For those of you who want a Webcam, just connect the Elura 70 to your computer's FireWire port and you're in business. Using a tripod, I got image quality that was far superior to my iChat AV cam's and worked equally well on Windows with the enclosed DV Messenger 2 software. Nerds, take note: you can even control the zoom and focus settings from your computer via the software!
You can download footage to your computer using a FireWire DV cable. Included is Canon's Digital Video Solution Disks for Mac and PC. This is pretty minimal video editing and capture software, so, if you're a PC user, be prepared to look for something better if you want to get serious about editing your footage. If you have a current Mac, you will have better luck with iMovie. Still footage and 240x320 QuickTime files captured with the SD card can be downloaded via the USB port.
The Canon Elura 70 worked well during all of my test shooting. Because of its small size and user-friendly layout, this camcorder is very easy to handle. It fit in my hand quite comfortably, and Canon's electronic image-stabilization produced really clean, shake-free footage. I gave this one the acid test and handed it off to my 10-year-old daughter (who's just a bit bouncy), and she came back with surprisingly good results.
This model's battery life outperforms that of its higher-resolution siblings, the 2-megapixel Opturas--unsurprising, since a 2-megapixel sensor draws more power than a 1-megapixel unit. Using the same battery, I consistently managed an hour's worth of juice with the Elura 70, while the 2-megapixel camcorders struggled to get more than 40 minutes on the same charge. If you're going on vacation or to an important event, I still suggest getting an additional battery. Charging is accomplished only through the camera, so plan on charging both batteries before you head out to shoot.
The Elura 70 captures 12- and 16-bit sound. I favor the 16-bit sound for its higher quality, and the built-in mic is definitely acceptable. Again, if you are feeling nerdy, put those iPod headphones to use and plug them in so that you can monitor your sound while shooting for that extra bit of control. There is a handy accessory shoe on top of the camcorder for Canon's optional DM-50 directional microphone to get a bit better audio capture when you are shooting from a distance.
Under normal lighting, Canon's Elura 70 produced footage that's good enough for playback on a typical television, but isn't so sharp on better displays. And like most of the cameras in its price range, the performance declines pretty quickly under low-light conditions.The auto white balance feature was very accurate and adapted quickly when I went back and forth between different lighting situations. While the image stabilization worked well, this camera definitely benefits from a tripod.
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