Hasta La Gadget!

If you’re the reporter and camera operator for K-STIX, Sony’s got good news: they just unveiled the PMW-200 XDCAM, and you can control it with your smartphone. The camcorder features a broadcast-friendly 50Mbps data rate drawing from three half-inch CMOS sensors — bigger than any other broadcast handheld cam, according to Sony — though that size is still a far cry from its own super-35 filmmaking cams and others on the market. The Japanese company claims the chips provide “exceptional” low-light powers, and other features include 30fps at 1080P or 60fps at 720P, a 14x zoom lens, 3.5-inch 852 x 480 LCD display and a 15 second pre-record cache. The camera will be available by September, but the aforementioned WiFi adapter for Android or iOS remote control won’t fly in until the end of the year. Pricing has yet to be announced, but if you need an easier way to multitask or the approving nod from that rigid broadcaster, check the PR for all the specs.

Continue reading Sony broadcasts three-chip PMW-200 XDCAM with Android or iOS remote control app

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony broadcasts three-chip PMW-200 XDCAM with Android or iOS remote control app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just as were starting to get cozy with the still vastly unavailable XQD format, the CompactFlash Association is back with version 2.0 of the spec, which it says could provide transfer speeds of up to 8 Gb/s (1,000 MB/s). You’ll need to have access to a PCI Express 3.0 interface in order to take advantage of that throughput, however — a boost from the 5 Gbps offered with the previous-gen solution. XQD 2.0 is still under development, with Sony footing the bill, and the organization is welcoming “additional participation” as it works to refine the standard. There’s no saying exactly when we’ll start seeing devices that employ the new tech, though CFA is aiming to make the spec available “in the second half of 2012.” Cards that utilize the new format will enable video capture at higher bandwidth that the SD and CF media of today, and while we seem to be managing just fine with the current stock for capturing 1080p, faster storage will certainly be welcome in the future, once 4K, and perhaps even larger formats, make their mainstream debut.

Continue reading CompactFlash Association develops XQD 2.0 spec, promises up to 8 Gbps throughput

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Storage

CompactFlash Association develops XQD 2.0 spec, promises up to 8 Gbps throughput originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Most point-and-shoots have an integrated lens cap that closes off, protecting the delicate glass underneath the moment you’re done taking shots. DSLR’s and other interchangable-lens cameras? Well, you’ve got to remember to put those covers back on yourself. The X-Cap, however, brings that automated protection to your fanciest of cams with a simple add-on that wont interfere with your picture taking (provided it’s mounted right). It’s pretty self explanatory really, you can see the Taiwanese designed and manufactured cap in action after the break and hit up Engadget Chinese for an interview with the designer.

Continue reading X-Cap automatically protects your lens even if you forget

Filed under: Digital Cameras

X-Cap automatically protects your lens even if you forget originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adapters to fit Canon’s EF lenses on Micro Four Thirds and NEX camera bodies most definitely aren’t new. Without any electronic link, though, that Lumix GX1 or NEX-F3 owner has had to focus by hand, sometimes without any aperture control — what year is it, 1930? Kipon wants to make sure you’ll never have to stoop to that level again through a pair of new adapters that keep the electronic controls working. As always with these parts, there’s likely to be catches: we don’t know the prices and ship dates, for one, and lens conversion can still hurt the autofocus speed. Even so, anyone who’s been hoarding (or simply envious of) Canon glass now doesn’t have to eye an EOS-M just to get a mirrorless camera with the lens adapter they crave.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Peripherals

Kipon preps Canon EF lens adapters for Micro Four Thirds, NEX cameras with electronic control originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As cool as the Lytro camera’s post-picture taking focusing technology is, it’s hard to overlook some of the product’s shortcomings — not the least of which is the fact that the company only offered a Mac solution when the device launched earlier this year. Lytro has finally addressed that oversight, with the release of a desktop application for Windows. To use it, your system will need to be running Windows 7 with 2GB of RAM and at least an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (you can find the full list of minimum specs in the source link below). To celebrate the launch, Lytro’s offering up free shipping on camera orders this week. Also new are the Lytro tripod mount and USB wall charger accessories.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Lytro finally rolls out Windows desktop software, celebrates with free shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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