Optura100 MC digital camcorder bows

Canon today introduced the Optura100 MC digital camcorder, which it claims is suitable both for high-res video and high-res photos. The new camera features a 1.3 megapixel CCD image sensor that captures digital video and photos at 1280 x 960 resolution — four times better than the resolution found in other digital camcorders, according to Canon. The camera also features support for both MiniDV video cassettes and MultiMediaCard or Secure Digital Card formats.

Features include a 4.2-44mm lens, the equivalent of a 48-480mm 35mm lens. It also sports a 10x optical zoom with 200x digital zoom, “Optical Image Stabilization” that supports both video and photo modes; a built-in popup flash, and Extended Recording Mode that lets users drop four hours of video on an 80 minute MiniDV videotape.

The camera features three different shooting modes — Video mode, designed for full motion video capture; Photo, which enables users to store more than 700 digital photos on a single cassette with up to six seconds of accompanying audio narration for each photo; and Progressive mode, which is suitable for saving sharper digital photos directly to MultiMediaCard or Secure Digital Card storage. In Progressive Mode, the camera uses a mechanical shutter and stores files in JPEG format at two different resolutions and two different image compression levels.

The camera also sports better battery life than previous models, and supports the optional BP-535 high capacity battery pack. It also sports a built in charge. The camera features a 2.5 inch LCD viewscreen, A/V insert and audio dubbing, analog line-in recording, and, of course, a FireWire DV terminal enabling it to hook straight up to your FireWire-equipped Mac.

The Optura100 MC will include the camcorder, 2.5 hour battery pack, power adapter, wireless remote, S-Video cable, stereo video cable, 8MB MultiMediaCard, and shoulder strap. The new Optura100 MC is expected to be released this September for US$1,899.