Rating: 
Summary: Previous Comments (both good and bad) are Right On!
Review: I had it for almost three months. I am generally happy with it although I feel that I could have gotten something else at a cheaper price with better quality if I didn't want something so compact.First, the picture quality suffers significantly in any low light, like other posters have pointed out, but it is still acceptable for most amateurs and home-moving making purposes. By the way, when I say low light, I dont mean dark, but simply a low light environment like a room in a daylight without the internal lights turned on. The picture gets very grainy as darker it gets. But, it is still acceptable though. Having said that, the picture looks absolutely sharp under normal condition, especially outside under the sun. Second, the battery lasts about 45 minutes tops. You definitely need to get a second or even a third battery if you want to tape some of the popular home video taping events like graduation. Not using the LCD screen helps, but I bought a camcorder with LCD screen so that I can use it! Third, the digital image stabilizer is not that good. This is a common fault with other camcorders with digital image stabilizer. If you really want the smooth picture stabilizing function, you have to go with optical image stabilizer, which will set you back some more money. Fourth, Firewall connection cable (IEEE 1394) is not included, and you have to buy one. You cannot use USB connection to transfer movies from the camcorder to your computer. Be aware of this and add another $$$ bucks to the total cost if you don't have one. Fifth, the microphone range is very limited. Unless you are within 10 feet of the camera, you will not be heard. Plus, if you talk while filming, you will be the loudest voice on the tape by 100 times over others around you. It is that sensitive. On the infamous Canon camcorder feature of picking up the motor noise, I think it is not that bad. You can hear it, but it is not really that loud. I will be surprised if most camcorders don't record at least some motor noise especially at ones at this size. Unless you are absolutely sensitive about picking up some, very faint noise in the background, I would disregard this popular (almost religious) Canon complaint when thinking about purchasing this camcorder. Sixth, it is remarkably small, and it is about the size of my digital camera. So, I guess you are giving up on some features for the compactness of the device. Overall, the camcorder has worked fine without any mechanical problem in three months of ownership. I called the 1-800 call center for some technical help, and they were very helpful. I think you can get better features at a much lower price if you can deal with a camcorder that is not so compact but still fits in one hand.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly as bad as some reviews say!
Review: I had read some bad reviews here on Amazon.com and CNet but I thought "hey, its Canon, they sell a ton of them, it must just be whiners". I was wrong. The picture quality of the Elura is awful. It is a nice size, great ergonomics, but lousy picture - very grainy and virtually no color fidelity. I returned it immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Canon can be a pain at times
Review: I like my camera, it's durable and functional. The gizmo's are pretty much kept to a minimum. THOUGH, Sony has a patent on a night-vision mode that NONE of the Canon's have, which is pretty cool if you've seen it first hand. And something that stinks with many Canon products (in my experience -with scanners and camcorders) drivers and what-not always seem to be a ROYAL PAIN.
Rating: 
Summary: A Perfect Mix of Features and Compact Size
Review: I looked at quite a few DV camcorders before I settled on the Canon Elura 40MC. You will not find a more compact camcorder with this many features in this price range. I especially like having the ability to convert my old analog videos to digital using the pass-through feature. My only complaint is that it is easy to block the auto-focus sensors with your fingers as you hold the camera. I practiced holding the Elura so that I know the proper position of my fingers. Other than that, I haven't found anything else that I dislike.
Rating:
Summary: Tape Eating/Scrambling Problems - DO NOT BUY CANON
Review: I'm a little late in the game here -- after taping for about a year - going back and looking at the video now, I am crushed - missed my son's birth, baptism, husband's 40th birthday, and the list goes on and on. The tapes are all scrambled -- the camera store told me that the heads were dirty - NOT. I am continuously having this problem - missing event after event. I had to break out my old Sony Recorder (bought in 1986) to make sure I didn't missed Christmas morning with my children. I will NEVER by anything CANON again. They do not stand behind their product -- by the way -- this happened 1 month after the warranty expired!
Rating: 
Summary: I dislike this poorly made toy - audio, low light, more
Review: I've had this camera for a month. I selected it for two reasons - the 28mm lens thread is the same as my Nikon CoolPix, so I can share lenses. This works great! 2) the compact size - I mount it on the same rig as my still camera for dual shoots. Good points:
1) Compact, light
2) Variable zoom works nice
3) Cool looking
4) Uses any 28mm threaded lens, like the CoolPix 995
5) Can capture video directly to the MMC card. Negatives:
1) Battery life. 55 minutes with the viewfinder, 30 with the LCD screen.
2) LCD screen not as maneuverable as others.
3) Itty bitty buttons. I have to use my nails or a pen. My finger tips are too big.
4) No accessory shoe to mount light or mic Really bad negatives:
1) Video noise. I was in medium light - not low light. A room with three skylights and four windows, but no lights. Grain, grainy and more grain. Looks like I'm shooting through a dirty window!
2) Records tape motor as a constant high-pitch background wine. This makes the audio unusable unless you recorded in a loud environment - loud enough to overwhelm the whine. Nature shots, quiet scenes, etc. - unless you like a sound like an overloaded hearing aid in your audio, you'll want an external mic. Since there's no place to mount it, you'll need the Canon mounting bracket, a separate mic stand, or construct something yourself.
3) Multi Media video card. The manual states it works with any MMC card. The camera comes with an 8mb card - the capacity was too small. I purchased a 128meg card. It will not work. There is NO help in the manual or site concerning MMC card capacity. I can only assume that higher capacity cards won't work. Why did I want this capacity? Because you can capture video directly to the MMC card. Pop it in a card reader and you have web quality instantly. Am I happy with it? Well, it was considerably lower in cost than the comparable Sony and I can use my 5 Nikon Lenses with it. It's small and compact. If I had to buy it again, I would probably go for the Sony if there was a $100 price difference. I have a custom camera bracket, so I can mount a light and mic. But adding these items totally defeats the advantage of having an ultra-compact video camera - now it's bigger than an old VHS camera! Here's this little, ultra-modern video camera with two arms, one with a mic the other with a light. I can live with the low light problem. But the audio quality is totally unacceptable! Followup: I returned this camera. Several sites that gave it rave reviews have yanked the reviews. Don't but this camera. The "Oh look how small it is - cool toy" wears off fast - especially if you want good video! I purchased a new Sony instead.
Rating:
Summary: Size vs. Quality
Review: If you are looking for size, this is a great camcorder; but if you are looking for a camcorder that takes quality still pictures as well as digital video, then you better look elsewhere. I bought this camera because I thought the quality of still pictures could replace having to buy a seperate digital camera; however, even after changing the settings to fine the still pictures very not good. As far a the video quality goes, I am fairly happy. The audio is not terrific however and you will need to have alot of light. If I could return this, I would.
Rating: 
Summary: Just purchased...hopefully this will help you make decision.
Review: Okay, I did a little bit of research before I bought. And I do mean little. I did read reviews here and other places. Most of the thumbs down reviews are correct about their statements. Here is what I dislike:
1. There will be a some what higher pitched noise when veiwing the recorded data on Mdv tapes. However, if there is a decent amount of background noise or the object you are focused on is making noise/speaking, it is not that noticeable.
2. Low light complaints are somewhat valid. It does become a little grainy and it records at a slower frame rate, so no fast movements by camera! The focusing during low-light mode is pretty bad if you are are @; which I would estimate, more than a 5x zoom. However, lowlight feature does "enhance" the availiable light quite a bit.
And as long as you do not need a perfect 520 line resoultion (which I don't), it is fine.
3. Included battery will barely get you by, so plan on buying an additional one.
4. The users hand will often get in the way of the optic finder or whatever helps do the focusing, if you are not mindful. What I do like:
1. Size.
2. Once you become a little familiar with it, it is pretty easy to use.
3. Price, see below.
4. The camera does have a lot of (special) features...but I will probably never use half of them. They are mostly a novelty thing.
5. The still photo quality are not that bad at all. I haven't used the included software, but one doesn't buy a camera for the software anyhow. Plus if you buy soon it comes with, what I have heard, is pretty decent software as a rebate. ... ... ... Or better yet, go somewhere to test it, record on an MDV tape and play it back on a good TV w/ a S Video input and listen for the hum and check the low light feature. YOu will know right away whether this is acceptable or not. For me it turned it is, especially for recording my 1.5 y/o. Generic conclusion, if you are going to use it mostly outside and for live action, go for it.
Rating:
Summary: Small wonders
Review: Other than the so-so optical zoom at 10x -- you should never pay any attention to digital zoom claims -- this new Elura is a winner. The miniscule size is definitely its strongest selling point, emphasized by stylish styling. It uses the industry-standard MiniDV tape, unlike Sony's MicroDV model which is slightly smaller but uses the faulty MicroDV format. The Elura is a carry-anywhere, shoot-anywhere camcorder that allows you to capture all the unexpected moments in life. Like other digital camcorders, the still mode is so-so, more an added bonus than a real digital camera, but as such the Elura's still mode yields good-quality photos for its resoluton rating. All in all, a worthy contender in the pocket-size camcorder arena and you won't regret the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Great size !
Review: Pros:
1. Small size - smaller than my 3MP digital camera !
2. Standard USB, IEEE 1394 ports, S-Video, RCA everything
3. Ability to take small 10 sec AVI files on the MMC Card Cons:
1. The zoom button does not feel comfortable - needs getting used to
2. Low light quality not great - most cameras are bad at low light
3. Focus not as good as Sony
4. LCD not as bright as Sony General:
If you are buying the camera to take still shots - do not. The quality is very poor - it is good extra feature - NOT a primary feature
Sony cameras fell better overall, but my last Sony died after 13 months of buying (perfectly timed after the warranty period expired ! - wonder if they had timer going !) - servicing was very costly and would cost me more to replace the camera than get a new one. So this time it is a Canon ! Overall a great camera - bought it and am satisfied so far
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