Performance

The Canon DC210 has most of the standard imaging specs for an entry-level camcorder. Of course, a lot of a camcorder’s performance is derived not from the parts but from the processing. That said, there’s only so much you can expect from a small chips. The DC210 has a 1/6-inch CCD with a gross pixel count of 680,000. The effective pixel count in 16:9 with the electronic image stabilization (EIS) is 450,000. In 16:9 with the EIS on the effective pixel count is 360,000. In 4:3, the effective pixel count is 340,000.

In the lab, we shoot a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde color chart at an even 3000 lux. Under these conditions, the image appeared quite noisy, which was a disappointment. It did not have the same problems last year, but the Canon camcorders this year with similar specs were the same. Happily, the color was very good, and a compelling trade-off for the noise. The saturation is pushed past the point of comfort to pros, but most consumers prefer strong – read: less accurate – color. This is simply a matter of course in this price range.

By comparison, the Canon DC220 was identical. The Sony DCR-DVD108 leaned heavier on the blues, while Canon favored the greens. Sony’s colors were more saturated overall. In bright light, this will generally look good, but it can be a problem in lower light when the colors can appear false. The Panasonic VDR-D230 produced a much subtler color spectrum, which is going to please some people and disappoint others. This is where the power of Canon’s color control features comes into play (discussed in depth in the Manual Control portion of the review). Switching the DC210 from its standard color to Neutral will produce colors closer to the Panasonic.

Out of the lab, the DC210’s noise proves to be a consistent element in the image. As high definition continues to push into the consumer market, it gets harder to forgive the flaws of low-end standard definition camcorders. MPEG2 artifacting plays a part as well, which is more apparent during panning and tilting. That said, this is a good performer overall for its price range.

Video Resolution* (4.5)*

The Canon DC210 was tested for video resolution by shooting a DSC Labs video resolution at an even, bright light and examining the playback results on a monitor. This test measures the resolution of the actual output rather than the "idealized" resolution of that is touted in the specs. At best, the DC210 produced a horizontal resolution of 300 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 300 lw/ph. This score was on par with most other camcorders in its price range.

Low Light Performance* (5.99)*

The low light performance takes place in three stages. First, we shoot our DSC Labs color chart at 60 lux and 15 lux, then compare the results to competing camcorders. At 60 lux, the Canon DC210 picked up a fair amount of noise that resulted in some lost detail. However, it retained a solid amount of color, which is more than most of the competition can brag. With all of these entry-level DVD camcorders, the picture is never that sharp to begin with; any hint of good qualities in low light can be a major boon.

The Canon DC220 was, again, identical to the Canon DC210. The Sony DCR-DVD108 had nearly as much color information, but stressed different parts of the spectrum, giving an overall more bluish tone. Unfortunately, it suffered from the same problem as so many Sonys – blue noise scattered throughout the picture. The Panasonic VDR-D230 was paler in its color performance, which is probably healthier than oversaturated colors. The problem is that in the low-end market, consumers are more likely to want strong colors than accurate colors. The noise levels appear to be about even with the Canons and the Sony, but the Panasonic’s noise was of a finer grain, and easier to ignore.

At 15 lux, the image really started to fall apart, as is to be expected. The noise levels were very high and most fine detail was lost. The color performance, remarkably, was still decent – certainly better than the competition. The Sony DCR-DVD108 lost most of its color compared to 60 lux, and the noise was tremendous. The Panasonic VDR-D230 was the cleanest of the four camcorders, but the color was lacking.

The second stage of the test determines sensitivity. We steadily lower the lights and see at what light level the camcorder can produce a maximum output of 50 IRE (a measurement of exposure) at 11 lux, about the same as the Canon DC220 and Panasonic VDR-D230, which both scored better than the Sony DCR-DVD108.

The third stage of the testing involves raising the light back up to 60 lux, then exporting frames to Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. At best, the Canon DC210 was able to produce a color error of 10.9, which was better than the either the Sony or the Panasonic models. The noise measured 1.5575%. In this test, the Panasonic VDR-D230 was better, but the Sony DCR-DVD108 was worse. The saturation level was 77.97.

Stabilization* (5.22)*

The DC210 is equipped with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), which functions by creating a digital buffer around the recorded frame. EIS can sacrifice resolution as opposed to Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which separates the lens element from the frame of the camcorder. Most entry-level camcorders feature EIS, but all Panasonics have OIS. Therefore, the VDR-D210 will provide a superior stabilization performance.

We tested the effectiveness of the DC210’s EIS using our custom built camcorder shake emulator. Two speeds were used to determine typical shooting patterns. Speed One simulates stationary handheld shake while Speed Two is a bit more intense, simulating a light jog or bumpy car ride with the camcorder. At Speed One, the DC210 produced an impressive 80% shake reduction while Speed Two yielded an insignificant 38.46% shake reduction.

Wide Angle* (10.0)*

We tested the DC210’s maximum wide angle using a vertical laser. The camcorder was set to manual mode with OIS turned off and the zoom pulled back to its widest setting. Footage was then interpreted on an external monitor to attain a proper measurement. The DC210’s maximum wide angle is 50 degrees, which is on the higher end of the spectrum.

 

 

 

 

Format

Compression* (4.0)*

The Canon DC210, like all standard definition DVD camcorders, uses MPEG-2 compression. MPEG-2 is not the best compression, especially compared to its old competitor, MiniDV. MPEG-2 creates a lot of artifacts – blocky chunks – that mar the image quality. One of the biggest contributing factors to the problem is the slow data speed. MiniDV records at 25Mbps, always. MPEG-2 records at a maximum of around 9Mbps, with options for even slower speeds.

The Canon DC210 records in three qualities. Lower qualities allow for longer recording times, but it greatly affects video quality. The XP setting records at an average 9Mbps. The SP records at 6Mbps. The LP mode records at 3Mbps.

At a 9Mbps bit rate, a single-sided DVD holds about 20 minutes of video. In SP mode, it holds about 30Mbps. In LP mode, it holds about 60 minutes. Double-sided discs holds about twice that.

Media* (5.0)*

The Canon DC210 records video to 8cm DVDs (sometimes called miniDVDs) in most of the following formats: DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+R DL (dual layer). DVD is a very popular media and available at a variety of stores, including a drug stores and convenience stores.

DVD has its good points and its bad, and the bad points are adding up. On the plus side, the media is cheap, easy to find, and plays in a lot of home DVD players. On the negative side, DVD has very small capacities and is easily damaged. Of course, the accompanying MPEG-2 recording format is nothing to brag about either.

Editing* (5.0)*

MPEG-2 video from a DVD camcorder is typically frustrating to edit. The Canon DC210 ships with a disc called Digital Video Solutions disc for Windows and Mac. This is a very rudimentary editing program and DVD authoring program. Only the top standard definition model from Canon, the DC50, ships with a decent editing program, called MyDVD. If you have your heart set on the DC210, but want an editing powerhouse, you can check out Adobe Premiere Elements, Sony Vegas, and a handful of others.

 

 

 

 

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (4.0)

The automatic controls on the Canon DC210 are rather good for a camcorder in this price range. For the simplest possible recording, simply slide the switch on top from "P" mode to auto mode and let the camcorder do the thinking. In auto mode, you retain some control over quality settings and aspect ratio, but the core image controls (i.e. focus, exposure, and white balance) are automatic.

The auto exposure is proficient for most shooting environments. It’s not as quick as comparatively priced Sonys, nor some of the upper-end Canons. It can take a few seconds for the DC210 to "read" the scene and make an exposure decision. The auto focus is faster, working very well in bright to moderate lighting, and holding its own in low light, as well. Auto white balance was also found to be more than adequate.

The DC210 offers a number of Scene modes (sometimes called AE Modes) for those situations when the auto controls are not cutting it. The Scene modes, located in the Function menu, are only accessible when the camcorder is switched back from auto mode to "P" mode. They include: Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, and Fireworks.

Overall Manual Control (5.0)

The manual controls on most Canon camcorders are good, though the best features are typically reserved for their higher-end models. Compared to other DVD camcorders in its price range, however, Canon ranks about even or just below Panasonic, and above Sony.

Part of the DC210’s strength comes from its rear-mounted joystick. This allows for one-handed operation with the shooting hand’s thumb. The second part of the equation is a healthy number of manual controls. Focus, exposure, shutter speed, white balance, and color controls are all included. The third winning component is a great menu system. It’s intuitive, easy to read, and simple to navigate.

Zoom (6.5)

The zoom control on Canon camcorders is better than most, thanks to an option that allows you to control the speed of the zoom. Normally, a zoom lever is pressure-sensitive; the harder you push, the faster the zoom moves. This is one option on the DC210. However, if you seek out the Zoom submenu in the Main Menu, you’ll find three speed settings. These lock the zoom to a fixed speed, regardless of finger pressure. Speed 1 is the slowest, Speed 2 is in the middle, and Speed 3 is the fastest. This is a great option for the trigger-happy shooter who too often receives complaints of manic footage.

The zoom controlled is a small toggle on top of the camcorder, located in just the right place for the index finger. A second set of zoom controls, labeled W (wide) and T (telephoto), are located on the LCD panel, below the screen. When zooming, a scale appears on the screen to tell you where in the zoom range you are.

Zoom Power Ratio (35.0)

The Canon DC210 has a 35x zoom, certainly more than most shooters will need. We’d like to take this opportunity to stress that most shots over 5x or 6x require a tripod or steady surface to avoid shaky footage.

The digital zoom can extend the zoom to 105x at one setting, then all the way to 1000x. The latter option is simply absurd. If you can find a use for 1000x digital zoom, please feel free to add a comment with your suggestion at the bottom of this review.

Focus (4.0)

The manual focus activated by pushing in on the joystick. A small menu appears in a lower corner of the screen. Toggle through the options until you get to focus. Once activated, the joystick can be moved left and right to shift the focus. Unfortunately, Canon provides little help in ensuring accuracy with this control. There is no numerical value given to tell you where in the focal range you are. The sharpness of the picture as it appears on the screen is all you have, and the screen is small and of a low resolution. There are no additional tools such as instant zoom or peaking to help with manual focus, though these are normally withheld for upper-end high definition camcorders. All in all, the manual focus on the DC210 is weak, but par for its price range.

The focus control in action

Exposure & Aperture (5.5)

The exposure control, like focus, is activated by pushing in on the joystick. A small menu appears in a lower corner. The exposure can be adjusted on a scale from -11 to +11. Each increment corresponds to approximately one-quarter EV steps.

The exposure control in action

When using this control, both the shutter speed and aperture are being affected, though you’ll never be able to find the actual shutter and aperture values displayed. If tighter control is required, you can shift the camcorder into Shutter Priority mode and lock the shutter speed. Then, when you engage the exposure control, only the aperture should be affected.

Shutter Speed (5.85)

The Canon DC210 offers shutter control, even on this entry-level DVD camcorder, giving it a big leg up over Sony. Panasonic and JVC also offer this in most of their models. To activate the shutter control, go to the Function menu and switch the top menu item from "P" to "Tv," the perplexing abbreviation for Shutter Priority. Shutter speeds include 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000.

White Balance (5.5)

Canon offers four white balance options: Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, and Manual. This is not a very comprehensive set of presets, and other Canon camcorders have several more options. To make a manual white balance adjustment, choose the Manual setting, then push in on the joystick. The icon will blink for a few seconds, then stop, and your picture will be correctly adjusted. This process takes a little longer in low light.

Gain (0.0)

There is no gain control on the Canon DC210, or any consumer Canon camcorder. Only Panasonic offers gain control in this price range.

Other Manual Controls (2.0)
**Image Effects - The Image Effects suite of controls is unique to Canon, and a very good set of options. Located in the Function menu, these controls allow you to control the way color and sharpness appear – something very few consumer camcorders can boast. More expensive Canon models have even more features, including a customizable setting where you mix and match four parameters. On the DC210, there are four simpler settings to choose from. You can choose one and only one at a time. The Vivid setting boosts color saturation. This can be good for outdoor shooting to get green grass and blue skies.

The Neutral setting reduces saturation, which may be better for low light shots where you don’t want a lot of false color saturation.

The Low Sharpening setting reduces the amount of in-camera sharpening – a cheat that cameras use to increase the appearance of resolution without increasing the actual resolution. It does this by pushing the shadows and highlights along the edges of objects. The Low Sharpening setting reduces the effect. On the whole, the low resolution of the imager prevents this setting from having much effect.

Finally, the Soft Skin Detail setting searches for colors within the "skin tone" area of the spectrum, and manipulates the color to make the tones appear better.

Markers - This feature creates symmetrical lines on the screen to help you line up your shots. These lines are not recorded to the final footage. Options include a single horizontal line across the middle of the screen, or two pairs of vertical and horizontal lines that form a 9-square grid. Both of these options can be displayed in white or grey.

 

 

 

 

Still Features

Still Features* (4.0)*

For an entry-level camcorder, the DC210 is decently equipped in the still image department. There’s one serious downside, however. The DC210 does not have a card slot, unlike nearly all camcorders and cameras. Instead, photos are saved to the DVD. This doesn’t hinder the quality of the photos, but it does seem like a strange throwback. We know this it’s fairly limiting without an SD card slot because that compact, easily swappable media is a nice separation between video clips and images. On the other hand, all images recorded on a Canon camcorder are accompanied by a small screen with a histogram that displays exposure levels, shooting mode, image effects, white balance, image size, aperture, shutter speed, and date and time the image was captured. Yowzers! All images are captured to disc in the JPEG format in two sizes—1024 x 768 (L) or 640 x 480 (S). The camcorder lacks a flash, however. Top that, Sony, Panasonic, or JVC. The DC210 also includes a Self-Timer and Photomovie option, which simply converts a batch of captured stills into a slide show video.

All manual controls are available in Photo mode as well, including White Balance, Exposure, and Shutter Speed. Image Effects and Digital Effects can also be applied. The Photo menu consists of the following items:

 In Playback mode, the Photo menu contains the following options:

 

Still Performance* (6.59)*

The still performance of the Canon DC210 was tested by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at an even, bright light, then running the stills through Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and resolution. At best, the DC210 was able to produce a color error of 9.11, statically identical to the Canon DC220, and not quite as good as the Panasonic VDR-D230 and the Sony DCR-DVD108. The noise of the DC210 measured 1.6025%, much higher than the Panasonic but about the same as the Sony. The saturation measured 108.2%.

In order to get this best score, we manually lowered the exposure two increments (an EV level of -0.5).

Still Resolution* (4.08)*

The still resolution of the Canon DC210 was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart at an even, bright light, then running the results through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a horizontal resolution of 553.3 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) – with a clipping of 2.31% and an oversharpening of 4.48% - and a vertical resolution of 436.2 lw/ph – with a clipping of 2.0% and an oversharpening of 7.94%.

The camcorder did not produce its best results in auto mode. In order to get this best score, we had to lower the exposure on the camcorder down one notch (an equivalent -0.25EV).

 

 

 

 

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (7.5)*

On the ultimate Point-and-Shoot end of the spectrum sits Sony, while Panasonic resides on the opposite end, catering to advanced manual control freaks. JVC and Canon hover somewhere between, offering a concoction of automatic and manual controls. It doesn’t take an MIT degree to operate the DC210, but a few trial and error runs will be necessary to conquer the learning curve.

The DC210’s menu structure is relatively straightforward. The Administrative (or "main") menu is nested inside of the Function menu – a little strange, but it works. The DC210 can be switched to auto mode, but it’s no Sony Easy mode. In auto mode, there are a lot of shooting options are still available, unlike Sonys, which are virtually idiot proof. The DC210 does feature a Joystick menu that is convenient for on-the-fly adjustments, but takes some acclimatization to its finicky control.

The DVD format is far from convenient, especially with the DC210—there is no USB output! Your only options are to play back via A/V or to pop the disc out and play it in a DVD player. This limits some editing capability, particularly for Macs, which can’t usually accept 8cm DVDs. Unless you have an A/V converter, it’s safe to say you’re down a creek without any importable footage. DVDs also have to be finalized, a process that can take up to 10 minutes. In addition, DVDs are the least reliable form of media, prone to scratches and saddled with the shortest shelf life. On the flipside, it’s easy to throw a DVD into a player—backing up that DVD is another story.

Handling* (4.5)*

The DC210 is a peculiar camcorder to hold. It follows the nautilus-shaped legacy of Canon’s entire DVD line, specializing in portability while at the cost of neglecting comfort and practicality. The DC210’s snub-nosed viewfinder does not extend or pivot upward. In fact, it doesn’t even extend past the back of the camcorder, causing the shooter to shove their face extra deep into the hard plastic frame. There’s also not much protection from the sun, since the viewfinder is devoid of any sort of eyecup. The DC210’s hand strap is anchored low along the right side, cause the camcorder to flop to the side unless it is held securely. The DC210 was obviously designed for LCD-hungry shooters, but some architectural versatility would have been greatly appreciated.

The DC210’s rear-mounted joystick is one of the superior navigational controls on the market, slaying the ineffectiveness of a side-mounted control panel or greasy touch screen LCD. We have to hand the award to Panasonic, though—their joystick is voluminous, smooth, and rigid. Menu selections are instantaneous and easy to access. Canon’s joystick is wrought with a significant amount of play and selecting menu options takes some practice. Nevertheless, a rear-mounted joystick is always a plus in our book.

In hand, the DC210 feels light, unlike a gargantuan Panasonic or full-sized Sony. The DC210 can be pocketed—as long as your pockets are big enough. Since the camcorder is fairly diminutive, those with large hands will run into walls while attempting to attain a comfortable grip. The zoom toggle, Record Start/Stop button, and top of the disc hatch can easily be overshot, so shift your hand down and ratchet that strap till the cows come home.

Menu* (6.5)*

The DC210’s rear-mounted Joystick is the steering wheel for the entire menu structure. Panasonic equips all of its camcorders with a rear-mounted Joystick and sleek, intuitive menus, but Canon falls a bit off the mark. The DC210’s Joystick is finicky and provides an awful amount of play. This wobbly little stick will do the job, but shooters will find themselves backtracking at times because of an inadvertent menu selection. Nevertheless, the Joystick and Function menus are located along the perimeter of the shot, rather than smack dab in the middle. This way, you can actually see picture adjustments in action. The Joystick menu consists of the following options:

The Function menu can be accessed by pressing the Function button on the left side of the DC210. Within the Function menu, shooters will find the following options:

The Function menu in action

The Administrative menu is accessed by selecting "Menu" within the Function menu. The Administrative menu offers the following options:

The Admin Menu in action

 

Portability* (5.75)*

Canon’s entire DVD line excels in the portability department for a couple reasons. The battery chamber is located within the LCD cavity, contributing to the DC210’s rounded, stylish back end. As stated throughout the review, the enclosed battery design only accommodates another BP-208 battery pack—you can’t upgrade to a larger size. So, if you plan on traveling with the DC210, stock up on more than one BP-208 battery pack.

Dimensions are part of the equation as well. The DC210 measures 54mm x 90mm x 128mm (2.2 in. x 3.5 in. x 5.0 in.) and weighs in at 400g (14.1 oz.) excluding the battery pack. The DC210 is the more compact than the Sony DCR-DVD108 and Panasonic VDR-D220. A small camcorder bag will do the trick. Canon doesn’t provide any DVD discs, so be prepared to invest.

LCD and Viewfinder* (5.0)*

The DC210 is equipped with a 2.7" LCD screen with a 123,000 pixel resolution. The LCD screen flips out 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. A row of controls lines the bottom of the LCD panel, consisting of Zoom Out/Rewind, Zoom In/Fast Forward, Record Start/Stop/Play/Pause, and Playlist/Stop. For two-handed shooters, this configuration is a gift—most manufacturers offer limited or no LCD panel controls, characterized by the Panasonic DVD line.

It’s worth noting here that the DC210 has an enclosed battery design, residing within the LCD cavity. Although this contributes to the DC210’s compact body, the option to upgrade to a mega-stamina battery is nixed. Only the BP-208 battery pack is compatible with the DC210, which means you’ll have to invest in a small arsenal of BP-208s to accommodate a long day of shooting. You’ll also have to account for more frequent shot interruptions while the small capacity battery is being swapped.

Most of Canon’s viewfinders are pathetic, and the DC210 is another sad victim. Resembling a minute plastic stump, the viewfinder does not extend outward or pivot upward and is not rubberized for comfort. We see where Canon is going with the peculiar design of the DC210, but sacrificing aesthetics for ergonomics only suits the most basic Point-and-Shoot crowd. Those who want a comfortable alternative monitor should seek out a Panasonic or Sony. The DC210’s viewfinder has a 123,000 pixel resolution and the dioptric switch is located underneath the bottom lip of its frame.

**

Battery Life*** (11.6)*

We tested the life of the DC210’s BP-208 battery pack by placing the camcorder in manual mode, disabling EIS, and shooting continuously with the LCD flipped open until the battery croaked. When a disc needed to be changed and reformatted, the external power supply was connected and the battery was removed during the process. In total, the DC210’s battery lasted 115 minutes and 57 seconds (1 hour, 55 minutes, and 57 seconds). Nearly two hours of continuous recording from such a small battery pack is quite an achievement on Canon’s part. Of course, turning the camcorder on and off, zooming around, and using the playback functions will reduce that battery time.

 

 

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (3.0)*

The DC210’s audio capabilities include only a Wind Screen function. Without a hot accessory shoe, Mic jack, or zoom mic functionality, the DC210 resides at the bottom of the barrel in the sound department. The whirring disc compartment and electronic zoom don’t help matters either, contributing to additional background noise. At least the built-in microphone is mounted to the front of the camcorder instead of on top, where it would be most likely muffled by a finger or two. If quality audio is at the forefront of your top criteria, don’t opt for this camcorder.

Playback* (4.75)*

In order to access Playback mode on the DC210, shift the mode switch down once while in Record mode. A screen will appear, containing up to six thumbnails that represent individually recorded video clips. In order to play an individual clip or still, press the center of the joystick and the recorded video clip will play within the entirety of the LCD screen. There are two locations that feature playback control—the Joystick and the LCD panel. Joystick controls are Previous Clip, Next Clip, and Volume Control. The LCD Panel contains Rewind, Fast Forward, Play/Pause, and Stop. In Playback mode, the Administrative menu is accessed by pressing the Function button and consists of the following options:

Playback mode, as it appears on the screen

 

**

Connectivity*** (1.0)*

The DC210 has a total of TWO PORTS! Yes friends, an A/V out jack and DC input. This is as sparse as they come. The DC210 doesn’t even have the luxury of a USB terminal. This means that if you plan on editing but don’t have access to a DVD drive, or if you have a Mac with a slot loading optical drive that can’t accept 8cm DVDs, you’ll be hard-pressed to edit. There’s also no memory card slot, as all still images are recorded to disc. So much for quick, swappable separate media.

The DC input is located on the right side, toward the lens end, and is not protected by a cover of any sort. Its round design is more prone to pulling out than oddly shaped rectangular terminals found on Sony and JVC camcorders. The A/V jack is located on the left side of the camcorder, hidden behind a large arced plastic shield. There’s plenty of room in here, and Canon could have certainly thrown a USB terminal to accompany the lone A/V jack.

 

 

 

 

Other Features

What’s in the Box?

The Canon DC210 ships with the following items:

-CA-570 Compact Power Adapter

-Power Cord

-BP-208 Battery Pack

-STV-250N Stereo Video Cable

That’s all, folks! You’ll need lots of mini DVD-Rs, and a handful of backup batteries since the DC210 can only accommodate one size.

Other Features* (2.0)*
*Quick Start - *A popular feature on most camcorders, Quick Start allows the DC210 to snap into action within around one second from a standby state. Keep in mind that the Quick Start function consumes battery power.

*Digital Effects - *The DC210 comes equipped with a dancing host of digital image effects, including fades, Sepia tone, and the illustrious Art posterization.

Digital Effects

 

 

 

 

Comparisons / Conclusion

Comparison
Canon DC100
Last year’s DC100 ($499.00 MSRP, under $300 online) is an uglier, more annoying version of this year’s DC210. Last year’s entry-level Canon DVD camcorder features an identical 1/6-inch imager. The DC100 is strapped with a side-mounted navigation panel as opposed to the DC210’s luxurious rear-mounted joystick. The DC100 also comes up short in the zoom department with a 25x optical range. Those are the most prominent divergences between both Point-and-Shoot specials. On a final note, the DC210 is a looker when pinned up against the Alien/Predator façade of the DC100. The DC210 is the champ here.

Canon DC220
For an extra $50, the DC220 ($399.00 MSRP) offers a MiniSD card slot and USB terminal. This is not a profound upgrade, but it will pad the user when disc issues arise. The ability to import directly via USB and record still images to a separate swappable form of media will really come in handy when that internal DVD laser throws in the towel. The DC210 does not have this luxury. From imagers to manual controls, the camcorders are identical. The DC220 simply has your back. It’s like traveling everywhere with two giant guys named Moose and Rocco.

Sony DCR-DVD108
Sony’s entry-level DCR-DVD108 ($349.99 MSRP) is a fierce contender. A USB terminal, Memory Stick PRO Duo slot, and massive 40x optical zoom barrel out of the starting gates at top speed. Matrix-like style and a retractable viewfinder also blow past the DC210’s cheap, uninviting construction. Both camcorders are equipped with 680,000 pixel, 1/6-inch imagers, and at this level performance will not vary greatly—although the DCR-DVD108 has a bit more noise kicking around. The DC210’s only swords here are its rear-mounted joystick and lush set of manual controls. Those who are adamant toward the infamous "love or hate" Sony touch screen will want Canon’s advanced refinery. Point-and-Shooters will not be able to pass up the DCR-DVD108’s Easy mode.

Panasonic VDR-D210

Although we haven’t had a chance to test the VDR-D210 ($349.95 MSRP), we tested the VDR-D230, which shares the same imager. Low-end Panasonic camcorders have really performed well this year, and the VDR-D230 was no exception. Therefore, you can expect a superior performance out of the VDR-D210. As far as manual controls and handling, the VDR-D210 is like a Cadillac compared to the Canon DC210, which is more like a souped-up Volkswagen. Keep in mind the DC210’s limiting enclosed battery design. Both camcorders lack memory card slots but feature rear-mounted joysticks. Panasonic steps it up a notch with gain and a highly intuitive, well-designed menu. Power users will want to shoot for the VDR-D210 while portability freaks will aim for the DC210.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters

The Canon DC210 is as much a Point-and-Shoot camcorder as you can get. With a 35x optical zoom, easy DVD media, and low price, the DC210 will debut at soccer fields far and wide.

Budget Consumers

Canon’s entry-level DVD camcorder falls just below the $350 mark, which will make your wallet smile. The trade-off? It’s an entry-level DVD camcorder.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

Stills can be captured in two sizes and are accompanied by Canon’s extensive Histogram/Stat page. On the downside, the DC210 does not feature a card slot, meaning all images are recorded directly to disc. Ho-hum.

Gadget Freaks

An entry-level DVD camcorder is not going to appeal to any gadget freak.

Manual Control Freaks

Focus and Exposure lie at the will of your thumb while Shutter Speed and White Balance are waiting in the wings of the Function menu. To top it all off, the DC210 offers a slew of Image and Digital effects in addition to a Shutter Priority mode. Look out, Panasonic!

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

Not if the DC210 was the last camcorder on Earth…well, maybe if it really was the last camcorder on Earth.

Conclusion

The Canon DC210 is an entry level DVD camcorder with a solid set of manual controls, but a serious dearth of connection options. We like the handling and menu operation, for the most part. DVD is inherently easy to use, thus it enjoys a wide popularity with non-techies. But the lack of a USB port can pose some serious problems when it comes to editing or moving the footage off of the disc. If you have a PC, you’re probably fine… as long as it’s relatively new and can read these types of discs. Macs, however, typically have a slot loading drive that cannot accept the smaller, 8cm discs used in camcorders. That leaves you high and dry if you want to upload video to the internet or even back up footage to a hard drive. For $50 more, the Canon DC220 has all the DC210’s features, plus a USB drive, making it a worthwhile consideration.

 

 

 

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