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76 of 78 humans found the following review helpful.
People are Confused in regards to MiniDV – It is NOT obsolete
By Charles Seiler
I am getting very trouble because all of the humans who say they have done video for 25 years must no better than to say that MiniDV is obsolete! MiniDV records in 500% compression. MINI DVD and HardDisk HDD and FLASH cameras record in 1500% compression. MiniDV records in in superior DV AVI format, which has person frames and editing may be done WITHOUT LOSS OF QUALITY once uploaded to your computer. The MINI DVD/HDD/FLASH cameras are NOT better in this respect, they are far worse.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Yes it is a MinDV format, but I love it for ease of editing.
By Reversemidasman
I use to have a Sony HC-42 but it jammed and choked on a MiniDV cartridge, thence I had to replace it and researched what was remaining camcorders that use the MiniDV cartridges. Not that numerous left on the inexpensive end. Sony has a HC-52 and the Canon ZR960. Went to B**tBuy to look at the Sony HC-52. What a disappointment in the quality and feel of that camcorder. Total junk feel to it. I was actually disappointed since that is the successor model to the HC-42. So I researched and settled for the Canon ZR960. Okay, outstanding Standard Definition MiniDV camcorder. Has nice 37x Optical Zoom, my HC-42 only had 10x Optical. Yeah it says 41 Optical Zoom on the ad but the booklet states 37x Optical zoom and another zoom setting called Advanced Zoom which is the 41x zoom with a good deal of blurb in regards to it may do this without lost in picture quality in combo of digital/optical. (Hey thats what it says..beats me, no claims to being a techie). Then it has the 2000x Digital zoom. Which for me I stay at the 41x zoom setting. Very light, plastic housing felt better in hand than the Sony HC52 did. Very straightforward button layouts for play and record, felt sturdy and lasting (not something that would breakoff from being used). The record button on the Canon was an “Offwhite color”, Hmmm…was use to seeing that as red colored but no biggie. The LCD screen decent size, seems a bit squished in dimension but not in viewing. It had this little toggle joystick took a little getting use to, something akin to that joystick button on notebook computers among the G,H and B keys. I was use to the Sony touchscreen of my HC42, but easy to get over and get use to. What I actually like was, you recognise how these miniDV camcorder loads a cartridge, well different from the Sony mechanical mechanism which reminds you of the old betamax loading, where when you release the clam shell housing and it opens, the mechanical mechanism goes up and then outward so that you may insert the cartridge, the canon mechanism is more less complicated I found. Thus less prospect of it jamming and choking on a cartridge. Yes in either case, don’t push in on the cartridge carrier, like it says in bold letters on a yellow background or you’re guarantee to choke and jam a cartridge on either camcorder. Once you have the camcorder slipped in your hand, the canon is very light and where you rest your right hand to work the wide/telephone toggle switch, there is a comfortable ridge designed there so your hand and fingers may feel steady. I liked that feature. The viewfinder has a discerned switch to turn it on if you need to use it. Found that convenient. Has built in 1394 connection different from my Sony HC-42 which necessitated it’s discerned docking station to do that. So the only thing I didn’t find on the Canon camcorder was a remote controller with it. Ehhh…didn’t use it much. Also no shoulder strap. Thats an extra too. Overall a outstanding standard miniDV cartridge camcorder. Easy to download onto your PC for editing whether Windows MovieMaker or any current video editing software using it is capture video capability. Didn’t have any difficultnesses recognizing the camcorder when capturing video on various video editing programs I had on my computer. I’m glad I purchased it and will serve it is aim well.
Update 04 Aug 2010: My camcorder failed to powerup on battery, sent it in to Canon Repair Center by way of priority mail. They fixed it under the one year warranty and returned it to me within 1 week of receipt. That was very fast service and the camcorder is fixed. Problem they noted was a circuit board and they had it substituted and did other adjustments as needed. I am happy with the quick turnaround time of their repair center.
15 of 15 persons found the following review helpful.
better than expected
By Philip J. Herman
I purchased this camera to replace my other Canon ZR100, which just wore out. I record video each day, so I need a camera easy to use, and always ready. So far, the ZR960 is having little impact on battery life than the ZR100 was, which is good. The new lens cover is more comfortable to use… great. The new screen is larger… great. So far this camera is better than I expected.
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