Most helpful user reviews
- Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 11 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 3 of 11 user reviews
-
12 out of 13 people found this helpful
-
2 out of 2 people found this helpful
-
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
- See all 11 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Recent user reviews
- Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 11 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
Submit your review
Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest
-
alaTest.com
Editors' rating: 82
Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 69 reviews of CANON DC210 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 64/100 and users 61/100. Comparing these reviews to 105032 other Camcorders reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 82/100 = Very Good.
-
pcworld.com
Editors' rating: 74
Summary: As long as you don't object to having to master many controls, this camcorder has genuine appeal, thanks to its low price and powerful zoom
-
goodgearguide.com.au
Editors' rating: 65
Summary: The DC210 performs solidly for an entry-level, low resolution camera. However, it's difficult to recommend in the face of superior DVD models which are only slightly more expensive.
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Digital Camcorders. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of digital camcorder.
Disc formats
Mini-DVD camcorders record high-quality MPEG-2 footage directly to a mini DVD-R or DVD-RAM and can deliver more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution, depending on camcorder quality. Recording directly to disc makes it convenient for playing directly in set-top players and for storage.
Best for: Trendsetter; home and vacation moviemaker; business videographer.
| DVD-Rs can be played in home DVD players |
| Easy searching and random access to video segments |
| Convenient and stable format for archiving |
| Selectable image-quality levels, including high-quality variable-bit-rate recording |
| Both video and still images are recorded on disc (instead of on a cassette and a memory card) |
| Video recorded on DVD-R cannot be edited on a computer |
| Video on DVD-RAMs can be accessed only via a DVD-RAM drive |
| Relatively short recording times at highest-quality modes and unpredictable recording times with variable bit rate |
| Relatively expensive discs |
| Less reliable for live recording; a single bad bit can render an entire disc of video unrecognizable |
Supporting manufacturers:Canon; Hitachi; Panasonic; Samsung; Sony.
Read more in the Digital Camcorder Buying Guide
Exposure control
Every digital camcorder has a fully automatic mode that lets you simply point and shoot, but it's best to be able to adjust your exposure setting a little. Special shooting modes for capturing subjects lit by a spotlight or other specific sources can be helpful. For full control over exposure, you'll need a camera that lets you manually set both the aperture and the shutter speed. Advanced camcorders offer zebra stripes, which highlight overexposed areas with a striped pattern so that you can fine-tune exposure. Low-light performance is the Achilles' heel of many digital camcorders. Look for a model with a minimum lux rating of seven or lower. Many camcorders offer special low-light shooting modes, but they don't all work the same way. Some simply slow down the shutter speed so that you get full-color but impressionistic-looking footage. Others use an infrared emitter to capture greenish monochrome video in total darkness.
LCD and electronic viewfinder info
More pixels usually mean better viewfinder and LCD image quality. Look for a sharp LCD that's easy to see in bright light; adjustable screen brightness helps, too. The larger the LCD, the easier it will be to see (and the more power-hungry it will be); for all but ultracompact camcorders, look for at least 2.5 inches. An EVF that you can tilt with a diopter lever for adjusting focus will give you more shooting flexibility. Almost all EVFs and LCDs on consumer camcorders display color, although some video enthusiasts prefer black-and-white EVFs, which can make it easier to judge exposure. Touch-screen LCDs have begun to appear on a few consumer video cameras, usually for menu navigation and spot focusing. Some users find them convenient, while others prefer not to have to use the LCD to access camcorder controls.
See more LCD products
CNET product brief
Description: The Canon DC210 is a DVD-R DL (8 cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), and DVD-R (8cm)-based, ultra-compact camcorder.Compared to other ultra-compact camcorders on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $240.This unit weighs 14.3 ounces and has a sensor resolution of about 0.7 megapixels.
Pros: Has a 35x optical zoom.
Cons: None noted, given available product data.
Suitability: An ultra-compact camcorder, suited for on-the-fly shooting.
Value: In view of its relatively inexpensive price, this camcorder has great features for the money.
Suggestions: For more help selecting the right digital camcorder, visit CNET Reviews' buying guide.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
