Lens
With an optical zoom magnification of 10x, the VL-NZ105U 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-NZ105U in a variety of angles to record over people and objects or for shots close to the ground. You can even record yourself by rotating the view screen 180 degrees.

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-NZ105U also features several digital effects (black and white, sepia, NEG) that can be viewed without affecting the original recording.

Digital Stills
The VL-NZ105U 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 8 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card for easy transfer to a PC.

Inputs and Outputs
The VL-NZ105U 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.

The camera features 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-NZ105U camcorder, one rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, tripod adapter, remote control (and batteries), AV dubbing cables, wrist strap, lens cap, and 8 MB memory card.

Product Description
The VL-NZ105U digital Viewcam with digital still capture has an 8MB SD memory card included for an easy transfer to a PC and for e-mailing images easily. It can also still images from tape to memory card. The 10x optical lens provides the best picture quality and the digital 300x zoom allows images to be captured at a distance. Digital image stabilization compensates for image shake when a tripod is not used improving the quality of the video.Digital Picture Effects allow different digital effects (B&W, Sepia, NEG) to be viewed without effecting the original recording and to give your video a custom-edited look. On-screen recording guide helps the user line-up landscape footage and can be used as a guide for the safe zone or center of lens for easy framing of subject matter. Both gain up and backlight compensation correct the exposure in poor lighting conditions to easily capture the best picture possible.Add to this I-Link - a digital port for transferring full-motion video and sound to a PC equipped with an I-Link port for video editing on a PC.

The picture and sound quality is exceptional for the price and it's small enough to throw in a pocketbook and carry around everywhere.


Great Camcorder!! I especially like a few key features!   November 4, 2003
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Positives:
1. You can recharge this camcorder by plugging it directly into an electric outlet- no dealing with rechargable batteries :)
2. Can take still photographs & uses SD instead of putting the stills on the tape.
3. While in playback mode (watching video footage you took), you can pause it and take stills from the tape onto the SD card.
4. The camcorder lasts a long time & I do not have to recharge it often :)

Negatives:
1. The quality of the still photos is not great but it is good for emailing.

Overall I love this camcorder because of the 'Positives' I mentioned above- it has everything I need. I know that the stills are not great quality but for the price of this camcorder I can manage ;) This is a great deal!


It Works for Me!   October 2, 2003
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I priced DV other cameras before purchasing this one. This camera was $100 - $300 less than most cameras I looked at. It doesn't have the bells and whistles that the some other cameras did, but then it does! The feature I love most about my camera is the fact that I can use it as a go between device to copy analog video from my TV and/or VCR to my computer and convert it to digital in the process. I was prepared to spend quite a bit to get a device that was capable of doing what I can now do with my Sharp camera and all I had to do was install firewire on my computer.
I agree, this is an excellent entry level DV camera.


Poor Tech Support   August 24, 2003
 0 out of 4 found this review helpful

I purchased a older version of the Sharp DV camera. I had problems with interferance when transferring to the PC. I checked cables, etc. Finally, I emailed tech support. Never received a response. Better stick with Sony or Canon!