Canon Elura Digital Camcorder
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Manufacturer: Canon
Price at amazon.com:
Used from $520.00List price $1,599.99
- Fits easily in 1 hand
- 12x optical, 48x digital zoom
- Optical image stabilizer
- Stereo PCM recording
- 2.5-inch swivel LCD screen
Product Description:
Capture the memories wherever life takes you. The new Canon Elura Mini Digital Video Camcorder is your personal imaging companion. Functioning as both a video camcorder and a digital still camera, the Elura's MiniDV features technology that delivers the highest possible digital image quality in a compact design.
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The LCD screen rotates 270 degrees, making it useful for the full range of camera motion. The screen also flips forward to allow for unmanned operation or to let the subjects see what's being recorded. Because it offers a color viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen, the Elura is very flexible. Its upright packaging takes some getting used to. In addition, the camera is geared to right-handed people, so lefties may have a tough time adjusting to the Elura; however, we became accustomed to it quickly.
The Elura offers seven autoexposure settings, including one low-light setting. While Canon recommends a minimum of 100 lux to operate the camera's normal modes, we found that the Elura performed well even in dim light. The low-light setting allowed the camera to operate at minimal light levels, with the expected degradation of picture quality. One remarkable thing about the Elura was its ability to focus quickly and accurately at extreme close range: the specifications say 3/8 inch, but we found that, with good lighting, it could get even closer than that without typical autofocus hunting.
The progressive scan CCD allows the Elura to offer an additional, progressive scan mode. This eliminates the flickering associated with interlaced NTSC signals and allows for higher image quality, especially on pans over high-contrast areas.
The Elura's digital effects are comparable to other cameras in its price range. One nice feature is that you can apply the digital effects during playback and keep the original recording clean. The Elura also offers a widescreen 16:9 mode, which adjusts the viewfinders to give an accurate representation of what playback on a 16:9 monitor will look like.
The Elura comes with a built-in stereo condenser microphone, and a jack allowing for a separate microphone. While there's no mount for an external light, the Elura does have a tripod mount.
This camcorder uses the MiniDV format, which lets you record digital video on an ultracompact tape. Digital video gives you extraordinary video and sound quality. The digital format allows you to take digital still pictures, just like a digital camera. If you want to download and edit your digital still images and video on a computer, however, you have to purchase a separate IEEE 1394 (Firewire) video capture card.
Pros:
- Progressive scan CCD
- Very lightweight
- Still photo capability
- High-quality digital format
- Color viewfinder
- Optical image stabilization
Cons:
- Smallish 2.5-inch display
- Somewhat awkward grip
Comment: Has been the best 1 CCD camera. Rating:
I do corporate und personal video production und have found the Elura to be the best 1 CCD chip video camera I have ever used.
I have used about 8 1 CCD hand held cameras und the Elura's picture quality has been the best. I have been able to flawlessly edit the Elura's video in to the video taken by my Sony VX1000, which is a 3 CCD camera.
Canon changed the construction und parts on later models, I've tried a couple, und the picture quality is not as good as the Elura's.
My latest try is the Sony DCR-PC120BT. This is the latest 1 CCD camera with the new HAD CCD. It is a good camera, the claim that the HAD CCD reduces video noise is true but the color is not as rich as the Elura's. In my experience with what people look for in video color always wins.
It's interesting that the Elura was the first to use a mechanical focusing/shutter system, others like Sony und newer models from Canon use digital, und the claim that this would improve picture quality seems to hold true in my experience. Now the new Sony 120 is using a mechanical system.
The option of taking stills with the video camera is worthless. First of all the image quality is not good. The new Sony DCR-PC120BT has a number of new features to supposedly make the pictures good but they have terrible distortion when taken inside. Outside pics are okay but the end result is a pic that will only make a okay 4x5 print. If you go larger you loose sharpness und color. Leave the still picture taking to a still picture camera.
The Elura has proven to me to be a really good hand held video camera und worth the price. Yes it doesn't have all the features like new ones but how many people use them? When I video tape I want the focus on my subject not some strange color filter or digitized effect. I have had a couple cameras with the night vision und I have used it about 2 times.
If you want a good picture with good color the Elura is the way to go, if you want features to play with a couple of times get something newer.
Comment: I need Power Adapter for this product ! Rating:
I need an Adapter ( power adapter) for CANON MV20 ( Canon DM-MV20E , it writes on the battery spot ). My cam is same as ELURA but the difference is that MV20 is" PAL System " and ELURA is on " NTSC System ". I guess that Power Adapter would be same for both types.If someone knows where could I find a product please let me know. Camera is perfect, no doubt.
Comment: Elura 2 problems Rating:
This has been one of the greatest cameras until...problems...And I have two of them! On fast re-wind they will sometimes destroy the tape. On both, I only re-wind on slow rewind. Now one will not accept a tape at all. I think someone rewound on fast and hurt the mechanism somehow. A call to Cannon did not admit that they have problems. Still trying to determine cost to fix...if possible. I am reading others on internet with Elura 40 which is similar and they are having problems with totally destroying the tape and $600 to repair??????
To be somewhat fair, I use mine with a helmet camera, carrying the camcorder on my chest. I have not crashed on it but it is not a perfect lifestyle. As a back-up, I bought another... Almost out of the box I had the rewind problems. I could live with those...until now! Changing brands of tapes made no difference.
I use the picture MMC side alot, but remember that it is only 2.0 megpixles and can't take much blowing up. But the pictures are e-mail friendly. The digital zoom is AWSOME!
Other than Tape problems, where you can loose everything, a great camera! 5 stars and falling fast!
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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