Canon ZR850 Mini DV Camcorder
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- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Mini DV
- Optical Zoom: 35x
- Weight: 0.84 lb.
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Great ease of use, but poor image quality. I returned it.
Pros
Ease of use, light weight, nice shooting options, affordable.
Cons
Low light performance.
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
If you want an easy-to-use entry-level camcorder that won't break the bank and you don't mind poor low-light image quality, go for it.
I bought the Canon ZR850 for my husband and myself as our first camcorder. I figured we needed a beginner's camcorder to help us learn to use one. It was very good for that, as it was easy to use. I figured out the basic controls within about an hour.
The Canon ZR850 felt fine and light in my hand, but was a bit small for my husband to operate comfortably. His hands are the size of baseball mitts! Our Nikon D200, which is a tank, is just his size. Nonetheless, he ended up operating the ZR850 well enough.
This camcorder has some nice filming options and effects and they are pretty accessible if you want to play around with the program mode. If you just want to point and shoot, the Easy mode couldn't be more simple. For myself, however, as an amateur who rather enjoys fooling around with technology, the ZR850 does not offer enough control.
Yet, I would have kept it had the picture quality been better. The lack of resolution in most of my indoor shots was just too frustrating for me. I discovered that good low light performance is crucial for me, and this camcorder drove me nuts. The pixelated and blobby images didn't particularly bother my husband, but I couldn't stand them.
If you are an artistic type who values detail and quality, you might want to spend the extra money on a better piece of equipment. I'm going to try the Canon HV20, as I found it for sale online for $449.00!
When I try that camcorder, I'll write a review on that.
The Canon ZR850 felt fine and light in my hand, but was a bit small for my husband to operate comfortably. His hands are the size of baseball mitts! Our Nikon D200, which is a tank, is just his size. Nonetheless, he ended up operating the ZR850 well enough.
This camcorder has some nice filming options and effects and they are pretty accessible if you want to play around with the program mode. If you just want to point and shoot, the Easy mode couldn't be more simple. For myself, however, as an amateur who rather enjoys fooling around with technology, the ZR850 does not offer enough control.
Yet, I would have kept it had the picture quality been better. The lack of resolution in most of my indoor shots was just too frustrating for me. I discovered that good low light performance is crucial for me, and this camcorder drove me nuts. The pixelated and blobby images didn't particularly bother my husband, but I couldn't stand them.
If you are an artistic type who values detail and quality, you might want to spend the extra money on a better piece of equipment. I'm going to try the Canon HV20, as I found it for sale online for $449.00!
When I try that camcorder, I'll write a review on that.
