Canon U.S.A. on Friday introduced three new DVD camcocrder models with 35x optical zoom lenses. Coming in early March, the DC210 and DC220 cost $339 and $449 respectively. The DC230 is coming in late March for $499.
All three camcorders burn content to DVD media and can record in 16:9 Widescreen High Resolution (HR) format. They also sport image stabilization and “Smooth Zoom,” which helps to alleviate the jerky zoom response of other camera models.
The cameras can be up and running less than a second, according to Canon, and feature 2.7-inch widescreen LCD viewfinders. They use Canon’d DIGIC DV II signal processors for both motion and still picture recording. The camcorders accept three-inch DVD-R/RW discs, and can store up to 60 minutes of video on a single layer disc or 108 minutes on a dual layer disk.
The DC210 is the entry-level model in the new lineup. The DC220 adds nine-point autofocus and a miniSD memory card slot that can record still images at 1024 x 768 resolution. The unit is also equipped with a USB 2.0 port and PictBridge support; it’s Mac and Windows compatible and includes software.
The DC230 rounds out the offerings with additional features including a 1.07 megapixel CCD image sensor that can record higher-resolution still images (1152 x 864 resolution) and includes a wireless remote control.