CES 2008

Though not nearly as big as CES, the PMA trade show is coming to Las Vegas in three weeks. Yes, less than a month after covering CES, our editors will bravely return to Sin City to report on some of the biggest names in digital photography. That didn't stop camera and camcorder makers from revealing plenty of new products last week, though; major companies from Samsung to Sony revealed their newest digital imaging products at the show.

Sony made one of the biggest camera announcements at the show, unveiling the Alpha A200 digital SLR. This new 10-megapixel model stands to face other intro-level SLRs like the Canon EOS Rebel XTi and the Nikon D40x. Casio also made a splash with the Exilim Pro EX-F1, an EVF camera the company claims can shoot 60 still images per second, or record video at a whopping 1,200 frames per second. I'll believe it when it's under our skeptical eyes in the lab. On the snapshot side of cameras, Kodak and Samsung both announced a handful of inexpensive point-and-shoots, and Kodak revealed the ESP-3 combination photo printer/document printer/scanner.

For camcorders, flash memory was the name of the game this year as Canon, Sony, and Panasonic all announced new, high-end SSD and card-based camcorders. Panasonic unveiled several new SD card camcorders, Canon combined large amounts of flash memory with SD/SDHC card slots, and Sony added an 8GB flash drive to a DVD camcorder, giving users plenty of options for recording and transferring footage. Besides flash memory, camcorder manufacturers revealed new cameras that used more conventional media, like miniDV, DVD, and hard drives. Though it didn't reveal any new high-def, flash memory models, JVC expanded its Everio line of hard drive camcorders with several slimmer, more colorful models as well.

Those are the big headlines from CES, but don't think that's all the new camera/camcorder news of the season. Keep an eye on Crave at the end of the month for our coverage of PMA 2008.

JVC's new GR-D870 mini-DV camcorder includes a dual record mode for simulataneous capture of standard-def video and 640x480-pixel still images.

(Credit: JVC)

With all the tapeless camcorder options coming out this year, we're not surprised that JVC has limited its Mini-DV selection to two models, with very little difference between the two. Both the GR-D870 and GR-D850 include 1/6-inch 680,000-pixel CCD sensors, 35X optical KonicaMinola zoom lenses, and 2.7-inch widescreen LCDs with auto backlight control to help keep your LCD visible when moving from moderate to bright lighting conditions. JVC says that the batteries included in the cameras give you two hours of operation and remaining power, expressed in minutes, can be seen at the press of a button even when the camcorders are turned off. That makes it even easier to check the battery the night before you go out to shoot an event.

For about twenty dollars more than the GR-D850, the GR-D870 also gives you still image recording, though its limited to a maximum size of 640x480 pixels (hardly enough for making a print), dual recording so you can capture one of those tiny stills to the camcorder's SD card slot while continuing to record video, and a new Live Slow mode. JVC says that this last mode lets you capture slow-motion, down to one quarter normal speed, which can be played back with real-time sound. They haven't said what happens to the difference in time between the slower video and regular-speed sound, but you can be sure that we'll let you know when we get a review sample. JVC says that the GR-D870 will sell for about $250, while the GR-D850 will cost about $230 when they hit stores later this month (Janunary 2008).

The RCA EZ205

(Credit: RCA)

RCA is updating the Small Wonder line with four new YouTube-ready digital camcorders. All of the cameras ship with easy-to-use software that allows users to edit, upload, and share their clips via Box.net or YouTube. Aimed at those consumers who want a tapeless, hassle-free way to capture video on the fly, RCA is offering four different models including one top-of-the-line camcorder that shoots in 720p. All Small Wonder camcorders allow for memory expansion--some via SD, others through a microSD slot. As you can see from the picture, the EZ205 has a flip-out screen, but the press material we were supplied with does not say how the rest of the camcorder screens are positioned.

The EZ300HD comes with 2GB of internal flash memory and can shoot 30 minutes worth of 720p footage or 6 hours in regular mode. Targeted toward those who are always on the run, the EZ210 Traveler will retail for $149.99 and comes with a 2.4-inch LCD screen and shock-proof battery contacts. Like the 300HD, this will also come packed with a 2GB internal flash drive.

For a more compact solution, RCA offers the $99.99 EZ205 pocket camcorder packed with a 1GB microSD card that will allow for up to 30 minutes of DVD-quality video. Finally, the skinnable EZ200 MyLife camcorder features a Web Photo button that allows for single-frame capturing and will retail for $89.99.

Canon's FS11 flash-based camcorder has 16GB of built-in flash memory.

(Credit: Canon)

Though late to the flash-based camcorder party, Canon is showing that it sure knows how to boogie down with three new standard-definition models, two of which can record to built-in flash memory in addition to SDHC cards. Similar to Sony's Hybrid Plus feature, Canon is calling its version Dual Flash Memory, for obvious reasons.

All these new models, which make up the FS series, also include Canon's new Advanced Zoom system, which sounds suspiciously like digital zoom, but according to Canon doesn't produce any noticeable degradation of the captured video. They make a decent argument for this, since they say that while Advanced Zoom does decrease the number of pixels used to capture video, it always stays above the pixel-resolution of NTSC video. While this makes sense, we'll be eager to see if there are any adverse effects, though Advanced Zoom only engages at the widest and most-telephoto ends of the zoom range. In this way, it becomes like a digital version of wide-angle and telephoto lens converters, but I worry that this might adversely effect the camcorders' electronic image stabilization. However, in case the notion of non-optical zoom turns your stomach, Canon had the sense to let the feature be disabled through the camcorders' menus.

The only difference between the three models is the amount of flash memory Canon has built into them. The $600 FS11 has 16GB of onboard memory, while the $500 FS10 sports 8GB under the hood, while the $400 FS100 has none. All the cameras include 37X optical zoom lenses that extend to 48X with Advanced Zoom turned on, though the cameras are all emblazoned with 48X instead of 37X. They include single 1.07MP CCD sensors, Digic DV II image processors, 2.7-inch widescreen LCDs, Intelligent Lithium-ion batteries that provide up to three hours of life and let the camera tell you how many minutes of recording time remain, and microphone jacks. None of them have viewfinders. Canon expects the FS series camcorders to be available in April.

JVC Everio GZ-MG330

(Credit: JVC America)

JVC made surprisingly few camcorder announcements for early 2008, which included a standard-def Everio hard-disk camcorder lineup of only two basic models, one of which comes in four flavors. On the other hand, based on the specs, they actually sound worse than their 2007 counterparts, for the same prices.

The $799 GZ-MG730, slated to ship in February, tops the line with its 1/2.5-inch 7-megapixel sensor (for producing high-resolution stills), 2.7-inch LCD, and 30GB hard disk. But oddly, the 10x zoom lens is really slow. Its maximum aperture only goes as wide as f3.5 in a category where f2.8 is typical and f1.8 common. That means potential problems for shooting in low light. JVC has also switched to Konica Minolta for the lenses across the line.

And while the MG730 boasts an overly high-resolution sensor, the rest of the line suffers from the opposite problem.The 30GB MG330 ($450)/MG335 ($500) and 60GB MG360 ($560)/MG365 ($600) all use a 1/6-inch 680K-pixel sensor. There's no such endowment issues in the lens department; all incorporate an f1.8 35x zoom stalker telephoto lens. Model names with "5" at the end come with bundled docks. Oddly, only the lowest-end product, the MG300, comes in multiple colors: blue and red in addition to silver.

While JVC is making a big deal about the Laser Touch Operation interface that appears on all the new models, I wasn't too impressed. It's basically a touch-sensitive strip down the left side of the LCD, which looks cool--blue LEDs highlight your finger's progress up and down the strip--but in practice is kind of clunky to work with.

Of the 300 series products, all but the MG360 are slated to ship this month; the MG360 will appear in February.

Canon Vixia HF10

(Credit: Canon USA)

Late to market with its first SD-based camcorders--Panasonic and Sony both announced third-generation models this week--Canon nevertheless makes up for lost time with a couple of attractively specced models for 2008. They join the modestly revved HV30 HDV model and the currently shipping HG10 and HR10 under the Vixia brand umbrella for HD camcorders.

At the top of the product line, the HF10 incorporates 16GB built-in flash memory--the largest capacity we've heard about thus far--and a slot for SDHC removable flash. According to Canon, it records AVCHD video at a maximum bit rate of 17 megabits per second, and can hold up to 6 hours of video, thought that's probably at the lowest bit rate. The new models capture at 1,920x1,080 compared with 1,440x1,080 for older AVCHD camcorders, and support 30p progressive capture.

Canon Vixia HF100

(Credit: Canon USA)

The HF100, its less expensive sibling, lacks the internal memory: SDHC recording only. Otherwise, the two are identical, using the same 1/3.2-inch 3.3-megapixel sensor, 2.7-inch LCD, a new 12x zoom lens, a redesigned mini accessory shoe and Canon's SuperRange optical image stabilization.

Canon Vixia HV30

(Credit: Canon USA)

Changes to the HV30, the replacement for the HV20, are more subtle. It has a sleeker-looking black body, for one, and now supports 30p progressive mode and the high-capacity BP-2L24H lithium ion battery. If you can find the HV20 for less than the HV30's $999 price, it's not really worth waiting until the end of February when it's expected to ship.

The HF10 will cost $1,099 and the HF100, $899, when they ship at the end of April.

Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

(Credit: Sony Electronics)

It seems like Sony's saved the zing in its camcorder announcements for its AVCHD products, which generally offer significant enhancements over last year's. For one, all the models (like their DVD equivalents) finally support true 1,920x1,080 recording, albeit at the same bit rates as the previous 1,440x1,080 capture. They also mark the addition of Memory Stick Duo support for video--a feature of lesser importance for the hard-disk models than others--which Sony dubs "Hybrid" recording.

The two top-of-the-line models, the SR11 and SR12, both incorporate Sony's highest-resolution 1/3.15-inch 5-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor and the Face Detection capabilities which debut in the 2008 camcorders. Other specs include a 12X zoom lens and 3.2-inch LCD. The two models differ only by hard disk size: 60GB for the $1,199 SR11 and 120GB for the $1,399 SR12. Both are slated to ship in March.

Sony Handycam HDR-SR10

(Credit: Sony Electronics)

Replacing the SR5 at the $999 price point, the SR10 keeps the same 2-megapixel CMOS sensor and 2.7-inch LCD of its predecessor, but ups the zoom to 15x. It too should ship in March.

Unfortunately, though the hardware's making some advances, as far as I can tell, the software still remains behind the times.

Sony Handycam HDR-HC9

(Credit: Sony Electronics)

Don't look for any great leaps in consumer HDV technology from Sony, at least during the first quarter of 2008. The company's lone new HDV product, the Handycam HDR-HC9, replaces two older models, the HDR-HC5 and HDR-HC7, with nothing but a few nice-to-have manual settings.

The HC9 adds spot metering and focus, color bars, a center marker, peaking display, and infinity focus in manual focus mode; that's it. Otherwise it's pretty much the same as the HC7--the same 10x zoom lens and 3.2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS--and will cost the same $1,099 when it ships in February as the HC5 did when it initially shipped. So if you can find the HC7 at a bargain, snap it up now before it's gone. though it'll probably be just as good, there's no reason to wait for the HC9.

Sony's new DCR-SR220 standard-definition hard-drive camcorder

(Credit: Sony)

While high-definition camcorders continue to be the most exciting for camcorder enthusiasts, Sony continues to develop its standard-definition hard-drive camcorders. The company's four new models for 2008 include changes to core features, such as sensors and lenses, smaller overall size compared to last year's models, and some technologies from Sony's digital cameras in the top SD HDD model. All of the models also include built-in zoom microphones and a Quick On feature, which basically puts the camcorder in standby mode, so it consumes significantly less power than in regular mode and lets you start recording faster than if you had to power up from scratch.

The most interesting of the bunch is the $850 60GB DCR-SR220, which includes a 2.3MP, 1/5-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor with Sony's new Exmor on-chip noise reduction. That's just a slight bump up in pixels from last year's 2.1MP DCR-SR200, though that sensor was a larger 1.3-inch chip. It'll be fun to see if the new Exmor noise reduction, which works in conjunction with a Bionz processor (another tech borrowed from Sony's still cameras) can yield a better image than last year's model. Face detection finds its way into this line in the SR220, which can find up to eight faces and use them to set color balance, exposure, and focus. In photo mode, face detection also sets the flash output. Speaking of photos, as usual, Sony interpolates the still images captured, so the SR220 outputs 4MP stills from its 2.3MP sensor. The SR220 also sports a 15X (up from 10X) T* optical zoom lens with Sony's Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization, a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD, 5.1 channel surround sound recording, and a dual record mode that lets you capture 3MP stills while recording video. One more note on face detection-- Sony says that it will allocate more bits for the face when capturing footage. This initially gave me visions of sharp faces on top of slightly blurry bodies, but if done subtly, it might add an almost subconsciously pleasing effect. We'll have to wait for the review to see.

Just below the SR220 is the $700 60GB DCR-SR85, which replaces last year's SR82. Other than the smaller body design, the camcorders are essentially the same. Te SR85 has a 1/6-inch 1MP CCD sensor, 25X optical zoom lens with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, 2.7-inch widescreen LCD, and like the SR220 can record video or still images to a MemoryStick Duo card as well as the hard drive. Sony says that almost 11 hours of video can be recorded onto a 16GB MemoryStick Duo card, while the 60GB hard drive can store up to 41 hours of footage.

Sony has added a new tier to its HDD line with the $600 40GB DCR-SR65. It also has a 1MP 1/6-inch CCD sensor and 25X optical zoom with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, and a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD. Like its more expensive brethren, it includes Sony's Active Interface Shoe, so you can add accessories, such as video lights and long zoom mics. According to Sony, the SR65 can store up to 27 ours of LP-mode footage on its 40GB hard drive.

At the bottom of the HDD line we find the $500 30GB DCR-SR45, which replaces last year's SR42. It can store up to 20 hours of LP-mode footage o its hard drive and sports a newly designed 1/8-inch 680,000-pixel CCD, a 40X optical zoom lens, and 2.7-inc widescreen LCD.

Sony expects the DCR-SR45, DCR-SR65, and DCR-SR85 to be in stores at the end of January (this month), while the DCR-SR220 is expected to start shipping in February.

Sony's new HDR-UX20 AVCHD DVD camcorder

(Credit: Sony)

The biggest problem with high-definition DVD camcorders is that the small discs barely hold enough footage to capture your child's walk-on part in a ballet recital. Sony is trying to remedy the situation this year by including 8 GB of internal flash memory on the two AVCHD DVD models in their line. That means that even if you don't have a disc in the camcorder, you can record almost one hour of highest-quality, high-definition video to the internal memory and then transfer that footage to DVDs in the camcorder or offload it directly to your computer. Sony's calling this new feature Hybrid Plus, to differentiate it from the Hybrid recording feature found in some of its other camcorders, which lets you record video to MemorySticks in addition to the native media format of that camcorder.

The pricier of the two new AVCHD DVD camcorders is the $1,000 HDR-UX20, which is the one that includes the Hybrid Plus feature. Other than that, it is exactly the same as the $800 HDR-UX10. Both of those camcorders include 1/5-inch 2.3MP CMOS sensors with Exmor on-chip noise reduction, Bionz processors, and D-Range dynamic range optimizers in an attempt to widen the range of tones in your video. They also use 1920x1080-pixels when capturing footage in high-definition mode and actually produce 1920x1080 recordings. That's a step up from the 1440x1080-pixel recordings previous models have produced, even when capturing video at the higher pixel count. Of course, Sony wasn't the only one to do that, but it's nice to see that that has changed. However, as we've noticed in the past, editing can be tricky when recording in the AVCHD format.

The new models also include support for Sony's x.v.Color color space, can produce 4MP still images (interpolated up from the 2.3MP sensor), 15X optical T* zoom lenses with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, 5.1-channel audio recording, 2.7-inch widescreen LCDs, Smooth Slow slow-motion recording, and dual layer DVD support. They also have a face detection feature that can find up to eight faces in your frame and use them to set exposure, white balance, and focus, as well as set flash out put when capturing still images. Both camcorders are expected to be available in February.