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The Optura 20 is an old model camcorder, but not obsolete. It is bigger and heavier than new models, but the features partly compensate for the weight and size. It has manual focus, headphone socket and external mic input which I like, though no recording level control. Video quality is good for a one-chip cam, though it is in the older 4:3 format. Controls are well-thought-out and easy to use. Good low-light ability. Robust construction, although I have seen many on eBay with similar defects: odd colors on LCD, no iris control, can't get the tape out, won't power on, etc. I have used this model for several years and have three of them, as I sometimes shoot a scene from several angles at once, and I prefer to have all cams that work the same way. The Optura 10 is identical, save for a smaller LCD and no super night shooting, so I use two of them for angle shots where the LCD is not required and it's daylight. Same chip, same zoom, same controls, and far cheaper than the 20. Since I mostly use the viewfinder (LCD washes out in daylight), I don't need the 20 for most shooting, but the LCD is nice for playback. Some use the 10 as a tape deck to shuttle tape and transfer video to a computer, saving the 20 for filming. If you don't need night filming and don't need a big LCD, the Optura 10 is a good alternative.Read full review
I bought one awhile back and thought I had broken the DV port, but turns out it was my firewire cable. So now I have 2 fully functional ones, weee. I use them for finish line footage of bicycle races, and it works pretty well. Easy to adjust manual focus, live feed on computer with DV port, and good quality. Has a lot of features which I'm still learning about that make it better every time I play with it. A couple hidden features I've noticed are: It won't "auto timeout" if theres no tape in it. If you're using your computer to record, remove the tape and it'll never power-off. The first camera I bought did not come with a light on the front. I didn't know it even belonged until I got the second one. I don't find the light very effective except up close, much like the movie "Cloverfield". The only problem I've had is it seems to be rough on tapes, and if the tape gets damaged at all the camera will refuse to do anything, so you have to manually move the tape off the damaged section to continue recording/playback.Read full review
I bought this one chip camera 3 years ago for $700. I chose this camera over the Canon ZR series because of more manual controls and it was bigger in size and more ergonomic of a regular video camera. The only gripe on this camera is the lowlight shooting is worthless. Alot of grain and no color saturation. If you have good lighting then everything looks very highend .If you have Final Cut Pro then you can add the saturation back in. The lens is a 16x and sharp until you get to about 14x and then it softens up. Exposure control is changed with a small toggle switch by the left side of the camera lens. If you click it the mic picks the sound up. You can put filters on the lens. The mini dv tapes load in from the bottom. I have never understood why they started this stupid idea. For years cameras always loaded in the top right side. Why change a good thing? You have to take the cam off the tripod and unscrew the tripod plate to change tape....madness!!! Firewire ,audio mic and head phone inputs are nice. The camera also has analog conversion pass through. The lcd pop out screen is 3". A very good size to focus well with. Bigger batteries can be added on. Stills are a good function on this camera too. Not the highest resolution but it does take good stills to be a video camera. There is some grain in some lowlight photos. I rate this camera overall as good. Still a good buy on ebay and its little brother the Optura 10. Review by Tony BeazleyRead full review
I have been shooting with the optura 20 before I upgraded to the Sony Vx2100 and let me tell you it really helped me learn the basics of videography. It has good manual settings that are easy to set, the white balance, exposure come in handy and for it being a 1 chip camera the video quality and colors were amazing. One problem it seems to occur is that the LCD turns green or diffeerent colors due to the model being old and the ribbon going on, but that is not a problem becuase the vdeo it captures does not have those defects and the colors through the viewfinder are perfect. It's a good camera if you don't have enough for a 3ccd, I wouldn't waste my money on any 1ccd besides the faithful optura 20.
i love the design and easiness of using this mini dv camera. it produces great color and a good low light mode. has all the manual options a begining Filmer needs. the only thing i dont like about this camera is that the search buttons in playback mode are on the inside of the lcd screen forcing you to use the lcd playback. besides that i would greatly recomend this video camera
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