I'm considering picking up an original Optura to use for shooting dramatic cinema. I'm particularily interested in it for it's progressive-scan capabilities and reportedly good color.

I'm currently editing with Final Cut Express HD on a iBook G4; does anyone know if I can natively work with the Optura's 30p footage using FCE or do I need to convert it?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Worse case scenario, you have to tell FCE the video is 30p. But it should work just fine.

All the major NLEs I used with the Optura Pi immediately recognized the progressive video.

Excellent.

Any other "gotcha's" with a camera like this, other than the low-light issue? Does anyone know if it has a manual focus ring?

Thanks!

Excellent.

Any other "gotcha's" with a camera like this, other than the low-light issue? Does anyone know if it has a manual focus ring?

Thanks!


I'm pretty sure the Optura uses a small dial for focusing. Its no focus ring but its probably better than buttons. One other thing you might want to check on is if the Optura has a mic input. You mentioned in your original post that you'd like to shoot dramatic cinema and the onboard mic is definitely going to be a no-no. Go to www.canondv.com and click on "Download Library". It'll let you navigate all the way to the Optura manual in PDF format.

If it doesn't then look at the Optura Pi.

Good luck!

Philip Williams
www.philipwilliams.com

The Optura has a mic input. I've owned several of these over the past 2 years. I really can't get past the quality of this 1997 camera. I keep one around just for the progressive scan cinematic look. Every now and then I will search them on Ebay. I own 2 Gl2's and a XL1s for videography, if the lighting is right, I will use the optura for another camera.