Size Dosen't Matter
The first thing that struck us about the XMI is that it is a well-made camera. While we didn't drop the thing during our testing, we did bang it around a little (accidentally, of course), and it weathered the punishment like a true professional. The VTR control-button protector at the top of the camera's handle got caught on various things and popped up occasionally, but it hardly warrants a mention. The camera is lightweight, weighing in at less than three pounds, has a bright and clear 2.5-inch 122,000-pixel colour LCD display that swivels 180 degrees, and fits snugly in the palm of your hand.
The camera's package includes a wireless remote control, a lithium ion battery with charger, a lens hood, a 30-minute miniDV tape, and analog playback cables. Sorry, folks, no 1394 cable. The remote is feature-laden, letting you operate the camera like a standard VCR, and it can trigger everything on the camera, including the zoom, still-picture capabilities, and the camera's menu options. The battery lasted a surprisingly long time considering its small size. During our real-world tests, which included recording, playback, rewinding, ejecting, and powering up and down, the lithium ion battery lasted an hour and 16 minutes. While some DV cameras we've looked at needed at least a small chunk of battery life left to power up and record, the Canon was able to suck the battery totally dry. The lens hood does more than keep direct sunlight off the lens; it helps balance the camera's form. Without the lens cover, the camera looks uninspired. And while we appreciate that Canon includes one 30-minute miniDV tape in the bag, we'd like to see at least a 60-minute one thrown in there in the future.
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