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Canon introduces upgraded PowerShot and Vixia cameras
As has been the case in years past, Canon's taken to CES to reveal an upgraded line of PowerShot and Vixia cameras and camcorders. For point-and-shoots, the main model being introduced is the SX540 HS (pictured above), a superzoom model with a 24.3-megapixel, 50x optical zoom lens and Digic 6 processor. It's now capable of 1080p at 60 fps as well, compared to 30 fps on its predecessor, the SX530 HS. The company is also introducing the ELPH 360HS, which features a 22-megapixel CMOS sensor, Digic 4+ processor and a 12x optical zoom (25-300mm equivalent).
Canon's newest connected cameras: when a smartphone still won't do
You know the drill: Smartphones are making compact cameras obsolete, killing the category and yada yada. But still! Camera makers launch a seemingly endless number of new models at CES, and Canon is a great example of that this year. It just unveiled no fewer than eight compact, superzoom and video cameras in the PowerShot, ELPH and VIXIA lines, along with a Pixma photo printer. The common thread among them is wireless connectivity: Each features WiFi and NFC (other than the ELPHs and VIXIA HF R600), letting you get social with your smartphone sans the optical drawbacks. The wireless aspect also provides connectivity with peripherals like Canon's Connection Station CS100 or the new Pixma MX492 photo printer.
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.
Canon's targeting new parents with VIXIA R52, R50, R500 camcorders
Your smartphone can shoot video; your tablet can shoot video; and, if you even still own one, your point-and-shoot can shoot video too. So why, then, might you pick up a mid-range camcorder? Fortunately for manufacturers, there are still a few perks to owning a dedicated video camera. If top-notch image stabilization is what you're after, you'll probably turn to Sony, but if you're a new parent looking to document your young child's early years, Canon wants your business. The company's latest VIXIA camcorders sport a variety of family-friendly features, from livestreaming to your smartphone with the R52 and R50 (think expensive baby monitor), to an "Advanced Baby Mode," which can register up to three babies and track their height, weight and age over months and years of shooting. Internally, all three cams are quite similar. They include 3.3-megapixel CMOS sensors, 32x optical zoom lenses with optical stabilization and 1080/60p video capture. The $450 R52 and $400 R50 also include internal storage -- 32GB on the pricier model and 16GB on the other -- letting you capture footage simultaneously to the embedded storage and a standard SD card, with archival-quality AVCHD recorded on one and upload-ready MP4 on the other, if you'd like. The $300 R500 excludes built-in storage, so you'll need to add an SD card to store captures there. The pricer pair also packs WiFi, with support for livestreaming and recording directly on a connected smartphone or tablet. Finally, you can also use the R52 and R50 with Canon's new Pan Table accessory, adding to their practicality as a home-security appliance. Expect all three VIXIA camcorders in stores this March.
Canon outs VIXIA HF G30 camcorder with premium optics, XA20 and XA25 for pros (updated)
While the image of the amateur camcorder user still revolves around a parent recording baby's first steps, Canon knows that at least some of us want high-quality footage without venturing too far into pro camera territory. Witness its new VIXIA HF G30, which rolls in image quality and control that are still rare outside of big shoulder-mounted cams. It includes a larger CMOS sensor than its ancestors, a new DIGIC DV 4 processor and an equally fresh 20X (26.8-536mm equivalent), f/1.8 lens; together, they should cut back on visual artifacts, improve stabilization and produce a gentler depth of field effect. Canon is also expanding its WiFi support to include DSLR-like remote control of the camcorder through the web browsers of most modern devices. The upgrade rounds out with a handful of firsts specific to the G series, such as dual recording in AVCHD and MP4 as well as a 3.5-inch, OLED touchscreen. Be prepared to sacrifice some time and money for the upgrade in home video quality, though -- Canon doesn't ship the HF G30 until June, when it will cost a not-quite-pro-level $1,700. If you really do make a living from moving pictures, Canon also has a pair of compact pro models that share the same underlying technology. Both the XA20 and XA25 (pictured after the break) carry the same 20X lens, DIGIC DV 4 processing, WiFi and OLED display as their home-oriented cousin, but throw in pro-level expansion such as XLR microphone inputs and holders, independent audio level adjustment and (on the XA25) SDI connectors. The two will ship later in June and should carry premiums that lift their official prices up to $2,699 and $3,199, although we're seeing them on Canon's site for $500 less -- we've reached out and will let you know how much they cost in practice. Update: Canon tells us that the real pricing sits in between. The XA20 will cost $2,499, while it will take $2,999 to call an XA25 your own.
Canon Vixia R40 wireless camcorder hands-on (video)
Canon announced a quartet of camcorders earlier today at CES 2013, and while Vixia G20 is a tweaked version of the previous model, the R40 and R42 bringing a raft of new features like WiFi connectivity to the game. All the new camcorders pack a 53X zoom, DIGIC DV IV image processor and a 3.28-megapixel full HD CMOS image sensor, along with full HD at 60P and 35Mbps AVCHD recording. The R40 and R42 add an interesting twist, however, with WiFi and compatibility with Canon's new CameraAccess app, which brings streaming and remote control features. We took the R40 for a quick spin, and for a $400 camcorder, we were impressed with the solidity of the unit, light weight and decent specs. The WiFi component is a welcome option as well, opening the door to low-budget remote shooting and streaming, which could be especially handy for solo bloggers or vacationers. 60fps Full HD capability is also a nice touch, although action shooters would do well to not mistake the unit for a dedicated sports shooter and let it clatter to the pavement. For more info, check the gallery below, or go after the break to let a Canon rep give you a quick video tour of the new model.
Canon's latest VIXIA camcorders stream and share with your mobile device
On the eve of CES, longtime optics heavyweight Canon announced four new camcorders for its VIXIA product line. The HF R42, R40 and R400 all feature a 53x advanced zoom, a DIGIC DV IV image processor and a 3.28-megapixel full HD CMOS image sensor. In addition, these movie-makers capture HD MP4s at up to 35Mbps and AVCHD progressive 60p recordings that tops out at 28Mbps. Moving things to the cloud, Canon's new HF R camcorders allow users to remotely browse and download files via the web. Further adding to its software suite, the company is introducing its CameraAccess app (Android and iOS) with video streaming, sharing and remote control for the HR40 and HR42. Available in March, Canon's new trio of HF R series camcorders are priced at $300 (R400), $400 (R40) and $500 (R42). Rounding out today's announcement is the company's new flagship VIXIA HF G20, which packs 32GB of storage, a 10x optical zoom and a claimed 12 hours of full HD recording. Slated to release in February, Canon's new top-shelf video camera can be yours for around $1,100. This equipment may not take you on an unexpected journey to Erebor, however it should easily have enough firepower to spiff-up your YouTube videos. For a further look at Canon's new starting lineup, checkout the gallery below and the presser after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Canon VIXIA HF G10 boasts HD CMOS sensor and manual focus, joins new M, R, and S series camcorders
Another year, another revamping of your favorite company's camcorder lineup. Today's Mad Lib-esque fill-in-the-company-name is Canon. The VIXIA HF G10 is its new flagship with the approximately 2 megapixel (i.e. 1920 x 1080 resolution) HD CMOS sensor, a 10x optical zoom, manual focus ring, 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, 32GB internal memory, dual SDXC slots, cinema filters, and a $1,499 price tag due in March. The M-Series all have the same HD CMOS sensor, 10x lens, 3-inch touchscreen cinema filters, dual SDXC slots and fits neatly into the new WP-V3 waterproof case. The 32GB M41, 16GB M40, and card slot-only M400 are coming in March for $799, $699, and $649 (the related case is $599 and coming out a month prior in February). The S30 has an 8.59 megapixel sensor, 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, 32GB internal space, and is coming March for $1,099. Lastly, the new R-series. A 3.2 megapixel sensor, 3-inch touch panel LCD, HD-to-SD down conversion, dual SDXC slots, and 20x zoom. $499 for the 32GB R21, $399 for the 8GB R20, and $379 for the internal storage-deprived R200, all due out in February. We'll get hands-on when we can; in the meantime; lock your biological viewfinder on the pictures below. %Gallery-112558%
Canon VIXIA HF M32 adds SDXC compatibility, has 64GB of its own flash anyway
Talk about a bad time to introduce your latest camcorder. Hot on the heels of Sony's category-redefining NEX-VG10, Canon is coming out with a humble refresher of its VIXIA line of consumer shooters (known as Legria in Europe). It's as incremental as upgrades get, with the HF M32 doubling its predecessor's 32GB of internal storage and adding in SDXC memory card compatibility. Canon's Relay Recording feature will allow you to transition from one storage cell to another without interrupting your video, but it's something the M31 already offers. The rest of the specs are also familiar: a HD CMOS sensor capable of 3 megapixel stills, a 15x optical zoom lens with both optical and powered image stabilization, a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD with Touch and Track functionality, and the same DIGIC DV III processor that's been knocking about since last year. Still, you've gotta be pretty good to last that long in this industry, so maybe it's worth giving this camera a look if you have $1,000 to spend and can wait for a September delivery.%Gallery-97454%
Canon FS, S, M and R series VIXIA HD camcorders hands-on
Wondering what the slew of Canon's new camcorders announced earlier this week look like in the flesh? Err, plastic? We went to find out and while the full suite of model numbers is far too extensive to possibly include in this post -- three separate series of camcorders, three models in each, one with lots of internal storage, one with a little, and one that relies entirely on SD-based storage -- we did at least include lots of pictures in the gallery below, and you can read all the specs from the official release here. %Gallery-82017%
Canon adds new S, M and R series VIXIA HD camcorders, two regular FS cams for good measure
We know you've been coveting that primo Canon VIXIA HF S11 hi-def camcorder we got our hands on a few months back, and now it looks like the company is going wild -- debuting two new camcorder lines (and three new S series machines) for your consideration. All nine new Vixia models offer flash or SD-card-based storage -- or both. And when both are present, the Relay Recording feature allows the camera to automatically switch between storage devices during recording. If that weren't enough, all SD-packin' machines are compatible with the SDXC card format (up to 2TB). S series camcorders feature 1080p AVCHD video at 24Mbps, low-light optimized CMOS sensors, Digic 4 processors, 10x optical zoom lenses, 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD panels, and 8 megapixel still photo capture -- with the ability to down-convert to MPEG-2. Prices start at $1,000 -- due out in April. The M series models feature smaller touchscreens (2.7-inch) and a smaller CMOS sensor (which only manages 3 megapixel stills) and will be out in March with a starting price of $680. The R series, which is also out in March, brings up the bottom end with a starting price of $500, but still manages 1080p video (at a lower 17Mbps bitrate), while sacrificing the touchscreen and dropping down to 2 megapixel stills from the smaller, sure-to-be-noisy CMOS. If that all weren't enough, Canon also has two new standard definition cameras in the FS series, with one sporting 16GB of built-in storage and the other doing the removable SD thing, with a starting price of $300. There's full PR after the break. %Gallery-81505%
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Whether you want them to or not, there's a good chance you've got a family member or two (or more) that feel compelled to capture every single moment on video, including those times when all you're doing is sitting around watching previously recorded memories. That's just an inevitably we face each and every family gathering, and if you must endure, might as well get them the best possible fidelity, right? Then again, maybe you are that memory-capturing individual -- in either case, we think we've got a few suggestions to maximize your holiday enjoyment. %Gallery-80100%
Canon VIXIA HF S11 hands-on
Is it just us, or are these flash-only camcorders getting bigger? Or maybe we're just shrinking. Canon's new VIXIA HF S11 AVCHD flagship certainly seems beefy -- both in size and build -- but we suppose that comes with the territory. Canon was showing a demonstration of the new stabilization tech, which can help mitigate the nauseating effects of shooting while walking, and if it works as well in practice as it did in the demo (unlikely), it could be a real lifesaver for part 24 of our ongoing Blair Witch Project remake. It's hard to argue with the shooting time built-in and SDHC expandability on offer, but we suppose the HF S11 serves as a reminder that the gulf between "real" camcorders and their pocket cam brethren is indeed a wide one.
Canon's VIXIA HF S11 HD camcorder makes its way to the USA
It's already been available in Japan for a little while now, but it looks like folks in the US will soon finally be able to get their hands on Canon's new VIXIA HF S11 HD camcorder as well. One of the biggest advantages this one has over the previous S10 model is 64GB of internal storage (or twice as much as before), which Canon assures us will let you record a full 24 hours of high definition video -- or more if you toss a few SDHC cards in your bag. You'll also be able to record full HD video in your choice of a 24p Cinema or 30p Progressive modes, capture some 8-megapixel still images, take advantage of features like face detection and a full range of manual controls, and make use of an all new RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter to pair it with various third-party remote controllers. Look for this one to hit in mid-September for $1,399.99, while the remote adapter will set you back $120.[Via EarthTimes]
Canon HF S11 and HF 21 AVCHD camcorders flash more memory in Japanese debut
With Panasonic recently announcing a 240GB camcorder, Canon has deemed this a good time to juice up the storage on its own product line with a pair of updated models. Both the HF 21 and the new flagship HF S11 double their predecessors' integrated memory to 64GB, with the latter also adding in a new night shooting mode and more advanced image stabilization to the mix. The expanded storage will allow up to five and a half hours of recording at the top quality settings, which pales in comparison to the 30+ hours you can get from Panasonic's HDD-equipped beast. Other major specs, like the DIGIC DV III image processor, Full HD CMOS sensors, AVCHD format and SDHC expandability, have been left untouched. You can expect Japanese availability in early August, with the US and Europe probably joining in on the fun just as soon as the territory-specific VIXIA and Legria labels have been slapped on. [Via Camcorder Info]
Canon's VIXIA HF200 HD camcorder gets hands-on love
Canon's VIXIA HF200, along with a slew of other siblings, are slowly but surely making their way out into the loving hands of the general public. Our brethren over at Engadget Chinese managed to get their palms around one, and naturally, it took the opportunity to photograph it up and share with the world. Hit the read link if you're interested in seeing more.
Canon's CES 2009 VIXIA camcorder lineup gets priced and dated
Like most everyone else at CES, Canon failed to disclose pricing and availability for its 11 new VIXIA camcorders. Now, however, CamcorderInfo has the details you've been craving, and the good news is that most of the models should be on store shelves before April draws to a close. The flagship HF S10 will ring up at $1,299 in early March, while the low-end ZR960 will sport a $249.99 sticker and an early April ship date. For everything in between, give the read link a look.[Via GadgetReview]
Canon keeps 'em coming with six new SD camcorders
If your budget just won't stretch far enough to snap up a high-def camcorder, Canon's also got a half dozen SD versions on the horizon. Here at CES, the company is unveiling the FS22, FS21 and FS200 Flash Memory camcorders, which are up to 17% tinier than previous FS models and include up to 32GB of internal memory to complement the SDHC card slot. The DC420 and DC410 DVD camcorders should explain themselves, and looking at the ZR960 MiniDV is almost like stepping back in time. A few more details are provided in the read link, but don't bother hunting for a price or release date.%Gallery-40596%
Canon comes clean with HD camcorder lineup at CES 2009
Just as Canon did last year, it has busted out a plethora of new high-def camcorders for our enjoyment over the course of 2009. Without further adieu, let's take a closer look at the outfit's five newest. Starting things off are the VIXIA HF S10 and VIXIA HF S100 flash models, which offer up to 32GB of internal storage along with an SDHC card slot. Both units tout the DIGIC DV III image processor, an 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, face detection, Auto Exposure system and the ability to snap 8-megapixel stills. Moving on, we've got the VIXIA HF20 and VIXIA HF200 models, both of which include a 3.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor and a 15x lens. Closing out the bunch is the HV40 HDV, which offers a 2.96-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, 10x zoom lens, native 24p support and a Custom Key Mode that filmmakers should adore. Sadly, the full release is curiously devoid of pricing and availability information.%Gallery-40592%
Canon gets official with VIXIA HD camcorders, HF11 gets reviewed
Thanks to an early jump in Japan, we already knew that Canon's VIXIA line was getting a refresh, but now we can rest easy knowing they'll be coming to America. The HF11 Dual Flash camcorder (32GB in addition to an SDHC slot) and HG20 (60GB) / HG21 (120GB) HDD camcorders all boast 1,920 x 1,080 capture modes, Instant AutoFocus, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and 24Mbps recording to the AVCHD format. The whole lot is expected to ship next month for $1,199, $949 and $1,299 in order of mention, and the increasingly intriguing HF11 has already spent some quality time on Camcorder Info's review bench. Check out the in-depth writeup below before pulling that trigger in the heat of the moment.[Thanks, Robin]Read - Canon VIXIA releasesRead - Canon VIXIA HF11 review
