Archive for the ‘Digital Video Cameras’ Category:
KODAK PLAYTOUCH 1080p HD Video Camera Review
At 4.16 ounces, the Playtouch is about the same weight as its competitors, but at 4.3-by-2.3-by-0.6 inches (HWD), it’s much thinner than the Flip UltraHD. The Playtouch comes in black, orange, blue, or chrome; the sides of the camcorder feel rubbery, but the back and front are glossy and elegant looking.
There’s an SD card slot on the right panel that accepts up to 32GB cards (you only get 128MB of internal storage); an HDMI out to connect the camera to your HDTV is located on the left side of the camera (and an HDMI cable is included). On the top panel, there’s a jack/3.5mm microphone input, which is a rare find on a camcorder in this class.
Kodak includes a wall adapter to recharge the removable battery via the camera’s Micro-USB port, but you can also charge it up, albeit more slowly, via the built-in, flip-out USB arm.
Sony NEX-VG20EH Review
Enjoy a level of creative freedom unimaginable with the use of interchangeable lenses. Its 16.1 Effective Megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor lets you record beautiful Full HD video with high-quality audio and with dramatic background defocusing effects.E-mount System for Lens InterchangeabilityProgressive recording: 50p / 25pQuad Capsule Spatial Array Microphone Records High-Quality Stereo and 5.1 Surround SoundFull Manual Control Capability for Video Recording3.0 Type Xtra Fine Touch-Panel LCD Monitor with TruBlack TechnologyIncludes SEL18200 telephoto zoom lens (with Optical SteadyShot Active Mode )
Canon LEGRIA HF R26 Review
The HF R206 is one of three nearly-identical models, alongside the R26 and R28. Both of those camcorders come with built-in flash memory, 8GB and 32GB respectively, but in every other respect the three are essentially identical. Only the exterior colours vary, with all the pictures here being of the black version of the R28. Prices will always fluctuate, but usually we find that an SD-card only camcorder, and a couple of large memory cards, will prove better value than buying a model with built-in storage.
This leads on nicely to one of the R206′s standout features – its twin memory card slots. Canon has provided twin card slots across its whole range of HD camcorders, and so they feature here despite the R206′s budget price and relatively small dimensions.
Panasonic HM-TA1 Review
The Panasonic HM-TA1 is a pocket-sized HD camcorder for the Web 2.0 blogging set. Dubbed a “multimedia mobile camera”, the Panasonic HM-TA1 can be used to shoot video, snap digital photos or even as a webcam. It boasts Full HD video recording, an 8-megapixel still image mode (via interpolation) and inbuilt software that lets you upload your creations directly to Facebook or YouTube.
The Panasonic HM-TA1 is an enticing proposition for casual videoographers. Its video output is very impressive for the asking price, with a reliable low-light performance. On the downside, it lacks the advanced features found on some budget HD camcorders, such as the Kogan Full HD 1080p Deluxe Touchscreen camcorder and Millennius Memmoir Gold.
The Panasonic HM-TA1 is basically a high-def pocket camcorder in the mould of Cisco’s trend-setting Flip Mino HD. (Sony and JVC have also entered the pocket cam market, with the Bloggie MHS-PM5K and GC-FM1 respectively.) Measuring 104x52x17mm and weighing a mere 110g, the Panasonic HM-TA1 is smaller than most digital still cameras. However, it remains easy to shoot with thanks to its large, tactile buttons. Like most pocket cams, the controls are limited to basic functions, such as zoom, record, playback and photo mode.
In terms of design, the Panasonic HM-TA1 is pretty hard to fault. The version we tested sported a glossy black finish with silver edging (white and red variants are also offered).
The HM-TA1′s 5-megapixel CMOS sensor captured some attractive looking video, with accurate colours and sharp detail. We noticed some minor ghosting during fast camera pans, but this is a common issue with pocket camcorders (after all, they are designed primarily for blogging, which is a stationary activity for the most part). We were particularly impressed by the HM-TA1′s performance in low lighting, with less noise than we are typically used to. Panasonic has also included an inbuilt camera light — something that most pocket cams lack.
JVC Evario GS-TD1 Full HD 3D Review
The JVC GS-TD1 features a pair of 3.32 megapixel CMOS sensors and a new JVC-developed high-speed imaging engine that processes the two Full HD images – left and right images at 1920 x 1080i resolution. Three shooting modes are offered, a key feature that provides several options for HD resolution and archiving of 3D footage. These three shooting modes are: a new “LR Independent” format (MP4 MVC) that records in Full HD, the widely used “Side-by-Side” format (960 x 1080 X 2) for AVCHD 3D recording, and 2D AVCHD shooting.
The camcorder uses a F1.2 JVC 3D Twin HD GT Lens that sets a new standard in high-resolution lenses, with extra-low-dispersion glass for crisp, high-contrast images, as well as multiple aspherical lenses for fine image reproduction. The combination of the fast F1.2 lens and the back-illuminated CMOS sensors provides the GS-TD1 with outstanding low light performance. The GS-TD1 also features round iris diaphragms that enable beautiful bokeh effect (background blurring) shooting of video and stills alike.
Additional highlights include 64GB of built-in flash memory, SDXC card slot, 3D optical 5x zoom, Optical Axis Automatic Stabilization System for disparity control to give depth to 3D images, JVC’s BIPHONIC technology for dynamic 3D sound and Automatic Parallax Adjustment to optimize the 3D-video comfort zone.
The GS-TD1 operates like other consumer JVC camcorders, with easy-to-use, intuitive controls. A 3.5” 3D touch panel LCD monitor displays 3D images without any need for 3D glasses, making it easy to check 3D images while shooting and watch 3D playback in the field.
The GS-TD1 comes with new Everio MediaBrowser 3D software (for Windows®) for full management, editing and sharing of content. In addition to full-fledged video and still image editing, files can be uploaded effortlessly to social media sites such as YouTube™ or Facebook, and the software allows 3D video to be shared on YouTube.
For archiving and playing back 3D recordings, there are several options depending on the shooting mode used.
- Full HD 3D video, shot using the MP4 MVC mode, can be archived to a computer hard drive or Blu-ray disc drive. This Full HD material can be played back in 3D by running the footage back through the camcorder.
- AVCHD 3D (Side-by-Side mode) video can be burned to a DVD-R disc and played back in 3D on any AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray player – including non-3D AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray players – when the disc was created with a PC or JVC Share Station.