Canon ZR830 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Mar 22, 2007 4:00 PM 
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Compression (5.5)
DV compression is still the best standard definition codec in terms of performance, but it has waned in popularity because it records video to MiniDV video cassettes. Video tape is linear – there is no getting around that – and it can’t match the pure convenience of non-linear DVDs, HDDs, and flash memory cards. Yet savvy buyers still recognize the benefits of tape, namely that it’s much cheaper per-minute than DVDs, very widely available, and the best standard definition format for editing. While virtually all NLEs (non-linear editors) such as Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere support DV compression natively, time-intensive conversion is required to edit MPEG-2 footage. Moving DV footage to a PC for editing, remains a realtime process, and unlike DVDs, you can’t pop a DV cassette into your home DVD player, as you can with mini DVDs.
The ZR830 (Review, Specs, $240) has an SD/SDHC memory card slot, and still images can be captured to compatible flash memory cards. The slot is positioned behind a rubber port cover on the top rear corner of the right side.
Media (6.0)
The Canon ZR830 captures video to MiniDV tape, the oldest media that is still in popular use. It's cheap, it's easy to find, and it's relatively durable (compared to easily scratched DVDs). However, tape is linear, requiring real-time capture to edit. You also can't pop this into a computer or home peripheral, which you can do with DVDs.
Editing (8.0)
Editing DV footage shot with the Canon ZR830 is easy given the format’s maturity and broad support. Any good non-linear editing program supports DV natively, with the exception of those programs designed specifically for MPEG-2 editing. For the most part, DV editors offer superior functionality, in part because DV is generally accepted as a broadcast quality format, while MPEG-2 is not. Even HDV, which looks stunningly sharp on an HD monitor is considered by some networks to be a substandard consumer format because its aggressive compression renders motion poorly in comparison to DV.
An IEEE 1394 cable is used to transfer footage to a PC or external HDD for editing, and the terminal is located on front of the right side. IEEE 1394 is also known as Firewire, i.LINK, or simply “DV,” and provides a high-speed data interface between computers and peripheral devices like camcorders. The ZR830 also offers a smattering of in-camera options for still image editing, including image erase, protection, and card initialization. The ZR830 supports photo printing directly from the camcorder and allows you to create print queues, select paper type, and apply effects to stills prior to printing.