No comments about Canon XL-H1 3CCD High Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom.

No comments about Canon ES50 Hi8 Camcorder.

4 comments about Canon Optura 10 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5-inch LCD and 16x Optical Zoom.

1. I have purchased this product after checking no. of other makes and models like jvc,sony etc etc.Features I like the most are
   1) 16x powerful optical zoom Sony has only 10x even in top models
   2) 1/4 inch ccd, excellent indoor video quality.
   3) Rock solid image stabilisation, no shaky videos.
   4) Excellent point and shoot.
   5) 1.33 megapixel still photos.
   Features I do'nt like are
   1) Little bigger and heavy, but good for stable video.
   2) Motor noise is heard in recordings.
   2) Video conferencing available only on windows xp.



2. except the motor noise heard on the tape, its really annoying



3.     I just bought this camera a month ago, refurbished, directly from Canon, and the motor noise can be heard, but it could be heard on regular Hi-8, Digi-8's, too. But there's software that can remove the motor whining noises (Studio v9.0 can, and that's just off the top of my head, so I'm sure there are more). And from my experience, it wasn't even that loud (I usually record in situations where there's a lot of audio feedback, so I couldn't even hear it).
       What I'm having "trouble" with is the battery life. I thought maybe I got a refurbished battery, too, but it turns out I didn't. I read the manual, and my battery life is actually on par with Canon's estimated shooting time. So I'm seriously contemplating getting the fat battery (535?) for more life so I can shoot more, but for most of us, in many a shooting scenario, the best alternative will be a $1.50 extension cord so we can just use it without the battery and not have to worry about battery life, etc. Also, I'm not too thrilled with where the scroller button is, because while the menu button is directly on top of it, the effects button is "inside" (where the lcd screen would be when it is closed), so there isn't a quick, easy way to access it, but I guess I can't really complain that much about it since I've only had it for a week, and I will probably get adjusted to it.
       This is my first MiniDV camcorder, and my first digital camcorder from my Hi-8. I've used other brands and makes before, and found this very competent and user-friendly. There are other models and makes, within the same price range, that others might find useful. As for me, out of experience, what ever I have, I just get adjusted and used to, and I found it very promising so far. I only gave this a four because of the horrible battery life most Canon digital cameras and camcorders are notorious for, but we can all manage.



4. I couldnt find the optura 20, but since the only difference between the two was the lcd size, i dont think it matters.
   
   I had done tons of research before finally coming to the Canon Optura 20. I had read that the reason for the 'bad' ratings was the poor low light video option. Who cares, get a light. Yes it sucked, but what the heck are you doing videoing in low light anyway?
   
   Other than that the camera was incredible. Great, easy to use menus, options, etc. Buttons were just the right size and right placement. Zoom toggle was easily moved, and was done smoothly. The still shots werent the best, but its a camcorder. They were great for just snapping something quick when you dont have a camera. People also complained about the hum of the tape heads rolling being heard through recording, but i didnt really care for it. Wasnt loud or annoying. Just a pleasent lil background hum.....
   
   Unfortunatly, i used this camera a lot. Well over 100 hours. I bought it early 2004, so it is nearing its 3 yr mark. It started failing to playback a few weeks ago, but still taped fine. The colors on the LCD would go out. The screen was still blue, but the lil tapy thing turned green/black instead of the norm, and so did everything else. Also if the camera is pointed towards bright light, strong horizontal lines are seen, kinda in a rainbow color. Oh well, time for a new camera!!
   
   Overall, i was very pleased with this camera.

5 comments about Canon ZR60 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 18x Optical Zoom and Image Stabilization.

1. This camera worked great for the price that it sells for. I was able to creat DVDs that the family loves. I would say that the image quality during low light conditions is not the best, but with regular light it is fine. The MIC is omnidirectional which means it picks up anything from any direction, and it is not of the best quality. An external MIC would be a good idea. Overall I would recommend this camera to anyone on a budget.



2. Canon is a very good company, I am happy with the ZR60 I bought as others have mentioned. But this month (9/05) the sensor went out after a bit less than two years! You can be pretty sure the sensor is out when you detect no light at all (black screen on LCD and viewfinder) but sound recording still works. I went on this website to look up the product and found several unhappy customers complaining about the sensor going out also. I went to the canon web site and manual to try to figure out what was wrong and concluded that my sensor was out. I then looked at the Canon web site and did not find anything on this except the support line. I called and after a 3 or 4 minutes on hold was connected to someone who seemed familiar with this problem and I was delighted to hear that I would get a new sensor at no charge if the sensor problem was indeed what was wrong. I spent $13.80 to ship it (insured and confirmed delivery) and within two weeks I have my camera back and it is working. I am relieved I did not have an expensive repair to deal with. Overall, I am very happy with the product and service. Just wish the sensors were more stable and wonder now if the new sensor will go out in a couple of years or if it will be good for the 10 years I would expect.



3. Great value for the money (at the time, and now). Very high quality images in good lighting, especially outdoors; average to lower quality in low lighting (but hard to blame this on Canon; my old Sony was worse). No motor noise or any other problems. No problems with buttons, functions, etc. Just thinking about a new one now since the 2.2M pixel CCDs are the norm now, and this one has less.



4. Just over a year after purchase, the LCD screen went black. I did some research online and heard about the CCD malfunctioning in a bunch of canon series camcorders, including the ZR60. The camera tech I took it to was going to charge me $300 to fix it, but luckily Canon did it for free! because of this happening to so many cameras! So, since I got it fixed it still works great! I wouldn't use it for anything professional, but its small enough to carry around for a good time and film home movies!



5. Overall, the camera houses some nice manual features, and an external mic in, and is very user friendly. However, you get what you pay for. The color defintion is not there; anything less than full sun and the colors drain out of the picture. Low light performance leads the camera to crank up the gain and produce a noisy image that I would call un presentable, but still fine for the price range. The camera always seems to be two steps away from a black and white image, so plan to do some color correction to fix the image. I agree with everyone else on the external mic; the tape transport is noisy. In the end, however, I love the camera. It's low quality, cheap, but has tons of features and a shoe and mic input to add a shotgun to the top. I know of many cameras that cost much much more than this one that do not even provide a headphone jack seperate from the microphone input. I realy love the camera, and you will too, as long as you can compromise on the image quality in lower light and the audio issue.

5 comments about Canon Optura 20 MiniDV Camcorder with 3.5-inch LCD and 16x Optical Zoom.

1. Avoid this product and perhaps all Canon Camcorders at any cost!
   The IRIS is stuck in the low light setting like many others have posted.
   Search CNET and other forums as well for many other reports of this problem.
   
   Canon Customer Service has been very poor in responding to this
   and say that this is an unknown problem! You will have to shell out
   almost the cost of the camcorder to get this repaired or otherwise
   live with a bad paper-weight.



2. A huge warning for anyone out there looking at this camera!! We dont use ours often and one day it started loading up and being stuck in its low light mode. this means any amount of light in the room causes it to wash out and record as blur. When I looked into this issue, it turned out that there were plenty of others out there that had the same problem with the Optura 20. It will cost you $150-300 to fix. its sad, becuse in so many other ways it was a great camcorder- but a flaw like this can ruin it all.



3. I bought this camera in early 2004 and have had no problems that other users have experienced. Maybe I just got lucky. My main use for this camera was golf swing analysis. I looked for 3 main features: Manual shutter speed of at least 1/2000, manual focus, and a larger LCD screen, because at that time I didn't have a laptop and planned on doing analysis at the driving range through the screen.
   
   The Optura fills all of those criteria perfectly. Since I bought this camera, I've also added a laptop to the mix and the firewire port works great.
   
   One other interesting feature with this camera that I didn't know when I purchased it is the analog to digital converter. You can hook up analog A/V, change a setting in the menu, and the camera will convert it to digital and output the a/v through the firewire. So I can record TV shows (yes, golf swings.. such as the CBS SwingVision), in real time. Pretty cool.
   
   The ONLY con I have experienced is that it's not a very good low light camera. I do have to crank the shutter down to about 1/250 when I'm inside in a dome. But outside during the day whether overcast or sunny it works great.



4. Over the last two years, the camera has gotten progressively worse. It is out of warranty and the Stuck in low light mode problem has gone from once in every five startups to about 9 out of ten. The only thing that keeps me from giving it a one star rating is the large screen and general ease of use. When it is working , it is the best small camcorder I have used. (not that I have used very many) I have been looking for a solution to this problem, but when my daughter takes the Optura 20 to school and calls me in the middle of the day to ask how to fix this, it is time to give it the old heave-ho.
   I have tried a new CR-2025 battery, but that didn't work. I have tried jiggling things after starting, and before starting. Nothing seems to work every time. Since it has progressed over time, it seems to be connected to a sensor cleanliness and firmware combined problem. But I wish that I knew more.



5. This camera is perfect for my 18-year old. Perfect condition & works great. He can't thank me enough! I can't thank the seller enough. (Thanks again, by the way)! The advice he gave was extremely helpful as well.

2 comments about Canon Optura 400 MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I used one at a friends house filming their talks and I had fun filming on that camcorder, but it seems to have a battery issue, you need to pay more for a longer lasting battery for the camera.



2. I just received mine today and made a short cooking film while cooking dinner. This is a beautiful camcorder and still camera. It is small and fits the hand well. Looks like jewelry to me. It is perfectly quiet. I cannot hear it recording. Do not believe some reviews out there about noise. You can only hear it during fast forward and rewind. Big 1/3.4 inch CCD with Canon optics and color rendering image algorithms. Lots of manual options as well as auto. I bought a spare Canon battery (BP- 2L14, twice the power) and the built in charger charged it and the original with no problem. Very good hand ergonomics with nice button placement, intuitive operation. Excellent colors and imaging. I read my manual carefully and all installations of tape, card and backup battery were a snap. There is currently a $100 rebate and this camcorder is available for less than half the original suggested price, a steal for a camcorder of this quality.

5 comments about Canon DC10 1.3 MP DVD Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this for my sister as a wedding present. The camera has a lot of good features. But when they used a set of DVDs on it, they found that only 1/2 of the discs they used would record correctly. not sure if the problem is with the disks or formatting.
   
   More importantly, this camcorder does not allow for the video to be transferred to Apple Mac's. It only allows images taken with the camera to be transferred. This is a big disappointment and we will have to sell this camera on Ebay now or something.
   
   Usually i'm a big fan of Canon camcorders and camera's. I'm on my 2nd Canon camcorder now and just bought a digital camera. But Canon should have made this camera with support for Mac's. its ridiculous.



2. This is my 4th camcorder, and it is also the best one I have had so fare. It's the easiest to use hands down, the smallest, takes great video, I think just as good as my DV tapes camcorder but easier to copy.
   
   All in all this camcorder does what I have all ways wanted a camcorder to do and to be.
   
   It's true the software is not that great but it will get you though. If you want to do editing you will want some other software. I use Magix Video Pro with great results. Just put the dvd into your computers dvd player/writer (once the dvd is finalized) and drag and drop to Magix and it does the rest, and you can edit as you desire. Much better then running though hours of DV tape with a fire wire. warning, not all editing programs will work with mpeg format so check first.
   
   A 30 minute tape took about 10 minutes to copy over to the hard drive and for Magix to read, plus mpeg, dvd, is a much more manageable format then AVI, dv tape, with is huge and a computer resource hog. Editing isn't quite as clean with mpeg but AVI has many more problem then mpeg such as size.
   
   Or if you just want to make a copy of the dvd then use a dvd copy program like 1 Click DVD Copy and you'll have an exact copy in just a few minutes. Use rewritable dvd in the camcorder and you have a winning combo. Again much better and easier then paying back DV tape with a fire wire or burning to a set top dvd recorder. Two thing I never have to do again.
   
   Now for a global perspective, I have always loved movies and home movies. I was fascinated with the idea of movie making on my computer but my hopes where dashed with DV tape and AVI files. Plain and simple I just gave up, it was to much trouble, but my interest and enjoyment have been reclaimed with this dvd camcorder.
   
   Ok, ok now the bad news, things I don't care for to be balanced, tape length could be longer 20, 30 and 60 minute setting is all you get with a dvd. Yes longer record means lower quality. I've been using 30 minute setting with great footage quality. And all in all 30 minutes really isn't that bad. 1 or 2 hours can get to be to much on a tape or dvd of our kids playing in the yard.
   
   Second the batters take 2.5 or more hours to charge. That's a long time. But they do last a while. You'll fill up a disk with a full charge no problem. My advice, You will wont at least 2 batteries.
   
   Third, 10 zoom seems a bit small but it is workable and not a deal killer in my opinion. What I would really like to see is a nice wide angle for in doors. I'm using a wide angle attachment, 0.5X, with a 27mm adapter ring. Makes a big difference but is like adding a half sized Dixie cup to the front of the camera. It's not pretty but it works.
   
   So yes, narrow wide angle but not any worst then my Sony TR65 from 1990 which come with an on board wide angle diopter that made the same difference as the wide angle lens attachment or my Canon ZR60 from 2003 which was what I original bought the attachment for.
   
   That's about it. All in all a great easy to use camera that is the camcorder I've been waiting for except the wide angle.



3. there are two things i do not like. #1 it does not shoot in the dark very well. But i have read there are settings i can adjust. # 2 it wasnt free.
   
   Everything else is great



4. My title says it all. I've lost footage several times, corrupt discs all the time. The worst part is, it makes you think you're recording, and then you go to play it back, and it's not there. This is a certified piece of junk. Mine may just be a lemon based on other reviewers, but why take the risk when it comes to recording fun memories?



5. This camera really met and exceeded my expectations. It does crystal clear work which is very benificial to our ministry.

5 comments about Canon ZR45MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Digital Still Mode & MMC Card Slot.

1. As with others, this was a great camera until the remove cassette problem appeared 8 months ago. Now it barely plays or records. I'm never buying another Canon and going back to Sony. BTW, the buzzing is the automatic microphone gain. If there's not enough sound to record it cranks up the input volume so much that you hear the tape motor.



2. It was a pretty good camera until it stopped working. One day I turned it on and it started beeping and flasshing an eject tape message. But you couldn't eject the tape and the camera would not respond to anything. I had the camera just over two years when this happened. Luckily I purchased an extended warranty at Best Buy. Best Buy sent the camera to Canon for repair. Canon would not repair it because it would be too expensive so, Best Buy gave me a new camera. And I was allowed to get a different brand, so I went with a Sony Handycam.



3. one thing to watch out for,when using the zoom button,dont just let it go after you zoom,or it will click and the noise will be recorded. however,if you edit and can dub different audio then it wont matter. that said, we love the camera.
   ive been thinking about an off board mic for sterio audio,,just for fun. but since this camera is kinda old now,finding extra parts is kinda tough. when we bought it,they were just comming out and then everything was available,but now,several years later,,, well they arent. ebay or maybe canon outlet in the usa.
   in fact i just bid on a remote for it,we lost the other one. man,they come in handy.
   id probly also want a clear over lense to protect the main lense from grit and crud. cheaper to get a new cover than new lense.



4. This was my first digital camera, and I absolutely love it. Still going strong after 4 years. I've used it on trips, to record concerts, and just general fun. It's incredibly easy to use.
   
   The complaints I have are geared towards the fact that it's outdated. What once was sleek and smaller than the competition is now big and bulky. It's also slow to load up... meaning you may miss a shot turning on the camera. The battery is so-so, but to fix this just carry around spares.
   
   The good have so far outweighed the bad... fast/easy transfer of video & images to a computer. I can use it as a temporary webcam. I also use it for quick digital pictures (but the quality isn't that great). The battery and memory are easy enough to replace if needed (I haven't needed to yet). The zoom is amazing!
   
   It's overall versatile, and I'll keep using it until it dies (no signs of it so far).



5. Giving my unbiased opinion: I am an adult and i know my way around technology. I owned other canon products before from powershot cameras to this ZR45MC. I've had this since early 2002 and I've used it for many things, graduations etc.... I just recently had problems.
   
   first, GOOD: If you're not going for pro quality, technically superior lines this and pixels that....the video is pretty good in my honest opinion. I just used it on a trip to Boston and used it for whale watching and I was quite satisfied. The video was clear, crisp and colorful. It was cloudy and darker when we were out at sea and the video was still good, even after the whale spit out on us... yum. The aqaurium was even darker, still good. I avg anywhere from 1+hr to 2hrs on tapes. I read many reviews on the buzzing noise and I've yet to hear it. Perhaps i wasn't in a super quiet room but even though my videos had some quiet time in them i really didn't notice. The sound it does record is pretty clear. I bought a DVD-R recorder and transfered them immediately over to DVD and they transfer beautifully. It has many features like an adjustment lever by the eye piece to better meet with your eye (which is a plus since i have an extended battery and it sticks out a bit more but no struggles with the eyepiece extended-comfy). You can use the supplied AV cables or the not included S-cable but the supplied AV transfers just fine. It's been good with power consumption on my extended battery (digital concepts lithium BP-522CL 2400mAh)and i keep the stock one as back up but i've never had to switch to it yet. The software is pretty straightforward and I do use either the software from my powershot camera or the camcorder to load pics so they are compatible with each other in this case (zoombrowser EX).
   
   The not so Bad: nowadays with the pixel/resolutions quality of the cameras the 640x480 is not up to snuff anymore. It's better than nothing in a pinch when set to Fine quality. I really wouldn't use standard unless you using it for quick loading pic via internet i.e. ebay pics....
   
   Now the BAD! I really am surprised at Canon's response to this. I began having tape issues which also seems to be a fairly common complain. Now i really don't know if this would be a common issue with age and usage with all miniDV tape camcorders or just particularly Canon's but it began asking me to "eject" tapes more often but i noted it was related to when rewinding. Of all my taped it crimpled 3 and ate 1 (older tapes) during fast rewind. In other words, press stop, then rewind then it seems to be more riskier. HOWEVER, If the tape is playing and i hold my finger on rewind it doesn't have any problems eat/crimping. I contacted canon and they said it may need service. I keep my stuff meticulous....the cost of whatever the probably BS repair is quite high considering it may range from a simple yet $125 - $175 service to a much more costly and not worth the $$ problem. They did offer me to be a member of the canon loyalty progam which they send you an access code to their loyalty website and basically give you credit and a discount towards other items for your product. Think of it as trading in a car for a new one (and yes you still do get somewhat of the shaft but if you want to avoid the headaches of selling and getting something for the item then just bite the bullet). I still think if canon had a decent amount of concern regarding this tape issue they would be a little more proactive about it. It just seemed like he was saying an indirect but courteous "it's old so tough luck". I do note most of my problems have been with the FUJI tapes. I just switched to PANASONIC tapes so it's still early but no problems so far using my rewind method. TDK seem to work well with it too but it seems hard to find now. Too bad, i liked the TDK tapes. Anyone else come across another compatible bard lemme know. Reading some stuff on this, some say it is the type of coating or tape used that may make it more or less compatible but that's internet reading so take it with a grain of salt.
   
   Accesories: aside from the extended lith battery i mentioned, I also have crystal optics 3 lens filter kit (UV, PL and flourescent filter) which i recommend lens filters for any cam for 2 reasons, #1 and priority- God forbid if you dirty or scratch the lens, it's the filter lens that's much cheaper to replace vs. replacing the actual cam lens itself. #2 it does enhance taping if used correctly...it can minimize glare, tone down the brightness if you're taping on a super bright environment or give a more natural look to recording if taping under flourescent lighting....
   
   I guess I'm still keeping mine for now. THANKS FOR READING - I HOPE THIS HELPS ALOT!

5 comments about Canon Elura 50 Ultra Compact MiniDV Camcorder with 2"LCD and Memory Capability.

1. I purchased this camcorder shortly after it was released thinking the size and functions were perfect. Well after three years of limited use, the Eject Tape warning would pop up. And recently, when I put it on record, the screen stays black and the view finder stays black. Like many others here, I called customer service and was told to send the camcorder in so they can tell me how much it will cost to repair. When I asked if there was a flat cost for specific repairs, they said no. After seeing how much people were qouted, I dont think I'll take the chance of paying for shipping only to refuse to pay the high cost of repair.
   
   At that time, they tried to sell me the "upgrade" program. Just pay $200 for a ZR85 or $499 for a Optura 400 plus the exchange of my broken Elura 50. Sound appealing until you ask them if the cameras are new. No, they are refurbished. I liked the camera when it was new but after the problems I described, I suggest you stay away from their products.



2. I bought this camera on 2002 and today is still working good, I never had a problem!



3. Hi folks, I've owned my Elura 50 for two years and recently dropped it in the mountains and killed it...
   
   I've looked around for a replacement and to my disappointment found out that Canon did not come up with a "new" version or another vertical camcorder to replace E50. So I turned to other manufacturers in hope of finding something equally small and of good quality.
   
   There is nothing out there that compares to Elura 50.
   
   The features I look for: must be very small and vertical - must have low/night shooting capability - quality recording.
   
   The closest size-wise was Sony Pc55, unfortunatelly its video quality was awful and it lacked indoor / low light capability.
   
   The next was Sony Pc109. Sony claimed they managed to produce such small camera by shifting some functions onto an included docking station. Well, Elura 50 was smaller with all those and other functions right on board! Pc109 hardly fit in my hand, was very awkward to handle and lacked many features.
   
   Elura 50 is still THE SMALLEST camcorder around. It is excellently designed. It fits perfectly in your hand. All features are VERY easily accessed with your thumb.
   
   I love the vertical design of Elura 50 and can't imagine going back to standard "horizontal" cameras.
   
   Video quality was excellent. Night shooting on Mexican zocalos produced fabulous video footage of night-life (in full color). I'm not sure about the quality of still pictures as I never took any.
   
   Microphone location was excellent: it was on top of the camcorder allowing user to comment on footage with a whisper. Sound was excellent, picking up everything, distant and close up.
   
   Special effects galore! Plenty of all kinds of neat effect you can apply to your footage (way more than in Sony).
   
   All connections (s-video, firewire, a/v out, power etc) were all built into the camera - with no need for additional docking stations.
   
   All that being said, there were some issues with the camera:
   
   The CCD sensor was replaced by canon past warranty period when it was determined to be at fault (The CCD manufacturer who supplies Canon and Sony and others, released a CCD that broke, affecting many brands of camcorders).
   
   Battery life was rather poor delivering only about 50 minutes of footage, fortunately batteries are small and carrying spares was no problem.
   
   My advise to anyone seeking a digital video camcorder that is small and delivers good quality footage: get an Elura 50 while it is still available from some retailers. Nothing else compares. Pay with a credit card that doubles the warranty period.



4. I too experienced the "eject tape" error. Canon has repaired the camcorder 3 times at no cost, but of course it was being repaired over all the holidays. Do yourself a favor and buy something else.



5. I got the "Eject Cassette" error last year and Canon repaired it for free. Lucky me.
   
   Recently, I downloaded ALL DV tape to my computer after I install a 400G external HD but after that, there is no image in the camera mode. It's like the lens cap is on. I called Canon after checking on their website, they think it is a bad CCD (lose connectin) and they are willing to fix it for me. They even send me the free UPS label so I can sent it to them for free.
   
   I think Canon must be under a lot of criticism with all the problems their late model digital Camcorder is having. Their service and support for their product is very good. At least they didn't tell me to buy a new camcorder instead! They probably knows their customers have paid a lot of $$$ for their Elura50, and their camcorder lasted a few months or only 10 hours of recordings (a few tapes).

5 comments about Canon Optura 300 MiniDV Camcorder.

1. I bought this camera as a supplement to by TRV80 to use on hiking trips in the southwest when space and weight are a factor. I love the picture quality and the 2 megapixel shots are definitely better than sony's although not quite as good as a dedicated digicam at the same resolution. As for why I chose this unit over the Sony's 330, it was largely due to price. I could buy two of these cameras for the cost of the sony and since I do not need the hotshue or the minor increase in still resolution, I felt the Canon was more cost effective. I should point out that the rest of this review will focus on problems I had with the unit. I can't be sure if these negatives are common with vertical compacts like this or if the issues are Canons alone so I will let you be the judge. Also, if you are planning to use a tripod or have a way to brace this camera while shooting, most of what I am about to say will be irrelevant. However, if you are using it on the go and will be taking action shots or using it at maximum telephoto range, you may be disappointed.

   Location of Microphone - It is located on the top of the viewfinder (by the way, the viewfinder is fixed and cannot be adjusted). Up until now, I did not notice that I breathe heavily as it never factored into my other videos. This unit had me holding my breath while I shot so I did not ruin the scene.

   Location of Zoom - This problem will vary with the size of someone's hands but I found it to be difficult to operate and hold the camera steady unless I used my pinky to control the zoom. My hands are small and I needed the top three fingers to steady the camera while I moved it. This problem is further exacerbated by tendancy of the zoom too move to quickly if not properly controlled.

   Photo/Tape switch - A seperate switch is used to move between the SD card and the Tape. Sony integrates this function on the start-up dial switch which makes it easier to remember to turn to the desired setting when turning the camera on. As it was, if I had last used the photo setting and turned the camera off and then wanted to shoot video, I almost always screwed-up and started recording in MPEG format on the SD. Not a terrible problem but it wastes time and may cause you to miss quick moving wildlife scenes.

   In fairness to the mechanical functioning of this unit, it probalby deserves four stars and not three. However, if you do not need the still camera feature, there are better cameras out there for your money and I just can't excuse the location of the microphone.




2. I bought this goodie for less than $700 bucks from onecall.com, an authorized canon dealer so this qualifies me to a get a free 128MB SD card.
   PROS: Really compact compared to lot of other cameras i compared with that had the same features, it really fits in my jacket pocket. Out door videos are amazingly great, had to be with 1.3MP of video quality, the other option i was looking at was sony 330 but that was way too pricey for me.
   Still shots are exceptional although you cannot compare it with a stand alone digital still.
   Menus are not complicated, even my wife can use it without hassels.
   I had read reviews about the motor noise from the tape but i found that it had absolutely no noise when you record at the desired sound level in a quite atmosphere.
   I know lot of reviews state that the microphone placement is bad as it sits right on top of the view finder but i didn't find this to be a serious problem as it picks up the subjects sound very well. The only problem with the mic placement is the sound variation when you speak vs. the subject speaking.
   Zooming capability is amazing, the zoom is really smooth when compared to sony.
   Image stability is excellent as long as you stay with in the optical zoom, once you hit the digital zoom(beyond 40X) you need to be really still, the manual provides you with few tips to increase the stability. Also, i rarely go to the digital zoom as 10X optical is more than enough for my use.
   lots of predefined shooting modes.
   This goodie provides a lot of digital effects.
   The previous review said that s/he acciendtly recorded MPEGs instead of DV, but the on screen icons give you a clear indication of the media you are recording on, so no problem their as long as you see the on screen info.
   LCD resolution is fantastic and i liked the fact that it is not too big, there by minimizing my battery drain.
   The best feature i personally like compared with sony pc101/105/109 is that this one has all its control on the body, sony has a touch screen menu option and you could mess up your screen if you are not really careful.
   Cons: The most outstanding problem i found with optura 300 is the low light recording. This provides 3 various low light recording but in the dark the super night shot mode any moving images create a drag effect and the recording resoultion is also grainy. Having said that the indoor + low light mode is adequate when shooting inside a home with no day light. The only problem is when it is pitch dark sony seems to be doing better.
   Battery life is terrible, the battery provided with canon lasts 30-40 minutes, so i had to go in for an upgrade on the battery.
   but i guess all camcorders have the same problem.
   Overall it is a great camcorder for indoor and outdoor use.



3. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who is in the market for a camcorder. I purchased the optura 300 several months ago and have been utilizing it heavily ever since. The camera takes excellent movies of both indoor and outdoor events. I could not be happier with my choice. I did purchase a longer-lived battery which has worked out well. I keep the standard battery charged as a backup, but the larger battery has never died on me even during days that I shot a significant amount of footage.

   I would like to point out of few issues I have had with it:
   1) The instruction manual leaves much to the imagination, especially with how to download the recorded motion pictures onto a PC. There are many other gaps in the manual.

   2) This camera is not for the technologically challenged. I would guess that this is not limited to this specific camera, but is an issue with the entire class of cameras. To burn DVDs and do any kind of editing, the user must have a video capture card & firewire installed on their PC. In addition, downloading movies onto a PC requires LOTS of hard drive space. I installed a 2nd hard drive for this purpose. In addition I needed to install a DVD RW drive so I could burn DVDs. I also upgraded my RAM. Although all of these are easy installs in newer PC's, it can be a daunting task just for a person to figure out what is actually needed not to mention knowing how to actually install it. Combined with shortcomings in the manual, I could see this being fatal for some users. If you are technologically challenged, I would recommend the cameras that burn directly to DVD.

   3) At the extreme end of the zoom, the camera seems to have trouble focusing and is very shaky. This is not that big of an issue as long as the user keeps this in mind while framing the video.

   4) I am not really happy with the quality of the still images captured by this camera. These images can be saved onto a flash card or onto the digital tape. With perfect lighting, the images are good, but I have found that when the flash is needed, the images are completely over exposed. The red-eye reduction feature does not work at all to reduce red eye.

   Please do not let these negatives taint my review. I love this camera but I wanted to put all the issues that I have found with it out there.




4. I bought this camera just a day before my trip to Alaska and it worked out great. Since there was not much time to read the thick manual, the controls were intuitive enough to operate. The video quality was great.
   Pros:
   - Great size. Very compact
   - Great video quality with 2 Mega Pixals
   - Easy to operate.

   Cons:
   - Still pictures come better in light. Not good if the light is less
   - Red eye reduction does not seem to work well for still pictures
   - In the video, the sound recording seem to pick up wind and other noises more than you actually hear.
   - Some times still pictures are not in focus.




5. I bought this camcorder in the fall of 2003 (it is Jan 2005 as I write this). We bought it to take with us on our trip to Disney World. It replaced our Sony 8mm Steady Shot camcorder that we bought back in 1994. I wanted a camcorder that was small enough to pack into a belt pack. The old 8mm required a good-sized camera bag that was a pain to lug around places like Disney World.
   
   I really liked the fact that the camera could take still pictures too, as it meant there was a chance we wouldn't have to lug our Olympus D510 (2MP camera).
   
   It worked quite well for that trip. An added benefit of it being so small was the fact that I could bring it along on long hikes. I took it with us the next year when we went to South Dakota to hike the Black Hills & Badlands.
   
   Outdoors, this camera is excellent. The still photos are OK, I wouldn't recommend getting this camera to replace a camcorder AND digital camera, you won't be satisfied.
   
   Inside and in low-light, however, the camera leaves a lot to be desired. It is understandable, the small lens can only gather so much light. I would say that our older 8mm camera performs better in low light. For indoor shots, I usually try to make sure we have ample lighting. The lack of an acessory shoe on this camera prevents you from attaching one of those [annoying] video camera spotlights.
   
   The swing out LCD is the right size for viewing, it rotates around completely so you can use it for self-portraits, or just getting some really odd-angled shot (my relatively new Canon A85 has a similar LCD, though much smaller).
   
   The one thing that I find is the most useful as of late is something I did not research as a requirement when shopping for a camcorder. The Analog->Digital pass-through feature blew away two other Analog Video capture cards. My old Dell (4550) came with a video capture card that would drop numerous frames. I bought an ATI All-In-Wonder card to import all my old analog and it didn't even compare to the pass through on the canon. Now I connect my old 8mm to the Optura 300, set the video mode to pass through and capture the video through the 1394 port, storing as .avi (on a nice big drive).
   
   I've never used any of the funky digital effects. I would suggest saving your $$ and not making the inclusion/lack of effects part of your criteria for choosing a camcorder. You can do everything you need in your video editing software (I use Adobe Premiere Elements 1.0 now).
   
   Somehow I have become a Canon-Fan over the past few years. When I bought this camcorder it was the only Canon gadget I owned. This past year I added the Canon A85 and the Digital Rebel to my collection of digital toys. To add to that last note, I am 'looking' at another camcorder and am only looking at Canon models (the Optura Xi to be exact).
   
   I realize it might be late in the game to be rating this camera as the Optura 400 & 500 are out now. If you are researching those please take my experiences with Canon & the Optura line as positive notes on their offerings.