Hasta La Gadget!

This most definitely isn’t the first 4K camcorder to leak out of JVC’s stable, but it sure feels like the company is getting further from fantasy and closer to reality. At CES last week, the outfit’s latest prototype was as small as we’ve ever seen, with that object shown here being capable of logging clips at 3840 x 2160 pixels. It’s just barely bigger than the 1080p models already on store shelves, and it’s equipped with new internal processors that are over twice as fast as the silicon used in the firm’s current lineup. Sadly, we’re no closer to learning a release date or price, but the results shown down in the source link have us all kinds of hopeful for something within the next dozen months. Right, JVC?

JVC’s 4K camcorder inches closer to reality, getting smaller all the time originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  CNET  | Email this | Comments

Surely you made a New Year’s resolution, right? Right. What better way to keep tabs on yourself than to nab a new pocket camcorder? DXG has just unveiled a new duo of handheld video cameras, so we won’t waste any time getting down to the nitty-gritty. The aptly-named Twist looks an awful lot like LG’s now-ancient VX9400 (or pretty much any phone with embedded mobile TV support), boasting a 3.5-inch widescreen swivel display and the ability to capture footage in 720p / 1080p at 30 frames per second. It’s also equipped with HDMI and USB 2.0 outputs, an SDHC card slot and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. It’ll be available around a month from now in pistol-grip (1080p and 720p) and traditional football grip (720p) variations, with a price point sitting at $169.99. If that’s a little too Plain Jane for ya, the 2011 Luxe Collection is bound to provide the sprucing you’re after. Available in a half-dozen patterns, this pocket camcorder offers a 3-inch touchscreen, a 1080p capture mode and a one-inch thick chassis. Naturally, HDMI and USB 2.0 ports are included, but before dropping your $149.99 to $199.99, we’d recommend thinking long and hard about what hue fits your personality best. Are you more of Maui hibiscus guy, or a Riviera quilted dude? Decisions, decisions.

Continue reading DXG gets vivacious with 1080p Twist and Luxe pocket camcorders

DXG gets vivacious with 1080p Twist and Luxe pocket camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Panasonic already rolled out the red carpet to issue a gaggle of new cameras, but now it’s time to tickle the fancy of those who prefer full motion video. The company is introducing a metric ton (we checked, trust us) of new camcorders here at CES in Las Vegas, so we’ll be giving you the highlights just below. For those that yearn for more, the press releases can be peeked in full after the break.

• Panny’s “full roster” of Full HD camcorders includes a half-dozen newcomers: the HDC-SD40, HDC-TM40, HDC-HS80, HDC-TM80, HDC-TM90 and HDC-SD9, all of which are stacked with a 1MOS sensor capable of capturing clips at 1920 x 1080. The SD90 and TM90 are even capable of shooting at 1080/60p, and if you toss on the optional CW-CLT1, you’ll instantly gain the ability to record in 3D. The whole lot is designed to handle low-light scenarios like a champ, and the each feature a 28m wide-angle lens. The aforementioned power duo also have a 40x intelligent zoom, and we’re told that these can withstand up to 135 minutes of continuous recording before the battery keels over. A select few also feature touch-screen operation, but absolutely none of them have a price or release date just yet.
• What’s better than 1MOS? 3MOS, naturally. The HDC-TM900, HDC-HS900 and HDC-SD800 are also making their debut here in the desert, with 1080/60p recording, support for capturing 3D (when using the CLT1 conversion lens) and a manual ring on the TM900 and HS900. Those two also tout a 20x zoom and a 3.5-inch touchpanel, and Panny claims that these guys are good enough to handle “professional-level video shooting.” The whole bunch can record to SDXC / SDHC / SD cards, while the TM900 adds 32GB of internal memory. You’ll also find an optical image stabilizer, a Crystal Engine Pro processor and an Eco-Mode function on all three, while the TM900 and HS900 get gifted with five internal microphones for 5.1 recording. Per usual, your guess is as good as ours when it comes to a price and release.
• Bringing up the rear are a handful of SD camcorders — the SDR-H100, the SDR-T70 and the SDR-S70 — all of which are on the lean side and boast a 78x zoomer. These three offer a 33mm wide-angle lens, optical image stabilization and an Active mode, the latter of which helps to reduce blur when zooming. The group stores clips on SDXC / SDHC / SD, but the H100 also has an 80GB hard drive and the T70 a 4GB slab of flash memory. All three will be available in March, but pricing won’t be determined until sometime next month.

Continue reading Panasonic’s CES 2011 camcorder launch: 3D, HD, 3MOS and 1MOS all present

Panasonic’s CES 2011 camcorder launch: 3D, HD, 3MOS and 1MOS all present originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Panasonic  | Email this | Comments

Things are just getting underway here at CES in Las Vegas, and Kodak’s on-hand in order to serve up its latest smorgasbord of optical treasures. Without further ado, allow us to present to you the Easyshare Touch — a $149.95 offering with a three-inch capacitive touchpanel, a dedicated video record button, a 14 megapixel sensor, 5x Schneider-Kreuznach lens and an HDMI output. Next up is the $99.95 Easyshare Mini, described as Kodak’s smallest camera yet. It’s “around the size of a credit card,” offering a 3x wide-angle optical zoom lens, a built-in front mirror (you know, for those glorious self-portrait sessions), a ten megapixel sensor and a 2.5-inch rear LCD. Moving right along, there’s the $79.95 Easyshare Sport, which is the outfit’s first waterproof camera that can go up to ten feet underwater without any significant consequences. It’ll also shrug off dirt and dust while snapping 12 megapixel shots and previewing them on the 2.4-inch LCD. Sashaying over to the video realm, there’s the $149.95 Playfull camcorder, which touts an ultraslim design (it’ll “fit in the pocket of your skinny jeans,” according to Special K), a 1080p capture mode and an unmistakable ‘Share’ button to get your footage onto YouTube or a social network without any wasted time.

The company’s also using CES as an opportunity to launch the next generation of its Playsport video camera, with this $179.95 model being waterproof up to ten feet, shockproof, dustproof and capable of logging clips at 1080p. You can also snap stills at five megapixels, and that previously mentioned ‘Share’ button is predictably tacked on here as well. Speaking of revisions, the Pulse digital photo frame is also seeing a gentle refresh, with this one available in 7-inch ($129.95) and 10-inch ($199.95) sizes. The newcomers add the ability to comment on the pictures you receive from friends and family, with our favorite predetermined response being “Such a KODAK MOMENT!” Seriously. Oh, and these also have an ingrained activity sensor that turns the frame off when you walk away, and brings it back to life when you re-approach. Finally, the ESP C310 all-in-one printer will be selling for $99.99, but so far as we can tell, Kodak would rather extol the virtues of its ink-saving abilities than drum up interest in its cutting-edge feature set. Further details can be spotted in the full release after the break.

Continue reading Kodak intros Easyshare Touch, Mini and Sport cameras, Playfull and Playsport camcorders

Kodak intros Easyshare Touch, Mini and Sport cameras, Playfull and Playsport camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen any new tools from the security-minded folks at Swann, but it’s hitting back with a new head-mounted camera at CES. The Sportscam is a familiar device — similar to Contour and Go Pro units we’ve toyed with in the past — but rather than seeking optimal image quality at a premium price, this guy sticks to the basics. The VGA camera can only log clips at a resolution of 640 x 480, so HD junkies best look elsewhere. But it’s still encased in a rugged plastic shell, one that’s both shockproof and waterproof, and it’s capable of holding up to five hours of footage on a single 16GB microSD card. There’s a rechargeable Li-ion battery that’ll last 2.5 hours, and it ships with a variety of mounting options (though we’d suggest around your head, obviously). As we alluded to earlier, this one’s a lower-end product, and that $99 price may entice those who would otherwise never consider such a thing. The full release is after the break, and it’ll start shipping in the US of A next month.

Continue reading Swann’s shockproof, waterproof Sportscam straps on your cranium, captures momentous occasions

Swann’s shockproof, waterproof Sportscam straps on your cranium, captures momentous occasions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments