| Canon Optura 40 MiniDV Camcorder w/14x Optical Zoom | 
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| Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
Buy New: $3,986.70
Buy New from $3,986.70
Avg. Customer Rating:   (11 reviews)
Sales Rank: 35232
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Monitor Size: 250
Includes Software: Yes
Optical Zoom: 14
Digital Zoom: 20
Connectivity: IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Display Size: 2.5
Maximum Focal Length: 67.2
Minimum Focal Length: 4.8
Maximum Resolution: 1230000
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 18
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 8 x 5.4
MPN: Optura 40
Model: Optura 40
UPC: 013803040906
EAN: 0013803040906
ASIN: B00023CDIW
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | MiniDV camcorder and still camera with 2.2-megapixel CCD | | • | 14x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 280x) and image stabilizer | | • | 2.5-inch LCD with 180-degree rotation | | • | Capture low-light recordings with Night Mode and record in 16:9 format | | • | Record for up to 225 minutes on one battery charge |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Canon's new OPTURA 40 Megapixel camcorders unite the world of video and photography like never before. Featuring DV Photo Plus, Canon's one-of-a-kind system for achieving premium image quality, and fueled by a 2.2 Megapixel CCD image sensor, they capture video and photos with stunning clarity. An RGB Primary Color Filter adds dynamic realism, making colors come alive. Experience the ultimate in picture quality, while still enjoying unbeatable style and performance. Imagine a camcorder, digital camera, and webcam seamlessly combined, and fitting in the palm of your hand. Compromise is a thing of the past; the OPTURA 40 delivers the best of both worlds, giving you the freedom to capture exceptional quality video and breathtaking photos.
Amazon.com Product Description
Whether shooting up-close or from a distance, the Optura 40 delivers video and photos with exceptional definition and contrast, making every shot you take a potential award-winner. Featuring Genuine Canon Optics, the Optura 40 expands on this range with a 14x Optical Zoom and 280x Digital Zoom. Both models allow you to cover all the angles, be it wide or telephoto, ensuring that you always get the shot you want. | Auto-Exposure Bracketing |  | | In uncertain lighting conditions, the Auto-Exposure Bracketing feature will make sure your bases are covered: With a single press of the PHOTO button, the camcorder records three photos with different exposures. Later, you can choose which photo is best for printing or storing. | | Enjoy stunning video and photos
The secret behind the Optura 30 and Optura 40 camcorders' incredible video and photos is Canon's DIGIC DV technology. Since videos and photos have different color requirements, DIGIC DV uses special color optimization techniques when processing an image for output to a TV or printer. The result is accurate, life-like color reproduction in all your videos and photos. Catch all the action without the shake
Life rarely sits still for a shot, that's why the Optura 30 and Optura 40 feature Canon's advanced Image Stabilization system. Now you can keep images smooth and steady, even at full telephoto and while panning or zooming. The large 2.5" LCD and Color Viewfinder further helps to compose sensational shots from any angle. Dazzle on-lookers with vibrant color shots
Now you can relive those precious moments with all their true vibrant colors. While traditional camcorders process color with a standard CMYG filter (resulting in duller colors), the Optura 30 and Optura 40 camcorders use Canon's RGB Primary Color Filter, which separates light passing through the lens into their true red, green and blue color components. The result is professional-quality images that deliver natural-looking tones and superior color rendition. Get the full picture on your wide-screen TV
Unlike camcorders which only record a vertically stretched picture, the Optura 30 and Optura 40 both feature a High-Resolution 16:9 Mode that records video in true 16:9 ("letterbox") format for playback on wide-screen TVs. When shooting in the 16:9 Mode, the entire width of the 2.2 Megapixel CCD image sensor is used to capture your footage. The result is wide-screen quality videos that are certain to impress even the biggest "big screen" fan. Canon's Megapixel CCD
Canon's Megapixel CCD Image Sensor delivers crisp images with life-like detail. Whether you are shooting video or photos with the camcorder, you will get the best results. The CCD works like film -- when light is captured by the sensor, it registers an image and advanced processing converts the pixels into digital data creating your video or photos. Canon's exclusive DIGIC DV
DIGIC DV, our exclusive signal processing circuit, makes it possible to achieve accurate color for both video and digital photos. Since video and digital photos have different color requirements, DIGIC DV utilizes two different color techniques to maximize video quality on a TV and still image quality for print or computer display. Take it from sight to website at a moment's notice
Thanks to the Optura's improved Motion JPEG feature, you can shoot video ready for streaming over the Internet or for e-mailing. The Motion JPEG Mode records your footage onto the Secure Digital memory card at 15 frames/second, giving you up to 60 minutes of recording time on a 512MB card. You can then quickly and easily transfer your movies to your computer using the USB cable. Make incredible panoramas and portraits
The Optura line of camcorders gives you the power to edit your still images in a variety of exciting ways. The Stitch Assist feature allows you to capture and create breathtaking 360-degree panoramas, while the Skin Detail Mode helps you take complimentary close-ups of people by softening details and reducing skin imperfections. Turn your camcorder into a webcam
Exclusive to Canon, the Optura camcorders feature a Network Mode that enables you to remotely control your camcorder through the DV Messenger2 software application. Control the focus and zoom of your camcorder from a computer while streaming the video via its IEEE 1394 terminal Explore your creativity with the supplied software
Included in your Optura Kit are Pinnacle Studio 9SE and Pinnacle Instant Photo Album, two powerful editing programs that can help turn your videos and photos into lasting memories. What's in the Box
- Optura 40/Optura 30
- NB-2LH Battery Pack
- CA-570 Compact Power Adapter
- STV-250N Stereo Video Cable
- SS-900 Shoulder Strap
- WL-D83 Wireless Controller
- SDC-8M SD Memory Card
- IFC-300PCU USB Cable
- DIGITAL VIDEO SOLUTION DISK for Windows
- DIGITAL VIDEO SOLUTION DISK for Macintosh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Great, convenient, likes my Mac January 20, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Wonderful! I don't know much about video, but I just plugged it in and it worked. I am really pleased with the quality of the video and the nice way it connects to the software that came free on my computer (iMovie).
Yesterday I took video in falling snow. I set the camera to Snow/Sand setting, and it took care of everything. Nice feature.
The manual is minimal. I hope to find something better online.
 Very disappointing December 11, 2004
8 out of 17 found this review helpful
After doing a great deal of research I purchased the Optura 40. It was highly recommended by Consumer Reports and reviewers on this and other sites. I also purchased the Video Light since most reviewers mentioned poor low light performance as the main drawback to the camera. First of all, the light created red eye in my child, the main subject of my recordings. Without the external light video of indoor events, my main place of recording, was grainy and dark. Second of all, the automatic zoom was terrible. It was almost always out of focus. Third of all, the noise when the camera is recording is extremely loud. I had to look up tips online for how to adjust the camera so the noise wouldn't show up on the actual tape. I have a Sony analog with low lux and 16x zoom which I held side by side with the Optura and used to record the same things. The Sony was far superior. For the price of this camera you would think you could expect good low light performance and zooming. Canon can't manufacture a camcorder that doesn't make loud mechanical noise? I don't understand how everyone could say this is a good camcorder. Needless to say we have returned the item and are going to start looking at Sony digital camcorders.
Canon Optura 40 MiniDV- Best compact camera by far December 8, 2004
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
Canon Optura 40 MiniDV
My family just bought the Canon Optura 40 MiniDV Camcorder w/14x Optical Zoom; it is a digital video camera. I fell in love with this camera as soon as my mom charged it up and turned it on. I immediately wanted to take the camera out and start taping the first thing that came to mind. I started with video taping my house just like I was on MTV's cribs. I went in all of the bedrooms of the house, then I went to show off the cars, next I went into the back yard and taped the pool and all of the extensions that we've added on to the back yard. There were three excellent features on this camera; they were the readable buttons, flip-out side panel-viewing window, and the long battery life.
The best part about the camera was the simplicity of the buttons. The buttons on the camera are located on the underneath the flip out screen. The buttons had their symbols on them and also had the function written above. After messing around with the camera for a few hours, I had remembered the order of the buttons. A slight down side to this camera is that it is for right handed people in general, which allows you to have your fingers on the buttons at all times.
The next item is the viewing window on the camera. The camera has a flip-out, rotating, side view panel. This panel has crystal clear imaging that is amazing. Looking at a tape that I had taken a few months prior; I was amazed of how the crystal clear images of the tape place me back in the moment. The tape was of a parade in North Dakota. With me living in Arizona, and to feel as if I were back in North Dakota is truly breathtaking. The reason why the picture on the screen is so realistic is the vivid colors. Even in low light the picture quality is superior.
Battery life is another huge plus with this camera. The battery on the camera can almost last one tape; however, this isn't continued use. If the battery is used continuously it will last about an hour. The battery takes approximately fifteen minutes to charge up. This is a huge plus, if you are in a hurry and need another battery right away or even if it is a back up battery.
There are several other wonderful qualities to this camera: compact, lightweight, comfortable eye piece, clear voice recorder, extraordinary playback, and exceptionally easy to travel with. This camera has a high rating from most of the people that own it. It is definitely worth every penny spent. It is highly recommended by most to go take a look at one soon.
A really good camcorder September 19, 2004
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
I received Optura 40 as a gift about a month ago. This is my firs DV camcorder.
The quality of movies is amazing, colors are just perfect, and it performs quite well in a low light condition. The are also night modes that turn night in a day (not too realistic, but would be great for recording a wildlife at night for example). Quality of pictures is also great - I do not have to buy a separate still camera, 8X10 enlrgements came out fantastic, and combined with 14X optical zoom you can make it a spy tool. The camera is quite easy to use and intuitive. I really enjoy using this camera. The ability to record 16:9 picture is according to some specialists the best solution on the market unless you want to spend big money on 16:9 CCD camera.
The downsides:
MANUAL!!! I was close to returning the camera to the store after getting frustrated with it. Just sucks.... everything is actually in there, but it as readable as a phone book.
Software - Why there is not a single software for DV capture to a PC? I realize that a lot depends on the card controller, but there has to be a more or less universal solution. So far, Windows Movie Maker 2 fails to properly record sound in DV quality, Ulead has a similar problem and the only one working properly is Adobe Premiere 7.... But maybe it is my Firewire card, who knows...If thre is anyhing more frustrating than recording DV onto a computer, I have yet to find it. I feel Canon could include a simple capture utility and editing program.
Still picture quality with low light is too grainy, looks like the camera tried to go to the highest ISO settings, the results are not too encouraging.
Battery life is about 1 hour without the LCD (elongates somewhat when the battery goes through a couple of initial charge cycles).
Because I am left handed I also use my left eye to see through the viewfiner, but occassionally I start and stop recording with my nose. Fortunatelly the left handed are a minority.
I also had an impession that the camere motor become a bit more noisy recently, but it could be due to a very quiet scenes.
Overall, I love it!!! I think that the quality far outweighs some minor quirks.
Wonderful Camcorder August 29, 2004
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I will give 5 stars for the Optics - just amazing pictures, especially in daylight. I shot a few pictures under a 60 Watt (yellow) light and the picture quality was surprisingly good.
What I liked most about this Camcorder:
1. Great image quality, especially in daylight (comparable to the panasonic 3 ccd model which is much more expensive)
2. Very sleek and compact. Love the look of it
3. Robust. My 3 year old has already dropped it twice and the camcorder has taken it very well.
4. Very good Mic. Audio quality of the recorded movies with the built-in mic was amazing
5. The LCD is big, bright and has crisp images
What I did not Like (complaints):
1. The manual sucks. It is just a little more than a complete listing of all the menus that the camcorder provides. Not much explanation and no good flow.
2. The camcorder "automatically" chooses between optical and digital zoom. There is no way you can manually control that
3. The battery lasts for just 30 minutes (at least in my case). I had to buy a high capacity battery seperately to make it meaningful.
4. The camcorder provides a 12 bit and a 16 bit audio mode. But if you choose 16 bit mode, then later on, you cannot mix audio with the movie using the Audio dubbing feature. The audio dubbing just stops if it sees a 16 bit clip, it works only with 12 bit. Very annoying and very nonsense. I think the reason is that the camcorder stores both, the original as well as the dubbed audio and needs the extra bits for this. But nevertheless, annoying.. (In my enthusiasm, I recored two tapes in 16 bit mode and now am stuck, I cannot mix in audio without first converting them to 12 bit and there is no easy way of doing that).
But overall, this camcorder is a champ.
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