As the highest end unit in Canon's 2008 line of MiniDV camcorders, you might expect the Canon ZR950 to offer upgraded features over the ZR930. It would be more accurate, however, to describe this camcorder as having different features to the midrange ZR930. The Canon ZR950 offers the same stripped down, easy to use design and incorporates the same core features of the ZR930. Instead of an external microphone jack, though, this DV camcorder offers a SDHC card slot for capturing stills, along with a USB 2.0 port.

The 1/6-inch 1,070,000 pixel CCD is the same as that on the ZR930, as is the Advanced Zoom capability. This offers a maximum zoom length of 48x and works by combining the sensor and image processor to scale the image separately from the digital zoom. This delivers a more powerful zoom than using the standard optical zoom but maintains a better picture quality than by using the digital zoom. Of course, the ZR950 also enables you to switch off the Advanced Zoom and revert to the standard 37x optical zoom instead.

In addition to capturing video to MiniDV tapes, the ZR950 offers the option of taking digital stills or short movie clips to memory card. The camera's SDHC memory card slot accommodates either a standard SD card or a high capacity SDHC card. Photo features include a 5x playback zoom, a progressive photo feature that reduces blurring as well as the same selection of auto exposure modes used in video recording. The ZR950 is PictBridge compliant, so it will print directly to any compatible printer. The USB port enables rapid transfer of content to a PC and will also turn the Canon ZR950 into a webcam or video streaming function. With only a 1.07-megapixel sensor, however, the ZR950 is about as adept at snapping quality stills as the average cell phone. Because you won't be able to use this camcorder to replace a dedicated digital stills camera, for many people, the ZR930 with its microphone port and slightly cheaper price tag will be the better buy.

As with the other units in the latest ZR MiniDV range, the ZR950 offers a 2-7/10-inch widescreen LCD monitor with 112,000 pixel resolution. This doubles as a soft video light when you to rotate the screen to face your subject and activate the soft light. While we like the design, the light provides only minimal illumination and doesn't detract from the poor low light performance of the ZR950. This is a DV camcorder suitable for recording vacation videos, soccer games and family barbecues in good lighting conditions. If you expect to be recording a lot of footage in low light situations we recommend looking at higher-end units. As a basic, simple-to-use camcorder with rudimentary digital stills capability, the Canon ZR950 offers an inexpensive introduction to digital video recording.

Pros: Inexpensive, 48x zoom, easy to use, video light, SD card slot
Cons: Poor low light performance, no microphone jack or accessory shoe

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor