Customer Reviews

Canon ZR900 MiniDV Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am forced to write the review because of totally uneducated review left by "E. Robles "VJ Pike". He apparently never went to the menu section of the camera. When i get any electronic item, the first thing I do, is to go to the Menu and play around with the setting. If he had ever visited the Menu section, let alone play around with it, he wouldn't have written an embarrassing and incorrect review. While I agree with SDHC part is falsely advertised, markers and 41x zoom are not.

Go to Menu->Camera Setup->Zoom and you can select between 37x, Advanced 41x, and 2000x digital+optical zoom options.
Go to Menu->Display Setup->Marker and you can select level marker and grid options.

These are not falsely advertised, but the user did not have the opportunity to find out. I wonder if he bought the same camera or thought he did and bought something else.

Regarding the camera, its a solid performer. Zoom is more than enough. Video quality is pretty good although not the best (For something less than 200$ what do you expect? HD?).
The external mic jack is a big plus. It's very light and fits right into my hands. Mini DV allows me to get uncompressed video out of my tape. Manual controls are adequate, although they could have thrown in more controls for spot exposure, more focus controls.
One drawback is the picture is grainy when shooting in low light. Also it could have had still picture mode to a sd card or something.
I paid 185$ for this camera. I certainly am not complaining. It does what its supposed to do and it does it pretty well. I am more than satisfied with what I got for what I paid.

It is a good camcorder for the price. My only complaint is that it is firewire which limits the ability for Windows based systems to utilize the device. The 900 has only tape whereas the 950 used SDHC memory. I actually purchased the ZR950 after this purchase to get the USB connection and I am much happier.

This camcorder performs well and does everything I was looking for.
Easy to move video to computer.
User friendly menu.
Zoom is steady until it reaches near maximum.
Small in in-obtrusive.
Easy to carry and set up.
Sound quality is very good.
Over all, excellent buy for the money.
I would highly recommend.
Del - Montana

This is a good overall camcorder. Very light and small with an excellent zoom. The video shot in well lit areas, and that shot outside, is excellent quality. Dimmer environments produce more grainy results. I'm sure all camcorders suffer from this problem, however. Expect some noise from the tape drive in very quiet situations, but it is not unreasonable. I would recomend this to a friend.

Canon ZR900 MiniDV Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom

Bought this camcorder as a graduation gift for my 13 year old niece. She already has an iMac and a digital camcorder so this camera fit in perfectly and she is able to take great videos and edit them in iMovie. She loves to make movies with her ZR900 and the the size, features and price is right.

We already have an entire DVD put together of our 4th of July party just two weeks ago.

Very happy with product--thought there was a catch as I've never ordered online and the fact that it was so cheap! Cheaper than the manufacturer...no catch it was brand new and I have been using it ever since

Simple and inexpensive, yet very good quality recordings and with an amazing 37x optical zoom! Lacks remote control, but it sure is inexpensive! I made just a short new video to try it out, but this is not why I bought it. I wanted a camcorder to replace an old one of this format. No, I do not want to create more new videos. I needed a new one like this so I can transfer all my old tapes to get them onto DVD. Tape is so passe! Still I have to deal with all those old ones and my old camcorder died. This one is relatively cheap, supremely easy to use and is making quick work of playing back my tapes so I can transfer the signal to computer via FireWire or to my Humax TiVo with built-in DVD recorder. In other words, I am using this camcorder as a "mule." I think that, with reasonable care, consumers would be pleased with the purchase of this camcorder for regular use.

I didn't spend a lot on this product...good. Pretty much out of the box I started enjoying this product...well not really, I did have to find the firewire cable but hey.

This product is very handy to use, easy to learn and fairly simple to begin with...and hey for not very much cash!

I have to admit...I've been having a lot of fun with this camcorder. I spent about the same money on my phone and that pisses me off...just about on a fortnightly basis. The camcorder...no complaints. Technology that works? I'll try not to get my hopes up too much.

Okay, so I have had this camera for about two years now. Actually, I have gone out and brought a new camera (HD!) because this one has stopped working. However there are many things which I should say about this camcorder.

Pros:

Sound quality is very good
External Mic Jack
DV
Okay Picture Quality
Adequate battery life

Cons:
Dv

So this camera was my first DV camcorder that I have used. Beforehand, I have just been using a cheap digital camera. Now coming from a cheap digital camera to this was amazing. For me the picture quality seemed HD (although not). Sound was excellent, and I loved having the external mic jack. I have used this camera for countless videos that I have done on YouTube and for just recording family events.

Now to the Dv. This being DV I didn't know what to expect. I have a love-hate relationship with DV overall. I love the process in which you record the media while importing it to your computer, and the ease of use of firewire. I hate that you have to be very careful with DV, or else, your camera may not be working. (Thus the reason why my camera is not working now) See, as long as your careful and don't do anything by accident that will mess up the video heads, then your find. If you mess up the video heads, well...you're out of luck. However, the odds of that happening are slim.

SO now I have went out and brought another Canon camera, this time HD and digital. I love it. The picture quality is far better then this camera, and transferring files are easier, although I still kinda of miss Dv. But I would definitely recommend the Canon zr 900 to anyone looking for a cheaper SD DV camcorder. BTW, THE ZOOM ON THIS THING IS BEYOND BELIEF!!!!

I am very happy with the video camera I order via Amazon.com. What I am most strongly UNHAPPY about it that my order was "subbed out" to Tiger Direct. I had selected "Next Day" shipping with Amazon. When the order was sent to Tiger Direct my choice of shipping was NOT noted. My birthday gift for my husband was not and did not arrive in time. I did email Amazon within 5 minutes of placing the order to request the shipping be changed and was offered NO recouse to correct the shipping request to what I had originally asked for in the first place.

I am a frequent customer with Amazon. This was the first time I was so strongly unhappy with my order. The merchandise was great. The shipping was NOT. What I select as my option with Amazon should stay the same when it's "subbed" out to Tiger direct or any other place without having to change it myself.

Thank you,
Renea Tutt