Digital Camera News and Reviews

Kodak Zx1 HD camcorder

Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Kodak Zx1 HD camcorder. This interesting camcorder has a weather-resistant design making it good for outdoor recording where the conditions are though.

Some key features for the Kodak Zx1 HD camcorder:
-720p HD video capture at 60fps or 30fps
-2.0-inch LCD screen
-Weather resistant design
-Easy to upload to Youtube
-Available in five colors: black, red, pink, blue and yellow

Digital Camera Review ends up giving the Kodak Zx1 HD camcorder a pretty good rating as the camera is pretty cheap (around $150) and you get a good deal of features for the bucks like weather sealing, HD-video and nice design. The only downsides are not top notch video quality, not very intuitive controls and the zoom creates a popping sound. Overall the Kodak Zx1 seems like a nice HD camcorder if you need to record video under harsh weather conditions.
Read the full review of the Kodak Zx1 HD camcorder here.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1

Sanyo has announced the Xacti VPC-FH1 camcorder. This camcorder is ultra compact with its 53.3x105x57.3mm and weighs 299 grams. It also features a 3″ LCD screen and can shoot full HD movies at 60 frames per second.

Some key features for the Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1:
-HD movies at 60 frames per second
-3″ LCD screen
-8 megapixel sensor
-built-in stereo microphone
-dimensions:53.3x105x57.3mm
-weight: 299 grams

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1 will be available in May 2009 and cost about €649.

Press release in German:
Xacti FH1 – Ultrakompakter Full HD-Camcorder von SANYO

München, den 6. Mai 2009 —- SANYOs neuer SD Camcorder Xacti FH1 präsentiert sich klein
und leicht und in einem schicken Gehäuse (53,3 x 105,5 x 57,3 Millimeter). Damit ist diese Dual
Kamera das perfekte Werkzeug für ambitionierte Hobbyregisseure, die keine Kompromisse
machen möchten. Die Kamera unterstützt die True Progressive Full HD-Auflösung mit 1.920 x
1.080 Pixel und 60 Bildern pro Sekunde. Damit entgeht dem neuen Premium-Modell von SANYO
kein Detail und erstklassige Videos sind garantiert. Mit Hilfe des ins Gehäuse integrierten
16-fachen Advanced Zoom fängt die Xacti FH1 zielsicher selbst weit entfernte Szenen und
winzige Details in brillanter Qualität ein. Für kreative Drehs bietet die neue Kamera einen
High-Speed-Modus, der bis zu 240 Bilder pro Sekunde aufzeichnet. Im Zeitlupen-Modus erfasst
die Xacti FH1 sogar bis zu 600 Bilder pro Sekunde und damit schnelle und für das menschliche
Auge kaum wahrnehmbare Bewegungen mit großer Detailtreue.

Die Xacti FH1 speichert Videoaufnahmen auf einfach zu wechselnden SD-Karten. Dabei setzt
SANYO auf das Format MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, das mit den vorhandenen Ressourcen äußert
sparsam umgeht. Eine SD-Karte mit einer Kapazität von 32 GB bietet damit Platz für bis zu 3
Stunden Videoaufzeichnung.

Dual Kamera-Konzept
Die Xacti FH1 bietet neben den klassischen Camcorder-Funktionen auch die Möglichkeit, Fotos
mit einer Auflösung von bis zu acht Megapixel zu schießen. Dabei integriert die Dual Kamera die
Fotofunktion so, dass einzelne Bilder ohne Unterbrechung der laufenden Videoaufnahme
gemacht werden können. Auch der manuelle Wechsel in ein anderes Menü entfällt. So vereint
die Xacti FH1 alle Videofunktionen mit denen einer klassischen Kompaktkamera und bietet
überdies eine Reihe professioneller Einstelloptionen und Kreativfunktionen. Neben der
schnellen Serienbildfunktion mit bis zu 15 Aufnahmen pro Sekunde zählen dazu auch Fokus,
Lichtempfindlichkeit und Weißabgleich, die sich wahlweise automatisch oder manuell regeln
lassen. Speziell für Fotoeinsteiger bietet die Kamera viele Motivprogramme, während
ambitionierte Fotografen über die Belichtungskorrektur jede Aufnahme zusätzlich optimieren
können. Ein integrierter Blitz rundet die Vielzahl an Fotofunktionen der Xacti FH1 ab.

Einfache Bedienung
Trotz ihrer zahlreichen Funktionen lässt sich die Xacti FH1 einfach und intuitiv bedienen. So
ermöglicht der große 3-Zoll LC-Monitor das Sichten und Korrigieren von Fotos und Videos vor
Ort. Der Monitor lässt sich um bis zu 285 Grad drehen, so dass Aufnahmen gemeinsam mit
Freunden betrachtet oder Videos aus ungewöhnlichen Perspektiven aufgenommen werden
können. Im Handumdrehen gelingen mit Hilfe der integrierten Rauschunterdrückung 3D DNR
(Digital Noise Reduction) erstklassige Video- und Fotoaufnahmen. Speziell für Aufnahmen von
Personen verfügt die Xacti FH1 über eine automatische Gesichtserkennung, die bis zu zwölf
Personen automatisch erkennt und scharf abbildet. Dank der „Xacti Library“-Funktion lassen sich
sämtliche Videos und Bilder einfach am Fernsehgerät betrachten und bearbeiten. Die fertigen
Aufnahmen können danach direkt auf einem externen Laufwerk archiviert werden.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Samsung has announced two new camcorders. The camcorders are called Samsung SMX-C14 and Samsung SMX-C10, and are focused on design and ergonomics. The only difference between the camcorders is that the SMX-C14 version contains 16GB of built-in memory.

Some key features for the Samsung SMX-C14 and Samsung SMX-C10:
-10x optical zoom
-image stabilization (Hyper Image Stabilization)
-2.7″ LCD screen
-Active Angle Lens
-SD/SDHC memory card slot

The Samsung SMX-C14 and Samsung SMX-C10 will be on the marked in July 2009. The price on the camcorders is not known at this moment.

Press release:
Samsung Focuses on Ergonomics with Two New Digital Camcorders

New SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 Offer Industry-Leading Style, Design and Ease-of-Use
Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10, two new ergonomically designed, compact digital camcorders offering industry-leading style and design. The new SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 also feature Samsung’s stylish Touch of Color™ (ToC™) finish that was first introduced in the company’s line of flat-panel HDTVs. With ToC design, a hint of color is naturally blended into the deep black body for an attractive crystalline appearance.

The SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 are ideal for the on-the-go consumer and offer an impressive 10x optical zoom paired with Hyper Image Stabilization to help reduce blurry footage. Both camcorders also feature a 230,000-dot, swiveling 2.7-inch wide LCD screen, which allows users to effortlessly frame their subjects and review their footage. Similar to the full-HD HMX-R10, the new SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 boast Samsung’s Active Angle Lens. This unique design helps reduce fatigue by allowing consumers to grip the camcorder in a more relaxed manner, easing the overall stress on their wrist and elbow. Unlike traditional camcorders, the relaxed grip also removes the LCD screen from the user’s line of sight, enabling them to always keep an eye on their subject while recording.

“The SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 are truly unique camcorders, starting with their eye-catching ToC design,” said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “In addition to being ultra-compact, ergonomic and stylish, these camcorders offer a host of advanced, yet easy-to-use capabilities that encourage consumers to integrate video recording into their everyday digital lifestyles.”

The new SMX-C14 features 16GB of internal Samsung flash memory and is expandable via an SD/SDHC memory card slot. Thanks to H.264 compression, which drastically enhances recording times when used with standard definition video, users can record over six hours of footage directly to the SMX-C14’s 16GB of built-in memory. The SMX-C10 does not feature internal memory and requires the use of SD/SDHC media. Both the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 also offer substantial battery life, providing more than two hours and forty minutes of record time on a single charge.

The SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 also incorporate Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli-studio. The built-in intelli-studio program allows consumers to connect the camcorder to any computer via USB and edit and play their video without having to install supporting software. intelli-studio also facilitates the process of uploading users’ content to popular video-sharing Web sites. For added convenience, a one-touch “upload” button, available directly on the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10, provides a direct connection to YouTube™, further reducing the number of steps needed to upload footage. In addition, the camcorders also allow basic on-camera editing, including the ability to merge and split video files.

Samsung also enhances the video recording experience for end-users thanks to several unique features, including time-lapse recording, animated thumbnails and a versatile charging system. Time-lapse recording allows users to program the camcorder to record at a pre-set interval of one image every one, three, five, 10, 15 or 30 seconds. Time-lapse recording is especially useful for condensing extremely long events, such as rolling clouds on a sunny day, into a short, easy-to-view video.

Samsung’s animated thumbnail feature simplifies the way users search for video clips on the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10. Each video clip saved on the camcorder is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen. When scrolling through one’s videos, each thumbnail will provide a short playback of the video file when highlighted by the user. The SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 also feature a versatile charging system. Users can either recharge the battery by connecting the camcorder to the supplied AC adapter or via USB while the camcorder is connected to a computer.

The SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 will be available in July 2009.

Panasonic HDC-TM300

Among the camcorders that Panasonic announced at CES 2009 we find the HDC-TM300. It is able to record full HD 1920×1080 and has a 32 GB built-in hard drive. The camcorder also contain technology that make it able to switch seamlessly to
a SDHC memory card when the built-in hard drive is full.

Some key features for the Panasonic HDC-TM300:
-32GB Built-In Memory and SD card slot
-Full HD 1920×1080 Recording
-Manual ring
-Electrical viewfinder
-3MOS camcorder System
-10.6 Megapixel Still Images

The Panasonic HDC-TM300 camcorder will sell for about $1299.95.

Information from Panasonic:
Full HD Camcorder with 3MOS Sensor and Manual Operation Recording On SD Card and Internal Memory

The TM300 is a twin memory model that records Full HD images either on its 32GB internal flash memory or an SD (or SDHC) Memory Card. A 32-GB SDHC Memory Card can hold around 12 hours of recorded video clips (in HE mode). The TM300 can copy recorded video images from the SD Memory Card to the internal memory, or vice versa, with easy operation.

The TM300 features the Full HD 3MOS sensor, developed by Panasonic based on its proven 3CCD technology. Panasonic’s new 3MOS system captures more vibrant, true-to-life colours, greater detail and richer gradation.

The iA function automatically activates several convenient shooting functions. These include Advanced O.I.S., which compensates for hand-shake to eliminate blurring; Face Detection, which adjusts the exposure so faces are captured perfectly; and Intelligent Contrast Control, which helps ensure proper contrast. Also included is the Intelligent Scene Selector, which determines the shooting conditions and automatically selects the scene setting that will provide optimal results. (Face/Scenery/Low light/Spot Light) And AF Tracking keeps the subject in focus even if it moves around to ensure continuously perfect image quality.

The Manual Ring is provided for users who want more creative freedom in their image production. with the new HDC-TM300 users can enjoy precise, responsive fingertip control over five key settings — zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed, and white balance.

Image sensor size has been increased from previous 1/6 inch to 1/4.1 inch. 3MOS system with 3 full-HD sensors has total pixel count of 9,150,000 pixels* (3,050,000-pixel x 3). While higher pixel count tends to make noise more noticeable when shooting under dim light conditions, HDC-TM300 solves this problem by using 3 high-sensitivity MOS sensors. It records beautiful images even under dim lighting while maintaining high pixel count, thus making it possible to shoot under minimum luminance of 1.6 lx. * Effective motion image pixels: 6,210,000