Are you in the market for an HD camcorder but you want something a bit more professional than the common consumer HD camcorders? Well if that’s the case, check out the newly introduced Sony HVR-HD1000U HDV camcorder. This entry-level professional HD camcorder features a shoulder-mount design and a price point of around $1900 - making it available to a wider range of users including wedding videographers, freelancers, and educational video creators (heck - even semi-pro bloggers can probably afford this!).

Here are the major features of the Sony HVR-HD1000U HDV camcorder:

• Supports both HDV and DV formats
• With HDV format, users can shoot approximately 60 minutes of HD video on a 6mm cassette tape
• Supports several down-conversion modes that output converted SD signals to the user’s current SD production systems
• Features a high-end Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonner T 10x optical zoom lens to help reduce reflection
• Features Super Steady Shot for image stabilization
• Uses Sony’s 1/2.9 inch ClearVid CMOS sensor system with its unique pixel layout rotated 45 degrees to provide higher resolution and sensivitity
• Capture 6.1 megapixel still images in Picture Mode. Capture 4.6 megapixel still images while HD video is being recorded
• New LCD monitor and electronic view finder configuration. LCD monitor is in front of camera operator when the camera is shoulder-mounted
• Smooth Slow Rec function allows users to perform slow motion playback by capturing images at four times faster than normal field rate (240 fields/s)
• 10 hours battery life with NP-F970 battery
• HDMI, i.LINK, USB, Memory Stick Duo slot

The Sony HVR-HD1000U camcorder is expected in December for a around $1900.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony HVR-HD1000U, HDV camcorder

More High Def Camcorder news - Canon announced a new HD capable camcorder yesterday called the Canon HG10 AVCHD Hard Disk Drive Camcorder. As you might have guessed by the long name, the HG10 comes with an integrated 40 GB HDD and records HD video using the AVCHD codec. Major features of the HD Camcorder include a Canon 10x HD video lens, a full HD CMOS image sensor, Canon’s DIGIC DV II Image Processor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, and Instant Auto Focus.

The Canon HG10 is capable of recording full high definition video (1920 x 1080 resolution) thanks to the Canon Full HD CMOS Sensor. For those of you that want that film look and feel, the HG10 supports 24p recording.

Here’s the tally of what features and specs are available with the Canon HG10:

• AVCHD Format HDD
• Full HD on a 40GB HDD
• 1920 x 1080 Full HD CMOS sensor
• Canon 10x HD Video Zoom Lens and 200x digital zoom
• DIGIC DVII
• SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization
• Instant AF
• 24p Cinema Mode
• HDD Photo Grab from Video
• 2.7 inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD
• Advanced Photo Features
• Corel Application Disc
• HDMI support
• 3.1 megapixel still pictures
• Dolby Digital 2 channel support
• Measures 3.2 x 3.0 x 5.1 inches and weighs only 1.1 lbs

[Check it out]

[Check out the press release]

Technorati Tags: Canon, HG10 AVCHD Hard Disk Drive Camcorder, HD Video

It’s not quite the fall yet but Hitachi has formally announced the world’s first Blu-ray capable disc camcorders today. The new camcorders are the hybrid DZ-BD7H and the BD single disc DZ-BD70. Both camcorders will begin selling in Japan on August 30th and will become available in the overseas market starting in October.

The Hitachi DZ-BD7H is known as a hybrid camcorder because it has both a 30GB internal hard drive and a BD drive. Customers can record 1920 x 1080 full HD video onto the hard drive and then later copy the contents to the BD drive. If you record at full 1920 x 1080, you’ll get approximately four hours of video from the 30GB HDD. If you record at 1440 x 1080, you’ll get approximately eight hours of video on the drive. The camcorder also comes with a 5.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor capable of providing 2.07 megapixels for video and 4.32 megapixels for digital stills. The DZ-BD7H supports high speed dubbing to the BD drive at rates of 2X recording speed.

The Hitachi DZ-BD70 is a BD single drive camcorder which can record approximately one hour of 1920 x 1080 resolution video onto a single 8cm BD disc. If you switch to 1440 x 1080, you’ll get approximately two hours on a single 8cm BD disc.The DZ-BD70 also features the same 5.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor.

Key features of the new Hitachi BD camcorders include:

• Adaptive Dynamic Noise Reduction which analyzes and encodes the video while reducing noise
• Advanced Correlative Coefficient Multiplication Method which reduces false colors to reproduce images in clearer and more natural colors
• MPEG4 AVC/H.264 codec suppport
• 12 element in 9-group, 18-sided multicoat lens
• HDMI support
• SD memory card slot
• Review recorded videos with a display of 12 thumbnails
• Interactive guide
• 10x optical zoom

You can find additional information about the new Hitachi Blu-ray camcorders here on Hitachi’s website.

[Check it out]

[Check out the press release]

Technorati Tags: Hitachi, Blu-ray Camcorder, DZ-BD7H, DZ-BD70

Hoping to spur interest in high definition equipment and content, Panasonic held their first ever “Living in High Definition” initiative event today. The event was held today at 11:45 am EST and lasted till 12:45pm EST and included speakers such as a Hollywood producer and director, academic experts, and Panasonic executives. Luckily, it was a web cast, which means you can still catch it by going to this link here:

http://4.78.165.100/PanaSonic_HD_Event/default2.asp

More importantly, this event was designed to launch Panasonic’s Living in High Definition program. The program will select families from across America and provide them with Panasonic’s high end HD products including a 50 inch 1080p plasma TV, an HD camcorder, digital cameras, a Blu-ray DVD player, and much much more.

So how do you enter to get this equipment? Starting on August 1st, Panasonic will be posting up challenges for families to compete in. What you’ll need to do is tell Panasonic how your family would complete the challenge and why your family would be the best spokes-family for the company. If Panasonic chooses your family, then you will receive Panasonic’s entire HD product suite and then asked to bring your ideas to light. Your final video might be shown online or become part of a documentary film that the company is making with Brett Ratner.

The folks judging the entries will include Brett Ratner, Justine Shapiro, Kevin Smith, and Robert Wilson. The selection panel will review the submissions, and then judge them based on several criteria. However, creativity will be the most important aspect to the submissions.

If you’re interested in the program, make sure to check out the new website - http://www.livinginhd.com  and also make sure to check out the web cast for additional information into the program.

[Check out the web cast]

[Check out Living in HD]

Technorati Tags: Panasonic, Living in High Definition, High Definition

Two more high definition camcorders will soon be available in the consumer market. Panasonic announced that they will be introducing two new HD camcorders in September - one of which is the smallest palm sized 3CCD full HD camcorder yet. The new models are the HDC-SD5 and the HDC-SX5, both of which feature:

• Utilizes the AVCHD format to record full HD video with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
• Come with Panasonic’s original 3CCD camera system
• Comes with Panasonic’s new Advanced Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) system to minimize hand shake

As mentioned above, the Panasonic HDC-SD5 is supposedly the world’s smallest palm style 3CCD full HD camcorder. Features of the HDC-SD5 include:

• USB Host function for improved data storage and playback ease
• Supports SDHC/SD memory cards
• Support for optional DVD burner (model VW-BN1)
• MSRP of $999.95 and available in September

Meanwhile, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 features:

• Records full HD motion images on both SDHC/SD memory cards and DVD discs
• Records up to 180 minutes of video on an 8GB SDHC card and 60 minutes on a 3 inch DVD-R dual layer disc
• Able to copy recorded video from an SDHC/SD memory card to a 3 inch DVD disc internally with the touch of a single button without connecting to a PC
• Video can also be recorded on a DVD disc in SD format
• MSRP of $899.95 and due in Septemeber

Perhaps what’s most impressive about these two new HD camcorders is the MSRP. With prices in the $900 to $1000 range, expect these camcorders to be priced below that during the holiday season with sales and promotions kicking in.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Panasonic, HDC-SD5, HDC-SX5, HD

Engadget is reporting that Hitachi will be introducing their first Blu-ray supporting video camcorders later this year. The new Wooo-branded camcorders will feature a 5.3 megapixel CMOS sensor capable of recording at full 1080p (1920 x 1080) and come with an integrated BD/DVD drive supporting 8cm discs. With an 8cm BD-RE/R media in place, the camcorder will be capable of recording up to 7GB of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video - roughly five times the amount of an 8cm DVD-RAM/RW/R disc.

[Check it out via Engadget]

Technorati Tags: Video Camcorder, Blu-ray

This is a re-posting from Krunker.com. CamcorderInfo has published a comparison between the Canon TX1 and the Sanyo VPC-HD2 - both of which offer high resolution still images and 720p video recording capabilities. The TX1 is marketed more as a digital camera than an HD video camcorder while the VPC-HD2 is marketed more as a camcorder than a camera. Before getting to the verdict, here are the important specs to both cameras.

The Canon PowerShot TX1 features:

• Small form factor
• 7.1 megapixel resolution
• 10x optical zoom lens
• Proprietary Optical Image Stabilizer Technology
• DIGIC III Image Processor with improved Face Detection Technology and Red Eye Correction
• 1280 x 720 HD movies at 30fps with Face Detection, stereo sound, and 1080i component video playback
• 1.8 inch Vari-Angle, Wide-View LCD with scratch-resistant, anti-reflection, anti-fingerprint coating
• Sensitivity range up to ISO 1600
• All metal construction with built in lens cap
• Print/Share button for easy direct printing and downloading

The Sanyo VPC-HD2 features:

• 720p HD video recording (1280 x 720 at 30fps)
• 7 megapixel resolution
• 10x Optical Zoom Lens, 10x Digital Zoom lens
• Rotating 2.2 inch LCD screen
• SD or SDHC memory card support
• HDMI output
• Records in MPEG-4
• 9 image display function
• Simultaneous shooting of 7 megapixel still images and HD video
• 48kHZ, 16 bit 2 channel sound for AAC-LC encoding
• Image stabilization feature

Here’s the verdict from CamcorderInfo:

Overall, we have to side with the Canon TX1 as the victor. It’s far from perfect, but it’s a promising step in the right direction.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Canon TX1, Sanyo VPC-HD2, HD Digital Cameras