Canon Products
Canon DC100
Positives:
Fast focusing, long zoom lens; solid image stabilization; decent low-light video; aperture- and shutter-priority exposure modes.
Negatives:
Fair-to-middling video quality overall; awkward navigation controls; poor still photos.
Facts:
A basic, inexpensive DVD camcorder, the Canon DC100 is a safe, if unremarkable, choice.
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Canon DC210
Product Short Spec:
Video input type:
Camcorder
Effective sensor resolution:
0.68 megapixels
Optical zoom:
35 x
Media type:
3" DVD-R,
3" DVD-RW,
3" DVD-R DL
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Canon DC220
Positives:
Long zoom lens; decent image stabilization; fast autofocus; shutter-priority exposure mode.
Negatives:
Fair-to-middling overall video quality; poor still photos.
Facts:
A simple DVD camcorder with decent performance and image quality, the DC220 won't blow you away but neither will it let you down.
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Canon DC230
Product Short Spec:
Video input type:
Camcorder
Effective sensor resolution:
1.07 megapixels
Optical zoom:
35 x
Media type:
3" DVD-R,
3" DVD-RW,
3" DVD-R DL
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Canon DC40
Positives:
Attractive, functional design; solid build quality; very decent daytime and surprisingly solid low-light video quality; broad set of semimanual photo and video controls.
Negatives:
Small LCD; uses Mini SD cards rather than standard SD; blinding video light; no S-Video input for converting analog video to DVDs.
Facts:
The Canon DC40 definitely deserves a spot on your short list of DVD camcorders.
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Canon DC50
Product Short Spec:
Video input type:
Camcorder
Effective sensor resolution:
5.39 megapixels
Optical zoom:
10 x
Media type:
3" DVD-R,
3" DVD-RW,
3" DVD-R DL
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Canon Elura 100
Positives:
Compact size; fast, 20X zoom lens; solid color in video footage.
Negatives:
Average low-light performance; no accessory shoe.
Facts:
With a big zoom, a small size, and a decent price, the Canon Elura 100 is a great choice if you plan on steering clear of low-light situations.
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Canon Elura 65
Product Short Spec:
Video input type:
Camcorder
Optical zoom:
16 x
Media type:
Mini DV
Note: This product is part of the Canon Elura series. .
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Canon GL2
Positives:
Excellent image quality and color fidelity; 20X optical zoom; two-channel audio control; 1.7-megapixel still image capture; lightweight.
Negatives:
Too many controls per button; onboard microphone is omnidirectional; mediocre battery life with included cell.
Facts:
This outstanding performer raises the bar for prosumer MiniDV camcorders.
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Canon HV10
Positives:
Excellent video quality; compact; broad feature set.
Negatives:
Some very awkward ergonomics; poorly located microphone; can't adjust white balance while shooting; no HDMI output or accessory shoe; short battery life; no bundled video software.
Facts:
An excellent HD video camcorder with some annoying quirks, the Canon HV10 delivers almost everything a technophile wants for making home videos.
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Canon HV20 - camcorder - Mini DV (HDV)
Positives:
The Canon HV20 high-definition camcorder has excellent video quality, nice features, HDMI output, and an accessory shoe.
Negatives:
Can't change white balance while shooting; night mode doesn't help poor low-light performance.
Facts:
Canon's HV20 camcorder is a great choice for HD-happy amateurs, but its low-light performance could have been better.
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Canon Optura 40
Positives:
Small size; fine zoom lens; above-average sound quality; decent color; easy to use; video light.
Negatives:
Wimpy battery; cheesy digital effects; minimal bundled software.
Facts:
If the Optura 30 is good, the Optura 40 is better, thanks to its video light. But if you don't find yourself shooting in a lot of low-light situations, it may not be worth the cash.
Note: This product is part of the Canon Optura series. .
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Canon Optura 50
Positives:
Manual focus ring; cameralike mode wheel; shutter- and aperture-priority modes available for video; optical image stabilization; excellent LCD and microphone; takes decent snapshots.
Negatives:
Poor low-light video quality; microphone picks up motor noise.
Facts:
Canon's feature-packed camcorder shoots very good daylight footage but has reason to be scared of the dark.
Note: This product is part of the Canon Optura series. .
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Canon Optura S1
Positives:
Extremely compact; decent video quality in well-lit environments.
Negatives:
Poor low-light performance.
Facts:
A decent pocket camcorder that's also a makeshift snapshot camera, the Canon Optura S1 is not an optimal choice for indoor shooting.
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Canon XH G1
Product Short Spec:
Video input type:
Camcorder
Optical zoom:
20 x
Media type:
Mini DV (HDV)
Note: This product is part of the Canon XH series. .
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Canon XL H1
Positives:
Very high resolution; extensive image controls; interchangeable lenses; compatible with the Canon XL system of lenses and accessories; compatible jack pack is ideal for multicam studio work.
Negatives:
No true progressive shooting; strange ergonomics; stock lens hard to focus manually; pricier than the competition.
Facts:
Canon's semipro high-definition XL H1 video camera is a winner for event, reality, ENG, and documentary shooters, but its price is high.
Note: This product is part of the Canon XL series. .
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Canon XL2
Positives:
State-of-the-art DV imagery and controls; 24P mode; interchangeable lenses; native 16:9 capture; compatible with most XL1 lenses and accessories.
Negatives:
Strange ergonomics; stock lens is hard to focus manually and stock viewfinder doesn't help; no flip-out LCD monitor; pricier than the competition.
Facts:
Canon returns to the state of the art in DV but doesn't set a new standard.
Note: This product is part of the Canon XL series. .
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Canon ZR500
Positives:
Costs less than $300; wide-screen LCD; easy-to-use controls; built-in lens cover; above-average color reproduction; 25X optical zoom; plenty of manual controls for shooters who want them; works with add-on lenses and filters; microphone jack.
Negatives:
No shoulder strap or accessory shoe; bottom-loading tape compartment; not enough image stabilization at maximum zoom; poor low-light performance.
Facts:
Canon's compact, capable ZR500 MiniDV camcorder is a dream come true for videographers on a shoestring budget.
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Canon ZR50MC
Product Short Spec:
Video input type:
Camcorder
Optical zoom:
22 x
Media type:
Mini DV
Note: This product is part of the Canon ZR series. .
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Canon ZR600
Positives:
Wide-screen LCD; easy-to-use controls; built-in lens cover; above-average color reproduction; 25X optical zoom; plenty of manual controls; accepts add-on lenses and filters; low price.
Negatives:
No accessory shoe or microphone input; bottom-loading tape compartment; grainy, low-resolution still photos; not enough stabilization at maximum zoom; poor low-light performance.
Facts:
Stick with well-lit environments and you're sure to like the Canon ZR600, a low-priced, feature-rich camcorder.
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Canon ZR700
Positives:
Wide-screen LCD; excellent color quality in outdoor settings; easy-to-use controls; built-in lens cover; supports analog-to-digital conversions; plenty of manual controls; accepts add-on lenses and filters; low price.
Negatives:
No accessory shoe or microphone input; bottom-loading tape compartment; grainy, low-resolution still photos; not enough stabilization at maximum zoom; poor low-light performance.
Facts:
Canon's latest entry-level camcorder, the ZR700, is easy to use, affordable, and ideal for wide-screen moviemaking, but low-light performance remains a problem.
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Canon ZR800
Positives:
Inexpensive; easy-to-use joystick control; 35x optical zoom; above-average color reproduction; microphone jack.
Negatives:
Poor low-light performance; bottom-loading tape compartment; not enough stabilization at maximum zoom; no still image capture.
Facts:
Canon's latest entry-level MiniDV camcorder is a great choice for anyone looking to create video on a shoestring budget.
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Canon ZR830
Positives:
Easy to use menu system with joystick control; impressive color in good lighting; wide-screen LCD; built-in lens cover; low price.
Negatives:
No accessory shoe or microphone input; bottom-loading tape compartment; low-resolution still photos; not enough stabilization at maximum zoom; poor low-light performance.
Facts:
If you don't shoot in low light and don't plan on using it to shoot still images, this feature-rich camcorder is a bargain.
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Canon ZR850
Positives:
New, easier-to-use menu system with joystick control; impressive color in good lighting; wide-screen LCD; built-in lens cover; low price.
Negatives:
No accessory shoe or microphone input; bottom-loading tape compartment; doesn't support analog-to-digital conversions; not enough stabilization at full zoom; poor low-light performance.
Facts:
Canon's new MiniDV top model, the ZR850, continues the ZR tradition of offering affordable, easy-to-use wide-screen movie-making, though low-light performance is still subpar.
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