Canon Optura 30 Camcorder Review

With just over 1.2 million effective pixels for video and 2 million effective pixels for still images, the Canon Optura 30 Mini DV camcorder produces a crisp, vivid image for a camera priced at just US$899. The Optura 30 contains a 2.2 Megapixel 1/3.4-inch CCD and a new low-light chip intended by Canon to improve performance in low light settings. This compact camcorder is lightweight and easy to handle.

Video Performance (7.0)
The Optura 30 is an effort by Canon to combine its recently developed low-light chip with a DIGIC DV color-processing chip in order to create a camera capable of acquiring a sharp image in any situation. Canon’s extensive experience in the field of lens building adds to the camcorder’s ability to capture crisp images; the featured lens has a 12x optical zoom with a variable focal range of 4.8mm to 57.6mm. The filter is 34mm in diameter. With its 1/3.4-inch CCD and 1.2 million effective pixels effective for video, the Canon Optura 30 maintains clarity and detail under optimal light settings.

At 3000 lux, the Canon Optura 30 and its single CCD color system surpass all expectations. During testing, we found that all the colors remained vivid and the tones naturalistic. The blue hues recorded came across well saturated and vibrant. Separation between grades of magenta remained distinguishable. Yellow and green tones were somewhat muddy, but that seems to be part and parcel of one-chip camcorders and not attributable to any specific model or brand. The grayscales read brilliant white values and deep, rich, black tones. Overall, the Optura 30 reproduced appropriately saturated colors under strong light. The tones were easily discernible and there was no noise distortion. The resolution bars were not as crisp as we had hoped for, but nonetheless an impressive showing for a single CCD camcorder. At this bright light setting the Optura 30 is narrowly outperformed by the Optura 40, which offers brighter, richer and more vibrant colors.

The Front (8.5)
The Canon Optura 30 presents a compact front face containing a 12X optical zoom lens with a manual focus ring. Directly below the lens is a stereo microphone. This alignment may pose a problem for manual users accustomed to accessing the ring from below the LCD screen – in this case, doing so would obstruct the mic. One can avoid this by reaching over the LCD and controlling the focus ring from above, a technique that may be of some inconvenience to users set in traditional ways. Parallel to the lens, along the left side of the front of the camcorder, is a vertical flash, which is automatically engaged in still mode and can be manually operated. The front face of the Canon Optura 30 also contains a white balance and light sensor just below the flash, as well as an infrared remote sensor placed under the microphone.

The Right Side (9.5)
The right side of the Canon Optura 30 is largely comprised by the top-loading tape mechanism, which extends outwards and up to open. This feature is particularly beneficial to tripod enthusiasts who will have no problem changing tapes when shooting with this camera. On the face of the loading mechanism is the program selector button, allowing the user to choose between automatic and manual control. Farther along the camcorder’s right side, in vertical alignment just behind the lens, are the Mic, AV/headphone, DC, and USB ports, concealed behind a rubber port cover. These ports, along with an S-Video input, all blend into the camera’s shell, providing a clean, compact look to the camera as well as added protection for its unused ports. Along the bottom of the camcorder’s right side is a thick, adjustable suede hand strap with velcro, providing Optura 30 users with a comfortable, secure grasp of the camcorder.

The Left Side (8.5)
The 2.5-inch LCD screen takes up most of the left side of the Canon Optura 30. When the LCD is opened, a series of buttons are exposed, which function in recording and playback modes. The top row contains the Stop and Search buttons, while below are the Play button for VCR mode, the Audio Level control, and a Mix/Slide Show button that enables the user to edit images in the camcorder and create panoramic compositions. The lower level contains the Digital Effects buttons as well as the Rec/Pause control. Just above the LCD slot is the rectangular Night Mode button. The circular Print and Share button, which provides a direct output for still images, is located just to the right of it.

The Back (7.5)
The battery port occupies a large segment of the back of the Canon Optura 30. To the left of the battery, along the side, are three controls stacked vertically. The top one is a small circular button, marked EXP, which controls the exposure. Below that is the MENU button. This allows you to control the camera setup and advanced functions. The MENU and EXP functions are controlled by a protruding Jog Dial found below those two, in the lower left portion of the camcorder. The jog dial can be pressed or held up or down to assist in scrolling, which can be tedious.

The Top(8.0)
The top of the Canon Optura 30 contains an extendable color viewfinder and an advanced accessory shoe for attaching a separate microphone or light. Access to the DV tape is available just to the right of the viewfinder; there is a switch that can be moved laterally, releasing the camcorder’s top-loading tape mechanism.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.0)
The Canon Optura 30 automatically sets and corrects the white balance, focus, exposure and shutter speed. Automatic adjustments are fluid and remain virtually seamless even amid rapid vertical and lateral movement (quick tilts and zoom shots). The functions were responsive to the jog dial and perform quick alterations during shooting.

Overall Manual Control (5.0)
The automatic/manual control button is located on the upper left portion of the Canon Optura 30’s tape-loading mechanism. By moving the small switch to the left position, marked with a “P,” the camcorder’s manual mode is accessed. Most of the camcorder’s manual features are accessed through the Menu button, and then navigated through by moving or holding the Jog Dial up and down. Manual control of exposure, shutter speed, and white balance are accessible through the Menu button, while manual focus mode is activated by an isolated button just below the lens on the left side of the camera labeled Focus/Data. Once selected, the manual focus is controlled by rotation of the focus ring surrounding the lens. While this is a necessity for manual focus freaks, the placement of the microphone directly below the lens may create problems with audio recording unless a separate mic is used.

The Canon Optura 30 comes with a neutral density filter and a remote control for distant viewing and recording.

Zoom (7.0)
The Canon Optura 30 has a 12x optical zoom and a 240x digital zoom. The speed of the zoom is easily adjustable by varying the pressure applied to the sliding control on the top of the camcorder. The zoom control can be held in either the telephoto or wide direction until the desired focal length is reached.

Focus (8.0)
The Canon Optura 30 allows for either manual or automatic focus. The automatic focus is sharp and makes almost immediate adjustments when alternating focal planes or moving the camera through panning and tilting. The manual focus is accessed by the FOCUS button, just to the left of the lens, and is easily controlled by the focus ring around the lens.

Exposure (Aperture) (5.5)
Manual exposure is accessed through the EXP button, located just above the MENU control on the back of the camera. Once this function is accessed, “E-LOCK” appears three-quarters of the way down the left segment of the LCD screen. The aperture is registered in a digital scale ranging from -11 to +7 ratings and is controlled by the jog dial. These alterations are registered immediately on the LCD and give the user a decent spectrum to control the image’s brightness. There are also five preset exposure settings: Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Sand & Snow, and Low Light, to provide automatic adjustment in various scenarios.

Shutter Speed (4.0)
There is a manual shutter speed option on the Canon Optura 30, ranging from 1/60 to 1/2000 of a second. However, when in “Easy Recording” mode, the camcorder can slow to shutter speeds of 1/30 in Camera mode and 1/15 in Card mode. There is also an automatic shutter control option that will gauge the observable light in the scene and set the camera to the appropriate speed.

White Balance (7.0)
The Canon Optura 30 allows the users the option of controlling the white balance manually or allowing the camcorder to make changes automatically, in order to reach optimal accuracy and representation in color tones. There are additional settings within the manual white balance configuration for INDOOR lighting (specifically oriented for halogen, fluorescent and sodium light sources) as well as an OUTDOOR feature that is more accurate under sunlight.

Gain (0.0)
There are no gain options available for the Canon Optura 30.

Still Performance (7.5)
The Canon Optura 30 has been made with still performance in mind, as its 2.2 Megapixel CCD produces 1,632 x 1,224 pixel resolution stills that are recorded on an SD card. The Canon Optura 30 allows the user to record still images either at Fine, Super Fine or Normal quality. There is also the ability to capture stills onto the memory card while recording video to the DV tape. In addition, the camera allows you to take a still image from a prerecorded video, either off the DV tape or from an external source connected through the AV or S-Video terminal. You can access this feature by entering playback VCR mode, then pressing the PHOTO button when you want to capture the still.

The Optura 30 also contains a “Stitch Assist” feature, designed to create panoramic images by automatically merging subsequent images through its overlapping of similar objects. There is also a “Print and Share” button, designed to provide convenience in sending still images directly to a printer or to email with the touch of a single button.

The Canon Optura 30 is equipped with a small vertical flash just to the left of the lens. You can access the flash by partially depressing the photo button until a “lightning bolt/downward arrow” symbol appears, notifying the user that the flash is charged and active. The flash will then fire automatically when the photo button is pressed down completely.

VCR Mode (7.0)
VCR or playback mode is accessed on the Canon Optura 30 by moving the switch on the back of the camcorder to the PLAY (VCR) mode. The playback feature is manipulated by a series of controls, located on the left side of the camcorder, below the LCD screen. The Canon Optura 30 also comes with an infrared remote control, allowing for distant navigation through DV footage. During playback mode, the camera will display the time code in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. There is also the option to view playback through the camera’s viewfinder, accessed when the LCD panel is closed. Additionally, the LCD screen is capable of swinging 180 degrees, providing the option to view the screen from a range of positions. This combined with the remote control grants the Canon Optura 30 user flexibility and mobility in how they wish to view their footage.

Low Light Performance(3.8)
We have retested the Optura 30 since this review was originally penned. Our retesting took place August 12, 2004, and helped confirm some suspicions we've developed concerning the Optura 30's performance.

Our new test results show that the Optura 30 performs similar to, if not a bit poorer than the Optura 40. This makes sense as both camcorders share the same sized CCD. At 3000 lux, the Optura 40 performs a bit better than the Optura 30 offering slightly richer and more vibrant colors. At 60 lux however, the tables are turned with the Optura 30 showing slightly more defined colors. Both camcorders suffer some noise and lack of brightness, but the original Optura 30 results are greatly improved upon.

The retest at 15 lux shows even further improvement from the previous test. The drab, undistinguishable colors of the first test have been replaced by an image very similar to the Optura 40's result. The Optura 40 does show a bit stronger in the color crispness department; however, this difference is small. While these camcorders are certainly not Canon's answer to the call for drastically improved low light performance, they do perform better than we once thought. Bravo.

LCD/ Viewfinder(7.0)
The Canon Optura 30 has a color LCD that measures 2.5 inches diagonally and rotates 270 degrees. The LCD can be flipped around and snapped back into the camcorder, providing a solid, stable viewing platform. The display is quite reliable, although the image is subject to slight solarization at extreme angles. The Canon Optura 30’s extendible color viewfinder remains more as a mark of tradition rather than a necessity.

Audio (6.0)
There are two modes of audio recording available, 12-bit and 16-bit, which can be captured on the Canon Optura 30’s built-in stereo microphone or through an external mic run through the additional mic input. The added mic can be attached atop the camcorder to the advanced accessory shoe if desired. The camera also features a wind screen function to block out extraneous noise. This setting can be turned off if the user is attempting to acquire audio in a quiet setting. Headphones can also be attached through the phones/AV port.

Handling (8.0)
The Canon Optura 30 is easily mobile. Its body is as small as can be while still remaining accessible to a larger hand. The thick strap secures the user’s right hand comfortably. From this position, the zoom toggle and record buttons fall just below where the index finger naturally extends. The Menu and Jog Dial are both on the back of the camera, providing easy access for the left hand – an important feature when using the viewfinder. This camcorder is compact and distributes its weight well. There is a feeling of denseness and solidity stemming from the camcorder’s center, which provides an unusual feeling of stability from such a light camcorder. This is responsible for the Canon Optura 30’s smooth feel, and makes it easy to pan and maintain some steadiness. Additionally, the Canon Optura 30 contains a top-loading mechanism that’s fluid and relatively quiet for its kind.

Navigation through the Menu is a breeze, with easy left hand access to the jog dial on the back of the camera. The only difficulty in navigation I foresee might occur while viewing in playback mode through the color viewfinder. The controls are grouped below the LCD slot on the left side of the camera and it would be difficult at first to orient the left hand to their placement. Even this should not take long to learn, as the Canon Optura 30’s buttons are well distributed in their constrained space.

The remote control that comes with the Canon Optura 30 offers an alternate solution to playback navigation and added mobility.

Ports(8.0)
The Canon Optura 30 contains FireWire and USB jacks to connect to a computer, as well as an S-Video port. The Optura 30 also has a microphone input and a headphones/AV output, which has the ability to connect to RC jacks through a supplied 3-into-1 STV-250N Stereo Video cable. All of the ports except for the S-Video jack are vertically aligned and concealed along the right face of the camera towards the lens. The S-Video port, masked by a rubber square, is located on the front of the tape loading mechanism.

Other Features (6.0)
RGB Primary color filter The Canon Optura 30 contains a RGB Primary Color Filter, designed to separate light passing through the lens into their true red, green, and blue color components. This enhances the vibrancy and richness of the hues and helps in a more true-to-life rendering of colors.

Night Mode This feature allows for recording under extremely low light. The Canon Optura 30 is designed for increased performance in low-light situations by recording with the shutter slowed. However, when in Night Mode, the picture quality decreases, as well as the camera’s ability to focus automatically. Additionally, the open shutter results in trails when there is movement in the frame. This mitigates some of Canon’s low light deficiencies. It may not be as strong as Canon’s Optura 40, though, which comes with a Night Plus and Super Night Mode, both of which function from a white LED assist lamp.

Remote Control The Canon Optura 30 comes with remote access to the camera’s major functions. The remote allows the user to control both recording and playback options. The remote control also has a photo button, allowing for distant access to still imaging as well. The ability to toggle the zoom and alter focal lengths is also accessible by the remote control. This is quite handy when using a tripod, as it prevents the possibility of movement from manual adjustment – such things can cost as much as US$200 when purchased as a separate accessory.

16:9 Widescreen Mode The Canon Optura 30 is equipped with a widescreen mode that adjusts the image to a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is a common feature on many newer camcorders because the 16:9 or 1.78:1 aspect ratio has been agreed upon as the standardized form of the future. Thus, when the conversion takes place, only the images taken in the 16:9 widescreen mode will project at full, undistorted composition. Although most modern camcorders come with some sort of widescreen recording option, there are a variety of ways in which this function is attained, some far more effective and less detrimental to the entire composition then others.

The Canon Optura 30’s widescreen mode utilizes the full resolution of the NTSC signal, accessing the extra pixels on the chip to produce the 16:9 image rather then stretching the image. This seems to be the most effective way of converting to the widescreen format besides purchasing a camera with a 16:9 CCD, which would be typically priced at around US$15,000. The only drawback of this method of widescreen is that the image would appear vertically compressed and distorted if the 16:9 recording were played on a normal 4:3 television. This can be corrected by connecting the camcorder to the television with an S1 port or Video ID-1 system, in which case the image will be played back as it was initially recorded in the widescreen format.

MPEG MPEG movies can be recorded in two sizes to an SD memory card in the Canon Optura 30.

Network The Optura 30 has webcam capability through the use of the Network function and comes with the appropriate software.

Analog to Digital Pass through The Canon Optura 30 is capable of recording or transferring material to multiple sources: analog to digital and vice versa.

Comparisons
Panasonic PV-GS200. This camcorder is within the same general price range as the Canon Optura 30, and shares a nearly identical body with the newer Optura 30. The Panasonic PV-GS200 contains three CCDs, each with 800k effective pixels. The Panasonic PV-GS200 utilizes its three CCDs by designating one CCD to each color (RGB). This approach differs strongly from the Canon Optura 30’s “RGB primary color filter,” which is designed to separate colors within the lens into its RGB root, but the PV-GS200 ended up surpassing the Optura 30 immensely in low light performance. The three CCDs provided cleaner colors, sharper resolution, and images more crisp and true to life.

Canon Optura 40. The more advanced member of Canon’s Optura tandem offers two additional night shooting modes not included on the Optura 30: Night Plus mode and Super Night mode. Although these are considered special features because of their gimmick-like quality, the option to use these functions is not present in the Optura 30. The Optura 40 also offers a few new manual control options that are not available on the Optura 30. In particular, the Optura 40 displays audio levels in the viewfinder and allows for manual manipulation of audio, separate from the video. This alone provides far more creative control for only $100 more than the Optura 30.

Sony DCR-HC85 The Sony DCR-HC85 is a good-sized camcorder well equipped for great image acquisition. The Sony DCR-HC85 has a 1/3.6-inch CCD with 1080K effective pixels for video and performs well at 3000 lux. The Sony DCR-HC85 is designed for point-and-shoot recording with added features like a focus ring with numerical association, an intelligent accessory shoe, and several automatic features to improve image quality, like Spot Metering and Spot Focus.

Who it’s For
Point-and-Shooters (6.0)
The Canon Optura 30 is an excellent camera for point-and-shooters. It is lightweight and compact, making it quite mobile and accessible. It handles well in automatic mode, making rapid seamless adjustments while remaining fairly quiet. Therefore, if its automatic proficiency you desire over professional quality rendering, this could be the camera for you.

Budget Consumers(4.0)
The list price for the Canon Optura 30 is US$899. This is a bit costly for a true budget consumer, given the degraded image quality in low-light settings. However, the camcorder’s handling and mobility are its saving graces. While that may not be enough for a semi-professional user, anyone in search of a fully automatic camcorder that will perform with ease under ideal situations will find this camera more than capable. If desired, the Optura 30 has a good range of manual control and automatic precision to boot.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid(5.0)
With over 2 Million effective pixels for stills to go along with 1.2 Million effective pixels for video, the Canon Optura 30 serves as an excellent hybrid camera with as much attention directed toward its still performance as its video. The automatic flash and manual focus ring complement the Canon Optura 30’s crisp image capabilities. The Optura has a variety of settings to tweak the image and comes with a Print and Share button that provides quick and direct extraction from the card to a computer or printer. While it cannot compare with a typical mid-to-high end digital still camera, it remains superior to most camcorders with this feature.

Gadget Freaks(4.5)
A decent camcorder for the gadget freak, the Canon Optura 30 provides a range of options and accessories to explore. For its price range, however, the Canon falls short of some camcorders just slightly more expensive.

Manual Control Freaks(4.0)
Manual control freaks will be content with this camcorder, which offers manual control over nearly everything available, from focus ring to shutter. However, the truly obsessive should look to the Canon Optura 40, which allows for manual manipulation of audio settings as well.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists(4.0)
The Canon Optura 30 performs well and allows for direct control over most functions. However, it’s a bit limited and lacking in image quality for the professional recorder. The mobility and automatic functions of the Optura 30 seem to its strongest points. It might serve as a mobile camcorder for the traveling professional.

Conclusion
The Canon Optura 30 is a compact, comfortable handheld camcorder with a variety of advanced automatic features and sharp imaging ability. I found the Canon Optura 30 to be easy to operate and handle. Some camcorders just have a nice feel, and this is definitely one of them. It is reasonably lightweight and easily mobile while retaining a feeling of substance and stability. It’s quite easy to adapt to the logical button placement, too. The only conflict I could foresee in handling the Optura 30 is when using a tripod; because the camcorder is so compact, it may be difficult to access the buttons and controls while mounted without knocking the camcorder and disturbing the image. However, this is not a problem that is unique to Canon, and is shared by all small camcorders.

The Canon Optura 30 is also a good camera for the automatic lover or the point-and-shoot consumer. The Optura 30 makes quick adjustments and reads very accurately. The beauty of this camera is the ease with which you can carry, handle, and shoot footage without much effort.

The large number of effective pixels provides the Canon Optura 30 with a crisp image and accurate color representation, with the single RGB primary color filter rendering rich tones in most bright, evenly lit situations. While the the Optura 30 may not work as Canon's answer to the low light problem, it may be a good option when considering the Optura 40 or 30, especially for the budget consumer, as both camcorders perform similarly under low light.