Canon DC301
The basics
The Canon DC301 is a DVD camcorder that features a 36x advanced zoom, straight to DVD recording, instant shooting with the QuickStart button and more flexibility in navigation with the joystick. It can also store up to 108 minutes on an 8 cm dual layer DVD, while photo-sharing is made easy with the use of HD memory cards. www.canon.co.uk
The good
Movies in minutes is what DVD camcorders promises, and with the DC301 you can relive your birthday surprise (in widescreen) while the champagne is still fizzy and the kiss-a-gram has just left you blushing. Simply slip the mini DVD discs it uses into your home DVD player (or computer) for instant playback. The 2.7-inch screen has colour and brightness to spare plus a ridiculously long 32x optical zoom provides almost too much telephoto power.
The bad
Don’t expect glossy menus or Hollywood production values – the DC301’s sub-megapixel sensor serves up only average video and sound quality on home-made discs. If you do want to edit your movies, DVD files are notoriously bloated and tricky to cut down to size. And talking of being overfed, watch your pies around the DC301 - it weighs a hefty half-kilo with accessories.
The bottom line
Be honest, do any of your mates really look better in High Definition? Canon’s old-school DVD spinner may be about as cutting edge as a kaleidoscope but it does the job – decent quality movies in minutes – at a price that’s positively old-fashioned.
User comments (6)
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Chris09 October 2009
I bought the DC301 over a year ago but only used it 3 times because I find it too complicated. Taking the instruction book on a trip plus reading glasses is a bind. I didn't want to finalise the disc until full but now I've found I can un-finalise it, I may try. But I want to put the contents on my pc. Not sure if I have suitable software. Contacted Canon who refuse to make any suggestions. They refer me to my search engine and pot luck. I wish I'd never bought it.
Report as inappropriateCarol12 March 2010
Hi, I've got this Canon DC301 and would like to edit this video footage on my PC but am getting no joy with the Zoombrowser I've managed to download from a website. I can look at the footage but can't put pieces together. I've called Canon Support, they recommended another company who recommended yet another company who said Canon won't sell the software for their video devices and to try Canon Support - back to square one again. It's kinda like a hamster wheel. It makes me wonder if Canon thought of any use beyond the consumer shooting and watching the video. What was the software for then?
Report as inappropriateCarol Reeman16 March 2010
Although this camera is small and has all the bells and whistles, it’s basically meant for shooting family videos and having them on a disc. That’s it. You can’t edit it unless you buy editing software and god forbid if you lose the software that comes with it. (Make copies or don't lose it!!!) Canon Support will not sell you a replacement disc (downloads on the internet are only upgrades) and their ill advised customer support staff will send you on a wild goose chase on where to find software (no software for video cameras exist for sale but oh, you can buy a operators manual!) and in the end of tireless phoning and chasing, you get recommendations to try and buy it from Canon Support. A bit of a hamster’s wheel in a way. You get no where with Canon. Great for simple home vid, not great if you want more, like say a school. Don’t bother with Canon. Try Sony instead. At least you can do something with their software.
Report as inappropriateMatt24 December 2010
I Have The Canon DC301 But It WILL NOT Upload Onto My Computer Please Help Matt :/ :(
Report as inappropriateJo02 December 2011
You can change the extension of your files to .mp4 and then edit in a classic editing software...
Report as inappropriateEleonore15 January 2012
I have bought the DC301 camcorder a few years back, say 5 years approximately. For firsts, since my last trip (during which i used it) in easter 2011, i cannot turn it on. It was fine for about a month or two after the trip, but when i tried turning it on about 3 months ago, it wouldn't. I tried charging it, but it just makes a weird sound, likes its jamming, so i stopped. Also, when i insert the CDs in my computer, it detects the CD device, but presents it as being empty, and there is nothing to see (but i know for certain it isn't empty, i've watched it on the camcorder before). Could you please help me? Thank you.
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