Sony Handycam DCR-DVD101

 

The good: Mini DVDs offer convenient playback; good night-shooting quality; relatively compact.


The bad: Poor video quality; media expensive compared to MiniDV tapes; very basic feature set.


The bottom line: Unless you're so wedded to the Sony brand and the idea of DVD recording that 
you're willing to pay a premium--but not enough to jump to the DVD201--avoid this model.

Review: The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD101 is more compact and offers better low-light focusing 

than its predecessor, but this model remains an underfeatured underachiever for a camcorder in its 

price range. The biggest problem: relatively poor video quality due to the low-resolution 340,000-pixel 

CCD the camera uses for recording.With its slick black-and-metallic-blue case, the Sony Handycam 

DCR-DVD101 is as likely as the latest iPod to garner admiring looks. This model is about two-thirds 

the size of its predecessor, the DVD100, making it no larger than a typical DV camcorder

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj with built-in Projector

Nikon’s COOLPIX S1000pj is the world’s first compact digital camera to feature a built-in projector. The camera projects your favorite photos or movies clips on any flat surface at up to 40 inches in size. Pictures can be projected individually, or as slide shows complete with music and added effects. Thus, it enhances the fun of sharing pictures and special moments anywhere.

A handy projector stand is included along with a remote control that can be used to operate the projector, release the shutter, and more. Apart from the micro projector, the rest of the S1000pj features the usual standard point-and-shoot capabilities.

Its features include:

• 2.7- high-resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflection coated cover
• 12-megapixel sensor
• 5X zoom lens
• 16 shooting modes
• Four different movie modes.

• Active Zoom
• Approx. 36 MB of internal memory
• Hi-Speed USB connectivity
• Projector Brightness up to 10 lumens
• Image size 5 to 40 in

The camera’s weight is approx. 155 g (5.5 oz.) without battery and SD/SDHC memory card

Supplied accessories - Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12, Battery Charger MH-65, USB Cable UC-E6, Audio Video Cable EG-CP14, Strap AN-CP19, Projector Stand ET-2, Remote Control ML-L4, Software Suite CD-ROM

System Requirements:

OS Macintosh: Mac OS X (version 10.3.9, 10.4.11, 10.5.6, 10.5.7)
Windows: Preinstalled versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (32-bit Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Enterprise/Ultimate editions), Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Home Edition/Professional)

Note :CD-ROM drive required for installation. Only built-in USB ports are supported.

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj will be available in Black or Warm Silver and will be released in mid-November at an expected retail price of $429 (£252).

Sanyo VPC-PD2BK pocket HD camcorder shoots 10-megapixel stills with 3x optical zoom

Long before Flip Video took the pocket camcorder market by storm, Sanyo had already come out with several pocketable video recording devices in its Xacti line of hybrid digital cameras/camcorders (the original Sanyo Xacti C1, released in 2004 could shoot 640×480, 30fps MPEG-4 movies as well as 3.2-megapixel stills). Well Sanyo just announced the latest in the long line of Xacti devices, the Sanyo VPC-PD2BK, which eschews the usual pistol-grip form factor for a decidedly Flip-like design.

While it does offer the requisite easy uploading to Facebook, YouTube, Picasa, etc. as well as a built-in, flip-out USB connector, the VPC-PD2BK is no Flip. Firstly, like the rest of Sanyo’s current “Dual Camera” line of camcorders, it also shoots high-resolution still images (10 megapixels in this case). Secondly, it actually sports a 3x optical zoom lens. And it has a built-in flash. But perhaps the best feature of all is its $170 price tag for full 1080p video recording. Its most direct competitor would seem to be the recently announced Panasonic HM-TA1 which also shoots 1080p video at 30fps and is priced at $170. Though the Panasonic sports a sleeker design and is a bit slimmer and lighter than the Sanyo model, it can only record 8 megapixel stills and doesn’t offer an optical zoom.  Look for the VPC-PD2BK to hit stores in September.

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Kodak EasyShare M580 review

Good

• Vivid colours and crisp-looking detail
• Better-than-expected 8x zoom

Bad

• Awful interface
• Very limited manual controls
• Cheap and tacky feel

Kodak might not be the force it once was in photography, but it's still plugging away with its own range of digital cameras. The EasyShare M580 is one of its newest models. If you're expecting a cheap, plastic throwback, you might be surprised. This is a compact camera with one of the latest 14-megapixel sensors and an 8x optical zoom, and it sells for around £160.
Keeps it simpleThat's a pretty good start, so what else has the M580 got? There's a 720p movie mode, 'smart capture' automation and 'perfect touch' image processing. You can tag content for uploading to YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and the Kodak Gallery, and... and... um, well that's it, really.

The M580's lens delivers good edge-to-edge sharpness, modest distortion and not much chromatic aberration. You get heightened detail and eye-popping colours, but the battle between noise and noise reduction takes its toll past ISO 200 (click image to enlarge)

But, to be fair, the M580 never sets out to be anything more than a simple snapper, and its photos are very interesting. They're bright, crisp and colourful, and the 8x zoom lens is much better than you might expect, especially at longer zoom settings, where it maintains pretty good sharpness and contrast compared to most.
The detail rendition from the perfect-touch processing is also... interesting. It applies positively brutal sharpening, but this does create detail with real bite. Things start to go pear-shaped past about ISO 200, however, at which point noise takes over and the perfect-touch processing struggles to keep up. Up until that point, though, the M580 delivers unusually crisp, clear and vivid pictures.

A 76mm (3-inch) display lets you acquaint yourself with the M580's woeful interface

Kodak's approach to image processing here is clearly different to every other manufacturer's. Today's high-resolution compact-camera sensors often deliver soft, low-contrast images in which subtler details dissolve into a feeble haze, especially with lower-quality lenses. The M580 attacks the problem with a sledgehammer, and, even though the processing is overt and verging on lurid, it works. If you stand back and admire the prints, you'll be okay -- just don't look too closely at the pixels.
The dynamic-range-expansion feature has a good stab at coping with bright skies and dark shadows, too. It certainly seems more effective than the simple shadow-enhancement options on other cameras.
Interface all in your faceThe trouble is that the M580 has an interface from hell. The on-screen controls are limited to a small cluster of icons in the top left of the screen that change according to the mode you're in, and don't all respond to the directional buttons. You'll figure out eventually that the icon on the left indicates the currently selected shooting mode, and the one next to it is the flash mode, and both are set using buttons on the top of the camera.

Kodak PlaySport review

 

 

Good

• Decent photo and hi-def video quality
• Small and light
• Waterproof
• Comes with loads of accessories
• Great value for money

Bad

• Confusing icons in the settings menu
• No standard 4:3 setting for photos
• Footage can look very wobbly
• Doesn't float

Arriving on the coat-tails of Flip Video's devices and Kodak's own Zi8, the PlaySport is one of the most pocketable mini-camcorders we've seen. It's roughly the same size as a BlackBerry phone and has one major defining feature: it's waterproof down to 3m. It's available now for around £115.

Sink or swim?

The idea is that, if you're the outdoors type, you can take the PlaySport with you and film yourself and your friends enjoying macho pursuits, safe in the knowledge that a random tidal wave or -- more likely in the UK -- a sudden unseasonal downpour isn't suddenly going to kill your camcorder. Images of canoeists and dirt bikes splashing through puddles on the front of the box help to emphasise the device's target market, as does the cheerful, yet durable design. Its back cover comes in four colours -- purple, blue, black and orange -- while its face is white.
Unpacking the PlaySport, you'll find that Kodak has included a generous selection of accessories, including a UK/EU power adaptor, and USB, analogue video and HDMI cables. This is fairly unusual for such a device, particularly given its low price point.

The PlaySport comes in a range of thoroughly charming colours.

Kodak even provides 128MB of internal memory to get you started, although this will only give you enough storage space for a few seconds of footage. A high-capacity SD/SDHC card should be the first item on your shopping list after buying the PlaySport. Kodak's soon-to-be-released Adventure Mount, which secures your PlaySport to handlebars or a helmet for hands-free filming, could well be your second.
As noted earlier, the PlaySport itself is very small and has a rugged appearance. Shockproofing isn't among the product's listed features, but it certainly looks like it could withstand a knock or two. All the device's ports (HDMI, USB and analogue AV out) and slots (SD/SDHC card and battery) are safely covered by waterproof hatches.
We've read some anecdotal reports of users who've found their PlaySports to be less than waterproof in practice, but this could be due to misuse or defective units. All we can say is that the review unit we were given happily survived our own aquatic tests without any problems. The camcorder also has a special 'H20' mode that helps to improve the picture while filming underwater by filtering out some of the blue tint.
It's worth pointing out, though, that the device doesn't float. Let it slip out of your hands while you're at sea, for example, and your PlaySport could find itself on a one-way ticket to Davy Jones' locker.

The bigger picture

We were pleasantly surprised by the PlaySport's image quality. After having excused many other pocket camcorders' picture flaws in light of their low cost, it was refreshing to discover that not all budget camcorders make so many compromises when it comes to video and photo images.
The PlaySport offers three video resolutions: 1080p, 720p and WVGA (standard definition at 848x480 pixels). All these shoot video at 30 frames per second, although a fourth option is available that allows you to film 720p high-definition video at an increased rate of 60fps. The 1080p setting provides visibly more detail, but many users may find themselves switching to the 720p/60fps mode, simply because it's much better for filming fast-moving targets.

The interface icons aren't all as easy to decipher as they could be.

Outdoors in the daytime, the PlaySport delivers a comparatively sharp, colourful picture that's free from much of the noise and compression artefacts that plague many pocket camcorders. It's still a fixed-lens device with a small image sensor, though, so don't expect its high-definition performance to be on a par with that of standard-sized AVCHD devices. Also, due to its candybar form factor and light weight, the PlaySport's handheld footage can look pretty wobbly, even with the electronic image stabiliser engaged.
In terms of photos, the PlaySport's 5-megapixel resolution is certainly respectable. It's worth noting that the PlaySport records all its photos in the same 16:9 widescreen mode as its video. While this is fine for landscape shots, it can make for some strangely long and thin portrait pics if you hold the device horizontally. This is a minor quibble and the photo quality really isn't bad at all for this kind of device, especially if you're outdoors. Interior snaps are also very commendable given that there's no flash or lamp.

False icons

Controlling the PlaySport doesn't require a huge amount of ingenuity. A grand total of five buttons and a five-way direction pad is all you need to master the device. The menu options are pretty sparse too. It's slightly annoying that all the menu settings are labelled with icons, some of which aren't always as easy to decipher as they might be. But, again, this is a relatively trivial criticism.

Conclusion

On the whole, the Kodak PlaySport is very easy to use. It's also very affordable and records better-looking images than many of its rivals. Add in the fact that you can film underwater and all you really need to ask yourself is: "Which colour do I want it in?"

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550VE review

 

 

 

Good

• Built-in GPS for geotagging
• 200fps high-speed mode
• Great low-light sensitivity
• Very good video and photo quality
• Plenty of manual options

Bad

• An expensive purchase in anyone's books
• Fairly heavy
• Not everyone will need its clever features

Looking for a little help with your backswing? Want to electronically annotate everything you film with detailed information about your location? If so, this could be just the camcorder for you. If not, don't worry. Sony's Handycam HDR-CX550VE still has plenty to offer. It's available now for around £1,050.

Swinger's delight

Let's get those two slightly unusual aspects out of the way first, shall we? As you may already have guessed, the HDR-CX550VE has a built-in GPS receiver that can geotag your video clips in the same way that some GPS-enabled phones can add location metadata to photos you take.
Additionally, the camcorder's 'Golf Shot' mode can record short bursts of high-speed video at 200 frames per second (compared to the standard rate of 50fps), which allows you to play back a detailed, slow-motion version of your shot, or view it as individual JPEG images. You wouldn't want to use it for normal filming, but this mode can be useful if you have a particular need to capture a fast-moving subject in high detail -- in order to analyse your golfing prowess, for example.

Image is everything

While these features certainly set the HDR-CX550VE apart from the crowd, we can't imagine either of them is the sort of function the population at large has been chomping at the bit for. Thankfully, the HDR-CX550VE has more than just a couple of flashy tricks up its sleeve.
For starters, it's capable of recording high-definition AVCHD video at up to a 1080i resolution (1080p progressive modes are only just beginning to creep in at the top end of the camcorder market, so this isn't necessarily a deal-breaker). The top-quality mode sets the bit rate to 24Mbps, which is the highest for any consumer video device we've seen so far.
Although there's only a single image sensor at work here, the performance of Sony's large (1/2.8-inch) Exmor R CMOS compares exceptionally well to that of three-chip models, providing high levels of detail and rich, even colours. A clever back-illuminated design means the Exmor R sensor is surprisingly adept in low-lighting conditions. We have to say we were particularly impressed by the HDR-CX550VE's indoor abilities in our tests.

Detail, colour reproduction and lack of artefacts make the HDR-CX550VE a superior camcorder for digital still photography

Also notable is the camcorder's strong still-photo performance. Its 26.3mm wide-angle lens is very useful for squeezing more friends and family into group shots, for example, while the 12-megapixel images stand up very well next to their equivalent from a dedicated digital still camera. We noticed a slight soft quality to the snaps we took with the HDR-CX550VE but, other than that, their detail, colour reproduction and lack of artefacts were all far superior to those of the average video device.

Control freak

Enthusiasts will appreciate the mini manual control dial, situated just under the lens. It's no substitute for a 'proper' lens ring, like the one found on Panasonic's HDC-TM700, but it's better than nothing.
It's also worth mentioning the HDR-CX550VE is one of the few touchscreen camcorders that are relatively easy to control via the display. It helps that the screen itself is large -- 89mm (3.5 inches) to be precise -- but it's also much more responsive than those on many other models and the menu system starts to makes functional sense. Apart from anything, the ultra-high-res LCD panel is so pleasant to look at that even the most diehard semi-pro purist types will be tempted to use it in favour of squinting into the pull-out viewfinder provided.
Also on hand for experts are a powered accessory shoe and a socket for an external mic. One thing the semi-pros won't like, however, is the position of the memory card slot. The HDR-CX550VE has a generous 64GB of internal flash memory to record to, but, if you start to run out and want to continue recording on an SD or MemoryStick card instead, you may have to remove the device from any tripod or mount in order to do so, as the slot is hidden on the underside of the unit.

The location of the memory card slot on the underside of the unit could prove a nuisance

It's not enormous by any stretch of the imagination but, comparatively speaking, the HDR-CX550VE is a little on the heavy side. It's actually quite comfortable to hold, but we can see how the unit could begin to feel a little burdensome when filming by hand over long periods of time. On the plus side, the camcorder's enhanced optical image stabiliser is genuinely very effective.

Conclusion

All told, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX550VE has plenty of points in its favour, particularly if you're already a video enthusiast. Face detection, a facility for direct copying of files to external storage, USB input, HDMI output and 5.1 surround sound recording are merely further incentives.
The one thing that is sure to put off many, however, is its price. The cheapest we've found it for online is £850, but you can expect to find it going for anything up to £1,300 on the high street. The HDR-CX550VE is impressive in many respects but that's a great deal of money for a camcorder. Unless you happen to be a keen golfer with a specific need to record the details of your whereabouts whenever you film, we suggest there are cheaper, better alternatives available.

Camcorders Canon Legria HF M32 camcorder

 

  We have a terrible memory. Many's the morning we find ourselves stumbling into work with no recollection whatsoever of the previous night. No such problems for the Canon Legria HF M32 camcorder, which gives you not one but two memory options.
As well as 64GB built-in flash memory, the M32 takes new high-capacity SDXC memory cards. It also supports Eye-Fi Pro X2 Wi-Fi cards for wireless image transfer.
Under the bonnet, the M32 packs a 3.3-megapixel CMOS sensor. It boasts an 18x zoom and 69mm (2.7-inch) touchscreen. A face-detection feature finds up to 35 faces in the frame.
The M32 lets you create montages of 2-, 4- or 8-second clips culled from longer videos. You can add music to the montage and save the full playlist, with music, as a single standard-definition movie file.
The Legria HF M32 arrives in September. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.