Canon Optura FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
 

All right, y'all, This is one stop shopping for all things Optura. Feel free to contribute as much as you like. I'll periodically re-edit the FAQ as it expands. The listings are growing so I'm trying to provide low budget options, next to "investment" type equipment.

GENERAL RESOURCES

• Canon USA
• DVInfo.net Optura Jr. Watchdog

WHERE TO BUY

• DVInfo.net Sponsors

ACCESSORIES - What should I buy for my Optura?

• Batteries - In addition to Canon, Power 2000, Lenmar, & CTA produce batteries compatible with the Opturas.
  • Using 3rd party batteries is a very common practice among camcorders owners. Be aware that if you send in your Canon camcorder for repair with a 3rd party battery attached, Canon can and will void your warranty. Read this post as a cautionary tale.
  • A current listing for Canon NB-2xx and BP-2xx series batteries

• Lenses
  • Canon makes specific wide angle and telephoto lenses to match each of their camcorders. Canon lenses do not have an outer filter thread, so you'll have to make a filter sandwhich with the filters in-between the lens and the camcorder.
  • Raynox makes some good wide angle and telephoto lenses, and many have outer filter threads. You may need a step up/step down adapter to attach the Raynox lens to your camcorder.
  • Century Optics makes several lenses for the Optura series
    • A mini review of the wide angle .55 adapter
  • Using 35mm still lenses on the Optura Xi.
  
  
• Microphones
  • Canon
    • DM-50 - Shotgun (stereo). Only works with Canon's Advanced Accessory Shoe. Powered by the camcorder's battery. Cannot be used with other microphones. Must be used ON the camera.
  • Rode
    • Videomic - Shotgun. 1/8" connector. Battery powered, with shockmount. Accessories
    • NTG-2 - Shotgun. Dual power: battery or phantom power. Accessories
    • NT3 - Hyper-cardioid condenser. Dual power: battery or phantom.
  • Audio Technica
    • AT831b - Cardioid Condenser Lavalier. Dual power: battery or phantom
    • AT899 - Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier. Dual power: battery or phantom
    • AT897 - Shotgun. Dual power: battery or phantom
    • AT4053a - Hyper-cardioid condenser. Phantom only.
    • AT4073a - Shotgun. Phantom only.
  • Sennheiser
    • ME66 - Shotgun. Requires K6 (battery/phantom) or K6P (phantom only) powering modules
    • ME64 - Cardioid. Requires K6 (battery/phantom) or K6P (phantom only) powering modules
  
  
• XLR Adapters
  • Studio 1 Productions - Adapters designed to clip onto your belt. Useful for Opturas that load tapes from the bottom.
  • BeachTek - Adapters that attach directly to the bottom of the camcoder. BeachTek also has models that provide phantom power. The DXA-10 model is designed to be mounted or used with a belt clip.
  • Stereo mini to XLR cable - Inexpensive way to use battery powered or dynamic XLR mics with short cable runs of 15 feet or less.
  • Rode XLR to mini adapter Another inexpensive way to connect battery powered or dynamic mics with short cable runs of 15 feet or less.
  
  
• Matte Boxes
  • Cinetactics Matteblox
  
  
• Lights
  • Low budget lighting article by Scott Spears
  • Canon
    • Video Flash Light VFL-1
    • Video Light VL-3
  • Camera Bright LED
  • Lowell Lighting
  
  
• Support & Stabilizers
  • Steadicam Merlin
  • Video Innovators http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=98769&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation - You can see an interesting setup for this shoulder support http://www.videoinnovators.com/product1.html. And more of their other http://www.videoinnovators.com/product2.html
  
  

TIPS, TRICKS, & STRATEGIES - Working with your Optura

• Optura Tips 01
• Optura Tips 02
• Using infinity zoom

REVIEWS

• Optura 600
  • Design Technica
  • Videomaker
  
  
• Optura 50/60
  • DV Spot
    
  • By DVINFO members
    • Robert Mann Z.
    • Kevin McNerney

ADVISORY NOTICES

• Defective Sony CCD chips

VIDEOS MADE WITH THE OPTURA

• Pending