Canon ZR20 Digital Camcorder
by Canon USA

List Price: $799.00
Our Price: $99.98
You Save: $699.02 (87%)
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 200x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and color EVF
• Photo mode records still pictures onto tape
• Uses an included lithium ion battery; also includes power adapter, shoulder strap, wireless controller, S-Video cable, and stereo video cable

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon ZR20 Digital Camcorder

Customer Review: Great little camcorder!
Summary: 5 Stars

Low light capability is not as good as some others, but the camcorder works well in light ample to read by. By comparison with my Nikon FM (50mm F1.8), the Canon ZR-20 will do a good job
down to what would be about 1/60 of a second on ISO 100. It will do a fairly decent job a couple of stops lower, but gets "grainy" at low light levels. Daylight however is excellent. I also found the still feature works well in daylight, but gets rather "grainy" in low light (like an old "GIF" at about 320x240). I'd guess in good light that stills work out to be about VGA level (640x480), which serves.

This is not a digital camera, and if your major interest is in that direction, you'd be better off buying a regular digital camera. On the other hand the stills I've taken in daylight looked pretty good on a TV, and the recordings create images that are the equal of anything you can get off the air or from your local cable provider. This is using the video in and audio in jacks on a regular TV, as none of mine have the S-video feature. Which no doubt would be even better yet.

Tape loading seems a bit slow, but I guess this is the way it is. Works OK, but my old VHS camcorder is a lot easier to load.

Digital is definitely the way to go, and Canon optics seem to be
pretty good. Lens is a F1.8-2.9 zoom with a range of 4mm to 40mm. I'd guess this works out to about 40mm to 400mm on a 35. The digital zoom can be set at two settings, one giving 40x and the other 200x. The 40x setting is very marginal, and the 200x is nothing but a waste of time. On the other hand the optical zoom is good, and you can shut off the digital zoom if you wish.

If you're looking for a good small camcorder, this might be the one for you. It is small, but seems to be fairly well thought out except that the mike probably should have been mounted somewhere further away from the tape transport area...

Description of Canon ZR20 Digital Camcorder

Anyone who has used any type of camcorder will be instantly familiar with the ZR20's controls. All the normal recording tools are accessible with your right hand. Zoom, mode, and snapshot controls are placed within easy reach on the right side, and playback and special effects options are arrayed on the left side with the LCD monitor. Fade and digital effects are hidden in the LCD compartment, and a small jog dial on the camera's lower left side controls volume, menu selection, and manual focus. The LCD screen is 2.5 inches and provides a crisp picture, but a color viewfinder is also provided, which can be used to conserve battery power and provide a more compact package for recording in tight or crowded locations.

The ZR20's Easy Recording mode makes taping on the fly an easy undertaking, as it automatically optimizes recording settings for the best picture quality. Video quality is sharp with excellent color reproduction. However, dark scenes with low contrasts have a slightly grainy texture. For extra control, the focus, white balance, and exposure can be manually set. As for audio, the high tones are slightly tinny, but sound playback is surprisingly accurate from the small single speaker. The only complaint I have is about the snapshot feature. While the button is easy to reach, it records a still shot with an arbitrary length of six seconds. This is useful if you download single frames to your computer, but it would've been nice to have had the option to set the length of the still.

Several special effects are available, including art, monochrome, sepia, and mosaic modes, plus three fade/wipe settings. For even more options, the IEEE-1394 connection lets you simply transfer the video onto your home computer to let you edit your footage and add any effects that you want, provided you have the correct equipment. RCA and S-video input/outputs are provided for quick and easy transfers to VHS. Interestingly, the S-video and RCA outputs are in separate locations on the camera. This probably allows for more efficient use of available space on the ZR20, but it's somewhat awkward to have wires sprouting from multiple locations when you're ready for video transfer.

A fun little accessory with the ZR20 is its remote control. Aside from the obvious convenience of remote playback of your videos on your TV, remote recording is a fun way to make personal video journals, star in your own movies, or clandestinely record documentaries of your housemate's disturbing personal habits.

All in all, this Canon piece offers excellent recording quality in a convenient little package. With such an agreeable price, plus compact dimensions and a low weight, the ZR20 is perfect for family vacations. Add in the decent battery life and clear LCD screen playback, and you have a real winner. --Matt Deffer

Pros:

• Very easy to pick up and start recording
• Good recording quality
• Lightweight and small
• Convenient remote control

Cons:

• AV outputs are in multiple locations
• Grainy video in locations with minimal light

To help ensure that you get the quality footage you want, Canon has included a number of preset shooting modes. These modes will automatically adjust the settings of your camcorder for a variety of shooting situations. There is also an additional set of special effects available during both recording and playback that will help add a little flavor to your movies. These effects include black-and-white, sepia, and mosaic, among others.

Also, using the ZR20's digital photo mode, you can take over 700 still photos with an 80-minute MiniDV tape. With the IEEE 1394 port you can connect the ZR20 to a DV-ready personal computer to edit video or e-mail photos. Included in the package are an A/V cable, power adapter, shoulder strap, and battery pack.

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