With memory card and internal hard drive camcorders making a push to the front of the line, DVD-based models will soon find themselves occupying the clearance shelves. In fact, there are only a handful of camcorders left that record solely to DVD, and Canon’s DC330 ($379 MSRP) is one of them. There’s nothing antiquated about the DC330’s video performance—it has a better than average quality for a standard definition camcorder in its price range. However, the shape and size of its DVD drive makes the DC330 an uncomfortable device to hold and its menu navigation system is nothing to envy. The camcorder is a good choice for people who must record to DVD and who prioritize strong video quality, but there are too many faults and problems to recommend it for anyone else.
The Canon DC320, which costs $10 less, is essentially the DC330’s fraternal twin—both are identical except the DC320 lacks a USB port and doesn’t come with a remote control. If you’re looking to save more money, Canon offers the lower-end DC310, which has a lower pixel count and a few less features.
The Front (5.50)
The Canon DC330 has a similar design to last year’s DC220 and DC330, but there are a fewer buttons on the back and an entirely different battery compartment design. The front, however, is mostly unchanged. The DC330 doesn’t have a flash or video light and it’s still a tall, slim camcorder with a DVD hatch taking up the entirety of its right side. The lens on the DC330 has no filter thread, a maximum aperture range of f/2.0 – f/5.2, and has the following focal length specs:
Focal length:
2.6 – 96.2mm
35mm equivalent:
41.7 – 2,002mm (16:9 advanced zoom)
47.1 – 1,743mm (16:9 other zoom types)
44.6 – 2453mm (4:3 advanced zoom)
44.6 – 1650mm (4:3 other zoom types)
Still images:
45.2 – 1672mm (16:9)
41.5 – 1536mm (4:3)
The lens also has a built-in, manual lens cover, with the switch being located on the left side. Underneath the lens are two circular sets of holes that look like small snowflakes. This is the camcorder’s internal microphone. The front placement of the built-in mic is a good idea, as it is out of reach from wandering fingers (a problem we saw with the Sony DCR-DVD810).
Source : camcorderinfo.com
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