camcorders

Samsung's cheapish mainstream HD camcorders

LAS VEGAS--Samsung's HMX-H300 series looks like a ho-hum update to its H200 models of 2010--but that's in part because Samsung's so stingy with its specs that it's hard to tell what's going on. The series consists of four models--the H300 ($399), H303 ($449), H304 ($499), and H305 ($599)--with the H305 incorporating 32GB of memory. I'll guess that the models differ by amount of memory, starting at 0GB and increasing in price as their predecessors do, but the company hasn't bothered to state what the differences are.

As for "improvements" over … Read more

Samsung SMX-F50 standard-def camcorder announced

LAS VEGAS--The Samsung SMX-F50 is the company's entry-level ultracompact standard-definition camcorder for 2011. As such, it doesn't do a whole lot beyond capturing 720x480-pixel-resolution video to SD memory cards.

Key features include a 52x optical zoom lens; the capability to pause while recording, so there's less of a need to join individual clips; and something called Smart Background Music. If you choose to add background music to a movie, the Smart BGM feature automatically lowers the music volume when speech is detected so it doesn't drown out what's being said.

If you want or need … Read more

Casio wants you to turn Tryx

LAS VEGAS--There's only so much you can do with the design of a point-and-shoot camera, so Casio deserves credit for literally breaking out of the box with the Tryx.

At first glance, it looks like an ultracompact camera/minicamcorder with a bit of flair. Then you flip out the high-resolution 3-inch touch-screen LCD and, well, it's no longer your typical pocket camera. The display can pivot through its frame a full 360 degrees while the screen itself can rotate 270 degrees. And with its built-in orientation sensor you can hold the Tryx in your left or right hand … Read more

Not many changes for Panasonic's prosumer camcorders

Originally published 1/5/2011; updated 2/1/2011: Pricing added to chart. Scroll to the bottom for additional comment.

LAS VEGAS--CES is usually so crazy that I don't bother doing my full-blown treatment, with tables, when covering the new products. But I had so much trouble trying to spot the differences between last year's and this year's lineups for Panasonic's camcorders that I built tables for my own sanity. And confirmed that there's not a lot different between the new and the old.

One major change is in the top-end TM900/HS900 models, which … Read more

Canon introduces entry-level pro camcorder

LAS VEGAS--Along with the announcement of a new "prosumer" camcorder, the Vixia HF G10, Canon announced a version of the product targeted at professionals. The XA10 seems to be identical to the G10, but comes with a detachable handle that includes dual XLR inputs, audio switches, an infrared light, tally lamp, removable microphone holder, zoom and record switches, and an accessory shoe (though the G10 has a shoe, it looks like the handle attaches to it, so the handle gives you another shoe).

It's not clear whether at some point you'll be able to upgrade the … Read more

Canon introduces wireless camcorder microphone

I don't normally cover accessory announcements for products that only work with a single manufacturer, but Canon's WM-V1 microphone sounds kind of neat. Because it doesn't require an accessory shoe it's suitable for use with the compact models that don't have one, which is generally the group that needs better sound the most. It mounts on the camera strap and can record sound up to 164 feet. You'll be able to find it in May for the steepish price of $250.

Canon's entry-level camcorders get cheaper

This year's entry-level Canon camcorders incorporate a higher resolution sensor than last year's--3.28 megapixels--for an effective video resolution of 2.07 megapixels. Canon is actually using enough pixels this go round to hopefully capture decent video. As long as you're not using the Dynamic IS setting. Sigh. The Vixia HF R21, R20, and R200 also seem to be priced a little lower than they're predecessors were at their launch: $499.99, $399.99, and $379.99, respectively for 32GB, 8GB, and 0GB configurations.

The lens remains a 20x optical zoom, and the LCD display size … Read more

Canon mainstream camcorders get better sensors

The most interesting thing about Canon's mainstream camcorder lineup for 2011, the Vixia HF M41, M40, and M400 ($799.99, $699.99, and $649.99, respectively) is that they use the HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor (see the HF G10). That's nontrivial, of course; if it results in improved video quality then I'm all for it. The top-end M41 has an EVF, and they use the same 10x zoom lens as last year's models.

On the downside, Canon hasn't changed its poorly designed touch-screen user interface, so you can look forward to more complaints from … Read more

Canon puts pro sensor in top prosumer camcorder

Canon's redefining its top-end prosumer camcorder model. Not just with a higher price--you can look forward to forking over as much as $1,499 for the best the company has to offer, up from $1,399 in 2010--but with a pro-level sensor brought down from its XF series. It will be in the Vixia HF G10, which launches a new AVCHD-compliant G series for Canon.

The sensor, newly dubbed HD CMOS Pro, is the same 1/3-inch 2.07-megapixel model currently used by the company's entry-level pro models, albeit by itself rather than in a trio. Because it'… Read more

Slim, stylish Kodak PlayFull 1080p minicamcorder announced

The Kodak PlayFull is pretty much a basic minicamcorder, albeit a tiny, attractive one.

It captures full HD 1080p movies and 5-megapixel stills and is loaded with Kodak's share software for quickly editing videos and sharing on sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as international sites like Yandex and KAIXIN001. There is a Share button, too, for tagging your photos and videos to upload to those sites as soon as it's connected to a computer.

The PlayFull also gets black and white, sepia, high saturation, and '70s film look capture effects; face tracking; electronic image stabilization; and … Read more