The ZR600 sits squarely in the middle of Canon's ZR line of MiniDV camcorders. Like the ZR500 and ZR700, the ZR600 has been redesigned to be slimmer and lighter than previous ZR models. Not only are the camcorders almost identical in design, they all sport a similar spec sheet as well. Like the other two units, the ZR600 features a 1/6-inch CCD that delivers 340,000 effective pixels in standard 4:3 mode and 450,000 effective pixels in 16:9 widescreen mode with the digital image stabilization turned off.

The ZR600 retails for $50 less than the top-of-the-series ZR700, and the differences between the two DV camcorders are minimal. The ZR600 has the same 25X optical zoom, but a less powerful digital zoom lens at 800x, which is of course more magnification than is usable in most situations anyway. The ZR600 lacks the video light of the more expensive model, as well as the analog-to-digital inputs.

On the other hand, the ZR600 offers several extra features not found on the bottom-of-the-line ZR500. For an extra $50, the ZR600 can record stills to an SD or MMC memory card at a maximum resolution of 1,024X768. It also comes with an improved auto focus, as well as PictBridge compatibility that enables you to print stills directly from a compatible printer. Overall, the ZR600's stills quality is fine for e-mailing or making small prints, but this camcorder will not replace your dedicated stills camera.

The ZR600's joystick navigation system makes it more convenient to operate than the old ZR models. The foldout LCD screen measures 2-7/10 inches, offering you the option of recording in Canon's widescreen high-resolution mode, which owners of widescreen televisions will appreciate. On a standard TV, widescreen recordings are displayed in letterbox format. This digital camcorder has a selection of preset auto-exposure modes, but it also enables you to manually adjust exposure, shutter speed, white balance and focus. An emphasis is placed on the auto-exposure modes, however, making the ZR600 an ideal choice as a point-and-shoot digital video camcorder.

Pros: Joystick makes menu navigation simple, easy-to-use auto-exposure modes, widescreen recording
Cons: No video light, stills performance only average

Warranty
1 year parts and labor