A pocket camcorder is a practical guide summer: it is compact, robust and already under 100 € you get devices that record in HD resolution. The light-hearted movie pleasure beach or climbing is so far only the lack of robustness in the way. This problem will meet with the new Kodak Pocket Camcorder play sports for about 150 €.

Video under water
Even visually the Play Sport is aware of his qualities-taker: Rubber armored, rugged outdoor look with protruding screws and special covers for battery, SD-HC card, and the connections (HDMI, Micro-USB). Thus protected, you can dive with the Play Sport to a depth of three meters. Films can be in different HD resolutions: Full-HD at 30 frames per second or 720p at 60 frames per second. The latter means a little detail waiver, but you get the better motion representation. Saved in the MOV container with H.264 compression.

Beautiful pictures, simple equipment
The image quality is suitable for a camcorder in the 150-class €. Colors of the Kodak reproduced, of course, some problems only show up for pictures with high contrast. gives sound to the picture only in mono, but with decent quality. Only if you just show up with the camcorder, it sounds dull - until the water after a few seconds later escaped from the microphone gear is. A separate microphone port, as the big brother Zi8 Kodak offers, not play sports.

The amenities are offered by the Play Sport Standard classes - so little. The lens does not need a zoom. Most wide angle you have when shooting in 720p (36 mm, corresponding KB), at 1,080 p on the other hand, it is 48 mm (equivalent to KB). You can only digital zoom (4x) and with a slight judder during recording. The fixed focus sharp images shows a meter. A digital image stabilizer is present. The good side of the single equipment: The operation succeeds prerequisite free. With four buttons and a four-way directional pad, you have everything under control. The display offers two inch diagonal and is at maximum brightness, even in the sunshine still readable.

Conclusion:
When you play sports Kodak is the basic idea of a pocket camcorder consistently: a simple operation, combined with a decent image quality and a waterproof housing for a low price from 130 €. With the sports they play in leisure activities at sea and on land well prepared - we are there for a buy recommendation.

Sony still wants to introduce this year an HD camcorder with interchangeable lens. This is the Japanese company announced during the presentation of the two new cameras system NEX-5 and NEX-3. The still unnamed HD camcorder to use the same image sensor as the NEX cameras - ie a HD-Exmor CMOS sensor in a large APS-C format. The video is stored with AVCHD compression, and in full HD resolution.

The connection between the camcorder and the lens is made using the newly introduced bayonet “E-Mount”. Can therefore use the new lenses for the NEX cameras - the current three in number - or with the help of an adapter (LA-EA1, about 200 €) even lenses for Sony Alpha SLR cameras.

The launch, Sony is planning in the fall of 2010. A price is not fixed yet.

Conclusion:
On one such camcorder ambitious filmmakers have been waiting a long time. Who wants to film artificial, wants to use it as a design feature of the depth of field, which came in last month’s not over a DSLR with video function. But their operation is not ideal for filming. Quite different for the now-featured camcorder concept. The autumn promises to be of particular interest to filmmakers.

Ricoh has announced the third lens module for the camera module GXR. It is the 10.7-fold Zoom modul P10 with a focal length of 28-300 mm (equivalent to camera) and an initial intensity of G3 ,5-5, 6th An optical image stabilizer is present.

Unlike interchangeable lenses in a DSLR form of the camera module optics and an image sensor unit. In a back-lit Zoom modul P10 Ricoh CMOS sensor used with ten megapixel resolution. Series of pictures are possible with this module with a maximum of five photos per second in the RAW format. At reduced resolution of 640 x 480 pixels even 120 photos in one second. Movies you can in HD resolution (1280 x 720 pixels).

The zoom module Ricoh P10 will be available from June. The price is expected to be € 250.

Panasonic camcorder has the superclass revised. The new HDC-SD707 shoots in Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and 50 frames per second. A new, as yet a full-HD camcorder drew only 50 fields. In particular, the representation of movement will benefit from this change. However, the data rate is in the recording mode with up to 28 megabits per second, also the specifications of the AVCHD video standards - what impact this has on the video, is yet to emerge.

The HDC-SD707 has a 12x zoom and a fast lens (F1.5). This Panasonic has improved the wide-angle focal length, which now begins at 35 millimeters (corresponding to Small). The smart zoom to allow even a 18-fold magnification without the image quality decreases. Were also revised the image processor (Crystal Engine Pro), the image quality in low light recording, and the image stabilizer that can compensate for camera shake now is five times better. A manual lens ring can be used for adjustment of zoom and focus. Rounding out the features of an intelligent recording with automatic face detection and 5.1 surround sound recording. As a SD-HC storage media or SD card is XC.

The Panasonic HDC-SD707 will be available in March for about 1,000 euros. In addition, Panasonic will be two identical models with 32-GB internal flash memory (HDM-TM700, about 1,200 euros) or 240-gigabyte hard drive (HDM-HS700, offering about 1,400 euros).

The company Jaytech will offer a specially priced HD camcorder. The “VideoShot Full HD10 Superslim” film with full HD resolution and 30 frames per second. The device is only 1.1 inches wide - according to the manufacturer is the world’s thinnest full-HD camcorder.

The camcorder features a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor. For the H.264 video compression codec is used. When Jaytech lens uses an inexpensive fixed focal length, the 4x zoom function, therefore, only digital. You can also Photos. Add Saved is a SDHC card. Despite the small dimensions of a pan with three-inch diagonal display and touch screen functionality is available. Even for an HDMI output and an LED light was space.

The Jaytech “VideoShot Full HD10 Superslim” will be available on March for around 130 euros.

Media have today taking off CES 2010 in Las Vegas is already a “Wow! Mass” celebrated for its spectacular innovations in many areas of consumer electronics. The U.S. giant yellow Kodak Launches eight new products in Las Vegas, so from its diverse product areas. But the former creator of digital photography and (own estimate) “world’s leading provider of innovation in the imaging market,” brings the industry in terms of digital photography more difficult to astonish.

Besides a new all-in-One Printer ESP Office 6150 with wireless technology, a waterproof HD camcorder, the WiFi-enabled picture frame pulses and the revised Kodak Gallery presents the photography group, only four new stylish compact M-series with enhanced Share function before (M530, M550, M575, M580). In addition, Kodak will present slice, a digital camera with touch screen, Face Detection and Picture Finder function, which is awarded once as “the first album in pocket.”

Ricoh intends on 4 December 2009 with a new removable Module GXR-camera system on the market. This lens and image sensor forming an encapsulated host module, which in a camera module, the GXR stuck. The camera serves as a user interface with battery, memory card, screen, flash shoe, flip-flash, image processor show host interfaces, etc. The first two modules, what is possible. One combines an APS-C sensor with a large-aperture macro lens, the other a compact sensor with a 3x optical zoom.





As new as Ricoh claims that the idea is not, however. As early as 1999 there were from the Minolta Dimage EX, for which there was a wide-angle and a telephoto module. The Ricoh system, but plays off the benefits of current technology and combined depending on the application of different focal length lenses and image sensors of different sizes together. The system is smaller and lighter than Micro Four Thirds. The camera module itself measures 114 x 70 x 29 mm and comes with a sturdy magnesium housing, about 200 grams on the scales. It will cost around 460 euros, which we have but still no recordable device. What is needed is still one of the recording modules. The name GXR is composed of the extensible digital camera Ricoh GX and the earlier analog Change objectively cameras XR together.

The design of the camera module is very technical and functional. Power is supplied by the Li-Ion Battery DB-90, which ranges depending on the host module 320 (with GR-50 mm Macro lens) or 410 (with Ricoh lens 24-72 mm) photographs. The images are stored as JPEG or RAW (in the DNG format) to SD or SDHC memory cards increases, but also the GXR videos (in AVI Motion JPEG). The rear screen dissolves his 920,000 dot (VGA 640 x 480 pixels) and measures 3 “(7.6 cm) diagonally. With a high viewing angle, covering the whole of the sRGB color space, an anti-reflection and anti - scratch coating, it offers plenty of comfort.

The built-in flash can be folded and offers in addition to Auto, Red-eye pre-flash, Slow Sync and Flash Compensation Fill function a manual as well as twelve levels up to 1 / 64. Via the hot shoe is not only external flash units, but also the new electronic viewfinder VF-2 can be connected. It is hinged at 90 ° upwards and also provides 920,000 dot resolution. Interval shooting dominates the GXR, as well as exposure bracketing and white balance bracketing, a self-timer, selectable grid lines, histogram, digital spirit level and a depth of field display, the camera module. Its interfaces include USB in addition, power supply connector (the matching AC adapter AC-5 will not exist in Europe) and AV-out and a mini-HDMI jack and a Far from solver connection.

The recording modules offer over conventional change objectively systems a perfect protection against dust. They are connected via a simple sliding mechanism. This is built tough and provides protection against tilted preparation. The electronic connection is via a 68pin interface. Here are conceivable for the future in addition to other camera modules, such as a projector module, a memory module, a printer module, etc. The interface itself is not a open system, but Ricoh is very willing to work with equipment vendors together.

One of the first two modules, the Ricoh camera lens 2,5-4,4 / 24-72 mm VC (S10), it will cost 370 EUR. Although it is very compact, which corresponds to a 1 / 1, 7 “small CCD sensor and 10-megapixel resolution, however, more customary compact camera. The triple zoom wide appeal to fans especially. As promised, on behalf of the VC, it has a mechanical image stabilization, The movably mounted on the image sensor (CCD-shift is implemented). The sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to 3,200. In addition to photos, the module also controls VGA movies at 30 fps recording. Continuous shooting the “S10″ as well, at full resolution to 1.6 frames / s, which is closing after just five shots.

The image quality, Ricoh will have good balance between speed photography and the conditions for ambitious post-processing, ie, although the photos are crisp, but be processed not excessive. Similar to the GR can be connected are available with the sunshield must optical accessories for a Adaptertubus. This is a 0.79 times wide-angle converter, which will reach 19 mm focal length (KB) of 1.88 times teleconverter however, brings it to 135 mm (KB). Smart is the automatic lens cover is also optional, the three blades are held shut by springs. You will be impressed when you switch from the emergent lens.

The second offered to launch camera module “GR Lens 1:2,5 / 50 mm Macro (A12)” indicates that F2, 5-bright 33mm fixed focal length. The CMOS image sensor was at 23.6 x 15.7 mm APS-C size, so the lens is a classic 50 mm equivalent. With a minimum focusing distance of 7 cm from the front lens reaches a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 and shall logically “Macro call”. Over a image stabilizer, the module has not, however. Nine lenses (including one aspherical on both sides) into eight groups and the Floating Focusing system will ensure the highest image quality.

The module is not quite as compact as the 24-72, even the accessories can not join them, but the GR-lens has a manual focus ring, the electronic “fly-by-wire is translated”. Video cameras to achieve with this module even 1,280 x 720 pixels to support HD resolution, but only at 24 frames / s. This suggests that there is an image sensor of the Sony range, as well as in the Nikon D90, D5000 and D300s is used. Light sensitivity ranges from ISO 200 to 3,200, a series of images are at maximum resolution at 3 frames / s made, but after inserting 4 pictures, the camera needs a breather. Around EUR 670 Ricoh would like to have for this module. It should be suitable in addition to macro shots especially for portraits, Ricoh emphasizes the creamy bokeh.

The system is thus very high priced products and compete with middle-located DSLR and Micro Four Thirds, depending on the camera module is the compactness bought with camera but picture quality. For 2010, Ricoh is a high-speed telecommunications module in prospect. It will be expected to increase by a 1 / 2, 3 “small high-speed CMOS sensor with 9.3 Megapixel resolution in combination with a 28-300mm super zoom. In addition, Ricoh announced the functions of the camera module and the Lens Modules with firmware updates to expand regularly.