Atomos Ninja and Samurai HD video recorder / monitors bring compression jutsu to pro filmmaking

We all drool over the hi-res video shot by cameras like the RED EPIC, but for indie-film types, processing the massive files produced takes a lot of time (and therefore money) and not everyone has an ARRI ALEXA to do native recording compression. Enter the Atomos Ninja and Samurai HD recorder / monitor / playback devices that take your 10-bit video and compress it in Apple’s 1080p ProRes QuickTime format to make your post-production life a little easier. The Ninja pulls video through HDMI and deposits it on your choice of 2.5-inch HDD or SDD storage, does playback via a 4.3-inch 480 x 270 touchscreen, and has continuous power thanks to dual hot-swappable batteries (available in 2600, 5200, and 7800 mAh varieties). Meanwhile, the Samurai matches the Ninja’s specs, but swaps out the HDMI connection for HD-SDI ports and adds SDI Loop-Through to connect an external monitor, a larger 5-inch 800 x 400 display, and 3D support (if you get two Samurais genlocked together). Both units have FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 and 3.0 connections for offloading your vids. Those with Spielbergian aspirations can pony up $995 for the Ninja right now, or pay $1,495 for the Samurai upon its release this summer.

Atomos Ninja and Samurai HD video recorder / monitors bring compression jutsu to pro filmmaking originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceAtomos  | Email this | Comments

Philips’ new camcorder comes with 23x zoom and WiFi, but no price or release date

Philips makes plenty of audio / video equipment for use when consuming our content, but until now, the company didn’t offer many options on the creating end. Well, Philips fanboys (they exist, don’t they?), take a gander at your next must-buy purchase — the ESee HD camcorder touts a 23x zoom, 1080p recording to an SD card, touchscreen viewfinder (of unknown size), WiFi for uploading vids (so as not to keep fans waiting for your next cinematic masterpiece), and an audio zoom feature. Yeah, a zoom for your audio. Details about pricing and availability are nowhere to be found, but not knowing makes you want it all the more, right?

[Thanks, Jakob]

Philips’ new camcorder comes with 23x zoom and WiFi, but no price or release date originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTweakers  | Email this | Comments

Gadget Lab Notes: USB DJ Controller Offers High-End Features For Cheap

The Gemini FirstMix USB DJ Controller, at $80, would be an option for the DJ on a budget

Gemini’s FirstMix USB DJ Controller Won’t Break the Bank
Amateur and would-be DJs can get started spinning tunes without doling out a lot of dough with the Gemini FirstMix USB DJ controller. For $80, you get many of the same features as high-end controllers, like dual touch-sensitive jog wheels with volume, effects, 2-band EQ, and a cross-fader. FirstMix includes MixVibes’ CROSS LE software, which supports MP3, MP4A, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, and OGG audio file types and is compatible with other popular DJ programs. You can start scratching on your own Gemini FirstMix in May.

Gemini FirstMix [Slashgear]

Microsoft Kinect Is Now The World’s Fastest-Selling Gadget
With an average of 133,333 units sold each day over its first 60 days, the Kinect is now the Guinness World Record holder for fastest selling consumer electronics device. Over 10 million Kinects have been purchased since its debut in November. In the past, the iPhone and iPad have been titleholders. Let’s see how long the Kinect can hold this record with the iPad 2’s rapidly approaching launch.

Kinect Confirmed as Fastest Selling Consumer Electronics Device [Guinness World Records via Wired UK]

Angry Birds Seasons Gets in the St. Patrick’s Day Mood
Rovio just released 15 new levels for Angry Birds Seasons, filled with pots o’ gold, shamrocks, and leprechaun hats in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day. iPhone and iPad versions are available now, and an Android update will be released tomorrow. And just like with their Valentine’s Day themed update, when you like Angry Birds on Facebook you can unlock three more bonus levels. If that’s not enough for your insatiable bird-flinging appetite, Angry Birds Rio is also expected to come out this month.

Angry Birds Celebrate St. Patrick [CNET]

Teradek Cube Turns Your Camcorder Into a Livestreaming Machine
The deck of cards-sized Teradek Cube is the first wireless HD video encoder that can sit atop your camera and stream 1080p over Ethernet or WiFi. It’s designed to be easily mounted on a baseplate, hotshoe, cage, or rail system. The Cube is available in six different models, including two with support for 4G, with pricing ranging from $1490 to $2190.

Cube [Teradek via Geeky Gadgets]


Spire Clock Combines Japanese Folding Fan And A Saw Blade
The minute hand and hour hand are represented by each end of the fan, which folds and unfolds “in the rhythm of a Japanese fan.” That’s nice, but what about those sharp looking spikes on the end of each of the blades? Those look like they could do some damage.

Spire Clock [Moco Loco]

Wireless Luggage Finder Makes It Easier To Locate Your Luggage At The Airport
easy2pick, a little gizmo with attachments for a keychain and your luggage, was created to make sure you don’t miss your bag as it goes by on the luggage carousel after an arduous day of travel. It sounds an alarm, flashes, and vibrates when the two tags come within 66 feet of one another. Each keychain has a unique ID code, so if someone else also has one, your signals won’t get crossed, and included sensors that measure sound, light, and altitude deactivate the device when it’s in the cargo bay or in the air.

Wireless Luggage Finder [X-treme Geek via Oh Gizmo]


RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video)

RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video)

Forgive us if we take a moment every now and again to relish in some resolution overload courtesy of a RED EPIC, but we just can’t help ourselves. The video below (and picture above) come courtesy of Tom Lowe, who filmed a sequence of birds frolicking in the water at Salton Sea, California, captured at 5K resolution and at 96fps. This gives everything a rather majestic air to it — though the soundtrack certainly doesn’t hurt. Click “play” and enjoy, and then wish that your connection were fast enough to handle an uncompressed 5K video stream.

[Thanks, Tom]

Continue reading RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video)

RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTom Lowe (vimeo)  | Email this | Comments

JVC’s GS-TD1 3D camcorder now available for $1,700

JVC promised back at CES that its new consumer-grade GS-TD1 3D camcorder would be available in March and, well, it’s now available. While that may not be a surprise, JVC has shaken things up a bit with the pricing since its official announcement — instead of the full $2,000 that was originally expected, the camcorder will now set you back “just” $1,699.95. That will buy you a pair of 3.32 megapixel CMOS sensor that record 3D video at 1080i, a 5x optical zoom (or 10x in 2D mode), 64GB of built-in flash memory along with an SDXC card slot for expansion, and a 3.5-inch LCD that lets you view your videos 3DS-style without any glasses. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading JVC’s GS-TD1 3D camcorder now available for $1,700

JVC’s GS-TD1 3D camcorder now available for $1,700 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceJVC  | Email this | Comments

Superheadz Necono 3 megapixel kitty camera might tolerate you (video)

Wait, this isn’t a crapgadget, although you couldn’t be blamed for thinking as much about this three megapixel Necono digital camera from Japan’s Superheadz. Hell, that’s what we thought before digging into the feature list a bit. Based on a design from Lisa Larson, the cat features magnetic feet and a self-timer for creating whimsical self-portraits. A mic and CMOS sensor combine to record VGA videos or 3 megapixel JPEG images to microSDHC cards. The camera is available now for a tax inclusive price of ¥15,750 — converted, we’re talking a whopping $192, a price that doesn’t even include the dedicated LCD dock which won’t ship until May at the earliest. Sure, it won’t be the best digital camera for your money but there’s no denying its pure, unadulterated gadget appeal to kitty fetishists or any demographic that hops in place while clapping. See it in action after the break.

Continue reading Superheadz Necono 3 megapixel kitty camera might tolerate you (video)

Superheadz Necono 3 megapixel kitty camera might tolerate you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Technabob, Akihabara News  |  sourceSuperheadz  | Email this | Comments

5 New Panasonic Camcorders To Be Released This Year

camcorders.JPG

Panasonic is releasing a line of camcorders in all sizes, colors, and even quality–five new models, in all. The company hasn’t offered a release date or prices yet.

The HM-TA20 is a basic Flip-style camcorder that is water proof, can work day or night, and be used a Webcam, though it does lack zoom capabilities. HM-TA20 has a sister model called HM-TA2 that nearly the same, only not waterproof. It also come with a handy tripod. The HX-WA10 is a pistol styled camcorder that has a touchscreen, can take pictures, and is water/dust/drop proof. It also has two sister models called HX-DC10 which is not drop/dust or water proof, while the HX-DC1 is lower quality, cheaper, and does not have a touchscreen.

Via Engadget

Panasonic unveils a suite of camcorders of all shapes, sizes, and depths

Well now, leave it to Panasonic to dump a pile of camcorders at once, ensuring every domestic niche is covered. We have five separate models, so bear with us as we break out some bullets:

  • HM-TA20 – This is a Flip-style upright design with a lens on one side and, on the other, an LCD with a big red button beneath it. But, it’s durable, offering three meters of waterproof protection and a durable, dust-proof case. It’ll do 1080p footage, offers no optical zooming, but does have a night mode that drops it down to 15fps to help it perform well when the lights go out. It can be used as a webcam, too.
  • HM-TA2 – This is basically the TA20 minus the heavy-duty bits. Best to keep it dry. Comes with a tripod for self-portraits. Perfect for your new MySpace profile pic!
  • HX-WA10 – Another durable one, waterproof to three meters, dust and shockproof, captures 16 megapixel stills and records 1080p footage, too. It offers a pistol-style grip and a flip-out, three-inch touchscreen. It’s pictured after the break.
  • HX-DC10 – This is basically a WA10 that doesn’t like the water, or the dust, or being dropped.
  • HX-DC1 – Another step down the cost ladder, this one backing down to 14 megapixel stills and losing some of the high-tech trickery of the others. Its three-inch LCD isn’t touchable.

Panasonic didn’t grace us with prices for any of these, nor release dates. But, hey, who needs details like that?

Continue reading Panasonic unveils a suite of camcorders of all shapes, sizes, and depths

Panasonic unveils a suite of camcorders of all shapes, sizes, and depths originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Digital Photography Review, CrunchGear  |   | Email this | Comments

Another RED EPIC spotted in the wild, shooting in California (video)

Another RED EPIC spotted in the wild, shooting in California (video)

Ready for a little sexy video of a camera that is, itself, also filming video? Check out the clip below of a RED EPIC capturing some luscious scenery in California, outfitted with a carbon fiber lens hood — what else? The camera is being worked by Emmy-winning producer and directory Steve Gibby, who indicates the camera is “amazingly light,” that “the finish of the stuff is spot-on,” and even the menus are “straightforward and easy to navigate.” Encouraging? Yes, if you have the money to spend. If you don’t, enjoy the video below and then click on the Vimeo source link for a bunch more, including one of the thing coming out of the box and getting assembled.

[Thanks, Ben]

Continue reading Another RED EPIC spotted in the wild, shooting in California (video)

Another RED EPIC spotted in the wild, shooting in California (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceREDUSER.net, Vimeo  | Email this | Comments

Sony releases specifications for E-mount lenses, desperately wants you to build some

Sony releases specifications for E-mount lenses, desparately wants you to build some

Some interchangeable lens standards have been around for ages. Others, however, are rather more modern contrivances, and Sony’s E-mount definitely falls in that latter category. We’ve seen it hit HD camcorders as well as the NEX-3 and NEX-5 compacts, but so far the greatest selections of lenses we’ve yet seen has come courtesy of a simple adapter. Sony wants that to change, releasing the “basic” specifications for its E-mount interchangeable lens system and doing so for free, a move that lens makers like Carl Zeiss and Sigma have all lauded — though none went so far as to say they’d actually start making this particular flavor of glass. Oh, and the specs for the NEX-5 Lego viewfinder? Still totally free.

Continue reading Sony releases specifications for E-mount lenses, desperately wants you to build some

Sony releases specifications for E-mount lenses, desperately wants you to build some originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments