It was a very close race between the Canon MV630i and the Sony TRV 355E as to which camera should take out the overall award. While the MV630i is $170 dearer, it has a better still photo resolution (1,024 x 768 compared to a screen-only 640 x 480), but the TRV 355E has superior PC connectivity and editing software.
In every other aspect the two performed almost identically.
The MV630i was easy to use and the quality of Canon's Image Stabiliser was again clearly noticeable. Zooming was smooth without too much lag as the auto focus adjusted, and the overall result was equivalent to a good VHS camera with the added advantage of being able to adjust your image quality on the run. It handled low light conditions well with NightMode, able to produce an image even in quite dim conditions.
While the still images were low resolution, they were good enough to produce a 5 x 4 print via the BubbleJet Direct print facility.
At $1,199 the MV630i represents good value for money for any entry level consumer looking for a good workhorse digital video camera.