Gambit624's Full Review: Canon ZR500 Mini DV Camcorder
My wife and I were looking for a replacement for our old JVC DV camera that was starting to show it's age. We went to Best Buy to shop around after comparing various models online. We narrowed it down to two Canons. The ZR500 and ZR600 the ones in contention. Intially, we were going to go with the zr600 as we wanted to replace both our Digital camera and video camera with one device. I had also been looking at new digital cameras as well.
Once in the store, we decided to get two new devices. The ZR500 suited us for what we wanted in a miniDV camera. The Firewire port was an added bonus. We also purchased a canon digital camera the same day. We haven't regretted either decision.
Out of the box, the ZR500 is simplistic to use. After intially charging the battery, which only took me about 60 minutes to charge, I started to film my family. The zoom control is easy to move. The flip-out screen is adaquate, and the information on the screen is what you need (battery life, tape used/remaining, etc). It's size is great as well. The ZR500 is light, and almost fits in the palm of your hand. Battery life is decent, as I ran it for about 90 minutes before it ran out. Another nice feature is that while plugged into the AC to transfer your video to a computer or DVD recorder, it charges the battery at the same time.
As stated before, the firewire connection was a pleasant bonus. The ZR500 still has the standard output to RCA connections, if firewire is not available. I have a DVD recorder that has a firewire connection, and it transfers wonderfully. There is also a switch right in front of the zoom control to toggle from easy to pro mode. There aren't many options in pro-mode, but for the price, I didn't really expect much. The pro mode you have more control over color balance, shutter speed, and some basic effects. Did I also mention it's under $300? That was a big bonus for us.
One feature missing is it's lack of a light source. While it records really well in low light, a small light would be a nice touch for those times that I'd want to make sure of what I am recording. I'm also not a big fan of the settings menu and how to access each of them. On the flip-out screen, there is a small joystick where you manuver through the options. To select the option you want, you press the joystick down. Sometimes, when I do this, it moves up or down one selection. A minor annoyance, but something they could improve upon in the future. The charger is slightly bulky as well, but this is a minor gripe as well as you don't have to take the battery off the camera to charge it.
Picture quality is decent for it's price category. You won't be making the next Star Wars movie with this camera, but you can capture little Johnny's school play and be happy with how the picture looks. It has two audio settings (12 bit and 16 bit) which to play with.
Bottom line, is that this miniDV camera is a good budget camera for those that just want to film life around them, and the kids in the backyard or that family get together.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 300 Recommended for: Budget Buyers - Best Values to Fit the Budget
Features true widescreen recording and powerful 24x optical zoom Widescreen 2.7-inch LCD Canon's Digic DV image processor for exceptional color and cl...More at Amazon Marketplace
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