Forums » Canon

1. ralck
   Member

   

   Hello,

   So I want to buy a second camera, and I'm interested in the Canon ZR800 or ZR900 as they offer a microphone input (I haven't found other consumer-based cameras that offer this).  I don't have a ton of money, and this camera doesn't need to be all that good as my VX2000 will be used as my main camera still.

   It seems to me that the ZR900 is simply the '08 model and only really offers a slightly longer zoom, something that doesn't matter all that much to me.  Is the CCD any different?  It's still a 1-CCD 1/6" chip, so my guess is it's going to be virtually identical picture quality (assuming the operator knows how to use the camera).

   I think I read that the ZR800 is a bottom-loading camera where as the 900 is top loading?  I've never owned a bottom-loading camera; is this a major problem or hassle?

   There aren't a ton of great reviews online about the ZR900 which further leads me to believe that the two cameras are identical and I might as well save myself 50 bucks and go with the ZR800, but I'm open to have my mind changed. :)

   Thanks!

   Posted 3 months ago # Login to Send PM

2. ralck
   Member

   

   After doing some research I think that I would be better suited with a Canon Elura 85 or 90.  If anyone is selling one of these please PM me with a description of the camera and some pictures of it as well.

   Posted 3 months ago # Login to Send PM

3. robgrauert
   Member

   

    I'm selling my GL2 with a bunch of accessories.......

    http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/pho/738043911.html 

   Posted 3 months ago # Login to Send PM

4. ralck
   Member

   

   Even if the GL2 was in my price range, it's not the kind of camera I'm looking for.  I'm looking for a small camcorder that is fairly light, has a mic input, and preferably lens threads also (I feel like a UV filter is a must on all cameras).  My plan in my next shoot is to mount the camera on a bicycle, which is one reason I want small/light weight.

   I am expanding my search to Optura models (especially the 50, 60 or XI) as well as some of the Panasonic cams with mic inputs.

   Thanks for the offer!

   Posted 3 months ago # Login to Send PM

5. robgrauert
   Member

   

   cmooooon man. The GL2 has all of what you said you want anyway. And it's not that big. I lowered the price to $2000 too.

   Posted 3 months ago # Login to Send PM

6. ralck
   Member

   

   So everyone point and laugh at my idiocracy!

   I found a deal on ebay selling two cameras in one auction, one of which was a Canon Optura (wow, just what I was looking for and right around my price range!).  It was a buy-it-now or best-offer listing, so I sent the guy an offer that I thought was fair.  He accepted it.

   Keep in mind that he listed the cameras as "100% working" and in "good" and "like-new condition" (the optura was the like-new).  He had good feedback, based in the US, and both cameras came with their own case, battery, and charger.

   Now for the fun part.  The cameras came today.  He didn't do all that good of a job packing them (I could feel them moving about in the box), but at least he zipped them up in their cases.  The JVC powers up with a condensation error, and the Optura had a tape stuck inside it (yes, stuck inside- would not eject!).  None of this was shown in the pictures or listed in the auction (I went back and checked... sure enough I saw again "100% working" and "like-new").

   Well, I was able, after about an hour and a half of fiddling with the Optura with my dad to eject the tape.  And with a little more fiddling I think I somehow fixed the tape deck so it pops out now (there was a lever to pop the tape deck out and swinging it back to position seems to have fixed it (but for how long?).  I'm still working on fixing the JVC.  I've located the condensation sensor, and now I need to get some Q-Tips or something to clean it off and hope that helps (worst case, I suppose I can try a disabling the sensor... I was only going to use it as a transfer deck to my computer anyway).

   So everyone point and laugh at me being so stupid and trusting ebay (I know, I know, I got my vx2000 on ebay, but that guy actually proved he was a professional videographer in the listing and it was his back-up cam he almost never used).  I guess the moral of the story is be careful on ebay and don't just assume when the user said "Like-new" and "gently used" which clearly was not the case.  Tomorrow I'll send an email to this guy to see what's up.  One thing's for sure- since he clearly listed the cams wrong he won't be getting positive feedback.  Negative or neutral is still to be decided...

   Anywho, just thought I'd share another horror story with you all.  Feel free to call me an idiot and share your own horror stories. :)

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

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