SimplyDV Camcorder News & Reviews

Sony HDR-SR12 reviewed: Lovely high definition pictures and sound, but no Progressive Mode?

2008-06-27T16:35:00.004+01:00

After a lengthy period of being off the Sony radar, so to speak, it seems that the company really does want us to take a closer look at the latest camcorder offerings. That's something we're happy to do - especially when the latest offerings come in the shape of the marvellous new HDR-SR12 AVCHD camcorder.

Like its sibling, the HDR-SR11, this sturdy, fully featured HD camcorder appears to be up for anything you ask it to do. Not only does it offer a full range of connections that includes HDMI and USB 2.0 but also sports a external microphone input and dedicated headphone output. The latter two are enough to score serious SimplyDV brownie points alone, but even then it has lots more to commend it.

Read our exclusive review of the full high definition camcorder that offers a choice of either HD recording to its built-in 120GB hard disc drive or to an optional Memory Stick PRO Duo flash memory card. As you'll see from our new review, we like it in almost every respect - except that it doesn't offer recording in Progressive Scan mode - all it offers is the basic 1920 x 1080/50i mode in addition to MPEG2 standard definition recoding.

Why no progressive mode at a time when the company's competitors all offer this? Answers on a postcard!

Read the review here

Meanwhile, you can chat about this and other matters of a camcordery nature over on our SimplyDV Forums. They're free!

Raising a smile? Sony's new HDR-CX11 AVCHD camcorder

2008-06-23T14:43:00.007+01:00

Sony has announced what it proudly boasts to be the world's first ever camcorder to feature Smile Shutter, a new and apparently unique technology that automatically captures crisp 7.6 megapixel photos when someone smiles in the frame as you're recording.

This latest addition to the Sony Handycam range offers a Dual Capture mode which enables people's smiles to be grabbed and saved to Memory Stick PRO Duo card whilst full specification, 1920 x 1080 pixels, high definition video is being recorded. Switching Smile Shutter to Always On makes it possible to grab photos whilst you're in Record Standby, irrespective of whether you've selected video or stills recording mode. So, according to Sony, there's no chance of your missing that winning smile between takes. The feature can, we're assured, be adjusted to recognise anything from a gentle smile to a beaming grin. Priority can also be set to recognise children's or adult's faces, too.

And there's more. Smile Shutter is teamed up with Face Detection (a feature we're seeing on more and more consumer HD models lately) to automatically fine-tune focus, exposure and colour balance, too.

Low noise ClearVid CMOS sensor for "stunning high resolution" images
The CX11 employs a ClearVid CMOS image sensor with Exmor-derived technology to record up to 85 minutes of AVCHD video at highest quality to the supplied 4MB Memory Stick PRO Duo card or 16GB in optional LP mode. It sports a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom (150x digital) lens with Optical Steadyshot image stablisation and is powered by a BIONZ processor with D-range Optimiser technology designed to automatically adjust exposure and contrast in such a way as to maximise shadows and to highlight detail in high-contrast scenes. In stills mode, you can achieve picture resolutions of up to 10.2 megapixels.

Other features include a 5.1 Channel Surround sound microphone, zoom microphone and a 2.7-inch Clear Photo wide touch-panel LCD screen which is claimed by Sony to make life even easier when viewing in bright sunlight.

High definition playback can be achieved with an optional HDMI cable or, for users of Sony's Bravia HDTVs, Bravia Sync which allows the use of a single remote control for everything. Users of Sony's Playstation 3 can, if they wish, plug the Memory Stick PRO Duo card into the console for immediate playback of HD movie clips.

We'll have more info and a full review of the Sony HDR-CX11 as it becomes available to us. It is aimed to be in shops during August 2008.

Don't forget! You can discuss the Sony HDR-CX11 and other matters of a camcordery nature over on the SimplyDV Forums right now!

JVC adds AVCHD to its line-up with three new hard disc models

2008-06-16T18:13:00.010+01:00

JVC has just announced the addition of three new Everio high definition camcorders and a new Sharestation USB DVD burner to its 2008 line-up. The top two models in the range, the GZ-HD40 and GZ-HD30, are claimed by JVC to be the world’s first AVCHD / MPEG-2 dual-format camcorders which are designed to give users access to the "superior long time compression afforded by AVCHD" in addition to the popular MPEG-2 format as used by many of the models in the company's range of standard definition Everio G hard-disc camcorders.

Both the GZ-HD40 and the GZ-HD30 offer 1920x1080 "Full HD" recording in both formats to a 120GB (GZ-HD40) or 80GB (GZ-HD30) internal hard disk drive. The third new model, the GZ-HD10, offers 1440x1080 recording to a 40GB hard drive in the AVCHD format only.

The new models use CMOS imaging chips with interpolation technology in the form of the HD Gigabrid Duo chip that includes codecs for AVCHD in all camcorders and MPEG-2 in the GZ-HD40 and GZ-HD30. Also employed is noise reduction technology, and 1920x1080/50P output for all camcorders via HDMI.

"World's smallest Full HD" camcorder - GZ-HD30
With the GZ-HD30, JVC is targeting the needs of a broader segment of people who shoot video, including family users. More compact than the GZ-HD40, it offers all of the performance and nearly all of the features of that model, except it has a slim 80GB internal hard disk for a maximum 33 hours of Full HD recording, and does not come with a docking station. As of June 2008, it is the world’s smallest Full HD camcorder with 1.8” HDD (according to JVC, we should add).

JVC has provided the GZ-HD40 with a 120GB hard disk drive for up to 50 hours of AVCHD Full HD video recording, and a docking station with the requirements of the prosumer or high-end enthusiast in mind. The small sized HD Everio GZ-HD10 has been given a high quality Konica Minolta HD lens and a 40GB hard disc designed to provide up to 16 hours of high-definition recording. The GZ-HD10’s 1440x1080 AVCHD recordings are also up-converted for playback at 1920x1080/50P via HDMI.

Easy DVD creation with Sharestation
All three of the new HD Everio camcorders can connect to the optionally available CU-VD50 Everio Share Station with stand-alone playback. The new HD Everios can also connect to the JVC CU-VD3 Share Station to offer an even more cost-efficient archiving and playback solution. The combinations offer the world’s first PC-less solution for AVCHD and MPEG-2 burning and playback, with AVCHD DVD discs that can be shared with commonly available AVCHD compatible/Blu-Ray players.

1920x1080 Full HD Recording
The GZ-HD40 and GZ-HD30 both have three AVCHD recording modes that all record Full HD 1920x1080 video. The only difference among modes is the bit rate, and while using the highest bit rate yields the highest quality results, the image quality is remarkable even using the lowest bit rate EP mode. And since, we're assured, 1920x1080 is truly native HDTV resolution, it requires no conversion on the part of the display device to show high definition images.

The GZ-HD40 and GZ-HD30 also have the FHD mode for recording Full HD 1920 x 1080 MPEG-2 Transport Stream video with MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio. The GZ-HD10, however, records solely in the AVCHD format at a resolution of 1440x1080 pixels.

All three models will be available in the UK in August, a JVC UK spokesman has told SimplyDV.

We'll be reviewing these models very soon, so watch this space. Meanwhile, to discuss this story and other matters of a camcordery nature, don't forget the SimplyDV forums. They're free!

"Easier and faster video editing" from the new Pinnacle Studio 12

2008-06-14T13:19:00.002+01:00

As expected, Pinnacle Systems has unveiled version 12 of Pinnacle Studio, its market-leading consumer video editing software. The new version includes Pinnacle Montage - a high-end compositing and animation effects tool. With more than 25 new features, Studio 12 is claimed by Pinnacle to include many new capabilities requested by users. More titles, DVD menus and templates have been added as well as new professional audio and video controls and a complete HD workflow with Blu-ray authoring in certain versions of the software package.

The Studio 12 family consists of three "affordably priced" versions to meet the needs of consumers whose digital video-making skills range from novice to dedicated video enthusiast. In addition to Pinnacle Studio, the basic version, Pinnacle offers Studio Plus and Studio Ultimate with more advanced audio and video tools, including a complete HD workflow.

According to Pinnacle, beta users of Studio 12 have concluded that the new photo and video Pinnacle Montage feature alone makes the upgrade from previous versions of the software worthwhile. Designed to make it easy to achieve high-end results with multiple video layers, animated text and graphics, the Pinnacle Montage feature includes more than 11 pre-defined themes with over 80 single templates. In addition, all Pinnacle Studio 12 products now offer marker tools for the timeline. Format compatibility has also been expanded to include photo import in Photoshop’s native PSD format and the GIF format. With the new export options, users can create MP3, Flash Video, WAV and 3GP files or upload files direct to YouTube.

Addressing the features most requested by customers, Pinnacle has incorporated advanced capabilities for audio, with numerical audio volume, master volume controls, a timeline VU meter and peak indicators. New convenience features include the ability to reference images in the album and direct crop control to automatically remove black bars of a video or image. The new version also offers improved effects performance on lower-end PCs, advanced 2D editing, the ability to rotate effects and new content for titles and DVD menus.

Among the first to offer native HDV and AVCHD editing software, Pinnacle Systems Studio Plus and Ultimate now includes new Blu-ray disc burning capabilities in BD-MV with motion menus. AVCHD 1920 and support for various HD camcorder types including JVC full HD, Canon Vixia, Sanyo Xacti have also been added.

Designed for the most serious video enthusiasts, Pinnacle Studio Ultimate version 12 also includes a green sheet for Chroma keying effects and integrates a three of the industry’s most highly acclaimed professional video tools:

ProDAD Vitascene – a complete library of highly customizable transitions and lighting effects. The effects include film looks, blurs, glows, sparkles, and glass effects. Transitions include film effects, ripples, wipes, sparkle and starburst dissolves, and many others.

Red Giant Software Magic Bullet Looks – a powerful tool for adjusting tone, color and focus to simulate the appearance of classic films or specific production conditions. Offers more than 100 simple-to-apply presets to match common looks found in television programs, commercials, and motion pictures.

Boris Graffiti – the 2D/3D vector title animation plug-in that includes text on a path, jitter, randomization, independent vector text, advanced type-on title animation and automated rolls, crawls, fades and zooms. Comes with hundreds of presets to streamline title creation.

We'll be reviewing Pinnacle Studio version 12 Ultimate as soon as we can. Meanwhile, check out the Pinnacle Website for more information.

Canon FS100 let down by low-light performance? Read the review.

2008-06-13T19:18:00.006+01:00

With all the attention being lavished upon the new generation of high definition camcorders of late you'd be forgiven for assuming that standard definition formats really were on their last legs. To some extent that might be true, but Canon is one company that is still keeping the flag flying for products that don't carry the HD label - for the time being at least.

However, if you're going to release a standard definition camcorder in these difficult times you'd better make sure that it produces darned good pictures and sounds at a competitive price. Canon does, of course, have a reputation for great quality - but has it lapsed a little with its new totally solid-state, SDHC card recording, FS100 SD-Video camcorder? We like the style, it handles beautifully, but are the images it produces in low light up to the mark? That's what bothers us.

Read the best in-depth and exclusive review of the Canon FS100 SD Video Camcorder right here and see what we think.

At last - an Apple fix for Panasonic HDC-SD9/HS9 AVCHD compatibility!

2008-06-10T14:32:00.003+01:00

At long last, it appears that Apple has incorporated a patch to enable users of Panasonic's HDC-SD9 and HS9 AVCHD camcorders to import and edit their clips in either iMovie '08, Final Cut Express 4.5 and Final Cut Pro 6. And about time too!

According to some users who have contacted SimplyDV, the Quicktime 7.5 update (released just after Apple's announcement about the iPhone 2, its MobileMe re-branding of its .Mac online services package and its cut-down OSX Snow Leopard operating system) has apparently sneaked in under the radar and has gone relatively un-noticed.

For quite some time now, owners of Panasonic's HDC-SD9 AVCHD camcorder found that they simply could not import and edit their high definition video clips in their Apple Mac computers, no matter how much they tried. Although this problem hasn't affected users of AVCHD cams from either Sony or Canon, it's been one about which Apple has been particularly cagey. Unfortunately, Panasonic's own product engineers have been powerless to do anything about it too; Apple did something to Quicktime and it then couldn't handle SD9 or HS9 files. Very odd - because in our original SD9 review we managed to import and edit AVCHD-originated clips without a problem.

We can't test the update for ourselves because there's no SD9 to hand, but if you've had first hand experiences of the update patch then please let us know over in this forum thread. Thanks!

Pinnacle Studio 12 ready to ship on June 10

2008-05-31T10:41:00.007+01:00

Pinnacle has emailed existing owners of its Studio range of video editing products with a pre-order offer to upgrade to Pinnacle Studio 12, to be shipped on June 10th, 2008 if rumours are correct. A glimpse at Pinnacle's homepage indicates that the product is available for purchase. By all accounts, the latest addition to the long-running family of beginner-friendly video editing products comes with some "exclusive" new features.

These include Montage - a new feature designed to enable users to "enjoy multi-track power without the complexity". It consists of a massive number of pre-built templates designed by professionals products and artists and which automatically generates all the necessary titles, effects and animations. It's a bit like the way Apple's iWeb works, but with a few more embellishments. It also enables users to mix a whole range of media - everything from Photos, Video, Music, etc. - to produce what Pinnacle describes as a "Hollywood-like Movie". Hmm.

Other features include Boris Graffiti (title & graphic animation), Magic Bullet Looks (Pro film styles) and proDAD VitaScene (lighting, glows & more). It appears that Pinnacle has given the Studio 12 interface a new look to accomodate the new features, too.

If you're intending to make the most of your High Definition camcorder clips (and perhaps burn completed projects to Blu-ray disc) you'll be interested to learn that Studio 12 now provides for the complete HD workflow; Pinnacle Studio Plus works natively with HDV and AVCHD footage. According to Pinnacle, native HD support means you’ll get the same quality from your original source all the way to final output – without transcoding and in real-time. It's also possible to combine projects that mix standard and high definition video and photos for a final result in full HD resolution.

Just as important is the ability to burn your movies onto DVD and HD DVD format discs using standard DVD media, in addition to being able to natively author Blu-ray format discs with full motion menus. We're told that Studio 12 enable users to make AVCHD format discs on standard DVDs to play on Blu-ray players.

That's as much as we know at the moment. We'll publish a full news story on this and bring you a first impressions review as soon as we're able.

Pinnacle Video Capture for Mac tested

2008-05-23T12:06:00.007+01:00

If you're a Mac-using owner of an iPod Video, iPhone or even the Apple TV home network media management system, you might be looking for a no-nonsense, easy-to-use method of getting your dusty old analogue tape recordings into iTunes on your Mac and onward to an iPod, iPhone or elsewhere.

The important thing about the new Pinnacle Dazzle-based system is that it doesn't require any knowledge of video capture, video compression or any of that complicated stuff that is the domain of us geeks. PVC does it all for you to the point where you play your source video in at one end and leave it to output an iTunes-compatible MPEG-4 clip at the other.

You can convert movies from VHS and S-VHS tapes, Video and Hi8 camcorders and even a mobile camera phone (if you have the necessary RCA Phono cables) and be viewing them on the go in no time at all.

Want to know more? Read the first of our reviews on video converter systems right here.

JVC's new Everio "S" GZ-MS100 offers one-touch YouTube upload

2008-05-21T11:02:00.005+01:00

JVC is at last following the lead of Panasonic and others by announcing a lightweight flash memory based camcorder aimed at the growing number of users seeking to point, shoot and then share via YouTube. The small, lightweight new Everio "S" series model weighs in at only 270g and uses SD cards to record MPEG-2 format movies.

According to JVC, the latest edition to the company's successful Everio range provides "an impressive array of full-fledged camcorder features that give it the versatility to do more than shoot short internet videos".

The new pocket-sized cam features a 35x optical zoom Minolta lens, a 2.7in LCD, has Auto Backlight Control and an auto power on/off; the camera switches on and off when you open and close the LCD screen respectively.

An interesting feature of this new-generation JVC is the manner in which users navigate menus and make selections. "Laser Touch Operation" provides touch-sensitive scroll bar and buttons enabling the user to glide up and down the choose menu items whilst its blue light follows the movements. When in camera mode, the YouTube "Upload" button will limit the recording to YouTube's time limit of 10 minutes. Then simply connect up the USB cable and use the supplied Cyberlink software to upload to YouTube in a few clicks.

More information when we have it - and, hopefully, a full review soon!

The Sony HDR-TG3 is in the shops - but our review is right here!

2008-05-20T17:19:00.009+01:00

When first announced a short while ago, it was billed by Sony as the smallest, lightest, slimmest mobile-phone-sized HD camcorder available and was the "perfect partner for nights out or weekends away". Moreover, the Sony HDR-TG3 was claimed by its maker to be "tough enough to keep up with today's active lifestyles - whether you're on the piste or paragliding".

Well, the Memory Stick PRO Duo recording HD cam that's known as the HDR-TG1 in the USA and Japan certainly promises much as AVCHD camcorders go, but now that we've had a play with one for the last few days what do we think of it?

Read our exclusive in-depth review of the HDR-TG3 here

Competitive pricing and TV campaign for Panasonic's HDC-SD9 this summer?

2008-05-16T11:49:00.013+01:00

Users considering buying a Panasonic HDC-SD9 high definition camcorder for use this summer might welcome the rumour that the company is set to offer the 3CCD, full-HD, memory card recording camcorder at "competitive prices" as a means of driving holiday-season sales. As a further means of hitting targets during the all-important summer season, we understand that buyers will benefit from a free 3-year warranty.

Details are a bit skimpy at present (we'll have to wait until we get something official from the company) but we do know that a new TV commercial for the SD9 will debut in the first episode of the watching-paint-dry show Big Brother on Channel Four TV in the UK on June 6th.

Feel the need to discuss this topic? See our Forum thread.

Canon's "fabulous" HF100 AVCHD camcorder reviewed

2008-05-05T11:25:00.008+01:00

Canon's much-awaited HF100 (known as the Vixia HF100 in the USA and Japan) is not just a truly solid-state memory card camcorder but one that produces superb quality, full-specification 1920 x 1080 high definition video and has all the inputs and outputs we associate with a serious camcorder.

Using the increasingly-popular MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression system to record and playback AVCHD format movies and digital stills to high capacity memory cards, the HF100 provides us all with a clear indication as to the future of high definition digital movie-making for the consumer. Thanks to some advanced features - including Progressive Cinema Mode recording and playback - and superb handling, the HF100 is a camcorder that will delight both the beginner and the more serious video-maker alike.

We think that the HF100 deserves our fullest attention, so take advantage of the complete SimplyDV review of this remarkable new camcorder here, and don't forget that you can discuss this and other matters of a camcordery nature in our free SimplyDV Forums, where complete newbies and experienced users are all equally welcome.

Apple's iMac gets faster processors, faster graphics

2008-04-28T14:32:00.009+01:00

Apple has given a major performance bump to its range of all-in-one iMacs with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and the most powerful graphics ever available in any iMac model, the company has just announced.

With UK prices starting at £799, the iMac includes faster processors with 6MB L2 cache, a faster 1066MHz front-side bus across the whole line and 2GB memory as standard in most models. The 24-inch iMac now offers a 3.06 MHz Intel processor and the high performance NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics as options. So, if you're looking for a brand new system that will handle your high definition AVCHD and HDV video clips straight out of the box, then look no further - the iMac can do it even if others can't!

For more information and the opportunity to discuss this story more, see the official press release.

It's curtains for MiniDV!

2008-04-28T13:24:00.005+01:00

In response to the major shift that is taking place in the market, and to the fact that - in the consumer field at least - people are turning their backs on both standard definition tape-based and DVD-based formats in favour of products that record to solid-state and hard-disc-drive media, I've decided that SimplyDV will no longer feature reviews of MiniDV or standard-definition DVD camcorders.

In addition to the reasoning outlined above, there are two other reasons behind this decision:

There's a lot of HD product now coming to market, and even if I were to concentrate on this alone I wouldn't have enough time to review everything;
Up to the launch of the new-look website at the beginning of April, the number of clicks to pages containing reviews and news of HD camcorders far exceeded those to standard-definition camcorders to the point where it became obvious that the interest in them is on the decline quite significantly.

However, standard definition is by no means on the way out - yet - and given that a number of companies are coming out with products that record standard def video to smaller, lighter "gadget" style devices, it's appropriate that we still feature them on the site.

But, as I've stated many times, tape-based standard-definition and even DVD-based recording is on the way out - and it's for that reason that I've decided that I won't be reviewing any more products that fall within those categories.

This does not include HDV, by the way; camcorders that use this tape-based format to record high definition video are still in demand and will continue to be featured on the site - in the short/medium term, at least.

Panasonic's tiny SDR-S7 gets the review treatment

2008-04-14T14:39:00.004+01:00

You might have noticed just how many small, pocket-sized video cameras and camcorders are coming to market these days, not least because the major manufacturers are in direct competition with others who are including increasingly-better video camera modules in their latest mobile phones. It all begs the question as to why you should in fact bother with a camcorder when you have pretty much everything you need in a single device.

Whilst that issue is worthy of a debate all of its own, it's worth noting that the major camera and camcorder brands are fighting back with smaller-than-ever camcorders that are, for the time being at least, capable of turning out picture and sound quality that will look better when output to DVD or even to YouTube.

Panasonic's latest offering is the top-pocket-sized SDR-S7; whilst only a standard definition camera, it's still a great looking device that is capable of making sufficiently good MPEG-2 recordings onto high capacity SD memory cards. Perhaps its most outstanding feature, though, is that it looks really cute.

Read the full SimplyDV review of the SDR-S7 right here.

Canon unveils two new professional HD camcorders

2008-04-10T11:59:00.006+01:00

Canon today unveiled two new additions to its high-end High Definition XL series camcorder range: the XL H1S, designed for studio-based professional broadcast cameramen, and the XL H1A, which the company describes as being perfect for independent filmmakers and fieldwork cameramen.

Recording High Definition Video (HDV) to tape, both models share a 1/3” 1.67 Megapixel 3CCD system which provides HD 1080i image capture. In addition, the XL H1S features Canon’s Professional Jackpack: a full suite of studio standard connections comprising HD-SDI output – for uncompressed 1920x1080 HD video – Gen lock input and Time code input/output for multi-camera shoots.

Building on the feature set of its predecessor model, the XL H1, the HD-SDI output of the XL H1S now incorporates embedded audio and Time code data.

Replacing the XL H1, both new camcorders have been constructed using the feedback of professional cameraman from around the world. Key refinements over the XL H1 include a new 20x L-series Video Lens, incorporating three separate focus, zoom and iris control rings. Conveniently mounted on the lens body, each can be operated simultaneously, allowing focus to be pulled while zooming, for instance. Sensitivity of the zoom ring is also customisable. Two-channel XLR audio recording now features independent limiters and auto/manual settings, allowing complete control over sound recording.

The XL H1S and XL H1A models feature:

Professional quality 1080i HD output (50i, 25F)
High resolution 1/3” 1.67 Megapixel 3CCD system
20x L-series HD Video Lens with separate focus, zoom and iris rings – offering simultaneous control
HDV recording
Professional Jackpack (XL H1S only): HD-SDI output (uncompressed 1920x1080, 4:2:2 colour space) with embedded audio; Gen lock in and Time code in/out for multi-camera shoots
DIGIC DV II processor for fast, accurate HD data handling
Full image customisation and Cine Gamma controls; all settings (preset, function and display) saved to SD/MMC card are fully compatible with
Canon XH series camcorders
Two-channel XLR audio recording with independent limiters and auto/manual settings
Optional NTSC shooting (60i/30F/24F)
Canon CPS Video service: registration required via the CPN website

High Definition quality
Both the XL H1S and XL H1A feature a re-designed Fluorite 20x L-series HD Video Lens. The new HD 20x Zoom XL 5.4-108mm L IS III lens incorporates a high performance Vari-angle Prism Optical Image Stabilizer (VAP OIS); special multi-coating (SR coating) virtually eliminates ghosting and dramatically reduces chromatic aberrations. With new adjustable in-camera Focus Assist (Magnifying, Peaking), three separate manual control rings – for focus, zoom and aperture – offer unparalleled levels of control. The sensitivity of the focus ring can be customised.

Featuring Canon’s XL interchangeable lens mount system, both camcorders are compatible with all XL lenses, including the HD 6x Zoom XL 3.4-20.4mm L wide-angle lens. Using a Canon EF Lens Adaptor (available separately), EF lenses for Canon EOS cameras can also be used with the XL H1S and XL H1A.

Two-channel audio
The XL H1S and XL H1A feature two XLR audio inputs, with each channel now controlled independently. Manual limiters have been added. The supplied stereo microphone can be used as a mono source, recording to one channel.

Advanced image control
The range of advanced image control functions has been expanded, including: improved twin Noise Reduction filters (NR1 and NR2), Colour Matrix, expanded White Balance Colour Temperature (2,000K-15,000K) and Sharpness Detail controls, as well as Auto Knee. Full manual control over an extensive range of settings and shooting variables is available: custom presets are stored to SD/MMC memory cards.

Since picture quality settings and functionality are now perfectly matched with XH series camcorders, cards can be directly transferred to these models. This is ideal for cameramen working on multi-camera shoots, since setups can be easily reproduced across camcorders, streamlining the professional workflow.

Optional NTSC shooting (60i/30f/24f)
The XL H1S and XL H1A can be customised, making both PAL (50i) and NTSC (60i) shooting possible. This optional upgrade can be performed at an approved Canon Service Centre.

Canon CPS Video
Camera operators who purchase the XL H1S or XL H1A also benefit from Canon Europe’s newly launched CPS Video service. The CPS Video membership program offers:

Priority repair service (six day turnaround)
Free loan equipment for longer repairs
Email and phone support

Full details of Canon’s professional HD range, and more, is available on the CPN (Canon Professional Network) website: http://www.canon-europe.com/cpn

SimplyDV Podcast Number 12 now online

2008-04-08T14:47:00.003+01:00

The latest 30-minute episode of the increasingly popular SimplyDV audio podcasts provides an insight into the new-look SimplyDV website you're looking at right now. Also discussed are my thoughts on the new Canon HV30 HDV camcorder as well as an overview of two new standard definition camcorders from Panasonic - the SDR-H280 "Hybrid" HDD/SD cam and the SDR-SW20 "shockproof, waterproof" SD card cam. Also under the spotlight are Aiptek's PowerDV AHD200 high definition "pocket-cam" and Pinnacle's freebie editing application - VideoSpin. My "Pick of the Month" 3rd party software utility is MPEG Streamclip from Squared5.com.

If you already use a podcatcher - such as iTunes or Podcast Alley - to download and manage the episodes automatically you won't need me to nag you into listening to them because, hopefully, they will have already done the job for me. However, if you're not familiar with this ingenious new technology then please find out how to listen to the podcasts and even subscribe to them by visiting this page:

http://www.simplydv.co.uk/resources/podcast.html

If you have any comments about the podcasts or you'd like to suggest items for future podcasts, please visit the "Contact" page by clicking he appropriate link at the top of the page. If you have a burning desire to get a discussion going on one or more related subjects, then get on over to the Forums right this minute!

Mediachance unveils EditStudio 6 Pro

2008-04-07T16:51:00.009+01:00

Media content creation and editing tools company MediaChance has sent us details of the latest update to a video editing application that, I have to admit, has so far eluded us - EditStudio 6 Pro.

It's described by the company as offering Advanced Editing, MPEG Encoding and Subtitle Editing plus a whole load of other stuff that will find a user base among total newbies and experienced editors alike.

I've never seen nor heard of this application before, I have to admit, but it looks like it could put up some stiff competition against all the other similar apps aimed at the growing market for video editing products.

Among its main features it boasts:

Unlimited Composition layers for Video, Audio and Effects
Key-frame editing
Integrated Multi-camera editing
Bars and Tone generation
3 point colour correction for advanced colour control and matching
Digital photo-quality level and curve control
Chroma and Luma key
Vectorscope, Waveform and RGB Parade scopes (with Live Scopes during capture)
AVI, MPEG-2, MPEG01, HDV (HD1, HD2), Windows Media and Quicktime support
Editing enhancements, such as autoripple, cut out, trim in timeline, delete space, auto audio crossfade
Audio manipulation, including 5-band equalisation, speeding, slowing
Adding subtitles

We're told it's also possible to perform all the usual video editing stuff like trimming direct on the timeline with support for slip edits, retaining an item's running time; audio rubber-banding, and easy J and L cuts for linked items on the timeline. EditStudio Pro claims the use of one of the most advanced MPEG-2 encoders (from MainConcept) and provides an unlimited number of stackable effects and filter layers to which can be applied keyframes for precise clip control. Full scene detection is provided for DV capture modes using either optical or DV time-stamp methods. It's also possible to preview the edit as it goes directly in the connected Dv device as well.

I'll add this to the list of low cost editing applications to be previewed on the site and post info when it's available.

For more information, see: http://www.mediachance.com

Sanyo's new DMX-CG9 9.1-Megapixel Xacti Digital Movie Camera out soon

2008-04-04T18:00:00.008+01:00

Its maker calls it "Xacti for beginners - photos & digital movies with one single camera!" and that's pretty much what it is - a compact, one piece digital camera that shoots 9 megapixel stills and, by all accounts, pretty good video as well.

In fact, Sanyo's Press Office has been gushing about the fact that it's a "digital movie camera offering beautiful still images and movies compatible with computers and the Internet, easy enough for anyone to start using, and a fashionable item all for a reasonable price". And who are we to argue?

The fashion, of course, is for small, beautiful and easy to use gadgets designed specifically for complete newbies - but you already knew that. The big surprise (or perhaps not going by today's new releases) is that its 1/2.33 inch CMOS image sensor is capable of ISO-standard MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video clips (although they're not HD - at its top resolution of 640 x 480 and with a data rate of 6Mbps it's more suitable for YouTube than Blu-ray disc).

Still, it can accept High Capacity SDHC cards, and has a lot of impressive features and comes in a choice of three colours. As a stills camera it's much better in that its 12MB resolution can knock out JPEG images at 4000 x 3000 resolution which can be trasferred via USB 2.0 or external card reader. Can't be bad - especially if you're one those people who wants a nice, compact but high-quality stills camera with the added bonus of being able to shoot video as well.

It's due to hit the streets mid-April and I'll try and sort out a review as soon as I can - once I've decided on which colour I'd prefer, of course. But will it make me fashionable once more?

The Canon HV30 Reviewed: A Touch of Deja Vu?

2008-04-04T14:06:00.014+01:00

Back at the end of 2007 when Canon showed us the HV30 for the first time, the unanimous reaction was that it appeared to be identical to the HV20 in every way except the body colour. Surely not!

The previous year's model boasted a 2.96 megapixel, 1920x1080 True HD CMOS image sensor, Instant AF, 10x Optical Zoom lens with Super Range OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), DIGICDV electronic image processing, a 25P cinema-style shooting mode, HDMI connector, LED video light and flash, an all-import AV analogue video and audio input, microphone input and advanced accessory shoe. It also offered a choice of recording and playback in HDV (High Definition) as well DV modes.

In addition to all that, the incoming HV30 sports......... a black body colour. Now, hold on a minute - are we missing something here? Haven't we been here before with a certain Canon HV20?

Despite all this confusion and new camouflage, we think the new 2008 model might just be the best tape-based consumer high definition camcorder out there at this moment in time. Read the review

Sony debuts "world's smallest HD handycam" - the HDR-TG3

2008-04-03T11:54:00.006+01:00

And now it's Sony's turn to bring us the smallest, lightest, slimmest mobile-phone-sized HD camcorder that's the "perfect partner for nights out or weekends away". The new Sony HDR-TG3 is claimed by its maker to be "tough enough to keep up with today's active lifestyles - whether you're on the piste or paragliding". It'll be interesting to see just how good it performs as a camcorder, too!

Key features include a pure titanium, scratch-resistant body; a ClearVid CMOS Sensor with Exmor derived technology and BIONZ image processor for "superb" HD picture quality; Face Detection which automatically adjusts focus, exposure, colour balance and skin tone for beautiful portraits; a built-in zoom microphone with Dolby Digital 5.1ch surround sound and BRAVIA Sync for control of playback functions using a Bravia TV's remote control.

Recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo media (4GB Memory Stick supplied) means there’s no need to carry bulky tapes or discs if you’re out for the evening or spending a weekend away and want to capture your favourite moments. An optional 16GB Memory Stick records up to 5 hours 55min of full HD movies (LP mode). After shooting, Visual Index, Film Roll Index and Face Index are designed to make it easier for users to locate their favourite scenes on the large, easy-view touchscreen LCD.

Supplied accessories will include USB and component A/V cables, Handycam Station and wrist strap for easy carrying. The required HDMI cable for HDTV connection is an optional extra, however.

We're reliably informed by Sony UK that the Handycam HDR-TG3E will be available from May 2008.

Welcome to the new-look SimplyDV!

2008-04-02T18:03:00.003+01:00

I'm very pleased to announce that the all-new website is finally online. It's taken a long time to bring to fruition, and is the result of my having to make decisions on what content I wanted to keep and what really had to go. In the final event, I decided that I really should ditch many of the older reviews (even though they do seem to get a reasonable among of traffic from Google and the like) in favour of the new upcoming stuff.

You'll see that there's also quite a lot of content relating to techniques, as well as a continuing opportunity to get involved in discussion about the current technologies required to shoot, edt and share your digital movie projects.

There's a few areas which still require patching up and where content is required, but it's better to get the thing online and rely on a sort of "organic" development in order to keep the momentum going. That's my theory, anyhow. Enjoy!

Apple fixes iMovie '08 for Panasonic SD9 AVCHD?

2008-03-27T14:30:00.006Z

Apple today claimed to have released a software update for iMovie '08 that corrects the problem experienced by users of Panasonic's HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9 AVCHD camcorders when attempting to import clips from the camcorders via USB 2.0 link. There was previously some confusion as to whether the fault arose as a result of something Panasonic had done in firmware or whether it was indeed of Apple's doing. By fixing the code in iMovie, Apple has effectively owned up and has (hopefully) put things right. We're not sure whether this patch also affects Apple's Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro editing products, however. We'll see.

Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus Update announced

2008-03-11T11:55:00.011Z

The latest release of Corel's popular Ulead VideoStudio video editing software product line "delivers complete high-definition solution for video editing and Blu-ray Disc Authoring and is designed to make it easy for users to create professional quality videos that can be uploaded directly to YouTube", according to a company spokesperson.

VideoStudio 11.5 Plus has some timely new features, particularly in relation to high definition disc authoring and online distribution via the increasing number of video sharing portals like YouTube. With the latest version, users can easily encode and upload videos directly to YouTube from within VideoStudio 11.5 Plus in addition to being able to edit their HD videos and author Blu-ray Discs complete with motion menus.

It's possible to author HD content on standard DVD discs in the AVCHD format and play their discs on Blu-ray Disc players and Sony PlayStation 3 and optimise encoding for HD video using the H.264 format for playback on the latest Intel Core 2 Duo Quad processor-based PCs and Macs. It's also possible to author projects to HD DVD format discs, too, though we'll wager that this will be quietly dropped on subsequent packaging design, given Toshiba's recent abandonment of the format.

Users can import and edit TOD video files in native form in addition to the ability to import .m2ts and .mts files directly from AVCHD disc, hard drive, or memory card camcorder sources.

VideoStudio 11.5 Plus includes Corel’s WinDVD 8 Silver, claimed by the company to be the world's number one DVD and video playback software and Corel MediaOne Plus to enhance photos, trim video clips, produce digital scrapbooking pages and create photo and video slideshows to share with family and friends.

VideoStudio 11.5 Plus is priced at $129.99 SRP (US and Canada), and is available immediately.

Trade Secrets: Convert old video to digital!

2008-02-23T11:22:00.015Z

I still get lots of requests from people who are keen to know how to get the recordings made on VHS, Video8, Hi-8 and even good old Betamax into a digital form, either on their computer or direct to DVD. Now, although it's not complicated if you know what you're doing, it's certainly a bit of a fiddle for the complete newbie.

Thanks to the widespread use of standalone DVD recorders that have multiple signal inputs, the easiest way to get a VHS (or whatever) recording onto DVD is to connect up the Yellow (Video), Red and White (Stereo Audio Right and Left) cables to the appropriate inputs of your DVD and make an instant copy to disc.

If your recorder has a built-in HDD (Hard Disc Drive) as well, you could copy your clips to that first and then do some simple "top-and-tail" tidying up prior to copying a collection of these over to DVD.

For people who want to undertake some editing, however, it's good to use a MiniDV camcorder that has AV inputs in order to copy your old recordings to DV tape in the camcorder.

Here, I've created a simple diagram to show you how this is achieved, using connections that you might already have but which are easily obtainable even if you haven't (normally, you'll be able to use the AV cable that comes with the camcorder to achieve the connection between the analogue VCR/camcorder and your MiniDV camcorder. The only other cable required is a suitable FireWire cable to make a digital connection between MiniDV camcorder and computer.

This simple process is called "A-D Conversion" - analogue-to-digital conversion.