Performance

The Canon ZR850 comes equipped with a single 1/6" CCD, though it manages to pack a little more resolution into that size than the other ZR models. While the ZR800 and ZR830 have a gross pixel count of 680,000, the ZR850 squeezes in 1,070,000. What effect, in theory, should this have? We expect to see a sharper video, but a weaker low light performance. More pixels increase the amount of information being captured but chances are that the pixels on the ZR850 are smaller and therefore catch less light.

At 3000 lux, the Canon ZR850 showed a strongly saturated color with a fair amount of fuzziness – essentially the same picture as last year’s ZR camcorders. There was a clear distinction between the ZR850 and the other ZRs from this year, however – saturation. The ZR850 was far less saturated than the ZR830. Mind you, this is only the difference between saturation that yells and saturation that screams; they’re both more skewed than any respectable high-end camcorder. While high contrast edges are not as sharp as they could be, the ZR850 managed to avoid producing a lot of noise, a rare feat for camcorders in this price class.

By comparison, last year’s ZR700 did not look as good as the ZR850. Like the lower-end ZR830, the saturation was a little too much to bear. Noise levels were about the same. The Sony DCR-HC26 was among the noisier camcorders we tested last year in the low-end, though it produced a more even green tonality than the Canon did. The Panasonic PV-GS39 was the most oversaturated of all and the noisiest. Noise was a huge problem for single-chip Panaosnic DV camcorders last year, though with the pending death of the medium, the problem will probably work itself out in the end.

Video Resolution* (4.86)*

We use a DSC Labs CamAlign chart designed to specifically gauge resolution in our camcorders, measured in line widths/picture height. At best, the Canon ZR850 showed approximately 325 lines of vertical resolution and 300 lines of horizontal resolution. This is about average for a low to mid-line camcorder.

Low Light Performance* (5.86)*

Our low light performance test has been revamped for 2007. Traditionally, we would shoot video of the color chart at 60 lux and 15 lux, and then compare the footage against other camcorders under the same conditions. Now, we have added a new component that we hope will add to the usefulness of the information. Using DVrack software, we lower the lighting in an even and continuous manner until the peaks on the waveform monitor are hitting 50 IRE. Then we raise the light to 60 lux to determine noise and colro accuracy. All three of these factors are inputted into the final score. For the time being, we will also continue to shoot at 60 and 15 lux to make comparisons with last year’s models.

As mentioned above, low light performance is based largely on the size of the individual pixels on the the CCD. While the ZR850 has the same 1/6" chip as the other ZR camcorders, this chip has a higher pixel count within that chip. As a result, we expect to see an increase in resolution and a decrease in low light performance.

The ZR850 was able to achieve 50 IRE at 11 lux. This turned out to have a better sensitivity than the ZR830, which was 15 lux. Both camcorders had about the same levels of noise and color accuracy.

At 60 lux, the Canon ZR850 and ZR830 were very, very similar. The ZR850’s brighter image could not really be distinguished by the human eye. The sharper image of the ZR850 was very noticeable. While both camcorders were very noisy, the ZR850 maintained better detail along high contrast areas. Both camcorders were unable to achieve a satisfactory color balance after manually setting the white balance. In fact, at 60 lux, neither one could settle on a manual white balance; the icon just kept blinking. Last year’s Canon ZR700 proved to be far more saturated than this year’s offerings, the image was brighter (which is probably good enough for most users). The Sony DCR-HC26, a 2006 camcorder, performed better overall at 60 lux. Unlike the Canons, the color balance looked correct. It did, however, have a lot of fine grain noise. The Panasonic PV-GS39, another 2006 camcorder, completely oversaturated the image in an attempt to mask its inability to collect adequate light. The noise was terrible and the lack of fine detail caused strong moiré patterns in the resolution trumpets.

At 15 lux, predictably, the Canon ZR850’s image was poor with an inability to focus, tons of noise, and a severe loss of color information. The story was the same with the Canon ZR830. Last year’s ZR700 was significantly brighter than this year’s Canons. The Sony DCR-HC26 and Panaosnic PV-GS39 both tried admirably to salvage some color by oversaturating, but images were awash with noise.

The Canon ZR850 produced a peak luminance of 50 IRE at 11 lux. The light was then raised to 60 lux to meausre noise and color accuracy. According to Imatest imaging software, the ZR850 produced an average 1.34% noise, and had a mean color error of 13.3. Each of these metrics are factored into the final Low Light Performance score.

Stabilization* (4.78)*

The Canon ZR850 utilizes an EIS (electronic image stabilization) system to reduce the jarring appearance of camcorder shake, especially when hand-held. EIS systems reduce camcorder shake through digital processing, and result in a slight loss of image resolution. While many users will find the benefits of a more stable image to outweigh the reduction in image sharpness produced by EIS, OIS (optical image stabilization) systems offer a superior alternative. OIS systems stabilize the image optically, often through the use a gyroscopic devices built around the lens element, and do not degrade image resolution. OIS systems are usually found on higher-end camcorders, though Panasonic has made it a standard feature across its 2007 consumer camcorder line.

We tested the Canon ZR850’s EIS system using a camcorder shake emulator, custom built for Camcorderinfo.com by Jay Duchin of Duchin Productions. The shake emulator is able to reproduce camcorder shake at different levels of intensity. We are in the process of standardizing our camcorder stabilization test.

We tested the ZR850 at two shake levels: Speed 1, equivalent to the shake produced while holding a camcorder and standing still; and Speed 2, equivalent to shooting from a moving vehicle. With a field of view of 12 degrees, the Canon ZR850’s EIS reduced perceived image shake by 75% at Speed 1, and 30% at Speed 2. These calculations were derived by measuring the motion difference between footage shot with EIS off and EIS on.

Wide Angle* (12.0)*

The Canon ZR850 and all of the company’s consumer camcorders in 2007 record native 16:9 video, but they also offer a pillar boxed 4:3 setting. We tested the Canon ZR850’s wide angle capabilities in its native 16:9 mode, and it turned a very wide 60 degree field of view.

 

 

Format

Compression* (5.5)*

The Canon ZR850 uses plain old DV compression – a codec that is giving way to a smorgasbord of alternative compression methods in the consumer camcorder market. Despite its status as an endangered species, DV remains the best standard definition codec in terms of both quality and integration into a post-production workflow. The data rate of DV is a fixed 25Mbps, versus a variable rate of 8.5Mbps for the MPEG-2 compression commonly found in DVD, memory card, and HDD-based camcorders. The higher data rate delivers relatively crisp lines and true colors with less noise and artifacts than standard definition MPEG-2. If quality and editability in a standard definition format are your primary concerns, DV is the way to go.

For still images, the JPEG compression is used.

Media* (6.0)*

The downfall of DV compression is the media that it is recorded to: MiniDV video cassettes. Video tape is a linear recording format, and many consumer videographers prefer the convenience and non-linear nature of DVDs and other media that can be accessed randomly. The benefits of tape are that it’s relatively cheap compared to DVDs, it’s widely available, and it is the the standard definition format most compatible with NLEs (non-linear editors) like Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere. Transferring footage to a PC for editing, however is a realtime process, and you can’t pop out a 6.35mm cassette (the measurement refers to the width of MiniDV tape) and play it immediately in your home DVD player, as you can with DVDs.

For still picure capture, the ZR850 supports SD and SDHC memory cards. The slot is located on the top back corner of the right side.

Editing* (8.0)*

The Canon ZR830 and all other MiniDV camcorders can be integrated into a post-production workflow very easily, and the format is the most mature on the market. Virtually any non-linear editing program supports DV natively, meaning you won’t need to bother with converting footage to an editable format. In addition, DV is widely considered to be a broadcast quality format. MPEG-2 simply lacks the video quality and editing support for broadcast. Even HDV, which looks stunningly sharp on an HD monitor is considered by some to be a consumer format because it renders motion poorly relative to DV.

Transferrring footage is done via the IEEE 1394 port, located on the top front corner of the right side. IEEE 1394, also known as Firewire, i.LINK, or simply DV, provides a highspeed data interface between camcorders and PCs or external hard drives. This camcorder also provides some in-camera options for editing still images stored to an SD or SDHC memory card. Images can be erased or protected, and memory cards can be initialized, which erases all information on a card. The ZR850 features robust photo printing support, allowing you to create print queues, assign paper quality, and even apply effects to your print.

 

 

Auto / Manual Controls

****Automatic Control ***(4.0)*

Like most camcorders, many manual control options are disabled when the camcorder is set to Easy Recording mode, while they are fully adjustable in Recording Program, or P Mode. Interestingly, Canon does not refer to P Mode as manual control mode, and this naming decision probably stems from the emphasis on AE options versus independent control over all image attributes. The Recording Mode selection switch is on top of the body, with options marked P and Easy. In Easy Recording Mode, manual focus and exposure cannot be controlled, but a few rudimentary image settings can be accessed by pressing the Func. button on the LCD frame, and then selecting Menu > Camera Setup. The options are: Auto Slow Shutter On/Off, Digital Zoom, Zoom Speed, Widescreen, and Self Timer.

In Easy Recording mode, the ZR850 does a decent job, and for the most part, automatic controls are on par with other consumer camcorders in the same price range. Exposure and auto white balance work as they should, though in mixed halogen and natural lighting, the ZR830 delivered a particularly off-color image. This is typical of camcorders operating in auto mode, since they are forced to split the difference between lighting of different color temperatures. When the results of auto white balancing are not up to your standards, setting it manually is the way to go.

The other area the ZR850 had trouble with was focus at the top end of its zoom range. This lens has the highest magnification of any Canon optical zoom to date, and it certainly enables you to get up close and personal with your subject. Unfortunately, the camcorder could not hold a sharp focus in Easy Recording mode, even in bright light, at its maximum optical zoom of 35x.

Overall Manual Control* (5.0)*

The Canon ZR series camcorders have established themselves as consistently good performers that offer a relatively versatile set manual controls and Recording Modes. In combination, the manual image adjustments and AE modes on the Canon ZR850 offer nearly as much flexibility as consumer camcorders that offer independent manual control over settings like gain and shutter speed. While an advanced shooter may prefer the higher level of independent control found on Panasonic’s consumer line, Canon’s image control suite is very efficient, with focus and exposure accessed by simply pressing the LCD-mounted joystick in P, or Recording Program mode.

The number of recording programs on the Canon offers many options for adapting the image parameters for different shooting environments, but some programs are more useful than others. AE is the program that offers the highest level of control over exposure and shutter speed, while most other modes are highly specialized including the esoteric Fireworks program – for shooting fireworks against a dark sky. While the extensive array of program modes might seem mind-boggling at first glance, there is a method to Canon’s madness. This is first and foremost a consumer camcorder that’s geared towards point-and-shooters who may have little familiarity with the ins and outs of manual control adjustments. The Recording Programs are like the Sports or Night modes found on other consumer camcorders, offering shortcuts for getting better looking video in situations that Joe Videographer is likely to encounter. Canon distinguishes itself by offering a suite of Recording Programs that cover a wider range of situations than most.

Zoom (6.5)

The zoom toggle on the Canon ZR850 has a rocking lever design. The lever itself protrudes out from the top of the body near its back end and is positioned well for easy access when hand-holding the camcorder. Barring a zoom ring, rocking lever-style zooms are the design we prefer on consumer camcorders. They allow for more subtle control over zoom speed than sliders, which are also commonly found on compact camcorders. The zoom control on this Canon performs well and traverses the camcorder’s zoom range quickly while still allowing for slower movements in variable speed mode. The zoom can also be set to one of three fixed zoom speeds by selecting the Zoom Speed option from the Camera Setup submenu. Speed 3 moves the zoom at a fixed medium speed, Speed 2 is a bit slower, and Speed 1 is a slow crawl. While a fixed speed faster than medium is not offered, the ZR850 offers more zoom speed options than most consumer camcorders.

Zoom Power Ratio (35.0)

The Canon ZR850 ships with a comparatively powerful 35x optical zoom that would have offered the strongest magnification of any of any 2006 camcorder. The consumer market is a cutthroat place, however, and Sony has released several camcorders in 2007 boasting an even stronger 40x optical zoom. For zoom fanatics, voyeurs, and amateur naturalists, the added 5x might weigh in on their purchase decisions, but most users will find this Canon gets them close enough to the action.

Like virtually all consumer camcorders, the ZR850 also features a digital zoom that can be set to 105x (three times the optical zoom max) or allowed to peak out at 1000x. We advise against the use of digital zooms because they work by magnifying the size of the pixels available at a camcorder’s peak optical zoom power. The result is a rapid decline in image quality as you enter digital zoom territory. If you can live with some image degradation, capping the digital zoom at 105x will offers some quality control. As a further quality control measure, when the camcorder’s digital zoom is capped at 105x, the right side of the zoom indicator bar is colored blue to delineate digital zoom territory, while the left side remains white to denote zoom powers of 35x or less. In addition, when you cross from the optical/digital zoom boundary, the zoom pauses momentarily as a warning sign that digital pixelization is imminent. At the 1000x maximum digital zoom setting, the indicator bar adds a third darker blue subdivision at the 105x/1000x boundary.

Focus (4.0)

The Achille’s heel among virtually every consumer camcorder is manual focus control, and the ZR850 is no exception to the rule with a joystick interface that makes accurate manual focus difficult at best. Using the manual focus control is easy enough. In any P recording mode, (manual focus is not available in Easy Mode) pressing in on the center of the joystick brings up a small on-screen display with options for exposure and focus. Pressing down once on the joystick engages manual focus control, and focus can be moved closer to the lens by pressing left, and further from the lens by pressing right.

On the plus side, focus can be accessed very easily when operating the camcorder in any of the program recording modes. Ease of access to key manual controls on a consumer camcorder is more vital than it might appear at first glance because if a control like focus can be used easily, the likelihood that users will take advantage of it increases exponentially. In the case of many Sony Handycams, focusing manually involves a lengthy detour from the task at hand (shooting) to the P-menu to engage manual focus. At that point, a manual focus overlay appears on the LCD screen, and then you must touch the screen in order to make focal adjustments. Compared to Sony’s touch screen interface that’s buried deep in the menu, obscures your shooting, and employs an unwieldy interface for making manual adjustments, Canon’s manual focus works like a dream.

Exposure & Aperture (5.5)

Engaging manual exposure control is just as easy as manual focus – you press the center of the joystick in P recording mode and then press up to select exposure. This is not an iris control but an exposure compensation adjustment that changes both iris and shutter speed to increase or decrease exposure. The steps are represented on a scale running from -11 on the left to +11 on the right side of the scale.

While the Canon ZR850 defaults to adjusting iris and shutter speed in tandem, it is possible to lock the shutter speed in AE mode and adjust the iris independently. Even though this allows for independent control over iris, the steps are not displayed in f-stops but as simple whole numbers. A few consumer camcorders, notably Panasonics do display f-stops and allow for fully independent iris adjustments, but this Canon still offers more control than the majority of its peers.

Shutter Speed (5.4)

The Canon ZR850 offers a handful of manual shutter speed adjustment settings, making it relatively good for an entry-level camcorder. Many comparable camcorders, including most Sonys, offer no shutter speed control at all, so even the smattering of settings offered on this Canon are welcome. Shutter speed can only be adjusted in Program AE mode, which is effectively the ZR series manual control mode.

Unlike the two manual controls that can be accessed almost instantly with a touch of the onscreen joystick – focus and exposure – shutter speed is located in the menu. Getting there requires a slightly lengthier digression from your shoot, but thanks to the joystick menu control, it can still be accomplished within a few seconds. The settings available are: 1/60th, 1/100th, 1/250th, 1/500th, 1/1000th, and 1/2000th of a second. In a nod to the consumr orientation of the ZR850, the shutter speed selection will flash on screen if it is "inappropriate" to the situation, i.e. if it results in under- or overexposure There are no manually selectable shutter speeds lover than 1/60, but the Auto Slow Shutter option in the Camera Set submenu allows the camcorder to drop below 1/60th automatically in low light.

White Balance (5.5)

Setting white balance manually on this Canon is a relatively fast and painless process. In P mode, press the Function button, navigate to White Balance, and select the manual white balance option by pressing in on the center of the joystick. In most situations, the camcorder will snap adroitly into sync with the current lighting conditions. In environments that are challenging for camcorders to accurately assess white balance, such as low light, the white balance icon did not stop flashing, apparently failing to set properly. The user’s guide claims that even when the icon does not stop flashing, the manual white balance setting is accurate.

In addition to auto and manual white balance settings, the Canon ZR850 includes presets for daylight and tungsten lighting.

Gain (0.0)

Gain cannot be adjusted manually on the ZR850. Panasonic is the only consumer camcorder manufacturer to offer full independent control over gain while most other manufacturers offer no manual gain control, or very limited control (i.e. JVC).

Other Manual Controls (2.0)

All Canon consumer camcorders now come equipped with a small set of "image effects" that can shape image qualities. Found in the Function menu, the image effects on the ZR850 include Vivid, Neutral, and Soft Skin Detail. Vivid increases color saturation, Neutral decreases it, and Soft Skin detail shifts skin tones into more flattering portions of the spectrum. These features can only be turned on and off; there is no finer degree of control. Also, you can only use one at a time.

 

 

 

Still Features

Still Features* (4.75)*

The Canon ZR850 offers the best still features of the entry-level ZR series, but that’s not saying much. So many camcorders offer still shooting as a token feature, particularly the cheaper models, as a way of justifying price points. Think twice before buying in. Most take terrible stills at low resolutions you’d never settle for in a digital still camera. Don’t settle for it in your camcorder either.

The Canon ZR850 captures stills by moving the switch on top from the "tape" icon to the "card" icon. Photos are saved to SD/SDHC/MMC cards, which load into a port on the upper right side. No card comes included, though the price of media is constantly dropping and the capacity always expanding. Still resolutions can be set to either 1152 x 864 (about 1MP) or 640 x 480 (about 0.3MP), and each of these can be set to a quality of Normal, Fine, and Superfine.

As in video mode, there are two menus: Function and main. The Function menu contains options for scene modes, white balance, image effects, video light on/off, digital effects, MPEG-2 (low quality) video recording, and still resolution and quality. All the options in these items are the same as in video mode.

The main menu, or administrative menu, has some of the more interesting and useful features, and those that should have been included in the Function menu. Shutter speed control is here, which can be set to Auto, 1/60, 1/100, and 1/250. The auto focus method is also here, which has options for Artificial Intelligent Auto Focus (AiAF), Center weighted, and auto focus off. Unlike in Canon’s still cameras, the AiAF cannot be set to 9-point, 5-point, and 3-point. The detection is completely automatic, looking for the areas with clearest contrast, then automatically honing in on them, and snapping the picture.

The ZR850 also allows you to record stills while in video mode, even while simultaneously recording video to the tape. In this mode, the still resolution maxes out at a meager 640 x 480.

Still Performance* (6.7)*

The Canon ZR850 was tested for color accuracy in its still images by shooting a GretgaMcBeth ColorChecker chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software (big thanks to DigitalCameraInfo.com, from whom we coopted our new testing). At best, the camcorder produced an uncorrected mean color error of 9.02. In order to get this score, we had to lower the exposure by an increment of -1. Colors were oversaturated by an average 7.1%.

This color accuracy is not very good, but within the range of a cheap point-and-shoot camera. Certain colors get better treatment than others. The skin tones get more saturation, and the blues have been shifted far from their ideal, likely to get better sky tones.

Still Resolution* (4.42)
*The Canon ZR850 was tested for the resolution of its still photos by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software to determine line widths per picture height (LW/PP). For the horizontal, Imatest found an approximate resolution of 575.9 with a overshapening of 7.38%. For the vertical, the resolution was approximately 635.1 with a oversharpening of 33.2%.

The sharpening on this camcorder is exceptionally high. Sharpening occurs in the processor as a way of increasing contrast along borders in order to simulate increased resolution. Too much sharpening, as was the case here, creates artifacts like halos around the high contrast borders. It can also skew the resolution tests into boosting the score, so beware scores with unusually high oversharpening percentages.

 

 

 

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (7.75)*

Canon designed the ZR850 for the point-and-shooter. Therefore, it is no question that this camcorder is easy to use. The implementation of the LCD-mounted joystick makes for quick menu choices. The zoom toggle is conveniently placed and comes equipped with 3 preset zoom speeds. The Quick Start button lets you begin right where you left off and conserves battery life.

However, everything in life has its flaws, and the audio dubbing feature on the ZR850 appears to have been sucked into the hellish depths of the Bermuda triangle. Any feature that takes longer than 2 minutes to figure out on a consumer camcorder does not fall under the user-friendly category. In addition, certain functions require the center of the joystick to be depressed in order to access them. As a result, the infinitesimally small joystick contributes to a major lack of manual control and accidental menu selections. Panasonic’s rear-mounted joystick is the reigning champion in the user-friendly arena.

Handling* (3.25)*

No consumer camcorder offers all-around stellar handling because they are by nature products that pack a tremendous amount of functionality into a compact package. Consumer camcorders are always full of compromises, from miniaturized controls to options that just aren’t practical to offer on a camcorder that slips into your purse. The question we always ask is: has the manufacturer done everything it can to make a camcorder as usable as possible for its target market?

Canon has done an excellent job with their ZR850. While many aspects of handling the camcorder – including controls and ergonomics could be better – the whole package is integrated very well. Their adoption of the joystick since last year has made a tremendous, positive impact in the handling. We would prefer a rear-mounted joystick, but at least Canon had the good sense to face it towards the shooter and not stick on the left-hand side. The menu, as described below, is well planned and clearly labeled. Overall, the ZR camcorders are probably the best in handling in their class.

Menu* (7.0)*

Like most camcorders, the menu is split into two portions, a manual control menu of frequently used choice (called the "Function menu" here) and the main or administration menu. Last year, Canon had two separate buttons for these. In a smart bit of consolidation, they now nest the admin menu button as a choice in the Function menu.

The Function menu is accessed by hitting the Func. button on the LCD panel. The choices here include Scene mode, white balance, image effect, digital effects, still photo size and quality, and the admin menu button. Most of the key options you need are all right here. The one dispute we have is the exclusion of shutter speed , a very useful control that was buried in the admin menu.

The admin menu has a lot more choices, and is broken up in to subcategories: Camera Setup, VCR Setup, Audio Setup, Display Setup, System Setup, and Date/Time Setup. The animated gif here shows the choices contained within. Most important is the Camera Setup, which has the options you will most likely exercise the most: shutter speed and image stabilization on/off.

Portability* (6.0)*

Measuring at 2.2x3.6x4.7 inches in width, height, and depth, the ZR850 is not a burden to travel with. Weighing in at a mere 13.4 ounces, this camcorder most definitely suits the lifestyle of the hardcore tourist. The ZR850 is part of the upright camcorder fashion movement. Its tall, sleek frame not only hits the runway with gusto, but it is compact enough to slip into a backpack or purse. Just watch out for those port covers and manual lens cover. Ultimately, your best bet is to purchase a carrying case to protect the ZR850’s temperamental construction. After reading about the LCD screen in the next section, you’ll definitely want a carrying case. At the beach, on the trails, or in the car, the ZR850 will accommodate your travels as long as you treat it with respect.

LCD and Viewfinder* (4.0)*

The ZR850 gives you a 2.7" wide LCD screen but don’t jump for joy yet—you get 112K pixels total. And that is not very exciting. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen by accessing the display setup in the Administrative menu. Using the joystick, you can add a backlight, brighten the screen, and set grids or lines on the screen to aid with composition. The LCD hinge is pretty flimsy and has a tendency to hyper-extend with even the slightest amount of pressure. Ours sheared off like sliced butter. It’s actually held together by a slim, pin-like axel riveted to a thin, metal frame, so treat it like an un-hatched egg.

The viewfinder has undergone so much scrutiny in this review… so let’s give it some more. The ZR850’s viewfinder looks like an unfinished, polyurethane afterthought with no rubberized eye rest and a miniscule viewing pane boasting a modest 114K pixels. It does not extend and barely clears the battery. If you put a larger battery in the ZR850, you better enjoy bulky, hard plastic things in your face. As an alternative to the LCD screen, this .35 inch abomination of a viewfinder is hardly worth it. Obviously, Canon did not design the ZR850 for viewfinder connoisseurs. 

Battery Life*(9.7)*

The ZR850 includes aBP-2L5 battery pack which Canon states allows for 90 minutes of continuous recording with the LCD open. We tested the battery for endurance by leaving the LCD screen open, and performing no zooms or manual adjustments. In total, the battery lasted 97minutes and 15 seconds (1 hours, 37 minutes, and 15 seconds.) This gives the ZR850 a respectable - though not exceptional - recording capacity with the included battery pack.  Longer-life batteries are available as optional accessories that will extend the camcorder's life to as much as 275 minutes with the BP-2L14.

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (3.0)*

The ZR850 is capable of recording audio in 16bit and 12bit. 16bit records audio in the highest quality, while 12bit records audio on two channels: Stereo 1 (leaving two channels free), and Stereo 2 (for audio dubbing and adding a sound track later). Whether recording in 12bit or 16bit, the ZR850’s audio playback produces a cacophonous of white noise. The ZR850 has a wind screen that reduces the amount of blasting sound brought on by nature’s elements and can be turned off for indoor recording when a more sensitive microphone is desired. However, given the plethora of background noise, you may want to keep it on all the time.

The ZR850 allows you to select the audio channel when playing back a tape with audio recorded on two channels This aids in honing in on a particular part of audio or sound bite and opens the doors for budding amateur music video directors. The playback volume can be adjusted via the Function menu button located on the LCD panel.

The microphone placement compliments the ZR850’s handheld design. At the base of the front of the camcorder, the microphone seeks refuge from a rogue finger that could possibly wander into its territory and violate its quality of sound. There is no external microphone jack on the ZR850, despite the fact that the entry-level ZR800 comes equipped with one, that Canon claims is a demand in the camcorder’s educational audience. We sincerely wish that Canon had chosen not to repeat this same choice they made last year. While we love an entry-level model with a mic input, it makes it difficult to recommend the step-up models, even if they have compelling features because they lack the mic input.

Playback* (3.0)*

The VCR mode on the ZR850 is accessed via the mode dial. When activated, the LCD screen or viewfinder (whichever is chosen) displays a blue screen with tape playback controls in the bottom right corner of the screen. These controls are dictated by the joystick and include play/pause, fast forward, rewind, and stop. The speaker volume is adjusted by the joystick, and that is accessed by pressing the Function button to bring up the Function menu. Here you’ll find record pause, end search, digital effects (try mosaic or ball), still image size, and the video quality selector. Pressing the joystick’s center brings you to the administrative menu that includes VCR, audio, display, system, and date/time setups.

The audio dubbing feature can be accessed in the audio setup screen, but good luck figuring out how to use it. We spent an inordinate amount of time scouring the menu and manual for direction, only to come up short. We leave it to you to decide if this is a feature worth banking on when trained monkeys like us can’t figure it out.

Connectivity* (4.5)*

On the right side of the ZR850, there are two panels of ports. The one closest to the mode dial is a slot for SD, SDHC, and MMC cards. While SD cards do not hold ample amounts of storage space, SDHC cards now run up to 32GB—but at a foreboding price. The next set of ports contain the AV in/out jack, USB terminal, and DV terminal. With AV output and input, you can connect the ZR850 to a TV screen and record from the camcorder to a VHS tape or from the TV to the camcorder’s MiniDV tape. The USB and Firewire terminals enable the ZR850 to be hooked up for capturing within an editing program like Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut Pro.

Beware of the port covers. Although this was mentioned in the tour, it is worth noting again. The puny strips that secure them to the body of the ZR850 are no match for a hefty tug. We actually ripped off the AV/USB/Firewire port cover.

 

 

Other Features

What’s in the Box?

Canon included the bare essentials within the compact red and white cardboard box housing the ZR850. The box includes:

• DC power adapter

• BP-2L5 Battery Pack

• Lithium Button Battery

• Stereo Video Cable

• WL-D85 Wireless Controller

• Lithium Button Battery for Wireless Controller

• USB Cable

• Digital Video Solution Disk Software CD-ROM

• MiniDV tape

This is a decent palette of goods for a camcorder within the entry-level class. A USB cable and MiniDV tape? You shouldn’t have! Canon gives you everything you need right out of the box. However, you’ll have to pick up an SD, SDHC, or MMC card in order capture stills. Also, they neglected the DV cable (a.k.a. FireWire, i.LINK, and IEEE1394), which you’ll need to edit.

Other Features* (3.0)*

Like the ZR830, the ZR850 doesn’t have much to offer here. You’ve got your hokey digital effects including wave and cube, auto white balance, and 8 different Program AEs to choose from, as mentioned earlier. However, the ZR850 offers a few additional features that will provide you with some kicks if you are fond of cheap thrills.

Video Light - The ZR850 is the only model in the ZR series to include an LED video light. Built-in video lights are pretty useless unless of absolute emergency. At best, you'll have a poorly lit scene with your subject squinting against the blaring, cold light.

Card Mix – This feature is found in the digital effects portion of the Function menu. With card mix, you are able to overlay digital stills saved to a memory card on top of video. A gamma layer is created in which one particularly strong color is accentuated while the remainder of the image is rendered transparent. A slider adjusts the transparency of the still image, and you can scroll through every still stored on the card to ensure a quick selection. We’d have to guess that this is the most confusing the least used feature widely available on Canon camcorders, but here it is in 2007 and they’ve included it again.

Faders – If you don’t plan on editing your footage using software, Canon provides you the option of in-camera editing with nine different video transitions: Fade-T (Fade in), Wipe, Corner, Jump, Flip, Puzzle, Zigzag, Beam, and Tide. They’re fun to play with and provide an ample amount of unnecessary madcap wackiness to your video.

 

 

 

 

Comparisons / Conclusion

Comparison
Canon ZR830
The ZR830 ($299 MSRP) and the ZR850 ($329 MSRP) could easily become best friends. They share the same common traits: cheap construction, identical video quality, and a decent gamut of manual controls for the point-and-shooter. However, jealousy could arise in this relationship due to the ZR850’s built-in video light, marginally larger still resolution (1152 x 864 versus 1024 x 768), and audio input for audio dubbing (not a mic input!) Are these attributes significant enough to propel the ZR850 beyond the ZR830? Given that the video light performs like a key chain caddy and the audio input really isn’t necessary (you can get over 100 different audio tracks using editing software), you are left with better still images but nothing to have a cat fight over. The ZR830 should feel grounded in the fact that it’s $30 cheaper than its slightly modified counterpart. Don’t worry, you won’t hurt the ZR850’s feelings when you opt for a ZR830. Better yet, skip them both and go for the ZR800 with its mic input.

Canon Elura 100
Camcorderinfo.com’s 2006 Camcorder of the Year. It’s got a 1/5" imager with notably better video quality than a standard 1/6". It has two video lights instead of the ZR850’s lone LED. It has a mic jack and lens threads for lens attachments. Here’s the best part: You can find it online for under $300. Not too shabby. Although the Elura 100 is an all-star consumer-grade camcorder, it does have its flaws. For one, the LCD cavity battery design prevents adding a larger battery. Also, the handling suffers a bit with a lot of tiny buttons placed in the back, whereas the ZR850 sports a simplified joystick. These are miniscule aspects when you look at the wealth of features the Elura 100 has over the ZR850. Although the Elura 100 is discontinued, you can find it online from several retailers.

Sony DCR-HC36
Last year’s HC36 (MSRP $400) offered NightShot Plus, an extendable viewfinder, and a top-loading tape hatch. These are three wins over the ZR850 (although NightShot is an arguably useless feature). The ZR850 is stuck with that abominably sorry excuse for a viewfinder and a bottom loading tape hatch that creates headaches when shooting with a tripod. The ZR850 does offer a better image quality, larger 35x zoom, and a joystick control simplified for menu navigation. The HC36 employs a smudge-ridden touch screen interface. For $70 less, the choice should be clear as crystal.

Panasonic PV-GS39
These two are close contenders. The GS39 ($349 MSRP) offers you a veritable arsenal of manual controls and dances in the palms of those who wish for a comfortable, well-designed camcorder. With an exclusive side-loading tape hatch and joystick placed at the back of the camcorder, the GS39 is more user-friendly than the ZR850. That’s not to say the ZR850 doesn’t have any charm. It has a larger 35x zoom and slightly enhanced 1/6" imager. Since the GS39 is a 2006 model, you will most likely be able to find it online for under $300. In that case, I’d try to get to a store to try them both out first.

Who It’s For*Point-and-Shooters*

Point-and-shooters will find the ZR850 a delight with its welcoming set of manual controls, lighting presets, and totally radical image effects. Try the mirror effect—it’s gnarly. Besides, when all else fails, hit the Easy button and let Canon do most of the work for you. Plus, you get a lame video light and a remote control. This should be plenty to keep the point-and-shooter occupied.

Budget Consumers

If you’ve read the comparison between the ZR850 and the Elura 100, Camcorderinfo.com’s Camcorder of the Year, the choice is obvious on which is the better buy. Save your money, budget consumers, and put it toward last year’s reigning champion.

Still Photo/Video Hybrid

Yes, it’s a hybrid. No, it’s not worth buying simply because it has an SD card slot. There are many other hybrid camcorders out there that will suit the hybrid freak’s needs. Although the ZR850’s still image quality is better than the ZR830’s, 1024x768 does not ante up to the Elura’s 1152x864.

Gadget Freaks

The gadget freak is on a lonely island in this shallow bay of entry-level DV.

Manual Control Freaks

Those who love to sit in the director’s chair will get a kick out of the focus, white balance, aperture, and gain on the ZR850. Keep in mind that the Panasonic PV-GS39 is a worthy adversary in this department as well.

Pros/Serious Hobbyists

As with the ZR830, the pro will dissect the flimsy construction, bottom-loading tape hatch, and limited additional manual controls found on the ZR850.

Conclusion

The Canon ZR850 is shaping up to be one of the best budget buys of the year. The video quality in bright light was clearly better than the other ZRs, not just in resolution but in color performance as well. The big choice you’ll have to make is whether to opt for the entry-level ZR800 and it’s mic input, or the ZR850 and it’s better video. This is a tough call. If you’re a new or budget consumer, you might think that you can go without the mic input. We would urge you to reconsider. You’re likely not going to find a better deal on a camcorder with a mic input, which makes it highly compelling. An inexpensive mic will make a huge improvement in overall production quality, probably more so than a slight bump in color and resolution. That being the case, the ZR800 just barely edges out the ZR850 as the smart buy.

The downsides to both of these camcorders is low light performance, which was predictably bad. The chips contained within are simply not large enough to capture a decent amount of light. Again, a note for beginners: poor light performance can kill the overall usability of a camcorder. You’ll be shooting in low light conditions more often that you think. But without a model like last year’s Canon Elura 100 to step up to (the Elura series was killed for 2007), we’re not expecting to see anything decent for low light in this price category.

Unfortunately, that’s the sad story of budget camcorders. You’ll occasionally find a camcorder that does well in several categories – handling, manual controls, ease of use – but it will almost always suffer somewhere. The ZR850 has a lot going for it (and the ZR800 even more so), but you should know what the trade-offs for that low price tag are.

 

 

Specs and Ratings

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