Canon ZR950

The Canon ZR950 is a good value in a digital camcorder, reviews say. It is similar to the Canon ZR900 (*est. $230), but the ZR950 costs a little more and adds the ability to shoot digital stills (although some users aren't crazy about the photo quality). The ZR950 omits the microphone jack that comes on the ZR900, but testers say the ZR950's onboard mic delivers good sound. However, reviews are divided on other aspects of the ZR950: Some say the camcorder is easy to use, and the picture it records onto miniDV tapes is sharp and steady. Others say the menu that controls most of the ZR950's major functions is hard to navigate, the image goes soft in low light, and the camera is so lightweight that it's hard to hold still for a steady picture. According to reviews, the ZR950 outperforms mini camcorders like the Pure Digital Flip Mino (*est. $150). It doesn't fare quite as well in tests as the cheaper Canon ZR900, but it performs nearly as well as some more expensive digital camcorders, including the Panasonic PV-GS320 (*est. $465), which also records to miniDV tapes, and the Canon DC330 (*est. $305), which records to DVDs.

Consumer Reports' expert testers do the best job comparing the Canon ZR950 with competing models, but you must be a subscriber to read the report. Laptop magazine doesn't test camcorders head-to-head, but each one gets a full test report and numeric score, making it easy for readers to compare models. ConsumerGuide's testing of the ZR950 is not very extensive, and its review is focuses largely on features. Amazon.com and Best Buy.com both offer owner reviews of the ZR950.