Canon ZR70MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 22x Optical Zoom, Digital Still Mode, MMC Slot, Image Stabilization and Wide Angle Attachment
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $799.99
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Editorial Review

The advanced Canon ZR70MC MiniDV camcorder brings together all the features of the ZR65MC, from its ease of use to still photo mode and digital effects. It also adds a 22x optical zoom, 440x digital zoom, motion JPEG movie mode, Super Night mode, and an advanced accessory shoe for powering a microphone or video light.

Lens
The ZR70MC features a high-performance 1/6-inch 680,000-pixel CCD to capture high-quality video and digital photos. The zoom technology found in the ZR65MC lens is the same as Canon uses in its broadcast TV lenses. The ZR70MC is fitted with a high-performance 22x optical zoom lens, which can easily handle all your shooting needs--from wide-angle shots of all the family at the reunion to close-up sports action at full telephoto. The ZR70MC's 440x digital zoom significantly expands the telephoto magnification of the subject.

Image Stabilization
Canon's image-stabilization system corrects camera shake caused by, for example, an unsteady hand. This image-stabilization system makes for smoother and steadier video even with hand-held shots, at full telephoto, and with shots taken from a moving car.

Digital Stills and Motion JPEG
In addition to high-quality video, the ZR70MC also captures crisp XGA (1,024 x 768 pixels) digital still images. The ZR70MC stores these images via the built-in slot for Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard memory cards. You can also choose to store still images on the MiniDV tape. The camcorder records the photos for approximately 6 seconds, as well as recording the sound for your verbal notes or narration.

Designed to help you make Web videos, motion JPEG mode produces compressed AVI files that are smaller and easier to run and send by e-mail than conventional video files. They're also stored on the memory card and transferred via the USB connection. Record a 10-second clip at 320 x 240 or a 30-second clip at 160 x 120.

You can search through the recorded tape for your photos using the supplied remote control. This photo search feature allows you to search for images recorded in photo mode. Search forward or backward through the images one at a time, or jump 10 pictures backward or forward from the current position.

More Features

• With Super Night mode, the assist lamp lights up to illuminate your subject
• Print photos directly to Canon bubble jet printers
• 2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and 0.33-inch color viewfinder
• The My Camera function is designed to let you customize a number of features, including start-up image and sound, shutter sound, start-stop sound, and the self-timer sound
• Shoot panoramic still photos, then edit them together on your PC with the PhotoStitch software
• The full-function wireless remote control works at distances up to 16 feet
• A wide selection of faders and special effects, including sepia, black and white, wave, mosaic, and more
• For low-light situations, the VCR playback controls can be illuminated in any one of six colors: turquoise, blue, green, yellow, violet, and orange

Inputs and Outputs
The ZR70MC comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also referred to as FireWire), which provides a lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines, as well as USB connectivity for transferring still photos. Additionally, the ZR70MC features two types of analog audio and video inputs and outputs: composite and S-video. The analog audio inputs of the ZR70MC let you dub or insert editing from CDs, cassettes, microphones, or the soundtracks of other videocassettes.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the new, preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, and it is highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 2 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Power, Size, and Contents
The ZR70MC comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, which has an approximate battery life of 2 hours 20 minutes when using the LCD screen. The camera itself measures 4.1 by 2.3 by 5.8 inches and weighs 18 ounces. This package includes the ZR70MC camcorder, battery pack BP-512, power adapter CA-570, wireless controller WL-D79, shoulder strap, stereo video cable, wide attachment, USB cable, 8 MB Secure Digital memory card, and the DV Network Solutions and Digital Video Solutions CD-ROMs. ... Read more

Features

• NTSC
• Takes digital stills (1024 x 768) and stores them on included 8 MB Secure Digital memory card
• Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394) and USB (for photos)
• MiniDV camcorder with 22x optical zoom, 440x digital zoom, image stabilization
• 2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and color viewfinder
• Super Night mode for low-light filming, Motion JPEG movie mode

Reviews (38)

Canon Camcorder Class Action Litigation
Hi, my name is Steven Berk.I am an attorney in Washington, DC, who specializes in representing consumers who have purchased defective products from technology companies.I am currently working on cases of that kind against HP and JVC.I noticed your posting concerning ZR70.I have been investigating other complaints about Canon ZR, Optura, Elura, and GL series camcorders.In connection with that investigation, it would be very useful if I could interview you about your experience with the grainy CCD/mosaic noise problems.If you are interested, please email me at stevenb@cuneolaw.com or call me at 202-789-3960.Thanks for your consideration.

Piece of junk
We bought this camera about 1 and 1/2 years ago when we were expecting our first child. Initially, we were pleased with it; however, we used it mostly indoors in moderate light. As our son has gotten older, we have needed to use it in varying conditions (low light, bright outdoors light, snow lit backgrounds) and have found it to be fairly worthless. In low light, it is very grainy and sometimes will not record an image at all. In very bright light, the picture is washed out almost completely. As a result, we have missed capturing some of our son's first moments on tape because of the poor, poor quality of the images. No first snowfall, no early morning birthday surprise, no first ride on a bike, etc. We have just had to send it in for repairs to the tune of nearly $200 dollars! We are extremely disappointed considering that we have only had the camera for a relatively short period of time, have used it sparingly until now, and have taken excellent care with it. Do not recommend this camera AT ALL!

Great for enthusiastic people
Before buying this I did lot of research finally came down to canon zr70mcand sony dcr-hc30. (don't fall for other canon models like zr80-85. they lack features ) Both models are appealing for price. Sony has bigger lcd and better lowlight performance while Canon have better zoom (22x as compared to 10x of sony ) and lots and lots of features. Some people say canon is having better image stabilitySo it can afford 22x zoom w/o problem.
in zr70mc you can download video from TV/VRC or other camcorderwitout any additional accesories. So easily copy old analog tapes to this digital camcorder Or burn DVD's. Canon also provides wide angle lens (very useful ) Plus sony has only 3 months labor while canon gives 12 months labor warranty.

only tape loading in zr70 is little difficult if you use tripod.

Overall this is a good value. I tested indoor using 100w room light. Picture was little yellowish. But I got filter set from ebay for 17$ and all looks good now.
NOTE: protect lens and always use uv filters. ... Read more

Asin: B000088USX
Subjects:  1. zr-50    2. Camcorder (Camcorders)   

Apple iMac Desktop with 17" M8935LL/A (1.0-GHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive)
Average Customer Review:
Personal Computers

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Editorial Review

The new iMac dazzles with its brilliant 17-inch widescreen flat-panel display that adjusts its height or angle with just a touch. But what’s more amazing is its compact base now packs powerful new features like a speedy 1 GHz G4 processor, more extreme nVidia graphics, a faster DVD-burning SuperDrive--and new advanced wireless options.

Inside the new 17-inch iMac, you get the 1 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 MB of PC2100 266 MHz DDR main memory (expandable to 1 GB), GeForce4 MX graphics with 64 MB of DDR graphics memory, and an Ultra ATA/100 80 GB hard disk spinning at 7,200 rpm. You also get AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth wireless capability, and the best-of-breed digital lifestyle applications that have convinced so many PC users to switch to the Mac platform.

The iMac with SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) lets you burn your own movies and photos on a DVD disc that plays in almost any standard DVD player. Even better, the SuperDrive now burns DVDs at 4x speed, twice as fast as before. And of course you can pop in your DVD movies and watch them in widescreen letterbox format on the brilliant LCD display of your 17-inch iMac.

Pop the new AirPort Extreme Card into your 17-inch iMac and you’re ready for wireless networking from anywhere in your home or dorm--up to 150 feet from an AirPort Extreme Base Station.

The iMac comes with Apple Pro speakers that handle 18 watts of undistorted digital sound. It also features an internal speaker, internal tripath digital amplifier, Apple Pro speaker jack, headphone jack, and an audio line-in jack that lets you use it as a sound-editing studio. The bottom line is that you get to enjoy an incredible aural experience. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Really Great!
Not only is it great looking... it works great too!Painless switch from Windows...Haven't needed to purchase any addition software becuase the bundled software does everything...And it is super cool looking!

Praise from a new mac convert
It's been a little over a month since I bought this machine, and I'm only kicking myself for having kept my feet in the Gatesian concrete for so long before. The machine itself is brilliant in its design, look, and efficiency. I picked it up at an apple store in NYC, and didn't ask for any upgrades since I wanted to take it right home from there. However, I would recommend those who can spend $50 more to opt for 512MB of RAM rather than the standard 256, although it runs quite well on the latter. The graphics, for which apple is so famous, are everything they're cracked up to be and then some. The mac browser, on which I'm writing now, safari, is a cut above IE for speed, design, and interface. What truly distinguises the mac, however, is how it does more with small packages: OS X is about half the size of windows xp, and runs more efficiently and with more ease and sensitivity to what users really want to do with a computer. I've spent some 15 years with my head under the hood of Mr. Gates' dirty windows, and although I learned a ton of information and made myself look pretty smart at work in the process, it was dreary constantly having to work around or fix the bugs that the skinny billionaire could have easily taken out himself before he sold me his OS. For windows users who are looking at this with the same question in their minds as I had: "is it worth it, after all these years, moving to a completely new platform" the answer is yes, it is more than worth it, if you're willing to make a few comparatively minor sacrifices. Obviously, (unless you want to keep a windows PC on the side) software will have to be replaced or trashed--don't worry, the proprietary productivity software sold with these macs, called appleworks (which I believe is a reworking of the old Clarisworks), is extremely functional and versatile, and the way windows software is constantly being ramped up, a gradual transition won't be that much of an additional expense, in exchange for the beauties of working on a platform like OS X. One caveat about hardware, however: you will have to consider the possibility of replacing your peripherals: I had to set aside my HP Officejet R40 and buy a comparable all-in-one device that's compatible with the mac and uses USB cables rather than the parallel port (it was only $200, so it's not a back-breaker). If you can handle those passing challenges, you are not likely to look back ever again to the PC: the imac in particular, is a stroke of design genius, and OS X is the only computing environment I can ever claim to have actually enjoyed looking at and working with. Finally, if you're what they call a "power user" (i.e., you like to have the fastest and most loaded machine on the market when you buy), you may wish to wait for the vaunted G5 to appear (I think they're actually taking orders for it now). But the 1GHz G4 is a powerful enough machine to do everything that a PC is capable of, with as much speed and far more grace and balance than any PC I've owned can claim. And if the $2,000 price tag of an imac is rather too much for you, consider the emac, which starts at well under a thousand but uses the old CRT. In any event, you won't go wrong with the mac, and if you're like me, you'll only be wondering what took you so long.

Nearly Perfect...
I have had this computer for nearly 6 months (since March) and I have been very happy with it.I have added additional memory and have recently expanded the hard drive with the addition of an external 160 gig 7200 rpm drive.

I mainly use the computer for general office work (ie letters, spreadsheets, etc).But since I got the computer I have been editing video using IMovie and creating DVDs using IDVD.The ILife software is very nice and I have generally been pleased with it.The ease of use of the ILife software really makes the computer shine IMHO.ITunes, IPhoto, IMovie and IDVD make it possible for the average user to import and use the digital media that far outstrips the average PC.Things I struggled with on my Dell using windows 98, are easy with the Mac.Other people more technically savy than I can most likley do the same sorts of things I can, but average windows users are usually impressed that I can do things like make movies, etc...

This is not to say this is perfect, but it seems to be much closer to perfection than windows based machines.

Unlike one other reviewer, I have not had any hardware problems with my computer, nor have my parents (my father has a 17" powerbook and my mother has a 17" Ibook like mine). ... Read more

Asin: B00008GT9Y
Subjects:  1. Desktops (Desk Tops)    2. Desktop Computers    3. Apple    4. (Mac)    5. (Macintosh)   

iLife
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $49.00
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Editorial Review

iLife provides four multimedia applications in one package: iTunes for managing music, iPhoto for digital photography, iMovie for editing digital video, and iDVD for creating your own DVDs. They are all integrated so that they work together seamlessly.

Play, download, import, and do more with Apple’s premiere digital music player iTunes 3. It gives you instant access to your music library and playlists from within the other applications in iLife, just as they are in iTunes. And you can quickly sample your music too--a play button is included so you won’t have to launch iTunes just to find that perfect track. Do more with your digital photos with iPhoto 2. Organize, edit, share, and even set photos to music. Use the Retouch wand tool to make blemishes disappear like magic. And get access to your photo albums directly from iMovie and iDVD, and bring in music for your slideshows from iTunes.

The latest version of the digital video software that helped Mac users create a million movies, iMovie 3 brings several new features to your screens, including Skywalker Sound Effects and visual effects like Lens Flare, Fairy Dust, Earthquake, and the Ken Burns Pan and Zoom Effect.If you have an Apple SuperDrive, you’ll want to take advantage of all that iDVD 3 has to offer. Create DVDs with chapter markers, search your iTunes library and find music for your projects, and create instant DVD slideshows by selecting your iPhoto album, with dozens of new Hollywood-style themes to choose from. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Collection
This is a collection of iTunes 3, iPhoto 2, iMovie 3, and iDVD 3 that Apple offers on all their latest machines with Superdrive installed.All but iDVD 3 are available as downloads from the Apple website, but it is worth the $...or whatever to get them altogether and include the iDVD 3.The iDVD 3 is not available as a download because of its size (>1.3 gig)Each of the four programs is good, but the seamless combination of the four (five including iPod) makes this system an easy to learn combination.After looking for almost a year and a half at different software/hardware combinations for editing and converting (to digital for DVD), I decided on the Mac and the iLife package.There are certainly more powerful individual programs available on both the PC and Mac platforms, but this combination beats everything else that I looked at for ease of use and simplicity in learning.I am very pleasedwith my decision.

Worth four times the price
Where to start to talk about how amazing the latest offering is from Apple for the Macintosh? Let's take it one step at a time.

iMovie 3: Apple took their already great DV editing program and added so many new features it's almost mind boggling! Drag and drop from your iPhoto photo library. Drag and drop from your iTunes music library. Granted, you were able to do these things before in a somewhat clumsy way through the "import" command, but this makes it beyond easy. Chapter support (The ability to break up longer videos on DVD's to easily skip back and forth) for iDVD. Individual volume control for each audio track at any point in the track. One click access for all three of the other iApps. New titles, new transitions, the "Ken Burns" effect with stills. No other DV software available for ANY platform is as easy to use as this. Also if you download from Apple it's FREE!

iPhoto: Still mostly looks the same, but there is now support for the other digital lifestyle iApps built in. The "Retouch" editing feature works amazing well. Also if you download it from Apple it's FREE! If your into serious photo editing, you'll still want a companion program. Photoshop Elements is a good choice. 70% of Photoshop at 1/5 of the price.

iTunes: I honestly don't see much difference here. I'm sure changes were made to integrate it with the other iApps. Still a great program though. If you download it from Apple (deja vu) it's FREE!

iDVD: Some new themes, some new features make this a worthy addition to any SuperDrive equipped Mac. No other DVD authoring software I've seen is as easy to use and as intuitive as iDVD. AND if you download it from Apple it's....um....not available. iDVD can only be purchased as part of the iLife package AND then only installed if you have a Superdrive equipped (internal drive only and as far as I know ONLY if installed by Apple) G4 PowerMac.

Complaints: Yeah a few. iMovie crashed a few times while performing multiple operations (granted it was doing 4 "Ken Burns" and 5 transitions at the time) on my 933 SuperDrive G4 Quicksilver Tower. Also the Apple restricts iDVD to only those people who bought their SuperDrive equipped G4 computers. C'mon Apple! We bought the hardware. Let us configure it ourselves without penalties! Also, you must be running at least 10.1.5 or later (10.2 HIGHLY recommended). System 9 users are officially out in the cold for this product.

In conclusion: If you meet the hardware/software specs, this is a must buy! No SuperDrive? Find a fast online connection and download the other pieces.

iLife puts it all together!
If you're on a Mac, you've probably used at least one of these programs by now. If not, you're missing out on what Steve Jobs calls "The hub of your digital lifestyle."

iMovie - For the amatuer film maker, or somebody who just wants to edit their own home movies, this is a cakewalk. Once you connect your camera through a Firewire port, you import your video. Add titles. Add fades, transitions, etc... Add some background music. Then, download it back to your camera (or, with a bridge, to a VCR). Better yet, save it out and import the video to iDVD for burning.

iDVD - I can't begin to tell you how easy this is. Create a menu (or select one of the many theme menus). Import your video. Click burn to DVD. It is literally that easy. I made a DVD of our improv troupe for all the members' Christmas gifts.

iTunes - If it's a music file... mp3, aiff, wav... it can import to iTunes. Create a music CD. Burn it as a standard or mp3 CD with a single click.

iPhoto - You can set this up to open and import the images as soon as your camera mounts to the desktop. Organize the images. Edit them for color or size. Then, burn a CD, make a slideshow, or even order a personalized bound book with your images and text.

The one major flaw of these programs has been the lack of manuals (except through third parties). A small price to pay for this kind of quality. Also, if you have no need for iDVD, the other three are available for download from the Apple web site. ... Read more

Asin: B000088NEV
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics    3. Multimedia    4. Edit (Editing)    5. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple    6. CD Recording (Burning, Burners)    7. Music    8. audio    9. Creation    10. Sequencing    11. Video    12. Editing    13. MP3    14. Apple    15. (Mac)    16. (Macintosh)   

Final Cut Pro 3.0
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (17 December, 2001)
list price: $999.99
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Editorial Review

Final Cut Pro 3.0 is professional, nonlinear editing software that lets you work in a range of professional editing formats--from digital video to Standard Definition and High Definition--within the same application. Final Cut Pro 3.0 also allows you to work in different modes, such as editing, effects, and trimming modes. With its G4 real-time effects, you won't need PCI hardware to preview transitions and effects in real time. And now it's available for Apple's most advanced operating system, Mac OS X.

Final Cut Pro 3.0 features a new voice-over tool that works with the microphone built into your PowerBook G4, so you can capture audio directly to the timeline for quick scratch tracks and voice-over work right in the field. You also get a new set of color-correction tools--including primary and secondary color correctors, range checking, zebra-stripe overlays, and waveform and vectorscope monitors--as well as precise controls to ensure broadcast-legal video levels.

Final Cut Pro 3.0 includes the new Autosave Vault, which saves and time-stamps projects at intervals you specify--allowing you to easily return to previous stages of your project. Plus, Final Cut Pro 3.0 features productive editing tools in a mode-free interface that provides three-point editing, JKL keyboard navigation, match frame, extend and split edit functions, multiple and nested timeline project support, and timecode overlays. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

If you aren't Copalla, you may be in over your head
Although this program has an astounding number of features, it also has an astoundingly high learning curve. Unless you are planning on shooting an actuall short or full length film, it is too much software. It is definitely not for the amature weekend videographer, and is best left for the pros. I use it only because my job requires it (courtroom tech support). Final Cut Express is somewhere between iMovie and FCP, and one fourth of the cost. Check out the reviews for that product. It is far less hassle and has almost as many features and capabilities.

If you aren't Copalla, you may be in over your head
Although this program has an astounding number of features, it also has an astoundingly high learning curve. Unless you are planning on shooting an actuall short or full length film, it is too much software. It is definitely not for the amature weekend videographer, and is best left for the pros. I use it only because my job requires it (courtroom tech support). Final Cut Express is somewhere between iMovie and FCP, and one fourth of the cost. Check out the reviews for that product. It is far less hassle and has almost as many features and capabilities.

Good for people with unlimited budgets who like Macs
Widely recognized as one of the best professional video editing programs currently available, but at [$$$] for the software and several thousand for the Mac-only hardware required to run it to full potential it's not even an option for most computer users. Meanwhile, there is an increasingly dizzying array of powerful and affordable editing solutions available for Windows-based PCs, so unless you already have a Mac it would make sense to investigate those options before considering FCP. For example, check out the latest offerings from Ulead, Vegas Video, Pinnacle, Matrox, Avid and Canopus before concluding that FCP is the only game in town. Personally I use the Canopus DVStorm2 and have found it to be an amazing tool; I had a chance to play with FCP and didn't see a compelling reason to switch. ... Read more

Asin: B00005TRYQ
Subjects:  1. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple    2. Computer software (programs)    3. Video    4. Composting    5. Effects    6. Editing    7. Apple    8. (Mac)    9. (Macintosh)   

Canon BP522 Extended Lithium Battery for ZR Series Camcorders
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $79.99 -- our price: $66.44
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Extended lithium battery for Canon ZR series camcorders
• Provides up to 5 hours and 10 minutes of shooting time

Reviews (3)

I would go generic
Up to you, but I would buy a generic branded battery of the same type (Lithium BP522).I bought a generic battery and it works just as well -- saved me $50 !

Buy the accessory kit for the same price
The battery is great, but Amazon offers the accessory kit with the same battery, plus a mini-dv tape and a carrying case for the same price.The case is useless for the ZR series, but might come in handy for some other purpose.

Essential for ZR Series camcorders
I love my ZR45MC, but it really requires this extended battery.

The battery that came with my ZR45MC is woefully inadequate for anything but a handful of brief cameo shots.Also, the charge doesn't hold for any extended period of time.You may pull out your ZR to catch a great moment in time only to find that the battery has discharged while idle in the camera bag.Not using the LCD does help the situation quite a bit.

This extended battery makes a good primary battery and seems to go more than twice as long as the normal one.Also, you can then use the original as a backup (as long as you refresh it's charge occassionally :-) ). ... Read more

Asin: B00005LD4A
Sales Rank: 290

Samsonite Journey Camcorder Bag for Most Camcorders
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $34.99 -- our price: $18.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Roomy, padded central bag area for your camcorder
• Features lots of pockets for all your gear
• Adjustable and detachable shoulder strap
• Made of water-resistant material

Reviews (19)

a Very Good Bag
i recieved this bag free of charge when i bought my sharp minidv camcorder from amazon.com and i must say that if i didnt get it for free i would have bought it myself.. its amazing and my camcorder, cables and tapes fit in easily but BEWARE if your camcorder is not small it prob wont fit or it will fit but you wont be able to put anything else like minidv tapes and stuff.

the bag really looks so much better in reality than in online pics.. thank you amazon for this amazing gift

A really good bag
I like it alot.I store my canon camcorder in it.There is even room for my digital camera and some mini dv tapes.

Plus it's a samsonite.Buy the thing !

Do not buy this - big risk
I bought this for two reasons.
1) The previous samsonite bag I bought ("Samsonite Worldproof 3.02 Blue/Black Deluxe SLR, Digital or Compact Camera Bag") is sturdy and very good.
2) Reviews from others with average rating of 4.5

I just received it and is a total useless product. I would never expect such a product from Samsonite. Here is what I could find in few minutes:
1) Walls of the bag are very thin bend like papers
2) The zippers are not good
3) The front pocket does not have a zip - what do you expect to put there. Its no good for anything other than big items like battery charger, cables etc.
4) The adjustable partitions inside the bag are also not sturdy.

Go for "Samsonite Worldproof 3.02 Blue/Black Deluxe SLR, Digital or Compact Camera Bag" even if it is $7 to $8 more. Do not risk your camera or camcorder.
... Read more

Asin: B0000775AA
Sales Rank: 112
Subjects:  1. Photograph Photography   

Canon Directional Stereo Mic (DM 50) for Camcorders with the Advanced Access Shoe
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
-- our price: $145.51
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Directional stereo microphone
• Fits onto Canon camcorders equipped with advanced accessory shoe

Reviews (2)

Upsetting...
Not seeing many reviews, I'm writing this as a warning. This mic is horrible. I bought it to get rid of the "motor noise" from my Canon Optura Pi, as many others have. When I listen now, the sound is much worse. You can barely hear people speak over the loud humming... THIS MIC IS HORRIBLE!

Not Good for the Optura 20
Although you can't get this item through Amazon directly, I thought I'd submit a review since I found it fustrating not finding anything on this microphone.After ordering it from BH Photo, I tried it out on my Canon Optura 20.The main reason I purchased an external microphone was to get rid of the annoying motor buzz noise.I thought the DM-50 having been made by Canon would have been very compatible with the Optura 20.I was wrong.The intelligent hot shoe worked nicely as it was convenient not to have to worry about turning the microphone on.The sound quality was horrible.It got rid of the motor noise somewhat but you can still hear it.What was bad was that the microphone produced an ambient annoying hissing, dirty noise, even with the wind sock.I thought it was perhaps picking up motor noise from nearby appliances but did not turn out to be the case.The microphone also picked up the hum from the zoom when zooming quickly, however this was the least annoying.

I ended up getting the Sony ECM-MSD1.It was cheaper, got rid of the motor noise and produced no noise artifacts.It does pick up the zooming noise though, but this might not be a problem since the zoom shouldn't be used that often anyways and usually at a slow speeds. ... Read more

Asin: B00005LD4W
Sales Rank: 2010
Subjects:  1. Camcorder (Camcorders)    2. Accessories (Accessory)   

Film Directing: Shot by Shot : Visualizing from Concept to Screen
by Steven Katz
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (25 January, 1991)
list price: $27.95 -- our price: $27.95
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Film Directing Shot by Shot offers a good introduction to the rudiments of film production. Steven D. Katz walks his readers through the various stages of moviemaking, advising them at every turn to visualize the films they wish to produce. Katz believes that one of the chief tasks of filmmaking is to negotiate between our three-dimensional reality and the two-dimensionality of the screen. He covers the number of technical options filmmakers can use to create a satisfying flow of shots, a continuity that will make sense to viewers and aptly tell the film's story. Katz provides in-depth coverage of production design, storyboarding, spatial connections, editing, scene staging, depth of frame, camera angles, point of view, and the various types of stable compositions and moving camera shots. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

YAAWWWNN!!
(actually, im not a kidtee-hee)
This is one of the most boring and ultimately useless directing books there is. Katz doesnt explain WHY you put the camera where you do or HOW to interpret the screenplay. It seems to go on and on about pointless tips. If you want a true directing book, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Film Directing Fundamentals: From Script to Screen by Nicholas T. Proferes. It is a MUCH better book, and is very explanitory as to how to interpret the screenplay and how to articulate certain dramatic or narrative beats by the shots you use. PLEASE, SAVE YOURSELF! DONT GET THIS BOOK! GET PROFERES'S BOOK! IT WILL BE WORTH IT!!

Best Buy for film makers
This reference is worth the money.I learned everything I needed to know about setting up shots for my first two films from this book.Diagrams, pictures, instructions.Wonderful!

The title says it all
If you're expecting, that you will learn how to direct actors or get dramatic an unique performances with this book you're wrong, this book it's about visualizing, how to move the camera, why, continuity styles, storyboarding, etc,

It is an excellent tool for the film & videomaker, you can use it for quick reference, if you're shooting a conversation, it explains, how you can do it without breaking the axis..

If you're starting to study film, let Steven Katz, be your teacher, and make your first shorts knowing how to doing them right ... Read more

Isbn: 0941188108
Subjects:  1. Cinema/Film: Book    2. Film & Video - Direction & Production    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Motion Picture Directing And Producing    5. Motion pictures    6. Performing Arts    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Production and direction    9. Television - Direction & Production    10. Video recordings    11. First World War, 1914-1918    12. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    13. Performing Arts / General    14. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    15. Second World War, 1939-1945    16. Special kinds of photography