The DC210 is the entry-level unit in Canon's range of DVD camcorders. This DV camcorder offers the same handling and performance as the next unit up (the DC220) but lacks a couple of that camera's features, most notably a USB port. When it comes to capturing video to disc, the Canon DC210 is very easy to use. The limited connection options on the unit, however, makes transferring your videos to a personal computer for editing much less convenient--especially if you own a Mac.

The optical set up is identical to that of the DC220. The 1/6-inch CCD delivers 340,000 effective pixels for video. The unit also offers the same fast 35x optical zoom coupled with a 1000x digital zoom, although the latter offers little practical value. Like both the DC220 and DC230 models, this DV camcorder records video directly to three-inch discs, either write-once DVD-R format or rewriteable DVD-RW. The DC210 is also compatible with Dual Layer DVD-R discs that offer about twice the recording time as standard DVD-R discs. Obviously, the choice of disc depends largely on the format that's compatible with your home DVD player or PC.

With no USB port, the Canon DC210 offers no webcam or video streaming function--meaning you'll need to transfer footage to a computer via disc. While this won't be too much of an inconvenience if you own a PC, Mac users will struggle, so we'd advise them to invest the extra money for the DC220.

As you would expect, we found the video quality of the DC210 to be on a par with the DC220, or really any low-end, entry level camcorder. Colors are well-saturated but exhibit a fair amount of noise, which only increases when you slow the shutter speed to boost exposure in low-light situations. Stills can be captured to disc only; the DC210 offers no SD card slot. A nifty feature allows still images to be converted into three-second MPEG-2 files and inserted into your video recordings as a separate scene. The quality of the digital stills is poor, though, so don't think that purchasing this camcorder will replace your dedicated digital stills camera.

We liked the styling of the DC210 and its ease of use. It's well-constructed and comfortable to handle. The zoom and automatic exposure settings are fast and responsive. However, if you are a Mac user who wants to edit video on your computer, we'd recommend against this unit. Similarly, if you know you'll be shooting a lot of footage in low light conditions, the DC210 will likely disappoint. The DC210 is aimed at point-and-shoot enthusiasts on a budget, and as such, it's an inexpensive way to shoot vacation videos or your kid's soccer game. With its budget price, the Canon DC210 is a low cost DVD camcorder that does a solid job at handling the basic functions.

Pros: Simple to use, great handling, powerful zoom
Cons: No USB port, low end image quality, poor low light performance

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor