Now here’s a truly interesting new product from Kodak. It’s the new Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video Camera which is Kodak’s first dedicated pocket digital video camera. This unit is designed to make video capture fun and simple to perform as it captures 720p 16:9 video at 60 fps. According to PluggedIn Kodak blog site, the Zi6 features:

• 2.4 inch TFT LCD screen
• Comes with dedicated ARCSOFT video software
• Built-in USB connector
• SD/SDHC card slot
• Cables for viewing videos on an HDTV
• Pre-charged AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and battery charger
• Play back video in slow motion

The ARCSOFT video software allows users to quickly edit, personalize, and share videos as well as easily upload videos to YouTube. It’s due out in September although no word on pricing.

If the price and the video quality is right, this can truly be a compelling product for the average consumer.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video Camera

Panasonic’s HD camcorder lineup just got a little deeper as they announced two new full HD camcorders in the form of the HDC-SD100 and the HDC-HS100. Both of these units are the world’s first AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system designed to deliver superb video image quality. Panasonic’s 3MOS technology is based on the company’s 3CCD technology and feature three MOS sensors to process the red, blue, and green components of incoming light separately. According to Panasonic, the 3MOS system “captures more vibrant, true-to-life colors, greater detail and richer gradation.”

Features of both of these new camcorders include:

• Manual functions for zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed and white balance
• Intelligent Auto mode
• HD Advanced Pure Color Engine
• Leica Dicomar lens
• Advanced Optical Image Stabilization
• Face Detection
• Intelligent Contrast Control
• Intelligent Scene Selection
• Comes with HD Writer 2.6 software for Windows
• Compatible with VIERA Link
• Quick Power-on in 1.9 seconds
• Digital Cinema Color mode
• 5 microphone, 5.1 channel surround sound system
• Microphone input and headphone jack
• High speed burst shooting
• Pre-Rec enables camcorder to continuously record three seconds of video content before the actual video begins
• Wide-viewing angle LCD display

So what’s the difference between the two models? The HDC-SD100 records content directly to an SD memory card while the HDC-HS100 is a hybrid system - recording to either an SD card or an internal 60GB HDD.

Both Panasonic models will be available in September with the HDC-SD100 having a retail price of $1299.95 and the HDC-HS100 a retail price of $1099.95.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Panasonic HD camcorder, HDC-SD100, HDC-HS100

JVC added three new high definition camcorders today to their HD Everio product lineup - the 120GB GZ-HD40, the 80GB GZ-HD30 and the 40GB GZ-HD10. Two of the new models, the GZ-HD40 and the GZ-HD30, are the world’s first AVCHD/MPEG-2 dual format camcorders - giving the user a choice between the superior compression of AVCHD and the superior editing capabilities of MPEG-2.  Both of these models deliver full 1920 x 1080 HD recording capabilities and large drives (120GB and 80GB respectively). The third model provides AVCHD support at 1440 x 1080.

The GZ-HD40 features:

• Record in Full HD 1920 x 1080 in both AVCHD and MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) video with MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio.
• AVCHD - XP mode - 15 hours, SP mode - 21 hours, EP mode - 50 hours
• MPEG-2 FHD (1920 x 1080) - 10 hours, 1440 CBR (1440 x 1080) - 10 hours
• Available in August for $1299.95

The GZ-HD30 features:

• Record in Full HD 1920 x 1080 in both AVCHD and MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) video with MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio.
• AVCHD - XP mode - 10 hours, SP mode - 14 hours, EP mode - 33 hours
• MPEG-2 FHD (1920 x 1080) - 6 hours, 1440 CBR (1440 x 1080) - 6 hours
• Available in August for $999.95

The GZ-HD10 features:

• Record in 1440 x 1080 AVCHD format
• AVCHD - XP mode - 5 hours, SP mode - 7 hours, EP mode - 16 hours
• Available in August for $799.95

Other common features include:

• New CMOS chips with interpolation technology
• HD Gigabrid Duo Engine
• 1080p 60 frame per second progressive output function
• HDMI v. 1.3 with x.v.Color support
• Quick response
• Hybrid HDD and microSD recording
• Auto Light
• Focus Assist and Manual Settings
• Simultaneous to video progressive still shooting
• Quick power off
• 2.8 ” (2.7″ for the GZ-HD10) clear wide LCD with auto backlit brightness
• Mic input and accessory shoe
• Direct backup utton
• In camera file editing (AVCHD)
• USB 2.0

All three models can connect to the optional CU-VD50 Everio SHARE Station with standalone playback. They can also connect to the JVC CU-VD3 SHARE Station for cost-efficient archiving and playback.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: JVC, Everio, GZ-HD40, GZ-HD30, GZ-HD10

Sony is taking high definition camcorders to new heights.. or rather.. to new (and smaller) sizes with the Sony High Definition Handycam Camcorder HDR-TG1. The HDR-TG1 comes in a ultra compact titanium-bodied chassis and is capable of recording in full HD (1920 x 1080). You can also capture 4 megapixel digital stills with all data stored on a Memory Stick PRO Duo card. The sheer small size of this camcorder means you’ll be able to take the HDR-TG1 to nearly any occasion.

Key features of the Sony HDR-TG1 include:

• Weight of 8 oz without the battery
• Chassis made out of pure titanium with premium hard coating applied on the surface (except for hinge and lens ring area)
• BIONZ image processing engine provides face detection technology. Recognizes up to 8 faces
• 2.3 megapixel (effective) ClearVid CMOS sensor
• 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording
• 4 megapixel stills
• 2.7 inch 16:9 Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD Plus Display
• Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization System
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
• 10x optical/20x digital zoom lens
• Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1 channel recording - features Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator
• Smooth Slow Recording
• x.v.Color technology
• Dual recording mode - capture video and capture still images
• Quick On feature
• HDMI output
• Face Index indexes video footage according to the faces detected
• Film Roll Index
• Supplied Handycam Station
• Built-in Intelligent Flash
• USB 2.0
• Manual Focus
• Fader and Picture Effects
• Scene Selection Modes
• Records in MPEG4 AVC/H.264 for HD and MPEG2 for SD

You can preorder the Sony HDR-TG1 on the SonyStyle website here for $899.99. The camcorder will be available around May 17th.

[Check it out via AVING]

Technorati Tags: Sony, High Definition Handycam Camcorder, HDR-TG1

JVC has announced a feature upgrade to the GY-HD200 professional camcorder that allows the unit to output 1080/50i and 1080/60i through a Firewire connector. Output is delivered in real time through the connector. The 1080i signals are not recorded to tape on the camcorder but you can attach an external hard drive recorder to capture the output signal.

According to CamcorderInfo, the upgrade is not a feature upgrade which means you’ll need to return the unit back to the factory to get the feature added to the device. Customers eligible for the upgrade are those who purchased the unit on or after February 1st of this year. The new upgraded unit is called the JVC GY-HD200UB and sells for $5695 with just the body.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: JVC GY-HD200, GY-HD200UB