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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Tour

  • Auto/Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio/Playback/Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons/Conclusion

  • Specs/Ratings

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Tour
  • Auto/Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio/Playback/Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons/Conclusion
  • Specs/Ratings

Performance

The Canon ZR700, like all the ZR models this year, comes equipped with a 1/6" CCD with 680K gross pixels. This translates to 340K effective pixels when shooting in 4:3 mode, 450K effective pixels in 16:9 mode with the image stabilization off, and 400K effective pixels in 16:9 mode with the image stabilization on.

At 3000 lux, the ZR700 produced a strong, highly saturated image. The saturation is not the truest representation of the actual colors it was shooting. By "boosting" the colors, most consumers will see it and believe the pictures to look better than an image that has not been as saturated. This is common in low end camcorders, and the same features are found in the ZR500.

In fact, the images of from the ZR500 and ZR700 are virtually identical. Both had a certain fuzziness to them, but the saturation made for a pleasing image when held up to flatter images from similar camcorders.

The ZR700 is the successor to the ZR300 of last year. The ZR300 had nearly identical levels of saturation. The whites, in fact, are slightly brighter. Color bleed, however, was a problem. In the chart, colors were actually jumping the black border lines of each color panel. This is not uncommon among lower-end camcorders, but we’re happy to see that it has been corrected.

The Panasonic PV-GS39, running about $50 less, showed far more noise in its picture, and had slightly less saturation, noticeable mostly in the greens. The Sony DCR-HC36, priced the same as the ZR700, shares the same imager as the HC26. The HC26 produced a noisy image at 3000 lux that was also less saturated than the ZR700. Last year’s JVC GR-DF550, priced on the street around $400, had a picture that rivaled the ZR700 for color but was noticeably sharper, no doubt due to the larger 1/4.5" CCD. There was still noise to be found in the DF550, most noticeable in the reds. The grey scale looked much cleaner in the JVC.

Overall, this is a very good picture for an budget camera. It’s not entry-level priced, but it’s still a good buy for the image quality.

**Video Resolution ***(9.3)*

The Canon ZR700’s video in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio was tested for resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running stills from that video through Imatest imaging software. In 4:3, the ZR700 produced 363.7 lines of horizontal resolution and 257.8 lines of vertical resolution (with an average clipping of 1.54%), yielding an approximate resolution of 93761.86. In 16:9, with the image stabilization off, the camcorder produced 258.0 lines of horizontal resolution (with an average clipping of 1.16%) and 458.7 lines of vertical resolution (with an average clipping of 0.92%), yielding an approximate resolution of 118344.6.

Clipping occurs when Imatest finds information in the picture that has either blown out or bottomed out, in other words, lost information. The percentage is the amount of the picture that has been lost. It can skew the resolution scores, but not throw them too far off base. Since last year, nearly all Canon camcorders have clipped. This is likely caused by over-sensitivity to high contrast images.

Low Light Performance*(4.75)*

At 60 lux, the Canon ZR700 performed very well for a camcorder in its price range. While noise increased a good deal, it remained a fine grained noise. The colors remained sharply defined from one another, and the camcorder did not have any trouble finding focus. The ZR500, as expected, performed identically.

Last year’s predecessor, the ZR300, had serious noise problems, which plagued nearly all the Canon line. Thankfully, that seems to be an issue of the past, as the ZR700 had a much clearer image. The Sony DCR-HC26 showed more noise, and darker noise as well. The PV-GS39 also had darker noise, appearing like black flecks of ink across a page, but the noise was less of a problem than on the Sony. The image of the GS39 was brighter, but overall, the ZR700 was the more preferable due to less noise. The JVC GR-DF550, like all JVCs, offers an automatic gain control (AGC) that can be turned off and on. With the AGC off, the camcorder produced a sharp but mostly colorless image. Noise was at a minimum. With the ACG on, the picture brightened dramatically, though large grained noise became an issue. Also, the colors appeared washed out.

At 15 lux, the ZR700 displayed the black noise of the Panasonic and the Sony. Lines still remained fairly sharp, a credit to the ZR700’s automatic gain control. The noise took on a distinct pattern, however, also found in the ZR500. It appeared as striations across the page, almost like a denim pattern. At this light level, colors also struggled. The greens and light blues tended to run together. Most colors, however, remained fairly distinguishable.

By comparison, the ZR300 had similar amounts noise, but could not retain quite as much color information. The PV-GS39 had trouble focusing, though it remained just as bright. It had a harder time with the violet portion of the spectrum. The HC26 lost most color information. With the ZGC off, the DR-DF550 was a completely black picture. With the AGC on, the picture actually had less color information than the ZR700, though noise was less of a problem.

Like the ZR500, the ZR700 deserves big praise for its low light improvement. In years past, this has been one of Canon’s weakest points, and kept us from giving a whole-hearted recommendation. Times change, though. Times change.

Wide Angle* (8.0)*

The Canon ZR700 was tested the width of its shooting field in both 4:3 and 16:9 modes, partially to determine if the camcorder offers true widescreen. In fact it does. In 4:3 mode, the ZR700 had a wide angle of 40 degrees. In 16:9 mode, the wide angle shifts to 50 degrees. This large increase indicates the presence of true widescreen that uses the full width of a 16:9 CCD.

Format

Compression* (8.0)*

MiniDV tapes experience very slight compression when recording, especially in comparison to the MPEG2 format that is used with current DVD and hard disk camcorders. This means that the Canon ZR700 is able to provide far better image quality at a far lower price when compared to DVD format camcorders.

Media* (8.0)*

There are two media formats that users can record to when shooting with the Canon ZR700. The primary video format for this camcorder is of course still 6.35 mm MiniDV cassette tape while still images and reduced resolution video clips can be also saved to SD/MMC memory cards. The compartment for MiniDV tapes is located on the right side of the camcorder in a bottom loading compartment that can be blocked by the tripod head unfortunately causing headaches and unnecessary aggravation that can be easily avoided by choosing camcorders with top or side loading compartments. The SD/MMC card is also located on the right side of the camcorder directly above the tape compartment. There are only two image resolution settings for the Canon ZR700’s still images with a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768 and a minimum resolution of 640 x 480. When recording video clips to the memory card the image quality will be of a sub-par resolutions of 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 at a stuttering frame rate of just 15 frames per second (as compared to the standard 29.97 frames per second rate found with fixed rate camcorders).

Editing* (8.0)
*The Canon ZR700 does come with a digital video solutions disc that can run on both Windows and Macintosh platforms. The software did not initially install and it was necessary to take ten minutes to read the installation help me guide to solve this installation driver snafu. Once the PC was reconfigured, this basic software package took between fifteen and twenty minutes to fully install which is definitely far longer than 2006 software offerings by manufacturers like Sony and Panasonic that loaded easily in a reasonable period of time. This software program will allow for basic image editing of both stills and video footage. Viewing images can be done either as single or multi-up formats and users can select a series of images or video clips for editing or composing a larger work. Digital effects can be applied to video and still images and while not advanced like Photoshop or Avid the editing features will at least be a simple starting point for beginning users. Video files can be exported from the digital video solutions program for future viewing outside of this Canon program. Sony's Picture Package software and Panasonic's Motion DVStudio were both easier to install, and had no trouble recognizing the camcorder as soon as it was connected.  

Tour

**The Front ***(6.25)*

The Canon 25x optical zoom video lens is positioned at the top of the camera body and the curved upper half of the lens forms the edge between the front and top of the Canon ZR700. The lens has a focal length of 43.8 mm to 1095 mm when shooting in 16:9 with image stabilizer, 41.0 mm to 1025 mm in 16:9 without image stabilizer, 49.8 mm to 1245 mm with 4:3 aspect, and finally still images will have a focal length of 43.6 mm to 1090 mm when translating focal length with a 35 mm equivalent. The lens configuration for the Canon ZR700 is 10 elements with 8 groups. Beneath the lens of the camcorder is the remote control sensor with the optional video light placed directly below. This light is activated via a control located on the frame of the LCD on the left side of the camcorder. Finally at the base of the front face is the stereo microphone for audio recording. This is the only audio recording device for the ZR700 even though the less expensive ZR500 does include a microphone in jack.

**The Right Side ***(9.85)*

The right side of the Canon ZR700 has a bottom loading tape compartment that is opened via a switch located on the base of the camcorder. A bottom loading tape compartment is problematic because accessing tapes will be impossible whenever the camcorder is placed on a tripod. This is because the face plate for the tripod will block the user from reaching the switch to open the compartment so users will be required to remove the camcorder from the tripod to switch tapes. This is not only time consuming and an inconvenience, but it will also result in lost footage since the composition from before and after the tape switch will be inevitably different. Running horizontally along the bottom of the right side is the adjustable hand strap for the ZR700. The hand strap is too thin to really be comfortable and as for safety and security the hand strap for this camcorder actually may cause more damage than protection. This is due to a design flaw that anchored the front of the hand strap to the actual hatch for the tape compartment. When the camcorder is jostled or shaken with the hand strap being used the door separates from the camcorder body and eventually if strained enough the door will snap open. If the tape compartment had a firmer connection to the camcorder body this attachment might have been a non-issue, as it stands now though, both the ZR700 and the ZR500 have suffered from this problem and raise questions of camcorder durability and longevity.

*The placement of the hand strap can make for serious strain on the latch that keeps the tape mechanism closed. The picture above illustrates what just a little pressure can do. *

At the rounded edge which separates the right side from the top of the camera are two port covers made of a light gray plastic which stands out in contrast to the smooth powdered silver metallic finish found on the rest of the ZR700. Both port covers are horizontal in orientation and labeled for easy access. The port cover positioned towards the front of the camcorder is opened through a slight cut-away found on the top-back edge of this feature. The port cover was poorly constructed and was unable to close completely when not being used. This lead to the cover opening and getting in the way of the right hand when shooting which was an unnecessary aggravation which could be easily overcome with better construction and design. Beneath this ill fitting port cover are three jacks which allow for the user to connect the camcorder to AV composite in/out, USB, and FireWire cables. The port located directly behind these options is opened via a tab located on its top edge and protects the SD/MMC memory card located directly beneath.

A circular switch is located along the back edge of the camcorder directly behind the tape compartment and immediately above the right hand strap connection point to the camcorder body. This switch is labeled with text options that are listed on the surface of the tape compartment and which allow for the camcorder to be entered into off, camera/power, and play. A small gray button located in a cutaway on the back edge of the switch must be depressed before settings can be altered.

**The Back ***(6.75)*

The back of the Canon ZR700 features a sizeable battery that consumes most of the slender camcorder frame with its presence. Beneath this battery pack is a DC IN port that is positioned so that users can switch between battery and wall power without losing a shot, something will occur when the DC IN port is masked when the battery is in place. To the right of the battery and to the left of the mode switch is the record button, a slender vertical button made of a white plastic that stands out awkwardly from the camcorder body and visually makes the camera appear as though it is still in design-phase and a final button design has still not been chosen to replace this stand-in. Above the battery pack is the button that must be pressed to release the battery from the camcorder body. Slightly above this feature and the battery is the electronic color viewfinder. This viewfinder will not extend from the camcorder body and the position of the battery pack will make actually using this viewing option either impossible or an unnecessary hassle. The undersized viewfinder is framed in unforgiving plastic and has a dioptric adjustment tab located directly beneath it.

**The Left Side ***(9.25)*

The left side of the Canon ZR700 features a 2.7 inch LCD that can be opened either from the bottom edge or via a tab on the back edge of the LCD frame. There is no locking mechanism on this LCD and while this will allow for users to quickly open this feature it also means that it could be open, damaged, or broken during transportation if not packed properly. Once the LCD is open it can be rotated 270 degrees and can be flipped back into the camcorder body either facing in or out. A series of controls are located beneath the LCD on the frame of this viewing option. These controls are a four-way controller for menu navigation and image control, and buttons for the Function Menu, digital effects/P. set menu, widescreen/data code, and the video light button. Placing controls on the frame of the LCD has its advantages and its drawbacks. They are simple to reach with the left hand and can be located quickly which are two areas where many camcorders struggle. Unfortunately by placing the controls on the LCD frame users may find that moving through menus and settings will lead to the camcorder shaking and shifting during shooting. Also the four-way control works so that once a setting has been highlighted this control can be depressed to select this control and return to shooting. The small size of the four-way control made it stubborn and often lead to inadvertent movements through menus, controls, and playback/shooting modes. While great for the casual user looking to set controls and forget them but for users looking to constantly change settings while shooting the placement of these buttons on the LCD could be a deal breaker. If the LCD is open the user will find an LCD backlight button on the outer edge of the monitor frame in a position which is sure to be often forgotten.

Another problem with placing all manual and menu controls on the inside face of the LCD is that it will be impossible to access these features when using the electronic color viewfinder and while normally I would consider this a huge detractor, however the terrible design and construction of the viewfinder pretty much negated any desire a user would have to use this alternate viewing option in the first place.

An arcing series of holes move along the edge between the left and top sides of the camcorder body near the back edge of the LCD and are in fact the playback speaker for the camcorder. And finally an extremely important feature that goes easily unnoticed can be found at the front of the left side near the lens ring for the camcorder. This feature is a manually operated switch that opens and closes the internal lens cover for the camera. If the user forgets the cover is open and throws this into a backpack the only results are sure to be bad ones. Scratched, broken, and damaged lenses really seem to be the only outcome of a design like this and it seems to beg the question why not just have an external lens cap, sure they’re easy to lose, but honestly, a manually controlled internal lens cover is somehow better?

The Top* (8.0)*

The features found on the top of the Canon ZR700 are all located along the right side. The Photo button is recessed slightly in a scalloped area near the back of the camera that allows the index finger of the right had to access this control easily when shooting memory card mode. Directly in front of the photo button is the zoom lever that reacted with quickness to changes in the amount of pressure exerted. This will allow for clean movement between zoom levels with a minimum amount of stutter when changes are made. When reviewing video and stills in playback the zoom lever doubles as the review zoom/multi-up display controller.

 

 

Auto/Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (5.25)

The Canon ZR700 is definitely a camcorder intended for the point and shoot user who is perhaps looking to perhaps engage manual controls. Although the menu structure is easy to navigate and fairly intuitive there are some users who are looking to shoot video in sheer auto mode which can perform with success and produce quality image without entering menus or making adjustments to manual settings.

When shooting with the Canon ZR700 like all of the ZR camcorders released by Canon comes with an Easy mode option. The Easy mode for the ZR700 will still allow the user to set image quality and self timer when the Function Menu. menu is entered and although other menu settings from regular mode are displayed they cannot be entered or altered. The ZR700 will automatically alter controls for white balance, focus, exposure, gain, aperture and other image parameters so that beginning users don’t need to worry about incorrectly setting these features.

When shooting with auto controls in place the Canon ZR700 performed with varied success. The auto focus for this camcorder had a tendency to drift into focus, taking a few moments to properly gauge and settle on a proper focal depth. Although not the fastest in reaction time, the slow drift into focus was far less obtrusive in comparison to camcorders that breathe dramatically in their attempt to attain focus.

White balance in auto mode also tended to struggle some with more complicated lighting situations where interior and exterior light sources were being mixed. When shooting within these situations the camera tended to adjust to the interior light source while disregarding outside lighting that resulted in an unhealthy bluish tone being cast upon subjects.

Exposure shifts of dramatic levels were also an area of initial inaccuracy for the Canon ZR700 with movement between darkness and strong lighting resulting in the camcorder shifting to a blown out white frame before shifting to an appropriate exposure level.

If the easy mode is a bit too rudimentary but manual controls are still threatening the Canon ZR700 does offer a handful of preset shooting modes when the camcorder is switched into P mode. Once in P mode the camcorder has a series of preset modes available within the Function Menu. These controls are the first listing displayed and will allow users to select between portrait, sports, night, snow, beach, sunset, spotlight, and fireworks. These modes will tailor the image parameters of the camera to react to shooting situations which generally reflect the general parameters of each of these shooting modes.

And finally, a series of digital effects and fader options are included with the Canon ZR700 and are accessible through the Function Menu. The digital effects for the ZR700 are fade trigger, wipe, corner wipe, jump, flip, puzzle, zigzag, beam, and tide in terms of fade effects. Digital effects filters included with this camera are listed within the same menu as the fader options and will allow for settings of black and white, sepia, art, mosaic, ball, cube, wave, color mask, and mirror to be used. To say that most of these filters are a bit cheese is a kind understatement and most users will find these auto control options to be unnecessary to their shooting process.

Overall Manual Control (5.0)

While certainly not as resplendent as the manual control settings found with Panasonic camcorders in this price range the Canon ZR700 does provide more options than auto-centric camcorders released by manufacturers like Sony at this price.

Manual controls are all placed within menu structures that are navigated and engaged through the joystick found on the edge of the LCD frame. And while definitely a better navigational device than some on the market, the placement and size of the joystick caused some consternation. The joystick was just too small and too ornery to allow for fast alterations and movement to be successful especially when fingertips were sweaty or shaky. In addition, the placement of the joystick on the frame of the LCD will mean that users won’t be able to use the viewfinder or save on battery life.

Most manual controls are found within one or two button presses when shooting with the Canon ZR700. Focus and Exposure are accessed by pressing the joystick an action which will display a diagram of this controller in the lower right corner of the LCD. White balance is accessed by pressing the Function menu where it is listed on the first screen. The only manual control not immediately accessible is the shutter speed control which is found by entering the administrative menu located within the Function menu. Once in the administrative menu the camera setup sub-menu can be opened and the shutter speed option will be displayed.

Manual control settings for Canon ZR700 are a shutter speed that includes six manual speed settings, white balance offerings of two presets and a manual mode, exposure control with 11 EV steps, and focus via a sliding scale that does not display a numerical distance. The manual control interface of Panasonic has stood out this year as being one of the best out of the box in terms of both external interface and menu structure. The touch screen of Sony will necessitate too much user-initiated menu restructuring and the JVC four-way touch pad brings up the rear with few if any benefits with its design. Also, tapping a touch screen is more likely to jiggle the camcorder than a joystick.

Zoom (8.0)

Zoom is controlled through a zoom lever which reacted with a sensitive handling that allowed for controlled shifting of zoom levels. Zoom control is easily controlled with the index finger of the right hand. The camcorder did tend to snap a little when moving into the fastest zoom speed which could be avoided with some practice and patience.

Zoom Power/Ratio (25.0)

The Canon ZR700 has a 25x optical zoom lens and a maximum digital zoom of 1000x maximum. The digital zoom can also be turned off or capped at 100x. Digital zoom control can be accessed by entering the administrative menu followed by the camera setup sub-menu where the d. zoom option is available. It should be noted that image quality will degrade quickly when even a slight level of digital zoom is used.

Focus (4.5)

Focus is manually controllable and accessed in the same manner as exposure levels when shooting with the Canon ZR700. The focus control is entered by pressing the four-way controller located on the frame of the LCD screen. Once the four-way is pressed a small diagram appears in the bottom right corner of the LCD which displays what can be controlled by each cardinal direction of the four-way controller. The focus control is selected by pressing the down arrow which then alters the diagram to display icons for portrait and landscape depth that can be selected by pressing the left or right arrows. The smaller size of the joystick made focal control tedious. That said, when it did work the focus worked cleanly and smoothly although fast focal shifts will not be possible with this digital interface.

In addition to this manual focus control there is an option to control the focal frame selection mode when the camera is not in Easy mode. The focal mode can be selected by entering the Function menu followed by the administrative menu where the camera setup sub-menu is located. Within this menu will be a focus priority Option that allows for selection of either center point or 9 point AiAF to chosen. When shooting within Easy mode the camcorder immediately switches into 9 point AiAF. The focal mode control option is an improvement over the Canon ZR500 that will only be able to shoot with a center point AF system.

Exposure (Aperture) (4.5)

The Canon ZR700 does allow for manual control over exposure compensation and this setting like focus, is controlled by pressing the joystick control located on the frame of the LCD. When the joystick is pressed a diagram will appear in the lower right corner of the LCD so that selections can be made without entering the larger menu structure. The exposure control is entered by pressing the up arrow on the joystick. Once pressed the diagram changes so that the right and left arrows switch to +/- controls for exposure levels from +11 to -11. The exposure level is displayed on a scale in the upper right corner of the LCD. This scale has a numerical label that shifts as changes are made to exposure. The small size of the joystick did complicate entering and using this control menu and it would be nice to see a better external control designed for these features. Of course, the ideal control is one that allows for actual aperture control in F-stop meaurements. This is something you'll find on all Panasonics. Upper-end Canons also have an Aperture Priority mode that allows for F-stop adjustment with automatic shutter speed compensation.

*Shutter Speed (3.0) *

Shutter speed is manually controllable when shooting with the Canon ZR700 which is great even if it will be necessary to enter the Function Menu and then the camera setup menu to access this setting. Once in this menu the camera setup menu must be selected and the shutter speed sub-menu highlighted. It would be nice to see this control located on the first screen when the Function menu is opened since casual users are less likely to realize without reading that shutter speed is located within this backwaters menu. That digression aside, the shutter speed can only be accessed when the camcorder is in Program AE mode and once in this mode manual shutter speeds of auto, 1/60th, 1/100th, 1/250th, 1/500th, 1/1000th, and 1/2000th are selectable. These options are displayed on an opaque square which blocks most of the LCD live view when being engaged.

An unfortunate aspect to the shutter speed control will arise if the shooting mode is switched from program AE to a preset and then back to program AE. When modes are shifted in and out of program AE the user will lose manual shutter speed settings and will find it necessary to re-enter the menus and reset this feature. The likelihood of this occurring seems high considering that the small size of the four-way controller will lead to accidental selection of shooting options when scanning menus. Upper-end Canons offer a Shutter Priority mode that allows for a greater range of shutter speeds while automatically compensating exposure by shifting aperture.

White Balance (7.0)

The white balance control on the Canon ZR700 has both preset and manual options for user control so that both casual and more advanced users will have concise control over this feature. The white balance control is located on the first screen of the Function menu. The function menu will display control options along the left side of the screen with settings for each control being located at the bottom of the LCD. White balance options with the Canon ZR700 are auto, daylight, tungsten, and manual and all options are displayed with live view. It would be nice to see more preset white balance options for the beginning user still not wholly comfortable with manual control but wanting control over white balance parameters.

Gain (0.0)

The user will not be able to control gain levels. If control over gain is desired camcorders made by manufacturers like Panasonic will be able to provide an impressive gain control layout for around the same price as the ZR700.

Other Manual Control (0.0)

The Canon ZR700 does not come with any other manual control options for its users.

Still Features

Still Features* (7.0)*

The control options found with the still image mode are similar to those found when shooting to tape with the Canon ZR700 when the Function menu is opened although there is the inclusion of a video resolution size sub-menu. Impressively in addition to control over white balance, preset shooting modes and a black and white digital effect the user will also have control over shutter speeds with settings of auto, 1/60th, 1/100th , and 1/250th. The user of the Canon ZR700 will be able to record still images with resolutions of 1024 x 768 or 640 x 480 to SD/MMC memory cards. MPEG video clips with resolutions of 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 can be captured to memory card as well in case a cassette tape is forgotten, although quality will be much lower than recording to tape. If hybrid capabilities are important in a camcorder the ZR700 is definitely an improvement over the ZR500 since this lower priced sibling to the ZR700 does not provide a still capture option.

Still Resolution* (2.4)*

The Canon ZR700’s still photos were tested for resolution using a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and Imatest imaging software. When shooting at the 1024 x 768 image size, the ZR700 was able to produce an approximate resolution of 240015.6. This is a low resolution score compared to even the cheapest point and shoot digital camera, but on par when compared to similar camcorder models by other manufacturers.

Still Performance* (3.5)*

The ZR700 produces stills in two resolutions, 640 x 480 and 1024 x 768. Neither of these sizes look good, that’s the plain truth. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: camcorders are for shooting video. Still cameras are for shooting stills. That’s not necessarily the way it will always be, but that’s the way it is right now.

At 3000 lux, the ZR700’s stills were grainy and dull. The blue-green portion of the spectrum suffered in particular, and the colors tended to look all alike. By comparison, the ZR300 of last year produced an almost identical image. It too showed the noise problems, as well as flatness. The JVC DF550 is sharper overall, with a more balanced color spectrum. There was slightly less noise, and the whites were brighter.

The Panasonic PV-GS39 has a maximum resolution of 640 x 480, and when compared to the same size image by the ZR700, the Canon showed a distinctly better picture, both in sharpness and in color definition. The Panasonic had less fine grain and gave an overall fuzziness. The Sony DCR-HC32 of last year also maxes out at 640 x 480. It produced stills with a bluish noise that appeared in the blue and red portions of the spectrum. However, the colors were more saturated, overall, creating a better looking image. There was also better color balance.

The still features and performance on this camcorder are not worth your money or time.

 

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (5.0)*

The Canon ZR700 is a camcorder that excels with ease of use within the menu structure although the same cannot be wholly applied to the external control design and layout of the camcorder. The menu structure is simple, providing live view screens as well as icons and text labels for each setting. The function menu is simple to move through although it would have been nice to be able to move from bottom to top option without having to scan back through the entire menu structure. The administrative menu is also understated in design and logical in its list structure. The placement of the shutter speed outside the Function menu is a bit odd and would have been put to far better use if placed on the first screen when the menus are opened.

The problem with the Canon ZR700 in terms of ease of use arises in response to the size and placement of controls on the lower edge of the LCD frame. While it is certainly easy to reach these controls with the left hand having controls on the frame of the LCD tended to shake and shift the camcorder during shooting. In addition to this the joystick control which is meant for all menu navigation and manual control is undersized and stubborn, tending to highlight, select and move through menu structures in a manner that left this reviewer wondering which of us was truly in charge. When selecting menu changes it was necessary to depress the joystick and although seemingly simple in theory, this action tended to falter and instead the joystick would begin shifting through settings and options surrounding the desired control. With the Panasonics we found a joystick control that was both placed and sized appropriately for comfortable and accurate control. If Canon is going to stick to a joystick control they are going to need to reconsider the design found with the ZR700.

Handling* (8.0)*

Although potentially advantageous to have a slender camcorder for portability’s sake, the Canon ZR700 physical design compromised handling. This is due to the width of the camera measuring a mere 1.9 inches that places the zoom toggle too close to the right edge on the top of the camcorder. This position made it so that the index finger of the right hand overshot the zoom lever and forced an uncomfortable hand position to be adopted when making adjustment to this feature. In addition to this problem caused by the shallow depth there was also the inability to get a good grip on the camcorder with the fingers of the right hand. Even with extensive adjustment and renegotiation my large hands were never quite able to get a satisfying grip on this smooth small ledge. The Sony DCR HC96 is a great study in opposites in regards to this thanks to a well designed right edge that allows the user to confidently grasp the camcorder body while shooting in a number of conditions.

The new joystick controller, found on the LCD panel, is a bit of a mixed blessing. While it is clearly an improvement over last year’s jog dial, some people in the office found it to be too small. Obviously, every navigation control has its drawbacks, but the joystick seems to be the best of what’s on the market in consumer cams.

Portability* (8.75)*

The Canon ZR700 features a slim vertical design with both size and weight reductions when compared to its predecessors. The ZR700 has dimensions measuring 1.9 inches in width, 3.6 inches in height, and 4.5 inches in depth not including protrusions. The camcorder weighs in at under a pound at 13.4 ounces without battery and users can expect a slight increase in weight when adding the powering device. The camcorder will definitely fit comfortably in a hand when carrying for short treks however a case would be recommended during travel. The recommendation for a carrying case instead of side bag or a purse is due primarily to the poor construction of the port cover and the manually opened lens cover that could easily be jogged opened when the camcorder is being carried loose in a bag. This could lead to irreparable damage to the surface of the lens. Although the sleek design and slender build would indicate an travel ease the concern over poor tape compartment construction and lens cover will make the traveling and hiking enthusiast think twice before purchasing this camcorder or the ZR500 since both feature predominately identical body size and design.  

LCD/Viewfinder* (7.0)*

The LCD screen on the Canon ZR700 is well sized at 2.7 inches although excitement over size should be tempered when overall pixel count is considered since this LCD comes with 112,000 pixels. The LCD screen is opened via a tab on the back or bottom edge of the monitor frame. The LCD has an LCD backlight control which toggles between normal and bright. In addition to this there is a LCD brightness control that is accessed through the Function menu within the administrative sub-menu under Display/Setup. The display/setup menu will allow the user to select LCD brightness settings that are more nuanced than the backlight control. When selected this LCD control displays a sliding scale on a live view screen with a superimposed gray scale along the bottom edge of the screen for gauging accuracy.

There is an electronic color viewfinder included with this camcorder. The viewfinder measures 0.3 inches and has a total resolution of 123,000 pixels, all specifications that would normally lead to our supporting this feature as a secondary viewing device. However the viewfinder is placed above a battery pack that blocks being able to comfortably use this feature on top of the viewfinder being undersized and non-extending unlike most point-and-shoot camcorders that include an extending attribute to their viewfinders so that it can actually be used unlike on this model. The eyepiece around the viewfinder is composed of unforgiving hard plastic that just adds to the pile of reasons that this feature will go unused. Beneath the viewfinder is a dioptric adjustment lever that will allow for users to adjust focus levels once they manage to get their eye within two inches of the viewfinder.

Battery Life* (12.0)*

The included NB-2LH battery was tested for battery life by putting it in Easy mode for continuous recording. No zooming or manual controls were engaged, and the LCD backlight was turned off. When the tape was changed, the DC power was plugged back in, then immediately removed to begin recording again. In total, the battery lasted 120 minutes and 14 seconds (2 hour and 14 seconds.) 

Audio/Playback/Connectivity

Audio*****(4.0)*

Audio for the Canon ZR700 is somewhat limited with users having to rely solely upon the in-camera stereo microphone located on the front of the camcorder body along the bottom edge. The Canon ZR500 the lower priced sibling to the ZR700 does offer an external mic jack which cannot be found on any other camcorder within the ZR series this year. A mic jack can greatly improve audio quality depending on the external mic being used by the user and the lack of the mic input on the ZR700 is a disappointment that can be overcome by purchasing either the ZR500 or a camcorder produced by another manufacturer.

The Canon ZR700 does allow for audio dubbing, analog to digital pass-through, and control over audio mode. While audio dubbing without a mic jack seems futile, you could use the analog inputs for an audio feed. It just might take more doing. Control over audio mode allows for the camcorder to switch between the higher quality 16 bit sample rate to a lower quality 12 bit rate that is able to record two channels of audio while leaving two channels free for audio dubbing during playback review. Audio playback can be monitored through the speaker located on the left side of the camcorder directly above the back edge of the LCD screen. The speaker volume can be adjusted by entering the playback menu and opening the Function menu.

VCR Mode* (9.0)*

The VCR mode for the Canon ZR700 is entered by switching the mode dial on the right side of the camcorder to the Play setting. When switched to VCR mode the LCD screen immediately displays a diagram for the joystick in the lower right corner of the monitor. When viewing video footage the up arrow controls play/pause, the right arrow controls fast forward, the down arrow controls stop, and the left arrow controls rewind. As mentioned throughout this review, navigating these features would be a far simpler process if Canon had a better joystick design that was larger so that fewer control mistakes are made.

When in playback mode the menu options for the Function menu change and will instead allow access to speaker volume, rec. pause, end search, digital effects, card movie size, still image quality, and administrative menu. The digital effects for video footage are black and white, sepia, art, mosaic, ball, cube, wave, color m., and mirror. These features are simple to select and use although they are a bit cheese in their straight up 1989 kitsch aesthetic.

Switching into still image playback will allow for the user to view images with both playback zoom and multi-up thumbnail viewing in addition to the standard one image format slideshow most often found with hybrid camcorders. Changes to image viewing is made through the zoom lever. When playback zoom is engaged the user will be able to navigate the enlarged image through the joystick control on the frame of the LCD screen. The Function menu when viewing images in a multi-up thumbnail format provide access to these options; protect, print order, transfer order, as well as display, system, and date/time setup. When viewing single images the Function menu will allow access to speaker volume as well as the other options found with the list menu structure of the multi-up format. Deleting individual images is possible by pressing the down arrow on the joystick while scanning single images is accomplished by pressing the left and right arrows on the joystick.

Ports* (5.5)*

There are three locations for ports when examining the body of the Canon ZR700 with two being located on the right side of the camcorder body. Located towards the front of the camcorder on the right side is a horizontal port cover which forms the edge between the top and side of the ZR700. The port cover didn’t fit and never closed completely and had a tendency to open and jam up fingers of the right hand in a rather annoying manner which could be easily avoided with better construction. When open this port cover reveals three ports that evenly spaced so that accidental unplugging is unlikely when switching cables. The ports will allow connection to AV composite in/out, USB, and FireWire which will allow for analog to digital pass through in addition to using this camcorder as a webcam if wanted. Directly behind these ports and designed with greater success is the port and cover for the SD/MMC memory card. The cover opens from a tab on the top and flips easily out of the way so that memory cards can be switched.

The third location for ports is directly beneath the battery pack on the back of the camcorder body. This port allows the user to switch between the battery pack and wall power without having to turn the camera off, a distinct advantage over camcorders which place the DC IN port within the cavity of the battery pack.

Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode* (8.25)*

The ZR700, like all the Canons this year, offers true, 16:9 widescreen that uses the full width of the sensor. Other camcorders, like some Sonys and Panasonics, employ a "crop and zoom" technique, wherein portions of the top and bottom of the frame as cropped so as to make the picture conform to a 16:9 frame.

Shifting between 4:3 and 16:9 is very easy with a button labeled "Widescr" on the LCD panel. The difference between modes if apparent when you toggle back and forth, but a wide angle test confirmed that in widescreen mode 10 degrees were added to the width of the field.

Scan Rates/24p* (0.0)*

The only scan rate for the Canon ZR700 is the native 29.97 frames per second.

Other Features* (6.5)*
Analog to Digital Converter - The Canon ZR700 is definitely capable of analog to digital conversion which is a great feature on a $399 camcorder. To engage analog to digital pass through the user must enter the administrative menu and select the VCR setup where the AV-DV on/off control is located.

Video Light - The video light for the Canon ZR700 is positioned on the front of the camcorder beneath the lens. This light is activated via a button located on the frame of the LCD screen. While certainly functional in some situations anything beyond a few feet will not be illuminated and will remain cloaked in darkness. Subjects that do manage to be within two feet of the camcorder when the video light is on will find that the LED light quality is anything but flattering.

Audio Dubbing - Audio dubbing is possible when shooting with the Canon ZR700 so that users can re-record audio tracks over previously captured video. This in-camera feature can be great for laying in either a narrator track or soundtrack. The camera must be in playback mode and the administrative menu must be entered so that the audio setup/audio dub. sub. Menus can be accessed. Once set to on the user will be able record audio while viewing scenes from previous shooting on the LCD or external viewing device.

Electronic Image Stabilization - With 25x optical zoom, the Canon ZR700 is going to suffer from camera shake that can be somewhat compensated for through an image stabilization system. The ZR700 has an included E.I.S system that can overcome some shakiness, however results will be nowhere as successful as those found on camcorder systems that use optical image stabilizer systems.

Wind Screen - This audio filter can be turned on by entering the administrative menu and selecting the audio setup sub-menu. Once entered the wind screen can be turned either on or off. The wind screen effect acts a high pass filter that allows higher frequencies to be recorded while blocking the lower tones produced when wind strikes the surface of the microphone.

Comparisons/Conclusion

Comparison
*Canon ZR300
*

The ZR700 replaces this model, the ZR300, from last year. The ZR300 does not differ too much from the new model. The zoom is smaller, at 22x optical and 440x digital, though these upgrades do not account for much. Zooming at that power is inadvisable, except with a good tripod. The ZR300 ships with an 8MB SD card, while the new ZRs do not have any cards. MSRPs have dropped significantly; the ZR300 was originally offered at $500, while the ZR700 has an MSRP of $399.

The best improvement of last year is, of course, the joystick navigation. Last year’s ZR camcorders had a series of buttons on the left side of the body and a jog dial control menu navigation. This year, the joystick on the LCD panel has made handling much easier, though it does require to leave the LCD open and drain battery power. Overall, the revamped ZRs of 2006 are a better value with a better feel. Also, the low light has definitely improved, something we felt was holding back the ZR series in years past.

*Canon ZR600
*This ZR600 ($349 MSRP), is the next model down from the ZR700 in this year’s ZR line-up. The camcorders are virtually identical. Both offer the 9-Point Intelligent Auto Focus and still capture up to 1024 x 768 that the entry-level ZR500 lacks. However, the ZR700 does have some features that the ZR600, and they might make all the difference to the right consumer: 1000x digital zoom (over the ZR600’s 800x), a video light, a slightly longer battery life, and analog-to-digital inputs. The final item on the list, A-to-D conversion, is the only one of merit. Slightly longer battery life could easily be supplanted by a real long-life battery purchased separately, and video lights do not make a whole lot of difference in picture quality. But the ability to convert analog footage into digital is a key element for some people and often proves useful. Think about what you need, and consider it a worthwhile $50 investment.

*Elura 100
*The Elura 100 is the next step up from Canon after the ZR700. This is the only Elura available this year (at least to this date), as manufacturers slow their MiniDV output. This camcorder has the same price point, $399, as the ZR700. The differences are few. All features found on the ZR700 are also found here. But the Elura offers a larger CCD with better picture quality – 1/5" with 1.33 gross MP. The image stabilization is still electronic rather than optical. Still resolution increases to a meager 1152 x 864. The Elura will feature an improved Motor Drive for taking up to 5 stills per second, as well as auto bracketing. The mic jack found only on the ZR500 in the ZR series is included on the Elura 100. The video light is twice as bright as the one on the ZR700, and it will be able to accept lens attachments, something the ZR models cannot do. Finally, the LCD will offer an increased resolution (123K over the ZRs’ 112K).

Zoom is reduced to 20x optical and 800x, a negligible loss. The big change, however, is in battery placement. The Elura 100 uses a battery that inside the body, curtailing the ability to purchase a long life battery. This alone should give pause to those looking to jump ahead from the ZR to the Elura line. This is a very tough call: picture quality versus battery life. Think about what kind of shooter you are, and then decide. We cannot choose this one for you, at least not until we get our hands on an Elura 100.

Panasonic PV-GS59
The Panasonic PV-GS59, retailing for $379, uses the same size 1/6" chip, the same electronic image stabilization, and the same 2.7" widescreen LCD. The Panasonic does, however, offer a larger zoom, at 30x optical. Manual control is undoubtedly better, and automatic control is likely even. We haven’t gotten a chance to review the GS59 yet, but we have tested the comparably-equipped GS39.

In testing, the ZR700 did slightly better in all most categories: video performance, still performance, still resolution, and a tie score in low light performance. None of it was a blow-out, however. The camcorders are similar in their low-end performance. One thing we need to mention: the GS39 had a noticeable problem with noise, even in bright light shooting.

Now that both manufacturers are offering joystick control on their camcorders, handling is similar. But Panasonic’s menu structures are simpler and easier to navigate, and the amount of control they offer is hard to beat, certainly not in this case. We like the Panasonic in this contest, unless you never plan on using a manual control for the life of your camcorder. In that case, the ZR700 might prove the better choice.

*Sony DCR-HC36
*Sony’s HC36 ($400 MSRP) offers the same size imager and same pixel count, with a smaller 20x optical and 800x digital zoom. Still capture maxes out at 640 x 480, while the ZR700 takes stills up to 1024 x 768.

We got a chance to the review the step-down HC26 model, similar in most regards. Video and low light performance were better with the ZR700, particularly the low light, which has never been Sony’s strong suit in the low-end models. It was never Canon’s strength either, but that appears to be changing. We could not test still performance on the HC26, but last year’s DCR-HC32 had more vivid stills with better colors.

The HC36 does not have analog-to-digital pass through. Also, the HC36 has a smaller, 2.5" non-widescreen LCD. The screen, however, does use touch screen technology, and offers a better resolution (123K). Menu navigation and manual control are done through the touch screen. If you haven’t already read by now, we much prefer the joystick navigation of the ZR cams. Overall, the ZR700 offers a better picture and more control for the same price.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (5.0)

For the point and shoot user the menu structure is simple even if the four-way controller isn’t and in case the basic menus still elicit consternation there is an included Easy mode that turns all controls into automatic features that are dictated and adjusted solely by the camcorder. In addition to this there are a number of preset shooting mode options so that some tailoring to shooting parameters is possible without needing to enter manual control settings.

Budget Consumers (6.0)

Retailing at $399 MSRP, the camera is certainly within a reasonable price range considering controls, LCD size, and menu layout, however the construction imperfections could dissuade this market that wants the best quality for the money.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.5)

This camera certainly has hybrid capability and the ability to switch between tape and still formats with the flick of a switch. With a top resolution of 1024 x 768 saving to SD/MMC memory cards, it will at least provide a still option that is usable in comparison to camcorders that are still only able to record stills to tape only. While not as high quality or as complete as a digital still camera the ZR700 can stand in when in a bind.

Gadget Freaks (3.0)

There really aren’t features or design traits that are going to inspire the interest the gadget freak lurking within us all.

*Manual Control Freaks (3.5)
*The manual control freak will find that the ZR700 does certainly offer a number of control options for the price, with manual settings over shutter speed, white balance, focus, and exposure all being possible. The placement of shutter speed within a series of menu structures is the only main setback for these options since quick access and intuitive navigation is low when it comes to this control option. If a wider range of manual controls with better accessibility are wanted the Panasonic PV-GS59.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (3.5)

The serious hobbyist will find the design problems like poor viewfinder, tape compartment construction, lack of manual gain or aperture control to be problematic elements that would make the Canon ZR700 not applicable to this market.

**Conclusion
**The Canon ZR700 is a good value at $399; of that, there is no doubt. But it may not be the best value on the market. The ZR500 has it beat by $100, and it comes with a microphone jack. The ZR700, however, has analog input. The question to ask yourself is: what is more important to you: inputting new audio, or old audio and video? A step up to the Elura 100 will buy you both at the same price as the $399 ZR700, but the enclosed battery has its own problems.

The low light score performance is great compared to last year's models, and the new joystick handling is a marked improvement over the jog dial. In the end, this a great buy, and the back-mounted battery makes it a smarter buy than the Elura 100. For those looking at entry level cameras, know that this is the top of Canon's entry level line, and a good choice.

 

Specs/Ratings

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Meet the tester

James Murray

James Murray

Editor

James Murray is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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