- Features true widescreen and powerful 24x optical zoom.
- Widescreen 2.7-inch LCD.
- Canon's Digic DV image processor for exceptional color and clarity.
- Smooth Zoom Control function prevents jerky zooms.
From the Manufacturer
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From the Manufacturer Around the world, the name Canon means
optical excellence, advanced image processing and superb
performance. And Canon digital video camcorders are no exception.
For budget-conscious consumers, the ZR family of cameras is a
perfect balance between style, performance and affordability. ZR
digital camcorders give you a variety of features, including
widescreen HR , pre-programmed auto exposure settings, a
Firewire/DV terminal and Canon's advanced image stabilization
system.
Along with its stylish Blue Mist finish, the ZR500 boasts
Canon's longest zoom ever. It also comes with features found on
more expensive camcorders. An easy-to-read menu system makes it a
breeze to operate. The joystick lets you easily operate playback,
focus, exposure and menu options with a single controller. And a
big 2.7-inch LCD lets you see exactly what your camcorder is
.
Widescreen HR
You want your memories to last forever -- that's why you've
taken the time to capture them. And you want to shoot in
widescreen format to get everything you can out of your new
widescreen TV or home theater system.
So, why is the way you record widescreen images so important?
Because you want an image made for widescreen, not adapted for
widescreen. Because every HD television is widescreen --
widescreen is the future.
The story of how we do it may be a bit technical, but the result
is clear to see. Canon camcorders use the entire width of the
image sensor to capture video in true 16:9 format. What
difference does this make? It's simple. With more pixels
captured, you get better image quality. Some competitors'
camcorders force the wider picture into a smaller space on the
sensor -- giving you a less true image, with fewer pixels and
lower quality. With a Canon camcorder, your videos of your
travels will let you relive great memories.
In addition, the viewfinder on your ZR500 displays your
widescreen image in a letterbox view. From side to side and top
to bottom, what you see is what you get. You can also view your
widescreen in the ZR500's large, 2.7-inch LCD screen. Either
way, there isn't the guessing or extra work in looking at an
image that's distorted like a fun house mirror.
To make it even easier, a widescreen button lets you switch from
standard 4:3 to 16:9 widescreen HR at the touch of your finger.
You can also use the widescreen feature with the camcorder's
advanced image stabilization.
Every one of the camcorders in Canon's ZR series gives you
Widescreen HR at a very affordable price. Why shouldn't
your camcorder shoot as wide as your widescreen TV? It should --
and it's hard to match the widescreen video, or the value, you'll
get from your Canon ZR.
Remember -- widescreen is the future. And Canon's Widescreen HR
is true widescreen that's picture perfect.
Optical performance you can see
Because of genuine Canon optics, the name Canon is synonymous
with unsurpassed optical performance. Brilliant optical quality
is part of every Canon broadcast TV camera, 35mm film camera, and
camcorder -- and the ZR500 is no exception. Thanks to the ZR500's
powerful 25x optical zoom lens and 800x digital zoom, you get an
incredible range of focal lengths. Whether you're at the back of
the auditorium while your child's on stage, or you want a
panoramic of the sun setting over the lake -- you always
have the perfect lens.
Without AIS With AIS Along with outstanding optical performance,
Canon's Advanced Image Stabilization is another feature that
helps you shoot great, professional-looking video by correcting
camcorder shake instantly.
Brilliant video
The ZR500 delivers stunningly vivid video thanks to Canon's
exclusive DIGIC DV signal processing circuit. A variety of other
features help you shoot video that will impress all your friends
and family.
Smooth Zoom Control: Simply select from 3 pre-set zoom speeds and
Smooth Zoom Control does the zooming for you -- giving you
steady, professional-looking s every time.
Level Control: Tired of s that aren't level or subjects
that aren't centered? Simply turn on the ZR500's Level
Control -- and horizontal and center markers will appear in your
viewfinder. With these markers, it's easy to level the horizon
for perfect video footage of a breathtaking landscape, or keep
your child in the center of the frame while they're on the soccer
field.
Perfect exposures
Auto Exposure Mode: With the ZR500's AE Mode, you select from a
variety of exposure or scene modes for the best results under
difficult lighting conditions, including: EASY, P, Portrait,
Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, Fireworks. For
example, the Sports setting automatically selects a faster
shutter speed, ensuring sharp images of your child's hockey game;
and Sand and Snow settings compensate when shooting a subject
against a bright background.
Exposure lock: With a push of the ZR500's omni-selector, you can
lock your exposure settings, then recompose your . For
example, you can lock your exposure while zoomed in on your
subject. Then, even if you zoom out and include a very bright or
dark background, your ZR500 will still give your subject the
right exposure. Also, by shifting the omni-selector left or
right, you can adjust your exposure by up to +/-11 stops (+/-2.75
EV).
Use auto slow shutter for low light Auto slow shutter function:
Activate this function, and your ZR500 will shoot at a slower
shutter speed for improved low light performance.
Share your video
Otherwise known as Firewire or iLink, the ZR500's IEEE 1394 DV
terminal is a high-speed digital interface that ensures virtually
no loss of video or audio quality when transferring videos to a
computer. Simply use a DV cable to connect the camcorder to your
computer's DV terminal and you can be sure that your favorite,
recorded moments retain their pristine image and sound.
What's in the box
ZR500 camcorder, battery pack BP-2L5, stereo/video cable
STV-250N