Summary: Lacking in Features

Comment: The camera boasts lots of features and a decent price, however Canon has omitted one very important feature that is very crucial to some users such as myself- It has no ability (per the Canon Service Reps) to have the video pass- thru without having the on-screen data shown on the recieving end (such as on a video switcher). The only way to get that data off is to RECORD your video. We needed to use the camera for sending a live video feed, but alas, we were not able to get the on screen info to not show on the final feed destination. The Canon rep said that this is the only video camera that he has seen without the proper menu options to correct this.

Other than that, the video quality appeard to be very nice.

Summary: EXCELLENT

Comment: THIS IS MY FIRST CAMCORDER BUT IVE SEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ONES. BUT THIS CAMCORDER OUT RATES ANY OF IT.. YOU CAN DO SO MUCH WITH IT WITHIN THE CAMCORDER OR ON TO YOUR COMPUTER.. YOU JUST HAVE TO READ THE BOOK CAREFULLY.. THIS IS THE BEST DVD CAMCORDER AND I SUGGEST YOU GET ONE..

Summary: My experience

Comment: I bought a DC40 in Feb, 2007. From the first day, I found that I couldn't transfer the vedio from the camcorder to PC. I thought that it may be the problem of software, I contacted the Roxio, which is the manufacturer of software. It was very difficult to get support from Roxio. After many trys, they didn't tell me what was wrong, and stopped responding my questions.

I read the manual carefully, but couldn't find any answers for the problem. I just gave up.

In the middle of July, I found that the camcorder was dead, couldn't be charged. I called Canon. It was easy to get some one on phone to talk to. I was told to mail it or drop it to the nearest repair center. I dropped it to a repair center just 20 mins away.

The young lady of repair center took the camcorder, and told me that it may be the charger didn't work. The problem of transfering vedio may be caused from the same part of camcorder. I was told that it should be fixed in 5 business days.

I received the call from repair center after 8 business days. I went there to pick up, the girl gave the fixed camcorder. I tried to use it right after I got out the door, but it was not working. I found that the battery was missing. The girl couldn't find the battery. She gave me a new one. I tried to charge the battery after I got home, it was not working. I had to go back with the AC adapter. It was the defective of the adapter. Now it is working, charging battery and importing the vedio to PC from the camcorder.

I may be just unlucky.

Summary: LOVE IT!!

Comment: The Canon DC40 is a great camera in all levels of light. I just got back from Disney and filmed the fireworks show. I've never had any luck filming things like this but with this camera set on the special "Fireworks" setting it looked as good as the firework shows you see on TV. Daytime movies came out fantastic as well. The camera feels sturdy and I have no fear of it breaking. Takes really sharp vivid color photos. The option to take pictures while you film video is pretty cool but the photos don't come out as good as when you take the photos by themselves. The one problem I have with it is that it picks up a lot of wind sound. I glued a very small piece of foam, kinda like what is on earbuds, on the mic and it cut down on the noise quite a bit with no loss to voices and sounds. If your budget won't allow you to go hi-def then this is the cam for you.

Summary: Great hybrid camera

Comment: I've had this camera for 6 mos. now. This is a great option for those not wanting to carry two different cameras. Switching between video and still is quick and easy. The quality of the pictures and video are superior to others. My brothers own comparables Sonys and a Panasonic. Pictures/Video are better on this; however... The video editing software leaves much to be desired. And the very low light video is better on the Sony. Other than that I would choose this camera vs. the others. The best part is that the wives agree; the Cannon is easier to use, more comfortable to hold and takes better pictures.