Panasonic Lumix hybrid cameras record HD video in AVCHD Lite

Australian site Current.com.au says:

In a development that is set to continue, Panasonic has introduced a new range of ‘hybrid’ LUMX compact digital still cameras with High definition (HD) recording using the AVCHD Lite format, which improves the video recording capability.

These cameras are called hybrids because they not only shoot high quality digital still images but the video recording capability is now even more advanced and no longer a function that these cameras ‘also’ do.

Panasonic says that compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format, AVCHD Lite allows almost double the recording time with HD quality.

Panasonic’s research suggested that consumers regularly used the video recording functions on their digital still cameras. So this year Panasonic is offering new LUMIX models with AVCHD Lite recording capability. The 2009 Australian LUMIX range will also include new TZ and FS series models.

The new Panasonic Australian LUMIX digital still camera range will be available from March and April this year, depending on the model, with RRPs starting at $249 for the new DMC-FS4, up to RRP $699 for the ruggedised DMC-FT1 and RRP $769 for the DMC-TZ7.

At the current time of launch, Panasonic has claimed its new LUMIX FT1 (RRP $699) to be the world’s first waterproof, shockproof and dustproof digital camera with AVCHD Lite High Definition video recording capability.

Buy Panasonic HDC-SD9 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Creative Vado HD camcorder reviewed

UK-based PocketLint has a new review of the Creative Vado HD camcorder, a competitor to the highly successful Flip and Webbie pocket-sized HD camcorders.

From the review:

The Vado HD follows the same design lines as the standard Vado that we looked at last year, but now looks slightly less plasticy and a little more meaty, with the gun metal grey body looking a little more serious than the lighter grey of the standard version. The lens now protrudes from the body, but apart from that that, is pretty much the same.

A welcome addition, however, is the mini HDMI connection on the side concealed under a rubber flap. Enclosed in the box you’ll find the cable so you can hook the Vado HD straight up to your HDTV or other HDMI equipped device. We like this move because in terms of practical usage you know you can just plug into your TV and get watching, taking advantage of the high-definition output.

The inclusion of the cable too is perhaps worth a mention, firstly because if you don’t already have a camcorder, you probably won’t have a mini HDMI cable, and secondly because many devices neglect to supply one. Strangely the standard AV cable is not supplied, although they are cheap and widely available, but if you’ve not yet joined the HD revolution, then you’ll need one to hook-up to your TV.

...
The on-board software is simple to use giving you playback options and letting you do some basic editing after the installation of an additional plugin. You don't have to use the software, you can just open up the folder and extract the AVI files that you want for playback or editing in a separate package if you wish.

You also get options to upload directly into YouTube, Photobucket and Box.net from within the software. The YouTube option is likely to be the most popular here, and with YouTube HD picking up popularity, the Vado HD will put up your video for people to view in HD online.

Buy a Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black)

Read the full review here.

Canon Announced Prices For 2009 Camcorder Lineup

Via Camcorderinfo

Canon announced the retail prices for its entire 2009 lineup, including the eagerly anticipated successors to Canon's Vixia camcorders. There are 11 new models for the coming year and two camcorders—the Vixia HG20 and HG21—that will be returning from last year. All eleven new camcorders will debut some time between early March 2009 and June 2009. Prices will range from $249.99 to $1299.99. An approximate release timeline and individual MSRPs are listed below.

	Product	MSRP	Availability
	Vixia HF S10	$1,299.99	Early March '09
	Vixia HF S100	$1,099.99	Early March '09
	Vixia HF20	$899.99	Early April '09
	Vixia HF200	$749.99	Early April '09
	Vixia HG21	$1,299.00	On-Going
	Vixia HG20	$899.00	On-Going
	Vixia HV40	$999.99	Early June '09
	FS22	$599.99	Mid-April '09
	FS21	$499.99	Mid-April '09
	FS200	$329.99	Early April '09
	DC420	$369.99	Early April '09
	DC410	$299.99	Early April '09
	ZR960	$249.99	Early April '09

Sony Webbie HD limited to US only

According to Handycam product manager Di Shepard, the Webbie will only be available to US customers, the same people who already get to play with the Flip Mino HD, the Creative Vado HD and all those other cheap-ass easy HD camcorders we read about all the time from the US feed.

So - if you were hoping to get your hands on a really cheap HD camcorder from Sony, you'll need to import from the US. Otherwise, you can always pony up the cash for one of Sony's impressive (yet pricey) HD camcorder range that actually will get released in Australia...

Via Gizmodo Australia

Sanyo Xacti CA9: camcorder and 9-megapixel still camera

The biggest asset of the Sanyo Xacti CA9 will of course be the fact that it is waterproof and resistant to dust. This little video camera will not fear sand nor water projections. It can even go underwater down to 1.5 meter deep.

Main features of the Sanyo Xacti CA9

Video resolution: 720p Photo resolution: 9 megapixels Optical zoom: 5x Waterproof down to 1.5m underwater Face detection On-the-fly shooting in video mode Storage on SD or SDHC cards Availability: March 2009

Via TheDigitalNewsRoom

JVC Everio GZ-HD10 gets reviewed by PCMag

To call the JVC Everio GZ-HD10 ($499.99) a high-definition camcorder is a bit of a misnomer. The GZ-HD10 can output in what's known as "full HD" (1,920 by 1,080 progressive at 60 frames per second), but it doesn't record video at full HD. It records at 1,440 by 1,080 interlaced with a 4:3 aspect ratio at 60 fps. Like an upscaling DVD player, which can make standard DVDs look more like Blu-ray but can't quite make them comparable to the real thing, the GZ-HD10 outputs video at a higher resolution than what it records. As you might expect, the output isn't of the same caliber as what you get from a true HD camcorder, and it often shows some color fringing in high-contrast areas. Even so, this is a solid, well-rounded camcorder for anyone who's not hung up on capturing the highest-resolution video possible. It even comes with video-editing and Blu-ray–burning software—something that neither Sony nor Canon offers with camcorders in this price range.

Buy the JVC Everio GZ-HD10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

Read the full review here.

Samsung Extends Full-HD Camcorder Line

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. extends its family of full-HD digital camcorders with four new models - the HMX-H106, HMX-H105, HMX-H104, and HMX-H100. Samsung’s new H-Series offer users high-performance, full HD video, a renowned Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens with Optical Image Stabilization, and industry leading design; however, most notable is the use of internal Solid State Drives to provide onboard memory.

The HMX-H106, Samsung’s new flagship full-HD digital camcorder, is the world’s first to feature an internal 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD)*. Samsung’s renowned SSD technology offers a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder, providing consumers with higher performing and more durable internal memory. In comparison to HDD, Samsung’s SSD technology is more lightweight and compact, operates silently with very low heat emission, and features no moving parts, which significantly reduces overall power consumption and enhances reliability.

Via HardwareZone