Canon Elura 90

The Canon Elura 90 is the top model in this three camcorder lineup, and it seems to embody that "more of the same" paradigm we’ve come to expect from Canon. Always playing it safe and never jumping the gun, Canon has made its mark on the industry by producing (and never pre-release hyping) quality products that perform well year after year. But don’t look to Canon’s consumer camcorder products if you’re expecting anything groundbreaking. Change for Canon is deceptively subtle and deliberate. This review highlights the minute changes in the Elura 90 over its predecessor, the Elura 70. Read closely, and between the lines, or you’ll be sure to miss them.

Video Performance (7.5)
With the same hardware setup as last year’s Elura 70, the Elura 90 performs identically (like I said, "more of the same"). The Elura 90 has the same DIGIC DV processor, as well as the same 1/4.5 inch CCD with 690K effective pixels of resolution for video. In optimal lighting conditions, Canon products perform very well, and the Elura 90 is no exception. With the added 2x of optical zoom, bringing the total to 20x, users can get even closer to their subject and maintain video quality.

To note some subtle differences between the Elura 70 of last year and this year’s Elura 90, I can say that, when tested in our bright light environment of 3000 lux, the Elura 90 produced colors and gray scale of equal crispness and balance, though overall, colors were a tad more vibrant in the blues and teals, while the Elura 70 showed a brighter green.

Video Resolution(12.6)
Stills from the video footage of a standard resolution chart was exported to Imatest Imaging Software in order to determine an accurate video resolution. In 4:3 mode, the camcorder gave us approximately 487.3 lines of horizontal resolution, with approximately 297.8 lines of vertical resolution, yielding a true resolution of 145117.94.  In 16:9 mode, providing a true resolution of 126844.19. The Camcorder’s widescreen mode presented approximately 529.4 lines of horizontal resolution, with approximately 238.1 lines of vertical resolution, giving us a real resolution 126050.14.

The Front (8.0)
The front of the Elura 90 can be divided into two halves: the Lens half and the Tape loading half. Atop the lens half, users can’t miss the large 20x optical zoom lens with its 34mm filter diameter. Under the lens are the right and left microphone covers and below these is the beveled and embossed Canon logo.

The right side of the front, or the tape loading half, has a row of useful parts. On top is the thin flash mechanism for still photo mode. Below the flash is a small yellowish LED (light emitting diode) for improved performance in very low light. Below this is the automatic control sensor which assists in making adjustments to automatic settings such as white balance, exposure, etc.

The Right Side (9.0)
The right side of the chunky Elura 90 is home to the top-loading tape mechanism and a few other important features. At the front of the right side, users can easily access mic, AV/Headphone, DV, and USB ports. The ports are covered and hidden discreetly by a color matching plastic port cover. Running horizontally along the bottom of the Elura 90 is the strap. Well sized and easily adjusted, the strap is an important feature on any camcorder.

At the rear of the right side, users can find several mode/function related buttons. Manual [P] and Easy mode can be selected via a small mode switch that sits just above the mode dial menu. The mode dial, which shares placement on the right and the back, can be shifted between Power, Network, Play, OFF, and Camera. Above the mode dial, users can find the power plug in port for their DC input. It’s covered by a small removable port cover.

Overall the right side is intuitively laid out, with buttons and port covers easily accessible.

The Left Side (9.0)
The all-important Left side of a camcorder can usually be summed up with one word: navigation. Users new to camcorders will discover that their ability to navigate the menu, image, or other controls is contingent upon how well the left side of the camcorder is laid out. With the all-important LCD dominating the left side, the Elura is similar to a hundred other camcorders. Additionally, with a myriad of buttons hidden underneath, it looses points for ease of use navigation. At the very front of the Elura 90’s left side, users can attempt to navigate the menu and control settings via the ill placed jog dial and menu button. I say ill placed, as rotation of the LCD screen will interfere with access to the jog dial and menu button.

Under the LCD, Canon has hidden no less than 10 buttons. Why they couldn’t have adopted the ZR line’s VCR playback button placement is a mystery to me, but instead of being easily accessible on the camcorders body, the playback controls are buried under the LCD. The top row of buttons under the LCD are: fast forward/record search/-, rewind/record search/+, play/pause/flash, and stop/night mode. Beneath the VCR playback buttons are digital effects, focus, and end search buttons. On the bottom of the button panel, users can switch to drive mode/widescreen/rec. pause, LCD Backlight, and Card mix/slideshow. The Backlight button and the widescreen button deserve placement in a more convenient spot, such as on the LCD itself. Hopefully next year we’ll see the jog dial, menu button, widescreen, and LCD back light buttons moved.

At the very bottom of the left side, under the LCD, users can insert SD memory cards into the SD multimedia card slot. It can be flipped open easily, and is loaded from the bottom. All in all, the left side of the Canon Elura 90 is poorly designed and laid out, and I hope that Canon considers the intelligent design of their less expensive models when reconsidering the design of this lineup next year.

The Back (7.5)
There isn’t much on the back of the Canon Elura 90. The color electric viewfinder sits on top and can extend and rotate towards the user as needed. The battery port is the largest feature, dominating the back of the Elura 90. The mode dial and record button are set at the middle right of the back. It’s a very straightforward design, to say the least.

The Top (9.0)
The top of the Elura 90 can be split into two halves: tape side and lens barrel side. The tape mechanism is top-loading (hooray) and is opened via the slider at the front of the top. At the rear of the top, on the right side, there is a small panel of buttons. The flat zoom toggle, media mode switch, photo button, and print share button are crammed together in this small area. The good thing about the cramped space is that the index finger can jump easily around to each feature. The photo button can be halfway depressed to focus, and then completely to snap the shutter. You may want to shut off the obnoxious "realistic" photo sounds if you want to save yourself a headache. The print share button is used in "post-production" so it won’t matter if you bump it during filming. The zoom toggle is flat and ribbed, but slides easily between telephoto and wide angle modes. It’s easy to obtain variable zoom speeds with this slider.

The left side, or lens barrel side, has a cold accessory shoe at the front of the top. At the rear, users can extend and rotate the small color electric viewfinder. It’s a pretty simple design and it’s intuitive enough.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (5.0)
Canon has adopted EASY as the defining adjective for their automatic mode. No doubt, the easy mode is just that, as the Elura 90 takes control of all the essential elements of picture taking: white balance, exposure, shutter speed, and focus. In plenty of light, the Elura 90 makes short work of these adjustments, and for the most part the adjustments are seamless.

White balance on the Elura 90 is one of the more important elements controlled automatically in Easy mode. Users with a keen eye will notice the slow shift from blue hues to red hues in the white areas of the scene. I was amazed with the accuracy (after the shift) of the white balance in automatic. I still feel that setting the white balance manually will provide the most accurate results, but for an automatic mode the Elura 90’s is impressive.

Exposure on the Elura 90 can also be controlled automatically. Shifting exposure values tend to draw a lot more attention, as the human eye perceives changes in light and darkness before changes in color. The shift in exposure from light to dark is the most dramatic as the processor makes a valiant effort to stay ahead of the game. For the most part, this is only an issue when moving from light sources that are dramatically different, i.e. indoors to outdoors and vice versa.

Shutter speed can be automatically controlled on the Canon Elura 90. When I first started testing this camera, I could have sworn that Canon had put an alternate frame rate on this camera without telling anyone. When I started digging through the menu, I noticed that the automatic slow shutter feature was engaged. Turn it off, and the frame rate effect vanishes. Slow shutter is what desperate indies used to get that "film look" before 24P was a reality. It’s a handy feature to have around as it helps significantly in low lit scenarios without drawing attention by a dramatic shift in exposure.

Focus is perhaps best controlled on a consumer camcorder when the camera is set to automatic. Attempting to manually control the focus on a consumer camcorder will bring nothing but headaches, I promise. The focus at varying focal lengths was quick and accurate, even in low light. With the slow shutter feature engaged, the normal jumpiness in focus at low light was not present.

Overall Manual Control (6.0)
The Elura 90’s focus, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, and zoom can be controlled, somewhat tediously, through the camcorder.

Zoom Control (7.25)
Zoom control, when employed with restraint, can add to the flavor of a scene. The zoom toggle is located on the top right side of the Elura 90. Several variable zoom speeds can be controlled in either direction, wide angle to telephoto. The index finger or middle finger falls naturally into place when holding the Elura 90. The most irritating part of the zoom control is not knowing where you are along the z axis. There is no numerical readout to indicate that your zoom is approaching its 20x max. In fact, the pathetic triangle icon stops along its path at one point, but the optical zoom still has quite a bit of fight left. A simple numerical display would solve this problem.

Users will also notice a slight slowing when approaching 20x. This is normal, as the camera is allowing for the processor to make necessary automatic adjustments. The slower zooms will truck right through this patch without a hitch, but if you’re going for that tired-out MTV quick zoom, don’t be surprised when it craps out at about 18x.

Focus (5.5)
There are some features on consumer camcorders that could be defined as useless; manual focus is one of them. But if they really want, users can engage the manual focus by pressing the focus button that’s buried under the LCD. Once pressed, and provided the camera is set to manual mode, the MF icon will appear in the top right of the LCD/Viewfinder. Now toggle the focus with the jog dial that sits in front of the LCD screen. There are no guides or numerical readouts to assist in this process. Users are left guessing when the focus is set, and this can be difficult to achieve as the jog dial doesn’t make adjustments slowly.

Exposure (Aperture) (4.75)
Exposure can be controlled manually on the Elura 90, but it works differently than on other camcorders. Users can engage the exposure lock feature by pressing the EXP button, which is under the LCD. Once pressed, the exposure will remain constant, regardless of changes in available light. Users can then make adjustments using the jog dial, keeping an open iris (0) or closing the iris (-11).

Shutter Speed (3.0)
The Canon Elura 90 defaults the shutter speed to Automatic, but users can select other speeds, namely: 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000. To control the shutter manually, users simply have to jog to that feature in the manual control menu, via the jog dial. Additionally, users can manually set an automatic shutter feature, which will slow the shutter down when the light source decrease in intensity. This is a handy feature to have, and in conjunction with exposure it will improve the overall quality of a low lit scene.

White Balance (7.0)
White balance is one of the more important manual control features on the Elura 90. It can be changed in the same way as shutter speed, by jogging to white balance via the menu and jog dial. Once selected, users can choose among Auto, Set, Indoor, and Outdoor. Selecting Set will start the icon flashing, so be sure the camera is facing an all-white, well lit surface. Once the icon ceases to flash, the while balance has been calibrated and stored. Users can switch back and forth, and until they "set" it again, it will keep the calibrated white balance setting. Standard and easy to use, the Elura 90 makes it easy to improve pictures this way.

Gain (0.0)
There are no manual gain options on the Canon Elura 90 camcorder.

Other Manual Control (0.0)
There are no other manual control features of note on the Elura 90.

Ease of Use (6.0)
Having recently adopted the adjective EASY, Canon has successfully transformed the word into a noun that buyers will take comfort in seeing. The automatic mode is an integral part of a camcorder’s ease of use score, and in this case, the Elura 90 scores well. The Elura 90 Easy mode takes the guesswork out of good videography, and with intelligent control over a host of features, the user is left to concentrate on framing the shot and keeping his/her hand steady.

The buttons that users will have to rely on once in Easy mode are intuitively laid out, and the camcorder handles well overall. The LCD design will detract somewhat from this score, as it requires constant manipulation in order to see an accurate display of what’s being recorded. I have ripped on Canon in previous reviews for their poor LCD construction, and the Elura 90 will receive the same rap. It’s impossible to "easily" use a camcorder when the LCD has to be constantly moved and rotated. Too much one way, and the image is too dark; too much the other way and the image is washed out. It’s an important enough issue to me that despite my disgust with some Sony LCD-based menus, I’d buy a Sony for their amazing LCDs. Wake up Canon, JVC, Panasonic, Samsung, and every other manufacturer out there, and build a better LCD.

Still Features (7.0)
The Elura 90 has several still features available to the interested hybrid user. Provided the camcorder is set to card mode, via the switch on the top right of the Elura 90’s body, users can snap off photos at varying resolutions: 1280 x 960 and 640 x 480 at superfine, fine, and normal settings. Users are then limited only by the size of their SD media. The Elura 90 also has handy print share functionality built in, so users can plug into their computer or print station and print/share photos at the touch of a button. Pretty handy feature, I’d say.

Still Resolution (4.18)
Stills from the Canon Elura 90 can be captured at 640 x 480 and 1280 x 960 with a MultiMedia Card. At the standard resolution of 640 x 480 the camcorder captured stills with approximately 243339.63 (0.243 MP), while the 1280 x 960 image yielded 418058.67 (0.418 MP).

Still Performance (5.25)
The Elura 90 captures still at 640 x 480 and 1280 x 960, and they’re of pretty good quality. In fact aside from the Optura 60, the Elura 90 takes the most crisp stills of single chip camcorders thus far. Some of the more economical one chip camcorders—the PV-GS35, ZR300, etc—produce stills of, sometimes, equal color, but none seem to be able to match the crispness found on the Elura 90.

Low Light Performance (3.75)
While it is expected that most Canon camcorders produce beautiful images in bright light environments, such as our 3000 lux testing environment, they sometimes have unexpected problems in low light environments. For instance, last year’s ZR series had wonderful bright light performance but suffered tremendously in low light, whereas this year’s ZRs produces substantially improved low light image. Unfortunately, this trend does not continue with this year’s Eluras, or rather the Elura 90.

While the Elura 90 produces nearly identical images to last year’s Elura 70 in bright light, there are unfortunate differences when it comes to low light performance. You can tell that Canon tried hard to improve the low light of last year, and in all honesty the Elura 90’s images is brighter than last year. But the sacrifice here is in the noise department; the Elura 90 definitely has more apparent noise than the Elura 70 even at 60 lux, the equivalent of a slightly dimmed indoor environment. Actually, the noise found on this year’s Elura 90 is most likely present on the Elura 70, but the rejuvenated brightness of new camcorder makes the noise much more noticeable and apparent. The good thing about the Elura 90’s low light performance is that results don’t show the horrendous bleeding and discoloration of the gray scale found on last year’s Elura 70.

At 15 lux, these trends are only accentuated. The brilliancy of the Elura 90’s gray scale becomes more pronounced while the noise which plagues its otherwise brighter-than-the-Elura 70 image further covers the image.

Zoom Power/Ratio (20.0)
Zoom power is the new CCD, figuratively speaking. This year, manufacturers are clamoring for consumer attention by boosting the optical zoom power on board their camcorders. With an impressive 20x, the Elura 90 is set to perform well, especially considering the reputation of Canon optics. There are other camcorders out there with more zoom power, but without a tripod or some rock steady hands, playing along the z axis can get a little absurd at those levels.

Wide Angle (8.0)
The Canon Elura 90 has displayed a wide angle measurement of 40 degrees in 4:3 mode. In 16:9 mode, the camcorder showed an angle measurement of 50 degrees.

4:3 angle (from LCD)

Widescreen angle (from LCD)

VCR Mode (6.0)
I’m disappointed with the VCR control in the Elura lineup. The VCR controls are buried under the LCD, and the camcorder LCD has to be open for VCR playback (unless you use the remote). Having the buttons on the exterior makes the camcorder a stand alone playback machine, which I find highly convenient. Of course the buttons function well, and of course the VCR mode still works fine, but it’s just a little less convenient having the playback buttons under the LCD.

LCD/Viewfinder (7.0)
The Elura 90 has a 2.5 inch 123K pixel LCD screen that solarizes better than a Photoshop filter. The LCD takes up the majority of the left side, and is easily opened via the small latch. I’ve ripped on the LCD in other sections, and will simply add here that I hope Canon and the other manufacturers take my comments to heart. They have virtually taken away the importance of a viewfinder, but (with the exception of Sony) have failed to create a good LCD substitute. The small viewfinder can be pulled out and extended up 45 degrees. Viewfinders are somewhat useless these days, but a viewfinder that can be rotated still has its place. The electric color viewfinder is slim in design, and has an optical adjuster to help with viewing.

Audio (6.75)
With a stereo microphone at the front under the lens, the Elura 90 is set to record audio as well as any camcorder at this price point. The mics are out of reach of roaming fingers, so, other than faint motor noises and the occasional handling noise, users can expect to hear what’s going on in the scene. If they want to extend their audio capacity, users can simply attach a battery powered external mic in the accessory shoe, and plug it in to the mic in port.

There is an AV/Headphone jack, and a headphone volume control within the menu, which is handy. Audio features on the Elura 90 are some of the best around, as other camcorders have dropped any and all audio support outside of a couple of mono microphones.

There is also a wind cut feature, which drops the dB level to avoid the loud popping caused by the wind hitting the microphone diaphragm. Great audio features on the Elura 90—too bad they’re not on all the Canon camcorders.

Handling (8.0)
I like the portly size of the Elura 90. As a top-loading tape camera, the Elura 90 gains a bit of weight around the sides, which helps balance the design. I also like the grip created by the tape mechanism on this camcorder. There is a lip that the fingers fall naturally onto, which makes handling a comfort.

The LCD takes away from handling, as constant manipulation of its position is required for accurate viewing. LCD aside, in easy mode the Elura 90 handles very well and makes quick and seamless adjustments to critical features. The buttons and toggles are all well placed, with the exception of the menu button and jog dial. These buttons are placed in front of the LCD, but so close to it that when rotating the LCD, access is restricted, and users will find themselves moving the LCD twice as much. Not a big deal if shooting in Easy mode, but for anyone inclined to do some manual control work, be warned.

Portability (6.0)
The Canon Elura 90 is a good sized camcorder, and well weighted. As such, this isn’t one to just throw in your pocket: users will want to invest in a good carrying case. There are strap attachments for carrying around the neck, but it’s heavy enough to get really uncomfortable after a day at Sea World.

Battery Life (6.3)
With the included the battery fully charged, the Elura 90 unfortunately recorded for only a little over an hour (1 hr., 2 min., 52 sec).

Compression (8.0)
The Canon Elura 90 uses DV compression, storing video to Mini DV tape at 29.97 frames per second.

Media (8.0)
The Canon Elura 90 accepts both MiniDV tape and SD media.

Editing (8.0)
For some reason, manufacturers insist on including editing features in their camcorders. They include wipes, fades, and color masks, thinking that users actually partake of this nonsense. What they don’t tell users is that alterations using these features are PERMANENT. Check to see if your computer has included editing software. Leave your tapes alone. In fact, treat them as the negative. Mess around on your computer with the footage, but never on the tape itself.

Widescreen/16:9 Mode (7.5)
The Elura 90 includes a 16:9 widescreen mode, which increases resolution by a third (with the image stabilizer off). The mode is engaged via a button under the LCD. Users will instantly be able to see the increased scene size when they switch to this mode. It’s unclear if the letterbox will be intact after shooting, but I assume that during playback on the proper source, the letterbox will be removed.

Widescreen Image squeezed onto
the tape's 4:3 frame

Standard 4:3 aspect

Scan Rates/24P (0.0)
There are no intentional alternate frame rates on the Canon Elura 90.

Ports (8.0)
On the front right side of the Elura 90, users have easy access to mic in, AV/Headphone, DV, and USB ports. They are discreetly hidden under a color matching port cover. Additionally, the DC port is covered at the back right side of the Elura 90.

Other Features (6.5)
LCD Backlight
The Canon Elura 90 has an LCD backlight feature that gives a wee boost to illuminating the LCD. The button is under the LCD, and would be better placed on the LCD itself.

16:9 High Resolution Widescreen
As already mentioned, the Elura 90 has a widescreen mode. Resolution is increased, and it’s assumed that when played back on the proper source, the letterbox disappears.

Flash
For still pictures, the Elura 90 includes a flash on the front. It can be turned off or set to automatic and is a handy feature to have around (although it cannot be adjusted).

Comparisons
Panasonic PV-GS35
With better manual controls over the Canon Elura 90, Panasonic’s PV-GS35 might be a better option for the manual control sensitive user. The PV-GS35 is significantly less expensive, but it’s important to note that for a similar price point to the Elura 90, users could check out Panasonic’s 3 CCD offerings, namely the PV-GS65. The PV-GS35 also has slightly better video performance, though is inferior in the still performance ring.

Sony DCR-HC42
Despite the Elura 90’s slightly better CCD than the DCR-HC42, the two cameras have similar offerings. Differences are slight, but important: the Sony has a built-in lens cover, hot accessory shoe (no mic in), and a superior 16:9 LCD screen. For roughly the same price, users will want to try this one on for size. We had a rough time with the DCR-HC42’s low light performance; the camcorder cannot be recommended for it.

JVC GR-DF550
The JVC GR-DF550 has the same hardware setup with the same CCD size and 1.33 MP recording. The JVC has superior still features, mostly dealing with size and quality. Additionally, the JVC GR-DF550 has more ports, namely an S-Video terminal. For about a hundred bucks less, users will certainly want to check out this model before they make a decision on the Elura 90. The JVC performed well all around in the tests, slightly better in low light than the Elura. While the JVC offers a few more still resolutions than the Elura, the Elura’s stills are much crisper and better looking.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (7.0)
The Elura 90 is a great option for the point-and-shoot consumer. Easy mode allows users to rest at ease, taking good pictures in the process.

Budget Consumers (4.0)
Offered at a decent street price of near $550 USD, budget consumers might want to look to the Elura 85 or 80. For a real deal, check out the ZR lineup.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (6.0)
There are several photo options on the Elura 90, so users who like print share functionality might be tempted to pick one up.

Gadget Freak (3.0)
Not really a gadget freak worthy piece of machinery.

Manual Control Freaks (3.0)
Not a good choice for the impatient manual control freak.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists (4.5)
A good option for the pro or serious hobbyist on vacation, but NOT FOR PRODUCTION.

Conclusion
LCD aside, the Canon Elura 90 is a great little camcorder. I love the size and shape, the top-loading tape mechanism, the accessory shoe with mic input, the headphone jack, the 20x optical zoom, the 1/4.5 inch CCD, the flash, the widescreen mode, the LED, the remote, the print share features, and the gloss that makes the whole body bling. The street price, at $550 USD, is fair for the features on board.

The camcorder scored well in adequately lit conditions, and decently with other camcorders for performance at lower light settings, though compared to last year’s Eluras it falters a bit. I liked the ease of use, and the intelligent adjustments to picture quality that are made apparently without effort.

The LCD and the placement of the menu button and jog dial are my only real complaints on this camcorder. Interested users should get to a store and try a variety of camcorders out before they buy. Even after all that’s highlighted in this review as either negative or positive, if it doesn’t feel right in your hand, it may not be the camcorder for you.