|
|
|
|
||||
Top CamcordersAn error occurred. Please try later. |
I have to admit a certain attachment to my first digital camcorder. It was a Sharp VL NZ100U and it had some interesting features, and a quirky personality. Boxy, resembling an automatic point and shoot camera, it was one of the smallest camcorders I had ever seen. It was also one of the few full featured units I had seen within some very reasonable price points. It was a good old camera. That is until I got my hands on the new VL-Z7U.
For a long time I had been consciously looking for a camera that I could recommend that would meet some rather interesting requirements. I wanted a full featured camcorder that had decent photo still abilities, a small size and logical functions within good price points. I also wanted to add the "wow" factor. I wanted to suggest a camera that when you viewed it your response would be amazement not curious side looks. Well, I found it in the latest Viewcam Z series from Sharp.
It seems that Sharp has been listening closely to criticisms of its cameras. While I did enjoy my old VL-NZ100U, it had some idiosyncracies. One of the chief ones was that the camera had no viewfinder and the LCD screen had no cover. The view screen, as good as it was, usually displayed finger tips along with whatever I was shooting. Considering its small size, the camera had an odd kind of bulky look. It required two hands to use. Other than those things, it could transcribe analog tapes and broadcasts into digital signals. It also had an odd cap that kept falling off the lens no matter what I did to secure it to the lens hood. In spite of these shortcomings, the image quality was above average and the battery life generous.
From all appearances, Sharp has taken these comments and have fashioned a new line of cameras that addresses all of those concerns. In the process, they did not lose track of their most distinctive and useful features, the rotating lens. The top of the line VL-Z7U features a lens that rotates connected to the separate unit that houses the DV tape. Even before filming, I noticed several obvious improvements.
The big one is speed. As soon as the black case is opened, the tape fits snuggly in and quickly disappears faster than before. Also, the zoom lens, the VL-Z7U includes 10 times optical and 500 times digital zoom, is much quieter. The audible clicking sound I heard when zooming on my old unit is gone. It has been replaced by cool quiet. While on the subject of sound, the camera is truly a whisper unit. You will not hear grinding or gears. Just a soft barely audible hum informing you that tape is rolling.
Unlike the older line that required two hands to operate and the problem with the LCD monitor being smudged by finger prints, the Z7U conforms to the shape of most camcorders in its class. The LCD rotates when opened and features a new technology from Sharp. GC Silicon LCD technology is used on the display screen that according to Sharp translates into better images in daylight and sharper playback detail. From my experiences Sharp always excelled with their displays. This time, they have done well regarding this important feature set.
Perhaps the biggest selling point are the newly more powerful specs. The VL-Z7U features a 1.33 Mega Pixel CCD that means finer detail and appreciable better still camera functionality. Storing images on both SD memory cards and Multi Media cards, my previous version only worked with SD cards, the picture quality is decent. While these images cannot compete with a dedicated still camera, the images stored are appropriate for the Web, medium sized prints and other similar applications. While you may not be able to create great 8 x 10 glossy prints from the stills, you will not be left with images so small you will feel frustrated.
The most important aspect of any digital camera is image quality while filming. So far, I have to admit that the VL-Z7U performs admirably well under dark lighting. This is helped by the built-in light and excellent megapixel CCD. The differences between 380,000 and 1,330,000 is noticable. Not only that, the color is very good using even the automatic settings.
While features are an essential, this unit features some rather rich ones. This includes the following:
This is just a run down of the basics. The menu system features the expected feature set one would expect in a camera of this class.
For those seeking a full featured camera that is one of the smallest available within reasonable price points, there is much to recommend on this much improved unit. When compaired to older models, the Viewcam Z series is a real step above the rest. While many other camcorders are being hailed as great, several I have noticed are many pixels and features lower than this unit. When you factor in features, a truly flat remote and excellent picture quality, there is little to find fault with Sharp’s newly invigorated line of camcorders. While I truly enjoyed my old boxy camera, Sharp has moved forward with a small, compact, well designed camcorders with lots of "wow" factor. Though understated, Sharp has created what I think is the ultimate small camcorder that looks great and most of all captures very, sharp images. No pun intended.
The camera comes loaded with most of what you need, including a CD with drivers. You will need to purchase your own Firewire cable to download and edit film. The unit comes with a USB cable for still images. Literally all you will need is a computer, editing software and you are off and shooting.
Talk to Kurt in Graphics Unleashed Forums
Lexar Jump Drive and Platinum II SDHC Card · IRISNotes 2 Executive · IOGEAR Spill-Resistant Wired Keyboard and Mouse Combo · Logitech Z623 Computer Speakers · Gateway FX 6860-UR21P: An All-Purpose Desktop PC · Ridiculously Easy Backup From Rebit · The IOGear GPEN300 · A Review of the 5 inch EZReader Pocket Pro From Astak · A Review of the Barnes and Noble Color Nook · A Review of the Dell XPS 8100 · The Kobo eBook Reader, Just About Reading · The Best Ergonomic Mouse? The Smartfish ErgoMotion Laser Mouse · Sage Act 2010 · Microsoft Windows 7 · Adobe Creative Suite CS2 · Adobe Photoshop CS2 · SwissMemory Victorinox rubyRED Swiss Army Knife/Flash Drive · Tapwave Zodiac 2 · Stardock Object Desktop · Acrobat 7 Professional · Maximizer 8 · QuarkXPress 6.5 · McAfee's 2005 Product Line · Logitech io Personal Digital Pen 2 · IRIS Business Card Reader II for Windows/PC · Sandisk Cruzer Titanium Flash Drive · Microsoft Wireless Comfort Keyboard · Maxon Cinema 4D 9 · Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 · Norton SystemWorks 2005 Premier · Verbatim Store N' Go 2.1 GB Hard Drive · Corel Painter IX · Paint Shop Photo Album 5 · Adobe Video Collection Professional 2.5 · Alien Skin Eye Candy 5: Textures · Techsmith SnagIt 7.0 · Ulead Media Studio Pro 7 · Xara Webstyle 4 · Maxon BodyPaint 3D Release 2 · Eovia Carrara Studio 3 · AV Bros. Puzzle Pro 2 · AutoFX Mystical Tint Tone and Color · Andromeda Screens, Cutline and Etchtone Plug-In Filters · Macromedia Studio MX 2004 · Microsoft FrontPage 2003 · AutoFX AutoEye 2.0 · Adobe Premiere Pro · Adobe Audition · Amapi Designer 7 · Alien Skin Splat! · Alien Skin Eye Candy 4000 · Alien Skin Image Doctor · Canvas 9 · nik Dfine · Xenofex 2 · QuarkXpress 6 · Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 · Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional · Corel Painter 8 · Nik Color Efex Pro · Caligari TrueSpace 6.5 · Macromedia Contribute · Maxon Cinema 4D · Sonic Foundry Sound Forge 6.0 · nik Sharpener Pro · Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 4 · Xara Menu Maker 1 · Curious Labs Poser 5 · Macromedia Freehand MX · Adobe Illustrator 10 · Ulead Photoimpact 8 · Xara 3D 5 · Xara X · Microsoft Publisher 2002 · Creature House Expression 3 · CorelDRAW 11 Graphics Suite · Procreate Painter 7 · QuarkXpress 5 · Adobe Pagemaker 7 · Adobe Photoshop 7
Copyright © 1995–2013 Unleashed Productions, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
