Canon ZR500 First Impressions Camcorder Review

The Front
The front of the Canon ZR500 has a very minimalist design, an aesthetic which isn’t surprising considering the camcorder’s slender frame, and the fact that it’s the cheapest camcorder in their entire camcorder line. At the top of the camera body is the 25x optical / 800x digital zoom lens. It has a focal length of 2.6 – 65mm, which in a 35mm equivalent gives 49.8 – 1245mm in 4:3, 43.8 – 1095mm in 16:9 with EIS, and 41.0 – 1025,, in 16:9 with the EIS off. Below this lens, at the bottom of the camcorder, is the in-camera stereo microphone.

The Right Side
This tape compartment is bottom-loading, and faces the right side. Long-time MiniDV users will know this is a less than ideal design. Bottom-loading compartments force users to remove camcorders from tripods and disturb shots when switching tapes, while top-loading models allow for quick tape changes without hassle. Running across the lower portion, just along the hatch door, is an adjustable gray hand strap for more secure shooting. The mode dial is on the right rear of the body. Above the MiniDV compartment is a rubber port cover which conceals an A/V port, mic-in port, and FireWire port. There is no SD memory card slot or USB port on the ZR500. You’ll have to step up to the ZR600 for that luxury.

The Back
The back of the Canon ZR500 is a slender 1.9 inches and is predominately consumed by the camcorder’s battery. Above the battery users will find the 0.3-inch 123K pixel viewfinder, which unfortunately neither pivots nor extends. Taken in conjunction with control panel having been relocated to the LCD panel, Canon doesn’t expect you to get too much use out of the viewfinder. Lastly, the DC in port is located at the bottom of the camcorder beneath the battery.

The Left Side
The ZR500 features a 2.7-inch, 112K pixel widescreen LCD that is opened via a tab located on the back edge of the monitor. Last year, controls were administered between buttons in the LCD cavity and a jog dial on the left side of the body. This year, the controls have been relocated to the bottom of the LCD panel. Controls include a four-way control pad, Function menu button, Digital Effects button, and Widescreen / Data Code button. This placement still means that users won’t be able to navigate and enter manual controls without opening the LCD screen, and also won’t be able to use the viewfinder for focus adjustment – an unfortunate loss, but still a better design than last year’s models. A lot people seem to complain about jog dials, and Canon must have heard. But if conserving batteries or shooting with the viewfinder are high priorities, this camcorder will probably disappoint.

The Top