Canon ES8400V Hi8 Camcorder with 2.5" Color LCD Screen & Image Stabilizer

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4 x 4 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000638RT
• Item model number: ES8400V
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,247 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 14, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Hi8 technology has been ignored lately because of the digital revolution, but price-conscious buyers can still find great picture quality and feature-laden Hi8 camcorders, and the Canon ES8400V is no exception. Some of its many features include a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, color viewfinder, built-in video light, time base corrector for a more accurate picture, preset titling, and digital effects such as art, black and white, sepia, negative, and 16:9 screen ratio.

Lens
The optical zoom has a power of 22x and a digital zoom of 800x. The digital zoom works by electronically enhancing the optical image and comes in handy for objects far away. The electronic image stabilization system keeps the picture steady despite natural hand shaking from the user. The autofocus and autoexposure functions help you concentrate on the action rather than on trying to find the ideal setting for each moment. For greater control, you can use the focus controller and direct the camera to focus on an off-center subject. The ES8400V has programmed autoexposure settings to match a variety of shooting situations: auto, sports, portrait, spotlight, and sand and snow.

Inputs and Outputs
The standard RCA input-output and cable are included so you can hook the camcorder to a TV for convenient viewing or a VCR for dubbing to regular VHS.

Contents
This package contains the ES8400V camcorder, battery pack (model BP-911K), shoulder strap, power adapter (model CA-550), and AV cable.

From the Manufacturer

Pick up a Canon ES8400V Hi8 camcorder, and you're got a world of spectacular video possibilities in your hand. With a wealth of advanced functions, a powerful zoom lens, video effects and Canon’s elegant user-friendly design, the ES8400V is just the tool you need to make your video production dreams come true.

Optical 22x (Digital 800x) Zoom

Canon's exclusive precision optical zoom lens lets you capture everything from sweeping panoramas to thrilling close-ups, all in flawless detail. The powerful digital zoom lets you increase magnification to an incredible 800x,for even more dramatic results.

Image Stabilizer

The advanced image stabilization system instantly compensates for "camera shake" caused by unsteady hands, giving you smooth, stable pictures even for the extreme close-ups, without a tripod.

Photo Mode

The ES8400V's photo mode lets you record still images with sound for approximately seven seconds.

2.5" Color LCD Screen

The ES8400V features a bright color LCD screen that makes it easy to shoot well-composed video without having to squint into a viewfinder. Rotate the screen for high or low - angle shots, or turn it around 180° for recording yourself. When you're done shooting, the screen is great for playing back your scenes.

Built-in Video Light

The built-in video lights lets you keep on shooting even when the light fades. Even in total darkness, the ES8400V lets you capture the nightlife without having to carry or connect any added gear.

FlexiZone AF/AE

This exciting and exclusive innovation by Canon lets you keep your subject in perfect focus and exposure regardless of the shooting and lighting conditions. Simply use the FlexiZone controller to align the FlexiZone with your subject in the viewfinder. The ES8400V does the rest!

Programmed Auto-Exposure

While the ES8400V's Auto mode is fine for most shooting situations, the camcorder also includes four additional pre-programmed auto exposure modes, each carefully designed to give you the best possible image results under special shooting conditions.

Point-and-Shoot Simplicity

The great video opportunities can come suddenly, and even if you're ready, is your camcorder? When there's no time to adjust focus, exposure or white balance, rely on the ES8400V, which does it all automatically for you. Just switch on, point and shoot.

Digital Effects

The ES8400V features 8 special digital image effects (Art, Black & White, Sepia, Negative, Mirror, Mosaic, 16:9, Cinema, strobe and ghost) to add to your video recordings, for a touch of variety and impact at the touch of a button.

PAL TV Playback

The ES8400V can convert NTSC-recorded video to PAL60.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good camera for a good price., August 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Canon ES8400V Hi8 Camcorder with 2.5" Color LCD Screen & Image Stabilizer (Electronics)

I recently purchased this camcorder from amazon and I am quite happy with it. Before I bought this, I used an RCA camcorder that I was satisfied with. However, the RCA used VHS C tapes that weren't very good quality. I shopped around looking at different cameras. The digital cameras are the newest, and eventually will probably be the way to go, but the good ones are up around $1000+. Then I came across this camera and I decided to buy it.
I am very happy with the features on this camera, especially the 22x optical zoom. I usually find myself zooming in often because at the extreme wide angle position, you do lose some picture quality. Also, the digital effects are fun to play with; I especially like the negative conversion. Another nice feature is that the playback also lets you hear sound. The image stabilizer is very helpful as well, especially in telephoto. Also, people have been saying that the LCD could be bigger, but I think that a screen much bigger than that would drain the battery very fast. The built in video light is very nice too.
As much as I do like the camera, there are a few cons. First of all, the view finder could be in color, I often find mysef using the view finder on sunny days, because the LCD gets glared. Also, I wish there was a way to turn off the microphone when you don't want sound. Also, there is no way to program your own titals into the camera. The pre-set titals are too general, and I can't program in the ones I want. Another thing is that the 800x digital zoom isn't all what it is said to be. When you zoom into the digital zoom, immediately you see diminishing picture quality, and if you zoom in 800 times, the pictures are grainy that you can't distinguish the picture. But the zoom is nice at the low stages of it.
Overall, I am very happy with this camcorder, and I am enjoying it. I highly recommend this camera to anyone who is seeking out a good camcorder for a good price.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Picture Qua;ity, August 11, 2002

By 

Donald W. Erickson (Tomball, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon ES8400V Hi8 Camcorder with 2.5" Color LCD Screen & Image Stabilizer (Electronics)

I read the other review which said that the picture was grainy. More so than a Sony camera of comparable qualty. I took pictures in good light and found that the video quality was excellent in normal and telephoto shooting. I used Hi8 video tape. The picture was grainy only in low light situations. In a low light situation I don't plan to take videos, although the lens is light sensitive enough to take such pictures. I have several other camcorders of different models and types and this camera stands up with the best of them. It is also small and very easy to carry and take pictures... I plan to keep it. It is an excellent camcorder.

48 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good But There are Better for the Same Price, June 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Canon ES8400V Hi8 Camcorder with 2.5" Color LCD Screen & Image Stabilizer (Electronics)

I recently bought the Canon 8400 after having a Sony CCD 8 mm (non HI-8 format) for 5-6 years, which was great. Here are the Canon's Pros: It's small and light weight. It has a light and image stabilization. It has a LCD screen. It has a high power zoom.

Canon's Cons: Compared to the Sony, I'm a little disappointed in the picture quality. Although the zoom is easy to use, the picture quality was fairly grainy, even at what I would consider relatively short distances (15-20 feet). I frankly don't think it's any better than the Sony non-Hi-8 format. Also, the 2.5" LCD screen is too small.

I think if I were buying again, I would look more seriously at the Sony's. The comparable price point Sony model didn't have image stabilization; however, that feature I now realize isn't as important as picture quality.