Canon has some new DVD camcorders on the way this year. The company just announced the DC50, DC210, DC220, and DC230: four models slated to replace Canon's current line.
It takes three models--the DC210, 220, and 230--to replace the DC100 alone. These inexpensive, compact camcorders include the same 35x lenses and 2.7-inch widescreen LCDs as Canon's ZR800, 830, and 850 MiniDV camcorders. Like the ZR series, the lower-end DC210 and DC220 use 680,000-pixel sensors. The DC230, however, uses a 1-megapixel CCD. The DC220 and DC230 also include Canon's QuickStart, a low-power standby feature.
The Canon DC50 replaces the DC40 as the company's midrange DVD camcorder. It uses a 5-megapixel CCD and Canon's Digic DV II image processor to handle footage. The DC50 features 10x zoom lens with optical image stabilization for long shots without a tripod. Like most other compact Canon camcorders, the DC50 uses a 2.7-inch, 16:9 widescreen LCD for framing and playback. The camcorder also includes a combination flash/video light for illumination in both video and still images.
The Canon DC210 and 210 will ship in early March 2007 with suggested retail prices of $400 and $450, respectively. The DC230 will ship in late March 2007 with a $500 suggested price tag, and the DC50 will hit stores in late February 2007 with a retail price of about $800.
