10 Camcorder Roundup : Canon DC50
3. Canon DC50
- DC50 Mini DVD...
Need a good camcorder for taking pictures? The Canon DC50 and its 5 million pixel sensor fit in this category without a doubt. However, the photo mode isn’t the only thing the DC50 has going for it. Below is a more detailed review.
Handling
The Canon DC50’s design is quite a success with its curved shape as well as serious and compact construction. The different controls more or less fall right under your fingers (startup, joystick, and photo mode). Only the Menu button on the side of the camcorder is a bit far and access also could have been placed on the LCD screen. While the DC50 is already rather fast, we really liked the QuickStart function which turns the device on almost instantaneously. For downsides, we point to the sparse connectivity (only USB and AV) and the fact that it’s impossible to connect a microphone, headphones or other accessories. Manual controls (aperture, shutter speed, and white balance) are also accessible although automatic functioning works perfectly. The DC50 can be recommended for video enthusiasts that do not want to fiddle too much with parameters.
Image quality
The 5 megapixel sensor produces very beautiful images. Videos are precise and there is good color fidelity without any excess which is actually quite rare. White balance was also correct outdoors although we noticed a few errors in this domain once we went inside. In general, the DC50 has a tendency to overexpose shots which reinforces contrast and details in brighter zones. As for sensitivity, the DC50 produces surprisingly good results without having to rely on techniques such as Sony’s NightShot mode. And we add that for a camcorder in this category this is very appreciable even if grain was quite visible. Optical stabilization was also very efficient even if the zoom isn’t very powerful (10x). As for the photo mode (another good point in this Canon’s favor), we can see the sensor’s full potential with shots that are of rare quality for a camcorder. The only dampener on our enthusiasm is the miniSD recording (also possible to record on DVDs), a format that’s not too widespread and which will soon be replaced by microSD. Finally, during recording you can shoot photos but definition is reduced to 1280 x 720 pixels.
| Canon DC50 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
|
|
The Canon DC50 is a good alternative to the Panasonic VDR-D310 with slightly better image quality and a more versatile photo mode.
It's a troubling trend that nearly all consumer/prosumer camcorders are ditching the EVF in favor of the LCD, which is useless outdoors. I really liked the Canons, given their feature set and quality, but the lack of EVF was killer (the only model with EVF was the HG21, and that was impossible to find), and so I got a Sony SR12 instead. Great features are useless if you can't see what you're filming, unless you're doing all your work indoors.
I am only part way through the article, but I have to say that comparing the Vado (about $100) with even the Canon DC210 (about $400) just doesn't wash. If you had at least mentioned the price disparity, it might have been acceptable, but the Vado isn't aimed at the same market. Plus, the VADO HD is available, yet the article says, "but we're still waiting for the HD version of the Vado."
For me, this weakens the journalism and therefore weakens the reviews in general. It makes me wonder, did you really do due diligence in the review. Maybe your article lead time is too long, but that's where an editor can add notes, like, The Vado HD was released just after this review was completed.
Just my two cents worth.
I'll stick with my Canon HG10, EVF , 40GB HD, hotshoe, Mic input, perfect HD image....None of these compare.
At first I thought this was an old article that had slipt through RSS a second time, but no it was recent.
The reason is because I would not know for any reason to still review the Panasonic HDC-SD1. It's multiple generations old and you might be hard pressed to even find it. The four generations younger HDC-SD9 would be a lot better candidate even if it is not the latest generation, but it is still a reference with regards to value for money.
I haven't red it entirely, buy giving a '+' for a microphone (7.Panasonic HDC-SD1) is (imho) a joke. You can give a minus for no-audio recording, but giving a plus for a microphone is just too much!
2) You give a minus to Sony HDR-UX3 for lacking Image Stabilisation, and how about Sony HDR-SR11E - does it have IS or doesn't? JVC GZ-HD40 for example got a minus for medicore IS ...
I'd rewrite this article ... to some exent ..
I like digital camcorder very much , this unit looks very nice , how much it is?
Panasonic HDC-SD1 is too old. There were SD5, SD9, and now SD100. The last one is a way better than SD9. So, what is the need to review HDC-SD1?