Canon MVX4i

Like the MVX35i before it, the Canon MVX4i hides a wealth of features in a compact design. Fitting easily in a jacket pocket, this MiniDV camcorder delivers excellent video quality and surprisingly good still photos. Though it doesn't compromise features for size, it sacrifices some convenience, with unusual control placements that can make smooth operation difficult. As long as you try it before you buy it, the Canon MVX4i deserves consideration if you're looking for a compact, full-featured camcorder that also shoots decent stills.

Design
The Canon MVX4i has an extremely compact, vertically oriented shape that makes it easy to slip into a jacket pocket. It weighs just about 400g. The stylish dark-gray plastic body feels solid and should hold up well to everyday handling.

	It's deceptively difficult to reach many of these controls with your right hand.

The MVX4i's wrist strap is angled to indicate that you're supposed to hold the camera with your hand at about a 45-degree angle to the lens barrel. Theoretically, this puts your forefinger near the top front of the camera, near the zoom rocker and the photo-snap button, and puts your thumb at the back, near the shooting controls. In practice, we found holding the boxy Canon MVX4i at that angle quite awkward; one-handed operation was extremely difficult. You'll likely end up reaching around with your left hand to adjust the controls on the right side of the camera--an awkward contortion.

Many newer cameras take a minimalist approach to controls, offering just a few buttons and hiding the rest of the functions in the camcorder's menus. Not the MVX4i--it has a whopping 16 buttons, two mode dials, and a card/tape switch. Advanced shooters will find the wealth of quick-access controls for a wide variety of settings and shooting modes very useful, providing the controls' awkward placement doesn't become irksome. Novices using the camera can set the mode dial to Auto and safely ignore most of the buttons.

Most active settings appear as tiny icons on the Canon MVX4i's 2.5-inch LCD screen. You'll need the manual at first to discern some of their meanings, but overall, they're reasonably easy to figure out. The menu system is colorful, logically organized, and easy to navigate.

You'll need to remove the MVX4i from a tripod to swap MiniDV tapes, as the tape-access door is on the bottom of the camera.