It will ZOOM into your heart
Written: Nov 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Stabilizer, Large color LCD, 22x optical zoom, and great digital effects.
Cons: Below average recording in pitch-dark situations.
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| flashfriday's Full Review: Canon ES410V 8mm Analog Camcorder |
When I went searching for a camcorder I was a complete novice. I was overwhelmed by the myriad of choices ranging from VHS to digital. Should I stick with a $300 8mm camcorder or should I go for broke and get the $1000 digital? All of these thoughts were floating around my head when I finally decided that the 8mm format would suit both my needs and my pocketbook. After browsing online for almost a week, I kept coming back to the Canon ES410V. It seemed to have everything I wanted and more. Finally, I bit the bullet and purchased the Canon ES410V
Why the Canon ES410V?
First of all, this camcorder was well within my budget at only $379. For the features it sported and the Canon name brand, I felt that this was a fair price.
Second, I wanted a camcorder that had all of the features that I felt were necessary in an 8mm camcorder. I did not want to sacrifice any of the features that I felt were must haves. The must-have features in my opinion are a stabilizer, powerful optical zoom, color LCD viewer, long battery life, night shooting capability, titling, and digital effects. The ES410V had all of these important features. Many of the slightly cheaper 8mm models lacked either an LCD viewer or stabilization.
Nice Features of the Canon ES410V:
1. A high quality image stabilizer that makes even long range shots shake free
2. Powerful 22x optical zoom.
3. 2 1/2 inch color LCD viewer.
4. 5 preset titles, plus the ability to create your own and use different colors.
5. Up to 14 hour battery with added batteries. You can record about 2 1/2 hours with standard battery.
6. Low light mode for recording in minimal light
Third, I wanted a camcorder that is easy to use and requires minimal knowledge to operate. The point-and-shoot capability of the ES410V is second to none.
Our Experience With The Camcorder
Now that we have had this camera for over 6 months now, I would like to share with you some of the experiences we've had with this camcorder. When I first received the camcorder, I was up and recording immediately. The buttons on the camcorder are responsive and intuitive. My wife and I were impressed with the simplicity of this camera.
We found playing the movies to be simple and easy using the LCD viewer. This is great when you are outside and want a quick replay of something you just taped. An added bonus is that you can hear the sound as well! Playing the movies on your TV was as easy as plugging in to your VCR or TV jacks.
One thing we love about 8mm tapes is that you can just transfer your movies to a VCR videotape and reuse the tapes. Although digital camcorders give you more editing and storage options, we felt that the 8mm was adequate for our storage and playing needs.
On a recent hiking trip, we brought along the camcorder to see how it would do in cinematic and outside setting. It performed beautifully and recorded with near perfection. The camera adjusted automatically and quickly according to the lighting situation. We even tested out the 22x optical zoom to see how accurate it taped from a distance. We zoomed in on a bird perched on the cliff and were pleasantly surprised when we played back the tape and could see the bird as clear as day with no distortion.
Our One Minor Complaint
Although we love everything about this camcorder, our one complaint is its average ability to record in the dark. The low-light feature will record nicely in minimal light setting, but in pitch dark the camcorder images are fuzzy and hard to make out.
This complaint is minor, however, as the camcorder still performs beautifully is semi-dark situations. When buying this camcorder, we decided that this was the tradeoff for all of the other great features.
Final Thought
I suggest that you spend a little time deciding what type of camcorder to purchase. Decide on the features that you must have to narrow your choices. By doing this, you will likely be much happier with your purchase. I took my time and could not be happier with the decision I made.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
flashfriday
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Corona, CA
Reviews written: 91
Trusted by: 123 members
About Me:
Becoming a father has enriched my life to no end.
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