Frisky filming!! (Canon MV960)

Member Name: OscarA

Product:	Canon MV960
Date:	26/05/07 (170 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality digital camcorder - easy playback - takes digital photographs - x 25 zoom

Disadvantages: Sensitive microphone !

As part of my job I have to give presentations - something I fear and loathe. I lack the ability to exude confidence and I felt that this would hamper my progress. As an idea a colleague suggested that I borrow his digital camcorder - film myself giving a presentation and then work back through it looking at areas of my body language - speech and display that could be tweaked and improved. Being desperate I took him up on the challenge and borrowed his Canon MV 960 - I understand that when he bought it the retail price was £365 but when I finally came to purchasing my own after being dazzled I found it much cheaper at £265 from the Pixmania website.

Although I didn't do the filming on the first occasion - obviously I have now had the opportunity to take the camcorder on holiday with me - to family weddings and birthday celebrations and each time I found that the range of features has been out of this world although at first it is very fiddly to get to grips with what buttons do what - which switch setting relates to which feature and so on but a lengthy read of the comprehensive instruction manual should resolve these initial problems.

Weight wise the entire unit weighs just shy of 2 kg and fits perfectly into the palm of my hand - the adjustable strap attachment adds that little bit more security when wandering around filming - it isn't likely to fall from your grip.

First and foremost this is a camcorder and requires a memory card - this had to be bought separately - I purchased a 1GB card which will allow hours of filming and the storage of hundreds of still digital photographs. I haven't yet managed to fill the card and when it does finally start to reach maximum capacity the USB attachment and software makes transferring files to my laptop very easy.

So what does it do? Well it records digital quality films and filming could not be easier - the colour LCD viewfinder is pulled out to enable the cameraman to see what is being recorded. The LCD display is crystal clear and also shows the amount of memory left on the memory stick along with the current battery strength. Built in within the unit is a microphone that picks up a wasp farting 25 yards away it is that sensitive so wandering around family functions slating off big fat Aunt Sally under your breath isn't advisable unless you want to be written out of the family inheritance faster than you can say "Fat Fighters is what she needs" - Yes I did say this very quietly and yes it was picked up! Not good as I had used the x25 zoom feature to zoom in on her love handles! Oops!

Playback of films is simple - you can playback to the viewfinder or attach the unit to the TV or PC and the picture quality (depending on the cameraman/woman) is great thanks to the auto-focus function.

As well as recording films the viewfinder with the quick flip of a switch becomes the viewfinder for the digital camera and it allows for pictures to be taken in colour, black and white and sepia. All in all, the picture quality is awesome although because the unit is so long I have found that holding on using just one hand when suffering from the morning after the night before trembling hands causes a lot of blurring. The digital camera feature isn't the best, but if you are prepared to take your time the results are worth it.

A great digital camcorder that now won't cost the Earth.

Summary: A great digital camcorder that now won't cost the Earth.

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