Canon Optura 600 Digital Camcorder
Features in Detail | Recommended Accessories | Enlarged Image
A double agent with timeless style, the Canon Optura 600 Mini-DV camcorder is really two sophisticated products in one. Although it may look like a camcorder on the outside, inside lies a high-quality 4.3 megapixel digital camera with all the features needed to take outstanding photos. The CCD in the Optura 600 camcorder works alongside an RGB Primary Color Filter to deliver crisp, true-to-life images that can be printed up to 8.5×11 inches. The Canon Optura 600 is the smallest 4.3 megapixel camcorder on the market (as of July 2005). Combine all that with the superior optics Canon is known for and you have a powerful digital imaging machine that can capture video and snap stills with equal agility.
The Optura 600 has all the tools needed to take great digital photos. For accurate exposure, this camcorder lets the user choose the metering and scene mode that’s right for the subject or select Auto Exposure Bracketing to ensure they always get the right shot. By combining the 4.3 megapixel CCD image sensor with Superior Canon Optics, a DIGIC DV Image Processor and Print & Share, the Optura 600 takes full advantage of Canon’s DV Photo Plus system.
The Selectable nine-point AiAF (Auto Intelligent Auto Focus) helps keep the subject in sharp focus and such photo-centric features as Continuous Shooting Mode, Image Effects, and Built-in Flash with Red-Eye Reduction provide the essentials for great digital photography. Simultaneous Photo Recording even allows the user to capture still images while shooting video. For fast and easy one-touch printing of photos virtually anywhere, users connect to any Canon PIXMA, Selphy or CP series photo printer, or any PictBridge enabled printer and simply press the Optura 600 camcorder’s Print & Share button and they’re good to go. The button can also be used for one-touch downloading of images to a computer. The camcorder features an SD Memory Card slot as well as a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Terminal for speedy transfers of high-res images.
For optimum performance, Canon’s High Resolution 16:9 Widescreen TV Mode image processing system uses the entire width of the image sensor, capturing a big picture in true 16:9 widescreen so no one and nothing is left unseen. Superior Canon Optics including a 10x Optical Zoom Lens/200x Digital Zoom in the Optura 600 camcorder ensures that video and photos are clear and rich with color and detail. Canon’s expertise in designing lenses for photography and broadcast television goes into all the camcorders Canon makes. To help shoot rock-steady video, the camcorder has a built-in high-quality image stabilizer.
The Optura 600 camcorder also features Canon’s exclusive DIGIC DV image processor, which processes video and photos differently for exceptional color and clarity for both. A simple Program Auto Exposure Mode dial allows the user to choose between a variety of shooting modes and a Built-in Video Light helps with shooting in low-light conditions. Additional features include manual audio control, microphone and headphone terminals and a new Easy Menu system.
Canon Optura 600 Key Features
- Canon Optura 600 Digital Camcorder Supplied Accessories:
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- BP-308 Battery Pack
- CA-570S Compact Power Adapter
- WL-D85 Wireless Controller
- 16MB SD Memory Card
- MTC-100 Multi-AV Cable
- IFC-300PCU USB Cable
- Digital Video Solution Disk for Windows and Macintosh
- DV Format
- MiniDV is the new preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20% clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. All this, in a handy, super-compact cassette.
- High Resolution 4.3 Megapixel CCD
The Optura 600 features a class-leading 1/2.8 inch 4.3 Megapixel CCD image sensor. Combined with a razor-sharp, Megapixel compatible lens and image stabilization, the camcorder creates outstanding quality video and photos. Canon’s Megapixel CCD Image Sensor delivers crisp images with life-like detail. Whether you are shooting video or photos with the camcorder, you will get the best results. The CCD works like film — when light is captured by the sensor, it registers an image and advanced processing converts the pixels into digital data creating your video or photos.- RGB Primary Color Filter
- In addition to achieving high resolution, the Optura 600’s 4.3 Megapixel CCD integrates an RGB Primary Color Filter which separates the light passing through the lens into individual red, green, and blue color components, the same color filtration used in professional 3 CCD camcorders. As a result, the Optura 600 delivers richer, more vibrant, and more accurate color reproduction than models using a conventional complementary color filter.
- DIGIC DV
- DIGIC DV is a system for achieving superior video and photographic images. Canon’s expertise in imaging and electronics is flawlessly blended together, resulting in outstanding performance. It offers substantial benefits in color reproduction. DIGIC DV makes it possible to achieve accurate color for both video and digital photos. Since video and photos have different color requirements, DIGIC DV utilizes two different color techniques to maximize video quality on a TV and still image quality for print or computer display.
The Optura 600 features a class-leading 1/2.8 inch 4.3 Megapixel CCD image sensor. Combined with a razor-sharp, Megapixel compatible lens and image stabilization, the camcorder creates outstanding quality video and photos. Canon’s Megapixel CCD Image Sensor delivers crisp images with life-like detail. Whether you are shooting video or photos with the camcorder, you will get the best results. The CCD works like film — when light is captured by the sensor, it registers an image and advanced processing converts the pixels into digital data creating your video or photos.- Genuine Canon 10X Optical Zoom Lens With 200X Digital Zoom
What sets a Canon camcorder apart from all the others? It’s the only camcorder made by a company renowned for high-quality professional optics. Canon’s vast expertise in designing and crafting precision lenses for photography and broadcast TV lenses goes into every camcorder lens Canon makes. The Optura 600’s 10x optical zoom lens delivers superb definition and contrast. The digital zoom extends the camcorder’s magnification to 200x, revealing details too small to see with the naked eye.- Image Stabilizer
- A high quality image stabilization system corrects camcorder shake instantly, so your videos always look smooth, steady and natural even when shooting hand-held at full telephoto. The built-in high-quality Image Stabilizer even works when you’re panning and zooming, shooting videos or photos.
- Super Night Mode and Night Plus Mode
- With the Canon Optura 600, you can capture images and video even in low-lighting thanks to its enhanced Night mode. At the touch of a button, the camcorder selects the ideal shutter speed and sensitivity combination to brighten up the scene, without sacrificing color. The Optura 600 also gives you the power to assign the Super Night or Night Plus mode to the NIGHT MODE button.In SuperNight mode, your camcorder’s white LED assist lamp lights up whenever light levels fall too low. And, in Night Plus Mode, you can keep the camcorder’s LED lamp on continuously, for shooting under the most demanding conditions.
- Built-in Mini Video Light
- For the times when even Night Plus Mode isn’t enough, the Optura 600 comes with a built-in Mini Video Light. Approximately 4X brighter than the camcorder’s LED assist lamp, this light lets you shoot color in low light conditions at distances up to 4.9 feet
What sets a Canon camcorder apart from all the others? It’s the only camcorder made by a company renowned for high-quality professional optics. Canon’s vast expertise in designing and crafting precision lenses for photography and broadcast TV lenses goes into every camcorder lens Canon makes. The Optura 600’s 10x optical zoom lens delivers superb definition and contrast. The digital zoom extends the camcorder’s magnification to 200x, revealing details too small to see with the naked eye.- High Resolution 16:9 Widescreen Video
You can record high-resolution video in the 16:9 format for playback on widescreen TVs. Unlike systems which simply record a vertically stretched picture, the Optura 600 uses the full width of the CCD, filling the entire screen with crisp, high-quality images. The LCD screen shows the image in letterbox style, so you know exactly how your image will appear on TV.- Simultaneous Photo Recording
- How many times have you wanted to capture video and photos at the same time? In the past, this meant choosing one over the other — but not anymore. With the Optura 600’s Simultaneous Photo Record feature, you can record high quality video to a Mini DV tape and e-mail ready (640 x 480) digital photos to a memory card at the same time! It’s perfect for birthday parties, soccer games, or any time when you don’t want to miss a moment.
- Program Auto Exposure
- An easy to use Program Auto-Exposure Mode dial allows you to quickly choose between 15 shooting modes, including Foliage, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Sunset and Spotlight. Each adjusts your camcorder’s settings to compensate for different lighting conditions and different subjects. You even get a Skin Detail mode that softens detail for more flattering portraits and close-ups.In addition, when you want to be in control of depth of field, the Optura 600 gives you an AV (Aperture Priority) setting so you can select the aperture of the lens. And, a TV (Shutter Priority) setting lets you select a faster shutter speed for sharp, crisp images of fast-moving action.
- Auto Exposure Bracketing
- Automatically captures three alternately exposed photos (normal, underexposed and overexposed) with the single press of the photo button. This feature is particularly valuable in potentially tricky lighting situations and for those photographers seeking a particular photo lighting effect for their finished picture.
- Selectable Light Metering Modes
- The Optura 600’s Evaluative, Center-weighted Average, and Spot Metering Modes give the advanced photographer shooting versatility under a variety of lighting conditions.
You can record high-resolution video in the 16:9 format for playback on widescreen TVs. Unlike systems which simply record a vertically stretched picture, the Optura 600 uses the full width of the CCD, filling the entire screen with crisp, high-quality images. The LCD screen shows the image in letterbox style, so you know exactly how your image will appear on TV.- Continuous Shooting Mode
The camcorder features a continuous shooting mode, allowing you to capture a rapid succession of photos, just like the motor drive on a camera. Capture up to 3 frames per second in 1632 x 1224 resolution or up to 5 frames per second in 1280 x 960 or 640 x 480 resolutions.- Flexible Auto Focus
- Selectable 9 Point Auto Intelligent Auto Focus (AiAF) keeps your subject in sharp focus, even if they’re not in the center of the frame.
- Built-in Flash
- The built-in flash fires according to the brightness of the surrounding area. Use it to illuminate your subjects when taking photos at night or indoors. It can also fill in shadows when shooting in bright sunlight. There are 4 modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction Auto, Flash on, and Flash off.
- Photo Review
- After a photo is captured, you can review it by holding down the PHOTO button. The display time can be set from 2 to 10 seconds.
- Manual Focus Ring
- For ultimate precision and control, you can adjust focus with a manual focus ring.
- StitchAssist
- By using the StitchAssist Mode, you can create magnificent panoramas. Shoot your landscape, and transfer them to your computer. Then simply select and arrange your images in the correct order, and the supplied PhotoStitch software does the rest, aligning, overlapping and cropping the separate images to form one ultra-wide panoramic still image.
The camcorder features a continuous shooting mode, allowing you to capture a rapid succession of photos, just like the motor drive on a camera. Capture up to 3 frames per second in 1632 x 1224 resolution or up to 5 frames per second in 1280 x 960 or 640 x 480 resolutions.- IEEE1394 (DV Terminal)
An IEEE1394-compliant DV terminal lets you connect the Optura 600 to a DV-compatible computer or another Canon DV camcorder. Transfer your digital movies to your computer’s hard disk, edit your scenes, then use them to create high-impact Web sites, video e-mail, interactive CDs and DVDs, or a personal video album.- Analog Line-In/Converter
- You can send an analog video signal from a TV, VCR or a camcorder into the Optura 600 and record it onto a DV tape, or convert the analog signal into digital signal, for direct transfer to digital video devices or computers equipped with a IEEE1394 terminal*.
* The Analog-Digital Converter may not function depending on the software used.
- Motion JPEG
- You can record movie clips in Motion JPEG format onto the memory card, for clear images and smooth playback. You may choose to record in 320 x 240 pixels or 160 x 120 pixels. Best of all, you can record for the full length of the SD Memory Card*. If you like, you can even copy video from the Mini DV tape to the card, making it easy to attach a mini-movie to an e-mail or post on the web.
* With SD Memory Cards up to 512 MB. When using MultiMediaCards, movie clips are limited to 10 seconds in 320 x 240 and 30 seconds in 160 x 120.
- Flexible 2½” LCD Screen with Backlight
- The bright 2.5″ LCD view screen makes it easy to compose sensational shots without having to squint into the viewfinder. You can rotate the screen for high-or low-angle shots, or turn it around 180º to record yourself. When you’re done shooting, the screen is perfect for reviewing your scenes. The backlight feature gives you a bright, easy-to-see screen, even in direct sunlight.
- Skin Detail Mode
- When shooting close-ups of people, the camcorder automatically softens details to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections for a more complimentary appearance.
- Print/Share Button
- The Print/Share button makes direct printing and downloading images to a computer easier than ever before. When the camcorder is connected to a printer, the Print/Share button lights up blue, letting you know that you can begin printing simply by pressing it once. You can also transfer a photo directly to your computer, with just a single press of the button.
- Direct Print with Canon Bubble Jet Printers, PictBridge, Exif Print
- Turn your images into prints in seconds — without a computer! A single cable connects the printer to the camcorder and all printing options can be controlled from the LCD Screen. Options include: selecting the print quantity, horizontal or vertical trimming, and whether you would like bordered or borderless prints. Choose from a range of paper sizes. The Optura 600 is compatible with all Canon CP-series Card Photo Printers and Bubble Jet Direct Printers. The camcorder can also connect to any PictBridge compliant printer.The Optura 600 supports Exif Print (2.2), a worldwide standard that enhances communication between digital cameras and printers. At the time of shooting, vital camcorder settings and scene data are recorded with the image, resulting in realistic and reliable color reproduction. Poor lighting or mistakes can also be corrected, allowing photos to be even better than the originals.
- Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP)
- The Optura 600 supports Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) that enables data communication with a computer without the need to install dedicated driver software. This direct link enables the computer to access the camcorder as though it was an external card reader. This feature is available only with computers running Windows XP or Mac OS X (version 10.1 or later) operating system.
- VIC
- Embracing the industry’s latest and most sophisticated technology, Canon camcorders feature an exclusive connection circuit, called VIC. VIC is a virtual powerhouse. Traditionally, multiple chips were needed to perform the camcorder’s input and output functions. However VIC manages it all with one single chip. The result is seamless connectivity whether you are connecting to a computer, TV, or VCR. 2.0 Megapixel High Resolution Photos The camcorders feature advanced image processing, for capturing stunning, 2.0 Megapixel (1632 x 1224 pixels) photos onto the included memory card. They may be captured at a variety of different image qualities and compression sizes (Superfine/Fine/Normal).
- SD Memory Card and MultiMediaCard
- The Optura 600 expands video possibilities with a built-in slot for an SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card or a MultiMediaCard, in addition to a MiniDV cassette. Easily transfer images to your PC directly from the camcorder using USB and IEEE1394. Produce effects not possible with just a cassette using the Card Mix Effects. Choose one of the sample images provided on the supplied SD Memory Card (such as picture frames, backgrounds and animations) and combine it with the live video recording.A 16MB SD Card is supplied with the camcorder.
- USB 2.0 High Speed Terminal
- Quickly transfer images from the Optura 600 to a computer with the USB 2.0 High Speed Terminal.
- Easy Color Menu System
- Easy Color Menu System has been newly designed, making it easy for you to operate your Optura 600.
- PCM Digital Stereo Sound
- The camcorder offers two digital audio modes, 12 and 16-bit. You can select 16-bit mode for high-quality, CD-equivalent stereo sound, or 12-bit to record only two of four channels, leaving two channels free for you to record additional sound later. The Optura 600 also features newly designed audio circuitry, allowing wind noise to be removed without effecting audio quality. For complete control, the Optura 600 offers manual audio adjustment. The audio level can be monitored in the viewfinder or LCD view screen.
- Composite and S-Video Input and Output
- The Optura 600 has a mini plug that provides composite video and stereo audio outputs for easy connection to your television. For higher quality video output, the Optura 600 also comes with an S-video output terminal.
- Lithium Ion Power
- Lithium ion battery packs can be recharged at any time, so you will always be prepared for peak shooting performance, and never caught without power unexpectedly.
- Remote Control Included
- A supplied wireless remote control operates the camcorder during recording and playback.
- External Microphone and Headphone Jacks
- In addition to using the Optura 600’s built-in microphone, you have the option of plugging in an external microphone.
- Built-in Speaker
An IEEE1394-compliant DV terminal lets you connect the Optura 600 to a DV-compatible computer or another Canon DV camcorder. Transfer your digital movies to your computer’s hard disk, edit your scenes, then use them to create high-impact Web sites, video e-mail, interactive CDs and DVDs, or a personal video album.Canon Optura 600 Specifications
- Image sensor:
- 1/2.8-inch CCD, approx. 4,290,000 pixels
- Effective Pixels:
- Tape: approx. 3,500,000 pixels (4:3)
approx. 2,990,000 pixels (16:9 Image Stabilization OFF)
approx. 2,740,000 pixels (16:9 Image Stabilization ON)
Card: approx. 4,000,000 pixels - Tape format:
- Videocassettes bearing the MiniDV mark
- Maximum recording time (with an 80-min. cassette)
- SP: 80 min., LP: 120 min.
- Lens:
- f=6.1-61 mm, f/1.8-3.0, 10x power zoom
- Minimum illumination:
- 0.6 lux (using the Night mode during tape recording)
- Recommended illumination:
- More than 100 lux
- Filter diameter:
- 34 mm
- Viewfinder:
- 0.33-inch TFT color, approx. 113,000 pixels
- LCD screen:
- 2.5-inch TFT color, approx. 123,000 pixels
- Dimensions:
- 2.0 x 4.0 x 4.0 in. (51 x 101 x 102 mm) excluding maximum protrusions
- Weight:
- approx. 14.5 oz. (410g) not including lens and battery pack
