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Canon's new Mini DV megapixel camcorders — the Elura
70, Elura 65 and the Elura 60 — prove once again that
Canon digital video cameras can be easy to handle, easy
to afford and easy to use. In stores beginning this April
at an estimated street price ranging from $599 - $799, these
streamlined lightweight, 1.33 megapixel video cameras are
easy enough for any beginner to use anytime, anywhere and
for any occasion and simple enough to turn memorable moments
into family heirloom video and prints.
"The new Canon Elura video camcorders raise the bar of quality
for consumer digital camcorders while maintaining their absolute
simplicity, versatility, affordability and of course, always
the quality," stated Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president
and general manager of the consumer-imaging group at Canon
U.S.A. "We remain one of the world's only digital camcorder
company that designs, creates and manufactures our own lenses
and we make them specifically to match, maximize and seamlessly
merge the optics with the technology and capabilities of
our camcorders whether they are being used in professional
television and video production or to capture family functions."
DV PHOTO PLUS
Canon's DV Photo Plus combines Canon's core imaging essentials,
creating video, still pictures and prints of superior clarity,
color and brilliance. DV Photo Plus is the integration of
Canon's world-renowned optics and the company's exclusive
DIGIC DV image processor, a 1.33 megapixel CCD image sensor
and the Print-And-Share feature that speeds image transfer
from Canon video cameras to computer or printer.
The Elura 70, Elura 65 and Elura 60 Mini DV megapixel video
cameras offer an array of standard features and enhancements,
including:
- Canon's extraordinary Image Stabilization system that
instantly reduces camcorder shake even when the user is
shooting by hand with the zoom fully extended;
- A vibrant and easy to read 2.5" tilting LCD Viewscreen
as well as a color Eye-level Viewfinder;
- An Automatic Slow Shutter Speed for low light shooting,
ranging from 1/30 of a second to a top speed of 1/500 of
a second;
- A Night Mode setting that automatically selects a slow
shutter speed and increases the sensitivity of the camcorders'
CCD, permitting extreme low-light shooting and brighter
images without sacrificing accurate color;
- An enhanced Motion JPEG format that records in a choice
of two resolution modes with a duration limited only by
the size of the SD memory card used (for example a 512MB
SD card will record approximately one-hour of Motion JPEG
video);
- The new Print-And-Share feature quickly transfers images
directly to a computer or Canon printer with the single
press of the print/share button;
- Canon's Skin Detail Mode that automatically softens details
when shooting close-ups of people to reduce skin imperfections
and create a more flattering appearance;
- End Search feature that locates the end of the last recorded
scene with one touch of the button, removing the danger
of accidentally recording over previously shot footage;
- CD quality Stereo Digital Audio as well as an option
that leaves two channels open for additional recording;
and
- Selectable Display Languages that offer information in
the LCD and Viewfinder in a choice of English, French,
Spanish, German Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
Advanced Photo Features
In addition to the 1.33 Megapixel CCD image sensor, all
three camcorders offer innovative advanced photo features
that permit their use as a still camera. These include:
- Simultaneous Capture of VGA quality (640 x 480) digital
photos onto the camera's SD memory card while recording
video, creating email ready photos without interrupting
the video shoot;
- A Continuous Shooting function of three frames per second
or five frames per second in SXGA size (1280 x 960) still
shots;
- Selectable Focus Points that offer three options for
sharply focused pictures when the subject is not in the
center of the frame;
- Auto Exposure Bracketing that automatically captures
three alternately exposed photos (normal, underexposed
and overexposed) with the single press of the photo button.
This feature is particularly valuable in potentially tricky
lighting situations and for those photographers seeking
a particular photo lighting effect for their finished picture;
and
- Choice of SD Memory Card or Multi-Media Card for capturing
high-resolution digital photos or Motion JPEG movie clips.
Advanced Connectivity
In addition to the ease of Canon's new Print/Share button,
The Elura 70, Elura 65 and Elura 60 camcorders feature
a variety of Direct Print choices including a direct single
cable connection to Canon CP series Card Photo Printers
or Canon Bubble Jet Direct Printers without even connecting
to a computer. Cropping and other print options can be
selected and executed from the camcorder menu. The three
Elura models are also PictBridge compatible, the new industry
standard that permits cameras to direct print to any PictBridge
compatible printer regardless of manufacturer and are certified
compatible with select Windows and Apple operating systems.
The camcorders also support:
- Picture Transfer Protocol that allows users to easily
share photos on a computer with Windows XP or Mac OS X
(10.1) operating system without installing any drivers;
- Exif Print 2.2, a worldwide standard that record vital
camcorder settings and scene data along with the image
in order to help correct or provide accurate reproduction;
and
- DV Messenger2 software, which permits users to conduct
Internet Video Chats with the Elura 70, Elura 65, and Elura
60 camcorders in conjunction with Microsoft Windows Messenger.
DV Messenger 2 software can even control the focus and
zoom of both camcorders in the chat session.
Elura 70 Mini DV Megapixel digital video camcorder
The Elura 70 model — Canon's top-of-the-line entry — provides
many extras that more than offsets its difference in price
with the Elura 65 and Elura 60 camcorders. Most notably,
the Elura 70 camcorder features a powerful 18x optical
zoom combined with a 360x digital zoom (compared with the
Elura 65 camcorder's 16x optical/320x digital zoom and
the Elura 60 camcorder's 14x optical/280x digital zoom).
The Elura 70 also comes with an exclusive 0.7x wide attachment
lens that expands the camcorder's wide-angle capabilities.
As an additional value, the Elura 70 camcorder ships with
Canon's new double capacity rechargeable battery (compared
with the standard capacity battery included with the Elura
65 and Elura 60 models), the new Pinnacle Instant Photo
Album software and Pinnacle's Studio 9 SE Video Editing
Software for easily adding special finishing touches to
videos.
Among the features shared by both the Elura 70 and the
Elura 65 camcorders are:
- A high-resolution, true full-width wide screen 16:9 movie
format (as opposed to the electronically "stretched" process
offered on other camcorders);
- The Super Night Mode/Night Plus functions offer users
the option of adding light as needed by automatically turning
on (and off) an unobtrusive white LED light positioned
on the front of the camera. With the Night+ option, the
user can turn the white LED light on and keep it on as
long he/she chooses.
- An Advanced Accessory Shoe for attaching and powering
optional Canon external microphones or combination light/flash
or video light without using external cables;
- An external microphone jack; and
- Photo Search/Date Search.
The Elura 70 Mini DV Megapixel digital video camcorder
carries an estimated street price of $799*. The Elura 65
Mini DV Megapixel Camcorder and the Elura 60 Mini DV Megapixel
Camcorder carry estimated street prices of $699* and $599*,
respectively.
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Daniel Del Aqua is a contributing
author to www.digital-camcorders-reviews.net. A guide
that offers reviews, ratings & info on where to find
the best mini dvd camcorders, Handycam video cameras,
batteries & accessories.
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