Canon Optura 200MC
Starting at: $430.00
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CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
stars Very good
- Reviewed by: Eamon Hickey
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
- Updated on:
The good: Megapixel still-image capture; built-in flash and low-power video light; compact and stylish; optical image stabilization.
The bad: Almost no wide-angle lens capability; no provision for a neck strap; no accessory shoe; bottom-loading cassette.
The bottom line: A true video/still hybrid it's not, but the 200MC is a capable, compact camcorder with above-average photo capabilities.
Review: Canon designed the Optura 200MC to be a competent digital still camera as well as a high-quality, midlevel MiniDV camcorder--like its predecessor, the 100MC. With this latest model, Canon adds a continuous still-shooting mode, a USB terminal, and support for the EXIF 2.2 photo standard, among other improvements. However, there isn't a radical difference between the two Opturas, and it's notable that the newer model lacks an accessory shoe.
Even with its extra still-photo features, the Optura 200MC is a fairly rudimentary still camera. Those nitpicks aside, the 200MC is a solid, stylishly compact camcorder, and with ... Expand full review
Even with its extra still-photo features, the Optura 200MC is a fairly rudimentary still camera. Those nitpicks aside, the 200MC is a solid, stylishly compact camcorder, and with ... Expand full review
Canon designed the Optura 200MC to be a competent digital still camera as well as a high-quality, midlevel MiniDV camcorder--like its predecessor, the 100MC. With this latest model, Canon adds a continuous still-shooting mode, a USB terminal, and support for the EXIF 2.2 photo standard, among other improvements. However, there isn't a radical difference between the two Opturas, and it's notable that the newer model lacks an accessory shoe.
Even with its extra still-photo features, the Optura 200MC is a fairly rudimentary still camera. Those nitpicks aside, the 200MC is a solid, stylishly compact camcorder, and with a street price of less than $1,100, also a reasonably good deal.With its matte-silver finish, compact dimensions, and magnesium-alloy body, the Optura 200MC is a handsome, well-built, easily portable camcorder. With battery and media installed, it weighs a moderate 1 pound, 6 ounces.
Because the upright Optura 200MC is as tall as it is deep, you must use a mildly bothersome, spread-fingered grip to reach both the zoom and the record button. Much less forgivable, the camera lacks a neck strap or any provision for attaching one--no lugs, nothing. We ended up tying a spare neck strap to the swiveling hand strap with a square knot and feeling proudly Luddite about it.
Otherwise, the camera's design is well conceived, with controls that are thoughtfully placed for quick access and a menu system that's easy to learn and use.
A 1.3-megapixel CCD lies at the heart of the Optura 200MC, but you'll get close to the sensor's full resolution only when shooting still photos at a 1.2-megapixel effective resolution. When recording video, the camcorder uses about 690,000 pixels, which is fairly standard for similarly priced cams.
In addition to capturing DV-format video to tape, the 200MC can record M-JPEG video to the included 8MB Secure Digital card. Canon adds EXIF 2.2 support, a USB port, and a panorama mode to this model as well, to enhance its utility as a still camera. In conjunction with Canon's free Windows XP plug-in, DV Messenger, it can also stream live video through the FireWire port for videoconferencing.
You can record footage in seven different program modes, including a new Super Night mode that uses a low-power, built-in video light with a range of about six feet to capture images in total darkness. An easily accessible exposure-compensation feature lets you adjust the brightness of your image over a 15-step range, and you can manually select shutter speeds from 1/60 to 1/8,000 of a second. Creative types will appreciate the chroma and luminance key features, which let you overlay selected areas of your video on prerecorded backgrounds.
Like many other camcorder optics, the Optura 200MC's 10X zoom lens covers a range from barely wide-angle to extremely telephoto, which often makes interiors and group shots a pain to capture. Investing in Canon's WD-34 wide-converter lens attachment will give you a wider view.
The 200MC's built-in flash comes in handy for still photos of subjects up to 10 feet away. You can capture still pictures at either 1,280x960 or 640x480 resolution. At the higher resolution, the camera's continuous shooting mode can record up to 10 images at two frames per second.
The 200MC's autofocus system works reasonably fast and decisively, and the lens zooms quickly, smoothly, and quietly. You control manual focus via a ring on the lens. Like similar systems that are the norm for midlevel single-chip camcorders, it's better than nothing but nowhere near professional quality. The optical stabilizer works well, but it can't eliminate all camera shake when the lens is zoomed to its maximum focal length (the equivalent of a 450mm lens on a 35mm camera).
The camera's 2.5-inch LCD displays a reasonably sharp image with average visibility in bright outdoor light, and the color viewfinder is also fairly sharp. The 200MC's top-mounted stereo microphone easily picks up good-quality sound from all directions and over fairly large distances. However, capturing sound from all directions isn't always desirable in a video camera, and you'll have to use the adapter we mentioned in the Features section if you want to attach a directional mike.
The 200MC's high-resolution CCD and high-quality optics deliver sharp footage--just a notch better than that of lower-end MiniDV camcorders and quite competitive with other video cameras' in the same price class. Our exposures were also generally good. Low-light test footage, though quite noisy, looked a little better than average. That's partly due to the camcorder's half-second slowest shutter speed, which makes for severely blurry video if either the camera or the subject moves at all.
Our stills looked undersaturated and a bit noisy but were quite sharp for photos from a camcorder. A good 1.3-megapixel, dedicated still camera makes noticeably better images, but the Optura 200MC definitely narrows the gap.
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Even with its extra still-photo features, the Optura 200MC is a fairly rudimentary still camera. Those nitpicks aside, the 200MC is a solid, stylishly compact camcorder, and with a street price of less than $1,100, also a reasonably good deal.With its matte-silver finish, compact dimensions, and magnesium-alloy body, the Optura 200MC is a handsome, well-built, easily portable camcorder. With battery and media installed, it weighs a moderate 1 pound, 6 ounces.
| The cassette hatch opens from the bottom of the camera--a drawback for tripod users. | You'll find the playback controls behind the LCD. |
Because the upright Optura 200MC is as tall as it is deep, you must use a mildly bothersome, spread-fingered grip to reach both the zoom and the record button. Much less forgivable, the camera lacks a neck strap or any provision for attaching one--no lugs, nothing. We ended up tying a spare neck strap to the swiveling hand strap with a square knot and feeling proudly Luddite about it.
| Shooting and menu controls are clustered on the back of the camera. | You can access exposure, focus mode, and effects controls quickly with the four-button pad on the back of the camera. |
You can capture photos or MJPEG video clips on an SD/MMC card. | |
In addition to capturing DV-format video to tape, the 200MC can record M-JPEG video to the included 8MB Secure Digital card. Canon adds EXIF 2.2 support, a USB port, and a panorama mode to this model as well, to enhance its utility as a still camera. In conjunction with Canon's free Windows XP plug-in, DV Messenger, it can also stream live video through the FireWire port for videoconferencing.
Included accessories. | |
Like many other camcorder optics, the Optura 200MC's 10X zoom lens covers a range from barely wide-angle to extremely telephoto, which often makes interiors and group shots a pain to capture. Investing in Canon's WD-34 wide-converter lens attachment will give you a wider view.
Look, Ma, no accessory shoe! You'll have to buy Canon's kludgy SA-1 adapter to mount video lights and microphones. |
The 200MC's built-in flash comes in handy for still photos of subjects up to 10 feet away. You can capture still pictures at either 1,280x960 or 640x480 resolution. At the higher resolution, the camera's continuous shooting mode can record up to 10 images at two frames per second.
Input/output ports. | |
The camera's 2.5-inch LCD displays a reasonably sharp image with average visibility in bright outdoor light, and the color viewfinder is also fairly sharp. The 200MC's top-mounted stereo microphone easily picks up good-quality sound from all directions and over fairly large distances. However, capturing sound from all directions isn't always desirable in a video camera, and you'll have to use the adapter we mentioned in the Features section if you want to attach a directional mike.
| The included battery will hold up for about an hour, but if that's not enough for you, invest in Canon's larger BP-522 lithium-ion cell. | The zoom toggle works smoothly, and the focus ring on the lens provides better control than would a dial or a switch. |
Under tungsten light, with the camera set on automatic white balance, our video was warm-looking with a slight magenta cast. |
Camera's stills had a decent dynamic range and level of detail but showed more noise and artifacting than pictures from a good dedicated still camera would (image shown at 100 percent). |
Under low incandescent light, the Optura's built-in flash gave our still shots a strong blue cast when used with automatic white balance. |
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stars 5 of 5 users found this review helpful
"Jaggies" By
Summary This purchase was a DV upgrade from a Sony TRV8 for better picture quality from optical image stabilization and low light white balance. I sent the camera back because it had extreme jaggies in the picture. I really wanted to like this camera but it was definitely not an improvement ... Expand full review
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Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Optical sensor type: CCD
- Flash type: Pop-up flash
- Weight: 1.1 lbs
