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Canon EOS C300 to hit Japanese stores on the 31st, PL version coming in March
Do you have deep pockets? And do those pockets happen to be located in Japan? Well if you're also in the market for Canon's EOS C300 cinema camera, you might be in luck. The company has confirmed that its motion-picture-shooting flagship will be available in Japanese retail stores by January 31st -- exactly one week from today. As the story goes with expensive electronics in Japan, pricing is "open" at this point, meaning you might have to hit up a retailer for an amount before making two dozen trips to the ATM. But if money's no object (just that pesky release date), you should be on your way to making Cinema EOS magic before the month is out. And if your kit is best suited for the PL-mount version, expect that to ship in late March, "open" pricing in tow.
Canon EOS C300 cinema cam gets pre-order status, ships at month's end for $16,000
Back in November we joined Martin Scorsese and other Hollywood luminaries at Paramount Studios for the unveiling of Canon's latest cinema video camera, which is now available for pre-order. The EOS C300, that aims to compete directly against the Reds of the world, carries a Super 35mm CMOS sensor capable of up to 4K resolution 1080p capture, and should be helped in large part by the company's top-shelf lenses; like the 14.5 - 60mm and 30 - 300mm. When we first met the C300 we told you it'd be priced at a hefty $20,000, but that's no longer the case, instead it'll cost a less painful $16,000 for the body only. The camera will begin shipping "after January 30th," and if it seems like a little too much for you, at least you can still watch our precious hands-on time with it. Update: We've updated to clarify that while the sensor is 4K the camera only captures in 1080p.
Cerevo Live Shell with Contour+ hands-on (video)
Contour and Cerevo are teaming up this week at CES to release the Cerevo Live Shell accessory for HD camcorders enabling high-quality automatic upload and streaming to UStream from any HD video source -- in this case, the Contour+. The Live Shell is simplistic in design, featuring a small LCD screen with icons for useful indicators, an HDMI input, line-in port, microphone input, composite video input as well as a choice of Ethernet port or built-in WiFi for connectivity. It can run off three AA batteries, giving up to three hours of usage or can be used with the accompanied AC adapter for all-day use. The Cerevo Live Shell also comes with its own dedicated web-based control screen called the "Dashboard," which allows you to customize the settings on the device (volume, video quality, etc.) via personal computer or smartphone. The overall package is portable enough to tag along with the Contour+ and other HD action cams, however, we can't really see much use considering that WiFi (and certainly Ethernet connectivity) can be pretty scarce while carving some narly pow on a mountain or biking through some trails. The duo is well presented here at CES, putting the Live Shell in its natural environment -- indoors, in front of a computer monitor, with the comfort of crashing WiFi waves instead of real ones. However, there's no doubt that the Live Shell finds a niche in the hearts of all the adventurous and outdoorsy people, wanting to share each jump, grind and stunt with others. For $299, we think we'll hold out for a version with mobile 3G / 4G capabilities built-in though, but it's a step in the right direction to show off some helmet-cam moves. Check out the gallery below to see the getup all put together.
Gobandit Live with WiFi offers thrill-seekers quicker sharing, speedier self-indulgence
Two years ago, the Gobandit GPS HD brought an action camcorder to the masses that actively tracked location, speed and altitude. In the same tradition, the Gobandit Live brings an expanded set of features geared toward adrenaline junkies, which include a gyroscopic sensor, 1080p capture at 30fps, a 170-degree f/2.8 wide angle lens and -- oh yeah, WiFi. While this last feature certainly won't be usable on the mountain or along the trail, it allows clips to be uploaded instantly once the camera is back within range. For those who'd rather do without WiFi, the Gobandit Race provides an otherwise similar feature set at a lower price. Both will be available in the US and Canada beginning March 1st, and will retail for $419 and $319, respectively. The full PR is just beyond the break, though if you want to learn more, check the company's website instead.
JVC's 2012 Everio 1080p camcorder lineup gains WiFi, enables geotagging and remote control via smartphone
JVC's 2012 Everio lineup was just launched, containing seven new models with 1080p recording based on the AVCHD format. There's also a UXP mode with a 24Mbps sampling rate, an HDMI output and a built-in WiFi module in four of the units. We've seen wireless support pop up on cameras in recent months, and even a few pocket camcorders have managed to get cozy with 802.11b/g/n, but it's not everyday you see a legitimate, Full HD shooter with the stuff. We're told that a free app will be made available for Android and iOS devices, enabling users to wirelessly transfer video and stills to a smartphone for quick sharing via the internet. It also allows the phone to be used as a remote control for the Everio and offers geotagging of video and photo files in conjunction with the smartphone's GPS. Not surprisingly, the video email function only allows clips of up to 15 seconds (and the resolution is capped at 640 x 360) to be sent directly from the Everio to up to eight email addresses, but at least the Live Monitoring functionality allows real time monitoring on a smartphone or computer of images taken with the cam. Prices for the lineup range from $229.95 to $899.95, with the whole lot shipping in Q1 of this year; the real question, however, is whether or not there's still a meaningful market for these things.
Sony Bloggie Live review
Last April, Cisco unceremoniously shuttered Flip, two years after purchasing the company for $590 million. The end of the line came as a bit of a shock, marking the death of the brand that had become synonymous with pocket cams. But did it also mark the end of the miniature camcorder, in a world where more and more people carry portable cameras on them at all times, in the form of smartphones? In spite of Cisco's lack of faith in the market for budget standalone camcorders, a number of companies such as Kodak and Samsung have carried on. Most notable among them, though, might be Sony, which has continued to innovate with its Bloggie line. The company's latest offering, the Bloggie Live adds WiFi to the equation, for wireless file transfers and, as the name not-so-subtly implies, live-streaming. But are these features enough to keep buyers interested in pocket camcorders, or is this too little, too late in a world where video-capturing smartphones are the norm?
Panasonic refreshes HD camcorder range: 3MOS, 1MOS and Waterproof offerings
Alongside its new Lumix snappers, Panasonic just dropped a bunch of new HD camcorders at CES. It's the 1MOS models that get the most vigorous make over, with six new 1920 x 1080 shooting cams in total. The HC-V700 and HC-V700M are the new top of the 1MOS line; armed with a proprietary High Sensitivity Sensor, promising better indoor and night-time shots, there's also 3D capture when used with the new VW-CLT2 conversion lens, plus a 21x optical and 46x "high-powered' (we guess digital) zoom. The mid-range HC-V500/M cameras have a 2D to 3D image conversion function (also found in the V700s) as well as Natural, Pop, Dynamic & Classical special effects modes and 38x optical / 50x digital zoom. For the less feature-fanatical are the HC-V100 and HC-V100M which have lower power consumption for longer shooting despite a smaller 2.028 x 2.343 x 4.429 inch form. If you were wondering what makes the M models different, the answer would be 16GB built-in storage. Three other single models also got a trotting out, starting with the HC-X900M, for those who find just one MOS simply isn't enough. The HC-X900M is Panasonic's new full HD 3MOS video shooter and is the follow up to last year's HDC-HS900. Full 1080p at 28Mbps is complemented by Panasonic's new 3MOS System Pro imaging system, which it claims reduces noise by 40 percent over the HDC-HS900. To round out the features we have 32GB onboard storage (with SD expansion), improved O.I.S., zoom mic functionality (linked to the zoom action) and a 1,150,000-dot 8.8-cm / 3.5-inch LCD. Next up is the waterproof HX-WA2, which will survive a three meter dip in the pool (or nine feet, eight inches). Other treats for adventurous types include 14 megapixel stills shooting, a panoramic mode (simply pan the camera up,down,left and right) and 15x zoom. Oh and will it will be available in blue or orange, of course. Last, and kinda least is the HC-V10, a compact HD cam for those on-the-go moments. With iA auto mode and pre-rec function -- that starts recording when you aim at a subject -- this model is clearly built with those OMG youtube moments in mind. You also get a crazy 63x optical zoom and a choice of colors: black, silver or red. There's no word on price or availability yet, but Panasonic tells us it'll part with these crucial details at least 30 days prior to when the devices finally ship. In the meantime you can check the full PRs below for more info.
Samsung announces new camcorder range: QF20, F80 and ruggedized W300
Not satisfied with unveiling a whole bunch of point-and-click shooters, Samsung's also unveiled a a refreshed set of camcorders for 2012. First up, the QF20 and Q20 totes the same switch grip features of its predecessor and are capable of 1080i HD video, while packing 20x optical zoom, a touchscreen display plus a medley of requisite artistic effects. The rough and tumble W300 and W350 are for the sporting videographer; dust-proof, shock-proof to two meters and water-proof to up to five meters. It records 1080 HD video, with an optional floating bumper accessory incoming for those Jaws homages. There's also a five megapixel sensor and f/2.2 lens for your rugged stills. Finally, there's the F80, which ups the optical zoom to 52x, 720p recording at 30fps. For those willing to upscale, there's also a 1080i option through HDMI, which can also display any five megapixel stills snapped from great distances. No dates for when we'll see these in stores -- or price tags -- but expect to see them this side of 2012.
Canon's VIXIA camcorders go social for the new year, get improved low-light performance
It's the most wonderful horrible gadgety time of the year -- it's CES time. And that means dozens, nay, hundreds of companies issuing annual refreshes of their product lines. Canon is amongst the legions launching upgrades and its VIXIA line of digital camcorders are not getting left behind. The company's M and R lines are both getting refreshes for 2012 that include boatloads of enhanced connectivity -- including the ability to share over WiFi and DLNA. They can even connect to an iPad or iPhone and directly post clips to YouTube and Facebook using the Movie Uploader app. Under the hood is an all new CMOS sensor that has improved low-light performance and the HF M-series has selectable scenes not just for video, but audio as well, ensuring you get the best sound on your clips. The VIXIA HF M52, VIXIA HF M50 and VIXIA HF M500 camcorders are scheduled to hit shelves in March for $750, $650 and $550, respectively. The budget minded VIXIA HF R32, VIXIA HF R30 and VIXIA HF R300 will arrive at the same time priced at $550, $450 and $350. Check out the gallery below and the PR after the break for a few more details.
Sony Bloggie on the CES show floor?
Well hello there little guy. Sent in by a tipster and purportedly from the CES show floor, what you're gazing at looks an awful lot like something from Sony's Bloggie line. The silver pocket camcorder doesn't look like any model we've ever seen before, but boasts "Live Broadcasting," a WiFi certification and support for FaceBook and YouTube. It's also about the size of a Niagara water bottle. Won't be too long until we find out for sure.
Red's Scarlet-X 4K camera gets video review: you've never needed $11,700 so badly
Native 4K recording? Check. A built-for-war body? You bet. Backordered despite a downright shocking $11,700 price tag? Most certainly. As with Red's prior products, the Scarlet-X seems to be wowing just about every shooter lucky enough to come into contact with one. Luck for you, the folks over at Cinema5D have spent an inordinate of amount of time with this beast in order to deliver the full skinny on whether it's worth the price (and wait). We won't bother spoiling any conclusions for you, but if you've been toying with the idea of blowing your (and your SO's) bonus on one of these in a bid to start your own movie house, there's a vid just after the break that deserves your attention.
Mobislyder offers low-level roll track for filming, gleams the cube
You tried to shoot a quick handheld movie with your smartphone the other night. And it wound up looking like you shot it in the middle of an earthquake. Before putting your video editing application's "Analyze for Stabilization" feature to the test, have a gander at Glidetrack's Mobislyder. Essentially a combination of a roll track and a skateboard, the Mobislyder ships with a variety of mounts to fit a selection of smartphones, camcorders and compact cameras. This, combined with four non-rolling feet and a swivel mount, allow the Mobislyder to be used at almost any low angle. That thing you're peering at above is available for $135, which could be a solid deal for a good, steady, sliding platform to shoot from. Or, it could be $96 more than the parts you picked up from Radio Shack and Home Depot to perform the exact same function. A full video demo awaits after the break.
Vivitar DVR 790HD puts 3D video recording in the palm of your hand for under $100
Sure, you could get yourself a 3D-capable phone to handle your three-dimensional recording needs, though with all the new svelte superphones coming out, we can understand why you wouldn't want to. But, just because your phone can't satisfy your need for 3D, that doesn't mean you have to go without. Vivitar, favorite of cost-conscious cinematographers everywhere, has unleashed its DVR 790HD 3D camcorder with 16MB of built-in memory and a 5.1 megapixel fixed-focus shooter. It records video in three dee and 720p at 25fps, and stores all your gift-giving triumphs and gift-receiving disappointments on SD cards (not included) up to 32GB in size. The price? A mere $99, which leaves you plenty of leftover dough for your holiday shopping -- sure, it's the thought that counts, but we bet your significant other thinks diamonds are far more thoughtful than cubic zirconia.
Satarii Star movement-tracking camera dock finalized as Swivl, now available for reserve (update: video)
If you'll recall, back in January we took notice of an interesting gizmo dubbed Satarii Star -- a movement-tracking dock concept that was seeking funding on IndieGoGo. Well, the unit has since been funded and today the company is re-introducing it as the Swivl. Aside from the updated moniker, it's also sporting an updated feature set and a revamped look. The unit can still house gadgets from iPhones and Androids to pocket camcorders, but improves on the Satarii by adding vertical tilt functionality on top of its 180 degrees of horizontal movement. (Update: We're told that the Swivl can also rotate a full 360 degrees.) Notably, it's stated as being able to "move faster than you can" -- if you're worried about staying in the shot, that is. As it currently stands, we're only seeing renders of this little guy, but the company expects to have fully functional units at CES this January, with units shipping to North America in "early 2012" for about $160. Hopefully we'll get to see the Swivl do its thing on the show floor, but for now, interested parties can reserve their very own at the source link below. You'll find the full press release just past the break. Update: You'll find a video of a pre-production Swivl in action after the break as well. %Gallery-138884%
Swann releases Freestyle HD, begs you to capture 1080p underwater via LCD viewer
Looking to step your game up when capturing surfing footage from atop your longboard? Swann is aiming to lend a helping hand with its newfangled Freestyle HD wearable video camera. This offering is the company's first that sports a detachable 1.5-inch LCD viewer for taking a peek at your 1080p video capture in real-time -- which you can capture at up to 30 fps. You'll also be able to snap eight megapixel JPEGs should you so choose with 3x digital zoom at your disposal. Waterproof at depths up to 65 feet, the Freestyle HD can be helmet-mounted, attached to your favorite fixed-gear or the roof of your rally car via the three included mounting brackets. The camera will connect directly to an HDTV for viewing, or you can hop over to a PC via a microSD card or USB transfer. You can expect 2.5-hour battery life and a $279 price tag to boot -- too bad that flight to the southern hemisphere isn't nearly as affordable.%Gallery-138657%
Canon C300 cinema camera hands-on (video)
Man, is this thing ugly. But when it comes to cinema cameras, looks are the last thing on a cinematographer's mind -- performance is where it counts, and with the Canon C300, its compact size is an asset as well. We haven't had a chance to shoot with Canon's new flagship cinema cam, but we've heard from plenty of folks who have, including director Vincent Laforet. The C300's incredibly compact size allows cinematographers to work in environments that aren't typically accessible to big rigs -- you can shoot with this camera just as easily as you can with a DSLR, hand-holding it for quick shots, with a waist-mounted Steadicam system for walk-around shoots or even mounting it on a small remote-controlled helicopter, as Laforet did during his three-day Mobius shoot. The C300 will be more familiar to cinematographers -- photojournalists may have access to the cam, thanks to its $20,000 price tag (that's a relative bargain, believe it or not), but you can't pick this up and fire away without taking some time to learn the interface. It has quite the solid feel, as you'd expect from a camera in this price range, though it's not as heavy as it looks -- you won't want to hold it in your hand for a full day of filming, but quick shots probably won't be an issue. The system is modular, so you can add and remove components as you wish -- industry standard connectors let you hook up cinema gear, which is something you could never do with the 5D Mark II. The small form factor and price tag to match should help Canon gain some ground in Hollywood, but we'll wait for a chance to shoot some footage before drawing any firm conclusions. In the meantime, we'll have to take Laforet at his word -- which you'll find just past the break.%Gallery-138415%
Canon C300 makes an appearance in Vincent Laforet's Mobius, find the short and behind the scenes right here (video)
A New York Times photojournalist turned Hollywood director, Vincent Laforet has become synonymous with DSLR video, after his short film Reverie helped catapult Canon's 5D Mark II into the world of digital filmmaking. And after playing such a significant role in launching that camera, we certainly weren't surprised to see Laforet make an appearance at today's Canon Cinema event, with his short film Mobius getting some time on the big screen. The film follows a photojournalist who stumbles upon a Cartel execution, but it also tells the story of Canon's tightly-veiled C300 cinema camera, which the company launched just moments ago. Laforet used a pre-production C300 (note the green tape button labels) to shoot Mobius in the Mojave Desert under a variety of harsh conditions, including powerful sunlight and near-darkness, in both extremely hot and chilly temperatures -- the camera appears to have performed extremely well, given both the remote shooting environment and tight production schedule. Canon has yet to reveal the C300's price tag, which we expect to far undercut the $120,000 Arri Alexa kit, but its sheer portability makes it a more appealing option for filmmakers -- especially those with limited time and other resources. Laforet was able to shoot his film with a very small crew, since the C300 can be operated by just one photographer. The director used the camera mounted on a tripod, tethered to a variety of helicopters, sitting on the road and even hand-held, like a camcorder or DSLR. Laforet shot with Canon's new FK30-300 telephoto cine zoom PL-mount lens, along with a variety of EOS mount lenses, and notes that the camera's form factor makes it even easier to shoot with than a DSLR like the 5D Mark II. Its cost -- somewhere in the range of $20,000 -- should also put it within reach of not only Hollywood cinematographers, but also television directors and even documentary filmmakers and news photojournalists. We won't see the C300 hit the market until late January 2012, so jump past the break for a sneak peak at Mobius to see Canon's new cinema flagship, along with a rather comprehensive behind-the-scenes video.%Gallery-138348%
Canon launches C300 cinema camera, prepares to take on Red Scarlet and Arri Alexa
Well, we have to hand it to Canon -- this was one tight-lipped product launch. The imaging company just unveiled its C300 cinema camera at Hollywood's Paramount Studios, in front of a crowd of hundreds of journalists and film industry elite, including Martin Scorsese. Canon is no stranger to the professional photography community, but it has yet to make a name for itself in Hollywood, where cameras such as the Arri Alexa and RED EPIC dominate the digital filmmaking world. The C300 may not appear to be overwhelmingly powerful on paper -- stock features include an EF or PL mount (not both), 1080p capture, a pair of CF card slots, timecode and HD-SDI output -- but judging by the sample films we saw today, its incredibly powerful sensor and versatile form factor are likely to play a more significant role in making this camera a success. Canon has a new 'EOS Movies' DSLR on the way too: 4K video, 35mm full frame sensor Canon C300 makes an appearance in Vincent Laforet's Mobius, find the short and behind the scenes right here (video) Canon C300 cinema camera hands-on (video)Fujio Mitarai is saying that the camera is especially well-suited to accurate color reproduction, particularly skin tones. We're also receiving word that the C300 will cost somewhere in the range of $20,000 -- how's that for affordable? It contains a Super 35mm CMOS sensor and delivers up to 4K resolution with the outfit's new "top-end" EF zoom lenses, which come in four flavors: two 14.5-60mm lenses and two 30-300mm. And the lenses keep on coming, with three EF prime lenses in 24mm, 50mm, and 85mm variations. That CMOS sensor offers 1920 x 1080 pixels for the reds and blues and 1920 x 2160 for greens. Like we said before, list price for the C300 will be $20,000 when it hits stores in late January 2012. And that appears to be it for this very long announcement, but we'll have our first impressions soon. Full PR awaits you after the break.%Gallery-138391%%Gallery-138405%Christopher Trout contributed to this post
The Canon Hollywood event liveblog!
Lights, check! Camera? Well, it soon might be a Canon. We're live from the red carpet at Canon's Hollywood launch event, where we're expecting the company to reveal its first cinema camera. We'll be watching the action live as it hits the silver screen in SoCal, but you can catch it all from home right here! Things get started at 3PM local time, translated into times for your locales below. Psst... and toss your own time zone / day in comments below! 12:00PM - Hawaii (November 3rd) 03:00PM - Pacific (November 3rd) 04:00PM - Mountain (November 3rd) 05:00PM - Central (November 3rd) 06:00PM - Eastern (November 3rd) 10:00PM - London (November 3rd) 11:00PM - Paris (November 3rd) 02:00AM - Moscow (November 4th) 07:00AM - Tokyo (November 4th) Photos by Zach Honig.
The Canon Hollywood event is tomorrow -- get your liveblog here at 6PM ET!
Canon has been incredibly tight-lipped about its upcoming announcement, with only a few vague details leaking out since the event was announced in September. What we do know is that the imaging company plans to unveil a product that represents a "commitment to play a larger role in the film and television community," and that Martin Scorsese will be on hand -- and we assume he's not there to announce that Sinatra will be shot exclusively with the 5D Mark II. Curiously, Red has scheduled an event for tomorrow evening as well, just a few blocks away from the Canon venue. We'll be coming to you live from Hollywood tomorrow evening, and if the hype is any indication, legacy cinema camera manufacturers have but a few hours left of industry domination. The curtain comes up at 3PM local time, and we've included a handy list of round-the-world start times below. Bookmark this page right here and find out as it happens. Psst... and toss your own time zone / day in comments below! 12:00PM - Hawaii (November 3rd) 03:00PM - Pacific (November 3rd) 04:00PM - Mountain (November 3rd) 05:00PM - Central (November 3rd) 06:00PM - Eastern (November 3rd) 10:00PM - London (November 3rd) 11:00PM - Paris (November 3rd) 02:00AM - Moscow (November 4th) 07:00AM - Tokyo (November 4th)
