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New York Times compares Canon's HV10 to Sony HC3
So you have a tough decision to make. Your first born is on his/her way and you want to film the whole event in high-def, but Canon is coming out with their first HD cam, the HV10 or you can get Sony's third-gen HC3. What is a soon-to-be father to do? The New York Times took a look at both of the cams and their write-up might help you a bit daddy'o. They really liked the Canon's stabilizer system and external sensor that hands most of the refocusing but then again, the Sony is more then likely to be less problematic as it is their third incarnation. Either way you go, the cams will provide you a crystal-clear image of your child's first steps and life that will look great at their graduation open house 18 years from now. That is of course if HDTVs are still around and they haven't been overtaken by those holographic displays we all read about in Tom Swift books as a kid.
X-Loupe gives your Canon IXUS microscopic powers
Just like in 5th grade, some things are still pretty dang interesting when looked at up close. X-Loupe can help you in your quest of dang interesting stuff, by snapping onto a Canon IXUS camera (Digital ELPH in the States) and providing microscope-style 150x 5 megapixel photography. The unit has its own battery and LED lens ring, which should provide around 4 hours of magnification fun, and doesn't impede any of the usual IXUS features like preview, video recording or TV connectivity. X-Loupe can be obtained from the company of the same name for around $1450, and comes with a trio of lenses (60x, 100x and 150x) along with a Canon IXUS 65 camera to round out the package.[Via gizmag]
SED sedentarily sedated
AVS Forum'0s has a newsletter post from TV Week magazine about the trials and tribulations facing a really cool TV technology we first mentioned almost a year ago called SED, or Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Displays, which were hyped as the Best of What's New 2005, yet aren't scheduled to be released to the market until the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. SED is yet another joint venture by Toshiba, joining Canon to produce these sets for consumers last year.Unfortunately, they've been set back by delays, many of which are presumably tied to the huge investments in plasma and LCD production lines, so it's felt that the production process en masse isn't competitive with those for other television technologies. It's too bad, as from almost all reports on the technology, SED is the display type to beat for many categories: power consumption, color reproduction, cabinet thickness, contrast, black levels, and more.[Thanks, David]
Canon's iVIS DC22 DVD camcorder
Along with the more notable HV10 high definition model we brought you yesterday, Canon has introduced another new member to its family of iVIS camcorders: the DVD-equipped DC22. Besides its ability to record onto dual-layer, 8-centimeter discs, there's not much that makes this product stand out from the pack; you're getting a 2.7-inch flip out display, 2.2 megapixel CCD, and just a 10x optical zoom -- far less than many other Canon cams on the market. Still, they're not asking you to pay through the nose for this one either -- it'll go for about 90,000 yen ($785) when it drops in Japan sometime this month.[Via Fareastgizmos]
Canon intros first consumer HD camcorder, the iVIS HV10
After having teased us with the powerful-but-expensive XH G1 and XH A1 high definition prosumer camcorders, Canon has now brought that same 1080i goodness to the the little guy with its first consumer-oriented HD model, the iVIS HV10. Recording onto standard miniDV cassettes using the HDV format, the Optura-like HV10 features a 1/2.7-inch CMOS able to capture 2,048 x 1,536 stills, 10x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD display, and miniSD slot for storing photos. Compared to Sony's HDR-HC3 this device certainly holds its own, as its optical image stabilization trumps the Sony's electronic version, and its maximum video capture resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 is higher than the competition's 1,440 x 1,080 -- though the HC3 sports an HDMI output, while the HV10 does not. Best of all, its 150,000 Yen ($1,300) pricetag will set you back about $400 less than the HC3 when this model (in either black or silver) debuts next month in Japan; the US release, however, is still up in the air.[Via CamcorderInfo, Akihabara News, and Impress]
Canon's first consumer HD camcorder - iVIS HV10
Sony, eat your heart out. You aren't the only kid on the block anymore with a camcorder targeting normal consumers. Canon just released the deets on their first compact high-def camcorder, the iVIS HV10, and it looks like it could be a nice camera. The biggest difference between this new Canon and Sony's whole line-up of HD camcorders happens to be with the resolution of the sensor. You see, the Sony captures in high-def, but it is, well, HD-Lite at a 1440x1080 resolution. This new Canon however packs a HD CMOS with a resolution of 1920x1080 and it's paired with Canon's DIGIC DV II processor, which happens to be the same one powering this guys big brothers, the XH G1 & XH A1. Throw in the 10x optical zoom and an optical image stabilizer, and Canon has a winner on their hands. The iVIS HV10 should be out in Japan sometime in September for 150,000 Yen ($1,300). We haven't seen anything about a US release but we are willing to bet the farm we will see this camcorder over here.
Canon unveils dual HDV followups to prosumer GL2
It sure took them long enough (four years, in fact) but Canon has finally released some successors to their famed GL2 cam: the XH G1 and XH A1. The two cameras offer a slew of new options to the prosumer, not least of which is the HD resolution offered by the HDV format. Both cams feature the same 16:9, 1/3-inch CCDs of Canon's XL H1, along with 1080i recording at 60 and 24fps and Canon's 24p-like 24f option. The XH cams nicely fill the GL2 gap, trading the XL's interchangeable lenses for size and cost savings. Both models feature 2.8-inch LCDs, 20X zoom lenses and even XLR inputs, but the XH G1 has an extra "jack pack" and a $3000 premium. What'll that three grand get you? Pro ports like HD/SD-SDI, Genlock and TC in/out that allow a serious shooter to output uncompressed HD footage for recording to another format with less compression than the consumer-ish HDV tapes. Smooth move on Canon's part, and we're sure more than a few pro video types will gladly fork over the extra cash for the privilege. The vanilla XH A1 version goes for $4000, and should be available in October, while the XH G1 will follow in November for $7000.[Via Camcorderinfo, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Two new 'compact' prosumer HD cams from Canon - XH G1 & XH A1
Canon has just announced their first prosumer high-def camcorders. These things might not be as small and compact as Sony's consumer lines, but they weren't meant to be ether. Canon basically took their old, but still a goodie, XL H1 (MSRP $9999) and shrunk the size of the camera and price. The two new camcorders both have the same imaging system as the XL H1 with three 1/3-inch 16:9 CCDs that can record 1080i60/24. Well, to be honest, the resolution is really 1440 x 1080 which is still high-def; just, not the 1980 x 1080i that you were expecting. The cams are equipped with a 20x optical HD lens and have the same DIGIC DV II processor as the XL H1. These two models are identical sans one little thing: a jack pack. The XH G1 (pictured with jack pack on the right) retails at $6999 and has an improved SD/HD-SDI that embeds not only the video signal and timecode, but also the audio. There is also a separate SMPTE Timecode in/out (via a toggle) and a Genlock input. If you don't need these jacks, you can save some gas money by picking up the same quality video via the XH A1 at $3999. The XH A1 should be available in October with the big brother coming in late November.
DALSA ships 111 megapixel CCD
Don't expect to see one of these in a commercial DSLR anytime soon (especially now that Mamiya has left the game), but a division of DALSA Semiconductor has successfully manufactured and delivered a 111 megapixel image sensor that's only been topped on these pages by the 500 megapixel monster inside Fermilab's Dark Energy Camera. Putting even the highest-resolution bacteria-based cam to shame, the new 4-inch-square CCD features an array of 10,560 x 10,560 pixels, and was developed in conjunction with Semiconductor Technology Associates to aid the U.S. Naval Observatory's Astrometry Department in precisely determining the position and motion of celestial objects. While you probably can't afford to hire DALSA to build another one of these just for you, there's at least one option on the market that will give you the hundred-plus megapixel bragging rights you seek without breaking the bank: Better Light's 144 megapixel E-HS medium format backing, which, while technically only capturing 48 megapixels per color (and taking at least 66 seconds to do so), should still be enough to impress even your EOS 1Ds Mark II-sporting friends.
DIY cable release and serial cable for Canon Digital Rebel
While DSLR prices are dropping, the prices for accessories are not, so the folks over at Make have come up with a way to make a cable release and serial-port cable out of electronics you might already have laying around. The cable release, which helps to prevent camera-shake during long-exposures, requires a 2.5-mm stereo phone plug, some flexible wire and a switch. The serial-port cable, which allows you to make "bulb" exposures with the Remote Capture software included with the camera, requires a few more parts and some coding knowledge, but the reward could be well worth the effort for astrophotographers or people who want more cred at the next Maker Faire.[Via Make: Blog]
Canon PowerShot SD700 reviewed
Digital Camera Tracker got a chance to check out Canon's PowerShot SD700 6 megapixel digital camera and came away impressed, giving it an 8.5 out of 10. Packing a 4x optical zoom in a sleek and sturdy body, they gave the camera high marks for its high quality images, great color balance and saturation, image stabalization, nice LCD, and high 800 ISO. On the downside, the camera is a mite bit expensive (about $500 list), the optical viewfinder apparently stinks, and apparently the auto focus a bit noisy. It's probably not a camera for the pros out there, but it seems like the more point-and-shoot inclined should be happy -- as they usually are with Canons -- if they can justify the somewhat hefty price tag.[Via DP Blog]
Canon may quit film camera business
Canon, a company long associated with all kinds of photography, may become the next player to abandon the shrinking film photo business. While Canon says it has yet to make a firm decision, a spokesman said the company is considering whether it makes sense to continue producing cameras for the film market. Canon's potential withdrawal from the film business would follow a similar decision by arch-rival Nikon, which dropped production of all but one of its film cameras earlier this year. For now Canon says it will continue to support existing models, but you may just want to stock up on glass for that EOS before they change their mind.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS reviewed
Digital Camera Resource got their mits on the Canon PowerShot S3 IS recently and were kind enough to post a detailed review for our perusal. While the S3 isn't exactly "an exciting upgrade" over its S2 IS predecessor, the reviewer still found it to be an "excellent" ultra zoom camera. Besides the bump from 5 to 6 mexapixels, the camera's two most touted new features are ISO 800 sensitivity and 60fps QVGA / 30fps VGA recording. Well, the ISO 800 snaps shot under low light were found to be, er, "not usable" while those taken under normal light should be limited to 4x6 prints with the aid of some noise reduction software. However, the overall noise level was still considered "low for a 6 megapixel camera." Meanwhile, the video capabilities were found to be excellent due to stereo sound recording and the ability to zoom silently while filming. However, lacking an MPEG-4 codec means your flicks will hit the 1GB per recording wall in only 9-minutes under the highest quality settings. Overall, the camera earns the reviewer's "enthusiastic recommendation" due to its "very good photo quality" and "snappy performance" in a "solid and capable" ultra zoom camera.
Canon's PowerShot SD630 review roundup
The word is in on Canon's PowerShot SD630 6 megapixel compact, and while the pics, speed, and LCD get lots of love, a few problems with the controls and lack of optical image stabilisation might crimp your style. The $400 3x zoom camera sports a whopping 3-inches of LCD, and while it's hard to hate on that much screen, it doesn't seem to leave much room for the controls, which end up being a bit cramped. Luckily the photos are great, and if you're really hung up on the image stabilization you can always spring for the SD630's older brother, the SD700 IS.Read - CNETRead - Digital Camera TrackerRead - Digital Photography ReviewRead - Digital TrendsRead - Lets Go Digital
DS gets wordplay, Japanese-English dictionary
Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten was released for the DS in Japan today, bringing an affordable electronic Japanese-English dictionary to the masses. KSRJ's major selling point is its stylus functionality, allowing users to input kanji (stroke-sensitive) and kana onto the touch screen. Japan Chronicles compared Nintendo's new toy tool to Canon's pricey ($299–$470) Wordtank V80 Chinese-Japanese-English dictionary, which also allows kanji inputs via a stylus. Here's what the site liked about KSRJ: Price* Same J-to-E and E-to-J dictionaries Word search by kanji English pronunciation Very readable, especially on a DS Lite Easy-to-use search history Useful quiz modes World clock Calendar Here's what Wordtank V80 does better: Vastly superior navigation Superior Japanese dictionary (Super Daijirin vs. Meiky%u014D) Includes Chinese dictionary, as well as dedicated English and Kanji dictionaries Stylus-controlled navigation Includes real (not virtual) keyboard *We're not sure what the official retail price for the dictionary software is, but we found KSRJ for as low as $48 at goldenshop.com.hk.
Canon yanks EOS 20Da astronomy camera
Canon has announced that the company will discontinue its EOS 20Da digital SLR later this month. The camera -- a version of the EOS 20D optimized for astrophotography with a custom low-pass filter and live LCD focusing via a mirror lock-up -- was always a unique product targeting a specialized niche. Canon insists that it's killing the cam because its base body, the 20D, is being replaced by the new 30D. That could mean that Canon plans a new model based on the 30D, or it could just be an effort to find a graceful way to kill off a product that was a little too specialized to find a decent market -- especially at a price of about $2,500 with lenses, more than double the going rate for the 20D.
Canon EOS 30D 8.2 megapixel DSLR reviewed
Although not as much of an upgrade from the 20D as photography enthusiasts would have liked, the Canon EOS 30D DSLR nonetheless retains the quality performance and full feature set of its predecessor while addressing some key concerns that users had with the 2004 model. DPreview comes to these conclusions prior to bestowing their "Highly Recommended" rating on the 30D -- which obviously fared well in their rigorous testing -- finding it to be a strong competitor in its category for both image quality and value. Most welcomed by the reviewers was the addition of spot metering, variable continuous shooting rates, and the jump to a 2.5-inch LCD, although problems that plagued the 20D such as AI Servo banding with certain lenses and poor incandescent lighting results were not improved to their satisfaction. Still, besides these relatively isolated issues, most of the gripes with this model are minor quibbles, and it seems safe to say that anyone in the market for a mid-range DSLR would be more than satisfied with Canon's offering.
Canon's sweet new LCoS projector
This projector is making our mouths salivate. LOOK AT IT! It is simply a beautiful projector and knowing that it is a LCoS based one makes it good enough for us. Check out these specs: 1400x1050 resolution, 3500 lumens and a 2000:1 contrast ratio. Yeah, the resolution is some what of a let down but it is still good. We would have liked to seen 1080p too but oh well. Canon included auto color correction too so if your screen is not white but rather green as Akihabara News suggests, it would make the necessary adjustments to the color. No word on price or availability yet but we will let you know as soon as we hear something new.
Sorry, no SEDs this year
Sorry folks. The long anticipated release of SEDs has been delayed. We thought it was coming but just didn't want to believe it. Originally, Toshiba and Canon were looking to release their flat-panels this spring but that is not going to happen. They aren't even going to release them anytime this year nor next spring. Instead they have opted for a fall 2007 release. Talk about way off!They are aiming for this release date to meet the demands of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. Don't ya think that if the TVs were out now, their supply chains could be be full in two summers. Oh well. What can a guy do?
Canon's SX6, SX60, S600 REALiS LCoS projectors
Canon might not be helping Toshiba bring SED sets to market sooner, but they did just drop three new LCoS projectors in their REALiS line. The SX6, SX60 and S600 are named similarly, but they differ greatly in price at $6,999, $5, 999 and $3,999 repsectively. Starting at the top, the SX6 offers 1400x1050 res and a 1000:1 contrast at 3500 lumens. Sibling SX60 keeps the res, drops the lumens to 2500 but can show a 2000:1 contrast via a Home Cinema Mode. The baby of the REALiS line, the S600, is XGA only or 1024x768 with the 3500 lumen output at 1000:1 contrast.The suggested retail prices seem a bit high for these specs, but they're not completely out the ballpark either. Each of these DVI-equipped projectors arrive in May sans HDMI interface.
