Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

I am writing to offset some negative opinions on this unit. I bought the Canon because it has facilities for an external mike. I am a new camcorder user and so have no practical experience to bias my opinion one way or another. First on the matter of tape drive noise: yes I can hear it if I put the unit up to my ear. But no noticeable noise comes up on actual movie clips when played back through my computer. Second, they claim you can interconnect and capture clips to your computer. What they don't tell you is that you need a Firewire card and cable (about $70.00 total at Best Buy). You cannot simply hook up through the available computer USB port. Fortunately, Microsoft provides the necessary drivers in the XP OS and minimal capture software called "Moviemaker".

I am not too pleased with the tape system but considering the price of the unit, I think it is a bargain. Finally, I have become aware through short experience with the unit that the ergonometric design for the right hand was very well thought out. Your thumb easily controls on/off and tape transport functions. It is really easy to use, at least for right handed users. All considered, I am satisfied with the product. Of course, if it dies next week, I will have a different opinion.

I recently purchased the Canon ZR-800 (my first digital camcorder) and couldn't be more pleased. The color reproduction on this camera is the best I've ever used or seen. As to the motor noise complaints lodged by others, I can honestly claim that the motor noise has at no time been noticeable during playback. I am even using this camera for amateur movies, and its many features make it very controllable. Granted, the ZR-800 is not in any way a professional camera, but it does a great job for those on a micro-budget. The 35x lens is a great addition and makes extreme closeups look great. The "Widescreen" feature isn't true 16:9 (rather more like 4:3 widescreen)but it still looks great. I bought it primarily for the microphone input to use my shotgun mic, but even without it the sound is pretty good. All in all, a bargain for what I paid for it.

I love this camcorder. It is very easy to use, the piture quality is great. You can record wide screen or full screen. Light weight, fits in the palm of your hand which is more stable and less shaky when taping. The controls are within easy reach while taping. It is so easy to use that both of my kids have even been using it and they are only 9 and 6. It is also a great price. Can't wait for all our summer vacations to start taping.

I bought this camcorder two weeks ago from best buy. I just wrote my review and then read the others and I had to add this in, there were comments being made that you can hear the tape while recording and then in the play back. I slightly hear the noise when I am taping, but I cannot hear it when I am playing it on my dvd player. To hear the noise while taping you have to have it right next to your ear. But not noticable on the playback on computer or through the dvd player.

One of the distinguishing features of this camera is the mike jack, which is rare these days.

Combine this jack with a Rode Videomic and an L-bracket and you have a great little outfit that can get a lot of work done.

Another great thing is the Firewire (IEE 1394) socket.

I have just verified that you can use this socket to dump video directly to a computer running Adobe Premire Elements. Just hook up the wire, open the program, open the video capture screen, and click "Get Video" and you will see the counter run.

It's just like capturing from tape except you have saved yourself the capture step. This gives you the effect of a Firestore. This probably also means that this little machine and the HV20 will work with Firestore.

Another great socket is the AV out. You can use this to monitor your sound. I would use the AV cord to plug into an RCA to 1/8" stereo (male) adapter from radio shack, then a female to female coupler, then headphones (with volume control) or maybe a cheap headphone amplifier.

Bottom line: you have to spend a lot more to get more- the next bump is up to $1,000.

I really think this camcorder is great. I'm amazed at how good the picture is for the price. It's nice and light and easy to carry around, and I got tons of great video from my family's recent trip to Disney. I'm not a real technical person when it comes to these recorders, but I can certainly say I'm very happy with it esp. for the money.