... We got this camera as a gift when our son was born. It is a great camera for advanced users, but for home video, chill, low-tech people I think it is just way too much. It would take hours to figure out everything this camera does and the thing is that it just isn't that important to me. I want the sound to work, I want the video to be clear, I want it to be easy to use. The sound works great, the video is clear, but there are so many options on this camera that it just doesn't make it easy to use for a family that just wants to record birthdays and softball games. Rather, I guess it isn't that hard to use, but I am pretty sure we could have paid half the price for a camera that does what we want it to. Non-techy people just won't use all the features on this camera. Especially for people like us with a new baby, we just don't have hours to sit down with the manual and figure out 100 different settings. So if you are really into advanced home-video making and love lots of different features and adjustments and gadgets, this is your camera. If you just want to record and save the videos to watch years later or even edit a little here and there on your computer, this is probably more camera than you need. It is also my understanding based on what I read that the HV20 is just about the same as this slight upgrade and cheaper, so if you must have an HV camera, maybe go with the HV20.
A special note for mac users:
Canon should be more clear about the compatibility of this camcorder with Mac computers. The video on the camcorder is quite clear and it seems to be a good enough camcorder, but the hassle of trying to figure out how to get it to work with my Mac computer has made it completely un-worth it.
I will say what Canon should clearly say but doesn't. Your Mac computer will not recognize this camcorder if you try to hook the camcorder up via the included USB cable. I have scoured many forums trying to figure this out and it is the same everywhere - it will not recognize your camcorder with a USB connection. That means one of two things: Either you need to buy a Firewire cable (if you don't have one) and connect the camcorder to your computer via Firewire OR, if you are like me and you have the MacBook that came out in October of 2008 without Firewire, there is NO WAY to get the video from this camcorder to your computer. This should be made clear by Canon and it is not which, no matter how good the camera is, makes using it very difficult. I would not buy this again if I had the choice. It hasn't been worth the hassle of figuring all this out. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
... The battery that the site says is compatible is NOT!; I had to send back the extra battery but that was do-able. So far I haven't gotten the opportunity to play w/ my new toy. It is really small, fits in the palm of my hand. Havent decided if I like that yet. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic SDR-H40 40GB Hard Drive Camcorder with 42x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
... I am very happy with the video camera I order via Amazon.com. What I am most strongly UNHAPPY about it that my order was "subbed out" to Tiger Direct. I had selected "Next Day" shipping with Amazon. When the order was sent to Tiger Direct my choice of shipping was NOT noted. My birthday gift for my husband was not and did not arrive in time. I did email Amazon within 5 minutes of placing the order to request the shipping be changed and was offered NO recouse to correct the shipping request to what I had originally asked for in the first place.
I am a frequent customer with Amazon. This was the first time I was so strongly unhappy with my order. The merchandise was great. The shipping was NOT. What I select as my option with Amazon should stay the same when it's "subbed" out to Tiger direct or any other place without having to change it myself.
Thank you,
Renea Tutt ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon ZR900 MiniDV Camcorder with 37x Optical 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 (Blue Lightshow)
... Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera: LIKED IT UNTIL I CONTACTED KODAK ASKING HOW TO REVIEW ALL THE VIDEOS NONSTOP WITHOUT HAVING TO FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE EACH TIME ONE IS FINISHED PLAYING. I WAS TOLD THE CAMERA DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE. NOW I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera (Red)
... I bought this RCA camcorder two weeks ago and am generally pleased with it. I chose it over the popular and highly rated Flip and Vado camcorders because the RCA also takes still photos. It doesn't hurt that it is also costs less. I've taken some very nice HD videos and beautiful stills with it. I've also taken some not so great videos and photos with it, generally due to inadequate lighting or shooting into the sun. This camcorder, and probably any pocket camcorder, is best used in good light. That doesn't mean you need to shoot outside in bright sun, but that helps. Good indoor lighting works too. As the light decreases the video will soon get grainy and that becomes very obvious on an HD TV. But in low light all is not lost. I took some low light video (one lamp on in my living room) using the low resolution WebQ mode that looked pretty decent on my computer. The digital zoom is okay but, as with any digital zoom, you lose resolution with it so it is best used sparingly. The sound is generally good but sometimes seems to be kind of low when played on my computer. But that is not really the camera because I have converted videos to a format that can play on my Linux laptop (DivX video codec and MP3 audio codec) and the sound comes out much louder. (I didn't do anything to intentionally boost the audio.) The audio also comes out louder when I used the RCA Memory Manager software to convert the video for emailing. Additionally, when I try to play the raw HD videos on my PC using Windows Media Player, the video and sound are out of sync (but are in sync when played on through a TV). The videos also play well using the RCA software, but they only appear in a small window. I think that my PC or WMP just has a problem with the raw format. When I convert the video to the DivX/MP3 format, everything plays fine. (I used the free version of Any Video Converter to convert my videos, but there are other free software programs out there like Handbrake or Auto Gordian Knot that can convert videos.) The RCA's 2 inch display is viewable even in bright sunlight but it may get a bit washed out.
I had no problem with the RCA Memory Manager software. It loaded easily but required two updates (one for the Memory Manager software and one for the camera firmware). The software automatically looks for updates so you don't have to check the website for new software. The Memory Manager software is only for the video, not photographs. It provides basic video editing capability, frame capture (so you can make a still photo from the video) and conversion capability so you can make a smaller file to email. There's a little more it does but I haven't had the need to try it yet.
This device doesn't take the place of a "real" camcorder or digital camera (this RCA has no flash) but it works well enough as something that is extremely portable so you can take it along to capture events that you otherwise wouldn't. It's more than just a toy but it is fun to play with. For example, yesterday I used it to video and photograph my family at the beach, playing mini-golf, and visiting a lighthouse and the videos and photos all came out very nicely indeed. For a cost of 100 bucks, I definitely think I got my money's worth. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder HD Camcorder (Black)
... We LOVE our new camera, it's compact and the memory is amazing. Simple to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom (Evening Blue)
