Reviews for Mini DV Camcorders

"Canon announces a new addition to its HDV camcorder range: the Legria HV40...Recording HDV1080i images to tape, the Legria HV40 is the successor to the HV30...The latest evolution of Canon's popular HV-series, the Legria HV40 offers users greater creative control over their movies...In the US version, the Vixia HV40, this is replaced by a 24p mode...The Advanced Accessory Shoe allows a range of dedicated accessories to be attached..." read more »

"The HVR-HD1000U features a shoulder-mount design and black matte body similar to that of professional camcorders...Whether you are recording weddings and corporate communications or helping students make a documentary, the HVR-HD1000U is the best choice on the market today as an entry level professional camcorder..." read more »

"Professionals who require a smaller, lighter weight HD camcorder, but who refuse to sacrifice capability and performance, will find the Canon XH A1s to be an ideal solution...The Canon XH A1s will meet and exceed the highest expectations...The Canon XH A1S HD camcorder's Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Lens offers manual zoom and focus, which can operate simultaneously in either manual or Autofocus mode...To improve lens operability, the Canon XH A1S camcorder is equipped with a function to customize the operational feeling of the camcorder...The Canon XH A1s HD camcorder features Canon's Super-Range Optical Image Stabilization to help deliver smooth, steady video even at longer focal lengths...The accessory shoe on the XH A1s can be used to mount optional accessories..." read more »

"FX1 owners sadly and loudly lamented the loss of their treasured model, but they should be heartened, by the launch of the new HDR-FX7 with the launch price of the FX7 is A$500 less than the corresponding current price of the FX1...Video camera engineers I spoke to on a recent Japan visit agreed that CMOS long term is the way to go and equally agree, at this point, CMOS is not quite as good as CCD...However the quality from the FX7 is very, very good in conjunction with the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens...So is the HDR-FX7 a better camcorder than the HDR-FX1...is not quite as good as the CCD based FX1..." read more »

"The Sony HVR-V1U is a professional camcorder for better and easier mobile filmmaking...In addition to typical 60i, the Sony HVR-V1U offers 24p/30p progressive scan capture, enabling cinema and drama productions...The 24p scan signals are recorded on tape as 60i signals through means of 2:3 pull-down...With the HVR-DR60 hard disc drive you can use the same InfoLithium L Series batteries that are used for the Sony HVR-V1U, HVR-Z1U and DSR-PD170 camcorders..." read more »

"The Canon XL2 allows you to capture images closer to the finished product than ever before...open strucutre - you can replace the 20x lens to 3x wide one;easy to use - the manual is well-written;many many good things...Overall, this is one of the best 3-CCD professional camcorder on the market..." read more »

"Previously unheard of for such a compact unit, the HVR-Z7U incorporates the convenience of a handheld camcorder with the flexibility of larger ENG cameras...Combined with Sony's entire family of HDV products, the HVR-Z7U is a great camcorder for almost any production, including documentaries, news, low-budget movies, music videos, and industrials...The HVR-Z7U's unique design is the first of its kind...Sony has upped the ante by incorporating this into the already extensive array of video output choices on the HVR-Z7U..." read more »

"If we exclude the neccessary items such as batteries and tripod from this consideration, then here's what I would call the "Top Five" must-haves for the Canon GL2...The VL-3 draws its power from the camera battery through the GL2's Advanced Accessory Shoe, and a high-capacity BP-945 camera battery will run the GL2 with the VL-3 light for several hours...If you want to step up to a better microphone than the one built into the front of GL2 handle, but you don't want to spend a lot of money, then the DM-50 is an excellent choice...The ZR-1000 clamps onto your tripod pan handle, and the cable plugs into the LANC jack on the GL2, giving you studio-style remote control of zoom, focus, recording, and several other features..." read more »

"Boasting an incredibly small size, and providing HDV with the 1080i standard, the HVR-A1E offers a host of advanced features for professional use...Using technology such as CMOS means the HVR-A1E is an ultra-compact camcorder capable of providing HDV in full 1080 line resolution...Building on the affordability of HDV, the HVR-A1E provides users a migration path from Standard Definition whilst retaining the qualities of the popular DVCAM range such as ease of use and i.LINK (IEEE1394) connectivity...Ideal for situations where space is at a premium, the HVR-A1E further broadens the range of HDV tools available to support professional users - it really delivers "HD for Everyone...The new function enables to take "macro" picture for a specific object even from a distance..." read more »