RCA intros three new Small Wonder budget camcorders


We've got your summer crapcamcorders right 'ere -- three new RCA Small Wonder cams to make your Flips flop. Check 'em out:


  • Small Wonder MyLife, EZ200 (black) - 1.5-inch flip-out display, microSDHC with with 1GB microSD that does up to 30 / 60 minutes in high quality and web quality modes, $89 and due this summer
  • Small Wonder Pocket, EZ205 (white) - 1.5-inch flip-out display, microSDHC slot with 1GB microSD that does up to 30 / 120 minutes in high quality and web quality modes, $100 and due this summer
  • Small Wonder Traveler, EZ210 (green) - 2.4-inch QVGA display, SDHC with 2GB SD card that does up to 60 / 240 minutes in high quality and web quality modes, $150 and due this summer


[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: EZ200,EZ205,EZ210,rca,small wonder,small wonder mylife,small wonder pocket,small wonder traveler,SmallWonder,SmallWonderMylife,SmallWonderPocket,SmallWonderTraveler ]

BenQ intros "world's slimmest" 8-megapixel camera, the T850


BenQ has never been one to shy away from laying claim to world's thinnest / smallest titles, and it's done so yet again with its new T850 camera, despite the fact that it's seemingly identical in size to the company's previous T800 model. New this time around, however, is an increasingly-common smile-catching feature, as well as a "swipe" gesture interface, which BenQ claims is unique among touch screen cameras. Otherwise you'll get the same 8-megapixels, 3x optical zoom, and 3-inch display as before, as well as the usual anti-shake and face-tracking features. No word on a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to get this one in your choice of black or red when it launches in the (presumably) not too distant future.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: benq,compact camera,compact digital camera,CompactCamera,CompactDigitalCamera,t850 ]

Canon EOS 5D Mark II in November?


As rumors go, the Canon 5D Mark II is one of the more venerable of those back-room whispers to grace these pages. Now we've got the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Field Guide on Amazon making a duplicate appearance on the publisher's website. You know something we don't Ms. Charlotte K. Lowrie? Guess we'll find out in November-ish.
Read -- Amazon
Read -- Publisher listing

[Via: Photography Bay] ]
[Tag: 5d mark ii,5dMarkIi,amazon,canon,dslr,rumor ]

K-Touch's 8 megapixel C280 cameraphone flaunts Canon image processing


Remember when Samsung was pumping out cameraphones with increasingly ridiculous megapixel counts? At the moment, phones top-out at about 5 megapixels. Until this, the 8 megapixel C280 with 3x optical zoom and claimed 1600 ISO support (right) from the previously unheard of K-Touch. Ironically, it might very well be using a CMOS sensor from Samsung. Perhaps more interesting though is the fact that it'll be using Canon's own DIGIC III image processing when it hits the Chinese market.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 8 megapixel,8Megapixel,c280,cameraphone,canon,china,digic iii,DigicIii,k-touch,samsung ]

Canon 5D Mark II Field Guide Listed on Amazon, Points Toward Sept. Photokina Announcement [5d Mark II]

5dmark.jpg


While this isn't the word of God (or Canon), it's another piece in the pile of evidence that the 5D Mark II is on its way, and soon. Amazon has a listing for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Field Guide by Charlotte Lowrie, who's written field guides for a smorgasbord of other Canon cameras. Unfortunately the pub date is listed as November, which points more toward a late September announce at Photokina than the early June date we'd heard before. Either way, sit tight, 'cause it's coming.
[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Sharp trumpets world's thinnest 5-megapixel CMOS sensor



Every so often, we catch Sharp tooting its own horn in regard to sensor size. Needless to say, small is most certainly superior in this discussion, and the aforesaid outfit is patting itself on the back once more for the RJ63SC100. This 5-megapixel CMOS sensor is said to be the industry's thinnest at 9.5- x 9.5- x 6.6-millimeters, and it should fit snugly inside the already cramped innards of tomorrow's cellphones just fine. Samples are slated to ship out at the end of May for ¥10,000 ($96) a pop, while commercial production should get going a month later.

[Via: Impress ]
[Tag: 5-megapixel, cmos, RJ63SC100, sensor, sharp, world record, WorldRecord, worlds smallest, WorldsSmallest ]

Fuji releases the FinePix A850, world yawns



Alright, so you weren't exactly waiting on pins and needles for Fuji to release yet another entry-level FinePix digital camera, but might we interest you in yet another entry-level digital camera with totally average specifications? We thought so. We think you'll find the FinePix A850 offers a uninspiring 8 megapixels of image-stabilized resolution, a delightfully adequate 3x optical zoom, and a solidly-middling ISO 800 maximum sensitivity. But don't get too excited digging change out of the couch just yet -- Fuji's not going to announce pricing on this pinnacle of yesterday's technology until it gets closer to launch in July.
[Thanks, Mark]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: a850, finepix, finepix a850, FinepixA850, fuji ]

Telectroscope lets Londoners and New Yorkers gaze at one another in real-time


Don't get too excited -- that image you see to the right isn't actually a transatlantic telescope. Rather, it's a transatlantic broadband network "rounded off on each end with HD cameras." Still, the 11.2- x 3.3-meter Telectroscope is a real marvel to look at, and it actually does enable viewers in New York and London to peer at each other in real-time. The creation will be on display and open to the public around the clock in both cities until June 15th, so if you've been meaning to ask for that dame's hand in marriage but couldn't afford the JFK - LHR ticket, why not set up a surprise meeting at the 'scope?

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: england, london, new york, NewYork, ny, science, Telectroscope, telescope ]

How would you change Canon's Rebel XSi?


For the DSLR hardcore, we doubt you waited much more than a day or two after launch before securing a Rebel XSi of your own, and for newcomers to the fold, you may have snatched one up after hordes of reviewers gave it an expected thumbs-up. Whatever the case, we're eager to know what's gone right and wrong with the first thousand or so clicks. Has it lived up to your expectations? Are you decidedly joyous about the image quality? Could anything stand to be tweaked / reworked / overhauled completely? You ponied up some serious change for this thing, so don't let emotion get in the way of telling Canon how you really feel.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: canon,digicam,digital rebel,DigitalRebel,dslr,eos,features,rebel xsi,RebelXsi,xsi ]

Pentax kicks out the waterproof Optio W60


Pentax has been cranking out waterproof Optio point-and-shoots for a while now, and the company's latest, the W60, doesn't really break from the company's successful basic formula. The 10 megapixel shooter packs a 2.5-inch LCD, 5x optical zoom that doesn't ever extend out from the main camera body, 720p movie mode, ISO 6400 sensitivity and face, smile, and blink detection. Oh, and it works in depths up to 13 feet in temperatures of just 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and is JIS Class 5 certified against dust and sand. You know, just in case. Should be out in July for $329 in both blue and silver.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: optio,optio w60,OptioW60,pentax,w60,waterproof ]

FujiFilm's Z200FD with "love timer" tells you when it's over


FujiFilm just busted out another of "Z" for Zoom, FinePix shooter. The 20-mm thin Z200fd follows-up the "surprisingly good" Z100fd with a 10 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor; 5x, image stabilized, optical zoom lens; 2.7-inch LCD; SD/SDHC and xD card support; and ISO support up to 1600. It also features a new "love timer" with setting for near (1 heart), close-up (2 hearts), and sloppy-tongue-wrestling (3 hearts) depending upon the level of icky-sticky sweetness (or hipster annoyance judging by that pic) you'd like to capture. Set for release in Japan on June 7th for ?40,000 or about $388 by the time it shows up Stateside to document your breakup.
[Via: Impress ]
[Tag: 10 megapixel,10Megapixel,5x,finepix,fujifilm,love,love timer,LoveTimer,z200fd ]

Canon's Rebel XS / 1000D specs uncovered


Hot on the heels of that Rebel XS / 1000D leak from last week comes a handful of specs and new info on the rumored DSLR. According to the camera fanatics at Photography Bay, the new model will sport a 10.1 megapixel CMOS chip, Digic III, 7-point auto-focus, 3 FPS, a 2.5-inch LCD display, will weigh 540 grams, and should feature simplified 450D-like menus. The camera's price-point is rumored to be on the low end of things, which furthers our suspicions that this will be a replacement for the aging Rebel XT. You'll know more when we know more, so stay tuned.
[Thanks, Eric]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 1000d, canon, dslr, leak, rebel, rebel xs, RebelXs, rumor, speculation, xs ]

Flip Minos coming on June 4?


People sure do love them some Flip Video cameras, and it looks like the company is getting set to cash in on that popularity with a new model dubbed the Minos, which was recently spotted in a B&H catalog with a due date of June 4. It's not clear what the Minos will offer over the existing Flip except a $179 price tag and your choice of a black or white casing, but here's hoping Flip handles all that fame responsibly -- no one want to see this guy go all Elvis and feature-bloated, you know?

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: flip,flip minos,flip video,FlipMinos,FlipVideo,minos ]

Kodak intros Olympics-branded M2008 digital camera


It certainly hasn't gone to the lengths Lenovo has gone with its Olympics tie-ins, but we wouldn't exactly expect anything more from Kodak given its past adventures in athletic cross-promotion. Dubbed the M2008, this latest entry appears to simply be a rebranded version of the company's M1033 compact camera, with it boasting the same 10-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, and 720p video recording features as its non-Olympic counterpart. No word on a release 'round these parts, it seems, but those in China can apparently pick one up now for about $270.
[Thanks, Ehren G]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: kodak,m2008,olympic games,olympics ]

Digital Photo Urn is just too creepy to be useful


If you're somehow able to gaze upon the Digital Photo Urn without emotion, you'll find a fairly useful product. Still, we can't help but be a little creeped out by the notion. Nevertheless, those with differing views can certainly procure one of their own, which was meant specifically to hold the remains (or at least some of them) of your lost pet and continually show pictures of its life on the built-in 7-inch display. In case you're still not freaked out, the unit even supports audio, so you can "hear the precious barks, whines and purrs anytime." At this point, we highly doubt you care about the 256MB of integrated storage space, USB connectivity or Oak / Walnut motifs, but those not shaken can secure one now for around $250.

[Via: picturesnob ]
[Tag: animal,death,digiframe,digital photo frame,DigitalPhotoFrame,pet,pet urn,PetUrn,urn,weird ]

JVC Everio GZ-MS100, Another Camera After YouTube's Heart

JVC's new GZ-MS100 is totally YouTube. How YouTube? It has a freakin' YouTube sticker on the side. Also, it allows one-button YouTube uploads to challenge the Flip Video. Essentially a high-end SD card video recorder, the $350 GZ-MS100 records MPEG-2 and features a 35x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD screen, about 2 hours of stock battery life, various shooting modes, and an optional (YouTube-friendly) 10-minute recording limit. It'll run $350 this June. New JVC Camcorder Offers One-Touch Uploading To YouTubeв„ўWAYNE, NJ, May 19, 2008 - Sharing videos over the Internet is now easier than ever with the launch of a new JVC camcorder that provides one-button uploading to YouTubeв„ў, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos.
The new JVC Everio S Series memory camcorder, the GZ-MS100, was designed to make sharing simple for the millions of people who enjoy sharing their videos with the world over the Internet. And unlike many of the other camcorders that target Internet users, JVC's GZ-MS100 provides an impressive array of full-fledged camcorder features that give it the versatility to do more than shoot short Internet videos.
It looks strikingly similar to the popular Everio G Series camcorders, but is smaller and weighs only 0.60 lbs. including battery, because it records to an SD Card (user provided) instead of a built-in hard disk drive. The ever-increasing capacity and affordability of new SD Cards appearing on the market means that over time Everio S will be able to offer expanded recording time at a lower per minute cost.Once the provided CyberLink software is installed on a WindowsВ® PC, uploading video clips to YouTubeв„ў is quick and easy. The camcorder has an UPLOAD button that works in two ways. In the camera mode, press UPLOAD and then the trigger, and this limits recordings to 10 minutes in length, which matches the YouTubeв„ў file size limit. This eliminates the need to manually time recordings or go back to edit and shorten footage. After recording is done, connect the GZ-MS100 to a PC via a USB cable and press the UPLOAD button. This automatically launches the supplied application for uploading to YouTubeв„ў. After just a few mouse clicks the video will be up on the Internet for everybody to see. The original video quality is maintained in the camera, so it can be used for any other purpose.For storage and cataloging, recorded videos can easily be transferred to a PC via USB2.0 or directly using the SD Card. The provided CyberLink application also allows easy burning to DVD using the computer's optical disc drive. Or, to create DVDs without using a computer JVC offers the CU-VD3 Everio SHARE STATION as an option. Since it was designed as an Everio companion, this DVD burner accommodates Everio's USB Host function that allows scene playback order to be rearranged within the camera before transfer.The GZ-MS100 features Laser Touch Operation, first offered in the Everio G Series camcorders released earlier this year. The feature's scroll bar and buttons are touch-sensitive so the user just glides a finger up or down the bar to choose menu items while its blue light follows the movements. The LCD screen itself is never touched, so it won't get dirty, smudged or covered in fingerprints. The 2.7-inch LCD screen, the same one used on Everio G series models, has Auto Backlight Control to automatically adjust brightness for comfortable viewing indoors or outdoors. And with Auto Power ON/OFF, the user simply opens up the LCD to power-on and start shooting (takes only about one second if Quick Restart mode is engaged), and closes the LCD to shut the power off and avoid draining the battery.
The shape of the camcorder itself facilitates ease of use, with a contoured grip that snugly and securely fits the palm of the hand.In addition to the supplied BN-VF808 rechargeable battery that provides 2 hr. 5 minutes of operation per charge, higher capacity batteries are available: BN-VF815 for 4 hr. 15 minutes and BN-VF823 for 6 hr. 25 minutes of continuous operation per charge.Up front, the GZ-MS100 is equipped with a KONICA MINOLTA LENS that provides a 35x optical zoom with excellent picture quality. JVC's proprietary Gigabrid Engine also contributes to quality by incorporating six digital noise reduction systems to improve the S/N ratio by about 30 percent (3dB) over previous models, and integrating the MPEG-2 encoder to help reduce block noise and mosquito noise. Other full-fledged camera functions include Program AE with shooting modes to accommodate a variety of situations (Night, Twilight, Portrait, Sports, Snow, Spotlight), Digital Image Stabilizer to minimize camera-shake, and much more.The JVC GZ-MS100 will be available in June for $349.99.
[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Canon Patents Fuel Cells (For Cameras, Of Course)

A new patent application by Canon reveals that the company is interested in fuel cell technology for their cameras—or at least feel that they've developed an idea that no one else should use. Wired aptly compares the technology to inkjet printer cartridges, actually using multiple fuel cells to provide varying levels of current depending on camera function. These fuel cells can work alone or combine to tackle the especially power-hungry functions. But as you can see in diagram A, this news leaves the traditional Canon battery grip seething with anger. [Patent via Gadget Lab]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Vosonic's VP5700 shames the PMP acronym


After careful deliberation, we can only assume Vosonic's VP5700 is some form of portable media player, but considering just how unsightly it is, the actual nomenclature is probably a non-issue. Nevertheless, this unit features a 3.5-inch display, way too much plastic, a bizarre looking control scheme, a multicard reader and support for a slew of image, audio and video files. Mum's the word on a price / release date (again, not like you care, right? Right.), but those flash cards sure look as if they're entering the device mighty hastily, wouldn't you say?

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: cheap,pmp,vosonic,VP5700 ]

JVC's new Everio S Series GZ-MS100 camcorder does YouTube, little else


If you've been feeling like those videos you've been making of you and your friends dancing to "Lipgloss" haven't been landing on YouTube fast enough, JVC has got you covered. The company is launching the new Everio S Series GZ-MS100 camcorder, a cheapo model designed to get your clips onto the internet as fast as humanly possible. Utilizing CyberLink software and a dedicated "upload" button on the camera, you can share your embarrassing moments with the world in no time at all. The GZ-MS100 records to SD card, features touch sensitive buttons and scroll-bar, and retails for the ultra-affordable price of $349.99. In June, all of your grainy, pixelated dreams can come true.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: camcorder,everio,Everio S Series GZ-MS100,EverioSSeriesGz-ms100,gz-ms100,jvc,youtube ]

Canon's PowerShot SD1100 IS gets reviewed


Like pretty much every other Digital ELPH preceding it, Canon's flagship SD1100 IS garnered nothing but the utmost praise in a recent Imaging-Resource review. Okay, so maybe critics did kvetch about slight noise at ISO 800, a somewhat confusing interface, and a not-particularly-useful digital zoom, but this point-and-shoot managed to get it right in the areas that matter most. Build quality and design were both smiled upon, the image stabilization performed as advertised and the image quality was deemed "excellent." Of note, they did find very minor chromatic aberration in the wide angle shots, but considering the size of this shooter, results were seen as fantastic. Overall, it looks like Canon has produced yet another winner in the pocket-friendly camera department, but feel free to take a gander at the in-depth review waiting in the read link below.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: canon,digital ELPH,DigitalElph,ELPH,point and shoot,point-and-shoot,PointAndShoot,powershot,review,reviewed,SD1100 ]

Nikon's Coolpix S52c now shipping

Nikon Coolpix S52c


Nikon is shipping the Coolpix S52c WiFi-capable point-and-shoot camera as expected. The S52c allows you to upload pictures to your Flickr or Nikon's own "my Picturetown" online image repository via WiFi and comes with 6 months of T-Mobile HotSpot access. Camera specs are pretty respectable, including a 9 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 3.0-inch LCD, and optical image stabilization. The Coolpix comes in at $279.95 and should show up at retailers soon. Despite Nikon saying it's shipping now, Amazon says it will ship on or around June 15, so hopefully they're just a little slow on the uptake and Nikon isn't lying through its teeth.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: coolpix,flickr,nikon,s52c,wifi ]

Sony Releases Limited-Edition A350 in Japan


With its yellow-gold body and webbing camera strap, Sony's limited-edition A350 is available in Japan and will cost you the equivalent of $850. The camera, which came second in Wilson's entry-level DSLR Battlemodo last month, looks pretty spanky in champagne, doncha think? Check it out in the extensive and gorgeous gallery below. [Impress]


[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Sony TG3E / TG1 camcorder review


We had the good fortune to receive a Sony HDR-TG3E (aka, HDR-TG1 for North America) review unit on the day we departed for a bit of tropical relaxation. As such, we return with a real world look at how the Titanium-shelled TG3E performed in the sun, surf, and sand of an honest to goodness family holiday. We set off with high hopes for the world's smallest 1080i (1920 x 1080/60i @ 16Mbps) camcorder, high enough that we left our trusty Xacti HD700 at home. Not high enough to leave behind our aging, but proven 5 megapixel point-and-shoot still camera though. So, how did it do? Review after the break.
Update: Added .m2ts video sample for download.
Touchscreen User Interface
While people tend to love or hate touch-screens, we generally consider ourselves lovers, not haters of the once novelty display technology. We're willing to sacrifice those deliciously tactile buttons to the gods of gadgetry in exchange for a more compact device with bigger screen and cleaner overall design. That love affair ends with the TG3E. The touchscreen offers no value-add to the consumer here, only distraction. Oh, where to begin...



For starters, the protruding bezel surrounding the glass combined with tiny, touch-screen target icons placed in the corners and along the extreme edges of the display resulted in our only source of grief during an otherwise blissful week adrift in the Indian ocean. As such, many of our average-size, man-sausaged attempts to tap an icon resulted in second and third pokes of increasing force. And we do mean pokes -- we found ourselves more often than not having to master our tentative, touchscreen-tapping nature and take a deliberate stab at the display to elicit a response. The incessant grubbing was further intensified by Sony's inefficient and overwrought UI.
Intuitive, the TG3E is not. We're ashamed to say that we were forced to reference the user manual for the most mundane tasks more than once during our two weeks of continuous use. Some options, such as setting the date and time, are so deeply or obtusely buried within the menus that we were left with no choice but to spin-up the CD and search the PDF. This ain't no VCR, regularly adjusting the time is an important task on a camcorder if you want your images and videos cataloged as you move around time zones -- especially if you are carrying multiple imaging devices (which we were).
We did manage to figure out most of the features by the 2nd or 3rd day of heavy usage -- an eternity given the breadth of devices we've used over the years. And seriously Sony, a minimum of seven taps just to delete a picture or video when we're limited to just 25 minutes of 1080i video on the included 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card? There are two methods for deleting content. The first requires 7 taps and is useful when deleting the photograph or video you just took, which, let's face it, happens all the time in the age of digital imaging: Play -> [touch photo/video to delete] -> Others -> trash can -> delete -> yes -> Ok. Another method requires 8 taps: Home -> Others -> Delete -> Delete -> Delete -> [touch photo/video to delete] -> Ok -> Yes -> Ok. The latter does, at least, allow you to select multiple, non-sequential shots for deletion all at once. Nevertheless, we can review and delete an image on our Casio Exilim compact camera and images or video on our Xacti HD700 camcorder in only 3 clicks.
Another complaint is that the touch-screen UI approach requires two hands to operate -- the right hand holds the pistol grip while the left punches away at the display. The result is an overly cumbersome system which more than once caused us to miss the early action we would have caught with our Xacti -- a camcorder which opts for a slimmed down UI and joystick for nimble, one-handed navigation. Let's be clear though, this two-handed criticism is leveled at all touchscreen camcorders, not just the TG3E.
Maybe it's just us, be we rarely do any video editing or slideshow viewing directly from the camera -- built-in HDMI jack or not. Our approach is to shoot video and photographs, dump them to disk, and then process them using a more powerful computer with a large desktop display. Regardless, Sony stuffed the TG3E with a bevy of organizational features like face, date, and roll indexing and a playlist manager. All of which allow you to (in theory anyway) quickly search and pinpoint specific moments you've captured for playback. A bit overzealous since the solid state TG3E can't exactly hold hours of 1080i video. As such, all these playback "features" come across as a lot of unnecessary fluff at the cost of simplicity and usability.
Naturally, the UI isn't everything. In fact, you'll likely begrudgingly master its idiosyncrasies just as we did. Hell, we all learned to use XP didn't we? In fact, many of us now refuse to give it up even though a prettier, sexier sibling has hit the streets. The true test of this 1080i camcorder is in the image quality. We'll get to that in a sec.
Let's shoot some video
What can we say, the TG3E is small, the world's smallest 1080i camcorder. As such, it's as portable as you'll get. While we wouldn't say it was comfortable snaking about in the front pocket of our obligatory white-linen, resort trousers, it is pocketable without causing too much of an excited SpongeBob bulge. Unfortunately, the short battery life and minimal out-of-the-box storage meant regular trips to the power jack and USB cable to recharge the battery and free up space.




Sony says that the included InfoLITHIUM battery pack NP-FH50 should provide about 45 minutes of typical battery power with the LCD on. Let's face it, without an optical viewfinder, that's pretty much your only option. In our testing, we averaged about an hour of photography and video per charging cycle. In general, battery life was never an issue. We did come dangerously close to running out of battery life on the first sunny day to hit our shores by cranking up the LCD to near 100% brightness while bumping the backlight to "bright." Big mistake. Battery life plummeted, nearly running out of juice after just a few minutes of video and a dozen or so snaps. No worries, we noticed the drain and dropped the 2.7-inch LCD back to the lower, battery friendly settings. The image was still viewable as long as we maintained a right-angle viewing position with the display. Overall, the LCD visibility exceeded our expectations even under a clear blue sky at a mere 6-degree latitude north of the equator.
Memory is of course expandable: Sony says that an ($80) 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo will snag 55 minutes of AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i video (highest quality) while a ($220) 16GB card pushes capacity to almost 2 hours of continuous 1080i recording. Of course, Sony offers lower quality recording options including an AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i mode and SD, MPEG2 mode for up to 85 minutes or 2.5 hours of video on that same 4GB card, respectively.
While 25 minutes or so of 1080i AVCHD recordings on the included 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card doesn't sound like much, that capacity can easily last for a few days of holiday video. However, we're intensely frugal with the footage we capture, rarely allowing any given recording to exceed 1 minute in length. Still, for a one week holiday, 4GB just wasn't enough total capacity, especially since we were snapping photos with the TG3E on top of all that HD video. Our parental paranoia of missing that perfect moment meant we were routinely purging unwanted footage (7 steps each time!) and then dumping the Memory Stick content to our laptop every day or two -- yes we brought our laptop, good thing too.
Time to edit
Moving images between our Intel-based MacBook Pro running OS X Leopard and the TG3E was a snap. Just tether the TG3E via Sony's proprietary "USB Terminal Adapter" cable and select "USB Connect" when it appears on the camcorder's display. At that point, iMovie and/or iPhoto launches automatically depending upon your configuration. However, the experience was far from flawless. To be fair, most of the problems are related to AVCHD in general and thus Sony and Panasonic share equal blame.
It's worth highlighting the fact that Apple's iMovie 08 only supports AVCHD on Intel-based Macs. Older PowerPC machines need not apply.
The first minor issue we encountered was disk capacity related. See, about an hour of 1080i AVCHD video transfered via iMovie 08 equates to about 40GB of disk according to Apple. As such, we quickly found ourselves deleting files like mad in order to free-up space on our suddenly itty bitty laptop hard drive. Unfortunately for the kids, their Disney flicks were the first thing to go. Once the imports started, they were verrrry slow. Import times were on an order of 3x longer than the length of the footage shot. As such, 20 minutes of video could easily take an hour or longer to transfer. Why? iMovie 08 does not support AVCHD directly, it converts the video to the Apple Intermediate Codec on the fly during import. Ugh, we must have missed that in Apple's fine print.
After getting the videos transfered, we discovered that iPhoto and iMovie were unable to automatically delete the images or video from the camcorder. Instead, we had to finger our way through the TG3E's deletion maze and choose "Delete All" under both the video and image deletion menu options. Fine given our constant shoot and dump-to-laptop approach. But this would have created havoc if we had been selecting individual files to transfer off the camcorder.
Our next unpleasant surprise was audio related. We're unable to export movies created within iMovie 08 at a full 1920 x 1080 resolution with the original Dolby Digital 5.1 channel sound in tact. A real disappointment. This appears to be a limitation overcome by Final Cut Pro which, unfortunately, we don't have. iMovie strips the audio down to two channel stereo during the import process. Double ugh!
Unfortunately, it doesn't get any better when using the Sony supplied Picture Motion Browser v3.0 software (with relevant plug-ins) on our PC. While videos transfered very fast to the native AVCHD Windows-only software, we were unable to playback the imported .mt2s videos in the supplied AVCHD player. The latest official release (and even the latest nightly build) of VLC choked too. After a few hours of trying, we gave up. Regardless, the software was so tedious and coated in such a thick layer of Sony-coded drudgery that there was nothing we felt worthy of salvage. PC users will be going to third parties like Cyberlink, Corel, Nero, and others if they buy this camera.
Video and image quality
This is what it all boils down to right, the quality of the image, still or moving. At this point we could sit back and tell you that the 4 megapixel still images weren't as sharp as we'd like or that the colors tended to be over saturated. We could also comment on the camera's decent pickup (without pixelation) of fast action scenes under well-lit environments and how well the TG3E's electronic image stabilization seemed to handle shake under the camcorder's max, 10x zoom. We could even lament the heavy grain experienced under typical, in-home lighting. Instead, we'll just post a few examples for your own highly subjective grandstanding.
139MB: 1080i zen recorded outside under mid-day, equatorial sunshine
157MB: 1080i grain-fest shot indoors, late afternoon sunshine, near large French doors
219MB: 1080i shot outside under decidedly weaker, northern European sun at full 10x optical zoom
17.7MB: Exact same scene shot at 720p with Xacti HD700 at full 5x zoom (note wind noise, relatively shaky picture, and size of that file)
134MB: SMTH SLW REC slow motion mode -- we're suckers for slo-mo even if it's at the cost of image quality and limited to just 3 seconds of footage
70MB: 1440 x 1080 dancing robot in .m2ts format
We think the image gallery comparing identical scenes shot with the TG3E and four year old, 5 megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z55 speaks for itself.


Other things we disliked... and liked
What, no headphone or microphone jacks Sony? Did you not notice these on the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 during your competitive analysis?
There's a long list of niceties include the look (sex in a box), the weight (light but not cheap), automatic lens cap, 3-second SMTH SLW REC slow motion recording, snappy image-stabilized 10x optical zoom, and HDMI jack right on the camera. We also like the Quick On mode which puts the camera to sleep for up to 15 minutes after you close the LCD. That means you can start recording in as little as 2 seconds vs. 5 seconds when the camcorder is turned completely off.

Bottom line
Overall, the TG3E is a winner of a product as long as you're setup to deal with the AVCHD file format. In other words, you should factor in the cost ($100 and up) of a proper AVCHD video editing software package with the purchase of the TG3E. For some of you, those who value ultra-portable convenience over the quality you get by carrying multiple devices, the TG3E could even replace your point-and-shoot camera on holiday. Not us though.
As much as we expected to, we simply can't give the TG3E an enthusiastic Engadget recommendation for one simple reason: Sanyo's XACTI HD1000. We used the HD1000 extensively at CES and it's nearly spec-for-spec identical to the TG3E. It also features a much simpler UI requiring only a single hand to operate, an external mic jack, and video recordings in the much more popular MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format for $250 less than the TG3E. Guess what our choice would be?


[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: camcorder,features,review,sony,tg1,tg3e ]

Olympus E-520 announced, previewed


At the end of the month Olympus will launch its E520 Four-Thirds followup to the E510. The 10 megapixel D-SLR features sensor-shifting image stabilization, the 2.7-inch LCD and AF Live View introduced on the E420, TruePic III image processing and Supersonic Wave Filter dust protection. Other features include Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment, and an optional Wireless flash control accessory when the body goes retail for about $600 Stateside. Digital Camera Resource Page already has a preview unit in house. So why not hit up the read link and take in their expert, early opinion of the latest Olympus E?
[Via: 1001 Noisy Cameras ]
[Tag: 10 megapixel,10Megapixel,dslr,e-520,e520,olympus ]

Canon prepping a Digital Rebel XS / 1000D?

Canon's been known to leak an upcoming model or five in website descriptions, UPC codes, certification lists, and driver downloads, so pardon us if we're not too shocked that references to a "Rebel XS / 1000D" have popped up in the latest version of the company's RAW conversion utility. Of course, there aren't any specs or pictures, but based on Canon's naming scheme, we'd hazard that it'll be a lower-end version of the Rebel XSi, replacing the now somewhat-outdated Rebel XT. Of course, that's purely conjecture, but based on Canon's track record with these leaks, we'll know for sure soon enough.


[Via: 1000 Noisy Cameras ]
[Tag: 1000d,canon,digital rebel,digital rebel xs,DigitalRebel,DigitalRebelXs,rebel,rumor,rumors,xs ]

Creative gets official with Vado cheapcorder

JR.com may have let the cat of the bag, but Creative's not letting that stop it from getting all official with its new Vado Pocket Video Cam, which is taking square aim at the likes of Pure Digital's Flip Video cheapcorder. Like the Flip, Creative's offering comes packing a lowly-but-YouTube-friendly 640 x 480 resolution, along with 2GB of built-in memory (with no expansion options), a 2-inch display, a flip-out USB connector, and a promised two hours of battery life on a charge. Not exactly the most feature-packed camera out there (even for a budget model), but the $100 price tag is certainly right, and you can get it in your choice of silver or hot pink.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: camcorder,cheapcorder,creative,vado ]

Sony Ericsson patent applications reveal wireless digital camera plans

It looks like your future digital camera could have considerably more wireless options than built-in WiFi or an Eye-Fi card, at least if Sony Ericsson has its way. As Unwired View reports, the company has filed a number patent applications that detail its plans to add various wireless connectivity options to digital cameras, including GSM, CDMA, and WiMAX, in addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That would apparently come both in the form of wireless cards built into the cameras themselves, and in the form of wireless adapters or docks that would attach to the camera, with some dedicated flash memory also thrown in for storing settings for Flickr and the like. Of course, there's no indication as to when we can expect to see such cameras and, as Unwired View points out, the idea itself may not be the most patentable, but you can sign us up for any connectivity option that doesn't involve a tangled mess of cords in our gadget bag.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: patent,patent application,PatentApplication,sony ericsson,SonyEricsson,wireless digital camera,WirelessDigitalCamera ]

Canon Rebel XSi review roundup

We've already seen it unboxed, but if you've been waiting for a slightly more thorough look at Canon's new Rebel XSi DSLR (otherwise known as the EOS 450D) before you drop $800+ on it, you can now get your fix thanks to a steady stream of reviews that are now pouring in. Among the earliest to get its hands on a unit was Digital Photography Review, which reserved final judgment because it only did a preview but nonetheless provided one of the most exhaustive looks at the camera, complete with comparisons to its predecessor and its nearest competitors. Offering more opinions was Camera Labs, which found the XSi to be a "worthy successor" to the XTi, although it warns that new buyers should consider whether the upgrades are really worth the extra cost. The folks at LetsGoDigital were a bit more enthusiastic, calling the XSi a "perfect camera for everybody," although they were slightly disappointed by the camera's plastic casing. That also proved to be sticking point for Digital Camera Review, which went as far as to call the camera "cheap looking" and "less refined" than those with a lightly textured finish. On the upside, it says that the camera's low-noise sensor "raises the bar for entry-level DSLRs," with its extensive customization options, and Canon's expectedly strong AF system also winning it some high marks. If you're still not swayed one way other the other, you find plenty more details by diving into the links below.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: canon,canon xsi,CanonXsi,rebel,rebel xsi,RebelXsi,review roundup,ReviewRoundup,xsi ]

Samsung Challenges Casio with $850 Slow-Mo HMX20 HD Camcorder

As excited as we are about Casio's Exilim EX-F1 camera with slow-mo and high-def video modes, we're even more thrilled to see actual competition in this category. Samsung announced its HMX20C (or HMX20) at CES, and is now officially shipping it, at least in Korea, for a price around $850. That's about $150 less than Casio's Hiro Nakamura supercam. Here's what's similar about the two models:

• Both can do full high-def shooting—Casio at 1080i but Samsung beats it, with 1080p
• The Samsung can do slow-mo at 300 frames per second (presumably in standard def, but maybe in HD; Casio can do 300fps, 600fps and 1200fps
• Both can take still pictures while shooting video—very helpful indeed
• Although the Samsung is positioned as a camcorder and the Casio is called a camera, they both have 6-megapixel CMOS sensorsGiven the CES announcement and the Korea launch, we can only assume that the HMX20 will be one of the items in Samsung's summer line show lineup. That's good news for everybody—except maybe Casio. [Samsung Press Release via PC World]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Shady NY Camera Store Offers to Pay User to Take Down Amazon Rating

cameta-store_02.jpg


Those small camera stores in NY are notoriously shady, shipping broken parts, ripping people off and being all-in-all unresponsive to complaints. What's interesting about this case of a customer being unsatisfied with their service is the fact that the company emailed the customer and offered a $75 credit in order for him to take down the negative review he posted on Amazon. "If you do decide to remove the feedback left in exchange for the refund please follow the instructions below." Stay away from Cameta Camera or any company that offers to pay to get rid of negative feedback.


 [Dethroner]


[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Kenko puts remote on the side of KDF-07 digiframe


You want questionable design? Kenko's giving you questionable design. Rather than just leaving the remote unattached like, oh, every other digital photo frame maker in the universe, this firm has found a reason to stick it on the side of the frame itself. Generally known for its photographic paper, Kenko has ventured into the ever-growing world of digiframes with the 7-inch KDF-07, and while the flip-out remote can be tucked behind when not needed, we're still a bit perplexed as to why it's even assembled in this manner. Specs wise, you'll find support for JPEG, MP3, AVI and MPEG1/2/4 file formats, a multicard reader, a 480 x 234 resolution panel and a USB port for transferring files from your PC. Folks somehow obsessed with the above pictured device can supposedly snag one in grain, black or silver motifs for ?16,800 ($160), but we're betting that crew is mighty small. [Warning: PDF read link]


[Via: CNET ]
[Tag: digiframe, digital photo frame, DigitalPhotoFrame, KDF-07, kenko ]

Creative's Vado cheapcorder revealed by JR.com


It looks like Creative's getting set to muscle in on Pure Digital's Flip Video -- online retailer JR.com has specs up for something called the Vado VF0570-P, and they're basically identical to the Flip Video Ultra, apart from a slightly larger 2-inch screen. Other than that, you're getting the same 2 hours of VGA-res video on 2GB of built-in memory and YouTube support for the same $100 price. No pics or ship dates yet, but we're guessing we'll see something official pretty soon.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: camcorder, creative, vado, VF0570, VF0570-P, video camera, VideoCamera ]

Samsung intros 'smallest ever' color laser printers


We don't normally get too excited about printers, but when a company claims to have introduced the "smallest ever" of anything, our ears prick up. Apparently, the Korean electronics-maker has distilled color laser printers into their purest, tiniest form with the CLP-315K and CLX-3175FNK, clocking in at 20- and 40-percent smaller than previous iterations, respectively. The printers still sport fancy-pants features, like printing at up to 2,400 x 600 dpi, 32MB of onboard memory, and -- at least on the CLX-3175FNK -- the ability to print from a USB key. No word on price or availability, or if these will see the light of day in the States.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: CLP-315K, CLX-3175FNK, color laser printers, ColorLaserPrinters, laser printer, LaserPrinter, samsung ]

RC-12 wireless mini video camera can record itself getting lost

We've seen a number of cameras mounted on RC vehicles before, but if you're looking for a more out-of-the-box solution, you may want to consider this so-called RC-12 camera now available from Japan Trend Shop, which is not only smaller than most, but able to be used underwater as well. Apparently, the 2.7 megapixel camera will work up to 30 meters away with the included 1.2GHz Morse typeS receiver, and last for about 45 minutes on a single charge, which is likely more than you'll ever want to shoot in one go, unless of course you happen to be recording some first-person footage from your next robot laser battle, which we could never possibly get enough of. As you might have guessed, however, the pint-sized kit doesn't exactly come cheap, with it setting you back $269, plus some fairly hefty shipping charges.


[Via: OhGizmo ]
[Tag: mini camera, mini video camera, MiniCamera, MiniVideoCamera, rc, rc camera, rc-12, RcCamera ]

Digital Foci ships Image Moments 8 digiframe: for mom (or mom's mom)



Call it a hunch, but we wouldn't be surprised one iota if you received some form of digital photo frame for Mother's Day. If you're a mother, that is. Digital Foci is sure doing its best to sway your kid's purchasing decision by shipping its Image Moments 8 just in time. If you'll recall, this one packs a respectable 450MB of internal memory, an 8-inch LED-backlit SVGA (800 x 600) display with a 500:1 contrast ratio, a multicard reader that handles CF, SD, SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick, MS Pro, MS Duo, MS Pro Duo and xD formats and an obligatory USB port, too. There's even a set of integrated speakers and an audio output for placing a nice slow jam behind those honeymoon snaps. Take a look in the read link for the full rundown, and get set to part ways with $199 before May 11th (you know she's worth it).
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: digiframe, digital foci, digital photo frame, DigitalFoci, DigitalPhotoFrame, image moments, image moments 8, ImageMoments, ImageMoments8, IMT-083, mothers day, MothersDay, now shipping, NowShipping, ship, shipping, ships ]

English towns equipping crossing guards with cameras

England is already drowning in CCTV cameras, so it looks like Big Brother is starting to get creative in finding ways to deploy more: local councils are now outfitting crossing guards with camera-equipped stop signs. Yeah, crossing guards. With cameras in their stop signs. The cameras in the £890 ($1765) poles are fairly conspicuous, and the hope is that it'll curb aggressive driving around crossing zones, which resulted in 1,400 incidents last year. There's no word on how anyone plans to measure the effectiveness of the program, but we're certain the crossing guards who get passed over for the poles and end up with the hat-mounted cameras also being deployed will have a few choice words about things.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: cctv, crossing guard, CrossingGuard, england, lollipop, lollipop crossing, LollipopCrossing, surveillance, uk ]

Sony TG3E: world's smallest 1080i camcorder unboxed, sized-up with 720p champ


Get a load of what just arrived at the doorstep of our European HQ -- the world's smallest 1080i camcorder, Sony's TG3E. Otherwise known as the TG1 in the US, this pup is small and sturdy and definitely looks the part of a Full HD (as it's defined for camcorders) 1080i shooter. Hell, Sony somehow managed to turn that boxy design into something sexy to hold. However, Sanyo's 720p Xacti DMX-HD700 (in red) still trumps the TG3E in size and weight. Unfortunately, it gives up significant lines of resolution in the process and uses inferior materials to boot. We'll be back later with a full review of this pup as soon as we find a nice, tropical island which can pamper this beast in the luxury a $900 camcorder deserves. So until then, check the gallery and call out in the comments with any questions you'd like us to tackle.

Gallery: Sony's world's smallest TG3E 1080i camcorder unboxed, sized-up with 720p champ








[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: camcorder, features, hands-on, hd camcorder, hd-tg3e, HdCamcorder, hdr-tg1, smallest, sony, tg1, tg3e, unboxing ]

Parrot shows off AndrГ©e Putman-designed digiframe in UK

Indifferent souls may have no qualms just snapping up the first digiframe they see, but that sect isn't the target market for Parrot's latest. The Andrée Putman-designed device is being shown around the UK at the moment, and aside from boasting a 7-inch display, a glossy black motif, rear-mounted buttons, auto-rotation, 10MB of built-in storage, an SD expansion slot and integrated Bluetooth (but no WiFi), you also get to hand over £250 to take it home. Right now, the piece is only available in London's Few and Far store, but the company may try to roll it out nationwide if demand necessitates. Check it out on video in the read link below.


[Via: CNET ]
[Tag: design, designer, digiframe, digital photo frame, DigitalPhotoFrame, england, frame, limited edition, LimitedEdition, luxury, Parrot, photo frame, PhotoFrame, uk ]

Ricoh's 28mm GR Digital II camera gets reviewed


It's taken a little while for Ricoh's 10-megapixel GR Digital II to make the rounds since it was announced late last year, but it's finally wound up in the capable hands of the folks from Photography Blog, who've now turned out a full review of the camera. Among other things, this one is particularly notable for its use of a 28mm fixed focal length lens, which Photography Blog found helped deliver some solid images with "very little distortion." They were also pleased with the addition of a RAW shooting mode (even though it slows things down quite a bit), and the camera's intuitive control system, which can be "almost completely configured to suit your way of working." On the downside, they found the camera suffered from the common drawback of excessive noise at ISO 400 or above, and there is the small matter of the $699 price tag, which puts it on the level of some pretty impressive non-28mm cameras, and within striking range of the 28mm Sigma DP1. Still, the GR Digital II appears to hold its own, and seems like it'd be an even better buy if you can find a good deal on it.


[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 28mm, gr digital, gr digital II, GrDigital, GrDigitalIi, ricoh ]