The Canon ZR500 has been getting some really good reviews lately, and if you’re looking for the best budget digital camcorder around, this just might be the one. CNET has put up their Canon ZR500 review and it runs along the same lines as all the rest.
Compared to the Canon ZR600 and ZR700, the ZR500 you don’t get digital still image recording (and it is just SO sad to lose that 0.7 megapixel still shot), and you lose a remote control. The sensor size and image quality, however, is exactly the same.
The best thing about the ZR500 may be its external microphone jack (be warned, however, there is no hotshoe). Neither of the more expensive models have this useful feature. Zoom speed can be selected and set to 1x, 2x, 3x, and variable speed. Digital image effects, eight autoexposure modes, six shutter speed settings, and three white balance settings round out this versatile little camcorder.
