Sharp VLNZ50U MiniDV Compact Digital Viewcam with 3" Color LCD Screen
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Manufacturer: Sharp
Price at amazon.com:
Used & new from $480.00List price $499.99
- MiniDV camcorder
- 10x optical, 300x digital, zoom with digital image stabilization
- 3-inch color LCD monitor
- Viewcam design means point-and-shoot operation
- Features various digital effects and shooting modes
Product Description:
The Sharp VL-NZ50 is a great entry-level digital camcorder, featuring a large 3-inch LCD monitor, 10x optical and 300x digital zoom, and digital image stabilization. Lens With an optical zoom magnification of 10x, the VL-NZ50 also has a digital zoom--which works by electronically enhancing the optical image--that can magnify the picture up to 300 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes. Other Features With its 270-degree variable angle, you can hold the VL-NZ50 in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or film close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees. The built-in speaker allows on-the-spot playback with sound for checking and viewing video footage anywhere. An on-screen recording guide helps you line up landscape footage and can be used as a guide for easy framing of subject matter. The backlight compensation feature corrects exposure in poor lighting conditions. The VL-NZ50 also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, NEG) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording. Inputs and Outputs The VL-NZ50 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Sharp refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. MiniDV Format MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with over 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture. The camera also features excellent sound quality, recorded in either 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes. 16-bit audio includes one set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound. 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD. Contents This package comes with the VL-NZ50 camcorder, one rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, tripod adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, and lens cap.
Description from Manufacturer:The Sharp VL-NZ50 is a great entry-level digital camcorder, featuring a large 3-inch LCD monitor, 10x optical and 300x digital zoom, and digital image stabilization. Lens
With an optical zoom magnification of 10x, the VL-NZ50 also has a digital zoom--which works by electronically enhancing the optical image--that can magnify the picture up to 300 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes.
Other Features
With its 270-degree variable angle, you can hold the VL-NZ50 in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or film close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees.
The built-in speaker allows on-the-spot playback with sound for checking and viewing video footage anywhere. An on-screen recording guide helps you line up landscape footage and can be used as a guide for easy framing of subject matter. The backlight compensation feature corrects exposure in poor lighting conditions.
The VL-NZ50 also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, NEG) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording.
Inputs and Outputs
The VL-NZ50 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Sharp refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.
MiniDV Format
MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with over 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.
The camera also features excellent sound quality, recorded in either 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.
- 16-bit audio includes one set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
- 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.
This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
Contents
This package comes with the VL-NZ50 camcorder, one rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, tripod adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, and lens cap.Average Customer Rating: 
Comment: Nice Camera for the Money Rating:
After waiting a year for the price of digital camcorders to come down, I finally decided to jump in and purchased this Sharp. I was originally drawn to this camcorder by the price. And even though it doesn't offer any "bells and whistles", it's still priced at least ($$$) less than a comparably equiped competitor. So far, it's performed well for me. It makes good-looking home movies with great sound, and that is all I was basically looking for. I'm more into ease-of-use and convienience rather than knobs, buttons, and gadgets. One of the camcorder's greatest features is the compact size. It's only slightly larger than my digital camera and I can carry it with me anywhere in my jacket pocket. One of the reasons I always dreaded taking my old 8mm camcorder with me is becuase it was like dragging a suitcase around. Oh, and one other thing. Before owning this camcorder, I never understood the rationale for a "two-handed" model...Now, I'll never go back. I'm anxious to see how it performs when transferring movies to a DVD burner, but now I'm waiting for the price of those to come down!
Comment: Nice camera - when it works. Rating:
I have had this camera for a year and it is has served me well. It takes great video and I have been able to copy and edit the video on my PC to produce playable VCD's.
Operationally, holding the camera is a bit awkward, and I found it hard to go from a viewfinder to using the screen for framing the shot.
Unfortunately just after the warranty finished, it would not switch on! The batteries/adaptor checked out OK. A search on the internet has shown this to be a common problem, so I wouldn't recommend anyone purchasing what appears to be a flaky design.
Comment: Stopped working after barely 1 year of ownership Rating:
I bought this camera and used it a few times. I think I filled a total of 6 tapes with video. I also used the still picture option a few times. I was pleased with the camera until one day I pulled the camera out to use it and it wouldn't turn on. Initially I thought that the battery was dead and that maybe the charger cord had a short in it or something and wasn't charging the battery, which has a very short operating time. I've always taken good care of the camera and when not in use I kept it in a padded camera bag. So I put the camera away and made a mental note to test the charger which I did a few days later. The charger tested fine and when I pulled the camera out to investigate further, it turned on and worked fine. About a month later I took the cam out to film my 5 year old play soccer and the camera was dead again. Apparently for good this time. I can't even eject the tape thats inside. Also, while I was inspecting the camera, I noticed that something was rattling around inside the camera. Therefore I opened the cassette door and turned the camera upside down, and two very tiny screws fell out of the camera into my hand. The screws are about the size of those used in eyeglass frames, very small, and I have no idea as to how they became unscrewed, or where they were located. Needless to say I am very disappointed. All of this conveniently occured after the measly 90 day warranty expired. I took the camera to a local electronics repair shop (Sharp only has 2 or 3 service centers in the whole US) who told me that Sharp is not very cooperative in releasing service manuals for their products and that this repair will cost me [$$$] because he will have to buy the manuals. Sharp wants even more money than that to repair it. Right now I could buy a brand new one for [$$$]. I am now an ex-customer of Sharp products and I'm telling everybody I know who's even considering purchasing a Sharp product about my experience.
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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