A multitasking digital camcorder, the Sharp VL-NZ100U features a large 3-inch LCD monitor, 10x optical and 300x digital zoom, and digital image stabilization. You can also shoot digital still images, save them on the included 8 MB memory card, and then transfer them to your PC.
Lens
With an optical zoom magnification of 10x, the VL-NZ100U also has a digital zoom--which works by electronically enhancing the optical image--that can magnify the picture up to 300 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes.
Other Features
With its 270-degree variable angle, you can hold the VL-NZ100U in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or for shots close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees.
The built-in speaker allows on-the-spot playback with sound for checking and viewing video footage anywhere. An on-screen recording guide helps you line up landscape footage and can be used as a guide for easy framing of subject matter. The backlight compensation feature corrects exposure in poor lighting conditions.
The VL-NZ100U also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, NEG) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording.
Digital Stills
The VL-NZ100U can also operate as a digital still camera. Full-motion video is recorded onto a DVC tape while digital stills are stored on the included 8 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card for easy transfer to a PC.
Inputs and Outputs
The VL-NZ100U comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Sharp refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.
MiniDV Format
MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with over 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.
The camera features excellent sound quality, recorded in either 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.
- 16-bit audio includes one set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
- 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.
This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers a digital recording time of two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
Contents
This package comes with the VL-NZ100U camcorder, one rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, tripod adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, lens cap, and 8 MB memory card.
1 Broke down as soon as the warranty expired!
I really liked this camera because of the size and ability to take the pictures and videos in one. Now however I am very disappointed because after one year of use the camera broke down. The still button that takes snapshots stopped working. I can only take videos now and who knows how long that will last! I am sending this for service, hoping it won't cost me too much to fix it. Very upseting that it happened the moment one year warranty expired!
2 Great Camera good quality video
I have been using this camcorder for over a year now. The video is excellent as is the sound.
It transfers video to the PC through the firewire with no problem. I have used Sony and JVC Mini DV tapes with it. (iread about the TDK causing trouble. I don't have experience with that)
I have only 3 complaints.
In the sun it's hard to see the LCD screen and there isn't not an optional viewfinder.
Some of the still photos are grainy, some are great depends on the lighting.
3 Get the extended warranty
I have had this camera for just under a year. I bought the warranty. One day it just stopped working. Wouldn't turn on. I brought it to a repair center. It was sent back to SHARP and given all new internal parts. I don't plan to keep it, but the warranty saved me from having a very expensive paper weight.
4 Great paperweight...
Honestly, if you are buying this item get the extended warranty if available...you could very well need it. I had it for barely a year and it worked great no complaints at all till it just quit working all together. Now it makes a great paperweight. The unit will not power up at all. Bear in mind that my unit has never been mishandled or mistreated. I have also done research on the web and have found similar reviews elsewhere. I am still trying to get Sharp to help me replace or repair it. I'd love to be able to write a retraction in the coming days that Sharp has stepped up and done the right thing. Till then...Stay tuned and best of luck.
5 Best Kept Secret
This is an awesome product! I don't know why more people don't get them. The reliability, ease of use, combination of features and display area make this a top notch product. I use many DV cameras for my work so I know what I'm talking about here. The price makes this even better! One drawback - no jack for external mike. But the sound its condenser mike picks up is pretty good. I hope Sharp continues to make them!
6 BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK IN A MINI DV CAMCORDER
I HAVE HAD THIS CAMCORDER FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW. I AM SO IMPRESSED
WITH THE QUALITY OF THE VIDEO AND JUST THE OVERALL SIZE AND
LOOK OF IT THAT I JUST HAD TO WRITE A REVIEW. I LOOKS QUITE A
BIT DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF THE CAMCORDERS OUT THERE, BUT DON'T
LET THAT DISSUADE YOU FROM PURCHASING IT. I PAID 299 FOR IT.
I FEEL THAT I GOT A GREAT BARGAIN. THE 3INCH LCD SCREEN IS
JUST AWESOME INDOORS OR OUT. I REALLY DON'T MISS NOT HAVING
A VIEWFINDER. WHO WOULD EVER USE IT WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL
SCREEN. PLAYBACK OF THE VIDEO WITH SOUND ON THE CAMCORDER.
REMOTE CONTROL INCLUDED. USE THAT LOTS. THE QUALITY OF THE
VIDEO TAKEN INDOORS AND OUTDOORS IS SUPERIOR. I CAN'T SAY
ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS. DON'T HESITATE TO BUY THIS
CAMCORDER, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED, AT LEAST I WASN'T.
7 Love the Video hate the pictures
It is a great camera for video even though when I zoom from far distances it is fuzzy. The pictures suck!!!! You will never get a really clear shot unless you are outside. There is no flash... You can lighten the picture but it is not them same. Then getting the pictures developed... Well they look pretty bad. I love to scrap and can't do it with these pictures.
8 Draw a picture instead...It will turn out better!!!!
Can i hear you say "dog crap"? This camera seemed great from the reviews, and boy did I do my homework on this one. Problem was that intermittently there would be a problem during playback of tapes, ie: extreme digitalization or blocks across the video. It drove me crazy so i sent it back to amazon, who then sent me out another unit. Same issue with this one!!! Called sharp and was told they thought maybe i was using the wrong tapes???? How is that possible, I was using Sony Mini DV's, no mystery there. They told me not to use TDK tapes as they are having issues with this camera, thankfully i did not use TDK. Anyway, after 13 months of this issue, i had enough. Called Sharp corporate and demanded to speak with the CEO. Ended up speaking with one of his people who couldnt have been nicer in fixing the issue. They are sending me a totally different model camera......hope that solves it!!!
9 Pleased even if Camcorder isn't perfect
Never having a camcorder before, I've been reasonably pleased with my Viewcam for the last 40 hours of its use. It's small enough to velcro to the dash and steadied by the windshield of my car (stuck on below battery and above viewcam's body) for making easy and watchable vacation travelogs if one selects scenic roads. Turn up the in-dash stereo a little and most of the car noise disappears from the recordings. Music videos without actors. Better than high speed cop chases. And better than home movies. (Didn't you just wish you could take your mom with you on a trip, but were glad you didn't? Now you "can." Send her a VHS cassette copy when you return.) Dub in high quality audio after the fact too; the microphone works well.
It can use a 12v cigarette adapter from RadioShack for endless power. Sharp makes a remote that works well with it). Need a camcorder case? Just buy a cheap, common men's toiletries travel case, add some foam in the main compartment to protect the Viewcam, and store up to 8 Mini-DV tapes, the remote, a spare battery, and your cable and AC adapter in the side pockets.
Don't drop it; its too fragile for that. And don't scratch the anti-reflection coating on the LCD. But for a cheap camcorder that fits mostly in a man's shirt pocket, it's great!
I love the still photo feature for use while videotaping. I'll snap a titled dialog screen, or anything off a computer display or real life, and record it to video while the camcorder is running. It's lot more steady than handholding the camcorder for 5 seconds or so.
The menu screens are annoyingly awkward, but they inexpensively access many useful features. Live with it.
Amazon... you'll sell all you can stock on your shelves at the on-sale price!
10 Love this camera/camcorder!
We just had our first baby, and couldn't do without this camcorder/digital camera. It's very easy to use, and takes great quality video and still digital photos. A plus is that, if needed, you can record still photos from the video you shoot. This came in very handy when the photo lab ruined all our film from our baby's first few days in the hospital. We were crushed, then realized we could print some that we copied from the video. Not the finest quality still photos without a flash and copied from video, but we were very happy to have them. Easy to connect to view videos on TV, dub VHS tapes for relatives, and transfer still photos to computer to email to family. It's also small enough to fit in a purse when traveling.
11 Great for the price. Could do with a few more features
Great camera for the price. Picture quality is excellent. A few missing things:
1. The older models used to have a strap on the side to hold hte camera up with. Not anymore. I wonder why. Used to make life so much easier
2. Still image resolution very poor. Alas, that is true of most budget camcorders.
3. Could use an input for an external microphone. Although the built-in mic is pretty decent, sometimes it helps to attach an external mic
Battery life is comparable to products in this price range. No big gripes.
12 GREAT PRODUCT THAT IS VALUE PRICED!!
I SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW FOR A MINI/DIGITAL CAMCORDER AT A REASONABLE PRICE AND FINALLY SETTLED ON THE SHARP VLNZ100U THAT AMAZON.COM HAD FOR $... PLUS A SHARP $... REBATE WHICH I JUST RECEIVED. YOU CAN'T FIND A SIMILAR CAMCORDER WITH THESE FEATURES AT THIS PRICE. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN I EXPECTED AND LOVE USING IT. IT IS EASY TO USE AND I'M BEEN DOWNLOADING THE STILL PICTURES I'VE TAKEN ONTO MY COMPUTER AND MY BROTHER IN FLA HAS RECEIVED WITH GREAT QUALITY. THIS MUTI-PURPOSE CAMERA IS EVERTHING I HOPED IT WOULD BE. GREAT VALUE, QUALITY AND PRICE.
13 Digital MiniDV for the price of 8mm
With the price after rebates of this Sharp camcorder there are absolutely no other digital choices available! I Had the NZ50 (which I sold in order to buy this NZ100), and the quality, versatility, features and connectivity of this camera is awsome. For the price, upgrading from NZ50 to the NZ100 which has digital still store capabilities, analog inputs and USB streaming, is worth the difference (which last year did not)
I already have a digital camera, so I really do not use the still pictures capability, but is nice to have when you do not want to carry many devices when you are attending an event or vacations.
Two batteries are required when you travel and are accustomed to use a lot the camera, and no power plugs are available. I normally shoot key moments on every event, in order to avoid editing at maximum, so second battery was needed once, in a in a 6-hr event, which has happened only once.
180 degrees of rotation is a very nice feature. Although it does not have a viewfinder, it really does not matter, because I would never use one if I have a 3" LCD screen.
I really recommend this camcorder for its beauty, portability, quality and price.
14 OK camcorder for the price I paid
Got this toy [for] only about $$$ after MIR, it's almost the [most inexpensive] mini-DV camcorder you can find.
The thing I like about it is, it's size and weight. It's much smaller than other camcorder and it's light. LCD size is large though not good. The video quanlity I think it's just ok, can't say great, but I was using the movie maker, I'll give a try on Adobe Premiere since some people said the quanlity is much better if using Adobe premiere. However there is totally no problem to transfer files between camcorder and PC if you have IEEE1394 card and cable. BR>The things I don't like about the camcorder is, the LCD quanlity is not good though it's large. Since there is no viewfinder, if you are using under the sun, you may hard to see on the LCD. The battery life is not very long, I only captured 25mins before I use up the battery.
OK, that's my feeling about the camcorder, keep in mind it's low low price, so I still think it's a good buy, well worth the money you spent.
15 Outstading Camcorder
I've had this camera for almost a year now and have had no problems with it. The size is great and it is small enough to fit in most digital camera belt carry cases. To be able to carry this thing around on your belt without it getting in the way and walk around an amusement part is wonderful. It's almost like carrying around a regular camera! (Just make sure you get a good case to protect it well because afterall a camcorder is more sensitive than a regular camera.) I've taken it on everything from a ride on a sailboat to formal dinners on the belt clip just under my dinner jacket without it getting in the way. The video it takes is really very nice for this price point and shoots remarkably well in the dark even though it does not come with a flashlight. The still pictures it takes are fine for taking low resolution pictures and casual use but this camcorder is really not meant to replace a good digital camera. The form factor and holding of the camera may take some getting used to compared to most traditional camcorders but once you get used to it this is not a problem. I've been able to take video while holding on to the side of a moving trolley with this camera.
Problems with downloading video to the PC with firewire may be due to an old computer or other firewire card incompatibilities which has nothing to do with the camera. The build quality and LCD display all look outstanding to me.
For taking video of the family and for vacations this is a great camcorder that I look forward to using on many more outings. I hope this review has been helpful to you.
16 Love it!
This camcorder records beautiful quality videos. The price is right and the size is perfect. Even when you move around quickly, the picture doesn't distort. The zoom is unbelievable. Buy it.
17 Great digicam
I don't know what the previous reviewer's problem is, but I've been able to stream directly off of the camera to a PC though the firewire interface using Windows XP Moviemaker.
18 Breaks after the labor warranty expires!
This is a good camera when it works. Mine stopped working 98 days after purchasing it (8 days after the labor warranty expired). The parts were paid for, but I still had to pay...labor charges to have it fixed. Customer support was absolutely NO help! This will probably be the last SHARP product that I buy!
19 [not good]
The quality is very poor. I was all hyper thinking that I got myself a miniDV cam and was recording a function. When I compared my tape Vs. a sony Hi-8 tape I saw the difference. The color, resulation all poor. The LCD does not have a cover, I am sure there will be scratched on it in a few month. My expectation was to do streaming directly, but NO, it doesnt have the streaming capability. You have to buy a capture device on the computer to do it.
I will probably give mine away to some one back home. The still pic quality is also very poor, specially at night or in darker room. If you want a camera to record some memorable moments, this is not for that.
20 Won't connect to the computer for Video Transfer
The camera records good video images, I'm very happy with that. The controls work fairly well, though the menus take some getting used to. I like the two handed operation, thought it's easy for the right thumb to accidentally punch buttons that turn off the auto-focus... The still images are very grainy, but I don't use this camera for that very often.
That's the good, here's the ugly: I got this camera to download digital video into my PC through the onboard 1394 connection. It simply doesn't work. I called Sharp tech support: "We can't guarantee that the 1394 interface will work with any other devices except another Sharp camera." Then why the h-e-doubletoothpicks doesn't the manual say that? Why does their advertising trumpet the ability to download video to the computer? Smacks of false advertising to me.
***Reviewer's Update***
While my annoyance at the attitude of Sharp's customer support is unabated, I must sheepishly admit that the camera wasn't the problem with transferring video to the computer, I was. I had incorrectly connected the 1394 ports when I assembled my PC. Once I fixed that, video transfer worked excellently.
If it was possible for me to change my rating, I'd now give it 4 stars. My thumb still pushes buttons I don't want it to push on occasion, button placement is not ideal.
21 Not so good as it appears in the picture
No place to put the hand on,and the LCD quality is not so good.
22 Dirty Video Head Problems on first new tape
I had the same problems as others did. I am glad that I tested this out before it was too late to return it. I only used this once with a brand new Sony miniDV tape. It was OK the first time I played it, but the picture dropped out the second time around... pixelation... sound drops out... If this happens with one tape, I would hate to imagine what happens in a year when the warranty runs out. (reminds me of the early GM cars)
I saw the problems that other people had and thought... hey it won't happen to me. Well...I happened to me (and it ...). Make sure that you test this thing carefully!!!
23 For the price - GREAT camera.
I'll say it again - this is a great camera, considering the price. The video quality far surpasses VHS-C, for a VHS-C price. I've owned this camera for about a month and it has worked as expected right out of the box.
In my opinion, the digital still camera feature is just an extra selling point for Sharp. The quality of the still photos is about the quality of an image capture from a video tape. It's not even as good as my 3 year old 1.3 megapixel camera I bought used for 50 bucks. So don't buy it thinking you're getting a quality digital still camera.
The camcorder is easy to operate and comfortable to hold (you almost have to use both hands, though.) I like not having to hold it up to my eye, and the large LCD display looks great indoors or out.
The "quick return" feature is nice - it fast-forwards the tape to the end of the last recording, so you don't accidentally tape over something.
I was initially concerned about the short warranty period (90 days), so I purchased it using my American Express card, which extends my warranty one year.
UPDATE: I've had the camera 5 months now and still no problems. I bought a Firewire cable and card for my computer and it works flawlessly transferring video to my computer, which is then recorded onto DVD. I've heard Sharp won't offer tech support for transferring video to computer, but it works great with my Dell computer running Windows XP Home.
24 READ THIS REVIEW!!
I have read many comments, all that I could find online actually. For the ...price after the rebate this is a great digital camcorder. What I read online in all user comments are:
1) Sharp doesnt support data transfer to a PC via IEEE1394. It only supports data transfer to other devices via IEEE1394. From what I read it will only work on Windows XP because it will auto detect it. Be sure you install the INF file from the CD so Windows XP knows what it is.
2) Apparently TDK tapes have a film that can ruin or atleast dirty the tape heads. (I use Sony tapes and it is fine)
3) A video capture program is a must for optimal quality of video transferred to your PC.
First I tried Windows Movie Maker (Included with OS). The quality... [was very poor]. I tried different modes of capturing. I then used Adobe Premier 6 or 6.5 and I was amazed! It looked great! Were not talking DVD quality here. (Read about MiniDV resolutions and quality online)
To sum up... This is a very cool digital camcorder if you have Windows XP(with an IEEE1394 port), a good digital capture program like Adobe Premier (not Windows movie maker), you dont use TDK MiniDV cassettes and you get the rebate BEFORE it expires! Read the rebate carefully!
25 READ THIS REVIEW!!
I have read many comments, all that I could find online actually. For the ...price after the rebate this is a great digital camcorder. What I read online in all user comments are:
1) Sharp doesnt support data transfer to a PC via IEEE1394. It only supports data transfer to other devices via IEEE1394. From what I read it will only work on Windows XP because it will auto detect it. Be sure you install the INF file from the CD so Windows XP knows what it is.
2) Apparently TDK tapes have a film that can ruin or atleast dirty the tape heads. (I use Sony tapes and it is fine)
3) A video capture program is a must for optimal quality of video transferred to your PC.
First I tried Windows Movie Maker (Included with OS). The quality... I tried different modes of capturing. I then used Adobe Premier 6 or 6.5 and I was amazed! It looked great! Were not talking DVD quality here. (Read about MiniDV resolutions and quality online)
To sum up... This is a very cool digital camcorder if you have Windows XP(with an IEEE1394 port), a good digital capture program like Adobe Premier (not Windows movie maker), you dont use TDK MiniDV cassettes and you get the rebate BEFORE it expires! Read the rebate carefully!
26 Playback quality was totally unacceptable.
I opened the package and tested the Viewcam with a brand new tape in a fairly clean room. Played back image was terribly distorted with several horizontal mozaic-patterned bars. During further recording, "head dirty" warning sign occasionally came up. Cleaned the head with a brand new cleaning tape, without any improvement. I returned the Viewcam and bought a SONY TRV-18, which, to my surprise, played back the very movie without any problem. This means, in my case, the Viewcam recorded the image successfully but could not show its achievement on its own monitor.
Still pictures were OK though. Sensitivity is lot better than my FinePix 4800 and the image quality was better than TRV-18.
27 A Little Wonder
I just just got this little wonder,and it is a joy.It is easy to use right out of the box,and its size of a digital camera makes it even better.The video is no dvd quality,but it is far better than vhs.The still pictures are great to,and you can store over 150 pics.Uploading to the pc is easy.This camcorder fits in a digital camera pouch making lugging this camera around a joy.All and all this is a great camera at a great price.If you have money to throw around,then go purchase a cannon,or sony,if not this little wonder will work wonders for you.
28 Love It!!!!
I give this camera 5 stars!
The Price can't be beat, especially with the rebate.
The features can't be beat for the price.
It's everything I wanted in a video camera. And the added digital still camera... part makes it even better! The resolution may only be 740x640 or something close ....but Hey you can still print nice 3x5's at least! If not 4x6's.
I love how compact and light it is. It is smaller and lighter then my Sony FD Mavica digital still camera.
I thought I would have to settle for a cheap 8mm video camera...but then I found Amazon.com!
I also love how easy it is to upload pics to the computer using the supplied usb cable.
I don't have a fire wire yet so I just hooked it up through my intel pro pc web camera and uploaded my video's to my computer. It turned out ok....but probably not in digital format. So I will probably end up getting the firewire soon. But it will work.
I love having the ability to playback the video on the camera with sound. And being able to add more to the tape using the dubbing feature.
It is very easy to switch from recording videos to recording still pics. Just a flip of one switch. Plus you can grab images off of your videos on your camera very easily too.
I have nothing bad to say about this camera. I just wish it came with a carrying case. Made for it so everything would fit perfectly. And I wish 2 day shipping didn't take 2 days! But that's life! hahahaha
29 Wish it worked well
I tried two of these. The first one would pixalate the picture and the sound would drop out. Also there was a green flashing tint when I tryed to capture from my other 8mm camcorder to convert the tape to digital. Amazon was very good about getting me a second camera in short order. Unfortunantly, it had a loud tape drive motor that the mic would pick up while recording so you always had a buzzing whine in the background. I liked the camera and wished it had worked well. Still pictures were very weak but it was cool to have that ability at all. Don't give up your dedicated digital still camera. Light sensitivity is a couple of years behind. Good light, good picture- poor light, well, you get the picture.
Can't beat the price but I think I will wait to see what else comes along. As I said, if it had just worked properly I would have been satisfied for the price.
30 worked out well but BEWARE!
i purchased this camera a while ago and received it yesterday. the firewire transfer works!! but beware>>>others are saying it doesnt..so i really cant recommend it. its small and convenient with decent video quality. i use a belkin firewire. if it doesnt work it seems that sharp is kinda saying "too bad" and not doing anything..so be careful!
31 A fine camcorder
I've had no trouble at all with this camcorder. The video quality is good, although not on par with Sharp's better camcorders or Sony's or JVC's, but you get better-than-VHS quality for an incredible price. (I can't believe they now offer a [better] rebate!) I've had no problems connecting to three Macintoshes or a Sony VAIO desktop. Maybe the other reviewers had drive-incompatibility issues on their PCs.
32 Good value
Great value for the price. Very easy to use. Took me some time to hook up with USB of older computer. W2000 will see the usb port very easily. Video pics are fatastic. Only disappoitment is the still pics, good for closeup, bad for bigger scenery. But worth every cent for the price.
33 Don't Get It
Well I have to say that Amazon.com was very good about replacing the camcorder. They are now sending me my 3rd sharp VLNZ100U camcorder. Very Nice ppl they are. Now the camera on the other hand well that is another story. It takes good video but it just doesn't want to play it back to the computer. The video comes back all digitized and full of bars. I figured maybe it was because it is going into the computer, so i unplugged the firewire, same thing, just chunked video. I would recommend buying this camera if you JUST want to RECORD. Don't think about playing it back. ROFL a one way camcorder.
34 Cheap' O cheap!
Did I say cheap?
You get less than what you paid for this camcorder.
I bought it because it was going to cost $... after rebate. Now I know why it is so cheap.
This thing is nothing more than a fancy webcam with firewire and usb connections that records on DV tapes.
Believe me, all you get is webcam quality capture on DV tapes.
The native resolution of the capture I bet is 352 x 240 (which is the same as VCD). You will not get DVD quality capture (720 x 480) with this camcorder.
I have Adobe premiere 6.5 and used it to do live capture. This is how you see the full capability of the camcorder capture. If you record on tape, the manufacturer could say or you might believe that the issue is with the tape. So, doing live capture to your computer hard drive is the best way to test the camcorder.
I did a series of capture 4:3 and 16:9 (widescreen) at DV settings of 720 x 480. The movies were awful as if I was using a netcam. In fact, this camcorder only takes slightly better picture than my netcam.
This camcorder is meant for capturing movies for TV (since most TVs display at 320 x 240). It is not meant for high resolution capture. The movies looked barely OK on my TV, but just awful on my computers when viewed at full screen. The movies looked Ok if viewed in a small window on the computer just like they do on the TV. However, when you maximize the movies to full screen, you realize that they were captured at low resolutions.
I spend two hours going through the settings and manual thinking that the camera was set for low resolution movie capture and that I could change it. That was not the case. For one, you have no option to change the resolution at which movies are captured. Two, the resolution you get is the camcorder's native and maximum resolution.
The still picture of this camecorder as you might expect by now is just as awful. The maximum resolution for the pictures is 320 x 240 just about like the movie capture resolution.
Finally the camera is cheaply constructed.
My advice: skip this piece of ....
I gave it two stars because it was cheap otherwise that would have been a zero star.
35 Firewire Non-Support
I just got off the phone with Sharp myself to see if the prior rating was valid or not. He sure was. In effect, they are not going to guarantee that you can even transfer your video to your PC. The Firewire might work, it might not...they won't be responsible if it doesn't. The tech told me that my best bet would be to buy a 3rd party software which could get the job done....only it wouldn't be transferred digitally. What a crock!
36 Works well
I think this is a good value for money. User-friendly and having lots of features. Digital pics are pretty okay considering it's just a camcorder.
Can somebody tell me whether I can download the digital pics to Win NT system? It's not working for me on NT.
More.....I've been using it for almost a week now. I have nothing to complain about it. Last night, I downloaded some digital pics to another PC. Some photos were really outstanding, some were okay.
Video recording too is pretty good. The best part is that everything is so easy to use.
I think I'll buy one more for my parents!!
Go for it.
37 Good MiniDV...... for just [$$], U expect more???
For [more$$] bucks, I might be disspointed. But for only [$$], I would say it is a very good baby. The Video is good but absolutely better than my old Hi8. The Sound is super. I did transfer the video to my computer via the Fireware. You just plug it in the port on your pc. Windows(I am using WinXP Pro) will found the minidv and install it automatically, no driver needed. Then just open your video editing software and click Capture, and put your DV in VCR mode, then play the video using DV. You will see the video in your pc...
38 No Sharp support for firewire
The firewire connection does not work when connecting to a pc. I have tried on 3 different pc's w/ different cables. When contacting Sharp technical support, they said that they DO NOT support firewire connections to pc.
They said the only thing the firewire port was intented for was to connect to another miniDV device. I also ran into problems when trying to get the camera serviced. Would not recommend Sharp as a company to buy from.
39 Great Value!
The Sharp VLNZ100U is a great value! the video quality is very good and it has all the hook-ups for transfering to a computer or a vcr. the still picture quality is not that great but it is a nice bonus feature. the unit comes with an 8MB media card which is perfect for grabbing a couple of still images. the only thing i wish the unit came with was the I-link (fire-wire) cable. it did however include the cable to hook up to a vcr and a usb cable for tranfsering pics to the computer. so far it has been a great choice, its small and easy to use.
40 A Bargain MiniDV Camera
The very small size, low price and large 3" LCD first attracted me to this camera. The video quality seems about the same as a HI8 and the pictures in still mode are only fair (VGA quality). The USB and 1394 interfaces are very easy to use. The camera has many features and special effects and is easy to operate. All things considered, this is a good camera at a bargain price.
41 Go away from this trouble
I had horrible time with this camcorder.
It has a lot of advanced features but very easy to broken The service center is only available at NY and CA, costs much more money to repair than buy it.
Don't spend your money on trouble.
42 Highly underrated camcorder
... I have agonized for several months about which mini dv to get, and will sleep easy tonight! Low light shots are great, and unlike what I read earlier, I can transfer my old analog vhs-c tapes to digital.
I'll probably buy a table top tripod and use it as a pistol grip. After years with my Hitachi, I'm having a tough time finding the right place for my hands with this tiny camcorder. Should be a joy to travel with, though, as I'm a frequent flyer.
43 very good product for the money
Got this item for Christmas and I love it...I love the versatility and the simplistic style of use. In my opinion, for [the price] you can not buy both a camcorder and digital camera anywhere, it is usually one or the other...This product is an Excellent buy!
44 Yippee!
Great for taking pictures, and shooting movies. I have also used the Mavica's and this is much better! The cards, and DV tapes are very easy to use. Up loading pictures to your computer is also a flash. Love it!
45 sqibble lines and noise
I agree with the post from Kansas. I am on my 3rd camcorder and within minutes of taping, the lines start. The "x" comes on first which means dirty heads, but in a new camcorder with new tape?? I am using sony minidv (me) tapes. I really wish I can find one that works!! I really like the camcorder!!
46 THIS CAMERA IS GREAT FOR STARTERS!!!
This is my first video camera. I got it for xmas becuase i wanted to shoot skiing videos. It is one of the best (i think) cameras for people who are just jumping into the video world..i highly suggest this camera!!
Good*
1.Small and easy to use
2.The way you hold it makes it more steady
3.Excellent zoom
4.Awesome steady shot
5.Comes with ilink so you can edit it on your computer
6.Just everything about the camera is great
Bad*
THERE IS NONE!!! :-)
47 Good Ideas Bad Execution
I received this camera as a gift in early November to use for the holidays this year. But after returning twice I decided to go another direction. This camera seems to have a problem with noise (funny lines and shapes) on recordings. I spoke to Sharp the first time this happened, and the service person asked if I was using TDK tapes. I answered yes, and the Sharp service person told me that TDK tapes leave a residue on the heads wich cause major problems for the camera. I was only ever able to get five good minutes of recording on either of the two cameras I had.
48 Total Winner from Sharp
This camcorder has performed wonderfully. It is much more than I expected for the money. Ease of operation, quality of the recording and most of all it's ideal size (not too small and not too big) really makes this a nice unit. I highly suggest this unit to all readers.
49 This camera makes me look cool!
I have had this camera for one month, and it is great fun to take places. I have had lots of success shooting both video and still shots of the same event. With just 2 clicks, you can switch between mediums, and it is just plain fun! The digital photo quality that this camera produces is good, but not the best. I found it easy to upload the images to my PC. And of course, having a camcorder that is this compact is convenient and impressive to others. Compared to similar models, this Sharp camera is very affordable.
50 Great Camera
I bought this on Amazon[.com] and had absolutely no problems. I think the camera is great quality. So far the battery has lasted me for my full outings. Memory card when in highest picture quality holds over 60 pics. Comes with the cables to hook up to your computer and your TV. Great deal for a great camera. Software for picture editing is not included.
51 Very good value
We've had our Sharp VLNZ100U for about three months now and we love it. The reality is that this camera is a 1/2 megapixel camera whick makes it not the ablosute best quality picture, but for the cost is very good. The camera has plenty of great features including the 10x optical zoom, 300x digital zoom, 16:9 widescreen mode, Digital image stabilization, the 180 degree rotation of the LCD monitor, the still camera (saves to memory card), plus plenty of the other "standard" camcorder features. ... Never a problem w/ the camera, it's worked perfect from the very first time we used it. The real trick after getting the camera is finding good digital video editing software to make your movies. And remember this camera does not come w/ the firewire or a tape, be prepared to buy these when you get your camera.
52 Defective the day I bought It
Bought this camera, the reviews had good things to say about it. The very first time I used it, upon playback, the video was very badly pixelated even though it was a new camera and new tape. Not a good start at all. The Photo taking aspect of the camera is decent in good light and useless in medium light. I am now waiting on my replacement tocome to me, hoping that the issues will be gone....not betting on it since my buddy has the same camera with the same problem too right out of the box....hmm?? Maybe pass on this one.....
53 Cool Features, But it Breaks
Although I think some of the unique features that this model has, like the VCR mode, are wonderful, I have had serious problems with it. I had to return it twice in 30 days because two different things had broken on it. The first time, the speaker had been damaged, and the second time it began eating my tapes (it destroyed 3 of them). On the second return, I traded for a different brand and I am now much happier.
54 Easy to use...but not worth it!
What appealed to me about this camcorder was that it is easy to use and comfortable to hold. Other camcorders seem to have a confusing layout and are uncomfortable to hold in one hand (my hand would hurt after awhile).
Unfortunately, I didn't think about the downsides:
(1) you can't really hold this camera in one hand -- you must hold it with two hands pretty much all the time.
(2) the camera has no means of putting a neck strap on it -- this is EXTREMELY irritating, to say the least. It has a hand strap, which does me no good at all--I don't want to carry it that way.
(3) the camera has a lens cap that does not fit without the lens hood...and guess what...I lost the lens hood. The lens cap is ridiculously cheap.
(4) there is no viewfinder other than the LCD screen. The way I have found to hold it the steadiest is against my abdomen (with the LCD tilted up to my face. Unfortunately, it is hard to see the LCD in sunny conditions!
Its ease of use of this camcorder still has appeal to me, but the lens cap problem is really getting to me.
55 Pleased with Sharp VLNZ150U Camcorder
I really like the compact size of the camcorder. I can take any anywhere as I do a lot of hiking. It takes less room than my regular camera.The quality of the video is very good.Easy to use.Sound quality is good.The digital camera quality is not so high.Good enough for downloading into computer but probably not for printing high quality photos.I've taken many digital photos and accept the lower definition.I have to use other camera for high definition.For it's size and price,it is a good buy.After 7 weeks, I have not received my rebate.
56 INTESE DEBT
This product equals trouble the screen broke and now i have to replace it! I really hate the placement of that [silly] screen...ahhh
57 great!!
this is a great camcorder. you can use digital effects, still pics, and is a great value...plus it has a huge screen, 3 inches, and only ways 1 pound and is also small. so if you want a great camcorder and don't want to waste your money, this is the perfect one to get.
58 Sharp VLNZ-100 MiniDV
Easy to use, 95 minutes of record time with standard battery, stills are good quality, and best of all...my wife can use it!
59 does not last
I bought this camera after seeing the reviews on amazon.com, in particular that it was durable. I enjoyed doing videos with it. But very soon after the warranty expired, the video stopped working. It still worked as a VCR, but not as a camera. When I sent it for repair at one of the Sharp partners, the bill to repair would have been higher than the cost of the camera!!! So be aware that this is not in fact a durable camera, and Sharp USA did nothing to help the confidence of this ex-customer.
60 Great multi-purpose camera
My fiancee and I were getting married in a week. I wanted to purchase a digital camera for the wedding. We looked at several models and decided on this one. Why? Because while the still resolution is not stellar, 640x720 or so, the video recording is top notch. And the use of both SD media cards and Mini-DV tapes is a great idea. Transferring the pictures to your PC is a breeze and all of the camera's controls are logically laid out and intuitive to use. If you don't need great still picture resolution, after all I still have a 35mm SLR for the serious stuff, and are looking for a good quality digital camcorder, don't pass this one up!
