Canon ZR-20 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

tiptoon (Greg Tipton)
( Professional)

Review Date
December 31, 2004

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
2-5 years

Review 1 of 5

Price Paid: $650.00 from Best Buy

Summary:

This camera is great for the price. It has a microphone-in jack, analog-in, and fits nicely in my computer bag as a backup DV deck as well as a lightweight camcorder. It can have a major problem with head-clogs if I use anything other than Sony tapes, and will eat tapes during FF-RW if the heads and pins get dirty. I almost trashed my ZR-20 within the first year due to these problems, but decided to take Best Buy up on the service-contract I had uncharacteristically selected at the time of purchase. After the service/cleaning, which took several weeks, the camera worked like new again and is still working today.

Strengths:

Small camera with a small power-adaptor. Low price. Easy to use. Decent image quality when there is enough light.

Weaknesses:

Bottom-loading door is a hassle when changing tapes and makes it near impossible to use with a tripod. Head-clogs and eats tapes when not cleaned (Sony tapes seem to prevent this). Auto focus is hyperactive (seeking when it should not).

Similar Products Used:

Sony TRV-900; Sony PD-150; Sony VX-1000; Panasonic AG-DVX100A; JVC GY-DV300UZ; JVC GR-DVL300; Canon XL-1; Canon GL-1

Customer Service:

I had this serviced at Best Buy in late 2002/early 2003 after it started eating tapes and complaining of head-clogs. It has worked well since then. I use it as a backup DV deck when I travel.

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Rating
Reviewed by: tim cunningham
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 15, 2003

Overall Rating
1 of 5

Value Rating
1 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 5

Price Paid: $550.00 from best buy

Summary:

this camera is a total pile of poop! the battery burned out after to months of use. the autofocus is crap. it focuses in and out without a need to. the firewire connection broke after only a few uses. I have used many camcorders over the years and the one brand that consistantly sucks is canon. I you are looking for quality picture and a lasting camera buy sony or jvc.

Strengths:

none

Weaknesses:

placement of buttons autofocus poor picture

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Rating
Reviewed by: Toby Martin
(Casual)

Review Date
March 10, 2003

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Review 3 of 5

Price Paid: $600.00 from CUSA

Summary:

Nice compact size, good video in good light. Poor performance (grainy) under ordinary house lighting during daytime or night. Some strange focus problems with close ups or Christmas lights (non-flashing). Menus and functions are straight forward and easy to use.

Strengths:

Good video under good lighting (outdoors/sunny) Good battery life Nice feature set (Auto to Manual functions)

Weaknesses:

Poor "low light" performace Video transport (motor) noise, if the background is quiet.

Similar Products Used:

none

Customer Service:

OK - had to have service right after 1 yr warrantee ran out. Eating tapes during rewind (otherwise functions like new). Service was ~1/3 cost of a new camera!

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Rating
Reviewed by: asp125
(Casual)

Review Date
May 9, 2002

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Review 4 of 5

Price Paid: $600.00 from Circuit City

Summary:

A good mid-level digi-cam with plenty of features. Won''''t record with the quality of high-end equipment naturally, but much better than first thought. I use mine mainly for sports action video so a compact design coupled with rugged field performance was key. As well I have a remote helmet-cam so it required the analog input - a feature that lesser models don''''t have. The ZR-20 has good optics, video is quite clear. I''''d stay away from using the digital zoom too much, as it tends to blur at extreme speeds or zoom levels. I have it in a fanny pack while skiing or mountain bikeing, and it weighs so little that there''''s no adverse effects. The low-light performance could be better though; zero Lux would be preferred. Also if only Canon would make lens diameters in a "standard" size - it''''s nearly impossible to find aftermarket filters.

Strengths:

Compact, intuitive menus, good ergonomics: button placement, straps etc.

Weaknesses:

Low light performance, odd lens size.. won''''t accept many aftermarket filters.

Similar Products Used:

N/A

Customer Service:

N/A

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Rating
Reviewed by: jerbigge
(Casual)

Review Date
April 12, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 5 of 5

Price Paid: $599.00 from Best Buy

Summary:

An excellent camcorder for the money! Small and compact, easy to use compared there to others that I tried previously. Easy to carry, easy to use, excellent movies, and takes nice stills for a "slide show" if you want that.

Strengths:

Excellent lens, will focus so close that a half inch area will fill the view! Also much better color than older non-digital camcorders like my VHS Realistic.

Weaknesses:

Could be better in low light. There is a setting for this, but it slows the shutter down to 1/15th of a second, makes the movie a bit "blurry".

Similar Products Used:

Realistic VHS camcorder (1990 model)

Customer Service:

Haven''t had to call. Everything OK.

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