure anywhere within the frame.

More Features
Give variety and impact to your shots by adding a variety of digital effects, including art, black and white, fade, sepia, negative, mirror, mosaic, 16:9, cinema, strobe, ghost--and all at the touch of a button.

A high-quality image-stabilization system corrects camera shake instantly, giving you smooth, stable pictures. It enables you to record shake-free images, even on telephoto shots without a tripod.

Other features include:

• Photo mode lets you record still images with sound onto the tape for approximately 7 seconds
• The time-base corrector digitally processes the video signal for a more stable picture, ensuring better playback for viewing or copying
• The tape-analyzing system analyzes the characteristics of each tape you use and adjusts the recording signal to that most appropriate for each tape

Inputs and Outputs
The standard RCA input-output and cable are included so you can hook the camcorder to a TV for convenient viewing or a VCR for dubbing to regular VHS.

Contents and Power
This package contains the ES8600 camcorder, battery pack (model BP-911K), shoulder strap, power adapter (model CA-550), and AV cable. The ES8600 can record up to 14 hours continuously (using just the viewfinder) when using two BP-945 battery packs attached to an optional CH-910 dual battery charger-holder. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder with 22x optical, 800x digital zoom
• 2.5 inch high-resolution color LCD with monochrome electronic viewfinder (EVF)
• Digital photo mode records stills to tape
• Built-in light, image stabilizer
• Comes with BP-911K battery pack

Reviews (1)

Love it!!
I bought this camera to replace a 9 year old Sony camcorder that stopped working (we're not talking about 9 yrs of heavy use either). I must say, this Canon is wonderful and so much easier to use!! My biggest complaint with the Sony camcorder was when I had to hook the camera up to the VCR to convert my videos to VHS tape. It was truely a pain. This Canon camcorder is simple to convert to VHS tapes. The price is great and I definitely recommend this camcorder!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Hi8 technology has been ignored lately because of the digital revolution, but price-conscious buyers can still find great picture quality and feature-laden Hi8 camcorders, and the Canon ES8400V is no exception. Some of its many features include a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, color viewfinder, built-in video light, time base corrector for a more accurate picture, preset titling, and digital effects such as art, black and white, sepia, negative, and 16:9 screen ratio.

Lens
The optical zoom has a power of 22x and a digital zoom of 800x. The digital zoom works by electronically enhancing the optical image and comes in handy for objects far away. The electronic image stabilization system keeps the picture steady despite natural hand shaking from the user. The autofocus and autoexposure functions help you concentrate on the action rather than on trying to find the ideal setting for each moment. For greater control, you can use the focus controller and direct the camera to focus on an off-center subject. The ES8400V has programmed autoexposure settings to match a variety of shooting situations: auto, sports, portrait, spotlight, and sand and snow.

Inputs and Outputs
The standard RCA input-output and cable are included so you can hook the camcorder to a TV for convenient viewing or a VCR for dubbing to regular VHS.

Contents
This package contains the ES8400V camcorder, battery pack (model BP-911K), shoulder strap, power adapter (model CA-550), and AV cable. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder
• 22x optical, 700x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
• Color LCD monitor and black & white EVF
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery
• Includes power adapter, wireless controller, A/V cable, and shoulder strap

Reviews (20)

Pretty Good But There are Better for the Same Price
I recently bought the Canon 8400 after having a Sony CCD 8 mm (non HI-8 format) for 5-6 years, which was great. Here are the Canon's Pros: It's small and light weight. It has a light and image stabilization. It has a LCD screen. It has a high power zoom.

Canon's Cons: Compared to the Sony, I'm a little disappointed in the picture quality. Although the zoom is easy to use, the picture quality was fairly grainy, even at what I would consider relatively short distances (15-20 feet). I frankly don't think it's any better than the Sony non-Hi-8 format. Also, the 2.5" LCD screen is too small.

I think if I were buying again, I would look more seriously at the Sony's. The comparable price point Sony model didn't have image stabilization; however, that feature I now realize isn't as important as picture quality.

A good camera for a good price.
I recently purchased this camcorder from amazon and I am quite happy with it. Before I bought this, I used an RCA camcorder that I was satisfied with. However, the RCA used VHS C tapes that weren't very good quality. I shopped around looking at different cameras. The digital cameras are the newest, and eventually will probably be the way to go, but the good ones are up around $1000+. Then I came across this camera and I decided to buy it.
I am very happy with the features on this camera, especially the 22x optical zoom. I usually find myself zooming in often because at the extreme wide angle position, you do lose some picture quality. Also, the digital effects are fun to play with; I especially like the negative conversion. Another nice feature is that the playback also lets you hear sound. The image stabilizer is very helpful as well, especially in telephoto. Also, people have been saying that the LCD could be bigger, but I think that a screen much bigger than that would drain the battery very fast. The built in video light is very nice too.
As much as I do like the camera, there are a few cons. First of all, the view finder could be in color, I often find mysef using the view finder on sunny days, because the LCD gets glared. Also, I wish there was a way to turn off the microphone when you don't want sound. Also, there is no way to program your own titals into the camera. The pre-set titals are too general, and I can't program in the ones I want. Another thing is that the 800x digital zoom isn't all what it is said to be. When you zoom into the digital zoom, immediately you see diminishing picture quality, and if you zoom in 800 times, the pictures are grainy that you can't distinguish the picture. But the zoom is nice at the low stages of it.
Overall, I am very happy with this camcorder, and I am enjoying it. I highly recommend this camera to anyone who is seeking out a good camcorder for a good price.

as above
I also was upset about the lack of a wireless controller, and my trunk ceased closing just after a year. Disgusted.

Good at the start, then after some use it failed
I found mechanical problems in this camcorder.
the trunk didnt close.
Do not make a mistake. pay a little bit more
and get a Sony. I am really frustated with this
camera.

There is no wireless controller!
I just wanted to tell you that I didn't recieve any Wireless controller. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The power and flexibility of digital video is truly amazing, and with the Canon Ultura, you'll have creative control at your fingertips. Canon's legendary optics and technology make this digital camcorder suitable for applications ranging from taping your kid's birthday party to professional video work. ... Read more

Features

• 2.5-inch color LCD view screen and color viewfinder
• 16x optical/320x digital zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Canon original technology)
• FlexiZone autofocus/auto exposure
• Program auto exposure

Reviews (5)

Great with Digital Computer
I hooked up this camera to my iMac DV, connected it to the Firewire conneciton, turned on the computer and everything worked great the first time out. I was able to create, edit, and produce a Web film in less than aday.

a great dv camcorder
I've owned the ultura since late January and so far have been completely satisfied with it.. is has a great range of features and turns out incredible quality footage. I also bought a DV Capture card for mycomputer, and the ultura allows for easy editing of videos.The digitalzoom works up to about 64x, and some of the "modes" are not veryuseful, but all around, it's great!

No problems
We went into the store prepared to buy the sony TR 103 and ended up with this canon. It is alot smaller than the sony and the lens is supposed to be better. One thing about these camcorders is to get the smallest one you canafford because it is so easy to take with you. As far as options, it hasjust about everything you need. We just turn it on and shoot.

Works fine, but battery discharges fast while in camera
This works great for me! The only problem is that if you leave the battery inside, it'll discharge even with the power off.

Doesn't have all the top of the line features, but the price is great. The zoom could have beenbetter, but I don't have any complaints.

Problem After 2 Weeks!
My new Canon Ultura's audio isn't working after owning it only 2 weeks! Monday I'll be driving 100 miles to the nearest authorized Canon repairplace. I just hope they can repair it before I go on vacation.

Plus, thezoom is fairly useless past 64X.

Also, I wish it wouldn't automaticallyshut off after being on pause for only a few minutes. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 200x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and color EVF
• Progressive Photo Mode records still pictures onto MiniDV tape or the included 8 MB MultiMediaCard
• Uses an included lithium-ion battery; also includes power adapter, shoulder strap, wireless controller, S-Video cable, and stereo video cable

Reviews (20)

First Impressions
First I want to say I'm not very knowledgeable at all about Mini-DV, and as this being my first camera as such any opinions I express are only very amateurish and I cannot compare this camera to others as I have not had the experience of using any other DV devices, and I have not had alot of time lately to play with it. But I'll say my first impressions here of it for what they are worth.

First, I'll have to say my impressions about the Image Stabilisation, as far as I can tell. It's not much to be desired. If I don't hold the camera very steady in my hands or use a tripod the "shakes" are very noticeable. I have been using the camera to take footage of rural Alaska, on trails and mountains, and as you can probably guess it's rather hard to climb a rough trail without considerable shaking. It's not horrendous, but I really don't see any help from it. Again, I don't really know what to expect from it either, but so far, it's not been what I expected. But, it's also not the more desireable optical stabilisation as opposed to this cameras digital, and it is also better to just turn this feature completely off anyway when using zoom in extended ranges.

Also, the low light feature does work, but is very grainy when taking indoor shots especially. It seems the camera does best in bright outdoor light, and to take decent footage of indoor scenes your lighting better be good. The various options for lighting adjustment in the menu for outdoor/indoor lighting however work great, and adjust for the different conditions well.

The camera seems VERY well built. I have knocked it around considerably on the trails, thrown it in a bag and out without overdue care, and subjected it to high winds, mist, and rough handling. No problems. It feels very solid in the hands and does'nt give me any impression of fragileness. The LCD door clicks open and shut with certainty, as does the battery. The covers for the DC jack and S/DV in-out jacks are'nt though, they are made of rubber and do not seem to be very reliable, and hang by a thin rubber strip when open. They also don't seem to want to stay closed alot, and I'm always afraid of ripping them off when opening them for access. Otherwise, the cam seems very solid and able to withstand abuse. The camera fits snugly and comfortably in the right hand using the supplied strap, and it also comes with a neck strap for additional security. The controls are easily accessible considering this cameras very small size, though the main power switch is hard to move due to it's extremely small center lock button. The footage/shutter stop/start button is very nicely located and can be quickly found with the thumb. Same is true for the zoom rocker with the index finger.

The Optical zoom (10X) is superb. No degradation in image quality whatsoever either all the way up to 40X in the digital zoom. This thing is like a telescope, I can zoom in on things the naked eye could never pick up even past the 40X. However......past the 40X, the image gets grainy, and is practically worthless past 100X. It gets so pixelated past 100 that I turned the option off and only use the 40X digital zoom option. Again, it is best to turn stabilisation off when using zoom past 10X optical.

The image quality so far is excellent. Very clear, the colors are accurate and vibrant, and noticeably improved over Hi-8 when dubbed to a VHS tape. The zoom is smooth, and very fast/slow according to how much pressure you place on the rocker swith.

The DV out/in works flawlessly with my firewire terminal, and I've been using MGI Videowave 3 for editing and compression. BTW, I can also highly recommend that program, very user friendly and works great. I may someday want to graduate to a more robust application, but for now it's awesome. I also called their tech support for a question I had regarding capture (I was being an idiot, enough said of that!) and the support person was very friendly, patient and helpful.

The ZR25's battery life seems excellent. I have not yet ever completely depleted it using the included Li-ion BP-512 pack, even using the LCD constantly. Canon has available a higher capacity pack as an accessory, but I see no need for it for my uses.

The LCD quality is not what I expected. According to specs, it's 2.5 inch LCD is approximately 112,000 pixels. I'm not sure how that compares to other screens in it's class but I'm sure it's low. I always have to keep in mind that my footage is going to look 3X better than what I'm previewing on it. It's also terrible in sunlight (I imagine this may be common with most DVcams, but the LCD on my Kodak digicam spanks it big time). The viewfinder however is more than adequate. Nice color, and seems to be accurate according to the actual footage taken. It also swings up and away from the battery pack for easy replacement of the battery, and it's angle is good for comfort of use when extended.

Overall, though the CCD is admittedly of lower resolution compared to the Allura's, (1/4 inch CCD, approx. 460,000 pixels, approx. 290,000 effective) but the quality of footage is so far excellent and more than satisfactory to me as long as the lighting is adequate. I have not yet tried the still image mode, but I did not buy this camera for that feature as I have two digital cameras for that purpose (Kodak DC-4800's, which, by the way, I can personally highly vouch for, they take superb images, have a full range of manual exposure settings, and offered with optional lenses with lens adapter accessory). I'm pleased with it more than not.

I'll write more on this camera as I gain more experience with it, and I hope this somewhat helps others who might be considering purchasing this model.

Great while it lasted
We bought the Canon ZR25 right before our daughter was born. It took excellent video but was slightly grainy and did have some problems with it trying to focus on other objects. We could live with that because it was so easy to use.

However, now I've been working on doing some video capture with my PC and it just ate my daughters 6 month old tape. I figured I'd better not put any of her other tapes in until I tried it out with a new tape. That was a good decision. Now the camera won't play or record and just gives me a "remove tape" message.

I checked with the store where we purchased the camcorder and they say it starts at $199 to get it repaired.

From reading other reviews.... it's probably not worth it!!!!

Wonderful!
My husband and I were expecting our first baby in January of 02, so we started looking (and looking...) for a digital camcorder. The camcorder had to be able to take still pictures for e-mailing, because all of the grandparents live out of state. After checking Consumer Reports and reviews online, we decided that this camera would fulfill all of our needs for the price range we could afford.
We have had our Canon for almost 6 months now, and we absolutely love it. The video is crisp, and even transfers well to VHS (for the grandparents!) We haven't had any problems with a humming noise, like others have mentioned. We love the LCD screen, but sometimes it is hard to see well in bright light. The still pictures sometimes come out grainy, but that's only if it is really dark. We have found that we use the "fine" setting for the digital stills, and they turn out well, and if necessary, we use the "low light" function. Then they turn out great. We knew that we weren't going to get a high-end perfectly crisp picture from this (since it was first and foremost for video), but were surprised at how well the pictures do turn out. Originally, the Canon was just going to be for snapshots to send online, but we haven't used our "regular" camera since we got it!
All of the relatives love our camera too, and want one of their own now. We just need to get a Firewire in our computer to send video over the internet, and we'll be all set.

Defective Product-Avoid
We bought this camera about 2 years ago. Shortly after buying it, the camera stopped functioning. The only way to fix Canon Camcorders is to send them to one of two Canon repair facilities. We sent it in and it was repaired under warranty. Annoying but fine. Now less than 1 1/2 later, and after light to moderate use, the SAME THING happened. We sent it back to be repaired and were told it would cost $145 to fix! What robbery. I might think of repairing it if I thought it wouldn't break again in a few months/years. Avoid Canon or at the very least buy an extended warranty.

Tape jamming problem
I purchased this camcorder in November and have successfully used 4 tapes. Very easy to use and compact. Most still pictures ended up being dark, but in regular daylight most video was of good quality. Last month, I inserted a brand new tape and it ended up jammed. I couldn't eject it and the camera wouldn't perform any other function. I returned it to the place of purchase (where I had an extended warranty) and all they could do was send it back to Canon for repair. I figured this was no big deal, until I did some research. Seems that the tape jamming problem is a reoccurring problem. A friend has the same model and they have sent it to the factory twice and it still isn't working. If you surf the review boards on different sites you will see others reporting the same problem. I hope Canon can fix our camcorder, but if this is a known problem that can't be fixed, they should recall this model. I encourage anyone else who encounters this problem to post a review and pressure Canon to address the issue. ... Read more