Sharp VL-Z7U Mini DV Camcorder (Sharp-VLZ7U)

• Reviewed by: QTipsX800Pro

  Strengths: Great video Q Comsidering it's age and price tag.easy to carry and use. LCD very sharp and colorful.

  Weaknesses: Batterie area is within the camcorder making using a bigger longer lasting batterie impossible.

  Overall: First buy on a Camcorder and got a great deal $600 +tax.I took it to the Tropics and left it running on a Trypod and was incredably pleased with it's video. Zoom exellent and very clear better than when it's not zoomed. Colorful clear picture with exellent sound pretty much pics up everything. No Motor noise! and Mini Dv tapes are cheap. You need a head cleaner for 25 bucks I recommend sony's .. after years of use i needed to clean my heads. I went to Futureshop and got a DV Firewire for $28 bucks and it works like a dream with Windows Movie maker. I use Nero 8 to Burn DVD's perfectly.Over all I have been very happy with the sharp product.But now after seeing and now buying the New HV20 this is the best camcorder you could ever buy it's incredable.It cannot be touched ny any camcorder for Quality.

• Reviewed by: kbhiltsley

  Strengths: Compact size, versatility for video and stills, good video quality

  Weaknesses: Very poor and very expensive support system

  Overall: Purchased camera new. Electronics went crazy 5 minutes into first tape creating heavy pixelization/solarization on video and no ability to record stills. Sent to warranty repair center, along with required $20 S&H. Received repaired camera back 3 weeks later, but did not use again until 6 weeks later. On first use, two minutes into new tape, the exact same problem occurred again. Called Sharp, they referred me to warranty center. Called warranty center. They advised that only 90-day warranty on camcorder and 30-days on repairs. Didn't matter that unit was not repaired properly. Sent camera and $70.00 "inspection fee" for their evaluation. Their final bill for the repairs was another $130.00 (total repair cost thus far is $220.00) and I am still waiting for the return of the "repaired" camcorder.I like the camcorder, and honestly believe that I may have bought the occasional "lemon", but the warranty and service policy stinks and certainly gouges the consumer at every opportunity. Would not buy another Sharp product for these reasons.

• Reviewed by: jthillam

  Strengths: Good form factor

  Weaknesses: Terrible Support!!!!!!!!

  Overall: Just recently, I tried plugging my camcorder into my computer via fire wire to stream the video, and burn it onto a DVD. However, it didn't work. I know its not a computer problem as I have tested it on multiple Windows XP systems, which carry the drivers out of the box. I tested my fire wire cable and it is working fine. That leaves me with the Camcorder. I have called Sharp support and all I get is that Sharp doesn't support their DV port.... which I find VERY odd as it is part of the camcorder!---------------------------------------------------- I finally got Sharp to admit that the camera does come with a dv slot and firewire cable. But they still will not support the product. DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA! They will not support their video out for burning onto DVD!!! Here is Sharps response to my email. -------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for contacting Sharp Electronics Corporation. You are able to transfer video, but we do not support it. There isn't any other additional information besides what we have provided that we can give you. We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with this information.

• Reviewed by: thequickad

  Strengths: small size, very ergo grip, good LCD

  Weaknesses: POOR video quality

  Overall: Everything good except video. Video quality bad. What is there for a camcorder except video quality? I would wait for the next revision after SHARP works out the video problems with this one.

• Reviewed by: aramburo

  Strengths: Size and flexibility.

  Weaknesses: NO ACCESSORIES. An additional battery can only be purchased at Sharp and it will cost 1/5 of the camera's price. Still pictures bad.......

  Overall: There are no accessories for it. Don't be fooled by the initial price. You need an additional battery and it will be expensive and only found at Sharp....