Hasta La Gadget!

We can’t say with any level of certainty why Toshiba chose to announce its new Camileo after CES and before CeBIT, but whatever the reason, we’re sure it’s a good one. Introduced today over in Germany are three new camcorders, all of which boast simple controls for the technologically challenged and easy uploading to YouTube. The whole lot captures in gorgeous 1080p, and they all feature a handy HDMI output for showing off clips as soon as you snag them. The higher-end Camileo P30 arrives with 128MB of internal storage, an SD card slot, a 3-inch LCD monitor and a 5x optical zoom; the H20 steps down to a 2.5-inch display, while the S10 remains mostly mysterious. As for the bits that matter most, the S10 and P30 will be available early next month for €149 ($197) / €199 ($263), respectively, while the H20 can be snapped up now for €249 ($329).

[Via Stuff]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Toshiba readies three 1080p Camileo camcorders for Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The it’s mind-blowingly useful HDMI Consumer Electronic Control (aka HDMI-CEC) technology basically turns your HDTV’s remote control into a universal remote control, minus the headache of programming the universal remote control. If the HDMI port on your HDTV and the device plugged into it both support Consumer Electronic Control, the two devices can communicate and control each other, even if the products are two different brands.

This week in PCMag Labs, we just happen to have two such devices. Check out the video demonstration to see what happens once they are connected with an HDMI cable:

• I turn on the Sony SR-11 High-Definition camcorder.
• Automatically the Samsung HDTV turns on.
• Automatically the Samsung HDTV selects the input the Sony camcorder is connected to.
• Automatically the Samsung’s remote control navigates the Sony camcorder’s menu.
• Automatically, turning off the Samsung HDTV turns off the Sony camcorder.

Look for HDMI-CEC in future devices. (If you want to see the video in HD, click here.)

Post by PJ Jacobowitz

Sanyo announced a plethora of “dual camera” models (camcorders with still capture aspirations) just yesterday, and Geek.com‘s Chris Gampat was lucky enough to get a little hands on time with the lot, choosing three favorites: the VPC-FH1, VPC-HD2000, and VPC-WH1. The first two are similar in terms of specs, both capturing 1080p video at 60fps and 8 megapixel stills at 12fps through a 10x optical zoom. They differ only in form factor, the VPC-FH1 offering a traditional style and the VPC-HD2000 coming with a pistol grip. Then there’s the more daring VPCP-WH1, waterproof down to 10 feet and coming in a “look at me, sailor” yellow, but only shooting 720p video at 30fps and 2 megapixel stills. However, its 30x optical zoom is perfect for spotting Piping Plovers, and the 3.5 hour battery life means this thing can probably survive longer underwater than you. Videos of these three are below, and surely one them fits your lifestyle, so make a little room this spring, won’t you?

Read – Hands-on: Sanyo VPC-FH1 and VPC-HD2000
Read – Hands-on: Sanyo VPC-WH1 waterproof camcorder

Continue reading Video: Sanyo’s collection of new “dual cameras” handled, critiqued

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Video

Video: Sanyo’s collection of new “dual cameras” handled, critiqued originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Japanese is attending a Sanyo presser where its much loved Xacti camcorders are being overhauled. The 5-strong mix of pistol-grip and new, horizontally-oriented camcorders includes several world’s firsts according to Sanyo: the world’s first to shoot progressive, Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 video at 60fps (models DMX-HD2000/FH11 pictured above), the world’s first waterproof HD cameras (DMX-CA9 and DMX-WH1 with 30x optical zoom), and world’s first HD camera to shoot 10 megapixel still images (DMX-CG10). All the cams shoot in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format for broad compatibility with devices and video editing software. The DMX-HD2000 will hit the streets first on February 6 with the rest to trickle out before April is up. No prices were announced but we expect these to be competitive, as always. The rest of the new models pictured after the break with full specifications just beyond the read link.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

Continue reading Sanyo’s 2009 HD Xacti camcorder lineup brings a trio of world’s firsts

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Video

Sanyo’s 2009 HD Xacti camcorder lineup brings a trio of world’s firsts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, it’s not a Web site award show–the Webbie is actually Sony’s new entry into the ever-broadening world of pocket camcorders.

The Webbie MHS-CM1 has an upright form factor similar to other entries in the space, like the Flip and Vado. It has a 2.5-inch LCD and a lens with 5X optical zoom (a vast improvement over most other company’s 2X digital), which swivels up to 270-degrees.

The camera also has a number of scene selection modes, include low-light and sport. Oh, and it can also take 5MB still photos.

Like RCA and Kodak‘s recent entries into the field, the MHS-CM1 is a slick-looking, slim camcorder. Users can pick from three colors: eggplant, orange, and silver. The camera’s looking like a pretty strong contender for best in class.