Product ReviewsDigital cameras
The Canon MV550i is at the top of Canon's new range of consumer DV cameras which updates its successful MV400 series from last year. The MV550i retains the compact form of the MV400 series while packing in some of the features found in the more expensive MVX1i (see Reviews, 19 October 2001, p36). Measuring 58mm x 99mm x 144mm, the MV550i is small enough to fit in a coat pocket, but will probably be carried in a bag or over the shoulder using the supplied strap. The new camcorder features an improved lens and smaller CCD. Its magnification capabilities are 22x optical and 440x digital although, as with all digital zooms, there's a trade-off between extreme magnification and picture quality. Many users will choose to keep the digital zoom limited to 88x or switched off. The focal range of the lens is 2.8mm to 61.6mm. As in the previous range, the 'i' in the camcorder's name refers to support for DV-in using the four-pin FireWire port. This is a must for anyone who wants to do more than experiment with iMovie. However, the MV550i's input and output features aren't limited to FireWire, one of its strengths is the ability to import analogue video and audio using an AV port which doubles as a headphone socket. A cable is included in the box, allowing you to connect to composite video and audio ports on an analogue camcorder or video recorder. The on-board analogue to digital converter will convert any imported analogue footage to digital video, enabling it to be edited in iMovie. Progress report As well as storing video on tape, the MV550i can employ Canon's Progressive Photo system to capture still images to tape or MultiMedia Card (MMC). The Progressive Photo system is also on the MVX1i and has a mechanical shutter which can be used concurrently with an interlace scan CCD to eliminate time-lag blurring. The MMC can store still images and short video clips. An 8Mb MMC is included and the slot can take Secure Digital (SD) cards. Images and movie clips are transferred from the camera to your Mac using the supplied USB cable and, unusually, the Canon software on the CD is Mac compatible. As
The feature set is rounded off by a couple of features specific to this model. An Extended Recording facility adds two modes to the familiar, Standard and Long play. Extended Standard play and Extended Long play use higher levels of compression to squeeze up to four hours of footage onto an 80- minute tape. However, some of the camera's features are only available in Standard mode, and iMovie has difficulty importing footage captured in the Extended modes, so think carefully before using them. The Advanced Accessory Shoe allows you to mount optional accessories, such as a light or a microphone. And the MX550i ships with a FireWire PCI card and software bundle (PC only) which will interest Mac users without a FireWire port. We found the MV550i comfortable and easy to use. While not exactly intuitive, the controls are fairly easy to master after a quick skim of the excellent manual. All the important buttons are within easy reach when holding the camera and using the adjustable hand strap for support. And the button for taking stills is mounted on top of the camera so it's pushed down when taking pictures to minimise camera shake. Our one complaint is that the lens cap doesn't fit well and is prone to falling off while carrying the camera in a bag. Seeing red We found the infra-red remote control less easy to master and consistently pressed the wrong buttons. But it's fully explained in the manual, so if you really need to use it, you should take the time to master it. Capturing footage in iMovie presented no problems as long as it was shot in Standard mode; the camera was recognised immediately. And we were able to grab both native digital and converted analogue clips. Final Cut Pro 3 required nothing more than the copying of a couple of additional files from the FCP 3 CD to the Scripts folder to get it to see the MV550i. Full device control is available in both applications. The MV550i is a great DV camcorder but at over £700, it's expensive for a consumer device. This is balanced by the fact it contains some features usually associated with higher-end devices, such as Canon's own MVX1i. However, if you don't need the Advanced Accessory Shoe or the Extended Recording, and you aren't interested in using it to take still images, you may be better off with the MV500i, saving yourself a couple of hundred quid. By Kenny Hemphill
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