Canon ZR930 1.07MP MiniDV Camcorder with 48x Optical Zoom

I received a unit that had a bad battery or a bad charger. I called and asked it I could get a different battery,
but was told I would have to send the unit back. I obtained a RA and sent the unit back UPS (no charge to me)
Expecting to receive a replacement, instead I got a call telling they were sorry but I wouldn't get a replacement
but I would receive my money back. Received my money less the shipping charges that was incurred on my
initial order.I later found that the camera was no longer available so I went to Sears and got a different one
on sale. I don't get why it happened this way unless the Model is discontinue but no one has indicated this.

I was looking for an inexpensive mini dv camcorder. I looked and researched a long time before buying the Canon ZR930. I was looking for simple, light weight and a good price. I bought this camcorder a month ago and love it. It is so simple to use and I have had no problems with it or using it. It is very light weight. I really like the built in lens cap. It also has a great built in mic. I use this camcorder a few times a week. I would recommend this camcorder to anyone. I am a novice with a camcorder. This one makes me feel confident about taping events and such. Great price. Great camcorder.

I bought this specifically so my wife and I could tape horse riding clinics and our practice exercises. Quality zoom was important to us, and the ZR930 has it. Video quality is fine for playback on a home TV, with settings for regular or wide-screen.
Firewire download to a PC with XP works well, but mind you, it happens in real time, so half an hour of video takes half an hour to download. Downloaded files are massive, and our PC's external hard drive is going to get some work. While I chose this model for the external mic input, the built-in mic picks up voices from a considerable distance, so the point-and-shoot approach works well for us. The little joystick on the LCD panel looks dainty, but a gentle touch is all you need, and the response is good.
One minor annoyance: there's a slider switch to focus the eyepiece, but it's in a tiny nook between the eyepiece and the battery where an ordinary finger doesn't fit easily. It's a problem if people with different visual acuity share the camera.
Add-ons and accessories you may find useful:
Spare battery or two (large size)
Firewire cable (4-pin on the camera, 4 or 6 pins at other end, depending on what you're plugging into)
Tripod (zoom is excellent, but requires a very steady hand)
Stand-alone battery charger (for when you need to be shooting and recharging simultaneously)

At first I reviewed this camcorder with 5 stars; however, once I tried to upload to the computer I realized that the firewire port does not work and I have to mail the camcorder back to the manufacturer. This is extremely annoying. It is a good camcorder to use in that it is extremely easy, the viewfinder is very clear and controls instinctive. I have a little trouble with the zoom (getting it to move smoothly), but I think that's because I'm a lefty and you need to use your right hand for it. Other than that, this is my 4th camcorder (over the course of 20 years) and if it uploaded properly I would be completely satisfied. It was easy to buy accessories at a low price, and the battery seems to last a long time. There are fancier camcorders but odds are you can't do better for the price IF the firewire works.

This the best video camera I've seen for under $500. Well made and pretty good image quality. You won't want to be shooting for big screen HDTV, but for the web and viewing on the computer this is the best you can get for the money. The plug-in for an external mic is very useful. So useful in fact that I'm still surprised so few cameras offer it. You'll get _much_ better sound quality with a good external mic, so it's a good thing to have. The only reason I didn't give this camera five stars is that it could really use a mount for an external mic or a light. That would make this camera perfect for the price. The lack of a mount is annoying, but the only negative to an otherwise fine camera.