Terrific video and digital photos with Optura 40

Author's Rating:

Pros: Excellent day video and digital photo quality, colors are amazing.

Cons: Grainy in low light, short battery life

The Bottom Line: 
High quality video and photos.

Author's Review
Normally I do a lot of research before purchasing a durable good but in this case I was rushed for time. We were vacationing in Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and San Francisco. My brother-in-law said he had a video camera but it was an older model so I thought I would get a new one to record our memories. Being it was my first video camera I relied on the sales person in Fry's to guide me. I first said I wanted a Sony because that is what all my co-workers to me to get but he highly recommended the Canon line instead. We compared the two brands (several different models) and after several tests I had to agree with him.

It didn't take long for me to read the manual and familiarize myself with the camera. I found it very easy to use and intuitive. It does have many features but the camera is not cluttered with them. I started taking pictures and video in Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Yosemite. I wasn't sure how they were coming out because I couldn't connect it to a TV until I got to San Francisco.

When I finally hooked up the video to the TV I was stunned. The video clarity and colors were just amazing! Everything was so natural, clear and vivid. I felt like I was reliving the whole experience again. I'm not sure if it's because of the Canon lens or the digital chip but whatever it is the Optura 40 does a super job. I also learned I need to move my hand more slowly!

The digital pictures also came out great. My brother-in-law purchased an Olympus 3 mega-pixel digital camera on the trip and the color and detail of my photos were just as clear if not even better. It's also very easy to switch between video and pictures with a quick flip of the switch with your right hand which is comfortably positioned on the camera. It’s great to be able to flip back and forth with just one hand. Also the 14X zoom is great. We couldn't see the climbers in Yosemite but with the zoom it was possible.

On the downside, I would have to agree with the other reviewer that low light conditions are not ideal. The video gets grainy. You'll need a very steady hand to keep it clear and even then its not always clear. The night light really only works for close ups and still motion. I thought I could take video of the Las Vegas strip with the light but it creates a trailing effect. Also the battery doesn’t last very long. I got just under an hour so I’ll probably end of getting the extended battery.

I had more time during the trip to compare different cameras. This time I was able to more carefully compare the different brands. At first I was disappointed with my camera because of the less than ideal low light conditions but after looking at other cameras and talking with friends all digital camcorders seem to have this problem. In the end I was very happy with my purchase. The Sony’s didn’t have the same build quality and I would have had to spend more to get the same features I got with my Canon. Plus I believe the lens and digital chip is much better with on the Canon. And with the quality digital photos I don’t think I’ll need a separate camera.

Last, thanks for reading my review and thanks to all of you for contributing your own reviews. This is my first review and I appreciate all of you taking the time to write which really helps average consumers like me make more informed decisions. Thanks!