Product Description

Canon's ZR930 miniDV Camcorder is designed to deliver the latest in style, features and advanced technology. The exclusive Genuine Canon 48x Advanced Zoom is combined the Canon lens optics with the market-leading DIGIC DV image processor to deliver a fuller range of image quality and more flexibility when you're shooting. In both wide angle and telephoto positions, there is virtually no loss in image quality throughout the range. The ZR930 is specifically designed to make it easier to capture great video, including a 680k Pixel CCD image sensor, 2.7" Widescreen LCD with a Soft LCD video light, Quick Start, Joystick control, Level and Grid Markers and more. The microphone terminal on the ZR930 makes it especially useful for educators and trainers to carefully capture the audio they need to make most effective use of the video they shoot. It's also handy when you want to easily record a live narration for your footage. All this comes together to deliver brilliant video that you can easily share with family and friends. Easy to use, great looking and terrific value- it's the perfect choice for capturing all of life's precious memories. The ZR930 offers you more flexibility to get just the shot you need by giving you the choice of Advanced Zoom in default mode or you can select a 37x Optical Zoom or 2000x Digital Zoom. You will always be able to get the shot you need, no matter how close or far away and always with the quality you expect from Canon. It is also compatible with SD memory cards for storing images. Max F/Stop f/2.0 - 5.2 Minimum Illumination - 2 lx (Night mode) Viewfinder - 0.35 114K pixels, widescreen LCD Screen - 2.7 112K pixels, widescreen Dimensions - Width 2.7 x Height 5.0 x Depth 3.2 (57x92x119mm) not including grip belt Weight - 13.4 ounces (380 grams) camcorder body only not including lens and battery pack

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #810 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Canon
• Model: ZR930
• Released on: 2008-02-01
• Dimensions: 2.70" h x 5.00" w x 3.20" l, 2.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• Capture video to MiniDV tapes
• 48x Advanced Zoom; image stabilizer
• 1-megapixel CCD sensor; widescreen HR recording
• 2.7-inch widescreen LCD
• Multi-angle wireless remote included

From the Manufacturer

Around the world, the name Canon means optical excellence, advanced image processing and superb performance. And Canon digital video camcorders are no exception.

Canon's entry-level digital camcorders are designed to deliver the latest in style, features and advanced technology at a most affordable price. Starting with our Canon's exclusive Genuine Canon 48x Advanced Zoom, which combines the legendary Canon lens optics with our market-leading DIGIC DV image processor to deliver a fuller range of image quality and more flexibility when you're shooting. The ZR930 is specifically designed to make it easier to capture great video, including a 1.07 Megapixel CCD image sensor, 2.7" Widescreen LCD with a Soft LCD video light, Multi-Angle Remote, Quick Start, Joystick control, Level and Grid Markers and more.

The microphone terminal on the ZR930 makes it especially useful for educators and trainers to carefully capture the audio they need to make most effective use of the video they shoot. It's also handy when you want to more easily record a live narration for your footage.

All this comes together to deliver brilliant video that you can easily share with family and friends. Easy to use, great looking and terrific value- it's the perfect choice for capturing all of life's precious memories.

Customer Reviews

Good camera with some minor negatives.
I got this camera because it has an external microphone input (the ZR-950 does not) and a 1 megapixel pickup. The picture quality is excellent. The 48x zoom lens is a major plus. I had no problem having either my Toshiba XP or HP Vista PCs recognize it so I could edit the tape. ...and, the price is nice.

There is a down side. Despite claims, the camera has no built in light. You supposedly can flip the monitor and use it as a light, but a cell phone is about as bright and you then lose the monitor for monitoring! For some reason Canon designed the camera with no accessory shoe, so there is no place to mount a real light, or the shotgun microphone that you might otherwise want to plug into the camera.

Need to know info
I recently purchased the zr830 and found a number of issues with it. If you wish to compare that review you can read it on my profile rather than me re-hashing it here.

The zr930 is a step forward though and is certainly worth the price quoted here. They changed the interior configuration to a more box like shape allowing them to maximize the space and fit as much technology inside as possible. Due to this not only have they included a mic port but they have been able to adjust the AV output to double as a headphone jack so you can monitor sound. Both of these features are necessary as they have failed to fix the sound problem that has dogged this line of cameras for a number of years. The motor noise can still be heard on playback if you use the built in mic and thats really the only area that this camera loses a star. The 35x zoom of last year has been increased to 48x and the picture quality is sharper and brighter than previous models.

I've never had any issues with connecting it to my PC. I did not use any of the software that was included as its usually junk they just want to force you to use. I hooked it up to my PC, my computer immediately recognized it and then I used one of my other programs to start it up.

Extra info:
If you are new to camcorders there are some things you should take into consideration.

Name brand BATTERIES are expensive. While there are cheap ones that you can get for around $10 online these are cheaply made chinese generic versions. They take A LOT longer to recharge and generally only last about 6 - 10 months. The name brand usually lasts around 18 months but as I found out the other week can cost $100. There's is no reason that the battery on an item like this should cost nearly half of the original item price. I would expect a battery to cost $30 at most.

Another unexpected experience you'll come across is the sheer amount of space that will be taken up on your computers hard drive by a video transfer. Only yesterday I went to transfer 20 minutes of tape and it used up 5 gigs yes thats GIGS of space. If you are like me and you need to have all of your video accessible and on your computer then make sure you have a hard drive with the necessary capacity or at least prepare to invest in a new external one for video storage.

In conclusion. This is a great budget cam and if you invest in a good external mic I don't think you could do much better.

4 out of 5 Satisfied.

Great bang for the buck camera!
I bought this camera a few weeks ago and I am very pleased with it so far. First, it's very light to hold and easy to use. Video quality is good in average light. Low light is so-so but that is true with most consumer level camcorders. Audio is fine with the built in microphone but great with an external mic plugged in (which is the main reason I bought this model from Canon). My Windows Vista computer's firewire port recognized the camera and had no problem at all importing video from it. You can control the camera via the firewire connection and import the parts you want too, etc. Only complaint is the battery is very weak and runs out after about 30 minutes or so of record time. Buy an extra battery and you will be very happy with this nice little camcorder.