Canon Elura 70 Camcorder Reviewby Nathaniel HansenPublished on May 14, 2004 12:00 AM 
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The Canon Elura 70 Mini DV camcorder has a 1/4.5-inch CCD, with 690K effective pixels for video. The Elura 70 has a MSRP of US$799 but can be found in stores and online for less. The Canon Elura 70 is a solid camcorder both in handling, ease of use, and video performance. Sadly, the low light performance of the Elura 70 hasn't been improved as many were hoping.
Video Performance (7.0)
Equipped with a 1/4.5 inch CCD and a Canon 18x optical zoom lens, the Canon Elura 70 is poised to perform well under excellent lighting conditions. At 3000 lux, the Canon Elura 70 performed very well, even if the colors were slightly washed out. The problem with most camcorders is that they are not designed to perform well at each step of a very dynamic light range of 15 lux to 3000 lux.
At 3000 lux, the colors were represented accurately. I was especially pleased to see that the green stood out as an independent color from the yellows, and vice versa. The resolution bars are only slightly blurred, and the whites and the other grayscale colors are brilliant. What's somewhat deceiving when judging image quality and saturation while recording is that, depending on the angle at which users look at the LCD, the image may appear more or less saturated. In this case, at 3000 lux, the image appeared much more saturated on the LCD than when the footage was imported into AVID. The focus is not as sharp as one might hope under optimal lighting conditions, but the Canon Elura 70 has plenty of manual controls on board to improve the image quality if the user has the patience to learn how.
The Front (8.0)
The Canon 18x optical zoom lens is the dominant feature on the front of the Canon Elura 70. Below the lens is the stereo microphone and beneath the microphone is a port cover hiding S-Video and DV ports. On the right side of the front are the LED, the automatic white-balance sensor, and the infrared remote sensor.
The Right Side (9.5)
The right side of the Canon Elura 70 is dominated by the top-loading tape mechanism. Mic, AV/headphone, USB, and DC ports are located at the front of the right side. A cover conceals the ports and snaps flush into place. Running along the bottom of the right side is the suede/nylon/Velcro strap. At the very back of the right side is a raised hump with mode labels that accompany the mode selector positioned on the back of the camcorder. Directly above the hump is the automatic/manual mode switch. Below the switch are two cryptic icons: a square with a ''P'' inside, and a smaller semi-oval.
The Back (8.0)
The battery port is in the middle of the back of the Canon Elura 70. The viewfinder's extendable eyecup is accessible at the back and can be extended about an inch toward the user. A metal bracket for attaching a shoulder strap is next to the viewfinder; below that is the battery release button. On the right side of the back, the Elura 70 can be switched from tape to disc mode using the small switch and its accompanying tape and disc icons. Beneath this switch is the mode dial/record button. Users can select from modes labeled CAMERA, OFF, PLAY (VCR), and NETWORK. To shift modes, the green button on the right side of the dial must be depressed. This is pretty intuitive, as there is no other spot to place the thumb. To access the NETWORK feature, users must press the unmarked gray button beneath the mode dial, while shifting the dial down towards the NETWORK label. On the left of the back is a small switch to unlock the LCD.
The Left Side (9.0)
The left side of the Canon Elura 70 is dominated by the 2.5-inch LCD. At the front of the right side is the all-important menu button, accompanied by a jog dial. All access to and navigation within the menu is controlled with these two elements. When the LCD is opened, users have access to a series of buttons, most of which have functionality in record and playback modes. At the top, moving front to back, are Record Search, Focus, and Night Mode buttons. Respectively, these double as VCR playback buttons Fast Forward, Rewind, Play/Pause, and Stop. Below these are two half-oval buttons that serve to turn Digital Effects on and off. Next to these, at the back of the camcorder, is the manual Exposure button which doubles as the End Search button in VCR mode. At the bottom are Data Code/Self Timer, Drive Mode/Record Pause, and Card Mix/Slide Show buttons. At the very bottom of the navigation panel is the SD multimedia card slot. When flipped open, cards can be inserted up into the camcorder body.
The Top (9.5)
On top, at the rear of the Elura 70, is the viewfinder which has an extendable eyecup and can itself be raised 45 degrees. In front of the viewfinder is the advanced, or hot, accessory shoe. On the right side of the front is the tape-eject slider and a hard plastic grip. The flat zoom toggle is behind this grip area. At the very back of the top, on the right side, are the photo button and the print/share button.
Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.0)
The Canon Elura 70 makes automatic adjustments to white balance, focus, shutter speed, and exposure quickly and seamlessly. White balance is automated accurately and almost without notice. Perhaps a little on the slow side in making drastic adjustments to color temperature, automatic white balance is a reliable setting for the point-and-shoot consumer. As a rule, focus control is automatically adjusted more reliably at a lower optical zoom setting. The more telephoto the zoom, the more difficult it is for the camcorder to make accurate adjustments. Even at wide-angle and telephoto settings, the Canon Elura 70 made consistent and reliable focal adjustments across several planes. Shutter speed and exposure also functioned quickly and reliably, with little delay in adjusting overall image luminance.
Overall Manual Control (6.0)
Manual control on the Canon Elura 70 is accessed by sliding the manual/automatic mode switch, located on the right side of the camcorder body, to manual mode, represented by a square with a ''P'' in the center. Once in manual mode, the user makes adjustments either through the menu button and accompanying jog dial or via the specific feature buttons found under the LCD, such as manual focus and manual exposure. When these buttons are pressed, users must operate the jog dial on the front of the left side to make changes to the image. Shutter speed and white balance can only be accessed through the menu button. Although somewhat cumbersome to access, as users are forced to jump around on the camcorder body to access the various manual controls, there is a good deal of manual control available on the Canon Elura 70.
Zoom (7.5)
The Canon Elura 70 has an 18x optical zoom and a 360x digital zoom, with 72x as an additional digital zoom setting. The zoom toggle is flat but easy to grip and the feature offers several variable zoom speeds. The zoom itself is slower than on other models, lprobably so that proper adjustments to the image can be made while in automatic mode.
Focus (5.5)
The Canon Elura 70 offers manual as well as automatic focus control. Manual focus is accessed under the LCD panel and, when pressed, the MF icon appears in the upper left corner of the LCD. Once in manual focus mode, users utilize the depressible jog dial near the front of the left side of the camcorder body. Pulling the jog dial down allows for ''infinity'' or greater focal distance focusing, while shifting the dial up allows for close-up and even macro focus control. The adjustments have no alphanumeric value, so users must rely solely on the image itself when making focus decisions.
Exposure (Aperture) (4.5)
Manual exposure control on the Canon Elura 70 is accessed by pressing the EXP button located under the LCD. Provided the camcorder is in manual mode, E. LOCK is displayed in the upper left corner of the LCD. Aperture-closed and aperture-open icons on the left and right enclose a numbered value bar. Exposure settings ranging from -11 to +11 are available.
Shutter Speed (3.0)
Manual shutter speed is available on the Canon Elura 70, ranging from 1/60-1/2000. There is an auto setting as well.
White Balance (7.0)
White balance can be controlled manually or automatically on the Canon Elura 70. By accessing the menu, and using the depressible jog dial, users can navigate their way to the white balance option on the menu. Auto, Indoor, Outdoor, and Set are available white-balance options. To set the white balance manually, users can focus the Canon Elura 70 on something in the room or scene that is pure white, then hold the jog dial down (provided they are still in the white-balance menu) until the Set function stops flashing. White balance will have to be adjusted manually each time the light source changes.
Gain (0.0)
There are no specific gain options on the Canon Elura 70.
Still Performance(6.0)
The Canon Elura 70 offers a good deal of control when taking still photos. Each of the available ''card'' options are accessed through the menu. Users will notice in both camera and camcorder mode that access to some options is not permitted when set to automatic.
Image quality can be set at Normal, Fine, or Super Fine. Image size options available are 1280x960 or 640x480, with movie size options of 320x240 or 160x120. Still photos cannot be taken when the camcorder is in video-record mode. If the photo button is pressed when in camcorder mode, a purple disc icon flashes in the bottom right corner of the LCD. While in photo mode, the photo button itself can be depressed half way to make adjustments, similar to the way most SLR and Digital cameras operate. After adjustments have been made, the center bars flash green, and the user can depress the button completely to capture a still. This is accompanied by an annoying synthesized shutter sound that can be switched off in the ''my camera'' section of the menu.
VCR Mode (6.0)
By switching the mode selector switch on the back of the camcorder to PLAY/VCR mode, users can play back any material they have recorded onto tape. In order to access the VCR playback buttons, however, the LCD must be left open. The overall functionality of VCR mode was typical. Users shouldn't be alarmed by the somewhat noisy startup when rewinding and fast forwarding.
Low Light Performance (3.5)
The Canon Elura 70 camcorder is designed to function best at light measurements 100 lux and greater. In a well-lit room, our light meter reads an average of 130 lux, so to say that performance below 100 lux is sub-par is bold, but honest. As with other Canon camcorders, this year's Elura 70 did a decent job of replicating color at 60 lux. The color chart image is evenly saturated, with good definition and distinction between various hues of similar colors. The colors lack vibrancy, appearing almost as pastels. The image is more saturated than at 3000 lux, but the image is still soft in its varying tones. Greens are well represented on the Elura 70, which is a plus, as many camcorders struggle to represent yellow and green as two separate colors, one usually suffering hue bleed from the other.
The Canon Elura 70, like those camcorders in the ZR line, suffers from noise and grain distortion at 15 lux. The resolution bars are severely blurred and the yellow and white tiles are drab, appearing more like different shades of brown than yellows and whites. The other colors don't suffer as badly, but the grain and noise distortion is excessive.
LCD/ Viewfinder (8.0)
The Canon Elura 70 has a 2.5-inch 123K pixel LCD and a color viewfinder. Rotation is standard, and the LCD can be maneuvered into just about any position possible for improved viewing. Some discoloration and solarizing occurs when the eyes are not centered with the LCD, but not enough to make it intolerable. Unfortunately, the LCD suffers from direct light reflection, making it impossible to use when under a direct source like the sun or a bright overhead lamp. This is a problem for many recording scenarios, but there are vendors that sell hoods and covers to prevent glare on the LCD.
The color viewfinder has a soft rubber eyecup and can be extended out about an inch. The viewfinder can be rotated upwards to an angle of 45 degrees.
Audio (7.0)
The Canon Elura 70 has a stereo microphone on the front below the lens, out of reach from wandering fingers. Atop the Canon Elura 70 is the advanced accessory shoe for connecting an external microphone or spot light. Additionally, there is a mic in port on the front right side under the plastic port cover. The Canon Elura 70 also has an AV/headphone in port beneath the mic in port on the right side. Under the Audio section of the menu, users can select the Wind Screen option which helps to filter out excessive noise. Overall, there are some great options for capturing improved 12-bit or 16-bit audio on the Canon Elura 70.
Handling (8.0)
The Canon Elura 70 handles very well and is very comfortable to hold. The right side is contoured to better fit the palm of the hand, and the important buttons and toggles are easily within reach of the right hand index finger and thumb. Most other controls and buttons are accessed by the left hand, particularly the menu and depressible jog dial towards the front of the left side. One complaint for accessing the depressible jog dial is that if the LCD is rotated greater than 30 degrees, access to the dial is blocked and the user must move or rotate the LCD in order for the dial to be reached. This is the only legitimate drawback in handling, and it is significant mainly for users who like to control the image manually. For point-and-shoot consumers, this will likely be a tolerable inconvenience during the times they access the menu before and after recording.
The Elura 70 is substantial in weight, and the body has a cold metallic feel. The glossy plastic doesn't get marked and the top-loading tape mechanism is well crafted. Increasingly more common on Panasonic camcorders, it's nice to see Canon making the move away from the bottom-loading phenomenon of the last several years. The mechanism is easy to use and is equipped with a plastic grip area to make opening the mechanism, and holding the camcorder, easier.
Ports (9.0)
The Canon Elura 70 has mic, headphone, S-Video, USB, Firewire, DC, and AV in/out ports on the camcorder body. (Front: S-Video, Firewire; Right side: Mic, AV, Headphone, USB, DC). The ports are well placed and well grouped and are discreetly hidden away under plastic port covers.
Other Features (4.5)
Network The Canon Elura 70 is equipped for use as a webcam or for streaming live video.
NightMode For recording images in super low/no light scenarios.
Canon Digital Video Solution Software For editing DV movies and photos.
16:9 widescreen mode The Canon Elura 70 has a digitally-manipulated widescreen option.
MPEG MPEG movies are recorded in two sizes to SD memory cards on the Canon Elura 70.
Analog to Digital Pass Through The Canon Elura 70 supports analog to digital pass-through.
Comparisons
JVC GR-D93 The JVC GR-D93 has a 1/4-inch CCD 1.33 megapixel imager. The CCD incorporates a 3-D noise reduction filter and performed much better than the Canon Elura 70 under low-light conditions of 60 lux and 15 lux. The GR-D93 has a 10x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom. It has its own handling and performance issues, but excellent video and good performance in low light makes up for these deficits.
Sony DCR-HC65 (Review, Specs, $569) Sony's DCR-HC65 Mini DV camcorder is equipped with a 10x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens, 3.5-inch hybrid LCD, 1/5 inch-CCD with 690K effective pixels, and ''Easy'' automatic mode. With a MSRP of US$795, the HC65 is at the same price point as the Canon Elura 70. The DCR-HC65 is the ultimate point-and-shoot camcorder, handling equally well as the Elura in automatic mode (as far as reaction and adjustments go). Performing better in low light than the Eluras and the Canon ZRs, the HC65 is larger in size, equal in manual control options, equal in video performance, and marginally better in low light scenarios. The main differences come down to handling preferences between the two camcorders.
Panasonic PV-GS120 (Review, Specs, $479) In the $700 price-point category, the PV-GS120 has 3-1/6inch CCDs with 290K (x3) effective pixels. The PV-GS120 captures color very well at optimal light settings and performs moderately at light settings below 60 lux. The PV-GS120 has a 10x optical zoom and up to 700x digital zoom capability. It can take stills at various settings and captures to SD memory cards. Small and comfortable to hold, it's obvious that careful design went into creating this model.
Who's it For
Point-and-Shooters (6.0)
The Canon Elura 70 is a good camcorder for the point-and-shoot consumer, as it handles well in automatic, is relatively small, and has features on board for the potentially curious.
Budget Consumers(4.0)
The Canon Elura 70 is a bit on the pricey side for budget-minded consumers, but there are a lot of features included to account for the cost. If low light performance is not a factor, than the investment would be worth it.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid(5.0)
The Canon Elura 70 is a good camcorder for the hybrid enthusiast, with plenty of options and setting variations on board for tweaking. The print share button also allows quick access to extracting photos from the card.
Gadget Freaks(5.0)
A decent camcorder for the gadget freak, but a bit on the pricey side.
Manual Control Freaks(5.0)
The Canon Elura 70 offers a lot of manual control options. Accessing them is a bit cumbersome, but control freaks will be comforted that they are available.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists(3.0)
A great backup or travel camcorder perhaps, but there aren't very many pro options on board the Canon Elura 70.
Conclusion
The Canon Elura 70 has a lot of positive elements. With lots of room for manual control over the image, as well as several options for acquiring improved audio, the Canon Elura 70 performs well under optimal recording conditions. It's comfortable to hold, has a top-loading tape mechanism, and despite the menu and jog dial combo, it's relatively easy to navigate. Users can be confident that, under lighting conditions above 100 lux, the Canon Elura will perform well in automatic and, provided they dedicate some time to mastering the controls, in manual as well. The down side is that the Canon Elura 70 responded poorly in low light; it just seems Canon isn't concerned with the low light performance of their camcorders. Video performance at 3000 lux was good, and at 60 lux it was at least tolerable. But at anything less than 60, and certainly at 15, the image distortion from excess noise and grain made for poor overall images. Although the manufacturers seem to be aware of this, stating plainly in the manual that the camcorder operates best in environments over 100 lux, there are far too many scenarios in which the light level would dip well below this setting. Low light isn't about the brightest image; it's about the most accurate color representation and the least amount of noise across the board, and the Elura doesn't perform.