Canon ZR800 Mini DV Camcorder
- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Mini DV
- Optical Zoom: 35x
- Weight: 0.83 lb.
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ZR-800 Battle of the low priced camcorders
Pros
great focus outside, good color, good zoom, fair to good low light,fast
Cons
slightly choppy indoor video
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
till I get a hd model this will do, cause its cheap and and its pretty darn good for my purposes. Better then the hc 26 .
am on to my next test model zr500 and zr800 from Canon , and eventually will settle for a cheap camcorder tIll I can afford a hd model. (hc5 or 7 from Sony)After trying the hc 26 from Sony and ux1 hd and returning them, I decided to keep trying, specializing in cheap. These cheap camcorders are extremely interesting because of the variable features. Its so funny how each company puts out cheap versions of the same thing year after year. I decided to return the Sony hc26 after my good review because upon further review, I found poor outside performance, underwhelming color...and (hc26)shaky stablization. Inside it was very very good.
Now The zr500: very good inside, reminded me of the sony hc26 but poor color outside video.
The zr800 was a very interesting model: The video seems choppier inside, but acceptable, and very nice outdoor with a bit better color then previous models and good low light! But the video is not as smooth as the zr500 indoor. For the price I paid I really liked it and can't complain for what they give you, because its a terrific bargain out in a crowded field. Outside it focuses better then the hc 26 by a mile and of course has the 35x zoom which helped. So far, I think the zr800 is decent model/ The zr 800 only has a 1/6 chip for video but it works well for what it does. I was very wowed with outside ability to focus and decent color, that the other camcorders didn't do as well outside with. Even indoor this model had better color The low light test I usually take shows and tells me allot. I take the low light test by pointing camcorder to a lighted window from outside . If the light in window is bright ,and the camcorder is able to record that brigtness, it usually shows the cams ability in low light. This cam did surprisingly well although the focus kept focusing on my indoor window then theirs. In day light thats like focussing on indoor screen and not the outdoor scene but it was able to focus outside well from inside in day light.. Hc 26 didn't do that and not sure exactly how to rememdy that,, but its a very minor niggle . this is just a test of the camcorders ability to do low light and it passed which for the money is definitly and added plus and which canon didn't have especially a good reputation with on earlier models. further tests show it does fair in low light. So this is the one to get if you want good and cheap.I have since decided the hc 26 and this is very similar, with hc26 having slightly better low light video.
the bottom line the race for best low cost video is very close between this and the Sony
Now The zr500: very good inside, reminded me of the sony hc26 but poor color outside video.
The zr800 was a very interesting model: The video seems choppier inside, but acceptable, and very nice outdoor with a bit better color then previous models and good low light! But the video is not as smooth as the zr500 indoor. For the price I paid I really liked it and can't complain for what they give you, because its a terrific bargain out in a crowded field. Outside it focuses better then the hc 26 by a mile and of course has the 35x zoom which helped. So far, I think the zr800 is decent model/ The zr 800 only has a 1/6 chip for video but it works well for what it does. I was very wowed with outside ability to focus and decent color, that the other camcorders didn't do as well outside with. Even indoor this model had better color The low light test I usually take shows and tells me allot. I take the low light test by pointing camcorder to a lighted window from outside . If the light in window is bright ,and the camcorder is able to record that brigtness, it usually shows the cams ability in low light. This cam did surprisingly well although the focus kept focusing on my indoor window then theirs. In day light thats like focussing on indoor screen and not the outdoor scene but it was able to focus outside well from inside in day light.. Hc 26 didn't do that and not sure exactly how to rememdy that,, but its a very minor niggle . this is just a test of the camcorders ability to do low light and it passed which for the money is definitly and added plus and which canon didn't have especially a good reputation with on earlier models. further tests show it does fair in low light. So this is the one to get if you want good and cheap.I have since decided the hc 26 and this is very similar, with hc26 having slightly better low light video.
the bottom line the race for best low cost video is very close between this and the Sony
