Canon ZR850 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Mar 6, 2007 3:42 PM
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Ease of Use (7.75)
Canon designed the ZR850 for the point-and-shooter. Therefore, it is no question that this camcorder is easy to use. The implementation of the LCD-mounted joystick makes for quick menu choices. The zoom toggle is conveniently placed and comes equipped with 3 preset zoom speeds. The Quick Start button lets you begin right where you left off and conserves battery life.
However, everything in life has its flaws, and the audio dubbing feature on the ZR850 appears to have been sucked into the hellish depths of the Bermuda triangle. Any feature that takes longer than 2 minutes to figure out on a consumer camcorder does not fall under the user-friendly category. In addition, certain functions require the center of the joystick to be depressed in order to access them. As a result, the infinitesimally small joystick contributes to a major lack of manual control and accidental menu selections. Panasonic’s rear-mounted joystick is the reigning champion in the user-friendly arena.
Handling (3.25)
No consumer camcorder offers all-around stellar handling because they are by nature products that pack a tremendous amount of functionality into a compact package. Consumer camcorders are always full of compromises, from miniaturized controls to options that just aren’t practical to offer on a camcorder that slips into your purse. The question we always ask is: has the manufacturer done everything it can to make a camcorder as usable as possible for its target market?
Canon has done an excellent job with their ZR850. While many aspects of handling the camcorder – including controls and ergonomics could be better – the whole package is integrated very well. Their adoption of the joystick since last year has made a tremendous, positive impact in the handling. We would prefer a rear-mounted joystick, but at least Canon had the good sense to face it towards the shooter and not stick on the left-hand side. The menu, as described below, is well planned and clearly labeled. Overall, the ZR camcorders are probably the best in handling in their class.
Menu (7.0)
Like most camcorders, the menu is split into two portions, a manual control menu of frequently used choice (called the “Function menu” here) and the main or administration menu. Last year, Canon had two separate buttons for these. In a smart bit of consolidation, they now nest the admin menu button as a choice in the Function menu.
The Function menu is accessed by hitting the Func. button on the LCD panel. The choices here include Scene mode, white balance, image effect, digital effects, still photo size and quality, and the admin menu button. Most of the key options you need are all right here. The one dispute we have is the exclusion of shutter speed , a very useful control that was buried in the admin menu.
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The admin menu has a lot more choices, and is broken up in to subcategories: Camera Setup, VCR Setup, Audio Setup, Display Setup, System Setup, and Date/Time Setup. The animated gif here shows the choices contained within. Most important is the Camera Setup, which has the options you will most likely exercise the most: shutter speed and image stabilization on/off.
Portability (6.0)
Measuring at 2.2x3.6x4.7 inches in width, height, and depth, the ZR850 is not a burden to travel with. Weighing in at a mere 13.4 ounces, this camcorder most definitely suits the lifestyle of the hardcore tourist. The ZR850 is part of the upright camcorder fashion movement. Its tall, sleek frame not only hits the runway with gusto, but it is compact enough to slip into a backpack or purse. Just watch out for those port covers and manual lens cover. Ultimately, your best bet is to purchase a carrying case to protect the ZR850’s temperamental construction. After reading about the LCD screen in the next section, you’ll definitely want a carrying case. At the beach, on the trails, or in the car, the ZR850 will accommodate your travels as long as you treat it with respect.
LCD and Viewfinder (4.0)
The ZR850 gives you a 2.7” wide LCD screen but don’t jump for joy yet—you get 112K pixels total. And that is not very exciting. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen by accessing the display setup in the Administrative menu. Using the joystick, you can add a backlight, brighten the screen, and set grids or lines on the screen to aid with composition. The LCD hinge is pretty flimsy and has a tendency to hyper-extend with even the slightest amount of pressure. Ours sheared off like sliced butter. It’s actually held together by a slim, pin-like axel riveted to a thin, metal frame, so treat it like an un-hatched egg.
The viewfinder has undergone so much scrutiny in this review… so let’s give it some more. The ZR850’s viewfinder looks like an unfinished, polyurethane afterthought with no rubberized eye rest and a miniscule viewing pane boasting a modest 114K pixels. It does not extend and barely clears the battery. If you put a larger battery in the ZR850, you better enjoy bulky, hard plastic things in your face. As an alternative to the LCD screen, this .35 inch abomination of a viewfinder is hardly worth it. Obviously, Canon did not design the ZR850 for viewfinder connoisseurs.
Battery Life (9.7)
The ZR850 includes aBP-2L5 battery pack which Canon states allows for 90 minutes of continuous recording with the LCD open. We tested the battery for endurance by leaving the LCD screen open, and performing no zooms or manual adjustments. In total, the battery lasted 97minutes and 15 seconds (1 hours, 37 minutes, and 15 seconds.) This gives the ZR850 a respectable - though not exceptional - recording capacity with the included battery pack. Longer-life batteries are available as optional accessories that will extend the camcorder's life to as much as 275 minutes with the BP-2L14.
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