Digital Trends

Sharp VL-Z7U August 5th, 2003 | by Mike Bell

Introduction

The Sharp VL-Z7U is a small camcorder with plenty of features. At 3 5/32” x 3 13/32” x 4 1/16” and 1.12lbs it fits nicely into the hand with little noticeable weight.
 
The VL-Z7U is shaped similar to other compact hand held camcorders, but with one difference. The lens, LCD, and battery are contained in one physical unit while the cassette drive and recording controls are in a different unit. The two units are attached through a 270-degree swivel mechanism that allows the VL-Z7U to be held at a comfortable position for most shooting situations. The VL-Z7U uses a 10x (F 1.8, f =3.8 - 38mm) zoom lens. 

The camcorder fit in my hand quite comfortably. The only complaint would be getting the strap adjusted properly so that the fingers align well with the zoom control and record button. Someone with large hands might prefer that the camcorder body were taller. The VL-Z7U should fit easily into a jacket pocket or a purse.
One of the key features of the VL-Z7Uis the still camera mode with built in Multi-media card/ SD memory card slot and electronic flash. This feature enables the camcorder to double as a still camera.

Camcorder Operation

The VL-Z7U was easy to use with the default settings.  But once past the basics, the more advanced features require perusing the menu structure, which was initially confusing.

Unfortunately, a couple of frequently needed features such as the wind filter and display stabilization on/off required navigating the menu settings. Preferably the most common functions would have dedicated buttons that can be operated easily while filming. It's not uncommon to discover that the wind filter is needed after filming begins.    

The menu is activated with the display button above the battery compartment. Once activated, the miniature joystick scrolls through the menu and selects options when depressed.

The connectors under a cover on the back of the VL-Z7U are clearly marked. Connection of the VL-Z7U to a television, VCR, or PC was quite straightforward with the included USB and analog video cables. A miniature IEEE 1394 (DV) connector is also provided without a cable. This connector and a cable will be needed to transfer digital video to a PC for editing and recording onto a DVD. The VL-Z7U can also be used to transfer older analog recordings from a VCR into digital format using the internal A/D converters of the VL-Z7U.

Battery life is specified to be about 1 hour — more if you use the viewfinder often instead of the LCD. The LCD backlight is not needed outdoors in sunlight, which should help extend the battery life somewhat. In order to provide a compact package, the VL-Z7U mounts the battery into a compartment behind the LCD display. Unfortunately, this means that the battery compartment defines the battery's physical dimensions. Unlike many other camcorder designs, a larger battery with higher capacity cannot be added.

It would be a good idea to carry a couple of spare batteries when using the VL-Z7U; however, this points out another peculiarity of the VL-Z7U. The battery charger is built into the VL-Z7U, so it is not possible to charge a spare battery while recording unless the AC adapter is attached.

There was only one peculiar behavior that I experienced while using the VL-Z7U. While playing back test recordings on a television, occasionally a click could be heard in the audio. After observing the recording several times, it appears that the VL-Z7U emits an audible click when the optical zoom reaches the end of its travel in one direction. The built-in microphone is able to pick up this sound. The sound of the click was easily masked by nearby sounds, but is slightly noticeable when using the zoom in a relatively quiet ambient situation. On the other hand, the VL-Z7U exhibited no undue sensitivity to other internal sounds generated by its drive motors.

The remote control unit that comes with the VL-Z7U includes the expected playback buttons plus buttons to select between tape or memory card playback. During memory card playback the zoom control on the remote can be used in conjunction with the remote shift buttons to navigate across a picture and zoom in.