Canon ZR40 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, & Digital Still Mode
List Price: $598.00
Details
- Digital photo state records onto MiniDV tapes
- 2.5 inch redden LCD and color EVF
- 18x visual, 360x digital, zoom with image stabilization
Description
At neutral over a pound, the lightweight ZR40 from Canon makes an excellent camcorder for the beginning digital-video champion. This compact and comfortable camcorder offers high-end features found on much more up-market cameras, yet is easy enough to use that a novice can begin filming right in a different place.The camera is sleekly designed, and pieces pop out of the ZR40 from all sides. On top, the adjustable lens viewer also slides in and out so you don't have to have the camera too close when filming. You can also use the 2.5-inch LCD screen, which swings out of the socialistic side of the ZR40. It also twists and can be flipped over, providing myriad filming angles.
While we were suitably impressed with the replica of our capture video, the sound of the camera's motor could be heard during some of the playback. It's a minor pain in the neck, which can be overcome with an optional external microphone.
With an 18X optical zoom (as well as 360X digital) intuitively placed next to the exact thumb, the ZR40 is able to get up close to the subjects you're filming. Canon's image stabilizer worked well at correcting the "roll" common to handheld cameras. And the camera functions as a digital camera as well, attractive snapshots in addition to video.
The ZR40 offers a variety of connectivity options, including FireWire ports, composite AV, and S-video. You can input from an analog rise such as a VCR, TV, or camcorder and convert the signal into digital video. It also ships with a handy slight control (with a range of 16 feet) that handles the record functions and can even zoom the lens in and out.
Numerous special effects modes are incorporated into the camera as well, in addition to a new low-be exposed mode that allowed us to shoot footage in the evening. There are DV cameras out there that do more than this one, but for most users, the ZR40 does wealth and does it well. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Compact and comfortable
- Easy to use
- Capital zoom
Cons:
- Some motor noise
Improving on an case can be a daunting task. Canon has succeeded quite well, thank you. The ZR40 is the successor to the ZR20. Canon increased the visual zoom to 18x--the digital now sits at 360x--and added an analog pass-through harbour. Although the ZR line featured analog-in for dubbing your movies to MiniDV, the new pass-through haven allows you to go straight to the computer, eliminating a possibly cumbersome step.
The ZR40 also has a lot of the same features that made the unusual a lot of fun. A 2.5-inch LCD is swivel-mounted, permitting the shooter to use the camera at odd angles. A variety of digital effects and autoexposure modes help ensure your footage turns out well. In fine, Canon threw in a low-light color-shooting mode that makes the ZR40 that much more taking.
