I originally gave this machine a moderately favorable review. But after very light usage (about 4 weeks of total vacation time) I started getting the "EJECT CASSETTE" error. From what I see here and on cnet, it's clear that Canon tape transport mechanisms have serious engineering issues. I would not buy another Canon machine.

I bought this camera as my first ever own camcorder! I felt love with this when I saw it first time. It is so small and very cute. I bought this from best buy for $750. I used it for one trip and by the end of the trip it alraedy shopwed some bad pictures. Remember everything is new. Then onwards everything started. it say head is dirty, so i bought a head cleaner , but no use. then i got angrya nd then just kept at home. Then next time when I used as miracle everything is fine. Next time I cannot even focus it? can you belive it? it is been with me for 1.5 years and i used it 4 time and not working any more!!Your $750 long term investment!!!!!! They don't even have people to repair it. You have to mail it somewhere and they will tell you how much it will cost to you and you can decide you want to repain it or not?Otherwise they will send it back to you. Customer service?

This is my first review ever on a product. I'm not doing this to burn Canon or anyone else, I simply believe this product has a manufacturing flaw and everyone should know before buying it.

I bought this camera last year on 1/26/04. On Sunday, 1/31/05 (this past Sunday) I started getting the infamous "Eject Cassette Tape" error while on vacation in Hawaii (5 days after the warranty expired). Not only does this error cause the camera to keep popping the tape out but it does something to the time code on the tape itself resulting in total loss of your tape.

I never saw this problem when I researched the camera but now there are more then 20000 posts online regarding this. This simply can't be coincidence and I believe the product has a serious technical flaw that Canon is VERY unwilling to acknowledge. I spoke with Canon yesterday and they want me to pay $145 labor + parts for what they believe to be a "misaligned head" due to excess use. I have used this camera for a grand total of 6 hours. Sorry Canon, I'm putting my $300+ dollars into another brand of camcorder. I've had a good experience in the past with Canon but this one is going out the window of my 18th floor hotel room. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CANON PRODUCT AGAIN. Goodbye.

Just after the warranty expired the CCD electronics failed on my camera redering it useless. Given all the other complaints on Amazon re: this model of camera I would advise against buying it as it appears to be unreliable.

I love my MiniDV. Had a JVC that I purchased years ago with basically the same functionality and it cost twice as much. Love the lowlight option. Although the movements are a little robotic the fact that you can see the action very well is a welcome sight after not being able to record low light situations with the JVC.

Most of the complaints here sound like professional photographers looking to do unbelievable things. If you want a good, basic MiniDV for not a lot of money, this is the camera for you. Some people are saying that the camera is flawed because it won't accept any tape and the door will not close. There simply is moisture on the tape and/or the heads and the camera is telling you to leave it open so it can get rid of the moisture!!! This often happens if you leave the tape in the camera when not filming. You don't have to take it out between shots but if you take the tape out when you're done with it the moisture issue will NEVER happen. If you forget, leave the door open for a few hours and it will then accept the tape.

Trust me. I've had a few of these MiniDV's and this one is a great buy!

my newly repaired (at a cost of half new cost) has died once again.
customer service is a joke. i would NOT rec. this or any other product by canon. as a side note, i have a canon digital camera that showed a strange error message. canon estimated the repair to cost quite a bit, but after searching online i found you only had to hit the case to fix the shutter problem. canon never informed me of this............

Hey everyone. I to have gone thru the dreaded "eject cassette error" on my Elura 50 and last year Canon did all of the same things to me to. Quoted me 650 to repair, then said nothing wrong just needed head cleaning, then they paid cost to repair but still same error once i got it back. Its been a paper weight here at home for almost a year cuz i was so dissapointed. But great news. There is an announcement on Canons website about the problem and we are being "encouraged" to contact Canon for repair. I took my camera in today and so far all is good they said repairs will be done at no cost. Check out their website for your self http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=227&modelid=9037 Good luck folks

Please be advised that Canon U.S.A., Inc. has posted information on the web regarding the Elura 40MC and Elura 50 camcorders. This information relates to the "Remove the Cassette" message being displayed on the camcorder's LCD screen.

This information can be accessed by visiting Canon's on-line support at the following URL:
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=227&modelid=9037

[...]

Many owners of the Elura 50 have eperienced the dreaded "Eject Cassette" error. It seems that MANY of these cameras are failing within the first two years of ownership with said error message. Canon has acknolwedged the problem and is apparently repairing these cameras at no cost (see Canon USA's web site for details). But my problem is different and it seems that a number of others have seen my problem as well.

I've used the camera a total of 1 to 2 hours over the 19 months I have owned it and it has worked reliably with a good quality image and decent low light sensitivity. It's a little awkward to operate because it's so small but when you get used to it, you can get some nice shots. I used it last around a month ago, when my baby daughter was born and it worked fine.

Today I turned it on and while it powered up fine, I get no image on the LCD screen or on the viewfinder. The menus show up fine, but there is no image from the lens/CCD. It's as if the lens cover were on (but it's not). Ths unit has not been dropped or abused in any way.

Checking on camcorderinfo.com, I have found that many others are experiencing this exact same problem and it seems to occur 12 to 24 months into ownership and particularly on units that are infrequently used. I did purchase an extended warranty so I guess the repair will be covered but if it is a design defect (as it may be, considering the frequency of its occurence) then I'd like to get Canon to repair it directly.

Anyone considering purchasing this camcorder today new, used or refurbished, should probably consider a different unit. If I hear more from Canon about this problem, I will update this review accordingly. Consumer Reports 'Best Buy' indeed!

I purchased this camcorder shortly after it was released thinking the size and functions were perfect. Well after three years of limited use, the Eject Tape warning would pop up. And recently, when I put it on record, the screen stays black and the view finder stays black. Like many others here, I called customer service and was told to send the camcorder in so they can tell me how much it will cost to repair. When I asked if there was a flat cost for specific repairs, they said no. After seeing how much people were qouted, I dont think I'll take the chance of paying for shipping only to refuse to pay the high cost of repair.

At that time, they tried to sell me the "upgrade" program. Just pay $200 for a ZR85 or $499 for a Optura 400 plus the exchange of my broken Elura 50. Sound appealing until you ask them if the cameras are new. No, they are refurbished. I liked the camera when it was new but after the problems I described, I suggest you stay away from their products.

I bought this camera on 2002 and today is still working good, I never had a problem!

Hi folks, I've owned my Elura 50 for two years and recently dropped it in the mountains and killed it...

I've looked around for a replacement and to my disappointment found out that Canon did not come up with a "new" version or another vertical camcorder to replace E50. So I turned to other manufacturers in hope of finding something equally small and of good quality.

There is nothing out there that compares to Elura 50.

The features I look for: must be very small and vertical - must have low/night shooting capability - quality recording.

The closest size-wise was Sony Pc55, unfortunatelly its video quality was awful and it lacked indoor / low light capability.

The next was Sony Pc109. Sony claimed they managed to produce such small camera by shifting some functions onto an included docking station. Well, Elura 50 was smaller with all those and other functions right on board! Pc109 hardly fit in my hand, was very awkward to handle and lacked many features.

Elura 50 is still THE SMALLEST camcorder around. It is excellently designed. It fits perfectly in your hand. All features are VERY easily accessed with your thumb.

I love the vertical design of Elura 50 and can't imagine going back to standard "horizontal" cameras.

Video quality was excellent. Night shooting on Mexican zocalos produced fabulous video footage of night-life (in full color). I'm not sure about the quality of still pictures as I never took any.

Microphone location was excellent: it was on top of the camcorder allowing user to comment on footage with a whisper. Sound was excellent, picking up everything, distant and close up.

Special effects galore! Plenty of all kinds of neat effect you can apply to your footage (way more than in Sony).

All connections (s-video, firewire, a/v out, power etc) were all built into the camera - with no need for additional docking stations.

All that being said, there were some issues with the camera:

The CCD sensor was replaced by canon past warranty period when it was determined to be at fault (The CCD manufacturer who supplies Canon and Sony and others, released a CCD that broke, affecting many brands of camcorders).

Battery life was rather poor delivering only about 50 minutes of footage, fortunately batteries are small and carrying spares was no problem.

My advise to anyone seeking a digital video camcorder that is small and delivers good quality footage: get an Elura 50 while it is still available from some retailers. Nothing else compares. Pay with a credit card that doubles the warranty period.

I too experienced the "eject tape" error. Canon has repaired the camcorder 3 times at no cost, but of course it was being repaired over all the holidays. Do yourself a favor and buy something else.

I got the "Eject Cassette" error last year and Canon repaired it for free. Lucky me.

Recently, I downloaded ALL DV tape to my computer after I install a 400G external HD but after that, there is no image in the camera mode. It's like the lens cap is on. I called Canon after checking on their website, they think it is a bad CCD (lose connectin) and they are willing to fix it for me. They even send me the free UPS label so I can sent it to them for free.

I think Canon must be under a lot of criticism with all the problems their late model digital Camcorder is having. Their service and support for their product is very good. At least they didn't tell me to buy a new camcorder instead! They probably knows their customers have paid a lot of $$$ for their Elura50, and their camcorder lasted a few months or only 10 hours of recordings (a few tapes).