hovers.org » Camcorder

Kodak Zi8

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:37:09 +0000

Kodak Zi8 is a compact full HD camcorder capable of taking 5 megapixel still photos and with the standard 3.5mm external microphone jack. If you are currently looking for a compact HD camcorder that can also take photos you need to read this review.

Kodak Zi8 pros:

+ Available in three colors
+ Good noise performance
+ Smooth motion
+ Good low light performance
+ Standard definition recording as option
+ 5 megapixel still photos
+ Good connectivity

Kodak Zi8 cons:

- Lens has poor focal range
- Colors not accurate in bright light
- 20 MB of built-in memory
- Poor sharpness for an HD camcorder
- No size options for still photos

The design:
Kodak Zi8 measures 2.4 × 4.5 × 0.9 in. And weighs 110 grams without the battery so it is lighter than some cell phones. The front of the camcorder houses the fixed focus lens with the built-in microphone next to it. Below them is the sliding panel underneath which is the battery compartment. The right side of the camcorder features the power button, SD/SDHC card slot and the USB arm. The left side houses the HDMI and AV-out terminals hidden under a cover, a DC-input and the 3.5mm external microphone jack. The back of the Kodak Zi8 hosts the 2.5-inch LCD screen, and a few buttons controlling settings, record and playback modes and the record button itself. At the bottom of the camcorder’s back panel is the built-in speaker. The top of the Kodak Zi8 houses only the macro switch mode, whereas the bottom hosts the tripod mount, USB arm release switch and the wrist strap connector.

Performance:
The little Kodak Zi8 can record Full HD videos with a 30p frame rate, but when you decide to record in 720p you may do so with 30p or 60p.the camcorder uses the H.264 compression. Since the camcorder has only about 20 MB of built-in memory you will have to purchase a memory card. The camcorder has a 3.5mm external microphone jack which is a rarity in compact camcorders. You also get the option to manually set audio levels.

Video quality:
The Kodak Zi8 has an automatic white balance which unfortunately does not work too well and in fact spoilt the color accuracy. Moreover, the camcorder has no adjustable color settings, or any color modes. On the other hand, the motion produced by Kodak Zi8 is really smooth and the video sharpness is just fine. In low lighting conditions the camcorder does a relatively good job, although still a bit worse than the competition such as the JVC Picsio GC-FM1, or Sony HDR-TG5V.

Still photo quality:
The camcorder can take 5 megapixel (3072 x 1728) still photos but there are virtually no manual settings of still photos. The overall still photos quality is similar to the Kodak Zi8’s video performance: the noise is good, but not the color accuracy and sharpness.
Selected Kodak Zi8 features and specifications:
Sensor type: 1 / 2.5-type 5 MP CMOS
Lens: 6.3 mm, f/2.8, fixed focus, 35 mm equivalent: 61 mm (1080p), 46 mm (720p/60 fps, 720p, WVGA), 42 mm (still)
Zoom: 4X digital
Display size: 2.5 in.
Storage: 128 MB internal memory with SD/SDHC card expansion slot
Focus modes: normal, macro
Focus range: normal >> 100 cm–infinity and macro >> 15 cm
White balance: auto
File formats: video >> H.264 (MOV), AAC LC; still >> JPEG
Capture mode:
1080p (1920 × 1080, 30 fps)
720p/60 fps (1280 × 720, 60 fps)
720p (1280 × 720, 30 fps)
WVGA (848 × 480, 30 fps)
Still (5.3 MP, 16:9 widescreen, interpolated)
Microphone: Yes
Speaker: Yes
I/O interface: USB 2.0 (high speed), AV out, HDMI, DC in, external microphone jack (support stereo)
Tripod mount: 1/4 in. standard
Other recently reviewed camcorders:
Canon Vixia HF S21, Samsung HMX-H106, Canon Vixia HF S10, Canon FS200, Sony HDR-CX500V, JVC Everio GZ-HM200, JVC Picsio GC-FM1

Canon Vixia HF S21

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:52:12 +0000

Canon Vixia HF S21 features a 64GB of built-in flash memory, two memory card slots should that be not enough, an improved LCD, automatic lens cover and much, much more goodies.

Canon Vixia HF S21 pros:

+ 64GB internal memory
+ 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD
+ Outstanding sharpness
+ Very good low light sensitivity
+ 8-megapixel still photos
+ Plenty of manual controls

Canon Vixia HF S21 cons:

- Merely 10x optical zoom
- Noise levels a bit too high
- No standard definition recording

The design:
Canon Vixia HF S21 measures 3 x 5.8 x 2.9 inches and weighs 16.6 oz. The front of the Canon camcorder features the 10x optical zoom lens, autofocus sensor and the control dial with a custom key. The right side of the Canon Vixia HF S21 houses the auto/manual mode switch, the built-in speaker, wrist strap, and the hand strap. The back houses the DC-input, electronic viewfinder, start/stop record button and the battery pack. The left side features the 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, and plenty of buttons and ports in the LCD chamber. The top of the camcorder is home to the zoom toggle, photo shutter button, pop-up flash and Canon proprietary mini hot shoe. The bottom of the Canon Vixia HF S21 houses only the battery release switch and the tripod mount.

Performance:
The Canon Vixia HF S21 uses the AVCHD compression and has five quality options. The maximum is 1920 x 1080 in 24Mbps. In this quality you can store up to 355 minutes (almost 6 hours) of videos in the built-in memory so there is really no need for the memory cards yet it is nice to have that option. The camcorder has a lot more manual controls than the competition, and the improved LCD screen has implemented plenty of automatic controls which makers the camcorder very good tool for both beginners and professionals.

Video quality:
The color accuracy in the Canon Vixia HF S21 is good, yet a bit worse than in some other Canon camcorders released last year, such as Canon Vixia HF S10, or Canon FS200. The noise levels are good, but again other camcorders may do a better job in this respect. On the other hand the Canon Vixia HF S21 has a lot more color controls than most other camcorders. The motion recorded by this Canon camcorder is really outstanding. Moreover, the videos are always very sharp. Low light video performance is disappointing although it is better than in some of the recent Canon camcorders. Fortunately, when you use an alternate frame rate you can improve the overall low light video quality.

Still photo quality:
The camcorder can take up to 8 megapixel (3264 x 2456) still photos in the still mode or up to 3264 x 1840 while recording a video. Thanks to the pop-up flash you can also take photos in low light with this camcorder. The color accuracy and sharpness are very good, yet as with the videos the camcorder may produce a little too much noise in still photos.

Selected Canon Vixia HF S21 features and specifications:

Standard Definition or High Definition

High Definition

Television System

NTSC

Video Recording system

MPEG4-AVC / H.264

Image Sensor

1/2.6-inch CMOS, RGB Primary Color Filter

Total Pixels

Approx. 8.59 Megapixels

Effective Pixels

Video: Approx. 6.01 Megapixels (3264 x 1840) Photo: 16:9 Approx. 6.01 Megapixels (3264 x 1840); 4:3 Approx. 8.02 Megapixels (3264 x 2456)

Lens

Zoom Ratio 10x Optical/200x Digital Focal Length f-6.4-64mm (35mm equivalent 43.5-435mm) Zoom Speed Variable / 3 Fixed Zoom Speeds Max. F/Stop f/1.8-3.0

Focusing System

Instant AF, Face Priority AF, TTL (through the lens)

Manual Exposure

Yes
Other recently reviewed camcorders:
Samsung HMX-H10, Canon Vixia HF S10, Canon FS200, Sony HDR-CX500V, JVC Everio GZ-HM200, JVC Picsio GC-FM1, Sony HDR-TG5V.

Samsung HMX-H106

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:01:29 +0000

Samsung HMX-H106 is a new high definition midrange camcorder with 64GB of solid state memory, unusual design and pretty good performance. It also has two siblings: the Samsung HMX-H104 with 16GB of internal memory and the Samsung HMX-H105 with 32GB SSD.

Samsung HMX-H106 pros:

+ Design allows unusual handling options
+ Good color accuracy
+ Low noise in bright light
+ Plenty of memory for your movies
+ Good auto mode
+ Simple and accurate still mode
+ Simple to use

Samsung HMX-H10 cons:

- Glossy finish attracts fingerprints
- No 25p or 30p frame rates
- Low light noise performance worse than competition
- Larger than most mid-range camcorders

The design:
Samsung HMX-H106 measures 59 x 61 x 129 mm and weighs 396 grams. The front of the camcorder houses the built-in flash below which there is, of course, the lens with 10x optical zoom. The right side houses the rotatable grip which allows for various handling options and the adjustable hand strap. The back of the Samsung HMX-H106 hosts the start/stop record button, mode indicator lamps, shooting mode button and the ports hidden behind a door. The left side houses the 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD and in the LCD chamber plenty of controls, as well as the speaker and power button. On the top you will find the zoom toggle, photo shutter button and a grip very useful for the unusual grips.

Performance:
The Samsung HMX-H106 produces very accurate colors so you needn’t worry about the lack of manual color controls. Also the noise is good in bright light so there is no need for the noise reduction (although it is available). The Samsung HMX-H106 is an HD camcorder so it records FULL HD image but only in the 60i frame rate. The camcorder has almost the best motion performance among the middle range camcorders and the video sharpness is good. In low light the Samsung HMX-H106 does quite a good job producing strong colors, but also some noise. If low light noise is extremely important for you have a look at the Canon Vixia HF S10, or Sony HDR-CX500V. The camcorder can record in 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, and 720 x 480 resolutions and since it does not compress the video files using the AVCHD it is easy to work with larger files. The built-in memory allows you to record almost 500 minutes of films in the best quality. The Samsung HMX-H106 has few manual controls but as it does a great job in auto mode it should not be an issue (at least for beginners).

Still image performance:
Surprisingly the Samsung HMX-H106 camcorder has no dedicated still photo feature and so you can only take photos during video recording. Only two resolutions are available 2880 x 1620 (interpolated) and 1920 x 1080 and the photos look generally good. The images have accurate colors and low noise and only the sharpness may disappoint from time to time.
All in all, the Samsung HMX-H106 is a good camcorder for beginners and amateurs, but because of lack on advanced manual controls not so good for professionals. If you find its price too high you can always have a look at the Samsung HMX-H105, or Samsung HMX-H104 which have similar performance and smaller internal SSD.

Selected Samsung HMX-H106 features and specifications:

Camera Flash

Built-in flash

Main Features

Remote Control
Remote control – infrared

Still Image Format

JPEG

Digital Video Format

H.264

White Balance Presets

Fluorescent, cloudy, tungsten light, daylight

White Balance

Custom, automatic, presets

Min Shutter Speed

1/12 sec

Max Shutter Speed

1/10000 sec

Image Stabilizer

Optical

Shooting Modes

Digital photo mode

Digital Zoom

100 x

Analog Video Format

NTSC

Min Illumination

3 lux

Optical Sensor Size

1/4.5″

Optical Sensor Type

CMOS

Color Support

Color

Media Type

Flash card

Camcorder Sensor Resolution

2.2 Mpix

Camcorder Interpolated Still Resolution

4.7 Mpix

Widescreen Video Capture

Yes

Microphone

Microphone Operation Mode
Stereo

Microphone Technology

Electret condenser
Type
Microphone – built-in
Microphone Features
Wind noise reduction
Miscellaneous

Cables Included

A/V cable ¦ USB cable

Included Accessories

Hand grip

Product Type

Camcorder – 1080i

Enclosure Color

Silver

Lens System

Lens Manufacturer
Schneider-Kreuznach

Filter Size

37 mm

Zoom Adjustment

Motorized drive

Optical Zoom

10 x

Lens Aperture

F/1.8-2.5

Focus Adjustment

Automatic, manual

Focal Length

3.3 mm – 33 mm

Type

Zoom lens – 3.3 mm – 33 mm – f/1.8-2.5

Features

Built-in lens shield

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V, JVC Picsio GC-FM1, JVC Everio GZ-HM200, Sony HDR-CX500V, Canon FS200, Canon Vixia HF S10.

Canon Vixia HF S10

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:22:26 +0000

Canon Vixia HF S10 is one of the best High definition camcorders released by Canon this year. It is very comfortable to use, offers good capacity, image stabilization and most importantly great video quality.

Canon Vixia HF S10 pros:
+ 32GB of built in memory
+ Excellent sharpness
+ Plenty of color modes
+ Good still photo mode
+ Simultaneous video and photo mode
+ Good playback mode
+ 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid widescreen color LCD

Canon Vixia HF S10 cons:
- No viewfinder
- Slightly too high noise
- Low light performance worse than in competing camcorders
- Inconvenient port location
- Poor battery life

The design:
Canon Vixia HF S10 measures 2.8 x 2.7 x 5.4in. And weighs 15.9 oz. On the front of the camcorder you can see the f/1.8 lens with 10x zoom and below it the AF sensor. The right side of the Canon Vixia HF S10 houses the hand strap and the microphone jack, whereas the left side features the 2.7-inch LCD chamber with plenty of controls and the SDHC memory card slot. The back of the camcorder houses the mode dial, record on/off button, battery pack and the DC power port. On the top of the Canon Vixia HF S10 there’s the zoom toggle and with it the proprietary accessory shoe and the pop up flash. Also the power on/off button and the photo button are on the top of the camcorder. The bottom is quite plain and houses only the tripod mount.

Performance:
The camcorder can record videos in two frame rates: 24p and 30p which is up to the latest standards. Not only does it make the videos smooth, but it also improves the overall image quality in poor light. The Canon Vixia HF S10 records the videos using the AVCHD codec so the files tend to be quite large. The camcorder is capable of recording almost three hours of videos in 1920 x 1080 at 24 Mbps on the built-in memory.
The large mode dial is perfect for manual adjustments, but quite surprisingly the easy mode is rather hard to find in the menus. The Canon Vixia HF S10 has plenty of features such as focus assist, image stabilization, zebra striping and auto gain control making recording videos not only pleasant, but also quite easy.

Video quality:
In bright light the Canon Vixia HF S10 has very good color which should be enough for less professional users. You can try to achieve even better results with the several color modes. The images are full of detail and very sharp although somewhat too noisy. The motion produced by the Canon Vixia HF S10 is smooth and sharp and there is little artifacting. In poor light the Canon Vixia HF S10 produces a lot of noise and the color error is a bit worse than in the competition so if you are planning on shooting plenty do low light videos have a look at the Canon FS200, or the Sony HDR-CX500V.

Still photo quality:
The Canon Vixia HF S10 is capable of taking up to 8 megapixel still photos. The photo quality is more than decent with the accurate colors, plenty of detail and good sharpness. Only the noise is sometimes an issue, but the Canon Vixia HF S10 can easily substitute a digital camera on a day to day basis.

Selected Canon Vixia HF S10 features and specifications:

Standard Definition or High Definition

High Definition

Television System

NTSC

Video Recording system

MPEG4-AVC / H.264

Image Sensor

1/2.6-inch CMOS, RGB Prmary Color Filter

Total Pixels

Approx. 8.59 Megapixels

Effective Pixels

Video: Approx. 6.01 Megapixels
(3264 x 1840) / Still Image: 16:9: Approx. 6.01 Megapixels
(3264 x 1840), 4:3 Approx. 8.02 Megapixels (3264 x 2456)

Maximum recording time

32GB internal Flash drive
FXP (17 Mbps) 4 hours 10 minutes – Allows 1920 x 1080 Full HD Recording
MXP (24 Mbps) 2 hours 55 minutes – Allows 1920 x 1080 Full HD Recording

Lens

Zoom Ratio 10x Optical/200x Digital
Focal Length f=6.4- 64mm (35mm equivalent: 43.5 – 435mm)
Zoom Speed Variable / 3 Fixed Zoom Speeds
Max. F/Stop f/1.8-3.0

Focusing System

Instant AF, Face Priority AF, TTL (through the lens)

Manual Exposure

Yes

Programmed AE

AUTO, P, Av, Tv, Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach,Sunset, Spotlight, Fireworks

Max Shutter Speed

Movie: 1/2000, Still image: 1/500

Minimum Focusing Distance

10mm (wide) / 1m (tele)

White Balance

Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Manual

Frame Rate

60i, 24p Progressive (records at 60i), 30p Progressive (records at 60i)

Minimum Illumination

0.3 lx (Night mode)

Image Stabilization

SuperRange Optical (lens shift)

Filter Diameter

58mm

Flash

Built-in

Recording Media

Internal Flash Drive (32GB) or SDHC Memory Card

USB Terminal

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

Video Terminal

component (output), composite (output)

Audio

Dolby Digital 2 channels (AC-3 2 ch)

Accessory Shoe

mini Advanced

Supplied Video Editing Software

Pixela ImageMixer 3SE

HDMI Terminal

HDMI Mini Connector (output), CEC and x.v. Color

Microphone Terminal

3.5 mm stereo mini-jack

AV Mini Terminal/Headphone Terminal

3.5 mm 4 pole mini-jack

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

Canon Vixia HF S11, JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V, JVC Picsio GC-FM1, JVC Everio GZ-HM200, Sony HDR-CX500V, Canon FS200

Canon FS200

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:31:55 +0000

Canon FS200 is a new standard definition camcorder which packs 37x optical zoom in a very small and stylish body. The camcorder is an extremely strong performer offering outstanding image quality and plenty of features.

Canon FS200 pros:

+ 37x optical zoom
+ Good saturation and color accuracy
+ Low noise levels
+ Available in red, blue and silver
+ Plenty of manual controls
+ Good still photo mode
+ Stylish and durable design

Canon FS200 cons:

- Color accuracy in low light worse than in bright light
- No built-in memory
- Old-fashioned menu design
- Too much noise in still photos

The design:
Canon FS200 measures 5.8 x 5.6 x 12.2 cm and weighs 220 grams. The front of the camcorder is dominated by the 37x optical zoom Canon video lens below which you can find the 2-channel microphone and next to it the video light. The right side of the Canon FS200 houses the access lamp, DC-input and the hand strap, whereas the left side features the 2.7-inch LCD chamber with almost all the controls and the built-in speaker and a USB port. The back houses the start/stop record button right in the middle of a large mode dial. The top features the photo shutter button, power button as well as the zoom toggle. The bottom is home to the tripod mount and the battery compartment.

Performance:
The Canon FS200 has three quality settings, but bear in mind that it is only a standard definition camcorder. The videos are recorded using the MPEG-2 compression, yet they are saved as .MOD files so you have to make use of the included software to edit, to convert it. Since the camcorder lacks any internal memory you will also have to buy SD/SDHC memory cards. A 16GB memory card will allow you to record up to 220 minutes of videos in the best quality setting. You can use plenty of manual settings so you can tamper with anything but aperture and gain.

Video quality:
The Canon FS200 has a very good color accuracy in bright light. It’s a nice thing that it has a few image effect presets, but it lacks any manual color settings. The saturation in bright light is good as is the noise level. The motion produced by this Canon camcorder is good, although not as good as in some high definition camcorders such as Sony HDR-CX500, or JVC Everio GZ-HM200. Sharpness of the videos recorded with Canon FS200 is about average for standard definition camcorders.
In low light the Canon FS200 performs quite well. The color accuracy and saturation suffers a bit, but they are still good. The noise remains low and the low light sensitivity is better than in other camcorders in this price range.

Still photo quality:
The Canon FS200 does not offer too many manual settings for the still photos. Although the image quality is generally very goos the images are hardly useable as their maximum size is 1024 x 768 so any new cell phone might take better photos.

Selected Canon FS200 features and specifications:
Still Image Format
JPEG
Digital Video Format
MPEG-2
White Balance Presets
Tungsten light, daylight
White Balance
Custom, automatic, presets
Exposure Modes
Program, automatic, shutter-priority
Max Shutter Speed
1/2000 sec
Image Stabilizer
Electronic
Shooting Programs
Spotlight, portrait mode, night mode, fireworks, sports mode, sunset, beach, snow
Shooting Modes
Digital photo mode
Recording Speed
SP, LP, XP
Digital Zoom
2000 x
Analog Video Format
NTSC
Min Illumination
1.3 lux
Optical Sensor Size
1/6″
Optical Sensor Type
CCD
Color Support
Color
Media Type
Flash card
Camcorder Effective Video Resolution
450 Kpix
Camcorder Sensor Resolution
680 Kpix
Widescreen Video Capture
Yes
Battery
Supported Battery Details
1 x Canon BP-808 Li-ion rechargeable battery ( included )
Supported Battery
Canon BP-808
Microphone
Microphone Operation Mode
Stereo
Type
Microphone – built-in
Software
Software
Drivers & Utilities, PIXELA Image Mixer
Miscellaneous
Cables Included
USB cable ¦ A/V cable
Included Accessories
Wrist strap
Lens System
Zoom Adjustment
Motorized drive
Optical Zoom
37 x
Lens Aperture
F/2.0-5.2
Auto Focus
TTL contrast detection
Focus Adjustment
Automatic
Focal Length
2.6 mm – 96.2 mm
Type
Zoom lens – 2.6 mm – 96.2 mm – f/2.0-5.2
Min Focus Range
0.4 in
Additional Features
Additional Features
Direct print, USB 2.0 compatibility, PictBridge support, Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording
Digital Still Camera Function
Yes
Low Lux / Night Mode
Yes
Display
Display Format
123,000 pixels
Display Form Factor
Rotating
Type
LCD display – TFT active matrix – 2.7″ – color
Price $299

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

Panasonic HDC-TM300, Canon Vixia HF S11, JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V, JVC Picsio GC-FM1, JVC Everio GZ-HM200, Sony HDR-CX500V

Sony HDR-CX500V

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:58:34 +0000

Sony HDR-CX500V is a new high-end camcorder with 32GB of internal memory and additional support for Sony Memory Stick cards. The camcorder is very compact and quite powerful. If, however, you find 32GB of internal memory too little for you consider buying Sony HDR-CX520V which has 64GB memory and apart form that identical specs and performance to the Sony HDR-CX500V.

Sony HDR-CX500V pros:

+ 32GB of built-in flash memory
+ Lens cover
+ 12x optical zoom
+ God performance in low light
+ Large sensor
+ 3-inch LCD screen
+ Outstanding image stabilization
+ Built-in GPS
+ Good quality still photos

Sony HDR-CX500V cons:

- Disappointing sharpness level
- No 24p or 30p frame rates
- Manual adjustment dial a bit too small
- Menu not as straightforward as in the past

The design:
Sony HDR-CX500V measures 62 x 65 x 133mm and weighs 450 grams with the battery. The front of the camcorder houses the 12x optical zoom lens with automatic lens cover and the flash placed right above it. The right side of the Sony HDR-CX500V features the AV-out and Component out ports hidden under a plastic cover and the hand strap. On the back you can find the video/stills mode switch, the DC input (hidden under a door), manual adjustment dial and start/stop record button. The left side, as usual, houses the LCD chamber with plenty of buttons and ports. The top of the camcorder houses the 3.1 channel mic, zoom toggle and photo shutter button. As with the majority of camcorder on the bottom of the Sony HDR-CX500V there is only the battery release switch and the tripod mount.

Performance:
The Sony HDR-CX500V is capable of recording in standard definition and in high definition. The former videos are recorded as MPEG-2, and the latter AVCHD. When recording in high definition at 16Mbps the 32GB of built-in memory allow for storing almost 4 hours of films. The camcorder is easy to use despite the fact that Sony did not implement its Easy Mode to the Sony HDR-CX500V. There is a wide array of manual settings which should satisfy those more demanding of you who know how to use them.

Video quality:
The Sony HDR-CX500V has quite good color accuracy but during very precise tests it turned out that it performs slightly below the category average. Yet, as the saturation level is good and colors are vivid it is hardly noticeable in day-to-day use. Moreover, the noise levels are always low so the overall impression of the color accuracy is really good. Both sharpness and motion are very good at 1080i, and the slow motion is great fun.
Also in low light the color accuracy is good and the saturation remains strong. With little noise and good low light sensitivity the Sony HDR-CX500V scored better than such camcorders as JVC Everio GZ-HM200, or Sony HDR-TG5V.

Still photo quality:
The still features in the Sony HDR-CX500V are quite good. You can take photos while recording a video, or even when you playback it. The camcorder is capable of taking 12 megapixel photos and thanks to the built-in flash you can also shoot after dusk. The image quality is good, with accurate colors and little noise so the Sony HDR-CX500V can substitute a digital camera and take better still photos than most cell phones.

Sony HDR-CX500V features and specifications:

Remote Control

Remote control – infrared

Still Image Format

JPEG

Exposure Modes

Program, automatic

Min Shutter Speed

1/8 sec

Max Shutter Speed

1/725 sec

Image Stabilizer

Optical (Steady Shot)

Digital Scene Transition

White fader, black fader

Shooting Programs

Spotlight, landscape, portrait mode, twilight portrait, fireworks, twilight mode, sunset, beach, snow, sunrise

Digital Zoom

150 x

Min Illumination

3 lux

Optical Sensor Size

1/2.88″

Optical Sensor Type

Exmor R CMOS

Media Type

Flash card

Camcorder Interpolated Still Resolution

12.0 Mpix

Widescreen Video Capture

Yes

Face Detection

Yes

Battery

Supported Battery Details
1 x Sony NP-FH60 Li-ion rechargeable battery
Supported Battery
Sony NP-FH60

Microphone

Microphone Operation Mode
Surround
Type
Microphone – built-in
Microphone Features

Zoom

Lens System
Filter Size
37 mm
Zoom Adjustment
Motorized drive
Optical Zoom
12 x
Lens Aperture
F/1.8-3.4

Focus Adjustment

Automatic, manual
Focal Length
5.5 mm – 66 mm
Type
Zoom lens – 5.5 mm – 66 mm – f/1.8-3.4
Features
Built-in lens shield

Additional Features

USB 2.0 compatibility, touch-screen control, accessories hot shoe, Dolby Digital 5.1 channel recording, Dynamic Range Optimizer, face detection, Smile Detection technology, built-in GPS

Search Modes

Index search, map index search, face index search

Display

Display Format
230,000 pixels
Display Form Factor
Rotating

Memory / Storage

Flash Memory
32 GB flash – integrated
System Requirements for PC Connection
Operating System Support
MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows Vista

Connections

Expansion Slot(s)
1 x Memory Stick PRO Duo

Connector Type

1 x composite video/audio output ¦ 1 x USB ¦ 1 x component video output ¦ 1 x HDMI output ¦ 1 x S-Video output ¦ 1 x remote control

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

Panasonic HDC-TM300, Canon Vixia HF S11, JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V, JVC Picsio GC-FM1, JVC Everio GZ-HM200

JVC Everio GZ-HM200

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:55:21 +0000

JVC Everio GZ-HM200 is a new midrange camcorder aimed at semi-professionals. The camcorder is extremely easy to use and offers plenty of features making it very good value for the money. Since it is available is three colors you can get the right one for you.

JVC Everio GZ-HM200 pros:

+ 2.7-inch screen
+ 20x optical zoom
+ Outstanding color accuracy
+ Dual SD/SDHC memory card slots
+ Good auto mode
+ Easy to use manual mode
+ Taking photos while recording videos
+ Excellent image stabilization

JVC Everio GZ-HM200 cons:

- No 24p or 30p frame rates
- Poor low light sensibility
- No flash for the still photos
- Port covers feel cheap

The design:
JVC Everio GZ-HM200 measures 54.5 x 65 x 122.5 mm and weighs 310 grams. The camcorder is available in blue, red and black. The Konica Minolta HD lens has 20x zoom and automatic cover. The front of the camcorder is dominated by the lens, but you can also find the video light and the microphone there. The right side of the JVC Everio GZ-HM200 houses the speaker, hand strap, USB port and the DC-input cover. The left side features the LCD chamber with plenty of controls and HDMI and Component-out terminals, SD/SDHC card slot and AV-out. The back of the camcorder houses the battery pack, strap adjuster, Start/stop record button, and lamps indicating memory card access and power status. On the top you can only see the zoom toggle and photo shutter button, whereas on the bottom merely the tripod mount along with the battery release switch.

Performance:
The JVC Everio GZ-HM200 records videos using the AVCHD compression and 24 Mbps bitrate so it is good that it keeps to the standards. Although the JVC camcorder has a selection of quality settings it cannot record videos in standard quality. The editing software that you get with the JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has only some basic functions and is quite straightforward. The camcorder records videos to SD/SDHC memory cards and if you decide to use a 16 GB memory card you will be able to record up to 80 minutes of videos in the best quality. Features such as exposure, white balance, focus, or shutter speed may be controlled manually, but as most camcorders the JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has no manual control over aperture.

Video quality:
The JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has very good color accuracy and equally good saturation levels. Only the lack of any color adjustment tools might be disappointing for more professional filmmakers. But as everything is fine just how you get it – including low noise levels – it should not bother amateurs. The motion is better than in comparable camcorders, such as JVC Picsio GC-FM1, or Sony HDR-TG5V. The sharpness of the videos is good, although high end camcorders may do better. Poor light performance was ok, but nothing special. Colors are still accurate, although not as much as in good light.

Still photo quality:
The JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has very little features for still photos and as it can take only up to 1920 x 1080 images (slightly over 2 megapixels) and mobile phones can do better it is hard to imagine that anybody would like to take photos with this camcorder. Especially that is lacks any ISO control, and has no built-in flash.

JVC Everio GZ-HM200 features and specifications:

Still Image Format

JPEG

Digital Video Format

AVCHD

Exposure Modes

Program, automatic

Shooting Programs

Spotlight, portrait mode, night mode, sports mode, twilight mode, snow

Shooting Modes

Digital photo mode

Digital Zoom

200 x

Analog Video Format

NTSC

Optical Sensor Size

1/4.1″

Optical Sensor Type

CMOS

Color Support

Color

Media Type

Flash card

Camcorder Sensor Resolution

3.05 Mpix

Widescreen Video Capture

Yes

Face Detection

Yes

Enclosure Color

Onyx black

Lens System

Konica Minolta
Filter Size
30.5 mm

Zoom Adjustment

Motorized drive
Optical Zoom
20 x
Lens Aperture
F/1.9-3.2

Auto Focus

TTL contrast detection

Focus Adjustment

Automatic, manual
Focal Length
2.9 mm – 58 mm
Type
Zoom lens – 2.9 mm – 58 mm – f/1.9-3.2

Features

Built-in lens shield

Additional Features

Auto power save, Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording, face detection, YouTube capture mode
Digital Still Camera Function
Yes
Low Lux / Night Mode
Yes
Built-in Light
Yes

Display

Display Format
123,000 pixels
Display Form Factor
Rotating
Type
LCD display – TFT active matrix – 2.7″ – color

Memory / Storage

Image Storage
JPEG 640 x 480 ¦ JPEG 1440 x 1080 ¦ JPEG 1920 x 1080
Supported Flash Memory
SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card
Other recently reviewed camcorders:
Panasonic HDC-TM300, Canon Vixia HF S11, JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V, JVC Picsio GC-FM1

JVC Picsio GC-FM1

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:25:02 +0000

JVC Picsio GC-FM1 is an ultracompact HD camcorder offering outstanding video quality and excellent portability thanks to its minute size. The camcorder has interstice design and metallic finish yet it does not feel too reliable. If you want to know if it is worth its price of $199, read on.

JVC Picsio GC-FM1 pros:

+ Very good color accuracy
+ Smaller than competing camcorders
+ Excellent sharpness
+ SD/SDHC memory card support
+ Good automatic white balance
+ User-friendly
+ Stereo audio recording

JVC Picsio GC-FM1 cons:

- High noise level
- No manual controls
- Unresponsive rewind and fast forward controls
- Audio quality is not that good
- No optical zoom

The design:
JVC Picsio GC-FM1 measures 53.0mm x 97.0mm x 17.0mm and weight 95 grams so it is really minute and even smaller than many point and shoot digital cameras. The camcorder is built of good quality materials and it is finished with flashy metal so it is a real eye-candy. The front of the camcorder houses the he fixed f/2.8 lens and the microphone. On the right side of the JVC Picsio GC-FM1 you will see the AV-out port, HDMI terminal, speaker and the USB connector. The back houses the 2-inch LCD display, and all the controls: the power button, playback mode button, delete button, D-pad, charge lamp, reset pinhole playback index button and the video/still photo switch. The left side features only the macro switch and the wrist strap. The bottom houses the tripod mount and the SD/SDHC memory card slot.

Performance:
The small camcorder is capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps and 720p films at 60 fps. In low light the camcorder does a really good job for such a small device. Both saturation and color accuracy are good and the noise level is even better in low light than in bright light. The camcorder uses the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec so editing the videos should not be a problem. The maximum video resolution in 1920 x 1080 – it is full HD. Since the JVC Picsio GC-FM1 has no built-in memory ice can record films only on SD/SDHC memory cards, but that should be quite comfortable as their price drops and capacity rises all the time. The camcorder has no optical zoom whatsoever, and only 4x digital zoom.

Video quality:
The videos captured with the JVC Picsio GC-FM1 have excellent color accuracy and good saturation levels. Although the noise tended to be too high it was nothing out of the ordinary for this class of camcorders. The films are smooth in both frame rates and they looks really sharp. In fact the JVC Picsio GC-FM1 has better sharpness than the majority of ultracompact camcorders.

Still image quality:
The JVC Picsio GC-FM1 has four different photo sizes with the maximum of 8 megapixels. The photos are taken in the 4:3 ratio and you can shoot macro photos. However, the overall still image quality is rather poor and the camcorder performs in video mode much better than in the still mode.

JVC Picsio GC-FM1

features and specifications:
Camera
Image Sensor
8 Megapixel 1/3.2″ CMOS
Zoom
Digital 4x
Image Stabilization
Digital Image Stabilizer
Recording media
SD/SDHC Card (not provided)
Monitor
2.0″ Color LCD
Video Recording
Mode
1080p: 1440 x 1080p / 30fps / 12Mbps, 16:9
720p: 1280 x 720p / 60fps / 12Mbps, 16:9
VGA: 640 x 480 / 60fps / 4Mbps, 4:3
QVGA: 320 x 240p / 30fps / 0.7Mbps, 4:3
Format
Video: MPEG-4 AVC / H.264: MOV, Audio: AAC
Still Recording
Mode
8M: 3264 x 2448, 4:3
5M: 2592 x 1944, 4:3
2M: 1600 x 1200, 4:3
0.3M: 640 x 480, 4:3
Format
JPEG
Connectors
HDMI™ out (Mini), AV out, USB 2.0/1.1
Others
PC Software and Instruction Manual (pre-installed in internal memory)
Continuous Operation Time
Approx. 96 minutes
Provided Accessories
USB Cable, AV Cable, Hand Strap

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

Panasonic HDC-TM300, Canon Vixia HF S11, JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V

Sony HDR-TG5V

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:02:31 +0000

Sony HDR-TG5V is a new compact full HD camcorder with built in 16 GB of flash memory with very solid look and unusual handling. The camcorder is very sleek and has an automatic lens cover which combined with its small size make is extraordinarily portable.

Sony HDR-TG5V pros:
+ 16 GB of built-in flash memory
+ Sleek and durable design allowing for unusual handling
+ Low noise levels in bright light
+ Good color performance
+ Touchscreen works well
+ GPS
+ Slow motion recording

Sony HDR-TG5V cons:
- No 24p or 30p record mode
- No shutter speed, or aperture control
- 2 megapixel still photos
- Slightly bland colors
- No color adjustment tools

The design:

Sony HDR-TG5V measures 30x117x62mm and weighs 290 grams with the battery. On the front of this small camcorder you can see the built-in flash for still photographs along with the 10x optical zoom lens. At the bottom of the right side of the camcorder you can see the DC-in and AV/Component output ports hidden under a door. The back of the Sony HDR-TG5V features access lamps, circular ring controlling zoom, start/stop record button, photo shutter button. Also at the back is the panel housing the memory card slot, battery, and GPS on/off switch. The left side of the Sony HDR-TG5V houses the 2.7-inch LCD chamber. On the top of the camcorder is only the Dolby Digital 2-channel microphone. The bottom houses the tripod mount along with the dock connector.

Performance:

The Sony HDR-TG5V has no manual image adjustment tools or manual control over color. Yet, the camcorder can record videos both in standard and high definition up to 1920 x 1080 at 16Mbps using the AVCHD coded. The built-in memory suffices for recording about 1 hour and 50 minutes of videos in the best quality. Features such as face detection or smile shutter work very well not only for videos, but also for still images. Unfortunately, using the 2.7 touchscreen flash is rather uncomfortable and there are no manual settings of aperture, shutter speed, gain or color adjustments.

Image quality:

The Sony HDR-TG5V produces quite accurate colors with good saturation. The noise levels is low and comparing to the competitions it is above average (in this class of camcorders). Although the camcorder can record only in one frame rate: 60l the motion captured by the Sony HDR-TG5V is actually quite good. Both the motion and sharpness are good for this class of camcorders. The low light performance is also quite good with decent noise and color performance which is not bad for such a small camcorder.

Still features:

The Sony HDR-TG5V can shoot still photos in about 2 megapixels and although the photos might seem a bit small their quality is in fact quite good. And it’s a good thing that the Sony camcorder can take still photos while recording videos.

Selected Sony HDR-TG5V features and specifications:

Recording Format:

Flash card

LCD Screen Size:

2.7 in.

Digital Still Camera:

Yes
Focus and Zoom

Optical Zoom:

10 X

Digital Zoom :

120 X

Focus:

Automatic, Manual

Image Stabalization:

Digital
Connectors

RCA Connectors:

1 x composite video/audio output

USB Connectors:

1 x USB

Other Connectors:

1 x HDMI output, 1 x component video output, 1 x DC power input

Connector Types:

HDMI output, USB, Composite video/audio output, DC power input, Component video output
Image Quality

CCD Size:

0.2 in
Accessories & Components

Included Software:

Drivers & Utilities, Sony Picture Motion Browser

Included Components:

Docking station, Wrist strap

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Canon Vixia HF S11, Panasonic HDC-TM300

JVC Everio GZ-HM400

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:32:46 +0000

JVC Everio GZ-HM400 is a younger and bigger sibling of the JVC GZ-X900. The new camcorder features 32GB of built-in memory, excellent adjustment dial and improved low light performance.

JVC Everio GZ-HM400

JVC Everio GZ-HM400 pros:
+ Excellent design, fingerprint-proof body
+ Low noise levels in bright light
+ 32GB of internal memory
+ High speed recording
+ Adjustment dial allows for precise control
+ Abundance of still features
+ 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor

JVC Everio GZ-HM400 cons:
- No 24p or 30p frame rate
- Noisy image in low light
- Few aperture options
- high noise level in still photos

The design:

JVC GZ-HM400 measures 67mm x 72mm x 141mm and weighs 485 grams with battery. The front of the JVC GZ-HM400 is dominated by the 10x optical zoom lens, but it also houses the built-in flash for still photos and the set button for the adjustment dial. The right side of the camcorder houses the hand strap, whereas the left side features the 2.8-inch LCD chamber with plenty of controls and USB port, SD/SDHC card slot as well as the power on/off button. On the back of the JVC GZ-HM400 you can see the battery pack and two port chambers hidden under protective covers. The top of the JVC camcorder is full of different things: there the built-in mic, hot shoe, zoom rocker, photo shutter button, memory access lamp and power/charge lamp. Also the aperture priority, shutter priority and user assignably button can all be found there.

Performance:

The JVC GZ-HM400 is capable of recording Full HD video at 1920 x 1080 with a 60i frame rate. And if you decide you want to have some fun you may make use of the slow motion mode available in three options in the JVC GZ-HM400: 120fps, 300fps, and remarkable 600fps. The camcorder is equipped with 32GB of internal memory which suffices for almost three hours of videos in the highest quality – 1920 x 1080 at 24Mbps. As there is plenty of manual controls: focus, shutter-priority, exposure, white balance and aperture-priority, you can achieve really interesting results if you know what you’re doing. And if you don’t the easy mode will do everything for you so you can just point and shoot videos.

Video quality:

The JVC GZ-HM400 has very good color accuracy in good lighting conditions and it keeps the noise at very low levels. As the camcorder can record full HD 1080/60i and is offers 3 low-quality slow-motion options you can always tamper with it a bit. The motion is outstanding and it can even be called the best out of all camcorder released this year. Unfortunately, in low light the JVC GZ-HM400 does a bit worse. Almost all colors seem too pale and the manual white balance makes image look greenish. Also the noise is clearly visible in low light.

Still photos quality:

Manufacturers are always outrun each other and just recently as we reviewed the Canon HF S11 we were so pleased with the quality of 8 megapixel still photos taken by that camcorder. And now the JVC GZ-HM400 offers 9 megapixel still photos with abundance of features. The still photos quality is quite good with nice sharpness and accurate colors, but sometimes too much noise.

Selected JVC GZ-HM400 features and specifications:

Format

Video
Video: [AVCHD] MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: Dolby Digital (2ch)
Stills
JPEG

Storage Media

32GB Internal Memory
SD/SDHC Memory Card (not supplied)

Image Sensor

1/2.33” CMOS, 10.3 Megapixel

Lens

KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS

Zoom Ratio

10x Optical / 15x Dynamic / 200x Digital (max.)

Video Recording Modes

UXP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 24Mbps (VBR)
XP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 17Mbps (VBR)
SP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 12Mbps (VBR)
EP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 5Mbps (VBR)

Still Image Sizes

4:3
3456×2592 / 3072×2304 / 2592×1944 / 1600×1200 / 640×480
16:9
3456×1944 / 3072×1728 / 2592×1456 / 1920×1080 / 1280×720

LCD Monitor

2.8” 207K-pixel Color LCD

Interfaces

HDMITM Out (mini), AV Out, Component Video Out, USB 2.0/1.1, Headphone Out, Microphone In, SD/SDHC Card Slot, DC In

Power Consumption

4.0W

Other recently reviewed camcorders:

Canon Vixia HF S11, Panasonic HDC-TM300