By Elina Shatkin, January 14, 2004
Canon announced three new digital camcorders. In stores beginning in March for estimated selling prices of $399, $499 and $599, Canon's ZR80, ZR85 and ZR90 models pack advanced features into a sleek, compact design.
Focused on creating a series of truly consumer-friendly Mini DV camcorders, Canon has added an array of new features to the ZR line that help to make the first-time user's experience as fun and easy as possible. Enhancements found in the ZR80 (estimated selling price of $399), ZR85 (estimated selling price of $499), and ZR90 (estimated selling price of $599) digital camcorders include:
Skin Detail Mode that automatically recognizes and softens skin tones when shooting close-ups of people, to reduce skin imperfections and create a more flattering appearance;
Extended battery life thanks to lower power consumption (up to 12 hours continuous recording using the optional BP-535 battery pack);
End Search feature that locates the end of the last recorded scene with one touch of the button, removing the danger of accidentally recording over previously shot footage;
To record Motion JPEG – short movie clips saved to the SD Memory card for easy email attachment – users can record for the full capacity of the memory card (ZR90 and ZR85 models only);
To Transfer Video Footage stored on the Mini-DV tape onto an SD card inside the camcorder, which will convert and encode Mini-DV video into Motion JPEG so that consumers can e-mail or stream their video on the web (available on the ZR90 and ZR85 only);
Still Image Capture to an SD card (on the ZR90 and ZR85 only), creating XGA resolution digital still photos that can be emailed or directly printed on any PictBridge compatible printer;
Simultaneous Photo Recording that permits e-mail-ready image capture (VGA) on a separate memory card while recording high quality video to the digital videotape;
Selectable Focusing Points feature permit users to opt for automatic sharp focus in one of three areas of the frame – left, right and center;
Selectable Display Languages that offer information in the LCD or Viewfinder in a choice of English, French, Spanish, German Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese; and
The "My Camcorder" feature that permits users to personalize their start-up screen.
With a 22x Canon optical/440x digital zoom lens, the ZR90 Mini DV Camcorder features Super Night Mode and Night + Mode (selected from the camera’s menu)
. This set of additional low-light shooting options enhances the camera’s image sensitivity and capture capability.
Augmenting the Night Mode setting found on the ZR80 and ZR85 models, Super Night Mode actually adds light to a dark scene as needed with an unobtrusive white LED light positioned on the front of the camera. When the Super Night Mode setting is engaged the LED light automatically turns on and off as needed. Similar to Super Night Mode, Night+ Mode allows the user to turn on the white LED light and keep it on as long he/she chooses.
The ZR90 Mini DV camcorder also features S-Video In/Out capability and a supplied WA-30.5 Wide Conversion Attachment. Particularly useful when shooting in tight spaces or when very close to a subject, the Wide Conversion Attachment expands the camcorder’s field of view from 54mm to a wide 32mm. In the photo mode, the wide attachment expands the field of view from 48mm to 29mm.
The ZR85 and ZR90 models are PictBridge compatible, facilitating direct printing with Canon’s CP200 and CP300 dye-sub card photo printers, Canon PhotoDirect Bubblejet printers and any PictBridge compatible printer regardless of manufacturer.
The ZR85 and ZR90 models come bundled with Canon’s DV Messenger2 software (Windows only) that allows the camcorder to be used for Internet Video Chat through IEEE1394 and using Windows XP’s Windows Messenger program. DV Messenger2 also facilitates sharing of video clips, transfer of digital photos and even control of the other person’s camcorder (only with their permission, of course). ZR80 camcorder customers can download the DV Messenger2 software free of charge from www.canondv.com.
The ZR series Mini DV camcorders feature a 2.5” LCD Screen, a Color Viewfinder, an IEEE 1394 terminal, an assortment of digital effects and fades, and a seven setting Program AE function that offers a choice of Easy Recording, Auto, Sports, Portraits, Sand & Snow, Low-Light and Night shooting modes. All three models ship with a battery pack (BP508) a compact power adapter (CA-570) and a shoulder strap (SS-900).
Optional accessories offered for this new trio of ZR series DV camcorders are a choice of four extended life battery packs (BP-512, BP-514, BP-522, BP-535); a dual battery charger (CG-570); a “nightlight-style” battery charger that plugs into a wall outlet without need of a cable (CG-580) and a car battery cable (CB-570). Other options include a wide converter (WD-30.5/WD-H30.5); a Tele converter (TL-30.5/TL-H30.5); a choice of three soft carrying cases (SC-2000, SC-1000 and SC-A50); a wrist strap (WS-20), and the S-150 S-Video cable (for the ZR90 camcorder model only).
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