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Review: Canon ZR-10 Camcorder
Page 3 Input/OutputThe ZR10 has a lot of input and output ports.
I tested all of the connectors and had no problems with any of them. Using the S-video input, I recorded several Hi8 tapes from my Hi8 camera to the ZR10. The video and sound recorded to the MiniDV tape without any problems and the resulting video looked and sounded as good as the original. Battery LifeThe manual lists the battery life as follows.
These times are if you are using the fold out LCD display. Battery life is extended if you use the view finder instead. Based on my experience with both models of batteries, I would say these estimated times are fairly accurate. EditingI used the ZR10 extensively with iMovie and it worked like a champ. I had no problems capturing video from the camera in iMovie. Nor did I have any problem outputting my edited video from iMovie and recording it to the camera. iMovie's on screen camera controls also work flawlessly with the ZR10. I also tried Digital Origins EditDV Unplugged with the ZR10. It too worked great with ZR10-- no problems. ZR10 as a still cameraLike most DV cameras, the ZR10 has a still photo mode. Although I was initially skeptical whether this feature would be worthwhile, I have found it to be both fun and useful. To take a still shot, you simple press a small button labeled, "Photo." This freezes a single frame of video and then records 6 seconds of this still frame frame to the video tape. Having several seconds of the same frame makes it easy to located the frame within iMovie. Once the video containing the still is imported into iMovie, you simple save a frame of the still to your disk. The ZR10 records stills as regular interlaced video (the same way motion video is normally recorded). Interlacing can create sub par stills when either the subject or the camera moves. The negative effects of interlacing can be overcome by using software such as Corel's Photo-Paint 8LE to deinterlace the photo. The resolution of the stills is limited to either 640 x 480 pixels or 720 x 420 depending on the software you use to import the stills to your computer. Please take a look at my page of still photos created with the ZR10. You can judge the quality of the still shots for yourself. Other observations
SummaryThe ZR10 packs a ton of features into a little bit of space. Believe it or not, I've omitted a few of its features from this article. Without the battery, the camera weighs less than 1 pound 4 ounces. Even with the standard battery pack it's still under 1.5 pounds-- amazing! The video it produces is quite pleasing with great color and good, although not great, sharpness. The still shots the camera produces are more than good enough for most uses. You can't print poster sized prints from the images, but 6" x 4" prints from the ZR10 printed with my Epson 740 look very good. The manual controls are a great bonus in certain situations. The ZR10's analog video inputs (composite and s-video) are great for for recording old tapes to MiniDV so you can edit your old footage in iMovie. For the price, the ZR10 is a very fine digital video camera. Feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions or comments. Click here to email Hiram.
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Hiram Wilson© 2000 |