We owned a small Logitech Family camcorder for a while but we could only use it on top of our computer. Yesterday we decided to upgrade to a new one and we decided to buy CANON’S ES4000 Camcorder, (In Canada and the UK this is called a Canon MV400). I have found out that many Companies
use different numbers for the same item. This must be how they can track how many items are sold in each Country.
We liked the camera as it was thin and had a S-surface design. This means that a young Child can carry it and if it is this light and thin that’s a good thing.
It has a small 10x optical zoom lens that has a range of 200x, (48mm) to 9600mm, (480mm). When my youngest Grandson visits us he loves bugs. Now he will be able to take pictures of them. The lens has a ’Image Stabilizer’. When you use to use older cameras with zoom lens you had to use a tri-pod or learn how to keep your hand very still, (I use to balance the lens on a fence or a wall).
The Monitor is a Flexible LCD and mounted on the side of our camcorder. This means we can move the monitor to a variety of positions. It can turn or flipped over so it can be used for shooting and to playback anything we might record. The eyecup viewfinder doesn’t dig into my skin.
AE shift helps feature that gives the shooter control over how light or dark the camcorder sets the auto exposure level. I don’t have to worry if I am taking a picture when the Sun is behind the image I am trying to capture. This is wonderful because you had to set a camera to ’middle gray’ so the color would be correct. To make sure I would get the right color I used a white cardboard to focus on until I learn the back of my hand was better. Now I can throw away the cardboard and my hand!
It does have an audio-dubbing feature that we have not tried yet. I believe this means we can talk while we are filming or add our voices later.
The battery will last for 8 hours of use without recharging. I always recharge my battery when it is not in use, (take the meaning to this any way you like!).We bought the optional BP-535 long-lasting Lithium Ion battery pack. I learned two lessons the hard way. Once upon a time I did not know if you left a camera out in the sun for over 10 minutes your battery will be dead before the day is over. The second lesson was sand is bad for a camera. You might be on a Cruise 1000 miles from land but there is sand in the air and it not only dries out your batteries it eats up you camera’s motor. I know carry a large ’baggy’ to keep my camera in between shots.
It also has ‘540, 000-pixel‘, (what ever that means), but it says it does on my box.
We also bought an Accessory Shoe so we can use it on top of our computer. It says that we can also use the camera under water. I’m not a deep-sea diver so that must mean my bathtub!
THE COMPANY:
The Canon Company opened in Japan in the 1930’s. They have office in many Countries around the World. There is a 12-month warranty on all Canon products. However they had a special promotion for Canadians and we have a 2-year warranty.
I am giving you the link to Canada’s home page but there is one for every Country that Canon sells their products in.
Canon makes many products and on their home page they offer you many free things to download. The home page I use is:
https://canon.ca
SOME THOUGHTS:
We have not had the camcorder long enough to tell you much more than I told you. We have used the camcorder with our MSN Messenger and it was a joy to see our Daughter and her Family.
The price is about $650.00 CAD but we waited for a sale and bought it for $525.00 CAD. We were lucky that London Drug Store, (where we bought it), had a $50.00 gift certificate if you bought any camera over $100.00 so in the end it cost us $475.00.
©LL