Panasonic HDC-SD10 Lightweight HD Camcorder
The HDC-SD10 from Panasonic weighs in a just 227g making it an extremely portable HD camcorder. Small enough to be placed in a pocket or bag yet big enough to hold securely to take great HD video footage. With no moving parts (such as a DVD or HDD) this camcorders is extremely durable and won’t be affected by the odd knock or bump when recording.
Featuring Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode the HDC-SD10 will automatically detect the kind of surroundings you are shooting in and adjust it’s settings appropriately so you get the best possible quality. The iA mode control focus, exposure, white balance, etc. so you can concentrate on filming rather than worrying about using the correct setting. The lens has a 16x optical zoom which is impressive for a camcorder of this size and weight. The combination of AF/AE Tracking and Panasonic’s Advanced Optical Image Stabilisation (O.I.S) will ensure the video you take is always in focus and shake free. The Advanced O.I.S can correct any shakes or bumps up to 4000 times per second allowing you to record while you walk without turning your recordings into a shaking mess.
Using the HDC-SD10 is child’s play. Simply open the LCD screen and you’re ready to go. The Panasonic SD10 records to SDHC memory cards which not only helps to keep the weight down but allows you to quickly and easily share you creations with others. The 2.7″ LCD also doubles as a touch screen allowing you to quickly and easily navigate the menu systems and review your HD recordings.
By: Zoe Brooks
About the Author:
Zoe Brooks is a part time writer for a number of UK websites. Writing about products such as the Panasonic HDC-SD10.
Go Pro With a Professional Camcorder on Black Friday 2009
It’s just a few weeks before Black Friday and many are now scouring through the dozens of sales flyers that keep on coming to their mailboxes. Others might be doing their search on the web looking for great deals on the biggest sales day of the year. With Christmas around the corner and the long holiday season ahead, many will be looking for video cameras to capture precious moments with family and friends. There are very cheap pocket cameras now available in the market and some are even priced at less than $100. But why bother buy one that may cost thousands of dollars?
The cost of professional camcorder now is not as prohibitive as it was several years ago. These days, you can find high-end camcorders with professional features at reasonable prices. The video quality of these camcorders is a lot better than most consumer camcorders and comparable if not better to broadcast cameras. There are also some consumer cameras available in the market that can be tweaked to simulate professional-type cameras. This class of cameras is better known as prosumer (professional + consumer) camcorders and price may start from $2,000. Now may be the right time to consider upgrading to a professional-type camcorder.
Let’s look at some of the features you have to check when you plan to buy a professional camcorder. The first and maybe the most important feature is it should be capable of HD or high definition. There are still less expensive SD or standard definition camcorders available but to be future proof, better consider HD. Almost all new video gears available now are in HD, from source to display. Most HD camcorders can anyway also shoot in SD mode, so it will not be a problem if you still need SD.
The next important feature of a professional camcorder is optical zoom. The camera should be able to physically zoom to an object rather than just electronically zoom, which produces pixelized images. At the same time, it should also have a focus ring to manually control the camera focus. It would be very hard to control focus through a button or a dial. Another important pro feature is manual exposure or the camera should have the capability to manually adjust iris and shutter speed. This is very important in making the camera work properly in different lighting conditions. The last but not the least is the camera should have stereo mic or line inputs, preferrably XLR (type of professional audio socket). There should also be available audio level controls, either through the menu or volume knobs on the camera body.
Let us now take a look on some professional or prosumer camcorders available in the market today and their prices. Chances are you will get better deals from the listed prices come Black Friday 2009.
Canon XL-H1A 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III
Price: $5,799.95
Sony HVR-Z7U CMOS HDV Professional Video Camcorder w/ 12x Optical Zoom
Price: $5,499.00
Canon XH A1S 3CCD HDV High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
Price: $3,795.00
Sony HDR-FX1 3-CCD HDV High Definition Camcorder w/ 12x Optical Zoom
Price: $4,699.95
Sony HVR-V1U 3-CMOS 1080i Professional HDV Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
Price: $3,193.95
Sony HDR-FX1000 CMOS High Definition MiniDV Handycam Camcorder w/ 20x Optical Zoom
Price: $3,099.99
Panasonic Pro AG-HVX200A 3CCD P2/DVCPRO 1080i High Definition Camcorder with 13x Optical Zoom (16GB P2 Included)
Price: $3,499.99
Canon XH-A1S 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III
Price: $3,399.00
Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150 3CCD AVCHD 24fps Camcorder w/ 13x Optical Zoom
Price: $3,197.00
Sony Professional HVR-A1U CMOS High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Price: $2,169.95
Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom
Price: $1,999.99
Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 AVCHD Camcorder with 10.6MP Stills and 12x Optical Zoom
Price: $1,995.00
Sony HVR-HD1000U MiniDV 1080i High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Price: $1,574.00
You may already be planning your camping trip at your favorite store’s parking lot this Balck Friday but buying online could be a better option. Doorbuster deals are not always the cheapest and trying to be the first on the door is some times dangerous. Try checking deals online. It’s less hassle and may even give you the best deal for your dream professional camcorder.
By: Scott Offord
About the Author:
Camcorder Reviews – Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera
Design: Featuring a new slick design the Kodak Zi8 offers a glossy surface finish coming in black, blue and red which fits easily into the pocket. While not the smallest pocket camcorder in the market at 2.4 inches x 4.5 inches x 0.9 inch it is fairly lightweight at 4.8 ounces. The camcorder is also slimmer, thanks to a proprietary lithium-ion battery and offers a sharp 2.5-inch LCD display. However, the glossy surface finish isn’t scratch proof so you should probably get a plastic skin to go with it.
Specifications: The Kodak Zi8 is one of the first pocket camcorders on the market to offer 1080p HD video capture at 30 fps. While the camcorder runs on 720p by default it does offer higher resolutions and frame-rates as well, going from 30fps to 60fps for 720p resolutions. The camcorder achieves this thanks to its built in 1/2.5 inch 5MP CMOS sensor which also allows for 5MP still images. The camcorder can support up to 32GB SDHC memory cards and powers up via USB or with its AC adapter. With a built-in microphone and speaker, the camcorder offers respectable sound and playback but for better audio you can hook up an external microphone as well.
Features & Performance: Thankfully, the Kodak Zi8 is very easy to use and comes with a new four-way rocker for faster interaction. With very precise four speed fast forwarding and rewinding the camcorder lets you review or go back fast, slow or just as you want it. Video quality is very good, almost on par with dedicated video camcorders with better lens and sensors. Higher image resolutions also means larger file sizes with about 14 to 15 minutes of 1080p video at 30fps taking about 2GB worth of data so you should seriously consider getting a 16GB or 32GB SDHC memory card. Other features of note include an enhanced macro mode, allowing the camcorder to auto-focus clearly up close. Overall, the Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera is by far the best pocket camcorder on the market especially if you’re looking for 1080p video capture.
By: Ryan B. Smith
About the Author:
For more product info and customer reviews, visit Kodak Mini Camcorder. For reviews and info on other camcorder models, visit http://cameras-galore.blogspot.com
Canon VIXIA HF200 – The Best Consumer HD Camcorder
When it comes to consumer level HD camcorders, look no further than canon models. At the time of writing, the Canon VIXIA HF200 is one of the best HD camcorders in the market. It records HD videos straight into a flash memory card and has a very impressive feature set.
The Canon VIXIA HF200 is a compact little camcorder, measuring at 2.4 x 2.8 x 4.9 inches and weights just 13.9 ounces. For previewing shots, there is a 2.7-inch LCD display that can be rotated at various angles. All the control buttons are very conveniently laid out. It has a good grip where most of the controls are easily accessible with one hand.
The Canon VIXIA HF200 comes with a 3.89MP image sensor and a 15x optical zoom. It can record HD videos at a 1920 x 1080 resolution at 24Mbps. While recording, Canon’s built-in optical stabilization help produce very steady shots. It also comes with a whole host of other features such as Auto Focus, Face Detections, a 24p Cinema Mode (for creating a cinema-like movie), 30p mode (for shooting fast action sequences) and many more.
Most importantly, the quality of the HD videos recorded with the Canon VIXIA HF200 is astounding. Considering the size of the lens, the videos were surprisingly crisp and sharp. The camcorder focuses very quickly, even in darker lighting conditions. The audio quality of the videos was also pretty good. Currently, the Canon VIXIA HF200 retails for around $599 each. It is a little more expensive that usual, but the premium is a small price to pay considering the excellent video quality and overall performance.
By: Ryan B. Smith
About the Author:
For more product info and customer reviews, visit Canon VIXIA HF200. For reviews on other digital cameras and camcorder models, visit http://cameras-galore.blogspot.com.
Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Camcorder – Latest Model (October 2009)
Specifications: Creative has recently upgraded its pocket HD camcorder model and it has taken the market by storm. The new Creative Labs Vado HD sports a new design and several new improvements over the older model. It has 8GB of built in memory that can record up to 2 hours of 720p HD videos. You can also view the recorded videos directly on a HDTV by using the included HDMI cable. It retains its 2x digital zoom.
Design: Most of the improvements in the new Creative Labs Vado HD can be found in its design. It now looks more sleek and contemporary, which is a big improvement over the dull design of the pocket camcorders launched last year. It is available in black and white. The black model has maroon highlights where some of the control buttons are maroon in color. The white model is contrasted by a light shade of green. The dimensions and weight of the new model is almost the same as the older model.
Features & Performance: At the time of writing, I have yet to find any significant differences between the older and the new Creative Vado HD pocket camcorder, especially in terms of features. The quality of the HD videos recorded on the new model is still one of the best of its class and the user interface and controls were very easy to use. The new model currently costs around $199 per unit, where the older model is now priced at $124. Regardless of which model you choose, you will end up with a very well priced and competent pocket HD camcorder.
By: Ryan B. Smith
About the Author:
For more customer reviews and product info, visit Creative Labs Vado. For reviews and info on other digital camera models, visit http://cameras-galore.blogspot.com
The Truth About Mini HD Camcorders
Portable camcorders are the future of the camcorder industry. There was a time when you had to spend thousands of dollars to get your hands on video recording equipment. Not these days. Flip and Kodak are just two of many companies that have come out with their mini-cams that help you record videos on the go and even create your own YouTube show. These mini-cam manufacturers understand the power of user-generated content, which is why most of them offer features to help you share your content in a more efficient way.
If you are looking for a mini HD cam, you should look past the following brands:
Flip: UltraHD is the latest gadget by a company that has been one of the pioneers in the YouTube era. UltraHD is ultra portable and can get decent shots and videos. Sony: Sony Webbie is designed for folks who are on the go and wan to catch high quality videos. It’s another great vlogging tool. Kodak: Kodak Z line has gone toe to toe with Flip. Some argue that it has a better video recording quality. Best of all, it’s cheap too. Vado: another video recording camera that lets you create your own content fast. It’s very portable and the quality of videos are superb.
These days, you don’t have to be a genius to start and produce your own web show. You can record your daily activities or just create a ranting show. Many have taken the challenge and become partners with YouTube to make decent money online. The best thing about this portable camcorders is that you can transfer your content to the web without too much trouble. The software that you need is already included, though you may have to do some editing on your PC or Mac before transferring your videos. The prices are somewhere in the $150-$300 range. A few years ago, that wouldn’t even buy you half a cam.
By: Panah C Rad
About the Author:
Need more information on video cameras?
Flip, Kodak, and Sony HD mini camcorders are great devices to record videos and take your game to the next level. To find the best portable HD-camcorders and everything else camcorder log on to: http://www.camcordercrunch.com.
The HDD Camcorder
The HDD camcorders today is a must have on you agenda. I have used hundreds of camera’s in my live. My personal best camera is the hard drive camcorders and the Blu-ray camcorders. I have always used the old analogue cameras but they were heavy and were a lot of work to get the video clear and color full.
With the technology getting better by the day, I decided to go and get me something new to play with. I bought the HDD camcorder (hard drive). I love the fact that it is all digital and that means easy to use.
The new HDD & Blu-ray camcorders out there are a blessing. It is easy to use, affordable medium to record to and is easy to convert to the PC at home. This is an essential advantage that these cameras have, you want to be able to edit you video and perhaps share the video with all you r friends and family. And this is all so easy to do, you just need to connect you camera with you PC with the cable that the manufacturer have provided you with. And it’s as easy as that, all you have to do is drag the files over to your PC.
But the cameras in not only for personal entertainment you can use the camcorder to work for you. It is a professional product so the video and audio quality is astounding. So you can use it for professional jobs like music videos and seminars, and the list go on.
By: Kate Nell
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HDD Camcorders
The big hit video camera back in the 90′s was the camcorder with the DVD drive in them. But with technology getting better by the day, they have incorporated the hard drive calling it the hdd camcorders. With the hard drive in the camcorders it makes live much easier for all. It has become so easy to use this digital HDrive camcorder, and has a lot more advantages. It is so easy to share the video with the whole world to see. You just need a cable that plug in on the camera and a PC to download and edit the video these days you even get camcorders that we call hybrids.
These camcorders have a DVD and a hard drive equipped in them. Giving you the advantage of both the digital and the DVD world. With the DVD and hard drive in the camera there are a lot of advantages. But comes with a price. If you can only afford a camcorder with ether the HDrive or the DVD camcorder, I would prefer the hdd camcorder. They have much more advantages and is new in technology. With the HDD camcorder you can easily edit and transfer the video from the camcorder to your PC. And can then be edited.
With the DVD camcorder you must firs burn the video to a DVD and then you can put the DVD in your PC, and can then be edited and more. But I would still prefer the HDD camcorder. With some of the camcorders you can record up to 2 to 4 hour of video.
By: Kate Nell
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