posts on CNET - Page 5

Does the U.S. bore consumer camera companies?

LAS VEGAS--This was an odd CES for cameras.

We usually only get point-and-shoots, and some generally uninteresting ones at that. This year we were greeted with three models targeted at enthusiasts and pros, though: the Fujifilm X-Pro1, the Nikon D4, and the Canon PowerShot G1 X. Consequently, they were each nominated for a CNET Best of CES award in the digital imaging category.

The overall number of point-and-shoot announcements was down (no thanks to Fujifilm's deluge of 19 models), but it looks like that's just a CES phenomenon; we expect a lot of the entry-level and mainstream models not announced here to pop up at CP+ in Japan in early February.

Is it a sign of the U.S. market's decreasing relevance to the camera companies? With Kodak having flushed itself, every major camera company is based in Asia. We still buy a lot of cameras in the U.S., but we're not growing as fast as other regions, and are a mature, price-conscious market, which can be unappealing to companies looking for high volume and high margins.

It's also possible that the timing of CP+, in PMA's old spot, simply matches camera makers' habitual announcement cycle.

Despite all that, we still got plenty of point-and-shoot camera announcements, and with them, a closer look at what you can expect this year as manufacturers build out their 2012 lineups.… Read more

SanDisk on new XQD memory card format: 'Meh'

In a decision inauspicious for XQD, SanDisk is skipping over the new memory card format for high-end cameras.

"At this time, SanDisk has chosen not to productize the XQD format," SanDisk spokeswoman Wendy Vlieks told CNET News late yesterday.

The ringing non-endorsement is particularly notable since SanDisk helped create the format in the first place.

The comment also means that XQD--developed by the CompactFlash Association (CFA) as a successor to CF cards--currently lacks support from the two top-tier flash card makers. The other, Lexar, was noncommittal about XQD last week: "As a leading CFA member, Lexar has … Read more

Shoot the curl with Oregon Scientific's ACTCMini Action cam

LAS VEGAS--As I've said before, it's not often that I get to cover surf-related tech, so when CNET's Kent German told me Oregon Scientific had a new video camera for surfboards, you'd better believe I bolted over to the company's booth to check it out.

The ATCMini Action Video Camera is Oregon Scientific's latest action cam, and it's one of the lightest ones yet at just 2.3 ounces. This means it won't weigh you down when you're trying to capture all your thrills and spills as you're surfing, biking, … Read more

RIP standard-def camcorders

LAS VEGAS--Standard-definition camcorders should have died a while ago, but the manufacturers kept them around because they were still selling. That changed this week at CES when all the major manufacturers--Canon, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, and Samsung--announced nothing but high-def models and confirmed there would be no more SD models coming in the future.

Now, I know some of you out there have or had SD camcorders that produced great video, but manufacturers stopped making high-quality SD models a long time ago when HD took over.… Read more

Is this Kodak's last great minicamcorder?

LAS VEGAS--It's really too bad that all the bankruptcy talk and lawsuits overshadowed Kodak's CES product announcements, particularly its latest minicamcorder, the Playfull Dual.

It's called the Dual because it's set up to shoot both full HD movie clips and 12-megapixel stills. Movies can be captured at 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second (H.264) and it can also do high-speed capture at up to 240fps at 720p resolution for slow-motion clips.

As a still camera, its backside-illuminated sensor allows for faster shooting and better low-light image quality. It has an f2.6 wide-angle … Read more

Sony's two new minicamcorders let you live stream or drop it in one

LAS VEGAS--It's certainly looking like the minicamcorder is headed off into the sunset, being beaten down by compact cameras and smartphones. Sony's giving it at least one more go, though, with its Bloggie line with two new models--one fitted with Wi-Fi, the other with a coat of armor.

The Sony Bloggie Live is a full HD minicamcorder (though it'll shoot at 720p at 60 or 30 frames per second, too) with a 3-inch touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi. Connect to a hot spot or other wireless network and you can stream live to Qik.com (assuming you'… Read more

The 5 new camcorders that matter out of Sony's 13

LAS VEGAS--Sorry, Sony, you may have some really good camcorders, but you have too many. Thirteen new models between $300 and $1,500 is simply overkill.

Normally, I'd break Sony's camcorder barrage into three posts and attempt to meaningfully differentiate the two midrange CX models from the four entry-level models from the five projector-enabled models from the one hard-drive model...but this year, I'm just going to hit the highlights of the models that I think deserve to exist.

There are a couple notable updates for 2012. The first is Balanced Optical SteadyShot (BOS), a major enhancement … Read more

Panasonic camcorders concentrate on quality

LAS VEGAS--With updated naming conventions and fewer offerings than last year, Panasonic's somewhat stolid lineup resists jumping on the Wi-Fi bandwagon.

This year's camcorder lineup from Panasonic is a refreshing change from previous years. Not only did the company take the opportunity to rationalize its offerings, simplifying its nomenclature with the convention that "M" indicates the model with built-in memory, but it's also pruned the number of models. Plus, this year it joins the march of companies declaring the death of the hard-disk camcorder.

One thing that hasn't changed is Panasonic's annoying practice … Read more

How cheap can cheap camcorders get?

LAS VEGAS--Samsung is helping hit a new low price for 1080/60i video.

There isn't much to say about Samsung's minimalist camcorder announcements for CES this year. There's going to be one entry-level model in two flavors: a $349 Wi-Fi-capable one, the QF20, and a bare-bones uncommunicative one, the Q20.

An update to the Q10, with its somewhat gimmicky rotating "switch grip" that's graduated to Switch Grip II, the Q20/QF20 doubles the zoom range to 20x and adds an Art Time Lapse effect.

You'll be able to get these babies in March.… Read more

Toshiba adds 3D and Wi-Fi to Camileo minicamcorder lineup, picks up where Flip let off

LAS VEGAS--The Flip may be dead but Toshiba's Camileo line isn't.

The company introduced two new mini digital camcorders at CES, one--the Z100--offers stereoscopic 3D recording, and the other--the Air10--has built-in WiFi that allows you to post videos on the fly to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The Camileo Z100 3D camcorder is a barrel-style camcorder that will hit stores in April for $219. It records in both 2D as well as the 3D format and has a flip-out 2.8-inch, glasses-free 3D LCD touch-screen display that shifts to 2D when you want. … Read more