Our school uses 8 cameras of this type to lend to students (12-18 years) to use it to make video presentations.

One big plus is the firewire connection, which plugs into a computer with Microsoft Moviemaker without any fuss. Loading the cassette is a bit tricky, but if you download the video's to a computer you can leave the cassette in the camera always. We haven't had any breakage so far.

The image quality is excellent if you save the videos as WMV files.

See here for an example: https://videoportal.kennisnet.nl/kvp/getAsset.do?as setId=33521
 

This unit is not made for children, the loading grears are to weak if a tape is push in with any pressure.

Recently I've bought a JVC camcorder from Costco and I was intending on returning it and getting a refund. But I am so fascinated with this camera that I can't give it up. It's got so many features on it that I haven't even used. I like its 270 degree rotatable side screen which allows you to take pictures yourself.

My friend has one of these and said he wouldn't give it away...below average quality, has had numerous "small" problems and is looking hard to replace with a top of the line model...