Sharp VLZ3U MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and Memory Slot

Other products by Sharp

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 3.2 x 3.2 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000899VM
• Item model number: VL-Z3U
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,186 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 25, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With a free angle range of 225 degrees, you can easily swivel the Sharp VL-Z3U to shoot from a high angle, low angle, or even back at yourself without straining your wrist. The VL-Z3U is also a well-equipped digital camcorder that features a 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD display, black and white viewfinder, and a memory card slot for digital stills.

Image Stabilization
Sharp uses electric picture stabilization that keeps your images smooth and steady. Natural jerks and shaky holding will be smoothed over with this function turned on.

Optics
The 1/4-inch CCD has 680,000 pixels for sharp and clear imaging. The 10x optical zoom is effective for most purposes, but if you need extra close shots the camcorder can zoom up to 500x digitally. For low-light situations, the camcorder can operate in slow shutter mode for slow-moving or stable objects and night lumi mode for bright objects at night.

More Features
The VL-Z3U features a 2.5-inch color LCD and a black and white viewfinder. The LCD monitor incorporates new CG silicon technology to achieve high luminance and definition, making viewing easy even in broad daylight. The rechargeable battery snugly clips inside the frame of the camcorder, rather than outside like most other camcorders. This makes the camera less bulky and easier to carry.

The camcorder also has a memory slot that is compatible with Secure Digital or MultiMedia Cards, so you can take digital stills and import them onto a computer via the USB port. The standard IEEE1394 (Firewire) connection can be used for digital video editing, while the standard AV output terminal is used for viewing on TV or dubbing.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the new preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Contents
This package includes the VL-Z3U camcorder, AC adapter, lithium-ion battery pack, A/V-S cable, lens cap, USB cable, and USB driver software.

Product Description

The VL-Z3U Digital camcorder is a one-handed solution that features an integrated rotational pivot point in the center of the unit for ease-of-use and more comfort while recording. This unique body design leads to a smaller camcorder and allows total flexibility while recording. The VL-Z3U Digital camcorder incorporates CG Silicon LCD screen technology for a high-resolution image during playback and when framing subjects. CG Silicon LCD technology from Sharp is a new solution in size and resolution for high style digital applications. This model also includes a memory card slot for still image capture and a USB port for easy transfer of stills to a PC.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good basic digital camcorder, February 10, 2004

By	David T. Wang (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At the time my purchase, the Sharp VLZ3U MiniDV camera was the least expensive digital camcorder on the market. Price was very important for me. Here's what I have found to be "important" aspects of the camcorder that I didn't know before I ordered it.

1. The camcorder can record video on miniDV tapes or take pictures and store them on SD (secure digital) memory cards. However, the camcorder came without either media. Silly me, I had expected that the camcorder come with one miniDV tape to get me started, but no. I had to run out and buy a miniDV tape in the evening.

2. The camcorder comes with 3 ways to "download" images or video:USB, DV, AV. The USB port allows the computer to download digital pictures from the SD card, the DV (digital video, aka 1394 port) allows a computer equipped with a 1394 port to download the video to the computer, and the AV port allows connection to a TV to show the video. The camcorder does not support USB streaming, so you cannot download the video through the USB port, it has to be through the 1394 (DV) port. The camcorder also does not allow for the camera to store video on the SD memory card. So pictures has to go on the SD memory card, and it has to be downloaded through the USB port. The video has to go on the miniDV tape and downloaded through the 1394 (DV) port. More advanced (expensive) camcorders support recording on the memory card, and/or USB streaming. For the price difference, I found that it was easier (cheaper) for me to add a 1394 card to my computer. It was also very easy to download the video and start making movies using the camcorder, the 1394 card, and moviemaker on WinXP.

Overall, I was quite happy with the camcorder. I still think that they should have included one miniDV tape, but that's just a nitpick.

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best bang for the buck; Great for students, July 22, 2003

By A Customer

This camera beats out all others in the budget MiniDV camcorder group. I also considered the Sony DCR-TRV19 (too expensive), Panasonic PV-DCx series (ditto), Canon ZR60 (great zoom, but washed out image), and the JVC GR-Dx series (clunky). The LCD on this thing is amazing (go compare at your local electronics store) and the film quality is great; I wasn't disappointed. Low light performance is admittedly not all that great but neither is it on any of the others in the budget group (unless you like B/W infrared recordings with the Sony or Samsung line). It's tiny (fits in your palm) - you can't get a camera this small for this price and it's made by Sharp (in Japan) so you know it's reliable. The ability to rotate the lens is very useful for filming in crowds. And despite what I read in some reviews about the menu being confusing - it wasn't at all. The only faults I find are probably the battery (short life, no larger capacity battery available), but that's just the tradeoff of getting a camera this size, and a nonexistent headphone jack so everyone gets to hear when you playback the tape.

If you're looking for a MiniDV camcorder that's small, lightweight (1 lb), has all the features you're actually going to use, AND has great picture quality, nothing currently out there beats this camcorder at this price.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good bang for the buck., October 30, 2003

By	Tezza "Tezza" (USA) - See all my reviews

I have only owned this camcorder for two days, however there's so few reviews, I thought I'd post one. I used to have my own video production company many years ago (wedding videos and such), so I'm somewhat experienced with videocams.

First of all, I bought this as a small and cheap cam. It fits the bill. I decided to go for the vlz3u over the vlz1u because I wanted the 16 bit sound, and the ability to digitize old vhs footage straight in.

I didn't get the 5zu because it was more money, and i heard that black and white viewfinders are more accurate than color. All told, I think it would have been better to go for the color viewfinder of the 5zu, and to get the remote control as well.

At first I found the camera and manual a little on the complicated side. However, after a little while, the camera modes and menus became more and more intuitive. This camera has a lot of features.

A few things to remember is you have to pull out the viewfinder or else you can't see anything through it (thought my viewfinder was broken). Also, when you play back tapes, the lcd monitor has to be pulled out in order to hear sound. ie if you only view the tape through the viewfinder, no audio. The Sharp customer service rep I called at their tech support line had less of a clue of how the camera worked than me. I think he only had the manual in front of him, and no camera.

One feature that is totally useless is the digital stabilization which is automatically turned on in automatic mode. At first I thought the camera had a really bad picture until I turned off the stabilization.

The video is average to good, depending on the amount of light. This is definately not a low light camera. Bright outdoors, or well lit indoors.

The LCD monitor is gorgeous, really high quality like a top quality laptop screen.

Ergonomically, the camera feels like it should fit a smaller hand than mine. It kinda sits in my hand like a firm lump of hamburger. The little switch used to change the camera to various modes is hard to use. The rest of the camera, including installing the battery, installing the tape, etc is very intuitive.

Another feature is the timecode. This camera allows you to record the timecode out, which is great if you want to give somebody a copy of their tape, and then they pick out the frames they want included in and out of their edits. I plan to do a little video editing of other people's work, and "striping" output is key. This camera does it.

All in all, a very capable little bucket. Loses some points on the low light performance, ergonimic handholding, and the mode button.

But gains points in that it packs a lot of features that you will really appreciate should you choose to explore the manual and try things out.

Definitely a budget camcorder for the tech afficionado!