will optura 500 have letterboxed lcd for 16x9 ?

Jeff Applegate · August 5th, 2004, 02:53 PM

The Canon site lists the 500 with a higher resolution LCD than the 400; 211,000 vs 123,00 pixels. Does anyone know if this is true, or is it just a typo?

I'm in the process of helping my mother find a camcorder, and the Optura 400/500 is a top condender at the moment. Of the two I have been leaning towards the 400 since the added features of the 500 wouldn't be of much use to her. However, if the 500 really has a higher resolution LCD, that could make all the difference! As someone mentioned, it can be hard getting good focus with these little LCD's, especially when in 16:9 mode.

Thanks

Kurth Bousman · August 5th, 2004, 03:37 PM

Jeff - do you think your Mom will be manually focusing ? If in autofocus mode , then she will only need the lcd for composition. The 400 is cheaper .

Jeff Applegate · August 5th, 2004, 08:45 PM

Kurth,

No, she probably won't use the manual focus or most of the other manual features for that matter. So you make a good point - maybe she won't really need the extra detail. But I'm still concerned about the LCD. My point of reference is my Optura 100MC which I always felt had marginal LCD resolution. The 400's LCD pixel count is a lot less than mine (while the 500 is a bit more). And when shooting in 16:9 mode, the situation would be even worse (she does plan on shooting 16:9).

I'll have to think about this one a bit more. The other features of the 500 over the 400 are of no real value to her, so I was originally thinking that the less expensive version would be more appropriate for her. Until I thought of the LCD question that is!

One more LCD question while I'm at it: How viewable can I expect the LCD display to be in sunlit conditions? And would the 400 or 500 likely be better? I ask because my 100MC is rather bad. I'm not sure if its always been that way or it has gotten worse. But its a real pain.

Thanks

Kurth Bousman · August 5th, 2004, 09:41 PM

Jeff- I've got a sony dvcam ( pd100a ) and the lcd in sunlight is almost impossible to use and also my sony hi8s' lcd is the same. I think it's a universal problem. Seems I've read that some brands lcd's are better than others but I couldn't say which. In sunlight I use the viewfinder- simple. good luck - I think your Mom will be more than happy with either. Kurth

Boyd Ostroff · August 5th, 2004, 10:16 PM

LCD's are getting better, brighter and have higher contrast. My PDX-10 screen is much brighter and easier to view in full light than my VX-2000 screen for example. Of course you can also add an LCD hood which is an inexpensive way to make it usable in the bright sun. Probably not something that "Mom" will want however! ;-)

Chris Hurd · August 5th, 2004, 11:36 PM

<< The Canon site lists the 500 with a higher resolution LCD than the 400; 211,000 vs 123,00 pixels. Does anyone know if this is true, or is it just a typo? >>

It's not a typo. The difference in the LCD display pixel counts is one of the upsale features of the 500 over the 400.

Marty Hudzik · June 22nd, 2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Kurth, the LCD display shows a properly letterboxed 16:9. This is a long-awaited "development" for Canon. Canon models which have this display feature include the Optura 500 / 400 / 40 / 30, Elura 70 / 65, and XL2. Hope this helps,

Chris,
Are you absolutely sure that the Elura 70 letterboxes the 16x9 on the LCD? I have read several users who claim it does not and that is a benefit of getting a newer elura 80-85-90 so that you have this feature. Your Optura vs Elura review states that it letterboxes it also. I am about to buy the Elura 70 but this is a make or break feature for me.

Help!
thanks

Marty Hudzik · June 24th, 2005, 10:29 AM

Can anyone verify that the Elura 70 does indeed letterbox the 16x9 on the LCD? I am getting varying reports where several users complain about the lack of this feature. However Chris says in his comparison that it does properly letterbox the image. Everyone makes a mistake from time to time and I want to confirm this before buying a camera that I cannot use.

Thanks All,
Marty

Chris Hurd · June 25th, 2005, 05:03 PM

Marty, the Elura 70 has been discontinued and is no longer current. Are you sure that's the camcorder you want? I'm sure it has a letterboxed display but since it's no longer available, I have no way to check it.

Marty Hudzik · June 25th, 2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Marty, the Elura 70 has been discontinued and is no longer current. Are you sure that's the camcorder you want? I'm sure it has a letterboxed display but since it's no longer available, I have no way to check it.

Chris,
Because it is discontinued it is very affordable. The newer Elura 80 does not have microphone in or a hot shoe and comes with a smaller battery. The Elura 70 comes with a much bigger battery, a wide angle adapter and has the hotshoe and mic inputs. IT will cost about the same as the elura 80. The theory is that the actual CCD design has not changed in the newer models so the image should be just as good on the 70. The only question I have is if the LCD letterboxes the footage. If you have tried one first hand and actually seen it then I believe you. I just was making sure that you weren't confusing it with the Optura you reviewed.

I have read over on the ELura forum at camcorderinfo.com and several owners claim that the one thing they don't like about the 70 is the stretched LCD image in 16x9 (which contradicts what you are saying) and that is the one big benefit of the newest ELuras 80/85/90.

LEt me know if you are sure. IF you have any good reason that I should not get the 70 let me know also.

THanks,
Marty

Philip Williams · June 25th, 2005, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Hudzik

Can anyone verify that the Elura 70 does indeed letterbox the 16x9 on the LCD?

I've used both the 70 and 65 at the store (they were on my potential purchase list at the time) and they do indeed letterbox the 16:9 image.

Philip Williams
www.philipwilliams.com

Chris Hurd · June 26th, 2005, 07:22 PM

Hi Marty,

When it's me vs. some other site on the web... believe me.

When it's me vs. another DV Info Net member... believe the other DV Info Net member.

Hope this helps,

Marty Hudzik · June 27th, 2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Hi Marty,

When it's me vs. some other site on the web... believe me.

When it's me vs. another DV Info Net member... believe the other DV Info Net member.

Hope this helps,

As a rule that works! Just wanted to be sure.

August 5th, 2004, 02:53 PM	#16
Jeff Applegate New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Morrison, CO Posts: 14	Related question about 400/500 LCD The Canon site lists the 500 with a higher resolution LCD than the 400; 211,000 vs 123,00 pixels. Does anyone know if this is true, or is it just a typo? I'm in the process of helping my mother find a camcorder, and the Optura 400/500 is a top condender at the moment. Of the two I have been leaning towards the 400 since the added features of the 500 wouldn't be of much use to her. However, if the 500 really has a higher resolution LCD, that could make all the difference! As someone mentioned, it can be hard getting good focus with these little LCD's, especially when in 16:9 mode. Thanks

August 5th, 2004, 11:36 PM	#21
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	<< The Canon site lists the 500 with a higher resolution LCD than the 400; 211,000 vs 123,00 pixels. Does anyone know if this is true, or is it just a typo? >> It's not a typo. The difference in the LCD display pixel counts is one of the upsale features of the 500 over the 400. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 25th, 2005, 05:03 PM	#24
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Marty, the Elura 70 has been discontinued and is no longer current. Are you sure that's the camcorder you want? I'm sure it has a letterboxed display but since it's no longer available, I have no way to check it. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 26th, 2005, 07:22 PM	#27
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Hi Marty, When it's me vs. some other site on the web... believe me. When it's me vs. another DV Info Net member... believe the other DV Info Net member. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 5th, 2004, 03:37 PM	#17
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Jeff - do you think your Mom will be manually focusing ? If in autofocus mode , then she will only need the lcd for composition. The 400 is cheaper .

August 5th, 2004, 08:45 PM	#18
Jeff Applegate New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Morrison, CO Posts: 14	Kurth, No, she probably won't use the manual focus or most of the other manual features for that matter. So you make a good point - maybe she won't really need the extra detail. But I'm still concerned about the LCD. My point of reference is my Optura 100MC which I always felt had marginal LCD resolution. The 400's LCD pixel count is a lot less than mine (while the 500 is a bit more). And when shooting in 16:9 mode, the situation would be even worse (she does plan on shooting 16:9). I'll have to think about this one a bit more. The other features of the 500 over the 400 are of no real value to her, so I was originally thinking that the less expensive version would be more appropriate for her. Until I thought of the LCD question that is! One more LCD question while I'm at it: How viewable can I expect the LCD display to be in sunlit conditions? And would the 400 or 500 likely be better? I ask because my 100MC is rather bad. I'm not sure if its always been that way or it has gotten worse. But its a real pain. Thanks

August 5th, 2004, 09:41 PM	#19
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 644	Jeff- I've got a sony dvcam ( pd100a ) and the lcd in sunlight is almost impossible to use and also my sony hi8s' lcd is the same. I think it's a universal problem. Seems I've read that some brands lcd's are better than others but I couldn't say which. In sunlight I use the viewfinder- simple. good luck - I think your Mom will be more than happy with either. Kurth

August 5th, 2004, 10:16 PM	#20
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	LCD's are getting better, brighter and have higher contrast. My PDX-10 screen is much brighter and easier to view in full light than my VX-2000 screen for example. Of course you can also add an LCD hood which is an inexpensive way to make it usable in the bright sun. Probably not something that "Mom" will want however! ;-)

June 24th, 2005, 10:29 AM	#23
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	Can anyone verify that the Elura 70 does indeed letterbox the 16x9 on the LCD? I am getting varying reports where several users complain about the lack of this feature. However Chris says in his comparison that it does properly letterbox the image. Everyone makes a mistake from time to time and I want to confirm this before buying a camera that I cannot use. Thanks All, Marty