I needed to get me a camcorder for my trip to the Philippines, as I looked, I decided to go with this one because it was cheap and seemed to have many features. Now that I have this, I wouldn't trade it for the world; the ease of use is great for beginners and pros alike. The picture quality is not the best in the world, but its sufficient for its purpose. You will have to purchase a minidv tape in order to use the camcorder, as it is not packaged with one. Sharp was kind enough to supply a 8mb SD card with the camera though. Picture transfer is made easy with the supplied usb cable; firewire allows one (with a firewire port) to transfer video off the camcorder to a PC. You will need to get a good video editing software though (I.E. Adobe Premier). Another good feature is the built in battery charger; instead of lugging a bulky charger wherever you go, all you have to do is attach the supplied power cord to the camera and it charges the battery.pThere are downsides to the camcorder though. The camera can be held with one hand, but for maximum stability, one must hold the camera with both hands. The lack of having a built in light also gives another down; in lowlight situations, the camera tries to compensate with backlight which works good if there's some light, but if you try to take video at night, you can not see anything. Another down is that you have to constantly look at the LCD screen to see what you're filming.pAll in all, I'd highly reccommend this camera for those who are looking for a bargain camcorder to last them for a long time. This niffty little gadget has many features to please newcommers and professionals alike.

I was looking for an entry level Mini DV Camcorder when I came across this bargain. I've been pleasantly surprised to have had absolutely no problems whatsoever from any of its features. My Win XP machine had no problems recognizing either the SD card when hooked up via USB or the video output when hooked up via Firewire, and all transfers have gone off without a hitch. If you're considering this camera, but worrying about ease of use, worry no more!!pThe camera is incredibly small and light, making it ideal for the uses I have for it. It goes with me to Taekwondo tournaments, on hiking expeditions, and will soon accompany me on a road trip to the beach. It's about the same size and weight as a regular 35mm or digital camera, meaning you don't have to lug around the bulk usually associated with camcorders.pVideo and audio quality are both great, although video gets a little grainy in low-light situations (but nothing too bothersome).

I was looking for an entry level Mini DV Camcorder when I came across this bargain. I've been pleasantly surprised to have had absolutely no problems whatsoever from any of its features. My Win XP machine had no problems recognizing either the SD card when hooked up via USB or the video output when hooked up via Firewire, and all transfers have gone off without a hitch. If you're considering this camera, but worrying about ease of use, worry no more!!The camera is incredibly small and light, making it ideal for the uses I have for it. It goes with me to Taekwondo tournaments, on hiking expeditions, and will soon accompany me on a road trip to the beach. It's about the same size and weight as a regular 35mm or digital camera, meaning you don't have to lug around the bulk usually associated with camcorders.Video and audio quality are both great, although video gets a little grainy in low-light situations (but nothing too bothersome).

Straightforward camera that gets the job done. Great value. USEABILITY: Slight downside on ergonomics. The layout with the screen on the back is useable, but a bit akward. You have to use the same finger (R thumb) for both zooming and rec/stop. More importantly, you generally have to use two hands, unlike the typical one-handed strap designs on most cams. So don't expect to use it while bike riding unless you like to ride no hands. STILLS: The still capability is cool but don't expect to use it for more than email-grade snapshots. DV cams are designed for motion, and the resolution on most is generally only around 0.3 megapixels. BATTERY: As with many cams, the supplied battery is small, so I purchased an OEM double-capacity ... The VL-NZ150 and 155 come with an extra battery (double-capacity). I am happy with the VL-NZ105 and am satisfied that it was a good value.

Just took another S. America adventure with my first camcorder. I love this camera. The large screen allows me to actually see what is happening while I am filming without having to put my face in the camera. You can see what you are filming out of the corner of your eye and are still able to see where you are going and not step on a croc or other teethy critters. The quality of the videos is incredible-and the still camera works great too. I like being able to get back to civilization and just plug it into the back of the tv, grab a glass of vino tinto, and watch that days takes. About the only problem I have with the unit is the microphone. Because it is built in with no ext. jack; and because it faces foward; when you need to whisper-as when stalking and animal-sometimes it won't pick up my voice. But you can always add sound later. One other thing. If you are going to carry the camera and the remote in the same camera bag, I suggest putting one or the other inside some sort of hard case also(like a cigarette pack holder). This way there is less of a chance of the camera being turned on accidentally and running the battery down-which I did three times before I figured out what was causing the heat and the dead battery. Anyway, it works for me and the price makes my.....never mind

This is a really useful little camcorder. For my hands, it's almost too small, but has a lot of very handy features, like the fade in/fade out and single frame capture via SD card. The video capture is consistent with all entry level cameras: it likes a lot of light! The digital camera function is OK, but don't expect the same performance as a 3 Mpixel camera that costs as much as this camcorder. If you really want low-light high performance or a bunch of professional features, you will have to cough up a LOT more money. If you want a handy little gizmo to record casual lifetime moments, this is the one! brI want to make a specific comment about Firewire performance: my WinXP machine recognized this device and loaded the drivers in 30 seconds. I was downloading and editing video in less than 5 minutes. Earlier notes from other correspondents regarding Sharp's non-performance in this arena are misinformed.brI recommend adding a Firewire (IEEE-1394 or iLink)card to your computer (and a lot of drive space), you'll be wondering how you ever did without this!

Obviously if you want tons of bells whistles you should check out more expensive camcorders from Sony and Canon and JVC. The Sharp is a very capable and adequate camcorder for 99.9% of us amateur videographers. The 3" LCD is beautiful. Some people complain about the shape, but I find using two hands to hold the camcorder (any camcorder) makes much steadier shots, so I actually have come to prefer the shape of Sharp's camcorders. In any event, it's really easy to use and the battery life is good, too. So if you are looking for an everyday camcorder, be sure to consider this great value.

I was at my friend's house and he had a nifty little camera which was about $800...Now it comes with all the bells, but I just wanted a simple camera that was easy to use, lightweight and took good quality pictures. I agree with another review which says..if you just want to tape your parties and life's moments, this is perfect. I downloaded Movie Maker 2 which makes making movies a breeze..Highly recommended. The rebate form too was extremely easy to fill out...No catches...Don't hesitate on this one!

I was at my friend's house and he had a nifty little camera which was about $800...Now it comes with all the bells, but I just wanted a simple camera that was easy to use, lightweight and took good quality pictures. I agree with another review which says..if you just want to tape your parties and life's moments, this is perfect. I downloaded Movie Maker 2 which makes making movies a breeze..Highly recommended. The rebate form too was extremely easy to fill out...No catches...Don't hesitate on this one!

I'm not a film maker, I just want tapes of the kid that I can edit digitally. This is the best value out there, even without the rebate. I found it originally because of it's low price. After searching other low-priced MiniDV cams, I came back to this one since it has the features I need. It has excellent quality for me, and it plugged into my computer easily. Windows XP recognized it immediately and even started up the digital editing software for me. You will have to buy a Firewire card with cable to connect it to your computer, so add $$ to the cost (there's no difference in firewire cards, don't spend $$). My only complaint is that the camera is small and doesn't really have many places to hold it. However, because it's small, it's easy to take everywhere.pIf you're looking to get into digital video, this is a great way to start. Digital videos have the same advantage over analog that digital pictures have over film. You can archive them digitally so you can have a source that won't degrade over time. You can enhance them, correcting colors and brightness/exposure. You can burn them on a CD and send to family. Additionally, you can use it to digitize your old analog tapes. This is one of the few low priced MiniDV camcorders that has A/V inputs using standard RCA plugs. It does NOT have S-Video inputs, though. This allows you to output your VCR to the camcorder and either pass it through to the computer (for digitizing) or recording on a MiniDV tape. Either way, you will have a digital copy of your old tapes. So it serves as a video capture device for your computer. The digital still function is an added bonus, but the pictures are going to be pretty basic, worse than even the cheapest digital camera. Still, it's not bad for a few quick snaps to email around. Don't buy it thinking you'll avoid the need for a digital camera. You'll still want a decent digital camera.pIf you're looking to get into videos, this is the way to go. If you're already an expert, this may or may not be what you're looking for. For my everyday use, it's perfect!pRuss

I'm not a film maker, I just want tapes of the kid that I can edit digitally. This is the best value out there, even without the rebate. I found it originally because of it's low price. After searching other low-priced MiniDV cams, I came back to this one since it has the features I need. It has excellent quality for me, and it plugged into my computer easily. Windows XP recognized it immediately and even started up the digital editing software for me. You will have to buy a Firewire card with cable to connect it to your computer, so add $$ to the cost (there's no difference in firewire cards, don't spend $$). My only complaint is that the camera is small and doesn't really have many places to hold it. However, because it's small, it's easy to take everywhere.If you're looking to get into digital video, this is a great way to start. Digital videos have the same advantage over analog that digital pictures have over film. You can archive them digitally so you can have a source that won't degrade over time. You can enhance them, correcting colors and brightness/exposure. You can burn them on a CD and send to family. Additionally, you can use it to digitize your old analog tapes. This is one of the few low priced MiniDV camcorders that has A/V inputs using standard RCA plugs. It does NOT have S-Video inputs, though. This allows you to output your VCR to the camcorder and either pass it through to the computer (for digitizing) or recording on a MiniDV tape. Either way, you will have a digital copy of your old tapes. So it serves as a video capture device for your computer. The digital still function is an added bonus, but the pictures are going to be pretty basic, worse than even the cheapest digital camera. Still, it's not bad for a few quick snaps to email around. Don't buy it thinking you'll avoid the need for a digital camera. You'll still want a decent digital camera.If you're looking to get into videos, this is the way to go. If you're already an expert, this may or may not be what you're looking for. For my everyday use, it's perfect!Russ

Staring at an LCD instead of through a viewport is actually quite liberating. Say you are sitting in an auditorium behind some fathead. Just move the camera around or over the fathead's head. p1394/iLink/Firewire Works great with Windows XP and Windows Movie Maker. No special software required. Just plug and play. Connecting the USB to the camcorder to download the pictures required the supplied camera USB driver. The anti-jiggle feature is quite lame compared to a Sony. Better order a tripod.pA few things to note: Maximum still picture camera resolution is 640x480. Quite frankly, the pictures are very blurry. Don't bother with a bigger SD card because you won't be taking too many pictures with this. Also, it did not come with a 1394 cable,miniDV cassette or carrying case. I ordered the cable for $9 and got a sixpack of Maxell miniDVs at [local store] for $22.pOverall I really like this camcorder. You certainly can't beat the price. If you are looking to buy a starter camcorder this deal can't be beat. Other than that you may consider the Sony Digital8 cam for $100 more.

The unit is a good starter unit, especially for $$$ Once you get it, treat it delicately. This isn't your mom's bakelite phone from 1960. pAs SOON as you see any visual display issues on either record or playback, stop and send the unit to Sharp for repair.pGet an aftermarket extended warranty, preferable Mack, (not offered here, sadly).pUnit has motor whine when in use with the build in microphone, play back on a TV either directly or via a Firewire-PC-CDR burn to DVD will play the whine. You have to use an aftermarket directional mic.pIt's much easier and friendlier to use that a normal palm camcorder, your hands are naturally positioned, and the screen makes recording easier for anyone.pThe digital picture mode doesn't take great photo's so it's not a replacement for a digital "camera"pIf you asked me if I would buy another sharp camcorder, no. There are so many other companies making digital corders that have so much more durability and functionality. I would miss the flex screen ability.pLastly, Sharp Customer service is pathetic. They don't know their own products. They don't even know that their firewire system supports full video/audio PC/Mac capture.

The unit is a good starter unit, especially for $$$ Once you get it, treat it delicately. This isn't your mom's bakelite phone from 1960. As SOON as you see any visual display issues on either record or playback, stop and send the unit to Sharp for repair.Get an aftermarket extended warranty, preferable Mack, (not offered here, sadly).Unit has motor whine when in use with the build in microphone, play back on a TV either directly or via a Firewire-PC-CDR burn to DVD will play the whine. You have to use an aftermarket directional mic.It's much easier and friendlier to use that a normal palm camcorder, your hands are naturally positioned, and the screen makes recording easier for anyone.The digital picture mode doesn't take great photo's so it's not a replacement for a digital "camera"If you asked me if I would buy another sharp camcorder, no. There are so many other companies making digital corders that have so much more durability and functionality. I would miss the flex screen ability.Lastly, Sharp Customer service is pathetic. They don't know their own products. They don't even know that their firewire system supports full video/audio PC/Mac capture.

I bought this little puppy for our trip to Disney World this summer because I wanted decent digital camera/camcorder that wouldn't cost as much as the trip to Walt Disney World ... brI played with this many times to get real familar with the functionality and I am very pleased that I got everything I wanted:p1. Ability to store images on a SD card. I have several SD cards (1- 256 mb, and 2-128 mb). By using my 256 MB SD Card, I can take up to 1,200 pics at Fine quality, the best the camera offers. Also, since the camera accepts a SD card it gives me the option to popout the SD from the Sharp ViewCam and insert into my Pocket PC Phone (i.e. handheld) thus allowing me to email my pics anytime anyplace directly from my device. Now how cool is that!p2. Create digital videos and delete scenes before downloading to PC.p3. I wanted something compact, light and easy to use. After a couple minutes out of the box I was able to create a test movie and pics within a few minitues. p4. The most important as mentioned already was value. The $$$ rebate was definetly an incentive to buying it but I may have done so without it.

I bought this little puppy for our trip to Disney World this summer because I wanted decent digital camera/camcorder that wouldn't cost as much as the trip to Walt Disney World ... I played with this many times to get real familar with the functionality and I am very pleased that I got everything I wanted:1. Ability to store images on a SD card. I have several SD cards (1- 256 mb, and 2-128 mb). By using my 256 MB SD Card, I can take up to 1,200 pics at Fine quality, the best the camera offers. Also, since the camera accepts a SD card it gives me the option to popout the SD from the Sharp ViewCam and insert into my Pocket PC Phone (i.e. handheld) thus allowing me to email my pics anytime anyplace directly from my device. Now how cool is that!2. Create digital videos and delete scenes before downloading to PC.3. I wanted something compact, light and easy to use. After a couple minutes out of the box I was able to create a test movie and pics within a few minitues. 4. The most important as mentioned already was value. The $$$ rebate was definetly an incentive to buying it but I may have done so without it.

This item was purchased for a couple of family special events. We wanted a dv camcorder that was packable--the whole thing, case, accessories, and all, had to fit in a small airline carry-on and still leave room for other stuff. We also needed USB and firewire capability, for use on both PC and MAC computers, and AV output capability for television display. And we wanted something that was cheap enough that it wouldn't break our hearts if we lost it on our travels, or destroyed it somehow. (With this family, anything is possible!)pThe Viewcam configuration doesn't use an eyepiece viewfinder--everything is displayed on the LCD screen. It has two-hand operation with a light nylon wrist strap, like a standard digital camera. All this decreases the weight and increases the "point and shoot" ability.pResolution on the LCD viewscreen is low, but finished tapes and stills are good to average for this price range. No noticeable color degradation on inside shots. No motor noise on film. Microphone picked up average conversation easily. Battery life lasted just about long enough for a 45 minute church service.pAs advised by other customer reviews, we use only Sony tapes on this machine. We are also aware that repair service from Sharp is hard to get. This is a good, serviceable machine, especially if you find it at a low enough price to be almost considered "disposable"--as we did on Amazon.

This item was purchased for a couple of family special events. We wanted a dv camcorder that was packable--the whole thing, case, accessories, and all, had to fit in a small airline carry-on and still leave room for other stuff. We also needed USB and firewire capability, for use on both PC and MAC computers, and AV output capability for television display. And we wanted something that was cheap enough that it wouldn't break our hearts if we lost it on our travels, or destroyed it somehow. (With this family, anything is possible!)The Viewcam configuration doesn't use an eyepiece viewfinder--everything is displayed on the LCD screen. It has two-hand operation with a light nylon wrist strap, like a standard digital camera. All this decreases the weight and increases the "point and shoot" ability.Resolution on the LCD viewscreen is low, but finished tapes and stills are good to average for this price range. No noticeable color degradation on inside shots. No motor noise on film. Microphone picked up average conversation easily. Battery life lasted just about long enough for a 45 minute church service.As advised by other customer reviews, we use only Sony tapes on this machine. We are also aware that repair service from Sharp is hard to get. This is a good, serviceable machine, especially if you find it at a low enough price to be almost considered "disposable"--as we did on Amazon.

My main purpose in writing this review is to let customers know that this viewcam works with Macintosh computers. You must have iMovie and a firewire cable (not just USB). With the firewire, the movie you record on the DV tape is transferred right into iMovie for cool editing. It was easy even for a computer-idiot like me. pUsing the viewcam is easy, and the best part is the compact size. It looks just like a big digital camera, so no-one knows that you are actually filming. We use this to capture moments in our baby daughter's day-to-day life, and it works great (especially because you can so easily edit out repetitive sceens on your computer). Just remember to buy DV tapes, it does not come with any and you can't record movies without one installed. Enjoy!

My main purpose in writing this review is to let customers know that this viewcam works with Macintosh computers. You must have iMovie and a firewire cable (not just USB). With the firewire, the movie you record on the DV tape is transferred right into iMovie for cool editing. It was easy even for a computer-idiot like me. Using the viewcam is easy, and the best part is the compact size. It looks just like a big digital camera, so no-one knows that you are actually filming. We use this to capture moments in our baby daughter's day-to-day life, and it works great (especially because you can so easily edit out repetitive sceens on your computer). Just remember to buy DV tapes, it does not come with any and you can't record movies without one installed. Enjoy!

Positives:br1. You can recharge this camcorder by plugging it directly into an electric outlet- no dealing with rechargable batteries :)br2. Can take still photographs uses SD instead of putting the stills on the tape.br3. While in playback mode (watching video footage you took), you can pause it and take stills from the tape onto the SD card.br4. The camcorder lasts a long time I do not have to recharge it often :)pNegatives:br1. The quality of the still photos is not great but it is good for emailing.pOverall I love this camcorder because of the 'Positives' I mentioned above- it has everything I need. I know that the stills are not great quality but for the price of this camcorder I can manage ;) This is a great deal!

It's pretty cool stuff for its price.brThe quality of video audio does not disappoint me.brI captured DV-tape images I've got and edited them brwith Adobe Primiere, and it worked well!brThere was no problem in doing that.brAnd it fits into the 35mm camera bag, I can carry itbreverywhere!

At the current price, if you're willing to get okay color saturation, not the greatest lighting (the camera is readily confused by light and dark areas), and good (not great) resolution, the camera is a good deal. For occasional recreational use it's fine.pMy main purpose for getting this camera (I got the 155U, which comes with an extra battery) was to send signals from a video astronomy CCD camera to the miniDV camcorder and then via firewire to my PC for frame processing. This camcorder records the images sent to it very well and I doubt that other than getting a dedicated digital recorder (they cost about $1K), a more [costly] camcorder would have mattered. So for that purpose I am immensely happy with the camcorder. In the same way, one can transfer your old videos to this camcorder and get very nice transfers.pOverall, very much recommended with the caveats I noted in the first paragraph.

This was my first actual purchase for a camcorder. I have experience with other units because of my job in computer technology. My main reason for buying this camcorder was the price. It had all of the features I needed as well. It has Firewire (IEEE 1394) to download the video to a PC, and it has USB to download the still shots to a PC. The quality is very nice. We took it on vacation to the Gulf of Mexico and were pleased with the convenient size and weight. I would definitely recommend this unit for someone to purchase. (By the way, at the time of our purchase, we received a $100 rebate from Sharp since it was purchased on Amazon.com but I don't believe that is currently available).

I love this little camera. And, after seaching all over for drivers for Mac OSX, I followed the advice of a previous review, bought the appropriate firewire cable, and iMovie recognized it immediately.pThe picture and sound quality is exceptional for the price and it's small enough to throw in a pocketbook and carry around everywhere.

I priced DV other cameras before purchasing this one. This camera was $100 - $300 less than most cameras I looked at. It doesn't have the bells and whistles that the some other cameras did, but then it does! The feature I love most about my camera is the fact that I can use it as a go between device to copy analog video from my TV and/or VCR to my computer and convert it to digital in the process. I was prepared to spend quite a bit to get a device that was capable of doing what I can now do with my Sharp camera and all I had to do was install firewire on my computer.brI agree, this is an excellent entry level DV camera.

The last video recorder that I purchased required you to carry it over your shoulder, so the compact size of this camera was verty attractive. It is easy to use and the batteries last quite a long time. Its very easy to switch from video record mode to digital still mode, and it is a snap to upload the photos to your computer, or play your videos on a TV or transfer to a VHS tap via a VCR. My only complaint about this camera would be that when zooming the video, it is difficult to hold the camera still enough to have a stable picture -- which may be a deficiency of the user rather than the camera.

Based on the price and reviews I read it looked like a good product to start with until the mini-DVD price comes down. Well to my surpise and delight this camera works great. Picture is real good on tape and VERY easy to use. Great camera for sports and family events. I recommend it.

Based on the price and reviews I read it looked like a good product to start with until the mini-DVD price comes down. Well to my surpise and delight this camera works great. Picture is real good on tape and VERY easy to use. Great camera for sports and family events. I recommend it.

This camcorder has a wealth of features and is easy to use. The ability to take still photos and store them on the smartcard is a nice feature. The video image is good to very good.After four hours of recording we started to have problems with playing back recordings and determined from the icon that the tape heads needed to be cleaned. The head cleaning was easy once we bought a tape ..., but hopefully this won't happen every four hours.Taking everything into consideration, I'd probably make the purchase again at the same price ...

I regret I bought this Sharp camcorder. I knew Sharp's quality if not very good from my past experience, but I just couldn't resist the low price and $100 rebate. After just about 1 month, it is already dead in water: the power just couldn't be turned on no matter what I tried. The worse part is that I found out the closest authorized service dealer is 300+ miles away from me because it is a "digital" camcorder. So, think twice if you want to buy a Sharp camcorder!

Although this camera has analog input it has no S-Video support. So the higher resolution is wasted in some situations. Also this camera does not have video output when there is input from Firewire as in most digitla editing systems. If you want a cheap usable camera, it's okay. If you want to integrate it into a firewire editing system or have an S-Video capable monitor, look elsewhere.

At this price this is a great buy! I have been looking for a digital camcorder for a while now but didn't want to spend a lot because we already have several camcorders and they are all quickly outdated in the current world of technology. When I saw the price (and the rebate) for this camera I was skeptical but I took a chance! The camera arrived in four days with super saver shipping. I was ready to roll- almost! I hadn't purchased a dv tape as the arrival date listed for my purchase was a week away. Note that this camera does not come with a tape- you must purchase one for it. It does however include a very low capacity card for still photos.pThe camcorder is surprisingly small and easy to handle. It is about the size of my current SLR camera and weighs considerably less. I had neglected to purchase a camera bag but it fit into a padded make up bag and was easy to take along.pThe instructions are very simple to follow. I attached the battery and plugged the camera into an outlet to begin charging. I then went out to purchase a tape (available at local stores). By the time I returned the battery was finished charging. The dials are easy to use and clearly marked. After convincing my kids to allow me to video tape them at play I was ready to view my work. pThe playback on the camera includes sound although it is a bit soft. The picture is clear and the screen of sufficient size to allow for enjoyable viewing. I then tried playing it on my TV. It was a sinch to set up, play back and to transfer to VCR tapes. The sound was loud and clear. I was able to quckly send a copy to my parents in Florida. I reccommend plugging the camera in for play back as it will save the battery. This is also easy to do.pAs others have stated the still pictures are good for viewing as a slide show or emailing, but they're not photo quality. This is not what I purchaseed this camcorder for so the stills are just a fun bonus. pNow came the tough part (for me). Viewing it on my computer. Thankfully my older son was home from college and again we accomplished this with ease. The instructions and mechanics are quite clear. I have not done any editting, but I rarely edit my video as I like to save it all. So far I'm really pleased with this purchase. pThis is a great deal and a great camera. Though I can't yet comment on durability the previous Sharp products I've purchased have been great. I do suggest purchasing an additional battery and extra tapes.

THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THIS CAMCORDER DELIVERS. INCLUDED IS A THE SD CARD FOR DIGITAL IMAGES, NO FIRE WIRE PROBLEMS FOR ME AND THE UNITS SIZE IS PERFECT. AT $, THIS UNIT IS AN EXCELLENT BARGAIN. I HAVE SEARCHED ALL OF THE BIG RETAIL STORES INCLUDING THE CLUBS AND ALL OF THEM ARE AT LEAST $100.00 MORE FOR A COMPARABLE UNIT.

I Downloded the User manual (Adobe Acrobat) from Amazon and was able to read all the gory details about the product before buying it.brThe big motivator was the price! I looked in Best Buy and the baseline cost for a MiniDV camcorder is Four hundread bucks. brThe rebate of 100$ brings it to a very attractive price point.brThis was a Fathers Day gift ("Thank you Dear wife!!"). I owned a Hi8 camcorder for nearly 6 yrs and It was time to upgrade. This will last me for another 5 yrs easily, until the next technology (Maybe HDTV quality recording on blue laser discs).brI am very satisfied with how it looks and what its doing.brMy dad what impresssed that it looks more like a Camera than a Comcorder. Make sure you order the IEEE 1394 (6pin/4pin) cable for transfer to computer and get MiniDV (ME) tapes. Amazon had good deals on them too. brIf you download the user manual which is provided on Amazon - you wiff find out all the technical info you need to know.brI a very happy with my decision. I found out that I can edit my movies on Windows movie Maker 2 (Free program on Windows XP and Me), and transfer it back to the MiniDV. brJust Buy it !! You'll Like It!

I brought this MiniDV Camcorder this June, and it started having vedio clogging problem after I used it for just two weeks. I contacted Sharp, and was told that I shall pay for the shipping in order to get this defective item repaired. They have one repair center in NY, one down Texas. Both of them are over 1,000 miles from where I live. I would suggest you buy something more reliable..

You need a tape cassette to operate the viewcamera, right? But don't expect to begin to use it until you have made a separate purchase of tapes somewhere. Wouldn't most novice users expect to find at least a "starter" tape to learn it's use? I did. As it is about the size of a regular camera you will need nimble fingers to work the controls. Also, shopping for a spare battery at Best Buy Circuit City came up blank. Will parts be hard to find?

I purchased a older version of the Sharp DV camera. I had problems with interferance when transferring to the PC. I checked cables, etc. Finally, I emailed tech support. Never received a response. Better stick with Sony or Canon!

I regret I bought this Sharp camcorder. I knew Sharp's quality if not very good from my past experience, but I just couldn't resist the low price and $100 rebate. After just about 1 month, it is already dead in water: the power just couldn't be turned on no matter what I tried. The worse part is that I found out the closest authorized service dealer is 300+ miles away from me because it is a "digital" camcorder. So, think twice if you want to buy a Sharp camcorder!

I am a Chinese, in pass the mail order's way in Michigan on March 12, in your place address for purchasing first set SHARP DV, now I already return toing China, but SHARP DV however badly, needing fixing, but I can't again go to the United Statesing, pleasing telling my this problem-solving way? if can mailing you fix, pleasing telling me mailing.brPlease accept our thanks for the trouble you have taken.

I bought this Viewcam a few weeks ago and entered a review. At the time, there were many reviews...some good some bad. Where did they all go. If Amazon.com wants to have consumers make an educated choice in what they buy, why take away reviews that might be helpful. FYI: "The Firewire feature probably won't work and is not supported by SHARP.", as per my conversation with a SHARP Tech.

I bought this Viewcam a few weeks ago and entered a review. At the time, there were many reviews...some good some bad. Where did they all go. If Amazon.com wants to have consumers make an educated choice in what they buy, why take away reviews that might be helpful. FYI: "The Firewire feature probably won't work and is not supported by SHARP.", as per my conversation with a SHARP Tech.