Canon ES8600 Hi-8 Analog Camcorder

Pros: Quality, great picture&audio, long recording, fast rewinding, easy to dub copies, Low Light Capability
Cons: No stereo sound - can be made to output two channel mono with adapter

I recently purchased the Canon ES8600 Camcorder. What made me decide on purchasing a Hi8 vs a Digital Camcorder was - low lux capability - 22X Optical Zoom Lens - 2 hrs recording on a single tape - price/performance - warranty ...

Pros: Easy to use, for the time it lasted.
Cons: Useless after one year! Garbage.

I love cameras. I have a few nice ones in 35mm and digital formats. Have used them for years with excellent performance. Each has its own case, are handled with care, and are stored where they cannot be reached by just anyone. What I am getting at is ...

Pros: easy to use
Cons: stops working right after the warranty wears out

We bought this camera for Christmas right before our daughter was born. It worked great for the first year. I compiled a bunch of Hi8 tapes & at an important event a little more than one year after I bought the Canon ES8600, the camera stopped working. There was no damage, it was perfectly protected, and there were no indications that the shutter was going out. It just was just inoperable one day - one very important day that's gone forever. I'm very disappointed & now looking for another camcorder or DV cam to replace it. I've seen similar problems with Sony, so now I'm at a loss as to what to get before this Christmas comes & goes.

Pros: NONE
Cons: ALL OF IT

I BOUGHT THE CANNON ES 8600 HI8 CAMCORDER ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO,WHEN VISITING ORLANDO WITH MY FAMILY, I BOUGHT IT FROM A CAMERAS UNLIMITED STORE. THE GUY IN SHOP RIPPED ME OFF,AS I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO BUY A DIGITAL CAMCORDER WHICH WOULD WORK IN ENGLAND AND I WAS INTERESTED IN A SONY,BUT HE CONVINCED ME THIS WAS THE CAMCORDER FOR ME. SO I BOUGHT THE CANON ES8600,WHICH WAS NOT DIGITAL BUT ANALOGUE. IN THE FIRST YEAR UNDER WARRANTY,IT BROKE DOWN THREE TIMES,COSTING ME ABOUT $36 EACH TIME TO SEND IT AWAY TO GET IT REPAIRED AT CANON IN ENGLAND. IT HAS NOW GONE OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS BROKEN DOWN AGAIN,FUZZY PICTURE AND NO SOUND,I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $280 TO GET IT REPAIRED. IM NOT AMUSED,WORST THING IVE EVER BOUGHT,PROBLEM BEING I BOUGHT IN THE USA,SO CANON DONT WANNA KNOW,HA S ANYONE ELSE HA D ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ES8600. THANKS COLIN LITTLE ENGLAND.

Pros: Small and compact very easy operation,color lcd display.Great price
Cons: Not a thing,its all how you treat your belongings.

This camcorder is outstanding in quality and functionability
I practically stole it for 149.95 from my local WALMART.I can actually say this is one of the best purchases Ive ever made.I has photo mode where you can actually take 7 sec pictures during you filming.All of the controls and buttons
are positiioned in the right place for one hand controlling.
This is a great camcorder.

Pros: Price, Quality, Brand Rep., Size, Easy to use
Cons: Sound quality, b&w viewfinder, batt. life

Excellent item for the price. I purchased mine @ CompUSA for $229. An excellent deal vs cheapies from Walmart like Quasar. Bought this because of Price & Brand Rep. Better deal then any Quaser for the price.

Easy to operate even for a newbie to camcorders like me, haven't figured out all the effects & how to use them yet, but basic point n shoot was very easy to figure out. LOVE THE IMAGE STABILIZER!

Great color LCD, good viewfinder, battery doesn't last that long, aout an hour or so, so you could invest in a better battery or you can use the adapter included for a direct power supply.

Easy to charge. EXCELLENT BEGINNER or HOME VIDEO camcorder. BEST BANG 4 THE BUCK!!!