Canon Optura 500 Camcorder Reviewby Matt CullerPublished on Aug 9, 2004 4:00 AM 
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The slightly more expensive sibling to the Optura 400, the Optura 500 lists for US$1,099.99. The Optura 500 ships with a 1/3.4 CCD containing 1.23 effective megapixels for video and 2 MPs for stills. With a 10x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom, the Optura 500 doesn’t really improve specification-wise on the Optura 300, though handling has been dramatically improved. The Optura 500 and 400 both excel past expectations under low light testing, perhaps paving the way for a new and improved Canon consumer camcorder generation.
Video Performance (6.5)
Canon’s Optura 500 houses a relatively large imager for a matchbook consumer camcorder with a 1/3.4-inch CCD. This chip features 1.23 effective megapixels for video and 2.0 for stills, with approximately 2.2 gross megapixels. With a chip this big, the Optura 500 produces good images in bright outdoor, summer light, and in our testing tent at 3000 lux. And while consumer Canon camcorders have been notoriously bad in low light environments lately, the Optura 500 performs relatively well, making it definitely worthy of exemption from Canon’s low light stereotype.
Test results at 3000 lux for the Optura 500 show nice reproduction of color. Each color is clear and crisp with excellent color balance and saturation. The grayscales move from brilliant whites to pitch blacks in clear defined increments. The only flaw with the Optura 500’s performance, which happened with the Optura 400 as well, was the amount of grain at 3000 lux. There is significant grain at 3000 lux, which usually doesn’t appear until 60 lux. This grain is especially noticeable in the lighter colors of the spectrum. Otherwise, the Optura 500’s 3000 lux image would be fantastic.
The Front (8.0)
Like its less expensive sibling, the Canon Optura 500 is a matchbook style camcorder. On the front side of its square-shaped body, the Optura 500 features a lens with a focal length of 4.7-47mm and a filter diameter of 30.5mm. Immediately to the right of lens is the flash, which is long and narrow. Below the flash is the camcorder’s assist lamp, which lights up in Night+ mode and Super Night Mode. On the Optura 500 this lamp functions as a video lamp, which can be turned on at any time during recording, while the Optura 400 only uses this function for low light modes. To left of the assist lamp and below the lens is the remote sensor and the tally light (which flashes during recording). Directly below the assist lamp is a port cover, which reveals the Audio/Video composite input/output port which doubles as a headphone jack, the DC adaptor port, and the USB port.
The Right Side (8.5)
On the right side of the Canon Optura 500 is the strap mechanism, complete with movable arm, which rotates almost a full 180° and allows for a decent handgrip for a matchbook camcorder. A panel towards the top of the right side features the zoom toggle, photo button, and the switch for MiniDV tape and SD card recording.
Below the right side of the viewfinder is the MIC input jack port cover. Below this is a button for manually switching the audio level. Pressing this button brings up a green bar for -40dB to 0dB. The Audio mode must be set to manual; when in automatic mode, this button switches off on the auto audio indicator on the display. Nearby there is the light button, which turns the video light on and off. A ring light adaptor, which ships with the Optura 500, fits over the lens and reduces shadowing while using the video light. The easy mode and Program AE mode switch is located here as well. With this button the user can switch from a stripped down full auto mode (indicated by an empty rectangle with rounded corners–go figure) and the program AE mode, which offers a variety of manual modes with shutter speed presets for all except Auto mode. Behind the strap is a the backup battery slot, covered by a rubber port cover as well as the S-Video in/out port, also covered by a rubber port cover.
The Left Side (8.0)
The left side of the Canon Optura 500 is composed of the LCD Screen which sits on the top half of the left side. Below the LCD is the battery slot as well as a button panel for print sharing and night mode; there's also a FireWire port. A cluster of buttons is located below the LCD and features buttons for digital effects, VCR playback operations, card mix, slide show, flash, self-timer, and drive mode (burst photography and exposure bracketing modes). The Optura 500 includes a button here which switches between still and MPEG4 movie playback modes. The SD card slot is located on the right edge of the LCD bay.
The Back (8.0)
The viewfinder of the Optura 500 is permanently angled about 30° towards the eye. A dioptric adjustment device is on its underside, and can be easily adjusted by a well-manicured thumbnail. Below the viewfinder is the Optura 500’s mode dial within which the record button sits. The mode dial includes options for camera, off, playback/VCR mode, and Network (computer connection). To the right of the mode dial is Canon’s ubiquitous jog dial, offering unencumbered navigation through menu screens. The menu button is located below the mode dial along with the focus/datacode and exposure buttons.
The Top (7.5)
The top of the Canon Optura 400 only contains the stereo microphone which is placed on the top side of the viewfinder. It's angled slightly toward the viewer and unfortunately close to the user’s nose, for optimal nose-sound recording.
Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (7.0)
Like the Optura 400, the Optura 500 includes two modes of automatic recording: easy mode and Program AE mode. Program AE mode offers many automatic settings for the camcorder’s functions, while easy mode is a stripped down version of this mode. In easy mode, exposure, focus, white balance, wind screen, shutter speed, and microphone are unavailable, as they are locked in auto. No digital effects, 16:9 mode, card mix, or microphone attenuator are available in this mode. In program AE mode, all of these options are available; however, all functions with manual settings, including white balance, shutter speed, shutter speed presets, exposure, and audio level default to auto.
During performance automatic adjustments to exposure, shutter speed, and audio level are quick and accurate. The Optura 500 exhibits a bit of a delay during white balance adjustment as so not to bother the viewer with abrupt changes in color temperature. Also, automatic focus works well at a wide angle, but once the telephoto is engaged adjustments develop a lag, as is expected.
In general, the Canon Optura 500 offers excellent automatic control, and an easy functionality for the point-and-shooters. Matchbook camcorders overall are designed for their convenience and handling over manual control options. The Optura 500 is designed for this market, definitely, but it also offers many options that would make anyone happy.
Overall Manual Control (6.5)
The Optura 500 offers a wealth of manual control. Offering the same options as the Optura 400 and last year’s Optura 300, including shutter speed, exposure, white balance, focus, and audio level, the Optura 500 also adds a manually functioning video light with included reflective spreader, which prevents shadows during closeups (and looks really cool). Canon has really improved the placement of these manual controls with the Optura 400 and 500; only shutter speed and white balance are buried in the menu system. Audio level can be changed on the fly, which is usually when it needs to be changed; the same with exposure, focus.
Zoom (6.5)
The Optura 500 has an optical zoom of 10x and digital zooms of 40x and 200x. The Optura 400’s toggle operates well, affording multiple speed zooms, although they take a little practice. I would like better zoom toggles on matchbook camcorders in general, but this one is satisfactory. Also, there is a bit of lag time when jumping into a fast zoom, before the regular speed zoom increases its speed. The Optura 400 and 500 are surprisingly quiet as opposed to so many noisy Canons.
Focus (7.5)
Located on the back of the Optura 500, the manual focus button shows “MF” on the screen when pressed. The focus can be controlled by Canon’s glorious jog dial, as opposed to buttons under the LCD screen or something, which is nice.
Exposure (Aperture) (5.0)
On the back of the Optura 500, the manual exposure button is located under the focus button. A +/- meter and a numerical reading provide on-screen visualization of your adjustments. Exposure can be adjusted between a numerical window of 0 and -11 with an integral interval.
Shutter Speed (4.0)
Manual shutter speed is available through the menu system on the Optura 500. Shutter speed settings of 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000 exist. Also, preset shutter speed windows of performance are available by pressing the jog dial while outside of the menu system; they include Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Sand & Snow, Low Light, and Auto. But these presets aren’t true manual shutter speeds; they don’t set one concrete speed, but rather set a window of performance. I’d like to see some slower shutter speed settings on this pup, considering all the other manual functions.
White Balance (7.0)
In order to more accurately approximate the appropriate color temperatures of an image, white balance options are available on the Optura 500. Buried in the menu system, options for auto, indoor, outdoor, and set (manual) exist. In manually setting the white balance with the hold function the user can store a ‘real’ white value, or relative white value, and apply that temperature reading to other lighting situations. Indoor and Outdoor options give the camcorder a window of performance to work from by approximating appropriate light levels for indoor (low light) and outdoor (high light) settings. The jog dial affords the Optura 500 seamless and smooth adjustments, even when the user has to go into the menu system.
Gain (0.0)
The Optura 500 doesn’t offer manual control of gain.
Still Performance (7.5)
With an impressive 2.0 megapixels effective for digital stills, the Optura 500 and Optura 400 equal but do not improve upon the Optura 300 in still performance capabilities. The Optura 400 and 500 both offer still resolution options of 1632 x 1224, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480. Both camcorders capture to tape and SD card, whose slot is located underneath LCD bay. Stills can also be captured to tape during video recording. The Optura 400 ships with an 8MB SD card. Image qualities of normal, fine, and super fine are available for stills. These quality settings correspond with file sizes.
The menu system includes many options for still capture, many of which are either used by the camcorder function or have been stripped down from the camcorder section. Shutter speed settings for automatic adjustment, 1/60, 1/100, and 1/250 are available. Digital zoom of only 40x is available. There is an auto focus assist light, which lights up before capture to help automatic focal adjustment.
A nice, gimmicky function, focus priority mode can be used to focus on the right, left, or center of the frame. While in focus priority mode, the display shows four framing brackets enclosing the focus point. If the user toggles either up or down on the jog dial while outside the menu system, he or she can select which focus point to use, either the right, left, or center point. If the jog dial is pressed outside of the menu system, preset shutter speed settings are available for Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Sand & Snow, and Low Light. These presets set windows of performance for the camera’s shutter speed to best approximate optimal light settings for a specific environment.
A nice drive mode is also available for still capture. In this mode, automatic exposure bracketing, which takes three pictures instead of one at different exposure levels (thus allowing the user to pick the best shot), and continuous burst photography at two speeds are available.
The Card Mix function allows images to be combined and animated with included novelty images. Also available is a Stitch Assist Mode, in which the user can take panoramic stills by capturing many stills to be merged later.
Up to 10 seconds of review following recording are available in capture mode, and the Optura 500’s built-in neutral density filter is also available in card mode, which can be either turned off or set to auto, in order to prevent negative effects under intense sunlight.
VCR Mode (7.0)
Playback of media from the card and the tape is available in playback mode, as is recording to a VCR or a digital video (DV) device using a FireWire cable. Also, the user can record to MiniDV from analog devices, such as VCRs, TVs, or analog camcorders using the FireWire. Recording from another digital device and converting from analog to digital are available as well. In network mode, video and stills can also be viewed and manipulated on a computer using the FireWire cable and the included software.
Low Light Performance (4.5)
This site has panned Canon consumer camcorders on poor low light performance all year, but with the Optura 500 and Optura 400, Canon seems to have started to turn its act around. While it cannot be contested that, under bright light levels, Canon camcorders work great, producing stellar images and color, Canon rarely does as well as it has in low light with the Optura 400 and Optura 500.
As mentioned above, the Canon Optura 500’s performance at 3000 lux was strong, with an unusual amount of grain as its only defect. At 60 lux, instead of its performance dropping off the face of the earth like most Canons we’ve reviewed, the Optura 500 maintains much of the color information it had at 3000 lux, and while there is an increase in noise and a loss of color brilliance (especially in the reds), overall it is a good effort. The grayscale still progresses in easily discernible increments.
At 15 lux, almost all of the brilliance at 3000 lux is gone; however, much of the color information remains; colors are easily distinguishable. The main sticking point here is the amount of noise that permeates the image.
It should be noted that Sonys with similar chips, like the DCR-HC85, perform substantially better than the Optura 500 and Optura 400; however, in the Canon realm, these matchbooks do fine. Price-wise, the Optura 500 does best the Sony DCR-PC109 in the low light bout, and while the Sony doesn’t have a similar chip, it is similarly priced. But don’t think Canon has the best deals for matchbook camcorders with quality low light performance, because that award probably better accompanies a JVC GR-DX97 or the JVC GR-DX77. With consumer camcorders, maybe price is where comparisons should be made bar none (for a largely price-based comparison, see the comparison section below). Who knows?
LCD/ Viewfinder(7.0)
The Optura 500 upgrades from the Optura 400’s 2.5 inch LCD pixel count of 123K to 211K pixels, while last year’s Optura 300’s LCD contained 200K. Unfortunately, the LCD screen solarizes when viewed from an angle. If you’re interested in a better LCD, look into Sony camcorders.
Audio (6.0)
The Canon Optura 500 records in 12 bit and 16 bit audio. It includes a built-in microphone attenuator and a windscreen mode. The microphone level can be manually adjusted with a button located on the right side of the camcorder. The camcorder includes a headphone jack. Unfortunately, there is no accessory shoe, hot or cold, so you can’t plug in a separate mic. But really, folks, who plugs a separate mic into a matchbook camcorder?
Handling (8.0)
While the Optura 500 and Optura 400 do not add any other features to those established on the Optura 300 of last year, Canon has redone the button arrangement on these new camcorders to afford more convenient handling. The typical Canon handles like a dream, with a beautiful jog dial, and the Optura 500 features plenty of important buttons outside of the menu system or underneath the LCD, such as audio level, exposure, and focus. While the viewfinder is immobile and includes the stereo microphone, located directly on it, let's face it--matchbook camcorders are designed to be handheld and to make use of the LCD.
Ports (7.5)
With the Optura 500, two USB modes of operation are available: standard and storage. With the storage function, the user doesn’t need to use the included software to access SD card content. Other ports include A/V input/output (Headphone), FireWire, and S-Video. Also, the Optura 500, unlike the Optura 400, includes a video light reflecting spreader, which fits around the lens and reflects the video light, (should you choose to turn it on) around a reflective circle, eliminating shadows during closeups.
Other Features (7.5)
Night modes
The Optura 500 features three included night modes: Night mode, which slows the shutter speed automatically when the image is too dark, Night+ mode, which adds the video light to regular night mode, and Super Night+, which adds a more intense video light to Night+ mode.
Drive Mode
Used when recording stills, this mode gives the user options for exposure bracketing and continuous still recording at high and normal speeds.
Card Mix
This feature allows the user to mix stills and video with pre-existing novelty graphics. These pre-existing graphics come on the included SD card. They can be erased to free up space.
Stitch Assist Mode
Stitch Assist Mode allows the user to take multiple photographs to be later combined into a panoramic shot.
Focus Priority Mode
In this mode, the user can choose among three focus points to use during still photo capture: one on the right, one on the left, or the default center.
Widescreen Mode
The Canon Optura 500 offers a 16:9 widescreen effect in which the horizontal angle of view is increased, while the vertical angle of view is decreased, resulting in the 4:3 image with more on the sides and less on the top and bottom. This is not "true" 16:9, because the Optura 500 and 400 both have 3:4 chips, and it is a different 16:9 mode from the Canon XL2, which doesn't lose top and bottom data; however, this method is one of the better fake 16:9 modes out there.
MPEG
The Optura 500 takes MPEG4s at 352 x 288 and 174 x 144; this is an upgrade from the Optura 400 which takes motion JPEGs at 320 x 240 and 160 x 120.
Analog to Digital Pass-Through
The Optura 500 allows for analog to digital pass-through.
Comparisons
The Canon Optura 500 has a 1/3.4 inch CCD with 1.23 megapixels effective for video and 2 megapixels effective for still capture. It allows for a 10x optical zoom, with up to 200x digital zoom. The Optura 500’s max still resolution is 1632 x 1224. Its video performance at 3000 lux and at low light levels of 60 lux and 15 lux is strong, especially for a Canon, albeit a bit noisy.
Several camcorders fall into the Optura 500’s price or characteristic range. They include the Panasonic PV-GS200, the Sony DCR-PC109, the Sony DCR-HC85, the Canon Optura 400, and the Sony DCR-DVD201 (Review, Specs, $549).
Panasonic PV-GS200
Listing at US $999.99, the Panasonic PV-GS200 is available; it includes three 1/6-inch CCDs: one for red, one for green, and one for blue. In the camcorder world, a 3 chip is usually a prescription for excellent imaging quality, and it was thoroughly amazing that Panasonic could produce a decent one so cheaply. While each CCD has only 440 effective video pixels and only 800K gross pixels, the PV-GS200 still produces images that surpass the Optura 400 in low light environments. It features all the manual control of the Optura 500, and includes a focus ring. It is a horizontal camcorder, so if you’re looking for a matchbook, count the PV-GS200 out.
Sony DCR-PC109
Sony offers a matchbook camcorder for under a grand, a good hundred dollars cheaper than the Optura 500. The DCR-PC109 ships with a 1/5-inch CCD with 690K effective video pixels and a megapixel for stills. The DCR-PC109 doesn’t offer some of the manual control that the Optura 500 does, such as true manual shutter speed and audio adjustment, and while still resolution is a bit lower, the PC109 does include an intelligent accessory shoe. While these camcorders perform similarly, the Optura 500 comes out on top low light and video performance-wise, probably because of its better imager.
Sony DCR-HC85
The Sony DCR-HC85 lists for the same price as the Optura 500, but is available for much cheaper. It houses a 1/3.6-inch CCD with 2.1 megapixels gross (1.08 effective for video, 1.92 effective for still). It has slightly less still resolution, and comparable, if not a bit better, manual control options. It is a horizontal camcorder, and its video quality healthily surpasses the Optura 500, especially in low light.
Canon Optura 400
The Optura 500 and 400 are nearly identical aside from a few details. The Optura 500 captures MPEG4s instead of the motion JPEGs of the Optura 400 at a slightly higher resolution of 352 x 288 (the Optura 400’s top resolution is 320 x 240). Also, the Optura 500 includes a cool video light reflector that hooks on to the front of the camcorder, to prevent shadows (the Optura 500’s video light can work independently of any night mode as well). And the Optura 500 contains a more optimized USB port, and includes about 100K more pixels in the LCD.
Sony DCR-DVD201
Also in the price range of the Optura 500 is the Sony DCR-DVD201, and if you’re in the mood for a gimmick this one’s for you. Or is it? The Sony DCR-DVD201 performs inferior to the Optura 500 in all ways, and doesn’t include a SD card, so if you’re interested in DVD camcorders, check out Hitachi’s selection; they are cheaper and better.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (7.0)
The Optura 500 is definitely a point-and-shooters' camcorder; it offers an easy mode, as well as automatic settings for every function. As far as low light goes, the Optura 500 will perform better on the fly than any matchbook Canon I’ve seen.
Budget Consumers (3.5)
While the Optura 500 is kinda pricey for a matchbook, it does offer lots of manual control and functions, and does look good under low light. It features many of the same options as the DCR-PC109 and at a cheaper cost. So, while it’s not necessarily cheap, the Optura 500 is a good deal.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (6.0)
The Optura 500 is an okay hybrid; it takes stills at a decent resolution, and includes many options for still capture (see still performance).
Gadget Freaks (5.0)
While the Optura 500 doesn’t offer anything new gadget-wise, it does have a lot of extra features and comes with a reflective light spreader which looks cool in the dark.
Manual Control Freaks (7.0)
The Optura 500 definitely has enough manual control to make you read the manual, which, with consumer camcorders, is saying something.
Pros/Serious Hobbyists(4.0)
The Optura 500 cannot be strongly recommended to the Pro/Serious hobbyist only because matchbook camcorders to pros are like Casio keyboards to concert pianists.
Conclusion
It is hard to imagine that Canon isn’t constantly trying to improve their low light performance, and with the Optura 500, we finally have proof. While the Optura 500 and Optura 400 don’t perform quite up to par with other brand’s camcorders with comparable imagers, they are a tremendous effort for Canon. This, coupled with the fact that the Optura 400 and 500 offer a wealth of manual and automatic control, as well as other features, put these two matchbooks at the top of the heap in their niche.
Whether or not anyone would pay the price of a 3 CCD camcorder for a matchbook is beyond me; however, Sony has been charging more than this for their matchbooks for years. All in all, the Optura 500 is probably the best deal for a good matchbook camcorder, aside from the Optura 400. It’s nice to see that Canon is on the right track.