PocketCamcorders
Latest
Toshiba intros Camileo BW20 waterproof camcorder, available now for $130
Toshiba might have missed the summer vacationers by just a bit, but with the beautiful fall season just around the corner in the US, it's that period to introduce a new Camileo to the group. This time out it's the follow-up to the company's rather colorful BW10 from last year. Enter the adequately named BW20. Aside from nabbing a numerical bump on its moniker, the BW20 brings the same 1080p video recording found on its predecessor, plus improved waterproof capabilities that now allow the camcorder to handle up to 16 feet below water. Perhaps, the most interesting fact here is the BW20's new price tag, which is now $130 -- 20 bucks less than the BW10. You can snag one for yourself now at the source link below; in the meantime, there's an appealing press shot gallery for your viewing pleasure down below.
Toshiba Camileo Air10 WiFi camcorder available now for $160 from HSN
Remember that Toshiba full HD WiFi camcorder we got our hands on back at CES? Well, if you've been jonesin' for one since January, you're in luck. The Camileo Air10 is now available from HSN for the "event price" of $159.95 and ships with a 4GB SDHC card. In case you're a bit hazy on the details, the Air10 is ready for uploads and live-streaming without being anchored to a computer. It shoots 16 megapixel photos and the aforementioned 1080p video before sending it on to services like UStream, YouTube, Facebook, Picasa and Twitvid. You may want to decide quickly, though, as the "HSN price" is $20 higher. Need a refresher on how the Camileo Air10 performed on the show floor? Take a peek back at our sample video.
Toshiba Camileo Air10 hands-on revisited: with sample video
We've already gotten our hands on Toshiba's Camileo Air10, but there was one crucial ingredient missing from our initial impressions -- an actual glimpse at how clips recorded with the device turned out. We swung by the company's booth on the floor, slipped one of our own SD cards in the device and took a quick video at 1080p with image stabilization enabled. The results? Not so great. While image quality and color reproduction was acceptable, clips were very shaky -- even with stabilization turned on. Perhaps someone with steadier hands (not running on two hours of sleep and caffeine fumes) would have better results -- actually, we sure of it. Check out a quick hands on clip and sample video after the break.
Toshiba announces Camileo Air10, its first WiFi camcorder, and the Z100 3D
Ever since the Flip went bye-bye all has been mostly quiet on the pocket camcorder front, but today we seem to be hitting the jackpot when it comes to new budget cams. First, Sony unveiled the Bloggie Live (which, er live-streams), and now Toshiba is showing off the Air its first wireless camcorder, the Camileo Air10. Like the Bloggie Live, it's equipped for easy uploads and live-streaming, though in this case the list of supported services includes UStream, YouTube, Facebook, Picasa and Twitvid. For the money, it also snaps 16MP stills and does 1080p video, as does every other camcorder in Toshiba's stable. Moving along, Toshiba also announced the Z100 3D, a 3D camcorder with a glasses-free 3D touchscreen LCD (it's a wee one, at 2.8 inches, so we're not sure how much you'll be able to appreciate the 3D effects before outputting it to a TV). This, too, takes 16 megapixel photos. Look for the Air10 to hit for $150 next month, with the Z100 3D arriving in late March for $220. Sean Buckley contributed to this post.
IRL: Kirby Sentria, Sony bloggie-MHS-FS1 and the OLPC XO laptop
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Let's just cut to the chase: this week's IRL is a little schizophrenic. On the one hand, you've got Andy singing his bloggie's praises, Terrence waxing philosophical about his unused OLPC XO and Darren ranting about his grandmother's vacuum cleaner. Do you like camcorders that are not a smartphone? Do you despise door-to-door Sentria salesmen? Good. Let's hit it, then.
Olympus' LS-20M boasts dual mics and 1080p recording, split personality
Cisco may have washed its hands of pocket camcorders, but Olympus is ready to dive into the market with gusto. The company, best known for its cameras and voice recorders, just brought those two worlds together by announcing the LS-20M, a handheld whose relatively high-end audio specs should help it go toe-to-toe with Zoom. In addition to 1080p video, the LS-20M records 24 bit / 96 hHz Linear PCM audio using a pair of condenser mics. Alas, at $300 it has a small 2-inch screen and no optical zoom, but at least Olympus borrowed four of the visual effects that make its PEN cameras so fun to use. Look for it in June, and in the meantime, hit the PR for more details.
Toshiba's waterproof Camileo BW10 does 1080p video, 5 megapixel stills for $150
Flip might have died an untimely death, but spring is here, the birds are chirping, and the march of vacation-ready pocket cams continues -- Toshiba just announced the Camileo BW10, whose rubberized coating makes it usable in water as deep as 6.5 feet. At $150, it's a smidge cheaper than other rugged 1080p camcorders, but then again, you'll pay a premium for models you can use in deeper water. In addition to video, it snaps 5 megapixel photos and has an SD card slot, USB port, and HDMI output, though Toshiba regrettably doesn't bundle an HDMI cable. Not a deal-breaker? You can nab one in yellow or silver on Toshiba's site today with an instant $20 rebate.
Toshiba intros Camileo P100 and B10 pocket camcorders, strays from tried-and-true pistol grip
The seasons come and go, but Toshiba's line of Camileo pocket camcorders tend to look the same, with their pistol grips and flip-out screens. But now, Tosh is getting ready to ship two new models in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and one of them, at least, takes the company's design in a different direction. The B10 camcorder has a candy bar shape with a front-facing lens -- much like the Flip camcorders that kicked off the pocket cam craze in the first place. The B10 shoots at Full HD resolution, snaps 16 megapixel stills, has 16X digital zoom, and takes SDXC cards as large as 64GB. Prefer the ole' pistol grip? The P100 boasts the same specs and adds 5X optical zoom -- still a rarity in inexpensive pocket cams. Toshiba hasn't announced pricing yet, though the two will go on sale sometime in the second quarter. In the meantime, check out the press release for more deets.
Toshiba Camileo S20 review
Say what you will, but Toshiba has managed to time the Camelio S20 just right -- it was the very same day that our Flip Slide HD frustrations were reaching epic levels, that the $179.99 pocket camcorder showed up on our doorstep. The thin cam, which can shoot full 1080p and capture stills with its 5 megapixel CMOS sensor, just became available in the US earlier this month, and for the price we've actually been blown away by all of the features it boasts in comparison to the competition. So, did the Camelio S20 turn around our pocket cam woes? Jump on past the break for our full review of Tosh's latest camcorder contender. %Gallery-91271%
Sanyo Xacti GH2, CG102, CG20 preview: full-HD cams for less than $230
We caught up with Sanyo and its recently announced, sub-$230 GH2, CG102 and CG20 high-def camcorders this morning, and have to say the company has done it again. While we didn't have enough time to test the video quality, for less than 300 bucks you sure can get a compact and solid feeling cam, regardless of which model your big heart desires. We're especially taken with the CG102 and GH2, which are virtually the same, only housed in two different form factors. Both record full HD 1080i60 videos, have 14 megapixel still cams and Sanyo's 12x "double-range zoom," which lets you switch between a wide-angle and telephoto zoom when shooting vids. Cleverly, the horizontally-built GH2 -- which can be ordered with an expansion lens -- now has two sets of record / stop controls for those that tend to hold the cam in different ways; one set is on the top and the other on the inside of the LCD pane. Those that don't want to shell out the extra $30 for the vertical CG102 can grab the $199 CG20, but keep in mind that it drops you down to 10 megapixels and nixes the dual zoom function. We're looking forward to thoroughly testing one of the $229 units in due time, but for now you can check out their sleek bods and buttons in the hands-on gallery below. %Gallery-88953%
New Flip cams to launch in early April?
The details are slim to none on this one, but we're all about a good pocket cam rumor. According to the usually-reliable Business Insider Cisco will launch a new set of Flip camcorders around the NAB show which runs from April 12-15, but we don't have any specs yet. Come on Cisco, now you've got us guessing not only about the future of the Internet, but also if your newest Flip will support 1080p. Told you we didn't know much, but we'll obviously be keeping an eye out for more.
