Sharp VLZ1U MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5" LCD

[Archived in $300 - $400, All Camcorders, All Digital Camcorders, Digital MiniDV, Products, Sharp, Sharp HE]

Manufacturer: Sharp
Price at amazon.com: $399.94
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• Compact MiniDV digital camcorder with 1/4-inch CCD
• 10x optical, 500x digital zoom with electric image stabilization
• 2.5-inch LCD display and monochrome viewfinder
• 225-degree free angle grip
• Lithium-ion battery fits inside camera

Product Description:

With a free angle range of 225 degrees, you can easily swivel the Sharp VL-Z1U to shoot from a high angle, low angle, or even back at yourself without straining your wrist. The VL-Z1U is also a well-equipped digital camera that features a 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD display, and black and white viewfinder. Image Stabilization Sharp uses electric picture stabilization that keeps your images smooth and steady. Natural jerks and shaky holding will be smoothed over with this function turned on. Optics The 1/4-inch CCD has 680,000 pixels for sharp and clear imaging. The 10x optical zoom is effective for most purposes, but if you need extra close shots the camcorder can zoom up to 500x digitally. For low-light situations, the camcorder can operate in slow shutter mode for slow-moving or stable objects and night lumi mode for bright objects at night. More Features The VL-Z1U features a 2.5-inch color LCD and a black and white viewfinder. The LCD monitor incorporates new CG silicon technology to achieve high luminance and definition, making viewing easy even in broad daylight. The rechargeable battery snugly clips inside the frame of the camcorder, rather than outside like most other camcorders. This makes the camera less bulky and easier to carry. The standard IEEE1394 (Firewire) connection can be used for digital video editing on a computer, while the standard AV output terminal is used for viewing on TV or dubbing. MiniDV Format MiniDV is the new preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. 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 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD. Contents This package includes the VL-Z1U camcorder, AC adapter, lithium-ion battery pack, A/V-S cable, and lens cap.

Description from Manufacturer:With a free angle range of 225 degrees, you can easily swivel the Sharp VL-Z1U to shoot from a high angle, low angle, or even back at yourself without straining your wrist. The VL-Z1U is also a well-equipped digital camera that features a 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD display, and black and white viewfinder.

Image Stabilization
Sharp uses electric picture stabilization that keeps your images smooth and steady. Natural jerks and shaky holding will be smoothed over with this function turned on.

Optics
The 1/4-inch CCD has 680,000 pixels for sharp and clear imaging. The 10x optical zoom is effective for most purposes, but if you need extra close shots the camcorder can zoom up to 500x digitally. For low-light situations, the camcorder can operate in slow shutter mode for slow-moving or stable objects and night lumi mode for bright objects at night.

More Features
The VL-Z1U features a 2.5-inch color LCD and a black and white viewfinder. The LCD monitor incorporates new CG silicon technology to achieve high luminance and definition, making viewing easy even in broad daylight.

The rechargeable battery snugly clips inside the frame of the camcorder, rather than outside like most other camcorders. This makes the camera less bulky and easier to carry. The standard IEEE1394 (Firewire) connection can be used for digital video editing on a computer, while the standard AV output terminal is used for viewing on TV or dubbing.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the new preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. 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 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Contents
This package includes the VL-Z1U camcorder, AC adapter, lithium-ion battery pack, A/V-S cable, and lens cap.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Not as good compared to Sony Rating:
I would give it three and a half stars.
Showing an indoor and outdoor movies from this camera on a 27 inch TV I didn't hear complaints about the image quality, but I should note the cons and pros.

Cons: this is not a high-end model. The image quality is worse, than from Sony. The indoor picture is grainy (the less light - the more grainy) and darker, than from Sony. Viewfinder is tiny and very blurry. It gets crisp only if you are 3 inches away from the camera. You will have to use only the LCD. Half of a second after you zoom in, the picture is blurry, untill the camera focuses. You notice barrel distortion at wide angle on the picture. The colors seem to be colder and less rich than they are indeed. When a source of bright light is in the picture together with darker areas, Sony performs better.

Pros: The outdoor image quality and indoor with sufficient light is, well, acseptable. Small size and weight - you can always take it with you. It has 10 times optical zoom and a 2.5 inch LCD screen for viewing what you are filming. Less expensive than many other brands and models.

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Comment: A good pick if it is under [price] Rating:
First of all let me clear that I purchased this camera only because of its price (below $[price]) and I am going to use it only for some fun. If you are considering a camera for any serious work think twice. And if you are willing to spend $[price] +, you will be better off with other brands.

Now let me share my experiences of my VL Z1U with you. I own this since last 2 weeks and I am extremely happy with this purchase. Camera is super compact and its swivel grip is just brilliant. One remarkable feature to notice is, its super sharp LCD, no other camera can match it. Picture quality (movie) is amazing, very rich and vivid colors. Zoom is effortless (but stay clear from the so called Digital Zoom). Digital Image Stabilization works. For casual use (outdoor / brightly lit indoor shooting for family and kid or travel) this is very good pick (remember the price thing I mentioned earlier!)

However everything is not that good. This camera is good only for outdoor and bright light conditions. Indoor shooting with low light is just useless. No Infrared (0 Lux) shooting available. Still picture quality is poor and it is better not to use it. And this is true in case of many other Camcorders, better equip yourself with a decent Digital Camera and use this camcorder only for movie purpose; you can't have both things in one. The menu system is awkward and difficult to use. But soon you get used to it. Battery life could be a problem, as it last only for an hour or so and you need to keep a spare battery. No big size battery available. Battery charges in camera only (a stand alone, external charger (and replacement battery) is available on ebay)

Overall it is a good camera, provide you get it under $[price].

Hope this helps, have a great day.

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Comment: Best digital camcorder of it's class/feature level.. Rating:
Would have been a 5, but see the pro/con list for why not. I am thrilled with the camera. Excellent video, Brand and performance are Sharp, indeed. For the features and video quality it has, the price is simply not been met by any other. This was compared to the base Sony ( pricey ) and Panasonic ( poor color reproduction ) models in the small cube compact category. It was 100-200 bucks less than those, and equalled or outperformed them. Simply a great accomplishment by Sharp. The video is beautiful, the LCD is simply outstanding and best I have seen. It is a top loader! Has the Analog to digital conversion ports that the higher priced competition doesn't have. Swivel body design is ingenious. Less than perfect is the menu system, and the somewhat clumsy controls for it. Extended life battery is not an option as the battery mounts INSIDE, behind the LCD when closed. You will want a second battery!! Final negative, the battery charges in camera. It would have been nice to have a seperate charger considering the battery situation stated above. PROs: Swivel body feature really handy, GREAT video, has Analog to Digital conversion ability not found on more expensive competition, superb LCD, TOPLOADER! excellent price/value.
Cons: Battery capacity restricted by internal mounting and no seperate charger to offset this, clumsy menu/controls - but workable, no external mic input.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)