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Canon claims significantly improved audio quality with VIXIA Mini X camcorder

Canon's instant-sharing VIXIA Mini camcorder lineup is welcoming a new model to the family. The Mini X, which will be available alongside the existing Mini, adds a handful of enhanced audio-capture features aimed at making the camera more attractive to pros. The X packs microphones that are 250 percent larger than its predecessor and Linear PCM audio encoding, along with a feature that automatically selects ideal audio settings depending on the scene, a mic input jack with manual audio level control, a headphone jack for monitoring, uncompressed HDMI output and embedded timecode, making it easy to merge footage (and audio) with output from other cameras.

On the imaging front, there's an f/2.8 fisheye lens, a 12.8-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 4 processor. The lens is fixed, but the camera offers an option to shoot in either a wide-angle or close-up mode -- with the latter, you can also take advantage of electronic image stabilization. You can shoot regular footage, along with slow- or fast-motion and interval captures, with 1080p output in either MP4 or AVCHD. Like Canon's point-and-shoot lineup, the Mini X also includes WiFi, enabling live streaming and remote control when paired with an Android or iOS device. Additionally, there's a 2.7-inch touchscreen with full rotation, letting you make adjustments and handle framing directly in the camera, if that's how you like to roll. The VIXIA Mini X, which is also compatible with Canon's Pan Table accessory, is expected in stores in March with a $400 MSRP.