Canon Optura 200MC Mini DV
Written: Dec 31 '03
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Pros: Lightweight, usable, crisp shots, flash for stills
Cons: Short battery life, night mode is a joke
The Bottom Line: Recommended. Multifunction products always have trade-offs. The Canon 200MC delivers where it counts and will meet the needs of most users.
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| Cerretani's Full Review: Canon Optura 200MC Mini DV Camcorder |
After several months of use, I have grown attached to my Optura 200MC. The digital still camera takes acceptable 1.33MP stills, has a pop-up flash and an SD card slot. Since most of my pictures end up on the web or in 3x5 prints, the resolution is fine. Downloading to PC is easy via USB or IEEE1394 (Firewire) - though Windows XP seems to like USB better on my Dell laptop so I use that for all of my still photo downloads. There is a b/w mode for those vintage shots that just look better without all of the color.
Video quality is above average for this price category. The Canon uses a 1/4" single CCD, so color saturation is not perfect. Canon optics are clear and the zoom range is suitable for indoor and outdoor work. The zoom control is well positioned for single handed operation of the camera and the autofocus is reasonably quick. Downloading video to Windows XP took some setup time - but once it works, it is easy and repeatable.
Sound quality is above average but the mic is on the top of the camera so it tends to pick up too much of the camera operator's voice if you're not careful. The LCD screen is crisp, though it is a bit slow to adjust to lighting changes. The viewfinder is fairly useless because the camera is so small - your hand ends up jammed against your cheek when trying to use the viewfinder.
The best thing about the Canon 200MC is its size and weight - this camera is small and light enough to fit in a small metro pack so I actually bring it with me. Put a 128MB SD card in the slot, a tape in the camera and alot of the world is ready to record.
The worst feature on the camera is the night mode. Unless you are taking video of a tree or some other non-moving object, the night mode produces nothing more than slow moving glowing blobs across the screen. Look at Sony's technology if you want to shoot pictures in the dark.
Battery life is moderate. I would trade some weight for more battery life. The tape cannot be changed while the camera is mounted on a tripod. This seemed like a big deal - but Canon's Image Stabilizer technology has made tripods almost unnecessary for the casual user.
Outputs are generous - 1394, USB, S-Video, Composite. The charger is light and packable, the lens cap fits and the hand grip is adjustable. Canon thought out the details and kept the button clutter to a minimum. Of course, technology moves forward and the new Optura 300 adds direct print and a 2MP CCD - but loses the pop-up flash. So if you can live without a pop-up flash (I can't as I live in the NW and the flash gets used for about half of my shots) then go with the newer 300. But the 200MC is a great camera if you aren't going to use Canon's direct print feature.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 869
Recommended for: Budget Buyers - Best Values to Fit the Budget
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Epinions.com ID:
Cerretani
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Member: Casey Cerretani
Location: Olympia, WA
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Perpetual project guy - always have a plan to try something new
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