Customer Reviews

Canon DC230 1MP DVD Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I got this over 2 weeks ago. The quality of the digital video image is good when recoding in standard recording (not EP).
The book that comes with the Camera is extremely poorly written. I had some difficulty figuring out how to finalize a DVD, the main thing is that the Camera should be connected to the power, it would not finalize while on battery, DVD -R cannot be un-finalized.
Editing VOB files requires additional software. On the other hand you can play without any problem your video straight out of the finalized mini DVD-R on any DVD player, including your computer DVD device.

This would be a great camcorder in all respects if pictures taken in the dark were not so very grainy. One solution to this would be the addition of a video light that would produce good video of near subjects. Also, Canon should include video software (such as MyDVD for Canon), an 8cm DVD, and a wrist or shoulder strap with the camera. I don't believe it pays off to be "cheap."

If you want a simple way to take decent video and burn it onto a DVD with basically no editing, this is a good choice. If you want to take that video and put it on your computer, this thing is terrible. It doesn't come with any video software, even though the manual has instructions for Roxio MyDVD for Canon. This software comes with a different model, and you can't buy the "for Canon" version separately. The regular MyDVD from Roxio costs $70, and is terrible.

Overall, my old Sony miniDV tape camcorder worked better with my computer. I think the main benefit here will be to capture raw video of the kids on a little DVD, then just mail the DVD to the in-laws.

We bought this camcorder because it had the ability to take pictures as well as videos. It is a good price and it is small and cute and light. First of all, becareful what dvd you buy. it really doesn't work with all of them, it warns you on the instructions that it doesn't work with all brands, but it doesn't tell you which ones. So we bought several brands and we couldn't get the camcorder to record. It couldn't recognize the dvd. So we then tried the sd card and taking pictures. Well, it doesn't let you use the sd card to record videos, and worse of all it takes terrible pictures. No kidding, these were not even decent pictures. 35mm camera does a million times better. It is always fuzzy and unclear and you cant move even a mm or the picture will be unrecognizable.

It was overall very disappointed and I am currently in the process of sending it back. We just decided to buy a regular camera that has the capability of taking videos that are just as good quality and way way million times better looking pictures.

So the main warning: do not buy it because it can also take pictures, it doesn't take good pictures. not even bad pictures, all you can see is a wave, and when the picture is sort of clear, everybody looks like they have chickenpox because the resolution really sucks. Also, if you want it as a camcorder, find out who has bought it, and ask what dvd they actually bought.

After using this camera for a while, I already have more than a dozen DVDs, there are no way of playing the DVDs in my computers, tried various versions of Windows with no luck, can't play them in DVD player either, the only way is to play it in the Camcorder itself, the software supplied by Canon labeled as "Digital Video" solutions disk is a lie, it doesn't do video, only handle images. The mannul claim you can connect the camcorder to PC with the digtal cable supplied, it didn't work, PC won't recogize it, keep asking if you want to reformat the disk. Horrible, horrible, just gave up on it, bought a different brand instead! don't know what to do with the recorded DVDs.

Sean

Though Canon is a great brand, I wasn't too impress with this particular camcorder. I thought it was a bit grainy...I think the picture quality could have been a little better. I actually return this product.

I purchased the DC230 as a Christmas gift for my wife. It took a couple of times using it to understand the itnitializing and finalizing processes. But now I consider myself an amatuer expert and enjoy the quality pictures and movies from this camcorder. Would recommend to anyone.

I received the product about one week after purchase. I followed the instrctions and tried to insert a DVD-RW disc for recording. Unfortunately it gave me a message: CANNOT READ THE DISC, CHECK THE DISC.
I tried three other discs (Memorex miniDVD+RW, bought via Amazon at the same time as I bought this Canon DC230, but none of them worked).

I need technic support ASAP. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Great Price and nice product. I compared the models on a different web site but made my purchase on Amazon because the price was the best. The DVD's that Amazon recommended I buy with the camera were the wrong ones. Beware of this problem. The record standby mode is confusing and I have several full DVD of nothing but the kitchen counter, when I thought the camera was off and missed the shots I wanted. Zoom was not the 30 to one I expected. Was really no closer than my 12 to one camera. Quit using it after a month and switched to using my 8 megapixel Sony camera for video. Much nicer!

Is a good product, simple to work with and frendliy.

Jose G Sanchez