Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 2.2 x 3.6 inches ; 13.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M4OANM
• Item model number: ZR830
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,605 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 27, 2007

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Canon MiniDV digital camcorders offer the perfect blend of performance and features. With the flexibility and versatility of MiniDV, you will enjoy a wide variety of advanced, yet easy-to-use features in compact and lightweight style. Canon camcorders are perfect for capturing all of your life's most precious moments, for beginners and advanced users alike, and make it easy to share your video with family and friends.

ZR830 Highlights

Genuine Canon Optics with 35x optical zoom/1000x digital zoom Genuine Canon Optics ensure that video and photos are clear and rich with color and detail. Canon’s expertise in designing lenses for photography and broadcast television goes into every camcorder we make.

Image stabilizer Shoot rock-steady video -- even when you’re at maximum telephoto without a tripod. It is even effective while panning or zooming.

DIGIC DV image processor Video and photos require different image processing. Unlike other manufacturers’ camcorders which process video and photos the same way, DIGIC DV treats them differently. This results in video and photos with exceptional color and clarity.

2.7-inch widescreen LCD A widescreen LCD and the new .35-inch widescreen color viewfinder allows you to see exactly what your camcorder is recording, and what your TV will display later.

Widescreen HR recording The ZR830 records true widescreen for picture-perfect video. Canon’s image processing system uses the entire width of the image sensor, capturing a big picture in true 16:9 widescreen so no one and nothing is left unseen. And Canon camcorders take advantage of more pixels to give you amazing quality.

Still image recording Capture stunning photos in 4:3 aspect ratio to a miniSD card.

Quick Start Instead of powering off your camcorder between shots, simply press the Quick Start button to put the camcorder in stand-by mode. Quick Start considerably reduces the power consumption of the battery and allows the user to return to recording mode in approximately .9 seconds, so you’ll never have to miss another special moment.

Joystick The joystick makes using the camcorder easier than ever. Extra buttons have been eliminated, allowing you to control playback, focusing, exposure, and menu options from one convenient place.

Photo features A variety of features allow you to capture great photos.

• 9-point AiAF: Bring off-center subjects into sharp focus.
• Progressive Photo: Reduces blurring so you get crisp photos.
• Simultaneous photo recording: Capture e-mail ready digital photos to a memory card while you record video.
• Special Scene modes: A wide selection of automatic exposure modes makes it easy to capture great video or photos under any condition. Choose from: Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, or Fireworks.
• Image effects: Choose from the following effects to add a creative flare to your photos: Vivid, Neutral, Low-Sharpening, and Soft Skin Detail.

Smooth zoom control Want to shoot like the pros? Three fixed speeds allow you to produce smooth video that will be enjoyable for everyone to watch.

Built-in manual lens cover A built-in manual lens cover gives you the ability to protect your Canon video lens without ever having the inconvenience of a dangling lens cap that’s easily lost.

Level shot control Even if you are a first-time camcorder user, you’ll never have to worry about shooting crooked video. A horizontal marker and center indicator always keeps you on track.

Grid display Achieve picture perfect composition every time when using the convenient Grid Marker feature. You can choose between two colors, white or gray, to best match the background.

Product Description

The ZR830 gives you clear, vibrant and brilliant video and digital photographs with a 680K Megapixel CCD image sensor. 35x Optical and 1000x Digital Zoom lets you get closer to the action for unsurpassed optical performance. The ZR830's image stabilizer allows you to shoot rock-steady video even at maximum telephoto without a tripod for professional-looking video. Canon's exclusive DIGIC DV image processor takes video and photos differently, resulting in exceptional color and clarity for both. The ZR830 even comes with a built-in video light so you can record video that's great when the light isn't. The 0.35-inch viewfinder on your ZR830 displays your widescreen image in a letterbox view. The 2.7-inch LCD screen lets you view your widescreen shot right as you're taking them. The Widescreen Button lets you switch from standard 4:3 to 16:9 Widescreen HR with the camcorder's advanced image stabilization. Simultaneous Photo Recording lets you capture a digital photograph while recording video. Level and Grid Markers - Both markers can be set to white or grey for enhanced visibility Built-in Video Light 680K 1/6-inch CCD Image Sensor MiniDV Tape Format Viewfinder - 0.35-inch, 114,000 pixels, widescreen LCD Screen - 2.7-inch, 112,000 pixels, widescreen Exposure Lock - Lets you lock your exposure settings and then recompose your shot Auto Slow Shutter Function - Ensures perfect exposures in low light by lowering your shutter speed 9 Point Ai-AF - Auto Intelligent Auto Focus will bring it into sharp focus Progressive Photo gives you sharper detail in your digital photography Scene Modes - Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight or Fireworks Image Effects - Vivid, Neutral, Low-Sharpening, and Skin Detail Dimensions - Width 2.2 x Height 3.6 x Depth 4.7 inch (57 x 92 x 119 mm not including grip belt) Weight - 13.4 ounces (380 grams)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

149 of 150 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Camera, July 16, 2007

By 

Jesse Ross (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This camera is a wonderful choice for those looking to make professional movies, or tape family gatherings, or whatever. You can either record onto a mini dv tape, or a memory card. The camera is fairly easy to navigate (although not quite as easy as previous models of this series that I have used.) It can record in widescreen or fullscreen, has an excellent zoom lens, and a handy picture stablizer that will compensate for shakiness on hand-held shots. The transfer quality is very good, which is useful for editing purposes and/or burning DVDs of your projects. The camera comes with all required accessories including a battery, AC adapter, A/V cords, etc. It does not come with a firewire cable so you will need to buy that seperately, if you plan to edit your movies. I have greatly enjoyed using this camera. I also love using iMovie to edit my completed tapes. For anyone wanting to have fun filming home movies or something a bit more professional, this camera would be great on both levels.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Optimum Performance at the given price, August 11, 2007

By 

Viralkumar B. Kansara "Viral Kansara" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I like this Camcorder. I am the first time Camcorder buyer. I tried all the features of it and it really works fine. I used JVC MiniDV tape and it gives excellent result with it. But it did not give me the same kind of quality with Sandisk SD card. One draw back is battery discharged very fast. If you are going for a tour, it's better to keep extra battery.
But overall this is a good buy at given price.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Mini Cam, January 31, 2008

By 

G. Long (NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I seemed to have done a lot of research on camcorders prior to purchase but in the end paid the price on inferior products. I purchased a Flip and sent it back because I couldn't get the data off the device. I purchased an Aptic and sent it back because of some clicking sound being recorded while recording. The Flip was a nice little device; I liked it but couldn't get the data off, which discovered many others seem to be having the same issue with it. The Aptic was just a bad one altogether and couldn't even hold a candle to the Flip picture, which was good but produced this HUGE avi file.

But now here came the ZR830...

Let me just briefly say when I purchased the ZR830 from Cannon that I wasn't immediately overly happy because I really needed to get the recordings on to my PC. I just didn't know anything about Firewire or IEEE-1394 Cards. I almost sent this back but decided because of the *really* nice picture to go-ahead and take it to the next step and get a Firewire Card by StarTech, which included the cable for a desktop for about $25. Problem solved, they even give you a copy of ulead editing software, which is amazing. Laptops use a 4pin Firewire connect, Desktops use a 6pin Connect. I can now get my recordings on to my PC.

I learned that quality pictures from DVD disk on some of the new camcorders, and saving recordings to hard disk such as SD cards are hard to acquire unless you are spending hundreds of dollars more on real expensive cams. The DVD's and hard disk on some of the new cams can't hardly touch the picture quality produced by this small little guy called the ZR830. Also, I don't have any problems with noise recordings like some professed from the ZR800's. This is a great cam with a noble optical zoom. I made the right choice by keeping this product that I got for a reasonable price from Amazon seller.