Features

• Feature allows for shooting HI 8 Video
• 3"LCD View Screen
• Title Writer
• 16 X optical Zoom
• 4 mode Digital picture effects

Reviews (2)

Satisfied Customer
This camcorder is one of the best. Not bulky and very portable. The zoom feature is great for getting those sunsets with all details. The only obstical is not having a tape that fits directly into the VCR instead of plugging your camera in to record on the VCR. This does not come or can you get an adaptor for the 8mm tape. Overall it's an exceptional product.

Great Camcorder!!!
I just purchased this camcorder. It's a great camcorder for a low price. You get a 3" lcd screen, great sound, and it's light. It doesn't have image stabilization but it really doesn't make a difference. When I bought the camcorder from Best Buy, I compared it to a camcorder with image stabilization and they are about the same. Unless you are running after someone with the camcorder in your hand, then all of your videos should be smooth. I also read someone else's comment on this camcorder and they stated that when you zoom in on something, the image shakes violently. I've had no problems with zooming. It has a custom titler, self recording, and 180 degree tiltling. It is a really nice camcorder. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sharp's unique camcorder design allows for optimal viewing while you are shooting or playing back video. The VL-A111U 8mm camcorder sports a large 3-inch LCD screen that can swivel 270 degrees independently of the actual lens for ease and flexibility of operation. Additional features include preset titling, fader, and digital picture effects such as black and white, sepia, solarizing, and negative.

Lens
The optical zoom has a power of 16x, letting you capture moments up close. The digital gamma control automatically corrects dark areas of an image to make the image brighter and clearer. There are four autoexposure settings you can use: sport, sunlight, dusk, and party. The 16:9 mode gives your video that special cinematic look by adding black bars to the top and bottom.

Inputs and Outputs
The standard RCA input-output and cable is included so you can hook the camcorder to a TV for convenient viewing or a VCR for dubbing to regular VHS. ... Read more

Features

• Feature allows for shooting HI 8 Video
• 3"LCD View Screen
• Title Writer
• 16 X optical Zoom
• 4 mode Digital picture effects

Reviews (2)

best camcorder
its it the best camara in the worlde. iloove it so muchh

value for money
Sharp VLA111U 8mm Viewcam is a good buy. A friend gave me a Sharp Viewcam as a gift and I'm really satisfied with the features and functionality of the product. It is comparable with other brands such as Canon and Sony. Everything else is okay except for the weight. I wish it can be a bit lighter though. ... Read more

Features

• 4.2-megapixel sensor captures up to 2448 by 1632 pixels
• 3x optical and 3x digital zoom
• 1.5-inch high resolution CGS screen
• Included 16 MB SD memory card
• Connects with PCs via USB port

Reviews (11)

A great camera for the price!
First, lets start with what you notice first, the physical body of the camera. It's fairly well made, although definitely not as solid as the Sony. It's a black plastic case, and the right-hand grip is very well place and makes it much easier to use this camera one-handed than other digital camera I've used. It's much larger than today's "mini" cameras, but the extra bulk makes it easier to handle and in my opinion is a plus, not a minus. However, it's most definitely not a camera you can just slip into a pocket or purse, if that's your thing :).

The camera runs on 4 AA batteries, and this might be the camera's biggest drawback. I've already run through one whole set of batteries and am close to killing the second set. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I am definitely going to buy some NiMH rechargeable AA batteries - in the long run, it's going to save me a TON of money on batteries, I know that much.

The camera has an adjustable diopter (viewfinder) as well as a 1.8" CG Silicon LCD screen. The "CG Silicon" is supposedly a much sharper, less power-hungry LCD screen perfect for digicams. As for the former, I can definitely attest to that - it may be one of the sharpest looking LCD screen's I've ever seen. I of course can not compare power consumption, but it still seems to suck quite a bit of power out of the poor little AA batteries, but it is still a great screen.

The camera has a total of five buttons on the back, which is a very nice touch. Too many buttons begin to clutter the camera body up, and often times all of the functionality can be done in the menu system of the camera. The top of the camera has the power and shutter buttons, and a mode wheel that lets you select what function you want the camera in (Auto, Full Manual, Video, Playback, and a bunch of others).

You noticed above that I said there is a "Full Manual" mode available - let me tell you that this is one of the best things about this camera. It has a bunch of different automatic modes (i.e.: full automatic, selectable shutter speed and everything else auto, selectable exposure and everything else auto, etc...), but then it gives you a mode that allows you control over everything: exposure (+-2.0ev), shutter speed (16s to 1/1000s), f-stop (from F-2.0 to F-8.0), and focus (kind of). Being an amateur photo geek, I love being able to play with all of these things, and this camera has exactly what I was looking for in that particular area.

Also of particular interest in the special modes you can put the camera into: auto-bracketing, gamma bracketing, continuos exposure. The first does exposure bracketing: i.e., it takes three images, over a range of exposures (for example, it could take images at -1.5ev, 0ev, and 1.5ev) to ensure that you get at least one image that looks good. The second works on the same principal, expect with gamma ranges; and the third takes three images in quick succession, so you can get great action sequences (something that is normally impossible with a digital camera because of the amount of time needed to store the image to the media).

Speaking of media, the Sharp uses standard SD (secure digital) memory cards, some of the smallest cards on the market. I'm somewhat ambivalent on this issue: it was good because SD are some of the smallest and least-expensive (relatively) flash memory on the market, but it's also pretty damn slow, and storing a 4-megapixel image takes some time.

The menu system that the camera uses isn't the best ever designed - it's kinda clunky, takes a bit of getting used to, and has a couple annoying bugs too it. However, there are a ton of things you can do in the menu system, and it works well enough that you can get to whatever feature you want in probably about 5 or 6 steps max - not that great, but not bad either.

All the other important info you can find of the spec sheet if you really want to know: it has a Canon lens, which is nice because without a good lens, the camera is basically worthless; 3X zoom, which is also very nice (3X digital as well, but who uses digital zoom); an AC power slot for when you're transferring images to the computer via USB or when you have a plug handy, which is pretty cool; a video and mono-audio out port and a cable so that the camera can be hooked up to a TV for quick viewing.

The software that comes with it, in my opinion, is great. I read somewhere (the one review I did find on the net about this camera in fact) that someone was complaining because it didn't come with a program to create photo albums or edit the photos or what not. Every time I've ever bought a camera, the software [ ] anyway, and I ended up using PSP or Photoshop or something similar. What does come on the CD is a really cool little program that sits in your taskbar, completely unobtrusive. It waits for you to press the "Quick Sync" button on the camera, and when you do, it automatically transfers the images on the camera to a folder you've specified. I actually think that this particular transfer software may be some of the best I've seen, so this is just another plus to the camera.

All in all, the Sharp VE-CG40U is actually such a good camera that I would even consider buying it at a four- or five-hundred dollar price tag. However, at only three hundred bucks on Outpost, you really can't go wrong. 4-megapixels, total control over the manual aspects of the camera, a great lens and CCD, easy-to-use software; it really is a steal, and if you can get one, I would absolutely recommend it!

Sharp VE-CG40U 4MP offers near-SLR versatility
This camera is causing my trusty 35mm SLR to stay in the closet. The Canon lens, identical to the one used on the Canon G2 and apparently the same in design and construction as 7-21mm f/2 zoom lenses used elsewhere under the names Carl Zeiss and Leica, is the best feature. There are plenty of exposure modes, including full manual; there's exposure bracketing and gamma bracketing, macro mode, etc. Image quality is quite good, and the regular "auto" mode handles most scenes well. The large maximum lens aperture makes this camera suitable for available-light use in most circumstances; that's good, because the built-in flash, like all built-in flashes, is best avoided except for fill with manual exposure. The bright, detailed color display is usable in daylight and very good in other conditions, and for people used to an SLR viewfinder, it's the only way to go--although those of us over age 40 will want to keep a pair of powerful reading glasses handy to see enough detail on the tiny screen.

So, what would make the VE-CG40U better? (1) manual focus mode (autofocus is unreliable in low light), (2) a hot shoe for an external flash unit, (3) better battery life (NiMH rechargables are a "must," as Alkalines are drained very quickly), and (4) an eyepiece adapter for the LCD screen (easier than those reading glasses).

For [$] or less, this is probably as good as it's going to get for a little while. It's not quite in the SLR class, but it isn't far from it, either. I've used mine for scenery, people, flower close-ups at near-macro range, and commercial images for the web. You can get crisp (in 35mm terms) 8x10 prints, even with some cropping, provided that your printer is up to the task.

Good all-round camera
Great little camera in all respects - except one ..... it has difficulty focusing in poor light. Other than that, it works like a charm. True 4 mpix clarity. Fast processing. Easy to use.

I had no problem with the software provided .... because I did not need to use it. I enjoyed USB plug and play connectivity with my three different computers with three different operating systems: Mac OS X, Widows XP professional and Windows 2000.

Good for the price - novices need not be so picky.
Ok, the other reviews go into detail after detail so I won't repeat it all. Here's the points:

First, no where will you find a 4 megapixel camera for under $ that has ALL features on it. For under $, yes, you will get a cheesey lens cap. You will get a lower grade of plastic in the camera body, and no, you will not get a camera that compares with a $ camera.

More basics: ALMOST ALL digital cameras eat alkaline batteries like candy, so stop complaining! Buy a set (or two) of NiMh rechargeable batteres and a charger and you don't have to worry anymore. Also, if you are one of these "I've used an SLR film camera and am switching to digital" people, then yes, you will be disappointed; buy a "digital SLR" for five times more, and you'll have your match.

The lens on this camera is a Canon lens - which is good. Images capture a good amount of detail. Sometimes odd lighting will cause a blue-ish cast to the images. The tiny 1.5 inch silicon screen is small, but is viewable outdoors in sun. Focusing indoors in low light is not the best - it has no auto focus assist light that comes on to help the focus work, so if it's dim, you may get a blurry photo. Those with larger hands may have a cramped time of it - the hand grip is a bit too close to the lens barrel so larger fingers will rub against it (no harm in it though).

I'm giving it a "three star" because of the odd colors under some conditions, the tight hand grip, and the fact it has no auto focus assist light. But for the price, it's hard to beat.

Camera is Great!!!
I think this camera is great and for the price you can not beat it. I think it got a few bad raps by people who don't understand how to upload the pictures to their computer. If you are a little computer literate it works fine. Also, I took the digital card to sams and put it in their computer and uploaded the pictures I wanted printed at just 20 cents each. They came out beautiful including an 8 x 10. The clarity and color was great. I recommend this camera highly and at the price ... you can't beat it... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great camcorder
This is a great camcorder for beginners and professionals at a good price! I recommend this camcorder to all ages. I love making movies with my friends! And its a great gift for any occasion! So I recommend buying this camcorder!!! ... Read more

Features

• Sharp 1,280 x 1,024 resolution, fine 0.264 mm dot pitch
• Crisp 500:1 contrast ratio, 250 nits of brightness
• 2 bezel-integrated 1-watt speakers
• Tilt and swivel base
• PC and Mac compatible; 3-year warranty

Reviews (1)

Not for lower resolution
Great monitor at 1280x1024, but distorts like crazy at lower resolutions. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 300x digital, zoom with digital image stabilization
• 3-inch color LCD
• Records digital stills onto included 16 MB SD card
• Digital effects include black and white, sepia, and negative shooting modes

Features

• 17-inch diagonal screen measurement
• SXGA (1280 x 1024) resolution
• Built-in stereo speakers -1W + 1W
• High brightness -220 cd/m2
• 500 - 1 contrast ratio

Amazon.com Product Description

With its full auto mode, the user-friendly Sharp VL-A131U Hi8 camcorder enables you to simply point and shoot to capture hours of fun video memories. It also features a 3-inch LCD and 16x optical zoom magnification.

With its 270-degree variable angle, you can hold the VL-A131U in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or take to shots close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees. The VL-A131U also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, NEG) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording.

Sharp's advanced circuitry allows recording down to less than 1 lux (the light of one candle about one yard away from the subject) and eliminates complex lighting arrangements and harsh floodlight glare. The backlight compensation feature also adjusts only the dark parts of a shot to optimal brightness levels, and leaves the bright sections untouched, so they don't become glaringly washed out.

This package comes with the VL-A131U camcorder, one rechargeable NiMH battery, one lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, and lens cap. ... Read more

Features

• Feature allows for shooting HI 8 Video
• 3"LCD View Screen
• Title Writer
• 16 X optical Zoom
• 4 mode Digital picture effects

Reviews (1)

Easy to use and full of features
very easy to use, the zoom is excellent and the features are easy to figure out. the picture quality when transfered to vhs is great. you cant beat the quality of this camcorer for the low price it sells for.
i love it ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With its full auto mode, the user-friendly Sharp VL-AH161U Hi8 camcorder enables you to simply point and shoot to capture hours of fun video memories. It also features a picture in picture mode, an extra-large 3.5-inch LCD, optical and digital zoom capabilities, and digital image stabilization.

Lens
With an optical zoom magnification of 16x, the VL-AH161U also has a digital zoom--which works by electronically enhancing the optical image--that can magnify the picture up to 400 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes.

Other Features
With its 270-degree variable angle, you can hold the VL-AH161U in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or take shots close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees. The VL-AH161U also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, NEG) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording.

Sharp's advanced circuitry allows recording down to less than 1 lux (the light of one candle about one yard away from the subject) and eliminates complex lighting arrangements and harsh floodlight glare. The backlight compensation feature also adjusts only the dark parts of a shot to optimal brightness levels, and leaves the bright sections untouched, so they don't become glaringly washed out.

Contents
This package comes with the VL-AH161U camcorder, one rechargeable NiMH battery, one lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, and lens cap. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 Camorder
• 16x optical (400x digital) zoom with digital image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and viewfinder
• Digital picture effects allows you to select from six different effects to record the subject with a more dramatic effect.

Reviews (3)

Excellent value
I'm pleased with the camcorder so far. For the price, it has some nice features. The 3.5" LCD is nice and provides an excellent picture. The camera is easy to use and the menus are fairly intuitive. The one complaint I have so far is that there is not a dedicated button/switch for the digital image stabilization. You must navigate through the on-screen menus to find the DIS and toggle it on/off. This is inconvenient and cumbersome while recording. So much so that I think I'll probably never use it. But for what I plan to use the camera for, it works great and is a very good value.

Great Buy
This is a great camcorder light, compact and useful. The zoom function and pip are definite attractions.

Functional and Child Friendly
This versatile camcorder uses the Hi-8 tapes which is backwardly
compatible and makes most sense for routine use (baseball outings
camping etc). The large LCD screen and the rechargable lithium
batteries with audio are its major plusses. It has no firewire
capability and hence cannot be sent out for rapid display outside.
Overall, a sturdy, compact product from Sharp. ... Read more

Features

• Flatbed design lets you print, copy, and scan right from your desktop
• Up to 15 cpm at 600 dpi, plus continuous copy function
• 12 ppm printing at 600 dpi; scanning up to 2,400 dpi interpolated
• Scanning software included; parallel and USB interfaces
• 3-year warranty on parts, 1-year on labor

Features

• Sharp 1,024 x 768 native resolution
• Fine 0.297 mm dot pitch
• Wide 160-degree horizontal viewing angle, 150 degrees vertical
• Crisp 350:1 contrast ratio, 250 nits of brightness
• PC and Mac compatible; 3-year warranty

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sharp VL-AH60U ViewCam makes it easy to capture great-looking videos. Its analog Hi8 format produces higher-quality images than either standard 8mm or VHS-C camcorders. Instead of using a standard viewfinder, the ViewCam utilizes a large, easy-to-see 3.5-inch LCD, making video taping nearly as easy as watching a TV show. The LCD monitor absorbs light to help prevent glare, and is fingerprint resistant. The lens on the VL-AH60U rotates 270 degrees, which is helpful when you're recording yourself, allowing for some interesting angles, and a 16:9 widescreen mode lets you shoot video in the same aspect ratio as the movies.

The camera's automatic features make it easy for even beginners to produce great looking results. Backlight compensation helps eliminate the darkened silhouettes that are common with strong backlighting, and digital image stabilization eliminates jitters and other unwanted camera movement. Two fade modes with title/character sets for holidays and birthdays, as well as a title writer, let you add text captions to your films. Flying erase heads allow smooth, clean edits, which aid in quality movie creation. The VL-HA60U also has the ability to charge batteries internally. Included with the ViewCam are a remote control and an AV cable. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 format
• 3.5-inch color LCD screen
• Digital image stabilization
• Flying erase heads for smooth edits
• 16x optical/400x total zoom

Reviews (7)

repair problems missed events.
The camera has been in and out of sharp's authorized repair center, and has cost a total $100 to repair. It still does not work and we have to buy a new camcorder, it won't be a sharp.
Save your money and buy quality, customer service is terrible.
They don't care if you are satisfied or not

repair problems
I purchased this camera close to 2 years ago. I thought I was going to love it. It was easy to use and had numerous special effects. That was before the first breakdown, less than 3 months after purchase. Since then , it has been in and out of the shop for a total of 4 times. Under the Sharp warranty, they kept the camcorder an average of 2 months each time. I have missed having many family events put on tape because of this camera. My advice, DON"T BUY IT. If you do, however, an extended warranty is a neccesity with this camera.

Big display screen drains batteries fast
We were very excited to open our new Sharp View Cam and begin taking videos of our children. The battery that came with the camera would never last more than 20-30 minutes. We love the ease of recording and ease of use, but the battery just needs to be re-engineered. Unfortunately now, we tend to focus more on still pictures because of this problem. It seems the battery is always dead when we are trying to capture the special moment.

Great Camera
The best thing about the VLAH 60U is that you don't have to worry: the lighting doesn't matter, the acoustics don't matter, the person shooting the scene doesn't matter. It always seems to come out great.
We had a christening, and my mother in law came from Lithuania to be part of it. She speaks virtually no English, and my Lithuanian could be called pathetic. I gave her the camera, and with a few gestures and a minimum of words, she was able to get some great shots, despite the fact that the church was dark and the PA system sucked....That is good in a family camera.
The only problem is that ..., and it has no remote or in camera charger. Those two things are very desirable and would make it even better. I'm hoping to find both someday.

It is OK to have it.
It is ok to have it. It is easy to use. But it is BAD if something is wrong with your camcorder and you have to contact Sharp's customer support. You don't get any help as you should get. ... Read more

Features

• Hi8 camcorder
• 16x optical (25x digital, 400x total) zoom with digital image stabilization
• 3.5-inch color LCD monitor
• Can record stills onto tape
• Uses Sharp BT-H22U lithium ion battery pack, included; includes remote, battery charger, lens cap, A/V cable, and shoulder strap

Reviews (1)

Good
this camcorder is very good. the Lcd screen is great to watch instead of having to look through something. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A multitasking digital camcorder, the Sharp VL-NZ150U features a large 3-inch LCD monitor, 10x optical and 300x digital zoom, digital image stabilization, and up to 3.5 hours of continuous battery power. You can also shoot digital still images, save them on the included 16 MB memory card, and then transfer them to your PC.

Lens
With an optical zoom magnification of 10x, the VL-NZ150U also has a digital zoom--which works by electronically enhancing the optical image--that can magnify the picture up to 300 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes.

Other Features
With its 270-degree variable angle, you can hold the VL-NZ150U in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or capture images close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees. Standard and long-life batteries allow for over 3.5 hours of video operation at one time without recharging.

The built-in speaker allows on-the-spot playback with sound for checking and viewing video footage anywhere. An on-screen recording guide helps you line up landscape footage and can be used as a guide for easy framing of subject matter. The backlight-compensation feature corrects exposure in poor lighting conditions.

The VL-NZ150U also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, solarized) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording.

Digital Stills
The VL-NZ150U can also operate as a digital still camera. Full-motion video is recorded onto a DVC tape while digital stills are stored on the included 16 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card for easy transfer to a PC.

Inputs and Outputs
The VL-NZ150U comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Sharp refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with over 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.

You'll also get excellent sound quality, recorded in either 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.

• 16-bit audio includes one set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
• 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.

This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers a digital recording time of two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Contents
This package comes with the VL-NZ150U camcorder, one rechargeable lithium-ion battery, one long-life double-battery AC adapter, tripod adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, lens cap, and a 16 MB memory card. ... Read more

Features

• Digital camcorder--uses Mini DV tapes
• 26x optical (300x digital) zoom with digital image stabilization
• 3.0-inch color LCD monitor and viewfinder
• Still-shot capability on both Mini DV cassette and SmartMedia flash memory card
• Uses Sharp BT-L221 lithium-ion battery providing approximately 100 minutes of active recording/playback time (using LCD monitor); includes PixLab image-editing software, remote control, and zoom microphone

Amazon.com Product Description

The Ll-T19D1-B from Sharp is a 19-inch LCD monitor with a high-quality image and an ergonomic design. Compatible with both PC and Mac platforms, it accepts both analog and digital input signals via its 15-pin mini D-sub (x2) and DVI-D ports. With a 1,280 x 1024 maximum resolution and 0.294 mm dot pitch, onscreen images are crisp and accurate, while a 700:1 contrast ratio and 300 cd/m2 of brightness provide bright images and easy-to-read text. 170-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles provide a wide range of visual clarity, and a -5 to +20-degree tilt, up to 1.9-inch adjustable height, and 90-degree swivel allow you to adjust the monitor position to optimally suit your setup.

TCO '99 and Energy Star compliant, the AC 100V to 240V 50/60 Hz power supply consumes 43 watts during normal operation (25 watts in office mode) and less than 3 watts in power-save mode. Backlight life is rated at about 50,000 hours. With its 16.7-by-8.7-inch footprint, the Ll-T19D1-B fits conveniently onto any desktop, and is also wall-mountable, freeing up desktop space completely.

Automatic screen adjustments for clock, phase, and horizontal and position help keep the onscreen image accurate over time. The onscreen menus let you adjust a wide variety of monitor settings, including brightness, contrast, H/V position, display mode, and more. The Ll-T19D1-B also comes backed by a three-year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Monitor, stand, mini D-sub 15-pin cable, CD-ROM (utility disc including ICC profile for Windows, Mac), operation manual; DVI cable not included ... Read more

Features

• 1,280 x 1024 maximum resolution, 0.294 mm dot pitch
• Analog and digital DVI-D inputs
• 170-degree viewing angles
• 300 cd/m2 of brightness, 700:1 contrast ratio
• PC and Mac compatible, 3-year warranty

Reviews (1)

Very good
I received this screen from Insight and am very pleased. No dead pixel, image as good as the specs said. I use the screen as monitor for my desktop and laptop. It's very easy to use and the image definition, brightness and crispness is much better than screens i've seen from Cornea, AG or even NEC.

The only downside is that it's hard to find and the price is a bit higher. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sharp VLSD2OU Digital Viewcam offers a wide range of features beyond the standard Hi8 image quality. Its 660,000-pixel CCD image sensor gives its pictures high resolution and clarity.It provides a large 3-inch LCD screen using Sharp's unique swivel design, making it easy to shoot from different angles. Image stabilization help reduce camera shake, and a 100x digital zoom gets you extra close to the action. This Viewcam's PCM digital audio reproduction and Wind Break microphone provide the sound quality of digital audio tape for playback and recording. Digital gamma compensation adjusts only the dark parts of a shot to optimal brightness levels, leaving the bright sections untouched so they don't become glaringly washed out. The lightweight, palm-size body makes this Viewcam one of smallest and most travel-friendly models on the market. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
• 3-inch high-resolution color LCD viewscreen
• Compact and lightweight body
• Digital video reproduction with digital-quality sound; 7 special-effect modes

Reviews (20)

Fantastic Little DV Camera + Advice on Cheapest DV options!
I found this camera(...) on Amazon three months ago and was amazed with the picture quality and comfort of use of this camera at the price. I am giving the camera a full thumbs up after about 3 months of use!

I like the no viewfinder concept... (I wear glasses and it is a pain to look thru viewfinders!)

The camera has a IR remote and a reversible viewscreen which allows me and my wife to take our pictures without anyone elses help. Just turn the camera towards you and you can see yourselves on the small LCD screen and use the remote even to zoom upto 10X. (It has digital zoom, but a purist like me cannot use digital zoom!)

(...)Of course, I had an old AMD K6-350 Desktop running Windows 98 -(...) I set the films

I am finally happily creating great home movies with lots of special effects at a premium price (...) and recommend everyone to do the same. Do not waste money when you can save! DV quality is within your reach for under $500!

Happy DV editing!

Beware the Surprises
This camcorder brought us three unpleasant surprises:

1. It is not completely compatible with Apple Computer's iMovie. The first few seconds of video are lost and cannot be imported after every Stop/Start break in the camera footage. It also leaves lots of square artifacts at the beginning of an export to tape. Both very frustrating.

2. After two years of admittedly heavy use (hey, when else will he be a baby again?), the auto focus mechanism went quite mad. It simply wouldn't hold focus under any circumstances. This sort of thing happens, I suppose, but then for the big surprise...

3. There is, in all of the United States, exactly ONE place that Sharp allows to work on their digital camcorders. Our camera has now been there for six weeks and the best we can get from them is that "the part is on order."
On order? These guys are the only repair facility for the entire U.S. and they don't have parts stocked?!? This isn't a little garage outfit that would go broke stocking spare parts for every camcorder ever made; this is a monopoly that knew darned good and well that anything that went wrong with this camcorder model was going to come to them. They should have had a ready supply of parts.
Repeated calls to them got us nowhere. A call to Sharp Customer Assistance got us nowhere.

If you like surprises like these, then this camcorder and the rest of the Sharp line are for you.

Camera goes everywhere...
small enough to take everywhere.....it's been all over the world and through some tough climates and still works great! Large LCD for viewing eliminates the need for a view finder, which most people don't use with todays DV camera. Functions easy to access. Takes 37mm filters. Suggest purchase of two batteries so you can cut back on down time when shooting. Liked it so much....getting one for my son in the military!! Looking for underwater case...if available.

Sharp vls20u digital viewcam with 3' color lcd screen
Excellent choice for a digital movie camera. Takes stills from 1 to 16 frames per snap. Hook up to a TV to view movies or review thru the lcd screen, Never had any problems.

Quite a handy little camcorder
I have had the Viewcam for a year now, and feel that I can make an adequate review of it now. So here it is. Problems/Repairs: 0. Things that impressed me: Resolution quality over VHS/8mm, low-light capabilities, sound quality, overall size, and that cool swivel action. Things that did not impress me: Cost of DV tapes, Resolution quality compared with newer miniDV cams, still shot pics, battery life. Overall: This is a very handy little camera, and I have enjoyed using it. It had firewire, which is the only way to go if your editing on your PC - and the picture/sound quality is far superior than any other format (don't let the whole Digital8 thing fool you). The price on Amazon was a steal at the time, and I do not regret getting it at all. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Sharp VL-WD450U is a compact, relatively easy-to-use DV camcorder. Right out of the box, anyone who's used a camcorder before can put the camera to use. Primary functions are easily controlled by the right hand while gripping the camera. Recording is as simple as pressing the button located at your thumb, and the zoom is operated by means of a rocker switch under your forefinger. The zoom is variable, so the farther you press the rocker in a particular direction, the faster the zoom operates. In subjective tests, there seemed to be three different zoom speed levels. The surprisingly large 26x optical zoom lens (made by Canon) is paired with a digital image stabilization system. The image stabilization is relatively effective with slight hand-shake, but don't expect to walk around and have the stabilizer make up for your body movement. This system works by cropping the picture on the CCD and using the excess information as a buffer. Digital stabilization isn't as good a solution as an optically based system, but it's more compact and significantly less expensive. The digital image stabilization can be turned off through the menu system.

The menu system is a bit confusing the first time you access it. If you haven't taken the time to read the manual, you'll probably have difficulty with the navigation. You move through the various menus using the VCR controls (rewind, fast-forward, play, etc.) located on the same side of the camera as the LCD monitor. This location is a little bizarre, as your hand partially blocks the LCD screen from view--don't expect to use the camcorder while moving around in the menus. After you get over the initial difficulty, the menus aren't too bad. A selection of icons along the left side represent the main categories. Each selection has various submenus that may or may not unfold into more menus.

While the camcorder comes with the ability to shoot stills onto an included 8-MB SmartMedia card, you can't shoot video and stills at the same time. To capture stills onto the memory card, you first have to flip a "media" switch that chooses between tape and card. While set to tape, you can shoot video and capture either six seconds of still footage, or a continuous still image onto the MiniDV cassette. Transfer of the still images from the SmartMedia card to a computer is troublesome. You'll need a PC with a serial port, and Macs aren't compatible with either the hardware or software. Sharp should have used a USB connection instead--it's speedier and more universal.

In addition to the built-in mic, Sharp includes a unique zoom microphone that can be set to sync automatically with the lens. The mic adds to the overall size of the camera, but dramatically improves the quality of the sound on your recordings, greatly reducing background noise and making it easier to hear the subjects in your recordings. For added portability, the microphone can be removed, automatically activating the built-in microphone in the camera.

Apparently, Sharp doesn't expect most moviemakers to use the camera for more than its most basic functions, and includes only a simple RCA cord in the package. The camera has an IEEE1394 connection for lossless digital transfer of your movies to your computer or another camcorder, and also has s-video output for connection to many newer televisions, especiallyhigher-end models. If you want to use these features, however, you'll have to run to the store for another cable.

All in all, the Sharp VL-WD450U is pretty good at what it does--shoot digital video onto MiniDV tapes. The Canon video lens is a great piece of glass, and probably one of the most--if not the most--important piece of equipment in the camcorder. Our only qualms come with the limited connectivity options for transferring still images, and the lack of video cables. Although it's common practice in the industry to skimp on the bundle, it's still kind of annoying. --Michael Lewis

Pros:

• Canon made 26x optical zoom
• Zoom microphone included
• Still shot capability--records onto SmartMedia or tape

Cons:

• The bundle lacks both IEEE1394 and s-video cables
• Still image download is serial-based and the driver software is Windows only

Features

• Digital camcorder--uses Mini DV tapes
• 26x optical (30x digital) zoom with digital image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color LCD monitor and viewfinder
• Still-shot capability on both Mini DV cassette and SmartMedia flash memory card
• Uses Sharp BT-L221 lithium-ion battery providing approximately 100 minutes of active recording/playback time (using LCD monitor); includes PixLab image-editing software, remote control, and zoom microphone

Reviews (89)

Almost Everything You Could Want
The quality of the 26x zoom is incredible, and even the lower powers of digital zoom that this camera has are incredible. Imagine being able to clearly read 3pt type from 15 feet away on the viewfinder. And that's just the beginning.

Unpacking the box, I found out that I was glad that I'd purchased a USB smartmedia reader. The only cables supplied were the standard dubbing cables and a serial transfer cable. Standard serial transfer being slow as it is was not an option. That cable is now stashed collecting dust.

The camera was easy to set up and get running right away. I popped the 8mb smartmedia card in its slot, the battery in it's little hideout, and a new blank tape in the tape compartment. The single hardest thing was figuring out how to attach the lens cap to the hand strap. Velcro is your friend (the hand strap pad velcroes shut over the strap adjustment, by undoing the strap pad, you slip the cap cord onto the strap. A very neat, if unintuitive, design)

Still pictures: 640x480 is limiting, but I mostly use this for web work and don't like to publish anything much larger than this. I would like to have some extra area though to make sure I get everything and crop down. Quality is superb in good direct lighting, decent in low light or indirect light.

Video Capture: Surprisingly clear. The camera, as with all such devices, makes a good webcam if you have the right interface hardware. I use a WinTV card for vid capture and discovered that the 450 will 'follow' action around if you leave it still on the tripod. Good for those people with a cam setup that move around a lot. It will automatically pan within its scan area just a few degrees to each side, but enough, usually, if set up correctly.

VCR Mode: A neat feature that I was totally unaware that the machine had until I got it home. If you plug the 'output' ports in so that they're receiving information instead of sending it, you can record on the camera like a VCR.

All in all: I'd recommend this little cam. My only complaint was being limited to 640x480 on still pictures. Cabling was standard and not unexpected. Optics and zoom are exceptional, 26x optical zoom is a big plus. IR and zero-light features are great. Still pictures, though limited in size, can fit 500-1500 depending on quality on a 64mb SM card.

4 1/2 stars

Fair if it works.
It looks like there is some design issue with the camera's playback as some other people have also reported the same problem. It records the images but it is very picky about playing it! It happened to me a few times but at this point it simply refuses to play any recording and displays only blue screen as if the tape is empty. I will be returning it back to Amazon for a full refund. But whenever it decides to play, the picture quality is very good in good light but very bad at night even in well lit rooms. 780X digital zoom is completely useless. 26X optical zoom is good but at near 26X, the camera shakes are very noticible. The camera is very bulky which doesn't show in the pictures. The menu system is easy to operate as opposed to what you might think after reading some reviews. But the "cursor keys" are very tight and a lot of force is needed to trigger a key press. Both the LCD and viewfinder have very low resolution and poor colors. The viewfinder almost has no color saturation and is extremely small. Like I said, the video quality is good for 460,000 CCD but by recommendation is to stay away from this camcorder unless Sharp fixes the playback problem.

Expensive Features for a Budget Camcorder!
If you are looking for a camera/digital camcorder that is in the ... range, this may very well be the camera for you ...In deciding which camera to buy, I initially shopped the Sony and Canon offerings but was dismayed by how quickly the price goes up when you start to tack on the features. That's when I saw the Sharp VL-WD450U. What a great price for the features that you get:

Its 26X optical zoom is much more powerful than that of most MiniDV camcorders, and its low-light performance is terrific! The LCD panel flips around so that your subjects can see how they look on camera, and the color LCD eyepiece viewfinder automatically switches on so that you can catch the action, too. The Gamma/Brighter adjustment button, which can fine-tune the exposure to brighten skin tones when they appear dark without changing the overall exposure level, is really a cool feature.
Plus the detachable microphone (it slides into a little slot on top; but you don't always need to use it because the camcorder also has a standard built-in microphone under the lens) has a highly directional pickup pattern and is less affected by the motor noise generated within the camcorder. And you can zoom in on points and the mic will only pick up sounds from that point and filter out other sounds, which is really neat!

Like Sony's popular Nightshot feature, this camcorder sports Super Cat's Eye, which lets you shoot video in complete darkness. But the normal shooting mode has excellent low-light performance too. Of course the camera allows you to take stills onto an 8mb memory card and download in to your computer. It also comes with the IEEE Link for downloads of video at over 400mbs! The camera comes with RCA-type jacks for video and audio, an SVideo Input/Output.

But what really makes the camera is its Canon Lens (which in my opinion makes or breaks a Camcorder). The Image quality is as good as the ... Sony and Canon Camcorders (don't let the 460,000 resolution fool you, it looks MUCH sharper than that).

So if you are not a professional and are just looking for a great deal on a Camcorder to take production quality home movies then this is probably as good as they come.

Tape disaster- Sharp has worst customer service
All of the negative reviews of this product are true. It eats tapes, or makes them unusable at a certain point. I, too, was under warranty when this started to happen (after the first tape!). I had to send to to NY, and had to pay for the labor, which was half the price of the camera. When it finally came back, it did the same thing. I don't even know where to go with the lemon laws for this one.

good video and audio quality
although this camcorder is a bit larger than most minidv camcorders now, it is not bulky and the recording quality is really nice. the zoom mic is really a bonus. I've been using it for almost three years without any problems. the only problem I had was "eject the tape" messages, after the dv tape gets stuck. Some shaking of the tape helps but not always. I assume this might be because of the tape rather than the camcorder. ... Read more