Canon U.S.A. has introduced a new DV camcorder: the Optura 200MC DV camcorder, which boasts a variety of video and still options.
There are four recording modes: Digital Video; 1.33 megapixel High Resolution Photo (suitable for printing); Motion-JPEG (MJPEG); and Digital Photo (suitable for e-mail and Web site placement). The new camcorder can be directly connected to some Canon photo printers, including the CP10 (for wallet size photos) and CP100 (for 4 x 6 inch prints), and Bubble Jet-Direct photo printers S820D, S830D and S530D. The camcorder attaches via a USB cable.
The Optura 200MC incorporates a Canon high-precision 10X optical zoom and Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization, said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group, Canon U.S.A.
The DV camcorder supports the new Exif Print (Exif 2.2) standard used in Canon digital cameras. At the time the photo is being captured, exposure settings and image scene data is recorded on the memory card. This ensures optimal image quality when printing on an Exif compatible printer, Hashimoto said.
Since TV and Video monitors have different characteristics than computer monitors and printed photographs, the Optura 200MC uses two separate processing techniques, designed to satisfy the specific color and brightness requirements of each. The camcorder is equipped with a 1.33 megapixel CCD image sensor to capture digital photos at 1280 x 960. In this mode, images are stored on a Secure Digital (SD) or Multimedia (MMC) card and by using the supplied USB cable included with the camcorder, you can download still images into your Mac.
You can record short video clips such as birthday greetings, business reminders and holiday wishes, attach them to e-mail, and send them over the Internet. Clips are stored on an SD or MMC memory card and length options include 10 seconds at 320×240 resolution or 30 seconds at 160×120 resolution.
In addition to capturing digital photos with an SD or MMC card, you can also capture more than 700 VGA (640 x 480) digital photos on a single DV cassette. Both video and digital photos can be captured together on the same DV cassette for greater creative flexibility.
With Canon’s Continuous Shooting Mode, the Optura 200MC can capture a series of photos in rapid succession, similar to a motor drive on a 35mm SLR camera. It can capture up to 30 images at 3 frames per second (standard resolution), or 10 images at 2 frames per second (high resolution). The built-in flash also matches the frame rate.
Night mode lets you see and shoot color video without turning the lights on by providing a color image of subjects in low light conditions. And you can see and record in color. In Super Night mode, a white LED lights from the camera, helping to illuminate the subject. The light can also be used with the Optura 200MC’s Red-Eye reduction lamp to reduce red-eye.
The Optura 200MC offers users the option of controlling focus manually. You can set the Optura 200MC to “customize” a number of features on the camcorder including start-up sounds and images, self-timer, shutter and other features.
Beyond being fully automatic, the camcorder has a wide assortment of manual controls including focus, exposure lock, white balance and shutter speed control. It also offers a variety of special effects, including Art, Black & White, Sepia, Mosaic, Ball, Cube, Wave, Color Mask or Mirror. Fade effects, which create unique scene transitions, include Wipe, Corner, Jump, Flip, Puzzle, Zig Zag, Beam, Tide, Fade Trigger and standard Black. The Optura 200MC even includes a Stitch Assist feature for creating 360-degree panoramic still images.
The Canon Optura 200MC DV camcorder kit should be available this month. It will have a suggested retail price of US$1,699.