Benchmark: Canon Optura Pi Mini DV Camcorder (page 2)

One of the big advantages of the progressive scan CCD is its ability to record higher-quality digital stills than you can with a normal NTSC CCD. The Optura Pi, like the original Optura has a plethora of digital still picture options. You can even hook up an optional floppy drive to store your image on a computer disk.

There are a variety of shooting and playback modes to allow you to display multiple still images on the screen at once. You can also use the hot shoe to attach a flash unit if you really get into using this camcorder as a digital still camera.

When we powered up the Optura Pi, we noticed a loud motor noise. Wondering if the noise would be captured on the microphone, we rolled some tape and played it back to listen again. As we had anticipated, we heard the whirring noise on our tape. Camera noise limited the quality of the audio that the Optura Pi's built-in mike could record. We heard yet another noise on tape every time we used the zoom controls. In whole, this camcorder is noisy. Most users would probably be very disappointed with this camcorder if they paid full price for it and heard the noise our test model made. The noise may be some sort of early production flaw that will be sorted out, but until then, don't say we didn't warn you.

The motor noise aside, the Optura Pi is a fine compact camcorder with manual as well as automatic controls. Beginning to intermediate video hobbyists who are looking for a digital still camera and Mini DV camcorder balled up into one, will be pleased with its ease of use and image quality.

Canon Optura Pi
Mini DV Camcorder
Format Mini DV
Lens 12 :1 optical 48:1 digital zoom, f/1.6, 30.5mm filter diameter
Image Sensor 1/4-inch CCD (380,000 pixels)
Viewfinder 3.5-inch color LCD monitor, 0.44-inch color LCD viewfinder
Focus auto, manual
Image Stabilization Optical
Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4,000 sec
Exposure auto, manual, 6 exposure modes
White Balance auto, manual, indoor and
outdoor settings
Digital Effects fade, wipe, scroll, mosaic fade, art, black and white, sepia, mosaic
Audio 12- or 16-bit
Inputs IEEE 1394, S-video, A/V, mike, LANC
Outputs IEEE 1394, S-video, A/V, headphone, LANC
Edit Interface LANC
Other Features hot shoe, progressive scan,
digital stills
Dimensions 2 5/8 (h) x 3 3/8 (w) x 5 7/8 (d) inches
Weight (sans tape and battery) 1 pound 6 7/8 ounces

Video Performance (approx.)
Horizontal resolution (camera) 380 lines
Horizontal resolution (playback) 360 lines

Performance Times
Pause to Record 0.5 seconds
Power-up to Record 8 seconds
Fast-forward/Rewind (60 min. tape) 2 minutes 31 seconds

Strengths

• Hot Shoe
• Analog inputs
• Headphone and mike jacks

Weaknesses

• Noisy
• Controls hard to reach
  summary
• A good choice for casual shooters looking for digital video and stills.

by Larry Lemm
Optura Pi Mini DV Camcorder
($1,699)
Canon
One Canon Plaza
Lake Success, NY 10042-1113
(800) 828-4040
www.canondv.com

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