Want a cheap video camera and brand name doesn’t matter? Why not try a Exemode DV580HD? This little guy supports 720P, which slides on down to its 32mb inbuilt or SDHC memory card slot (16 or 32 GB coming soon). It features an 8 megapixel CCD for taking shots but unfortunately doesn’t come with any optical zoom. Michael Bay won’t be using it to film Transformers 2, but for $US220 what do you expect?
For more info, click over to the Akihabara News Site.
This isn’t the sort of thing the average consumer would have at home. Everyone has that uncle John who loves his video cameras and owns one that he brings along to every birthday party, but for the rest of us it isn’t really in our price range. The new Sony HDV isn’t going to change that with two flavors coming in at $US6,850 (HVR-Z7U) and the more powerful HVR-S270U for $US10,500.
The HVR-Z7U is quite a camera with interchangeable Carl Zeiss lenses, Sony’s 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor that offers 1.5 lux sensitivity, 24p and 30p modes, and support for recording directly to CompactFlash or an optional hard-disk recording attachment. It also features MiniDV and HDMI output.
The HVR-S270U has all the same features plus a bunch of extra things (you would hope so for a extra couple of thousand). The extras include HD- or SD-SDI output and can also take full-size DVCAM tapes.
Both cameras will be available in February, just a little to late to be a stocking filler.
For more info, click over to the Engadget Blog.
Everyone wants their HD (High Definition) video camera, but if you are still using an analogue hi8 camera of old, which you picked up in a repair shop for $50, then Aiptek may give you back some of your street cred (like you had any). The Aiptek A-HD 720P may not give you the most high quality of video, but to get HD for under $US150 can’t be a bad thing at all.
What you do get for that price is a CMOS run 5 Megapixel camcorder, with the ability to video at 720P (1280 x 720). It features 2.4″ swivel LCD, HDTV component output, re deye reduction, SD Slot (no tapes or HDD sorry), 2X digital zoom (yucky) and can be charged through USB (and AC adapter). It records in H.264 Video @30fps and can apparently work as a PVR (personal video recorder), making it capable of connecting to TV/VCR/DVD player to record video, pictures and audio.
It isn’t the end all of budget video cameras, and I would seriously recommend spending a little more cash and getting something a hell of a lot better. I must say though, with Christmas coming up, a $150 stocking filler for the kids may come in handy (because they will break it the next day).
For more info, click over to the ChipChick Blog.
I’m a huge fan of the JVC HDD based camcorders, and I have recently got one for myself (to film my little baby crying, because that is all she does). The people over at Digital Trends have done a great review on the new JVC Everio GZ-HD3. They have said “you’ll love the five hours of storage, nice ergonomics and pretty HD video”, giving the camera a good 7.5/10. Can’t wait for these things to get 100GB HDD’s up.
For the whole review, click over to the Digital Trends Website.