Canon Elura 100 Camcorder Reviewby James MurrayPublished on Mar 31, 2006 9:00 AM 
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The Front (7.0)
The 20x optical lens is positioned in the upper right corner when facing the front of the Canon Elura 100 (Specs, $379.19). This lens has a length of 43.7 mm to 874 mm in 16:9 format with image stabilizer, 40.3 mm to 806 mm in 16:9 without image stabilizer, and 48.1 mm to 962 mm in 4:3. All three focal lengths are measured with a 35mm equivalency conversion formula. The Canon video lens has a filter diameter of 27 mm and is threaded to accept accessory wide and tele-conversion lenses, a feature not found on Canon’s ZR-line of camcorders. The in-camcorder stereo microphone is located directly beneath the lens and is positioned away from meandering fingers.
To the left of the lens are two LED lights that function as a Video Assist light that is activated through a video light button on the top of the camcorder near the zoom lever. With a position to the left of the lens, the two LED lights will tend to disperse light unevenly across the subject. Beneath the video light is the remote sensor for the Canon Elura 100. At the base of the camcorder, to the left of the microphones, is the connection for the right hand strap. This strap connection is internal and will neither pivot nor rotate, a design misstep that will block either the DC-in port or the SD card slot.
The Right Side (6.5)
The right side of the Canon Elura 100 is composed of a matte gray plastic composite that makes the camcorder feel unfinished. Connected to the back edge of the right side is the right hand strap. This right hand strap angles slightly downward as it moves from back to front. The strap has Velcro for customization, but regardless of user hand size, this thin, undersized strap is not comfortable or secure. Along the front edge of the right side is a port cover that masks a vertical SD card slot. The port cover is poorly designed and is connected via a weak singular hinge that could be easily snapped. Beneath this port cover is a second cover for the DC-in port. The flimsy SD cover and DC-in cover actually get in the way of one another when they are opened. Above the SD card slit is a Card/Slot internal LED.
The primary feature of the right side is the MiniDV tape compartment that loads from the top and is opened via an open/eject tab on the top of the camcorder. A top-loading compartment allows users to access and switch tapes even when the camcorder is connected to a tripod. There is no texture on the right side of the camcorder to increase handle and control. In general, the overall physical design of the Canon Elura 100 leaves a sour taste in ones mouth—and I haven’t even gotten to the back or the left side.
The Back (4.0)
The back of the Canon Elura 100 features an amusingly toy-like, non-extendable, non-pivoting electronic color viewfinder that is woefully undersized. The viewfinder has a dioptric adjustment tool beneath the hard plastic frame, but I wonder what the point is. Beneath the viewfinder is a joystick device, which can be depressed and moved in the cardinal directions for navigating menu structures and altering controls. Above the up arrow on the joystick is a digital effects button, while a Func. menu button is located beneath it. These buttons are slivers of silver, accessed with the thumb of the right hand, and poorly placed.
To the right of the joystick and slightly higher is the Power Switch, movable between off, camera, and play by pressing a green tab on the ring’s edge during movement. In the center of the Power Switch is a polished silver button that functions as the start/stop record button for the Canon Elura 100. Beneath the Power Switch is a tab that allows the user to move between the memory card and tape modes. Under the tape/card switch are two horizontal buttons that are flush with the surface of the camcorder. The top button switches the camcorder between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios while the LCD backlight button below controls the LCD brightness. In the lower left corner, on the back, is a Mode Switch for moving between Easy and Program modes.
While the back doesn’t have an unnecessary number of controls, the visual layout, labeling and position of controls is cluttered and confusing.
The Left Side (9.0)
The LCD on the Canon Elura 100 is opened either by the back or lower edge and will display images on a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD with 123,000 pixels. The LCD rotates 270 degrees and pivots on a hinge that seems sturdy and able to take some mishandling. Unlike the ZR series of 2006, which featured external battery mounts, Canon has chosen to use an internal battery that is set into the LCD cavity. The battery is extracted from this cavity by engaging a small battery release tab located in the back lower corner. Above this release control the user will find the USB and FireWire ports. These ports are only protected by the LCD screen and do not have covers or other protective layers. At the front of the camcorder’s left side is a vertical switch that must be manually engaged in order to open the lens cover. This cover is resistant to accidental opening and should be a better cover than those found on automatic units, although remembering to open it will be an annoyance.
The Top (7.0)
A playback speaker is located on the top of the lens barrel on the left side of the Canon Elura 100, while all other features and controls can be found on the right side. On the right side near the front of the camcorder is an open/eject switch that engages the MiniDV tape compartment hatch. Near the back of the camcorder is the print/share button, directly behind a scalloped edge for a slight grip for the fingers of the right hand. It was nearly impossible to actually position fingers to make use of this grip. Directly behind the print/share button is a zoom lever that slides along the surface of the camcorder. Directly behind the zoom lever is the light button and photo button, raised slightly from the camcorder body. Meanwhile, above the zoom lever is the print button. A port cover is located to the right of the viewfinder and behind these controls and can be opened via a tab located along its right side. Once open, the port cover will reveal a Mic-in port and AV in/out port.
Overall consistency is lacking in the design of the Elura 100. This greatly impedes the functionality of a camcorder that should have a really basic external design.