Product Description

Special moments may come and go, but with Canon's ZR-series camcorders you can capture and relive those sunny days at the beach, casual strolls through crisp fall foliage and family-packed holiday celebrations with brilliant clarity. Smoothly conforming to the contour of your hand, the ZR series camcorders feature the ultimate in Canon design and functionality, allowing you to effortlessly capture once-in-a-lifetime moments whenever and wherever they happen.Offering exceptional value, easy operation, and outstanding performance, Canon's ZR80 camcorder can turn even every day occasions into milestones you can cherish forever.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4208 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Canon
• Model: 9383A001AA
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 1.00" w x 1.00" l, 1.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• MiniDV camcorder takes stunning video and connects effortlessly to your computer, TV, or VCR
• 18x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 360x) and image stabilizer
• 2.5-inch LCD with 180-degree rotation
• Capture low-light recordings with Night Mode
• Record for up to 2 hour and 5 minutes on one battery charge

From the Manufacturer
Special moments may come and go, but with Canon's ZR-series camcorders you can capture and relive those sunny days at the beach, casual strolls through crisp fall foliage and family-packed holiday celebrations with brilliant clarity. Smoothly conforming to the contour of your hand, the ZR series camcorders feature the ultimate in Canon design and functionality, allowing you to effortlessly capture once-in-a-lifetime moments whenever and wherever they happen. Offering exceptional value, easy operation, and outstanding performance, Canon's ZR80 camcorder can turn even every day occasions into milestones you can cherish forever.

DIGIC DV
Canon's expertise in imaging and electronics is flawlessly blended together in the ZR-series camcorders, thanks to the advanced DIGIC DV system. Since video and photos have different color requirements, DIGIC DV utilizes two different color techniques to maximize video quality on a TV and still image quality for print or computer display.

Seamlessly connect to your computer, TV or VCR

Multi-image Screen You can divide your screen into four, nine or sixteen pictures with the Image Capture function.

Embracing the industry's latest and most sophisticated technology, Canon camcorders feature an exclusive connection circuit, called VIC. VIC is a virtual powerhouse. Traditionally, multiple chips were needed to perform the camcorder's input and output functions. However VIC manages it all with one single chip. The result is seamless connectivity whether you are connecting to a computer, TV, or VCR.

Leave your tripod at home
The ZR80 gives you the power of Genuine Canon Optics in optical zoom, taking full advantage of the DV format. The digital zoom extends the camcorder's magnification revealing details too small to see with the naked eye. What's more, the Canon ZR-series camcorders are so advanced, they correct camcorder shake instantly. It's all thanks to a high quality image stabilization system that makes sure your videos always look smooth, steady and natural even when shooting hand-held at full telephoto.

Faders and Special Effects The ZR80 also comes complete with a wide selection of faders and special effects that can add visual appeal and greater imaging variety. Choose from Fade Trigger, Wipe, Corner, Jump, Flip, Puzzle, Zigzag, Beam and Tide. For a more creative look, you can switch on the following digital effects during recording or playback: Art, Black & White, Sepia, Mosaic, Ball, Cube, Wave, Color Mask or Mirror.

Shoot close-ups they'll love
When shooting close-ups of people, the ZR-series camcorders utilize a Skin Detail Function to automatically soften details. The result is a more complimentary appearance that will keep your family and friends coming back for another 15 minutes of fame.

Illuminate those super-low light moments
With the ZR-series camcorders, you can capture images and video even in low-lighting thanks to its enhanced Night mode. At the touch of a button, the camcorder selects the ideal shutter speed and sensitivity combination to brighten up the scene, without sacrificing color.

Transfer images effortlessly
The ZR80 gives you the ability to easily transfer images to your PC directly from the camcorder using IEEE1394. The IEEE1394-compliant DV terminal also lets you connect the ZR80 to a DV-compatible computer or another Canon DV camcorder. That means you can easily transfer your digital movies to your computer's hard disk, edit your scenes, and then use them to create high impact Web sites, video e-mail, interactive CDs and DVDs, or a personal video album.

Get creative with optional software
As an optional download, you can extend the power of your ZR80 camcorder with DV Messenger2 software. DV Messenger2 allows you to use your Canon camcorder for Internet Video Chat with Microsoft Windows Messenger through IEEE1394. Control the zoom and focus of your camcorder or the person you are chatting with. Preview thumbnails and transfer photos. Watch and control the video playback of either camcorder -- all from your computer.

Keep the focus where you want it
Sometimes, the subject we want to photograph is not in the center of the frame. With the ZR85 camcorder, you can choose from one of three focusing points to automatically put the subject you want into sharp focus.

Never lose track of your subject
With the ZR80's flexible 2.5" LCD View Screen and Color Viewfinder, you can easily compose sensational shots without having to squint into the viewfinder. Rotate the screen for high-or low-angle shots, or turn it around 180 degrees to record yourself, and then afterwards, enjoy the brilliant display while reviewing your scenes. The Canon ZR80 gives you portable movie-making power at a price that will inspire you. Featuring the superior clarity of Canon's 18x Optical Zoom Lens paired with an advanced image stabilization system, the ZR80 will keep all your memories looking sharp and true to life.

Customer Reviews

A good camcorder with one huge drawback
There are lots of things you look for in a camcorder. Features, quality construction, and something easy to use are all things to consider. In the lower price range a lot of camcorders are alike and you have to look at some small specifics to figure out what's the best buy.

The ZR80 is a good camcorder, but it has one major flaw that its predecessors did not - it has no mike input.

The built in microphones on almost all camcorders, certainly those selling for less than $1000, are notoriously bad. They generally pick up 180 degrees of sound. In a group situation, at a party for example, the audio sounds like utter chaos. Canons also seem to be especially prone to picking up motor noise from the camera itself. Thus, if you're interested in good sound you need to have a camcorder with a mike input.

Unfortunately, Canon chose to reduce the features on their 2004 ZR line by taking away the mike input. Why they did this is astonishing because it makes no sense.

If you want a Canon camcorder with good sound you really need to either get an older model - almost any of the older ZRs including the 45, 50, 60, 65 and 70, all of which have mike inputs - or forget the ZR completely and go for an Elura or any of their other product lines that have this necessary feature. If you're accustomed to the typical sound one gets from an on-camera mike (or you plan to never use it in situations with lots of sounds), maybe this model will be fine for you.

Purchased today
I purchased the ZR80 mini DV camcorder online, and received it today... one thing I was disappointed about is that this camcorder has no SD card slot like some of the other ZR series camcorders do... still shots go directly on your DV tape (one tape holds about 700 shots) It's not that big of an issue for me because I own a fantastic digital camera, and would prefer my pictures to be taken with that... but it might be an issue for someone who was planning on getting it all in one package (and it can be a big convenience that way!)
The special effects on this camcorder are great, and the video I have taken so far is wonderful... Two suggestion though: PLAY with the settings and READ the book!! I have seen so many reviews of Canon camcorders that say they are no good in low light (BTW the nightshot is simple to use and highly effective)

Canon ZR80 makes fine video
Optics, the ability to deal with lighting conditions, and hand-held stability were the important factors in my buying decision. I edit my works on the computer, so effects were not important (and should be used sparingly!) The Canon ZR-80 is lightweight and well-balanced. The ability to return to 'easy' mode with the flick of a switch from anywhere in custom settings is a great feature. The camera turns out nice-looking video with practice. Another plus: I was able to train a cameraman for a family event in less than one minute. I showed him the zoom and the pause, and off he went. As with most digital cameras, there is no video noise between pause and record. If you don't want to edit on a computer, the pause-record method makes for clean segues. Finally, as a previous reviewer writes, you'll need to purchase a firewire cable separately - a $20 to $40 item!