Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 47
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 On: 2008-06-18
Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom I just purchased this camera and It is great. It is not at all like some reviews said. The cassette goes in and out smoothly, and it is quiet running. You do have to read the instruction booklet as it has vital information on how to set up and use this little camera. All and all it is worth the price.
 On: 2008-06-02
Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical ZoomThe camera is easy to use. The battery requires no separate charger which is very convenient. The image quality is excellent.
On: 2008-05-27
I am satisfied with the camera. I only wish it came with a cable to hook up with my PC.
On: 2008-05-26
This product came when promised and we have not had any problems with it since. Easy to use and so far we love it!
On: 2008-05-14
This camcorder is extremely easy to use. Ive hardly needed to look at the instruction manual. Im also very pleased with the quality of the picture and the sound. For the price, its defintley well worth it. Im not sure how much better you can get paying for a $400 camcorder compared to this one. I do highly recommend it!
On: 2008-05-08
Before I purchased this camera I read the reviews on Amazon. I was pretty skeptical about buying this video camera after reading the reviews about the motor noise and somewhat cheap product. After ordering from Amazon, the video camera came in less than a week from Beach Camera. I paid $147.00 with free shipping. I am completely amazed that a Japanese company can ship a camera of this high quality to the US with such a devalued dollar and still make money on the product. I am very happy with my purchase! This is my fourth video camera. The camera has above average optics. Has features found only on more expensive cameras, like an external mike input. Has decent special effects. The one disappointing quality is that the camera does not have a hotshoe for a video light. The camera does not do well in low light situations. But I did not buy it to shoot in darkness! It has both a viewfinder and and a decent viewing screen. It is hard to find a viewfinder on a $500.00 video camera these days. I wanted a hard-drive camera but they are still costly and are still not of mini-dv quality (That is why the professional video cameras are still mini-dv and not dvd or hard-drive). Overall I am very satisfied with this camera and would highly recommend this camera to anyone.
On: 2008-04-23
This was a gift for my daughter & her husband. They said that they were happy with it.
On: 2008-04-06
camcorder works very well but has to have a lot of light to be effective.
On: 2008-04-05
If you are looking for a easy to understand and control camcorder this is the one. i love that its very easy to change the settings on it and it also has a 37x optical zoom!! i record everything my baby does and the video always comes out great. even the battery life lasts a while so its always good to take with you. I highly recommend this camcorder if your under a tight budget.
On: 2008-04-02
I am happy with this cam because of its ease of use and the additional features. It works as well as a higher price Canon I used to have minus some features like a remote control. Of course, I am simply interested in capturing the action and am not concerned about making a high quality movie.
On: 2008-04-01
Ive owned this camcorder for over six months and have not once noticed any of the so-called "motor noise" everyone keeps complaining about. The on board microphone is, however, very sensitive and produces surprisingly good sound. If youre not satisfied with it, you can add your own external microphone. Picture quality is excellent, whether you are viewing it on a computer or tv (with my computer monitor set to HD resolution, my videos look far superior to that of most dvds). The camera does generate some noise in darker areas, but its not enough to really ruin the image. It has numerous manual settings (exposure, shutter, focus, etc) and automatic modes and an easy mode(which actually works pretty well) for those who just want to point and shoot. Overall, a great little camera.
On: 2008-03-30
I did a lot of research before picking this camcorder, and as of March 2008, I still think its the best deal in the market. Very cheap camera, that has high quality, good color, and a mic input, which is an essential for anyone who wants better quality sound. Interestingly going up a model, to the 820 will lose you the mic input.
Its a great camera, the format of tapes is kind of annoying, using miniDVs but its enough cheaper and better than most HD cameras that it was worth it for me.
 On: 2008-03-29
Lots of features on this cam and a very good picture, but the motor noise is in my opinion, unbearable. I can not see having to use an external mike at all times, therefore it must go!
On: 2008-03-27
Okay, Ive got it all of a couple days now, so Ill probably update this later, but right now...
...this thing rocks!
I have not noticed any significant motor noise during operations OR playback, though I have not yet dropped a video into my workstation yet. Sometime in the next couple of weeks Ill get around to that, but for now, WOW!
Couple of friends suggested the new UltraFlip digital recorder, but I wanted more features than it provided. High on the list was 16:9, removable storage, external mic, firewire, and ideally a name I know and trust. Im a pro photographer with a small arsenal of Canon still gear, so the name part was good to go! Otherwise, this met all my needs, and came in at the same price as the UltraFlip. Awesome! Wanted this as an upgrade to my time worn Sharp Minicam, and wow, such a good choice! Have not had any problems, nor ran into any of the cons in some of the other reviews.
Want to get started playing with some video? Dont want to spend a fortune on a camera? Thinking about the UltraFlip? Get this wonderful camera!
 On: 2008-03-19
A friend of mine purchased this camera a Best Buy I think. He said that the camera came to about $190.00 - $200.00, a decent price. He also paid about $50.00 for a carrying case, and extra battery. We used it to film homemade movies, and it has held up very well, due to the fact that he very rarely lets anyone even look at it. It has a lot of nice features, so here are some pros and cons.
Pros: Lots of camera features, good quality pictures, 35x OPTICAL zoom, and 1000x digital zoom. Also noteworthy is the fact that since it takes tapes, you have to fast forward alot, and rewind. The camera comes equipped with and end finder, which automatically find the last time that you taped. It also can be plugged in, and my friend daid that it came with the adapter.
Cons: Films on tape, so you will need a firewire cable, and if you use a PC, a firewire card, if you want to get the videos onto your computer. It also does not take pictures, which is just stupid in this day and age. It does not come with tapes, so you will have to buy them yourself.
For a few more dollars, I am just going with the Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom, or the newer ZR models. Great camera for beginners though!
On: 2008-03-14
I loved the small size, great price but after testing it out for a bit, the noise from the motor was unacceptable and I returned the device. That kind of background noise is unacceptable and could ruin a lot of home videos. I would look elsewhere.
On: 2008-03-13
It is so basic. Please read the description well before purchasing, if you need more functions look for other model of Canon.
On: 2008-03-02
I was so excited to find a camera for $155! It looks great on paper, you know, 35x optical zoom, etc. Be warned though, that you will have to buy the Firewire that connects your camcorder to your computer. The booklet says "If you wish to connect to your computer, you will need a commercially available IEEE394 cable". Who would buy a mini dv camcorder and not want to connect to their computer? So add $30 minimum to the overall price of the camera, unless you have Firewires hanging around. I didnt. It does not use USB to connect either, only IEEE394.
Also, there is no software accompanying this camera in the box. That is a good thing and a bad thing. It makes me work with Windows Movie Maker (included with Windows XP) which is not very user friendly. Sometimes, I prefer my cameras to have their own software for processing the images/data in a more comprehensive manner.
I am also still not sure how to save the files...do I save as Windows Movie Maker files (which means it needs editing, renaming and resaving) or save as raw footage?
Also, when recording a quiet event, you can hear the click click of the zoom button on the recording. I looked everywhere for a fix and couldnt find it. So I guess I have to live with it.
This is my first digital video camera, so perhaps I am just behind the times. So maybe next time I will spend a little more for a better product, but this will do for the price I paid.
On: 2008-02-13
I originally purchased three of these for use by students at a high school. At @ 160.00 per unit they perform wonderfully and withstand the kind of abuse that kids can deliver. Particularly nice features of this model include the microphone input, the terrific zoom and the lens cover that slides closed rather than act as an appendage. Additionally, they use tape which, in my humble opinion is still the best way to move video around.
I have since purchased four more.
On: 2008-01-15
I was very happy with the camera I purchased. It was exactly what my son was wanting and he has been filming and editing so much now. This was the perfect item and it arrived in plenty of time and in great shape. I have not one bad thing to say about my purchase.
Thank you so much.
On: 2008-01-14
I was very happy with the camera I purchased. It was exactly what my son was wanting and he has been filming and editing so much now. This was the perfect item and it arrived in plenty of time and in great shape. I have not one bad thing to say about my purchase.
Thank you so much.
On: 2008-01-12
My daughter and I purchased this camera together. I was going to use it in my classroom and she was going to use it to make movies (she is 13). She saved up all summer for it and we researched it out as being a good buy. The big problem we have is we cant connect to our computer. Your computer must be firewire compatible and ours (a 3 year old Dell) is not. To make it compatible will cost at least 70 dollars and that doesnt include the labor if we have to get someone to install the firewire card (it looks tricky to me) and Dells website is very confusing to try to find out if we can cimply add the firewire card. I read somewhere that many Dell computers come w/o firewire capability. So be careful!
On: 2008-01-03
This is my first Camcorder and I am very pleased. It has great picture quality and is easy to use.
There are just a few cons:
The built in speaker rattles obnoxiously. The recorded sound is fine when downloaded on to the computer or played back on the TV. It just rattles when movies are played back on the Camcorder
Another thing is that This Camcorder is not able to host other lenses such as a wideangle lens or a UV Filter.
Finally, The viewfinder is LCD instead of optical. The advantage of an optical viewfinder is that it uses much less battery power, but since it is LCD the purpose is defeated. It only gives about five minutes more power. That is not much.
Overall I think this is a great camera would recommend it to any home video maker
On: 2008-01-02
This is my first Camcorder and I am very pleased. It has great picture quality and is easy to use.
There are just a few cons:
The built in speaker rattles obnoxiously. The recorded sound is fine when downloaded on to the computer or played back on the TV. It just rattles when movies are played back on the Camcorder
Another thing is that This Camcorder is not able to host other lenses such as a wideangle lens or a UV Filter.
Finally, The viewfinder is LCD instead of optical. The advantage of an optical viewfinder is that it uses much less battery power, but since it is LCD the purpose is defeated. It only gives about five minutes more power. That is not much.
Overall I think this is a great camera would recommend it to any home video maker
On: 2007-12-31
I got this camera for Christmas and I have fallen in love with it. Although it is missing some features I could use, I can easily live without them. This camera take great video. Anyone who buys a camera with a mic input should use it. The only exception is if the camera comes with an external mic. Anytime you use a tape based camera you will get motor noise. People complaining about it are very lucky that this camera (unlike others) have the mic input.
On: 2007-12-31
My wife and I were happy to get this on sale. She was happy it fit well in her hands and it is light. Well, I read a couple reviews afterword where people complained about motor noise. I thought how bad could it be...its bad. Not only is it louder than my 5 year old Sony Hi8, but it sooo totally noticable during playback that it seriously ruins the moment. Especially if that moment is of a quiet sleeping infant or some other special moment that you dont want to hear a whiny motor... Cant wait to return this tonight. Also, I read that others just add a microphone...yeah I dont think so. Ill have to have a second look at Sony or Panasonic.
On: 2007-12-26
Ok I got this camera for Christmas and I have to say yes, there is motor noise from the camera. It isnt unbearable, but it is noticeable. As stated before, a simple mic can fix that problem. I previously had the ZR200 which lasted me 2 years of hard solid use and I believe this camera can do the same. This camera, the ZR800 is better video quality and easier to use. Ive compared many cameras of around the same price to this one and found that although very close, the Canon has them beat by a very small amount. The Mic input is something you NEVER see on a camera this cheap. The video quality is wonderful outdoors (and pretty good indoors too). Although the audio isnt the greatest, you can buy a good mic for around $20 and have all the other cameras beat as well. The zoom is aprox. the same as th competitors though Im not talking digital zoom. When looking for high quality video, the digital zoom does almost nothing to help. Battery life isnt that great but it will last. An added pleasure of this video camera is the joystick on the screen. It makes it so much easier to run than its predecessors. A great part too is its lens cap which is built in as well. Bottom line is this......other cameras come close to this camera....and others may have greater features in certain areas. Yes it has its downsides as does every camera on the market. But this camera is so well rounded with its features for its price that its almost impossible to go wrong! I dont know about you, but Im sticking to Canon.
On: 2007-12-25
Wow, perhaps I would have missed out on a good deal had I read these before I bought mine. I admit that I was nervous after buying this at a local retail store for about 200 bucks. Lets get to the point. Yes there is some noise when recording but it is minor. Yes there is noise during playback that is unbearable. However, I went to Radio Shack and purchased a tiny condenser mic for about 20 bucks and it completely solved the playback noise. The picture quality for the price is great considering I paid about 600 bucks for my Sony that was apparently defective and currently undergoing some sort of lawsuit since Sony knew about the defect and failed to fix it. So never again will I buy a Sony. Take a look at your budget and ask yourself if you are willing to spend about 20 bucks more for a small attachable mike. Oh editing is simple. I bought a firewire cable 6-4 and instantly downloaded my vids to my computer. This was so much easier than the previous more expensive Sony. For the price. This is truly a great deal. I was gonna buy one of those point and shoot flip video things until I saw that 50 bucks more would get me this. I like it and recommend it for anyone with a little patience.
On: 2007-12-24
Wow, perhaps I would have missed out on a good deal had I read these before I bought mine. I admit that I was nervous after buying this at a local retail store for about 200 bucks. Lets get to the point. Yes there is some noise when recording but it is minor. Yes there is noise during playback that is unbearable. However, I went to Radio Shack and purchased a tiny condenser mic for about 20 bucks and it completely solved the playback noise. The picture quality for the price is great considering I paid about 600 bucks for my Sony that was apparently defective and currently undergoing some sort of lawsuit since Sony knew about the defect and failed to fix it. So never again will I buy a Sony. Take a look at your budget and ask yourself if you are willing to spend about 20 bucks more for a small attachable mike. Oh editing is simple. I bought a firewire cable 6-4 and instantly downloaded my vids to my computer. This was so much easier than the previous more expensive Sony. For the price. This is truly a great deal. I was gonna buy one of those point and shoot flip video things until I saw that 50 bucks more would get me this. I like it and recommend it for anyone with a little patience.
On: 2007-12-21
This is my first camcorder and am overall(thus far) very pleased with it. I spent a good week of researching camcorders to decide which would be best for me. I primarily wanted a camcorder for videoing my band when we play gigs and so numero uno for me was a cam with a mic input. I knew for decent sound quality an external mic would be a must because the built in condensor mic would get overloaded and cause distortion. Much to my surprise, it seems that only camcorders for 700$ + have mic inputs! Why more budget cameras dont have this feature is puzzling. This was the only new camcorder I could find ($ 219.00 + tax) that had a mic input so of course I purchased it.
Ive had it about a month now and it has done everything I need it to and the mic input works great. The video quality is good and does ok in low light situations for the price. One feature I didnt realize would be so fun are the digital effects, which they have about 8 to play around with. As far as the tape motor noise goes I really havent had any problems with that because I almost never video anything in total silence. When Im videoing my band I use an external mic anway and its a non issue. So overall for the price and mic input feature theres no where else to go unless you want to take your chances on ebay.
On: 2007-12-14
The Good is the beautiful color images the ZR800 can capture. Wow. Very nice, very impressive.
The bad is the cheap construction. I felt like one slip and this thing might end up in 100 pieces.
The UGLY is what caused me to return the ZR800. The high pitched whining of the motor is impossible to miss on the audio. Shame on Canon for releasing a product with such poor audio.
 On: 2007-12-07
My first camcorder was a ZR40. Eventually the rewind feature stopped working on that one, and instead of fixing it I decided to buy a new camera that could shoot in widescreen format. The ZR800 seemed like a good choice.
The ZR40 had noticable motor noise, but it wasnt that bad. The environment had to be pretty quiet to notice it on playback. I didnt like it but could live with it. I had read reviews that mentioned motor noise during playback on the ZR800, but certainly it couldnt be any worse than the ZR40, right?
WRONG. I just spent an hour trying to come up with an audio filter to screen the absolutely unacceptable whiring on playback. Taping in a quiet room is impossible, the audio is so annoying theres no way I want to capture it on a dvd. I even noticed the whirring above traffic noise when taping on a sidewalk.
Canon, your engineers should be ashamed of themselves to release a camera with this level of noise from the tape drive. The audio performance of this camera should have been rated unacceptable. There is no excuse to have released this to the public.
I dont often complain. Im a pretty laid back guy. Im not nitpicking here, the noise is truly that bad.
Id love to comment on how it works with an external mic, but none of the mics I have work with it. At this point I have to decide if I should purchase a mic so I can use the camera (Ill never use it again with the stock mic) or simply write it off to experience and purchase a better camera. Unfortunately I bought the camera quite some time ago but only reently tried to edit any video from it, so I cant return it.
Overlooking the horrible audio, how does the camera work? Ok I guess. I like the built in lens cap. The size is nice. Im sure thre are other things nice about it, but the audio performance overshadows everything else.
Shame on you Canon. My next camera will be made by someone else... Id suggest people overlook this model and buy elsewhere.
On: 2007-12-06
My first camcorder was a ZR40. Eventually the rewind feature stopped working on that one, and instead of fixing it I decided to buy a new camera that could shoot in widescreen format. The ZR800 seemed like a good choice.
The ZR40 had noticable motor noise, but it wasnt that bad. The environment had to be pretty quiet to notice it on playback. I didnt like it but could live with it. I had read reviews that mentioned motor noise during playback on the ZR800, but certainly it couldnt be any worse than the ZR40, right?
WRONG. I just spent an hour trying to come up with an audio filter to screen the absolutely unacceptable whiring on playback. Taping in a quiet room is impossible, the audio is so annoying theres no way I want to capture it on a dvd. I even noticed the whirring above traffic noise when taping on a sidewalk.
Canon, your engineers should be ashamed of themselves to release a camera with this level of noise from the tape drive. The audio performance of this camera should have been rated unacceptable. There is no excuse to have released this to the public.
I dont often complain. Im a pretty laid back guy. Im not nitpicking here, the noise is truly that bad.
Id love to comment on how it works with an external mic, but none of the mics I have work with it. At this point I have to decide if I should purchase a mic so I can use the camera (Ill never use it again with the stock mic) or simply write it off to experience and purchase a better camera. Unfortunately I bought the camera quite some time ago but only reently tried to edit any video from it, so I cant return it.
Overlooking the horrible audio, how does the camera work? Ok I guess. I like the built in lens cap. The size is nice. Im sure thre are other things nice about it, but the audio performance overshadows everything else.
Shame on you Canon. My next camera will be made by someone else... Id suggest people overlook this model and buy elsewhere.
On: 2007-11-27
Ive had this camera for about four months and have been very pleased! The picture quality is great, especially in low-light conditions. I heeded the earlier reviews about the audio quality and bought an external mic - Very glad I did. I got the ATR25 mic and it is a little cumbersome to hold b/c it doesnt attach to the camera body, but it is well worth it b/c the audio is so much better. Highly recommend this if you want to spend less money now and wait for the hard drive camcorders to improve their image quality and price.
On: 2007-10-28
I have been dealing with canon for over 2 years with a problem this model has. I can not upload from camcorder to computer to convert my movies to DVD. I am spending a fortune in 8MM tapes, because I cant reuse them- they cost $5.00 each. I have sent my camcorder back to Canon 4 times! They lost my first camera and replaced it with a refurbished one-that had no battery with it. Unusable to me. Then they replaced that with a new camera, after months of writing letters- and the new one had the same problem! Sent it to repair, came back fixed. Not. I am beyond frustrated and I am going to purchase a Panasonic today. The cost of shipping to and from repair shop, and the cost of all the tapes has FAR EXCEEDED what I paid for the camcorder. And YES, it is noisy to operate.
I hate it.
On: 2007-10-11
The other bad reviews are SO wrong!!! The camera made practically no noise what so ever!!! great image quality.
On: 2007-10-10
The other bad reviews are SO wrong!!! The camera made practically no noise what so ever!!! great image quality.
On: 2007-09-26
Just purchased the ZR800 because I needed a DV camcorder with Mic input. This may be the cheapest feeling camera I have ever owned. The motor noise on the tape is unbelievable. Granted it is only $210 but even at that price I doubt the value. Canon makes such wonderful cameras, I cant believe that this is in their line.
On: 2007-09-22
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.
Its 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.
On: 2007-09-02
I only had an old large VHS camcorder from the 90s, so I had never held or used the new compact kind. I didnt need a real expensive camcorder, but wanted digital technology. I chose this Canon product because I trust Canon. I have 2 Canon printers that I like very much. I am still working on filming my first full miniDV tape, so I havent watched it on the TV screen yet, but when I review what I filmed it looks very good. Im real pleased with it so far. Also, the zoom is awesome. Linda
On: 2007-09-01
I only had an old large VHS camcorder from the 90s, so I had never held or used the new compact kind. I didnt need a real expensive camcorder, but wanted digital technology. I chose this Canon product because I trust Canon. I have 2 Canon printers that I like very much. I am still working on filming my first full miniDV tape, so I havent watched it on the TV screen yet, but when I review what I filmed it looks very good. Im real pleased with it so far. Also, the zoom is awesome. Linda
On: 2007-08-27
I recently purchased the Canon ZR-800 (my first digital camcorder) and couldnt be more pleased. The color reproduction on this camera is the best Ive 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 isnt 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.
On: 2007-08-13
Simple, not too bad, really, but...
External mic, yes! Bought it, spent a night filming old super 8(mm) archive film adding comments, only to find out afterwards there was no sound, because the external mic:
1. must be a condenser mic
2. needs its own power supply
3. cant exceed 3 meters.
Called Canon customer support (around 6:50 on 8/13), and I was told:
1. those kinds of mics are common and inexpensive (yet, somehow Radioshack doesnt carry any and laughed at me, Wal-Mart scratched their head and wondered, etc.)
2. well, we didnt really mislead you--even though we "forgot" to mention it in the specs (like: "oh, I told you the car runs on gasoline--I just forgot to mention its a specially mixed diesel... sorry!")
3. it was in the manual so its your own dumb fault, sorry
4. Im not going to do anything, sorry you dont ever want to choose Canon again.
Thanks, guys! :( Sony, I never should have left you!!
On: 2007-04-29
I have read all the product reviews prior to buying this camera.
I chose to believe that reviewers were (perhaps) exagerating in their comments about noise levels. How noisy could a camcorder be?
Well, I was wrong! IT IS NOISY! READ OTHER REVIEWS and know that they ARE CREDIBLE!
Looking back I would rather spend more money on a better quality product.
by: 9876 On: 2007-04-09
Alas, the motor noise issue is true. I have had a ZR300 for several years and have been very happy with it. I had hoped the motor noise of the ZR800 would be at a similar level, but unfortunately it is significantly worse. I feel this renders the unit unacceptable unless you intend to always use it with a mic. If you are looking for a cheap camera to play with entry level mics with (as was my intent with this camera), this is a good option -- but be aware that you cannot monitor the sound through external headphones while recording and it has no accessory shoe. This unit also has a buzzing noise when the windscreen is activated/deactivated (that goes away when the windscreen option is disabled). The picture is significantly better than the ZR300.
On: 2007-03-22
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. Cant 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.
On: 2007-03-18
I really think this camcorder is great. Im amazed at how good the picture is for the price. Its nice and light and easy to carry around, and I got tons of great video from my familys recent trip to Disney. Im not a real technical person when it comes to these recorders, but I can certainly say Im very happy with it esp. for the money.
On: 2007-03-18
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 dont 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.
On: 2007-03-15
The Canon ZR800 camcorder is a solid little unit with plenty of features for the most folks. And with a great price, its surprising that Canon even included an external microphone input (after all, 90 percent of video is the AUDIO). Actually, I bought the ZR800 as a "deck" to play and capture mini-DV tapes that were recorded on my prosumer camcorder (avoiding wear and tear on the expensive cameras), but once I tried the ZR800 I loved it and often use it for day to day use instead of hauling around huge camcorders.
On: 2007-03-14
The Canon ZR800 camcorder is a solid little unit with plenty of features for the most folks. And with a great price, its surprising that Canon even included an external microphone input (after all, 90 percent of video is the AUDIO). Actually, I bought the ZR800 as a "deck" to play and capture mini-DV tapes that were recorded on my prosumer camcorder (avoiding wear and tear on the expensive cameras), but once I tried the ZR800 I loved it and often use it for day to day use instead of hauling around huge camcorders.
On: 2007-03-12
I had an older Canon camcorder that I was very happy with, so I decided to get this new one. I ended up shipping it back because the tape noise was so loud. I even tried the same model at Best Buy to make sure it wasnt just a defective camera. But compared to a similar Sony model, the Canon was noticeably louder while operating. Way to loud for shooting anything resembling quiet conditions.
On: 2007-03-12
I have been searching on line and elsewhere for a good camcorder as 1) a replacement for my JVC GR-D70U, which died, and 2) to go online with a video blog. After much study and evaluation, I chose the Canon ZR800 based on a salesmans recommendation, frustration as to the number of choices which are available, and the presence of an external microphone jack (which was one of my "must-have" options). After returning home, I read the review by Miamian "New Reviewer", and felt trepidation. After charging the battery, I tried the camera. Lo and behold, Miamian is right. There is an obvious noise when recording, which was not present in my JVC. Hoping against hope, I played the tape back, and, just as I feared, the tape had a pronounced hiss. This is not just tape hiss, but a much more pronounced noise, which transfers to the TV when watching. It rendered the camcorder totally unacceptable. I took the camcorder back, and, like Miamian, ordered the Sony DCH-HC38. (I know, it doesnt have an external microphone jack, but after all this confusion, I give up!! Why dont they make more cameras with them??)
The plus signs of this camera are that its menu is much more intuitively laid out, and selection of the desired item does not even require looking at the instruction book. The joystick selector is so easy to use, to select play, rewind, fast forward, stop, pause in the playback mode, and is also is used to select various menu items in other modes. The wide screen viewfinder (LCD) is so nice to use, and easy to see, all others (in 4:3) become passe.
I didnt have any chance to evaluate other aspects of the camera, due to the unacceptable noise which demanded rejection of the unit. The picture looked OK; it did not greatly impress me, however, and the automatic focus appeared to be slow and very noticeable in playback.
In essence, caveat emptor; especially if youre hard of hearing. Others watching and listening to the tape will not be.
On: 2007-03-12
This Camera is Great, its small and compact and very easy to use. We Love it
On: 2007-03-05
I was attracted to the Cannon ZR800 due to the very small size and very low cost. However, you get what you pay for, although you get much more in other brands for just a little increase in cost. Ive already returned my Cannon ZR800 and replaced it with the Sony DCR-HC38. The smallest problem with the Canon is the continued motor noise, which you should be aware of it if you have read any review for any of the ZR800 predecessors. The problem is that the motor is very loud, and you will hear a very annoying whirr if you are indoors. This could be forgivable given the low cost, but the problem with the zoom noise is not. When you zoom in and out, a very noticable clicking noise occurs when you let go of the zoom switch. It is a loud click and when you play back your video this click is amplified on your video. It is impossible to watch a video and not notice this click. It is annoying, unusual and a big flaw with these new ZR Cannon camcorders. I called technical support, the person took a ZR800 and tried it out and then acknowledged that a problem does exist (she seemed stunned that this noise was occuring). Bottom line, this camcorder is absolutely unusable due to this clicking noise and would not be worth using even if it were free. Do not but it.
BTW, I love the Sony DCH-HC38 which is a bit more expensive and, like the ZR800, just recently came onto the market.
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