Come with me to the village of Perfect, where the birds are singing, the fish are jumping and everyone is smiling.

Of course you're going to want to preserve these moments, because no one will ever believe this village exists. So, how would you record these events for posterity?

The folks at Canon USA have made the choice easy with their new Optura 600 ($1,100) mini digital video camcorder.

This is a sleek, compact video recorder that's actually two cameras in one. In addition to producing crisp, clear video, it can also function as a 4 megapixel digital camera, producing high-quality photos. Plus, a true gadget geek can overdose on all of its advance features.

But, alas, here's where we find a dent in its near perfect armor --- you need three hands to take advantage of all of the features built into this DV camera. There are more buttons and switches on this baby than can be found on your average Ivy League, button-down shirt. And, truthfully, many of them aren't conveniently located.

But this is a small sacrifice to pay for everything this camera can do. For example, you can take digital photos while recording video or capture video in widescreen 16:9 format.

Or you can take advantage of its built-in digital effects and fades or its ability to record to tape or a memory card.

In addition it features:

• A built-in movie light and flash.
• A 4.3 megapixel CCD image sensor that reduces the possibility of your movies getting the shakes, especially in low light.
• An extremely sensitive built-in microphone with a windscreen and a headphone jack so you can monitor the audio.
• DiGIC technology, which allows you to select from a bevy of presets ranging from portrait photos to videos of that unforgettable event.
• PictBridge technology, which means it can be connected to any PictBridge enabled printer or scanner allowing you to use them without a computer.
• A remote control so you can operate the camera from a distance.
• A backlit 2.5-inch LCD screen.

The list goes on and on. Plus, for $100 more, you can purchase the camera with a leather Coach case.

For more information and a complete list of features, visit www.canonusa.com.

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