... I own 2 Canon GL2's. The picture is really great when the camera is new. I use a VCR to import video for editing. After about 20 hours of use I can no longer use the vcr. I must use the camera to import video. I have had both cameras fixed twice for $240 dollars each time. After 5 months one went bad again. I went back to Canon and they have now raised the price to $400 for the same repair.They claim parts are hard to get. This is a current model! I have sworn off Sony, now it's Canon's turn. By the way the problem is caused by the same issue as the eject message, The tape transport. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom


... I bought this camera recently but now use it almost exclusively. It's the second videocam that I've owned and this one is a real improvement over its predecessor. The videos come out HD and I upload them onto YT with ease. Honestly, they're pretty impressive. [...]. Further, you can set the camera on high resolution and it creates some absolutely beautiful pictures. Yes, its size is a little ungainly but I have Carhartt shorts with a side panel pocket that's just big enough to hold it. I have to say this camera is one of the best buys I've made. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Aiptek A-HD Pro 1080P High Definition Camcorder (Silver)


... This camera has very good video and sound quality. A long lasting battery life, and the timelapse mode is awesome. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony DCR-HC62 1MP MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom


... Price was better than most others. I was satisfied with the JVC product and the delivery was fast considering the shipping is absolutely free. The only problem is the memory card...its limited to find microSD which is compatible with this product. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio GZ-HD300 60GB High-Def Camcorder (Black)


... It's supposed to be entry level but so far it's turned out first class footage for everything.. Of course, I do know how to shoot..but it will work for anybody..and don't let the gripes about the menu discourage you. It's a simple menu and easy to use. I use a battery powered sound board to mix sound before I send it to the cam..but this AG 20 records sound better than any other I've ever used. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic Pro AG-DVC20 3CCD MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom


... I did a great deal of research before I bought my DVX100B. With the rising popularity of HD, prices on the DVX will be dropping. It is still a very versatile camera. Images are excellent and the camera is easy to use. Check out the DVX User website. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic Pro AG-DVX100B 3-CCD MiniDV Proline Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom


... This thing is small, compact and Amazing, Keep in mind you can get the more expensive one with the higher models but its the same thing just without the built in memory. But this is a better bet, because you can get 16 and 32 gig memory cards cheeper anyway and there removable. This camera has no memory internally like the more expensive ones but your going to purchase memory cards anyway. So purchase this and save! ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Samsung HMX-H100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom


... This is a pretty good camera for planning out shots for an independent film. However, I wouldn't recommend it for youtube or home videography use because the image is very dark and grainy. Like I said, the only real use for this low quality camera is planning out shots that will be filmed with a much better camera later on. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Samsung SC-D382 MiniDV Camcorder


... I wholeheartedly agree with reviewer Clank of Iowa who says that if you are considering purchasing a camcorder such as the Flip Mino HD or similar type of mini camcorder in that price range, you may want to spend the extra money to get Sanyo's VPC-TH1 HD. You'll get 30 X optical zoom and superior audio recording capability and quality.

Of course size if size is of great consideration to you and you want a camcorder the size of the Flip or Vado HD, then you'll find the TH1 too big.

As mentioned, the TH1 has a 30 X optical zoom. That's a pretty powerful optical zoom, and if you don't already know this, there's an important difference between optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom is "real" zoom; the lens moves closer to the subject. Digital zoom is simulated zoom that is achieved at a loss of image quality (the more digital zoom used, the grainier the image).

The TH1 is easy to use, as Sanyo claims. I found it as easy to use as both the Vado HD and the Flip Mino HD, which is to say that it's pretty intuitive, though the TH1 is a bit more complex than the aformentioned mini camcorders and thus there is a bit more of a learning curve involved in learning how to use it.

One must have an SD (Secure Digital) or SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) card to use the TH1(though it did capture a few seconds of video without a card), so that is going to be an additional expense for purchasers of the TH1. Flash memory (as SD and SDHC cards are) is one of the stablest, most durable media formats, as there are no moving parts. Bump a hard disk camcorders while recording and it will likely affect the recording. Hard disk camcorders get hot when recording; flash memory camcorders have very low heat emission. Flash memory camcorders also boot up faster than hard disk camcorders.

The TH1 is an HD (High Definition) camcorder but not all HD is the same. Set to the highest quality recording level, the TH1 is capable of recording at a resolution of 1280 X 720 also known as 720p where "p" stands for "progressive scan." Camcorders capable of recording at a resolution of 1080i ("i" for "interlaced") typically produce clearer images but this depends on the TV the recording is played back on as well as on what is recorded (according to Kerr Cook at Sony HDV Info dot com, "720p recording may hold the edge if you are recording sporting events or where there is a lot of high-speed motion and you want to later Pause and examine, step through frames, extract still snapshots, or do slow motion analysis." Aside from that, Cook says, "For the highest resolution, 1080i can't be beat today...for general recording..."). Technicalities aside, when video recorded at the highest quality level possible on the TH1 is played back on an HDTV via the included AV (audio visual) interface cable, the image quality is good but not great (I'd say a 3 to 3 1/2 on a 1-5 scale, and I'm sorry but I don't know the specs of the HDTV I tested the TH1 on and it was not mine; I do not yet own an HDTV). Image playback quality improves when one uses an HDMI cable (High-Definition Multimedia Interface, which is NOT included with the TH1; the Vado HD comes with an HDMI cable but it seems that most consumer camcorders do not) to playback video on an HDMI capable TV. I own a compact camcorder that can record at a resolution of 1080i, and the playback quality is far superior to the playback quality of the TH1.

The screen is a good size and my aging eyes appreciate it; my other compact camcorder cost more than twice what the TH1 cost and it has a smaller screen.

The audio pickup is good, meaning that the TH1 seems to clearly record whatever sounds it is pointed toward that the camcorder's operator can pickup with her ears.

My guess is that compact camcorders such as the TH1 include still image taking capability because it is easy and inexpensive for manufacturers to include it. As other reviewers note, the still image quality is relatively poor.

The more light when recording, the better the recording quality. This is as true for my more expensive compact camcorder (which is a JVC Everio hard disk camcorder) as it is for the TH1. Thus, video taken indoors is typically inferior in image quality to video recorded outdoors on a sunny day. Turning on as many lights as possible indoors and opening curtains, shades, and blinds to let as much daylight in as possible helps.

Uploading to YouTube is simple, as other reviewers note. The TH1 would, I think, be nearly ideal as a user-friendly relatively inexpensive camcorder for someone whose primary use is making videos to upload to YouTube.

I am obviously not terribly enthused about the TH1, but at the same time I think it's not bad for the price and I am impressed with its 30X optical zoom and ease of use. I have not mentioned the software because I haven't used it. I use Adobe Premiere Elements 7 to edit video (which requires me to convert HD video to DV-AVI, mainly because my computer, a Sony Vaio laptop with the maximum 2GB RAM installed, can't handle HD video very well). ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sanyo VPC-TH1 HD Compact Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Blue)


... Panasonic PV-GS90 MiniDV Camcorder with 42x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
I have purchased the Panasonic PV-GS90 from Big Value Inc. through amazon.com and the product is pretty good for the price. I have had Panasonic Camcorder (the PV type) before. If you are a MiniDV tape fan, this product is a good choice. Like other reviews, I expects this product to perform minimum picture quality when taping inside my house. I was right! The in-house picture was grainy, because there was not enough lighting inside the house. I was not upset because I expected this problem to happen. You can try to have more lighting inside your house when recording. Maybe that would fix the grainy pictures problem. For a little over $180.00, this product is supper. Out-door taping is excellent for the price, once again. I love miniDV tape because the movement of objects I am taping is recorded clearly, not jerky like other memory-card camcorder or DVD camcorder producing. I have never seen the quality of hard-drive camcorder; I imagine it would not product jerky movement of object when recording, but the price of hard-drive camcorder is too high for my checkbook. Overall, Big Value Inc. delivered what it promised and I am happy with my purchase. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic PV-GS90 MiniDV Camcorder with 42x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom


... Unless you want a High Definition camcorder, I highly recommend this camcorder to anybody who wants a camcorder that is small, light, and easy to operate, has a hard disk drive, gives high quality videos, and is still reasonably priced.

I got this camcorder about a month ago, learned how to use it in a few minutes, and shot quite a few videos with it including four test videos which you can see at Shoban Sen's YouTube channel.

I especially like the cameras zooming capabilities, strong built-in microphone, and the image stabilization feature (it automatically and effectively neutralizes camera shake to a great extent though the manufacturer does not advertise this feature much). The microphone is so strong that it picks up the noise made by blowing wind during outdoor shootings - you have to turn on the "Windcut" feature from the camera's menu to stop this noise. The low-light shooting capability is also reasonably good, although the camera's built-in light is nothing but a gimmick (and the camera does not have a shoe to attach external video light). The laser touch scroll bar of the camera eliminates the need to touch the LCD monitor to select desired functions, and I love it. No more finger prints on the LCD monitor. The little remote control that comes with the camcorder is very handy - almost addictive! I have not tried the Core Filter yet. I did notice some annoying background noise (sounds like rumble of thunder) in some of the scenes that I downloaded in my computer. The manufacturer says, "The core filter reduces interference caused when connected to other devices." I think when downloading videos to my computer, if I use the provided Core Filter on the USB cable, this noise will go away or will be reduced to a great extent.

THE SOFTWARE THAT COMES WITH THE CAMCORDER WORKS FINE WITH WINDOWS XP (BOTH HOME AND PROFESSIONAL EDITION WITH SP2/SP3). BUT DO CHECK THE CPU AND RAM REQUIREMENTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLEARLY TALKS ABOUT THE OPERATING SYSTEMS ON PAGE 29 OF THE ENGLISH MANUAL THAT COMES WITH THE CAMCORDER. THE SOFTWARE WORKS WITH WINDOWS VISTA AND WINDOWS XP. Only the Direct Upload to YouTube failed when I tried it once. But I won't say, it is the fault of the software - I may have made some mistakes myself. I tried it only once. I do not use that feature anyway.

I have one negative point to talk about. The first Everio camcorder I received had a faulty rubber cap or cover on the USB port on the front side of the camcorder. It didn't close after I opened it for the first time. But thanks to Amazon.com's excellent Return Policy. They immediately shipped a replacement camcorder to me, even before they received my return!

A word of caution: do not swing or jerk the camcorder while carrying it. Its Drop Detection mechanism is very sensitive. The camcorder shuts itself off if you unknowingly swing the camera a bit while carrying it.

In conclusion, TWO THUMBS UP to this product. You cannot buy a better camcorder at this price. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio GZ-MG630 60GB Standard Def Camcorder (Red)


... What a great and compact camcorder this is, I highly reccomend it. The videos it takes are of high quality and the camcorder itself is s prodect of our technolgy that is available today. Cute stylish and sssssssooooo easy to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Smile)


... I've had this camera for a few months now and so far no problems. There have been many events captured in HD - recitals, ball games, birthdays, etc. I have been able to use cheap DVD's (available here at Amazon). It records in HD. Recorded media (8cm. DVD-R's) is encoded in AVCHD and can be played directly using a bluray player.
-ep ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon HR10 AVCHD 3.1MP High Definition DVD Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom


... What a great and compact camcorder this is, I highly reccomend it. The videos it takes are of high quality and the camcorder itself is s prodect of our technolgy that is available today. Cute stylish and sssssssooooo easy to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Tribal Inkblot)


... I recently had a bad experience purchasing another (quality name brand, begins with p) Mini-DV camcorder. It was around the same price as this one. I was really disappointed at the extremely poor quality, and distorted image. I didn't expect a lot, but having owned other camcorders, I expected something a little better.

This one caught my eye for several reasons: Konica lens, no viewfinder, firewire link, extended battery time (1.5 hours versus most at 1 hour) and the price was right. At this price range, I didn't expect much, but what I got was AMAZING, and exceeded my expectations. I record in mostly low light, and some times those video can come out very grainy, or the lighting is green or yellow and goes in and out of focus. The picture from this camcorder in low light was very clear, not grainy at all that I could tell on a 32" Vizio, after using the auto light feature to record. Colors were very nice, no yellow or greenish tint at all, could see details very well. The zoom was very smooth and it kept in focus very well zooming. The sound is very nice as well.

Another amazing feature was the image stabilization. I had the camcorder on a tripod, on a table. People kept bumping the table, at times for an extended time. It's virtually undetectable in the video. At the very worst bumps, you may see a very slight jump, but only if you are really looking for it.

The camcorder is very easy to use. Menu is easy to navigate, and understand. Some nice features like black and white and sepia. My only complaint is turning the camcorder on and off is a little difficult, the button seems stiff. My video uploaded seamlessly into my 06 iMac, using iMovie HD, ideal for Mac users.

I truly love this camcorder! This is the third MiniDV camcorder I've owned in the past 3 years, the most affordable, and by far the best. I highly recommend this product. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom


... This is the first video camera that I bought and used. I have a digital still camera that can take videos but I wanted video camera with more features. After looking over numerous reviews of different cameras I settled on the Sony DCR-SX40/L for a number of reasons. First its sizes. I went to the local electronics store to see what the camera actually looked like, and to get an idea of just how small it was. Its about the size of a soda can and fit very nicely in my hand. The second thing was price. This would be my first camera and I really didn't want, or need anything high end. It would have been nice to get an HD camera but they were just a little to pricey for my needs.

I used this camera on my vacation to Las Vegas and was very pleased with it. One thing I did buy was extra memory sticks. I found a great sale on 4GB sticks and bought 4 of them. When I bought the camera part of the package deal came with an 8GB, then I bought an extra 8GB, this gave me a total of 32GB of memory which was more than enough for my needs. With 4GB of memory I can record an hour of video at the highest quality.

Now I knew what I was getting when I bought this camera but there are a few things to take note of. 1) It does have something called STEADYSHOT but if you use the zoom you will see some shakey video, and the more zoom you use the more it will shake. 2) The camera has a touch screen which is very nice but you will see finger prints and smudges on the screen. The package deal I got came with a pack of screen protective film which you will need. 3) It would have been nice if Sony have thought of putting an adapter for headphones. Sometimes while reviewing the video it was hard to hear over the small built-in speaker.

Over all I am very happy with the camera and with the service provided by Amazon. The camera was delivered on time as promised and has work out very well for me. Again I think this is a very good camera for a beginner and although the quality of the video is good, it is not HD quality. For that you'll have to spend a little more money.

Hope this review helps someone out. I know all the reviews that I read on Amazon have helped me. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony DCR-SX40/L Palm-Sized Camcorder in Blue + 8 GB Memory Stick + Sony Camcorder Case + Additional Sony NPFH Battery + Deluxe Camcorder Accessory Kit


... great camcorder for the price. perfect for taking family videos or youtube stuff. had it for a year with no problems. stick with the mini dv, the sdram video is too slow and the HD is limited. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon DC330 1.07MP DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom


... This is not a bad VideoCam for the price I paid. Do not expect videos to be of professional quality. I can think of only one thing that would be unappealing to some users. It lacks a zooming function during a Recording session. Overall it is a nice camera. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Jazz DV151 VGA Digital Video Camera (Red)


... What a great and compact camcorder this is, I highly reccomend it. The videos it takes are of high quality and the camcorder itself is s prodect of our technolgy that is available today. Cute stylish and sssssssooooo easy to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Spring Garden)


... Just back from a trip to Alaska with the Zi6. Great video when used right.

This little camera loves light and loves being held still. Depart of either of these and your video will be less than stellar.

Pros: small, light, takes AA batteries (lithium batteries work great), uses SD cards. Great vids when used in the right environment.

Cons: Doesn't like to be moved (panning or just your hand shaking). Doesn't like anything less than bright light. Indoor shots will be grainy. Mic doesn't work that great.

Bottom line: nice to have

As an aside; Amazon listed as new but sent me a refurb. Refused to make it right. They've lost a customer for life, and they don't care. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Kodak Zi6 Pocket HD Camcorder - Refurbished - (Pink)


... This camera is affordable and takes pictures that parallel that of my Cannon Powershot 8MP camera. The screen is large, and the video is great! This is an excellent product!! ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Vivitar DVR-530 5MP DV Camcorder


... I took of one star off because It was very difficult to find a proper video editing software for the format this camera stores the video files in. I am still looking for one.....

Other wise i like everything about it and i got it for a great price from Amazon. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-SR11 10.2-MP 60GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom


... I recorded 400 different videos from my daughter's first cry to her 1st birthday. I cannot get the recorded videos to play back from any software other than Sony's proprietary software.

Sony's tech support states to "I'm sorry for the difficulties, here is a link describing why Sony's videos won't play back on Windows Media Software"
[...]

I understand that Sony cannot support every 3rd party software, but why does Canon and Samsung and Apple product have videos that are supported by Windows Media Player? Sony support states that their videos require a special codec. What the heck do I care? All any user wants is to be able to record and edit on any PC or Mac. Well you can't do it unless you stick to Sony's software which is limited for video editing.
...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony DCR-SR220 4MP 60GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 15x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom


... I've had the Panasonic HDC-TM300 for a little over a month now and have had several occasions to test it out in a multitude of situations and exposure levels. Overall, I think the video quality is excellent. Indoor footage with incandescent lighting is a little noisy, but so is the same footage on every other camera in its class. I also considered the Canon HF S10 and eventually decided on the Panasonic for several reasons, which I will discuss later. The camera is very close to being perfect, but there are a few nitpicky issues that annoy me about it, which prevent me from giving it a 5. Overall, I am very happy with the purchase and don't regret buying the camera.

I paid $950.00 for it from Dell, which is a reasonable price. It retails for $1,299.00, which is a little ridiculous in my opinion, but if you can find it for under $1,000, it is reasonable.

The video might be the best overall against all competition in its price range. I did a good amount of research looking at sample videos at websites such as YouTube and Vimeo and found the video of the Panasonic to be as good, if not better than anything out there in the "Consumer" or "Prosumer" range.
[...]

Main reasons I purchased the Panasonic HDC-TM300 over the Canon HF S10:
1) Price. I was able to get the Panasonic for about $150 bucks cheaper than the Canon through Dell.
2) The Panasonic has an optical pull-out viewfinder. The Canon has none.
3) The Panasonic has a full-size manual focus ring. The Canon only has a manual settings knob and no manual focus setting.
4) I personally liked the look and design of the Panasonic a little better.

Other than that, the cameras are VERY similar in all respects. I really liked the manual controls that the Panasonic offered, along with the excellent video quality and overall design. On any other given day, I might have decided to buy the Canon HF S10, but I'm happy with the Panasonic.

Pros:
- Overall look and feel of the camera is of a very high quality instrument. It has a very solid and expensive feel to it.
- Manual focus ring is very nice and quite useful.
- Pull out viewfinder is a nice addition in this price range.
- Very good video for its class, especially outdoors with plenty of natural light.
- Touch screen works very well. I read several professional reviews online that stated the touch screen was horrible on the edge of unusable, but I have had no such issues.
- Menu system is very easy to use and get used to.
- Excellent manual feature set for a camera in its class.
- Excellent battery life with stock battery.
- Comes packaged with a nice set of accessories, including a remote control.
- Smaller and lighter than I expected and has a nice feel in my hand.

Cons:
- Operation selector knob on the side of the unit is in a very bad position. The selector knob is designed to be used with your right thumb while holding the unit, but due to its position on the device, it is impossible for me to use it with that thumb, forcing me to use it with my left hand. VERY poor design.
- Other controls not laid out in the most ergonomic of positions. Panasonic should buy a Sony camcorder and check it out for some pointers.
- Average audio quality at best. I have had some very lackluster audio quality and mixed results when using the device. The video might look nice, but the audio will always remind you that the footage was taken from a camcorder.
- USB port cover is annoying to use, but that's par for the course for such devices.
- No Firewire.
- Accessory shoe port on the side of the device is a novel design and well thought out by Panasonic, but poorly engineered. Right when I unboxed the device, I attempted to slide in the accessory shoe adapter and check it out. Bad idea. The adapter became jammed into the camera, taking me about 45 minutes and a badly cut finger to remove. I came very close to just returning the unit. Either the port was too tight or the adapter was molded too big, but it went in and didn't want to come out. The release button worked, but it was just jammed in there. Since then, I have been able to get it in and out without loss of blood, but it is still very tight. Bad design.
- I've had issues with HDMI compatibility between the camera and my Philips HDTV. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I also experience audio problems with outputting to the TV via HDMI. I attempted to contact Panasonic tech support with no reply a week later....and that leads me to my last point.
- Panasonic tech support stinks. Their website is virtually useless and their e-mail support seems to be staffed by ghosts or something, because they don't respond. Also, the camera is so new, that you really can't find any info online about issues. I haven't tried to call Panasonic yet, but I'm not holding up any hope.
...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic HDC-TM300 Twin Media HD Camcorder (Black)


... The camera works great. We had a problem in that the camera came with the wrong battery charger and getting the correct one was a bit of a challenge and took several weeks, I am hoping that I don't need any more help from their "customer service" department. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on DXG DXG-595V 5.0 Megapixel High-Definition Ultra Digital Video Camera

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