The TR930 is a good working camcorder that includes most of the basic controls necessary for quality video production. It has no overwhelming new technology to offer, but those few features it does include make shooting video easier and more enjoyable.

VL-E720 8mm Camcorder
($1049)
Sharp Electronics
Sharp Plaza
Mahwah, NJ 07656
(800) 222-7669
http://www.sharp-usa.com

The trend in 8mm camcorders these days is affordability--which is a very good thing for consumers who have often thought about getting into home videography, but couldn't justify the expense. This is true of both the low and the high end of the 8mm-camcorder market. Many top-shelf models that used to cost several hundred dollars more than their competitors have now come down a few notches in price.

A member of the latter category is Sharp's VL-E720 8mm camcorder, which uses the company's distinctive ViewCam styling and a full 4 inches of LCD monitor for easy viewing of your shots. Similar to previous ViewCams, the VL-E720 offers easy access to controls, all of which are clearly visible and easy to operate with the right or left thumb while the tape is rolling.

Those who aren't familiar with Sharp's innovative ViewCam styling might be a little confused when first confronted with the VL-E720. Instead of holding the camcorder up to your eye, you operate a ViewCam by holding it in front of your body, a couple of feet away from your face. The right hand holds a small, vertical lens assembly, while the left hand grips the larger portion of the camcorder, which houses the tape transport and LCD monitor. Between the main body of the camera and the lens assembly is an articulated joint that allows you to rotate the camera section 270 degrees away from the main body's position. This configuration has several advantages: it makes it easier to hold the camera steady, because the eyepiece isn't glued to your face the way a traditional camcorder viewfinder is; it allows you to shoot very high- or low-angle shots by simply stretching your arms up or down while still keeping an eye on the image in the LCD monitor; and it lets you set the camcorder down on a flat surface and view your footage without an external monitor. Also included for playback is a small monaural speaker, located on the lower part of the camera section.

On the right-hand camera section are three buttons and a horizontal rocker switch. The three buttons are (from top to bottom) the record start/stop button, the fade button and the power switch, which has settings for VCR or camera operation. Zooming in and out is the main function of the rocker switch, but it also does double-duty as a volume control during playback, and as a manual focus controller when the unit is in manual mode.

On the main body of the camcorder are the standard tape-transport controls--rewind, play, fast forward, etc.--as well as buttons that govern the menu system and the LCD's on-screen display. The on-screen display itself will differ based on whether the camcorder is in VCR or camera mode. In camera mode, the display shows bright red counter numbers and the record/pause indicator in the upper left, followed by a green Auto/Manual indicator. You can access four separate menu screens along the bottom of the LCD monitor by pressing the menu button below the LCD screen. These menus govern such diverse camera functions as 10-second recording, backlight compensation, gain up, titles, 16:9 recording and others. Also present is a bright green battery-level indicator, which will help you to avoid losing a good shot if the battery starts to run out of juice while you're taping.

One of the more striking features of the VL-E720 is the bright, clearly lit LCD display, which offers better resolution than previous ViewCam models. This, together with the generous size of the monitor, makes it easier to see your images while you record outside in daylight--a shooting condition that has been one of the ViewCam's weak points in the past.

On the down side, the VL-E720 lacks three essential connectors that greatly enhance the videomaking process: microphone input, headphone output and edit control (such as Control-L or Control-S).

All in all, the VL-E720 is one of the better-performing 8mm camcorders available on the market today. Its not a camcorder for professionals, but weekend video warriors should be very happy with its user-friendly features and its overall good performance.