"Canon ZR850 MiniDV Camcorder"

Canon ZR850 MiniDV Camcorder

This MiniDV camcorder from Canon is a slight improvement from its predecessors, but provides a noteworthy performance especially for a digital camcorder in its price range. This model has improved to a 1 mega pixel CCD sensor from the previous model’s 680K pixels, making its still camera features more inviting.

Its best features include an easier to use menu coupled with joystick control. It also provides impressive picture quality especially with good lighting. A wide screen LCD allows users a better view of shots as well. It has also a redesigned the menu system to make it easier for users to understand. What it may lack is a mic input as well as a lens tread for adding in lens filters or adapters. This might provide some limits to shot options for more seasoned camcorder users.

The Canon ZR850 features an Easy mode that allows users to shoot on autopilot without the hassles of doing constant tweaking just to get the picture quality right. The camcorder does quite an impressive job in making such decisions automatically. Its program modes allow for eight different auto exposure presets, four different settings for white balance, three image effects along with a handful of interesting digital effects to work with.

Video quality of this camcorder is superb, capable of capturing accurate and vibrant colors with sufficient lighting. Good lighting conditions provide sharp footages that also make the camcorder respond more quickly while focusing. The quality might not be as great though in dimmer lighting conditions. In general, the Canon ZR850 is a great and affordable choice for consumers who are looking for a camcorder to bring with them on their vacation as well as for general purpose use.