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Because of its compact frame, some of its features had to be trimmed. Its 2-inch LCD is smaller than most, but its bright screen can be viewed easily even in daylight. Unlike many other camcorders, the Elura's viewfinder displays in color, not black and white. It also offers only a 10x optical zoom, not as high as other cameras, but still adequate for most users.
Unlike many camcorders whose still image quality is subpar, the Elura 40MC captures 1024 x 768 pixel still pictures on a Secure Digital media card (an 8 MB SD card is included) rather than on the MiniDV media. And if coupled with a Canon CP-10 card photo printer, you can directly print images from the Elura without going through your PC.
But it's video quality that matters most in a DV camcorder. The Elura 40MC captured excellent video, even in poor lighting conditions. It doesn't have a built-in light, but its low-light mode still managed to record impressive video with realistic colors and limited graininess.
The Elura's autofocus worked quickly and accurately, and its zoom buttons were within easy reach during filming. The basic modes of the camera make it point-and-shoot easy for the novice user. Audio quality with the built-in mic wasn't the best (we noticed some noise during recording), but the Elura comes with a port that lets you connect an external microphone.
It's not the least expensive camcorder out there, but the extreme portability of the Elura 40MC paired with its excellent video quality make it an appealing choice. --J. Curtis
Pros:
Cons:
Lens
Canon is known for their lenses, and the 10x optical zoom lens is a good one. The zoom can also be digitally enhanced to provide 200x magnification, but the 10x should be enough for most purposes. Additionally, the camcorder is equipped with an image stabilizer to help eliminate the shakes and jitters associated with handheld video shooting (at any zoom level).
Digital Stills
The digital still mode records 1,024 x 768 stills onto an included 8 MB SD card, and will also work with MultiMediaCards. While 1,024 x 768 is good for printing smaller pictures, it is probably best for e-mailing pictures to friends, or for posting pictures on a Web site.
Inputs and Outputs
The Elura also features a great number of inputs and outputs, meant to satisfy even the most ardent gear-fanatic's lust. You get the standard IEEE 1394 port, composite and S-video analog inputs for converting all your old footage to digital, and a mic input that allows you to use an external mic source (good for pro-sounding audio).
The Elura 40MC is a great little camcorder that includes a lithium-ion battery, power adapter, battery charger, wireless remote, S-video cable, stereo video cable, and 8 MB SD card.
Video--is excellent, especially outdoors. Weather doesn't matter, as long as it's outside. It was cloudy all but one day and the video is awesome. Indoor is grainy if the light is too low, but reading reviews of other camcorders, I couldn't find one which said "great video quality indoors." All are grainy indoors. Live with it. You buy this for the size.
Still Pix--are not great. But are you buying a camcorder or camera? If all you care about are still pix, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-camera. No small camcorder offers a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution with stills. Even the Sony MicroDV only offers 2MP still resolution. With the exposure set to "super fine" I was pleased with the resolution, but I've seen pictures from a 4 MP still camera, and the images don't compare. The pix are not bad, but not excellent. But then, I care about video...not pictures--it's a camcorder afterall.
Sound--I think is great. Yea, there is the motor whine when it's quiet. But guess what, after a few seconds, you tune it out and forget about it. It is not very annoying at all. It does tend to amplify the voice of whomever is doing the recording. But what microphone doesn't amplify the sound closest to it?
SD/MMC card--is only tested by Canon to 64MB (per customer service) which is bad. They recommend not using anything higher than 64.
Battery--doesn't last too long, especially the smaller one. I forked over the money to buy the larger battery and it is well worth it. This way, when it runs down, you pop in the small one and you have another 30-50min of filming.
Ease of Use--I had filmed some items and was watching it on TV within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box. I had the still camera and fader/digital effects figured out within another 20 minutes or so. You must read the manual. It's real easy.
Buttons--are not small considering the size of the camcorder. If you need bigger buttons, buy a bigger camcorder. Remember, you buy this for the size.
Overall--it is great. Fantastic outdoor video and sound pickup with unbelievable portability and ease of use. This is not a "professional" camcorder. It should be used for "hobby" filming and as a great travel-size camcorder. If you need more bells and whistles (external mic mount, attached light) you need a bigger camera. As far as the "save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony" crowd, I've owned many Sony products and find they don't perform any better than anything else. But Sony always seems to want a few hundred more of your hard earned dollars to make you think their product is better. Ask someone about software compatability with their MicroDV camcorder...then watch 'em squirm.
Yes, the still pix are lower quality, but what MiniDV camcorder has a 4 or 5 megapixel resolution?? Sony only offers a 2 MP resolution on its MicroDV. But who's kidding who? If you're buying this camera for it's still picture ability, save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy a still-mode camera, not a camcorder. If you want a very small and highly portable camcorder which takes great outdoor video, then this should be on your list. Yes, the indoor video is not as great as the outdoor video, but realize this--you buy this for the size--it can't possibly be everything to everyone. If you need a camcorder for exclusively indoor action, buy one designed for that with all the low light/night modes/infrared/light attachment gizmos.
As far as the "motor whine" picked up from the mic, I don't find it all that annoying. You do hear it, but after a few seconds you forget about it and tune it out. However, I believe the audio is great. I have no issue with the sound. It picks up distant voices and sounds just fine. Yes, if you hold the camera too close to your head as you narrate, then your voice does seem amplified compared to others. But then, what camcorder doesn't amplify the voice closest to the microphone?
I have big hands but I don't have any problem with the buttons. Realize, this is a small camera so if you need big buttons, get a bigger camera.
Canon customer service told me they have not tested any SD/MMC card over 64MB, so they recommended I not use anything larger. I do admit, this is a big drawback, as one 128 or 256 card is much cheaper than 2 or 3, 64MB cards. Plus you'd have fewer cards to keep track of.
I don't believe this camcorder was designed for strictly professional use. If it was, it would be 5x the size and 10x the weight. You buy this camera for its size/portability. This should be used for "hobby" filming and as an excellent travel camcorder.
As far as the "save yourself the trouble and buy a Sony" crowd goes, I've bought numerous Sony components over the years, from TV's to cordless phones. For the $$, Sony doesn't work any better than anything else out there. They just want a few more hundred dollars of you hard-earned coin to make you think you got a better item. Ask the Sony-lovers about software compatability for the MicroDV...and then watch 'em squirm. Read the Amazon.com reviews of the DCRIP7BT. That's what kept me away from Sony.
I returned it immediately.
Cons: 1. Motor noise, yes, it is there, but not that noticable. Besides, any decent video editing software is able to filter that out. We also have a small,cheap standard Mic(got for free? Forgot), it also work fine to get rid of the noise.
2. Battery life: Well, you always need at least one additional battery for any camcorder ... Best price for standard additional battery is at batteries.com, 29.99+3.99 shipping; Really cheap compare to many other places. FYI, the standard battery is the same one for Canon S30/40. This is very convinient if you have both.
3. Low light: Come on...even 3000+ camcorder has low light problem too. We bought a cheap samnite(29, maybe?can't remember exactly) light set at bestbuy and everything is fine now...
You will love it...:)
Good points:
1) Compact, light
2) Variable zoom works nice
3) Cool looking
4) Uses any 28mm threaded lens, like the CoolPix 995
5) Can capture video directly to the MMC card.
Negatives:
1) Battery life. 55 minutes with the viewfinder, 30 with the LCD screen.
2) LCD screen not as maneuverable as others.
3) Itty bitty buttons. I have to use my nails or a pen. My finger tips are too big.
4) No accessory shoe to mount light or mic
Really bad negatives:
1) Video noise. I was in medium light - not low light. A room with three skylights and four windows, but no lights. Grain, grainy and more grain. Looks like I'm shooting through a dirty window!
2) Records tape motor as a constant high-pitch background wine. This makes the audio unusable unless you recorded in a loud environment - loud enough to overwhelm the whine. Nature shots, quiet scenes, etc. - unless you like a sound like an overloaded hearing aid in your audio, you'll want an external mic. Since there's no place to mount it, you'll need the Canon mounting bracket, a separate mic stand, or construct something yourself.
3) Multi Media video card. The manual states it works with any MMC card. The camera comes with an 8mb card - the capacity was too small. I purchased a 128meg card. It will not work. There is NO help in the manual or site concerning MMC card capacity. I can only assume that higher capacity cards won't work. Why did I want this capacity? Because you can capture video directly to the MMC card. Pop it in a card reader and you have web quality instantly.
Am I happy with it? Well, it was considerably lower in cost than the comparable Sony and I can use my 5 Nikon Lenses with it. It's small and compact. If I had to buy it again, I would probably go for the Sony if there was a $100 price difference.
I have a custom camera bracket, so I can mount a light and mic. But adding these items totally defeats the advantage of having an ultra-compact video camera - now it's bigger than an old VHS camera! Here's this little, ultra-modern video camera with two arms, one with a mic the other with a light.
I can live with the low light problem. But the audio quality is totally unacceptable!
Followup: I returned this camera. Several sites that gave it rave reviews have yanked the reviews. Don't but this camera. The "Oh look how small it is - cool toy" wears off fast - especially if you want good video! I purchased a new Sony instead.
What I do like:
1. Size.
2. Once you become a little familiar with it, it is pretty easy to use.
3. Price, see below.
4. The camera does have a lot of (special) features...but I will probably never use half of them. They are mostly a novelty thing.
5. The still photo quality are not that bad at all.
I haven't used the included software, but one doesn't buy a camera for the software anyhow. Plus if you buy soon it comes with, what I have heard, is pretty decent software as a rebate.
...
... ... Or better yet, go somewhere to test it, record on an MDV tape and play it back on a good TV w/ a S Video input and listen for the hum and check the low light feature. YOu will know right away whether this is acceptable or not. For me it turned it is, especially for recording my 1.5 y/o.
Generic conclusion, if you are going to use it mostly outside and for live action, go for it.
My only complaint is that it is easy to block the auto-focus sensors with your fingers as you hold the camera. I practiced holding the Elura so that I know the proper position of my fingers. Other than that, I haven't found anything else that I dislike.
i say save yourself some trouble and buy a sony.
First, the picture quality suffers significantly in any low light, like other posters have pointed out, but it is still acceptable for most amateurs and home-moving making purposes. By the way, when I say low light, I dont mean dark, but simply a low light environment like a room in a daylight without the internal lights turned on. The picture gets very grainy as darker it gets. But, it is still acceptable though. Having said that, the picture looks absolutely sharp under normal condition, especially outside under the sun.
Second, the battery lasts about 45 minutes tops. You definitely need to get a second or even a third battery if you want to tape some of the popular home video taping events like graduation. Not using the LCD screen helps, but I bought a camcorder with LCD screen so that I can use it!
Third, the digital image stabilizer is not that good. This is a common fault with other camcorders with digital image stabilizer. If you really want the smooth picture stabilizing function, you have to go with optical image stabilizer, which will set you back some more money.
Fourth, Firewall connection cable (IEEE 1394) is not included, and you have to buy one. You cannot use USB connection to transfer movies from the camcorder to your computer. Be aware of this and add another $$$ bucks to the total cost if you don't have one.
Fifth, the microphone range is very limited. Unless you are within 10 feet of the camera, you will not be heard. Plus, if you talk while filming, you will be the loudest voice on the tape by 100 times over others around you. It is that sensitive. On the infamous Canon camcorder feature of picking up the motor noise, I think it is not that bad. You can hear it, but it is not really that loud. I will be surprised if most camcorders don't record at least some motor noise especially at ones at this size. Unless you are absolutely sensitive about picking up some, very faint noise in the background, I would disregard this popular (almost religious) Canon complaint when thinking about purchasing this camcorder.
Sixth, it is remarkably small, and it is about the size of my digital camera. So, I guess you are giving up on some features for the compactness of the device.
Overall, the camcorder has worked fine without any mechanical problem in three months of ownership. I called the 1-800 call center for some technical help, and they were very helpful. I think you can get better features at a much lower price if you can deal with a camcorder that is not so compact but still fits in one hand.
This one doesn't have megapixel stills at 1020x960, but it's still tons better than 640x480 on most compact cams, and we have a 35mm for the serious photography anyway. Lots of great on-camera editing and shooting features, and some basic photo and movie editing software included. If you're going to do some serious movie editing, I'd recommend purchasing a better software package or taking advantage of one of Canon's mail-in rebate deals.
Mac users, you'll love this one. We had a pre-USB Powerbook running OS 8.6 and bought USB and Firewire PCMCIA cards for it. It runs just great without spending the extra cash upgrading the OS like the card manufacturers say to. Also, I wouldn't spend the extra cash on the expensive firewire cards that a Mac specific. I picked up an inexpensive IBM card [$$] at the local computer store, plugged it in, downloaded the supporting drivers from Apple, and it fired right up.
You will have a lot of fun with this cam. We took it out for the first time on July 4th, and everyone was amazed by it. Plugged it into the S-video on the nearest TV, and we had a great time watching the day's events!
So far, my only gripes are 1) the included battery gives you less than an hour of recording time, making spare batteries ... a must; and 2) the LCD screen and viewfinder is a bit TOO small... way smaller than on the ZR series. Definitely try before you buy. But those are small complaints given the overall coolness of this camcorder.
The speed of anything depends on the flow of everything.
He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
-- Lao Tsu
