Jason Dunn
04-21-2004, 12:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/canon-optura-30-optura-40-minidv-camcorders-04_20_04.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/canon-optura-30-optura-40-minidv-camcorders-04_20_04.htm</a><br /><br /></div>"Canon has announced two new feature rich MiniDV mid range priced camcorders, the Optura 30 and the Optura 40 designed to fight the Megapixel and low light performance war. The camcorder feature very large 2.2 Megapixel 1/3.4 in. CCDs, and a new low light chip which Canon says improves their low light performance - a feature that has been lacking on many past Canon models. The new models also feature some manual control options rarely seen in camcorders in this price range.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/canon-optura-30-optura-40-2.jpg" /> <br /><br />The new Optura 30 and Optura 40 are priced at $899 and $999 respectively. The two new models feature a 'low noise signal processing IC chip' which Canon says will improve the low light performance of these models. The two camcorders also feature fairly large 1/3.4 in.CCDs, typically larger CCDs result in better low light performance. The CCDs feature a large 1.2 million effective pixels for video and 2 million effective pixels for stills. The 1.2 effective pixels for video is a very impressive number, the only camcorder which has more effective pixels for video on the market is the Sony DCR-PC330, priced around $1,700. The Sony DCR-HC85, which produces a very sharp image and is priced at $999 has just over 1 million effective pixels for video. The large number of effective pixels for video could mean that the Optura 30 and Optura 40 produce a very sharp image."