Three new MiniDVD camcorders were announced by Canon at CES 2007. The Canon DC210 is the first model of the three and features a 1/6″ 680K CCD, 2.7″ widescreen LCD, and electronic image stabilization. Canon has also bumped up the optical zoom to 35x, so make sure you buy a tripod. 1024×768 stills can also be captured onto the DVD disc. The other two new camcorders, the DC220 and the DC230, build on top of the DC210 with more advanced features.
The next step up, the Canon DC220, adds Canon’s nine-point AiAF autofocus system for faster, more accurate focus. Also added is PictBridge compatibility, Canon’s Digital Video Solutions CD for Windows and Macintosh, and a MiniSD slot for recording 1024×768 stills directly to memory.
The final addition to Canon’s entry-level line of MiniDVD camcorders is the Canon DC230, which features a 1.07 megapixel CCD along with the ability to record still images at 1152×864 resolution. Also included is a wireless remote control.
All three camcorders record onto DVD-R or DVD-RW discs and are compatible with dual layer MiniDVD discs. The Canon DC210 and DC220 camcorders will be available in early March and will have an MSRP of $399 and $449, respectively. The Canon DC230 will be available in late March for $499.
If you want a DVD camcorder to shoot videos, make VERY minor edits from the camcorder itself, and then drop in your DVD player — the DC210 is okay. It’s easy to use, despite the poorly written user guide.
After talking with Canon, I found out that they chose not to inform their users, or even their retailers, that the output video format in VR mode is “VRO” — a new, largely unsupported format.
Users CANNOT edit their videos without conversion software — which, according to Canon reps, WILL NOT be provided on the Canon site. And, this format is so new, I had difficulty finding conversion software and I was unable to find freeware to convert the VRO video files.
Canon does not provide ANY software for this camcorder — their reason: the camcorder is ONLY intended for point-shoot-play. Note: Canon didn’t even bother addressing “VRO” in the user manual that came in the box or the PDF file on their site.
During my last conversation with a Canon rep, my message was basically “shame on you.” Canon has obviously chosen to ignore rapidly increasing consumer interest in video editing, the credit for this going to Adobe, Pinnacle, and others, who have given us some good, simple tools to do creative editing on home and/or amature videos.
Canon totally missed the boat on this one. They could have packaged the DC210 with, at minimum, some conversion software and a better user-guide.
The DC210 gets a poor (vs abysmal) rating only because the DC210 does do what they wanted it to do. Canon gets an ‘F-minus’ for not shelling out a few extra cents for each camcorder sold to ensure customers have conversion software, and subsequently the capability to easily edit their creations with inexpensive, easy-to-use movie/video editing software.
You are absolutely correct. For Windows, I finally found AVS Editing software that will convert the vro file. But I switched to Mac recently and still haven’t solved the problem of converting the vro file so that it will mount as an image Mac will recognize. If you’ve heard more from Canon on this issue, I would appreciate a message.
Hey Guys,
Can you suggest me how i can edit my VRO files. Yeah i have the DC 230.
Thanks in Advance.
Sunil
Hi
I just bought the DC210 and realised too late I cannot put the small DVD disc into my iMac… or can I? The discs are standing up and the small ones don’t seem to be accepted by the computer.
I’ve found this camcorder troubling to edit with, especially in VR mode, which supposely has more features.
For Macs, use the USB cord included to hook the camcorder directly to the Mac.
From, there, Google up “MPEG Streamclip,” and you’ll find a piece of freeware that will play and convert almost any file you can come up w/, including VROs. It’s good for XP, Vista, and OSX…
Hope this helps anyone in despair.
I looked on the imac website and found that the canon does work on the imac
as a college student my teacher suggested to find a firewire cable, but i cant seem to find one for the camcorder i have, so my question is do i actually need one or can i use the usb to import the video into imovie on the mac?
I have a Canon DC230 by the way
you can use cdroller program that would comvert vro ,, i had the same problem . but its not free to get thats the problem
Canon DC 230 is one of the lousiest cameras. The picture shoot quality is bad and to top it, there is not sane way of taking that video to any other place except the camcorder!!! The best moments of your child can only last as long as your mini dvd that you recorded on can last.