Canon USA Elura 40MC

Canon gets a lot into a small package with the Elura 40MC. Though the camcorder weighs just under 14 ounces, it includes a Secure Digital card slot for storing still images and a bright 2-inch LCD screen that's easily viewable in everything but direct sunlight (the screen is smaller than those on many other camcorders, however). You can rotate the screen, so you can even videotape yourself and watch while you're recording.

The 40MC has no infrared illuminator, but the automatic exposure modes do an excellent job of quickly adjusting the aperture and shutter speed as the lighting adjusts; the camcorder will quickly adapt when you move from daylight to indoor lighting, for instance. The camcorder has eight modes such as Sport (which uses the fastest shutter speed to capture action) and low light (which uses a slow shutter speed to make the most of existing light).

Also included are composite and S-Video input and output ports, so you can use the 40MC to convert video from an older analog format to digital.

The microphone is a little disappointing, though. As with many other smaller camcorders, the microphone is located on the top of the camcorder, near the viewfinder. Microphones positioned this way pick up more noise from outside of the camera's field of view than do camcorder microphones located on the case front. In particular, if the person holding the camcorder speaks or coughs, it can drown out other sounds, such as the subject of the video. Although the 40MC does have an input for an external microphone, there is no way to mount it on the camcorder without buying the SA-1 Adapter Bracket, which costs $40.

UPSHOT: The Canon Elura 40MC packs a lot of features into a unit small enough to fit into your coat pocket for shooting video while you're on vacation. It is on the expensive side, however.

SUMMARY

Canon Elura 40MC 10X optical/200X digital zoom, 2-inch LCD screen, Secure Digital card expansion slot, 8MB Secure Digital card, remote control, 3.5 by 4.4 by 2 inches, 13.4 ounces with tape and battery, FireWire-in and -out, composite- and S-Video-in and -out. One-year warranty, 24-hour daily tech support. $900 800/652-2666 www.usa.canon.com