Canon Elura 40MC Mini DV Camcorder

Pros: Small.
Cons: Stopped working as soon as warranty expired. Noisy motor, poor in low light.

Had camera for just over a year - then started getting a "remove cassette" message. It happened more and more frequently - to the point now that it's useless. Canon will not even look at it without a $125 fee. Find more details about this failure and other similar Canon models on some of the other camcorder review sites. Bottom line - I'm not buying another Canon camcorder. This was $900 wasted.
When it was working, the motor was loud enough to alway be heard during playback, the picture quality suffered big time in low light conditions. The mic is oriented such that if someone speaks from behind the camera it's a lot louder than those speaking from in front. Strange - probably due to compact design.

I love Sony, but this Elura does a much better job than Sony’s comparable IP5. Since I already own a Sony video cam, I need a SMALL (tiny) video camera I can stick in my pocket. Picture quality: In average outdoor lighting (sunny, cloudy, etc.) this Canon is much better in terms of color accuracy, sharpness, etc. In indoor lighting, the Canon varies in terms of color accuracy depending on the amount of light. Face it, no small video camera does well in low light – period! The audio quality is amazing! The IP5 doesn’t come close. Unfortunately, there is some background noise/buzzing from the Canon in a quiet environment, but still worth it in terms of the sound quality otherwise. The Canon has a strap (very smart) to help stabilize the camera. The zoom button is much easier to use than on the Sony, and overall, the controls are easier to use. Both the camera and the tapes are cheaper than Sony, and more compatible as they are mini-DV tapes.

Great Camera for outdoor shooting, and it is really portable. But during playback you can hear the hum of the tape, since the mic is on top. Also, average light conditions produce grainy video. The Low light and Night mode slows the shutter so much that it leaves trails of motion. If you plan on only outdoor shooting this is a good, small camera. But because of the small CCD, the average/low light is not good. Look for something with at least 1/4 CCD, such as the Optura 100 or 200, and JVC 96u or 7p.

It's small enough but a bit too busy on the plug ins/attachments. Too expensive for the picture/video quality. I can get better results with far less expensive equipment.

Just got this great camcorder in time for our family vacation. Absolutely great to carry around everywhere. Excellent build and picture quility in a such a small pkg.. Easy to use. Excellent value ($$) & quality compare to Sony mini and micro DV camcorders.

I just got it for a week and I loved it. Great camcorder for the price. The picture quality is OK for the small camcorder. Great improved over the Elura 20MC.