Lots of people are trying out their new HG10 camcorders on YouTube (see video below).
The Canon HG10 AVCHD Format Hard Disk Drive Camcorder records high definition video directly onto a hard disk.
Here are some specs:
Full HD CMOS sensor
Advanced DIGIC DV II image processor
SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization
Instant Auto Focus
2.7" Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD
10x HD video zoom lens
AVCHD Format HDD in a Compact Size1
Full HD onto a 40GB Hard Disk Drive
HDD Still Photo Grab from Video
1/2.7" CMOS Sensor, RGB Primary Color Filter
The camcorder weighs 1.1 lbs (not including lens or battery pack).
Here's some sample footage for the Canon HG10 camcorder--
If you're looking for a camcorder that you can just turn on and start videotaping, wize.com has a list of the ones that are easiest to use.
Here's the top 5--
1. Sony DCR-DVD108 At around $300, this camcorder weighs 16 lb., has a 1/6" CCD, uses a memory stick pro memory card. Shown to the left.
2. Thomson EZ201 At around $85, this camcorder weighs .22 lb, uses a SD memory card.
3. Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 Costs about $500.
4. Sony Handycam DCR-SR200 At about $650, this camcorder weighs 1.15 lb. and uses flash media. This camcorder also has One touch video to DVD. That means you hook it up your camcorder via the base that comes with the it to your computer with DVD burner and USB connection or DVD recorder then just press one button and it starts recording to your blank DVD.
5. Canon ZR800 Weighs about .83 lb CCD is 1/6"
You can get the full skinny on the DXG-569V HD camcorder from a press release the company has put out today.
The $169 dollar camcorder, which comes in silver or black, will be sold at Radio Shack.
The camcorder records real HD video up to 1280 x 720 at 30 fps.
Inside the camera is a 5MP CMOS sensor for still image resolution of 8MP. The 3-inch screen rotates for easy viewing.
The camcorder also acts as a digital voice recorder, which is a great way to keep track of what you've been videotaping.
One of the best things about this camera is that you can view the recordings you make in high definition on a plasma or HDTV.
Now here's a camera for you, one with a full frame S35mm mysterium X sensor. It shoots anywhere from 1 to 100 fps. It also has full size dual link HD-SDI and 2-XLR audio inputs and HDMI.
The camera only weighs 6 pounds. The price for the camera is $30,000 (all RED ONE camera bodies are redeemable for $17,500 credit).
There are a variety of lenses that are compatible with the camera, including a RED 18-50mm ($6,500), a RED 50-150mm ($8,500) and a RED 300mm ($4950).
The camera comes out in early 2009. For more info go here.
Lenovo has taken face recognition to a new level. The Y510 model can use face recognition to identify you as a user of the computer. If it doesn't recognize you, it won't let you log on.
Here's how it works. The notebook has a built-in Web cam. You have to set it up to recognize you first scan in your face. The next time you log in it automatically checks you out. If it's a match it lets you in. No user names or passwords!
Consumer Reports tried the VeriFace-based system. It put several different people in front of the computer and the computer recognized no one other than the user whose picture was scanned into the system.
The VeriFace system failed to recognize the user in a darkened room or if he wore a hat and/or glasses.
There's a Panasonic camcorder (the SDR-H18) that's highly rated by wize.com (rated 93) and by CNET (rated 7.4) that costs about $500. At wize.com, many people commented that they liked this Panasonic model better than the Sony model that's similar.
One camera owner commented, "I truly LOVE my camcorder. My instincts were to buy a Sony - for the name. But I'm so happy that I did a little research and read other people's reviews regarding the Panasonic SDR-H18. I wouldn't trade it! And the price can't be beat!!
The SDR-H18 records to a hard drive (built-in 30 GB) or removable SD card. The camcorder contains a 1/6-inch, 680,000-pixel CCD sensor. This model does not have 3 CCD sensors as is implied on Panasonic's Web site. The camcorder also contains a 32X optical zoom.
CNET has this to say about the camcorder: "Combining the simplicity of SD recording, a roomy 30GB hard drive, a long zoom, and pleasing image quality, the SDR-H18 is a good choice for a standard-definition, hard-drive camcorder."
If you're into a camcorder that looks like a cool gadget (and also takes video fit for YouTube), take a look at the Pure Digital Flip Video Ultra.
The small camcorder has a couple of things going for it:
* Rated 91 at wize.com
* Awarded best web-ready camcorder in 2007 at www.digitalcamera-hq.com
Don't expect much from this one, though, as it's a barebones gadget.
But...it's a cinch to get mpeg files from the camera to YouTube.
And...at about $160, the price isn't bad either.
