Canon DC220 DVD Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

This is a great inexpensive camcorder. MUCH easier than our VHSc camcorder that has been sitting in its bag 4 5 years now & also better than the short videos we can record on our digital camera. After you are done you can just "finalize" the DVD, put in in your DVD player & watch the movie.

I blank miniDVD-R are inexpensive (I got 50 4 $20) & very easy 2 store.

One minor complaint. The "finalize" option is only available if the camcorder is plugged into wall power. This is no problem but there is no way 2 know that unless you read the small comment burried in the manual somewhere that mentions that. Having that comment on the camcorder "finalize" menu would have been a lot more stright-forward.

I have had a DC220 4 a couple months & I am growing 2 dislike it more & more although some of this is due 2 frustrations with the mini-DVD format.

The DC220 records on mini-DVDs. These cannot be viewed on a DVD player or transfered 2 a computer until they are "finalized". Once finalized you cannot record any else on a mini-DVD. I have been using the included DVD-Rs & have been forced 2 finalize a couple with only a few minutes of video so others could watch them. Kinda wasteful.

You can use DVD-RWs, which can be un-finalized, but in my experience these have only 30 mins of recording time while a DVD-R will record 60 mins.

The finalization process seems very touchy. The camera will not even allow you 2 select this option unless it is connected 2 the power cord, not the battery. The process can run 4 a long time (6 min 4 the disks I did, which had 5 min of video) & there are warnings all over the manual 2 not touch the camera while it is finalizing or permanent data loss may result. Also you are warned 2 only attempt the finalization when the camera is at room temp.

I tried 2 play un-finalized movies back on a external TV. Eventually I was able 2 but the process is not straight-forward.

The manual is 100 pages of extremely small, dense text, small pictures & references pointing 2 other areas of the manual. It lacks any kind quick start guide & I am unwilling 2 read the whole thing through.

The controls are located in three areas: A circle on the side, a push button on the back & buttons along the bottom of the view screen. It is not clear when each control should be used so each time I want 2 do a function I need 2 flip the camera around pushing buttons trying 2 find the appropriate control, finally having 2 dig out the manual & reading glasses.

The viewfinder looks into the camera at a slight down angle instead of the more normal (for me at least) straight through. This proved very awkward when I was trying 2 film from from a deck looking down.

This product met my expectations. It is inexpensive & easy 2 carry along. It allows me 2 take pictures while I am I videotaping although they aren't as high of quality pictures.

Great idea! Shoot your memories 2 mini DVD-R. Right? Well, nice camera, nice idea, records 2 mini DVD-R, but when you are ready 2 copy the disks, forget it! You have 2 BUY expensive software 2 do this, & any demos I tried don't work. I've now been over three weeks trying 2 copy my mini DVD-Rs (which record as MPEG4 (.vob)) 2 full sized DVDs that will play in any player & I still can't do it. Also, the stills suck. 640x480 & I can't get it 2 snap stills at the same time as you are recording, as the camera boasts you can.

After researching & reading reviews, I purchased this camcorder from BrandsMart at what seems 2 be a good price at $278. I had 2 test it & make a decision 2 keep or return within 5 days because of their return policy & ended up returning it.

Outdoor videos looked great, even on my 50" HD Plasma TV, however, when I recorded indoors in my living room, the quality was horrible. My old VHS camcorder did better than this thing. Although it was night time, I was shooting in a fairly well artifically lit area, hardly dark, & what I'd consider even more than 'low lighting'. The picture came out extremely 'grainy', certainly not what I'd expect from today's technology. On other small non HD tv's it was still very grainy & bad quality.

I would have loved 4 this camcorder 2 live up 2 my expectations, as it was fairly simple 2 use, although the manual is not very well written, eventually I figured it all out. Things are laid out pretty nicely & it fits well in the palm, even with a small hand.

Now I'll have 2 read another manual & learn another & different camcorder. Right now I'm looking at a Sony dcrdvd308 & the associate at BrandsMart now informed me that Sony's night recording feature is much higher quality than this one from Canon. Wish they had told me that before I wasted my time on this one.

Unless you're planning on filming outdoors or inside only during daytime with the blinds open, I wouldn't recommend the Canon dc220. I think there are better options out there 4 nearly the same or little more money.

Canon's reputation has been synonymous with precise optics & photo engineering. The Canon DC220 digital camcorder uses 8 centimeter DVD discs resulting in a compact camcorder with easy, convenient storage & transfer. It uses DVD-R/-RW discs that are compatible with most DVD players & can store up 2 30 minutes of video in standard mode & 60 minutes of video in long play mode. They also record 2 DVD-R DL (dual layer) discs that can store up 2 108 minutes of video. You can also pop it into your computer's DVD drive & transfer the images 4 editing & enhancement. The DC220 offers 35x optical zoom 4 a vast range of shooting, from wide-angle 2 telephoto. It also allows standard & widescreen recording modes. Images recorded in widescreen can fill the screens found on new flat-panel televisions. There's also a slot 4 a miniSD card; perfect 4 storing still pictures that you can also take with the DC220. To match the brilliance of its video image quality, the DC220 records audio with Dolby Digital Stereo. This ensures a complete movie theater experience in the comfort of your living room as you share vivid memories with your friends & families. Life happens but once & the DC220 is a worthy way 2 capture & preserve your images & experiences. Viewfinder -. 27-inch TFT Color, approx. 123,000 Pixels / LCD Screen - 2.7-inch TFT Color, approx. 123,000 pixels Image Sensor - 1/6-inch CCD, approx. 680,000 pixels / Effective pixels (movie) - approx. 340,000 pixels (4 - 3) / approx. 450,000 pixels (16 - 9 IS OFF) / approx. 360,000 pixels (16 - 9 IS ON) / Effective pixels (still image) - approx. 450,000 pixels 2 Lux night mode capable Dimensions - 2.1 x 3.5 x 5 inches (154 x90 x128mm) Weight - 0.88 pounds without lens & battery pack Canon 1 Year Parts And Labor Limited Warranty