Would like to know if the image quality gain of the Optura 300 over the Elura 50 is great enough to warrent the difference in price?

Still would like to keep the compact form as I will be travelling with it and doing various activities as well as it will be recording my wedding. Should I just stick with the elura 50 or take the jump to the optura 300? I know it's not just that simple, but how big is jump in image quality between these two contenders?

Thanks in advance
Corey

I would go for the Optura 300.
It has many of the identical features as the Optura Xi (Same CCD size) which produces a very nice picture.
I see that you want to use the camcorder not only for travel but also for you wedding - so picture quality is important.

Lets compare the 2 cameras in question:

Elura 50
1/6 CCD size
680,000 pixels
1024x768 still photo size
2 inch LCD
digital stable
*free Pinnacle 8 software
**Price $519.95


Optura 300
1/3.4 CCD size (bigger CCD)
2,200,000 pixels
1632x1224 still photo size
2.5 inch LCD (a larger LCD view finder is helpful when shooting)
digital stable
*free Pinnacle 8 software
*free 64mb SD card
**Price $759.00


* with current rebate offer...
** price comparison taken from BHphotovideo.com

For me the increased capabilities of the Optura 300 would justify the extra $239.00.

Plus with the Optura 300 you will have the same 16x9 mode as the Optura Xi which uses the entire CCD to record the image which results in a much better picture quality on widescreen TVs. This feature will become more and more important as consumers shift over to high definition/widescreen displays.

Jeff

Thanks for the response. So say I do get the optura 300. Is it smart to shoot everything in widescreen 16X9 mode for better quality (and the possibility of future widescreen use) and then resize for 4X3 for standard viewing right now. Or should I just shoot in 4X3 standard if that is most likely what I will be using (don't have a widescreen tv right now).

Thanks
Corey

Well personally I would shoot in 16x9 mode. The picture quality will only look better on 16x9 displays. For 4x3 displays it would show up with the black bars on the top and bottom. So for a 4x3 display 4x3 shooting would be better as it fits.

However the FCC has mandated that tv signals start switching over to 16x9. It may be a few more years before the total switch is made - however the future display format will be 16x9. Thus more and more people will start switching to those displays.
It is a nice feature for a camcorder to have even if you do not use it now - but have it available for when you do purchase a widescreen TV. I know some people are shooting 16x9 even though they have 4x3 displays as they plan on getting 16x9 display in the next year or two.

Besides that feature as you can see the Optura 300 just has better stats...

Jeff

I have a question to any owners of the Optura 300: Does this camcorder perform well under low light conditions? Any comments regarding Canon's Low Light Mode/Color Night Mode and image quality? I'm looking into purchasing the Optura 300 for travel and would like it to take acceptable indoor images, such as inside a church or museum, as well as outside images at dusk or dawn. Thanks for your help.

Bearable -

I just received my Optura 300 a few days ago and have been experimenting with it.

The night modes work surprisingly well as far as brightening the subject, however don't expect to be able to pan or shoot rapidly moving action in these modes, because the 300 uses shutter speed modifications to create more light. If you pan, the display will be jumpy and staggering.

This doesn't bother me because it's rare that I pan a shot. The quality of the image in night mode is a little grainy, but it seems that they're all this way in low light (excluding pro cams).

Check out the excellent review at the below URL. Scroll to the lower part of page to see the demo movie in night mode.
http://www.dvspot.com/reviews/canon...iew/index.shtml

warren

Man- too many options (I guess it's better than not enough). Anyways, i saw that someone was deciding between the Optura300 and the Elura50. The recommendation was the 300 because of the resolution and a better 16x9 mode (as well as some others). My question has to do with the 16x9 mode on the Optura20. Is it similar to the OpturaXi 16x9 mode or the Elura50 16x9 mode. I have a widescreen tv and will want to use this mode. So I guess my question is what are the main differences between the 300 and the 20 besides 2MP vs 1.33MP resolution?

CRT - check out the comparison feature at CNET or go here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4504-6500_7...93406&x=47&y=14

i haven't been to cnet- thanks. But how about the 16x9 mode on the Optura20? Anyone? Is it as good as the Xi/300 or as bad as the Elura50 (i guess means it doesn't use all available pixels)?

crt,

From my research it seems that the Optura Xi and Optura 300 take advatage of the entire CCD for the 16x9 image. While the Optura 20, 10 and Elura series just crop the top an bottom. If I am wrong - someone please let me know !

Jeff