Canon DC50 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Jan 22, 2007 6:00 AM 
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The Canon DC50 represents a small, historic moment, as it represents not only the top DVD camcorder for 2007, but also as the flagship model for the entire consumer line. With MiniDV quickly ebbing, and little hope of the Optura line making a comeback, the DC50 has a lot of weight to bear. A first look yields positive signs: a 1/2.7” CCD, optical image stabilization, 10x optical zoom, a new quick start feature, and a smarter battery design than last year (with room for expansion). Last year’s DC40, which this camcorder replaces, turned out a good performance, but was bested by Panasonic’s VDR-D300 (Review, Specs, $534.89) and its fantastic performance/manual control suite one-two punch. This year Canon has rebounded with an improved imager and aspirations for best standard def DVD camcorder overall. Can it hope to make the grade? We think the chances are pretty good.