Canon Elura 100
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"Nice camera, just what I needed." on by escee
Pros: Good pic quality, compact size, easy to use, nice features.
Cons: Saw purple fringing in some bright scenes.
Summary: This is one nice little camera.
The overall picture quality is quite
good. I did notice purple fringing
around some objects in bright scenes
but no big deal. I have been using it
outside only, havn't tried using it
inside just yet.
The size is great. I can slip this
into my coat pocket without much problem.
The controls are pretty well placed
and easy to learn. Features such as
analog-to-digital conversion is good
to have. I'll probably use it some days
to convert old tapes.
This camera has decent zoom (20x). I was
considering this and the ZR700 which is
about the same price. Went with the
Elura 100 due to better pic quality
from a review I read.
The ability to capture to SD card is nice
to have, although, serious picture takers
should get a real camera instead. 1MP
just doesn't cut it.
I like the true widescreen feature. This
is great for the newer tv sets. Battery
life is decent. Probably a good idea to
get an extra BP-208 (I think) for around
$45.
This little camcorder is an excellent
value for the money (paid $309 for it).Updated
BTW, my reason for going with MiniDV was that I intended to do lots of editing of the video. From reading about Mini DVD, I learned that their picture quality is not as good since the video is saved as MPEG-2 unlike MiniDV which can be saved onto a computer in a less compressed AVI file. I found that this is more flexible and convenient.
I have been video taping for several weeks now and my solution to storing the original video is to transfer the footage onto my computer as AVI files and save those AVI files onto a DVD. These files are as good as the original files on the MiniDV tape and I can work with them to create my final DVD later.Updated
My main reason for purchasing MiniDV instead of Mini DVD was due to the picture quality. From researching, I learned that MiniDV has better picture quality than Mini DVD. Also it's easier to transfer footage to computer and that was one of my main intention.
I have been taking video for several weeks now and I'm pretty satisfied with the Elura 100. My solution for storing the original footage is to save the footage onto my computer as AVI files and burn them onto DVD. The quality remains the same and I can reuse the MiniDV tape. I can then use the footage on the DVD to create my final DVD which plays back on regular dvd players. -
"a camcorder to love and keep" on by robertobiggio
Pros: video light; sd card; long bat; great pix; nice video
Cons: too thick to grip
Summary: i purchased one elura 100 from dell.com when it went on sale $325; the design is very compact, with battery under the lcd, open /eject button on the top, overall it is a smart design. on the performance, the still picture quality is startling good, at 1.33m it close to a digital camera picture; sd card feature is a great addition, i recorded 48 minutes out of 512mb sandisk sd mini card. video is just ok for viewing on computer. it blurs when changes to full screen. but 100% original size looks very nice. of course, if u use mini dv tape, then video palyback on tv is going to be fabulous. the one feature makes this camcorder stands out to others is two video lights for low light or dak condition, very bright light by the side of lens. battery life is 150m, compare to 90m of canon zr600. the only con is camcorder is thick that the back of my hands hurts by holding 5 minutes. i highly recommend this camcorder, same price as zr 700, and $50 more than zr600, it worthes every penny and this camcorder is much better than zr700 or zr600, i bought the zr600 and now have to ebay it.
Updated
replacement battery bp-208 only last 1 hour, dont buy this back up battery. the original battery bp-208dg last 2.5 hours with lights on recording, no need to waste money on junk battery bp-208. -
"imho: the best sub $500.00 camcorder" on by pcstuff
Pros: Fairly priced, good pic quality, small, true widescreen (not HD) format
Cons: may be too small for some, viewfinder almost unusuable
Summary: I've used this camcorder for a few days now and have to say I am utterly impressed:
- It records fantastic images under bright light.
- Even in "dim" conditions (hardly any daylight/just a few lamps) it records excellent images.
- It is very small and portable. Any smaller and it just wouldn't be usable. The buttons are well laid out and easy to use for my wife with small/average size hands and me with my bigger hands. Do note though that the camera is very small and sometimes you will have a hrad time shooting steady video, if holding it with only one hand. I usually just use my other hand to steady it holding the LCD screen.
- Some users complain that it feels "cheaply built" or even "flimsy". I don't share that opinion at all. It's just that it is made of plastic and light weight.
- Very good battery life, even when using the LCD screen all the time. The little viewfinder doesn't extend and is almost unusable. They could have honestly skipped it and just made the camcorder another $50 cheaper.
- The lens cover is built in, so no chance of it going awol ever again!
- Records in true widescreen (can be switched to 4:3 in a heartbeat though). Most camcorders in this price range will just chop your 4;3 image and make it look like 16:9. So although the Elura 100 doesn't record in HD (which at this time costs another $1k) it is somewhat "future-proof" to watch your home video on your next TV purchase (most likely a HDTV) and make full use of all it's "real estate".
- Features Analog-to-Digital passthrough. While most camcorders in this price class skip that feature, the E100 allows you to convert your old analog videos to digital format and enjoy them for years/decades to come.
- Some people complain of motor or a clicking noise, I have not noticed either. Makes me think Canon had some birthing problems with the first run of these.
I've done a lot of comparing, trying to decide between 3ccd, HD and so forth. The Elura 100 in my opinion allows me to shoot great video now at a very economical price (#329 delivered) and I won't feel bad when I upgrade to the next generation HD camcorder in a few years. -
"Most Bang for your Buck" on by tonydj49
Pros: Easy Menus, Upload Video & Photo to PC, Widescreen, Decent in low light and Amazing in good light, lightweight, long last battery, wireless remote, great zoom and image stability, Great Overall Value
Cons: Placement of W/T Zoom for people w/big hands, does not include firewire cable, color viewfinder is a plus but neck of viewfinder is short and not very comfortable.
Summary: I researched like most people do for quite some time and decided on this model as the camcorder that offered all the great features available, good performance of actual recording and was most affordable. I ended up purchasing from an online store for $314.00 including shipping and tax compared to $409.00 at my local electronics store.
I've been playing around with the camera for a few days now and I still have much to learn about it though nothing seems too overwhelming. The Manual is very clear and simple. You can record in widescreen or regular depending on what type of TV you have at home. You can take a still photo while you are recording video without any interruption to the video. You can also go back through the playback of one of your videos and record a still image later. Included is the video cable so you can connect and watch your videos on the tv, then sit back on your couch and control the camera w/the wireless remote. Probably the best feature is being able to upload to your PC w/the included USB so you can burn your movies to DVD. (Assuming you have a DVD burner on your PC. If not you can also burn using a DVD burner and your TV.)
For recording in different light situations there are 9 different modes that all help w/focus and clarity. Specially like NIGHT mode that helps a lot in low light situations. Makes recording w/as little as a reading lamp possible if needed. There's also a "fireworks" mode that I plan on using on my upcoming trip to Disney during Independence weekend. Also has 9 different ways to fade in and out of recording along w/9 different special effects for recording such as black & white and sepia. Navigating back and forth between different modes is very easy as there is not too much bunched up in the menu. Also, navigating is mostly w/the joy stick that is really cool and makes it easy to work your way around. (Sony and their touch LCD screens sound cool but seemed more difficult and harmful to the screen. Waiters sometimes struggle entering your order onto a 20inch screen. Your camcorder screen is 2.7 inches people!)
Color viewfinder helps for recording in extra bright situations where the LCD screen might not look so well, though this LCD screen out performs the color, brightness and clarity of many other similar camcorders. The 20X zoom is more than enough to zoom to objects more than a city block away. Obviously you might not need to do that very often but just imagine how well it can perform for objects within close/average range. The batter is hidden inside where the LCD screen opens from to keep it from getting bulkier on the outside. Audio has two options, regular and extra sensitive. Both are good depending on the situation. LCD light is very bright to look at but it does help a bit in low light situations. I have yet to see a camera w/an excellent light on this type of camera. You'll have to go back to the old VHS cameras for a good light. If needed, there are mounts available for sale on the net to add an extra light for about $20 though they dont look very attractive in terms of appearance. All of the jacks for charging, viewing, cards and batteries are all hidden or blend in to keep it looking sleek inside and out. Go out to your local store and pick up and handle all the cameras available. Many, specially those by Samsung and JVC seem to be made of cheap plastic. The Canon is very solid and sturdy that makes you feel like you have a higher end camcorder. Which in terms of what you get, you practically do have a higher end camcorder. There is also a cover that slides over the lens to protect it.
Now the negatives.The viewfinder, though it is in color which is good, does not have any kind of extension or comfort piece for your eye socket. You literally place the camera on your face. For some this might actually be a positive though so it's up to you. The strap is not as big or attractive as the Sony strap. This was my wife's only complaint. She didnt care so much about the specs as she did about how it looked. I do agree w/her though that it could probably be a little bigger. I found it easier to not use the strap and instead put my hand over the strap in order to get a good grip angle on the Zoom lever. Which means the zoom lever may be the only piece that could benefit from being moved or enlarged a bit. Specially for folks w/bigger hands or long fingers. Still this is not enough of a problem for me to even complain about it. All of the other features plus the ability to find it just over $300 is more than I can ask for. -
"Great camera, motor noise ruined it for me" on by konterbleda
Pros: Surprise, its a really great camera all around except for...
Cons: MOTOR NOISE!
Summary: I read all the reviews. Kept reading about camera noise, so I had to check out for myself. My cousin has this camera, and he permitted me to use it at several of my childrens events. Initially, I had no problems. At a birthday party and a karate tournament, it performed flawlessly. However, when I tried to tape my daughters piano recital, or coax a few words out of a friends baby, the motor noise was very blatant. In situations where there is alot of noise to drown out the motor, such as parties and sporting events, its fine. But if you do an interview, or if you tape a piano recital or such where there is not much other background noise, the motor will be heard clearly. I decided to move on to another camera.
Updated
Mentioned to him that I didn't think too highly of his vidcam. He loves it, but he has 3 rowdy boys that he tapes constantly. My gatherings tend to be a bit more sedate.Updated
Just thought I'd add this. Get an external mic, either wired or not, and this may take care of motor noise.
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