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Compare most popular Digital-Camcorders to Optura 40 Digital Video Camcorder

Product Name Optura 40 Digital Video Camcorder

Optura 40 Digital Video Camcorder

Sony Handycam DCR-HC40

Sony Handycam DCR-HC40

Canon Vixia HF200

Canon Vixia HF200

Canon Vixia HF100

Canon Vixia HF100

Canon Vixia HG20

Canon Vixia HG20

Release Date 05/23/2004 04/15/2004 04/01/2009 04/08/2008 09/15/2008
Price Range Check latest prices » $395-$588 Check latest prices » $474-$750 Check latest prices » $500-$1729 Check latest prices » $800-$900
Review Summary If the Optura 30 is good, the Optura 40 is better, thanks to its video light. But if you don't find yourself shooting in a lot of low-light situations, it may not be worth the cash. The DCR-HC40's touch screen can be inconvenient to use, but this affordable compact camcorder's footage in automatic mode isn't likely to need many adjustments. While it's more expensive than its sub-$600 competitors, the Canon Vixia HF20 and Vixia HF200 deliver a more extensive feature set for the extra money. The HF200, which lacks internal memory, is probably a better buy than the HF20, though the HF20's all-black body is a bit classier looking. One of a pair of Canon's first flash-based camcorders, the Canon Vixia HF100, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package. Like its cousin, the flash-based HF11, Canon's Vixia HG20 delivers excellent HD video quality and performance albeit in a slightly larger, heavier package. However, you do get more storage space and a lower price.
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Basic Specs

Product Type Camcorder Camcorder Camcorder - 1080p Camcorder - 1080p Camcorder - 1080p
Digital Zoom 280 x 120 x 300 x 200 x 200 x
Optical Sensor Size 1/3.4" 1/5" 1/4" 1/3.2" 1/3.2"
Optical Sensor Type CCD CCD CMOS CMOS CMOS
Min Illumination 1.1 lux 0 lux 0.4 lux 0.2 lux
Analog Video Format NTSC NTSC NTSC
Digital Video Format AVI MPEG EX AVCHD, MPEG-4 AVCHD AVCHD
Special Effects Art, Ball, Cube, Wave, Sepia, Mirror, Mosaic, Color Mask, Black & White Black & White, Color, Sepia
Image Stabilizer Electronic Electronic (Super Steady Shot) Optical (SuperRange) Optical (SuperRange) Optical (SuperRange)
Digital Scene Transition Beam, Flip, Jump, Tide, Puzzle, Zigzag, Black fader, Corner wipe, Window wipe, Fade trigger
Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec 1/4000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/2000 sec
Shooting Modes Digital photo mode Frame movie mode, Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode Digital photo mode
Shooting Programs Low light, Spotlight, Night mode, Sand & snow, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Stitch assist, Night plus mode, Super night mode Landscape, Spotlight, Beach & ski, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Sunset & moon Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode
White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic Custom, Presets, Automatic
White Balance Presets Indoor, Outdoor Indoor, Outdoor Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white) Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (warm white)
Exposure Modes Program, Automatic Manual, Program, Automatic Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
Camera Flash Built-in flash None Built-in flash Built-in flash
Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction Auto mode, Red-eye reduction
Webcam Capability Yes Yes
Enclosure Color Silver
Effective Sensor Resolution 1.0 megapixels 2.99 megapixels
Total Pixels 1.0 megapixels 3.89 megapixels 3.3 megapixels
Progressive scan Yes
PCM Digital Sound 16bit (48KHz / 2 channels), 12bit (32KHz / 2 channels)
Min Shutter Speed 1/4 sec 1/2 sec
Features AF illuminator
Widescreen Video Capture Yes Yes
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