Canon ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom

Other products by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 2.7 x 4.8 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001OI2ZKA
• Item model number: 3543B001AA
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #305 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

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  Camera & Photo > Camcorders

• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 5, 2009

Product Description

Product 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars People are Confused about MiniDV - It is NOT obsolete, November 28, 2009

By	Charles Seiler (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews

I am getting very upset because all of the people who say they have done video for 25 years should no better than to say that MiniDV is obsolete! MiniDV records in 500% compression. MINI DVD and HardDisk HDD and FLASH cameras record in 1500% compression. MiniDV records in in superior DV AVI format, which has individual frames and editing can be done WITHOUT LOSS OF QUALITY once uploaded to your computer. The MINI DVD/HDD/FLASH cameras are NOT better in this respect, they are far worse.

Consumer MINI DVD/HDD/FLASH cameras have not reached a level where they can compete with MiniDV for high end recordings. MiniDV doesn't take longer to edit. You have to play it back in real time, but in order to EDIT .MPEG videos from MINI DVD/HDD/FLASH you have to spend an hour converting it over to uncompressed AVI format! Either way, you have to spend an hour. It makes much more sense to start out with high quality RAW video, and then compress it AFTER you edit it. You can ONLY do this with MiniDV.

The MINI DVD/HDD/FLASH cameras are only good for NON TECH junkies who don't care about quality and just want to record home movies. You will lose more quality with these cameras than you will with the superior MiniDV.

If you are going to use a MINI DVD/HDD/FLASH camera, you should NOT edit the video direclty. You need to uncompress it, and convert it into a superior AVI format, because it lends itself to editing. That means you need to use a video converter on your computer and convert the MPEG2 video to AVI before editing. With MiniDV you don't have to, since MiniDV records in AVI, and only AVI, which is ready for editing as it is, just upload in real time to your pc, cut frames out, and then conver it into MPEG2.

MiniDV is getting a bad name because it uses a tape. This is not right. It actually records with LESS compression than a comparable store bought DVD! Now, you know what this means. Uncompressed video is always better to start with than starting with compressed video.

Please research MiniDV more before giving it a bad name. It is not going to be obsolete until the MINI DVD cameras can record uncompressed video, which for all practical purposes, will never happen. SO that leaves HDD and FLASH cameras, which will eventually have that option, but they don't have that option yet, so for now MiniDV Is the best for for home video projects that require video editing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars better than expected, July 20, 2009

By	Philip J. Herman (NYC area) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Canon ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder, May 22, 2009

By	Jaycoub "Jaycoub" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Great product, picture quality from Canon still needs improvement but for the price of the camera it is user friendly and reasonable.Canon ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder w/41x Optical Zoom