Canon ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom
Canon ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom see short title
Product Rating:
Some events happen only once in a lifetime. A special birthday, a babys first steps, the winning goal. These special moments deserve a camcorder that captures it all perfectly. Introducing the new Canon ZR960 MiniDV camcorder. Loaded with all the latest technologies to shoot these moments easily, the Canon ZR960 delivers awe-inspiring video that is perfectly simple. Theres Canons 41x Advanced Zoom to get you in closer or wider. The 2.7-inch wides... » full description
Some events happen only once in a lifetime. A special birthday, a babys first steps, the winning goal. These special moments deserve a camcorder that captures it all perfectly. Introducing the new Canon ZR960 MiniDV camcorder. Loaded with all the latest technologies to shoot these moments easily, the Canon ZR960 delivers awe-inspiring video that is perfectly simple. Theres Canons 41x Advanced Zoom to get you in closer or wider. The 2.7-inch widescreen LCD displays exactly what youre shooting. When the action ramps up, the Image Stabilizer steadies the action right in the viewfinder. For lifelike color and razor-sharp detail, Canons DIGIC DV Image Processor has you covered. Theres even a Soft LCD Video Light to help brighten up dark scenes. Outstanding performance, and easy-to-use, all at a surprising price. The Canon ZR960, as exceptional as the memories it captures. Canon USA 1-year limited warranty included. « short desciption
User Reviews
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Review Date: 2009-11-22
The Canon ZR-960 so far has not disappointed me. My JVC model took a dive after minimal use so I decided to go with a different brand on this purchase. Only time will tell how long this will last. Here's my review:
The camcorder has a rather "cheap" feel to it but that is because it is mostly made of plastic. This downside is made up with the fact that it is extremely light, noticeably lighter than my old JVC GR-D250U. The viewfinder doesn't move: you have to press a button to activate viewing through the viewfinder. The viewfinder itself is in color. Everything that displays on the LCD is displayed in the viewfinder, there's just less real-estate so stuff is a bit cluttered. It shares some features that my Canon Rebel Xsi features such as a "program" mode for advanced use and an "easy" mode for point and record. White balance, shutter speed, and modes (sports, fireworks, etc.) can be accessed through the program mode. One can also display a grid or single line to help make sure things are level and such. I use an older Macbook Pro and movies are imported over a DV to Firewire 800 cable with no problems. The Macbook also lets you use it as an iChat camera and record movies straight to your hard drive using the older iMovie HD with no problem.
Things I like about it over the old JVC:
No mounting the lens cover. It's a switch that opens and closes the lens. No more dangling lens covers that always pop off.
Top loading cassete. You can keep it on your tri-pod while swapping DV tapes. Serious advantage over bottom loading camcorders.
The "joystick" for accessing menu items. This is a MAJOR advantage over touch screen (no smudges) and buttons (how annoying). It gets a bit to get used to but it is superior. Only 2 other buttons are used.
User selectable zoom speeds (1,2,3,variable)
Things I don't like:
LCD panel most be open to access the DV, mic and AV ports. Most other camcorders have them elsewhere where you don't have to open the LCD panel to access.
Plastic tripod mount. No real concern, just seems odd.
I recommend this to those who like better in-camera editing than HD, flash card and DVD camcorders. I prefer mini DV because you can view what you recorded, rewind or fast forward as desired, then start a new spot to start recording again. With DVD, Flash and HD recording, I don't believe you can do this, but I may be wrong.
User: R. Hernandez
Rating:
Summary: Very nice at a nice price
Helpful Votes: 0
Total Votes: 0
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Review Date: 2009-11-19
Big VALUE Inc. has doubled the suggested retail price of this hard to find item. Fry's has them for $249.99!
User: Randy T. Merkel
Rating:
Summary: $499 is double suggested retail
Helpful Votes: 1
Total Votes: 1
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Review Date: 2009-10-25
I have made videos for 25 years, I teach it at a university, I have trained many many people on a wide variety of gear. We bought this camera to replace our aging public access cameras and was very unhappy that we bought cheap cameras. However, I took one home I am stunned by the quality and ease of use. MiniDV is almost history, but we are using it and so are many others. This camera in decent light looks comparable to cameras costing so much more. In average light or low light it does fine too. The sounds is great and the easy button is.. well EASY. It also have programmable/manual features for those of us who like more control. My only negative comment is it doesn't have a USB2 output, so you are limited to 4 pin 1394 or mini fire-wire to get your video off this camera. Fire wire is almost gone the way of the analogue RCA type connector. Soon there will be no computers made with this connector to hook this camera to. But for this point in time, MiniDV is not dead and this is a really fine little camera. Yikes, the quality is very good for this price point!
User: Artsy Video
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Helpful Votes: 3
Total Votes: 4
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Review Date: 2009-09-15
Nice camera, easy to shoot with. However, not so easy to connect to the computer. The literature on this camera said that it needs to be the only device on the firewire chain - how dumb is that? So you have to disconnect all your external drives, etc. every time you want to down load video. Not a very well thought out design.
User: Johnsons
Rating:
Summary: Not the bestl designed.
Helpful Votes: 4
Total Votes: 7
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Review Date: 2009-07-20
I purchased this camera to replace my other Canon ZR100, which just wore out. I record video every day, so I need a camera easy to use, and always ready. So far, the ZR960 is easier on battery life than the ZR100 was, which is good. The new lens cover is easier to use... great. The new screen is larger... great. So far this camera is better than I expected.
User: Philip J. Herman
Rating:
Summary: better than expected
Helpful Votes: 5
Total Votes: 5
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Product Details
- Capture high-quality video to MiniDV tape
- Genuine Canon 41x Advanced Zoom; image stabilizer
- Canon DIGIC DV image processor for stunning video color and clarity
- 2.7-inch Widescreen LCD; widescreen HR recording
- Compatible with Canon lens converters and filters
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