Canon Optura 50 MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 9 inches ; 3.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007W2H2K
• Item model number: 0330B001
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,926 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 24, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer Take control and capture your video and photographic memories the way you want to remember them - all with a single camera. The Optura 50 combines extraordinary 2.2 megapixel performance with advanced controls for your digital photography. The camcorder also lets you take as much or as little control over your video as you want with a wide range of automatic settings. With these advanced controls and automatic settings - along with an advanced, 9-point auto intelligent autofocus - there are no limits to your creativity. You always get the shot you want.

Not only that, the Optura 50 makes it easy for you to share your great shots. The camcorder connects with your computer effortlessly, letting you manage, stream and e-mail your memories for all to enjoy.

Canon Optura 50 Features

The Canon Optura 50 fits in the palm of your hand.

Camcorder and Digital Camera in One
Canon's exclusive DIGIC DV signal processing circuit processes video and still images differently, so as not to compromise the quality of your video or digital photography. The two signals have different color requirements and DIGIC DV technology processes the two signals accordingly, giving you uncompromised results. That means video images that are maximized for viewing on TV, and digital photographs that look brilliant on computer displays or as prints. DIGIC DV is just one of Canon's DV Photo Plus technologies that help to unleash the performance potential of the Optura 50.

Unsurpassed Optical Quality
A part of every Canon product are genuine Canon optics, and the Optura 50 is no exception. You get the same clarity, brilliance and vivid color that advanced amateurs and professionals have come to expect from the genuine Canon optics in 35mm film cameras and broadcast TV cameras. Genuine Canon optics is just one of the DV Photo Plus technologies that make the Optura 50 such a stand-out performer.

The Optura 50 comes with a 10x optical zoom which is enhanced by the camcorder's 200X digital zoom, giving you an impressive zoom range found on more expensive cameras.

2.2 Megapixel Performance
One of the reasons the Optura 50 delivers stunningly vivid and sharp video and still (1632 x 1224) images is its 2.2 megapixel CCD. It's one of the DV Photo Plus technologies that ensure outstanding results.

In the Optura 50, this performance is combined with Canon's advanced RGB primary color filter. Other camcorders process color using a standard CMYG filter, resulting in duller colors. Canon's RGB filter separates light into its red, green and blue components, resulting in professional-quality images with natural-looking tones and vivid hues.

Together, the 2.2 megapixel CCD and RGB color filter deliver uncompromisingly brilliant results.

One Touch Photo Downloading and Printing
Print amd Share, one of the powerful Canon DV Photo Plus technologies, makes possible downloading and printing in a snap.

Print and Share does just that - with the touch of a single button, you can print digital photographs from your Optura camcorder directly to a Canon CP-series photo printer or Canon Bubble Jet direct printer (or any Pictbridge-compatible printer). Simply connect your Optura camcorder to your printer using the supplied USB cable (USB 2.0 full speed). Wait for the button to light up, press it, and you've got a print to share with family and friends.

With Print and Share, your Optura has all the controls you need for reviewing and rotating images, cropping, or selecting borderless prints. And, because your Optura tags each photo with exif 2.2 information, poor lighting and other mistakes are corrected in the printer automatically.

You can also share your photos by quickly and easily downloading them to your computer - with the same touch of a button - for archiving and e-mailing. Your Optura also supports Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP). That means your computer can access your camcorder as if it were an external card reader - without installing additional software. (minimum system requirements: Windows XP, or Mac OS X, version 10.1) With the Optura 50, it's easy to share the memories.

More Control for Perfect Photos
Not only does the Opturas' DIGIC DV technology help you take great photos from your camcorder, a wide array of advanced photo controls ensure beautiful results. Controls include:

• Auto Exposure Bracketing: gives you 3 shots automatically; one normal, one over-exposed, and one under-exposed.
• 3 Metering Modes: for the advanced photographer shooting under a variety of lighting conditions. Evaluative, center-weighted average, and spot.
• 4 Image Settings: to match your subject; vivid, neutral, low sharpening, soft skin detail.
• Built-in Flash: for low light and interior photography.
• Continuous Shooting Mode: for sports, action, or kids just having fun; 3 frames per second (1632 x 1224), 5 frames per second (1280 x 960).
• Photo Review Button: so you know if you got the shot or not.

A Shooting Mode for Every Situation
You can get the help you need for the perfect video or photo. The Optura 50 gives you different settings that automatically give you the best exposure settings for different conditions, OR gives you control so you get the exact image you're after. Shooting Modes include 6 new Scene Modes: Foliage, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Sunset and Spotlight. Each adjusts your camcorder's settings to compensate for different lighting conditions and different subjects.

And, when you want to be in control of depth of field, the Optura 50 gives you an AV (Aperture Priority) setting so you can select the aperture of the lens. And, the TV (Shutter Priority) setting lets you select a faster shutter speed so you get sharp, crisp images of fast-moving action.

Low light levels won't stop you either. With the Optura's Night Mode, the sensitivity of the camera's CCD is automatically boosted and the shutter speed is lowered to give you better performance in dim conditions.

From Camera to Computer with Ease
Show and share your memories that much faster by storing your digital photographs on the MultiMediaCard connected to your camera's built-in memory card slot. Then, transfer the images to your computer for archiving, editing and printing. In the same card slot, you can also use an SD (Secure Digital) memory card.

You can also record Motion JPEG movie clips to your memory cards, transfer them to your computer, and e-mail or stream them over the web.When using an SD Memory Card, you can record for the full length of the card. That's a 60 minute movie with a 512MB card. (With MultiMediaCards, movie clips are limited to 10 seconds in 320 x 240 resolution, and 30 seconds in 160 x 120.)

Say Goodbye to Unsteady, Out of Focus Images
Image stabilization lets you capture the shot, whether you're taping or photographing sports, fun and games at your child's birthday party, or shooting at a long focal length. Your shot will also be in focus - even if your subject isn't in the center of the frame - because there are 9 Autofocus points to lock on to your subject.

Give Your Shots the Widescreen Look
With the Optura's high resolution, 16:9 Widescreen Mode - a feature typically found on more expensive camera systems, you can have it whenever you need it. And in widescreen mode, the LCD viewscreen gives you a letterbox-style display for accurate composition.

What's in the Box:

Accessories included in with the Canon Optura 50.

• Optura 50 body
• Battery pack NB-2LH
• Compact power adapter CA-570
• Stereo video cable STV-250N
• Wireless controller WL-D85
• MultiMediaCard MMC-16
• USB cable IFC-300PCU
• Shoulder strap SS-900
• Digital video solution disk for Windows and Macintosh

Product Description

The Canon Optura 50 Digital Camcorder combines 2.2 Megapixel performance with advanced controls. Multiple exposure modes give you more control for a variety of settings, compensating for different lighting conditions and different subjects. Image stabilization captures that shot clearly - no more unsteady, out of focus images. Built-in memory slot let you transfer and share files with ease. Record movie clips to your memory cards multiple resolutions. Night Mode boosts shutter speed for brighter pictures in dim lighting. Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority settings let you control the depth of field while giving you fast-moving, dynamic shots. Movie resolutions - 320 x 240, 160 x 120 pixels, 15 frames/sec. Maximum Recording Time - SP - 80 min, LP - 120 min (with an 80-min. cassette) Fast Forward/Rewind time - 2 min. 20 sec 6 new Scene Modes - Foliage, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Sunset and Spotlight Auto Exposure Bracketing takes 3 shots at once - 1 normal, 1 over, 1 underexposed Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, Soft Skin Detail settings Continuous Shooting Mode for sports and action Aperture Priority selects lens aperture for controlling depth of field Shutter Priority selects faster shutter speeds Night Mode 16 bit PCM digital sound Captures still video in JPEG and video in Motion JPEG Built-in flash Inputs - Audio in Outputs - 1 IEEE1394 DV, 1 Video, 1 S-Video Stereo microphone Accepts SD & MMC cards for still image capture Supports Exif Print 2.2 Dimensions - 2.8 x 3.2 x 5.2 in. (70 x 82 x 133 mm) Weight - 1.2 lb. (530 g)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad given the other options, April 10, 2005

By 

John Faughnan "John G Faughnan" (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon Optura 50 MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I was looking for some very specific features when I bought this camera (I actually bought an Elura 90, used it for a week, and switched to the Optura 50 for the S-video I/O.) I'm a strictly family documentary person -- most of my videos are done at home in poor light and using the widest angle settings.

This was my list:

mac iMovie compatible

light sensitivity (good images in dim home lighting at night)

analog to digital conversion w/ S-video I/O

reliable, tough - ideally made in Japan

wide-angle for images taken from 4-12 feet

quiet motor

warranty & service (1 yr base, 2 yr when extended by my AMEX card)

price comparisons include travel charger & extended life battery

image quality

focus capability - ideally a manual focus ring

16/9 ratio playback ok

sensor: 2mpix, 1/3.6 ccd

external mike jack

top loading

Overall the Optura 50 meets most of the items quite well. I think the indoor image quality is pretty good; better than the Elura 90. Not as light sensitive as my old SONY Hi-8, but it's far smaller and lighter. This was my biggest concern, but I think the camera passes this one. The best results come with 3 CCD cameras with larger sensors -- typically costing $3,000 or so.

Canon includes a ridiculous, worthless, still image camera. Sigh. (I have two fine Canon still cameras.) What a waste. They do, however, also include an S-video for higher quality analog I/O (you have to buy your own S-video cable though!). The 2005 Eluras now lack this feature (arghh).

The Optura 50 doesn't have enough wide-angle range for my tastes (I still do 3/4 capture as my iMovie s/w expects that) but it does better than the Elura 90. It's probably as good as one will get nowadays.

Mac OS X compatibilty is excellent. The manual is sparse but adequate. Digital passthrough is tricky to figure out (read the manual carefully) but it works well.

The camera is indeed made in Japan and it feels reasonably robust -- as much as any competing device. The charger is compact, but I bought the reasonably priced very nice travel charger and an extended life battery.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great feature-set and performance for the price, March 27, 2006

By 

Flashlight (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon Optura 50 MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

The Optura 50 certainly isn't perfect and there are any number of higher-priced cameras which outperform it. However, the feature-set and performance for the price make the Optura 50 an excellent value.

The automatic white balance on the Optura 50 is more easily fooled in difficult lighting than rival cameras so you may frequently find yourself manually choosing a white balance setting. It's not a huge problem since the controls are easily accessed but it's something to be aware of. Low-light is not this camera's strong suit due to image noise.

A more serious issue is that a minority of units exhibit higher than normal tape transport noise. Several people including myself have had to exchange cameras that were much louder than they should have been. I haven't heard of anyone who got two bad cameras in a row though.

Strengths:

Optical Image Stabilization (unheard of at this price-point)

Easily accessed controls

True, high-resolution 16:9 widescreen mode

Microphone-in port with manual audio level control (unusual at this price-point)

Accessory shoe (cold)

Tilting, extendable viewfinder

Weaknesses:

Other cameras provide a better image in low light

Automatic white balance could be both more accurate and more consistent.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one nice family minidv camera, December 7, 2006

By 

rob (riverdale, ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon Optura 50 MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

i'm a mac user who wanted a family camera so i can input footage into the mac and edit the footage. after spending way too much time researching video cameras online and at brick & morter stores, i purchased the canon optura 50.

the optura 50 has firewire which is needed to have the footage transfered from the camera into a mac and have the mac edit software (imovie/final cut express/final cut pro) "see" the camera. this aspect has worked flawlessly.

the optura 50's specs are decent. it has the largest chip size of any 1-chip camera. now u can graduate to a 3-chip panasonic but this generation of panasonics does not come with firewire (see above).

the optura 50 also has knobs and buttons to access menu settings. i much prefer this to the sony's touchscreen menu system which maybe fine for setting up a camera but interferes with the camera when in operation.

the optura 50 also has jacks for an external mic and light. all camcorders at this level have so-so on-board mics so the ability to add an external mic is a cheap solution to an obvious problem. but not all camcorders have an external mic input.

the optura 50 produces quality video outside. its color rendition is excellent. indoors it pays to offer all 1 chip camcorders as much light as possible. when that is done, the canon optura 50 does as well as others in this price class. the kid's birthday parties have been fine, bringing the dog home was great, a surprise party for a friend all caught on tape.

for the price and the results i've gotten, i'd buy the optura 50 again. just one person's experience.