camcorder

Those of you hoping that Canon's latest announcement, long-rumored to be a camera with extraspecial video capabilities, would be a 5D Mark III can now officially be disappointed. At about $20,000, this one ain't for the hobbyists or the still-images-firsters.

The new series of cameras, dubbed Cinema EOS, consists of two models based around a new 4K Super35 CMOS sensor and incorporating the most current version of its Digic DV III image processor. The two models differ only by mount: the C300 PL uses a PL mount (developed by Arri for film cameras) and the C300 uses a Canon EF mount.

There had been speculation that the camera would either be a 4K or a 2K (HD) model, and it's oddly both and neither.… Read more

OK, so it's a really cute, fully functional digital camera. But would you use it? And at what point is a camera too small?

The camera in question, from novelty retailer Hammacher Schlemmer, is slightly larger than a cubic inch (1.125 inches by 1 inch by 1.063 inches) and weighs half an ounce. The company claims it's the world's smallest digital camera.

Being so very small it's probably easy to lose, despite the included wrist lanyard. It's small enough to be a choking hazard for toddlers and pets. Another cause for hesitation is its $99.95 price tag.

It's a real camera though. It takes 1,600x1,200 JPEG stills and 640x480 30-frames-per-second AVI video, which it stores on a microSD card. It comes with a 2GB card. It also includes a USB cable so you can view images and video on a Windows computer. The camera's battery lasts 30 minutes and charges in an hour via the USB cable.… Read more

This is kind of hard to believe, but three years ago, when the Flip Video MinoHD pocket camcorder made its debut, it had a price tag of $229.99.

Flip is gone, of course, having been acquired by Cisco and then shuttered earlier this year. But the products live on, at least for a while, and there are deals to be had. Oh, yes.

TigerDirect, for example, has the Flip MinoHD pocket digital camcorder (silver) for $39.99, plus a very reasonable $2.29 for shipping. That's after redeeming a $20 mail-in rebate (PDF), which comes in the form … Read more

Sony and Panasonic, with their high stakes in 3D TV, are also two of the most active companies trying to generate 3D content at all levels. Panasonic now brings 3D into the entry-level professional price realm with the HDC-Z10000. (Though Panasonic won't announce the price until 30 days before it ships--also an unknown--given its size and features I'm assuming it will be comparable to the Sony HXR-NX3D1U, which was announced this past spring at the NAB Show and which has just started shipping.) Announced at the IFA show in Germany, Panasonic has also taken the opportunity to show … Read more

When a company more or less tells you that Leica can't effectively come up with a high-quality lens for its mount, that makes you pause. But that seems to be the rationale behind Panasonic's latest X series "premium" lens announcements. In this case, the term seems to apply less to the optics--Leica's reputation is safe there--than to the features and technology. And I have to admit, when Panasonic briefed us about the lenses, they seemed pretty cool. Dubbed the "Lumix X series," they incorporate lever-based electronic zooms along with manual focus and servoelectronic … Read more

We joke about the worst-kept product secrets on the Web, but Sony's late-summer camera and camcorder announcements have to be some sort of record. Finally made public today, specs and photos of its higher-end updates to the Alpha line have been floating around for a while--the semi-pro SLT-A77V was even prematurely nominated for an award. So while chances are you're already familiar with the new models--the SLT-A77V, SLT-A65V, NEX-7, NEX-5N, and NEX-VG20 camcorder--read on for my take and more details.

To be fair, there really is a boatload of interesting, potentially game-changing, stuff here, with lenses and accessories in addition to the cameras.

Starting at the top, the SLT-A77V is the long-awaited successor to the DSLR-A700, though the former uses Sony's fixed translucent-mirror technology and the latter is a conventional dSLR. The A77V incorporates Sony's newest sensor, a 24-megapixel version of its Exmor HD series, along with a new 19-point autofocus system, OLED electronic viewfinder, and 1080/60p video recording in a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body. Priced at $1,400 for the body only or $2,000 with the new 16-50mm f2.8 SSM Zeiss lens, the A77V comes in a at an odd price relative to potential competitors from Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic. Sony will offer a new vertical grip for it, the VG-C77AM (October, $299.99).

Into the unenviable slot that competes directly against the Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Nikon D5100, and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2, Sony launches the SLT-A65V. The A65V sits in the SLT product line between the older A55V and the A77V, and incorporates aspects of both: the newer 24-megapixel sensor, EVF, drive mode, and video codec from the higher-end model with the older 15-point AF system, and similar body design from the A55V. Both of the new models have built-in GPS for geotagging as well.

The two SLT models have very aggressive continuous-shooting specs for their respective classes, and as long as Sony doesn't run into heat problems with video shooting on the new sensor, they sound quite nice (although, as far as I understand, there's no official way to crop into a 1080 window on the sensor while shooting video). But I'm not thrilled about the jump to 24 megapixels, though I'm sure we'll see a Nikon using some variant of that sensor next year.

Kodak Gallery users now have one more way of viewing and sharing their photos with the addition of video slideshows powered by Animoto. For those unfamiliar with Animoto, the site/service takes your photos and video clips and edits them together into a single movie using its Cinematic Artificial Intelligence. The best part is that little is required from the user beyond uploading files and picking music, and that's pretty much the same for the Kodak service. … Read more

People--including the editors around here--tend to forget that waterproof and rugged cameras and camcorders aren't just for pools, lakes, and beaches. Kodak, perhaps for more awareness of this, has partnered again with snowboard company Burton for a special-edition PlaySport rugged minicamcorder bundle.

There's really not much to this as it's just a PlaySport Zx5 with a new coat of paint, so to speak. All the same durability claims apply, too: waterproof to 9.8 feet, dust resistant, and shockproof up to 5 feet. (It is not freezeproof unfortunately, so you'll have to keep it at least 32 degrees Fahrenheit for it to work.)

Its shooting features and everything else are the same, but it is a bundle, so along with the minicamcorder you get an HDMI cable, remote control, 4GB SDHC memory card, a gripping tripod, and carrying case.

The bundle is in stock at Kodak.com for $199.99.

If none of that appeals to you, check out our roundup of rugged minicamcorders. … Read more

If you are or someone you know is upgrading from a point-and-shoot to a digital SLR or an interchangeable lens compact camera, you might want to look at or share this video series from Vimeo. The series, called "Behind the Glass," is an introduction to lenses and terminology.

Though they're geared for beginners, the videos are entertaining enough that even people who understand how and when to use a particular lens might want to check them out. The videos are targeted at those shooting movies with their cameras, Vimeo being a video-sharing site after all, but much of what's said applies to still photos, too.

You can check out the other two videos in the series over at the Vimeo Video School site.… Read more