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Creative has released its new Vado pocket video camera with a promise of improving on the current market of ultra-simple, thin and light video recorders. Weighing just 2.96-ounces and measuring 3.94 x 2.16 x 0.63-inches, you wouldn’t think that this video camera could give out good 640x480 quality video as well as pack in 2GB of built-in flash memory. And since it supports MPEG-4 video format, Creative has even thrown in a built-in video editing software which you can use to streamline your captured video before uploading them to YouTube, Photobucket and other video sharing sites.

Other features of this small and yet decently powerful video camera include; extremely high sensitivity to low light environment at 3.8V/lux-sec, 2-inch diagonal LCD display, 2x digital zoom, MPEG-4 AVI video format recording at 30fps and a built-in USB flexi connector which also serves as a charger. The Vado Pocket Video Cam offers support for Macs running OS X 10.4.11 or later and most modern PCs. The Vado Pocket Video Cam will be hitting the streets with a retail price of $100, and be available in pink or silver.

Product [Creative] Via [Electronista]

On the lookout for a new hi-def camcorder? Then you might want to take a look at Samsung’s latest release, dubbed the SC-HMX20 Full HD camcorder. It’s got a 6.4-megapixel CMOS sensor, 10x zoom and also functions as an 8-megapixel still camera, capable of capturing photos in super slow motion at 300 frames per second. As it belongs to Samsung’s HMX20 line, you can expect it to be of top-notch quality.

The Samsung Full HD camcorder also features a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD so you can easily navigate through the menus and photos, and it accepts SDHC cards through a built-in card slot in addition to the 8GB of internal memory. Just 2.4 seconds is all it takes to activate the camera, and battery life is improved thanks to the use of flash memory. The package will include a cradle with a built-in charging port, USB and of course a TV-out cable so you can view all your photos and videos in high definition glory. It’s a little bit on the heavy side, at 456 grams, but rest assured that the Samsung Full HD camcorder is well worth its weight.

The price? Just 899,000 South Korean Won or about $850 USD for you, my dear.

Read [Samsung]

If you are in the hunt for a camcorder that is not so heavy on the pocket but still wallops some decent features, then the DXG-569v entry level camcorder which was recently released might be just what you are looking for. Retailing for only $170, this cheap camcorder offers 720p (1280x720) video quality aside from other powerful features that you’d think would not come in such an inexpensive camcorder.

These features include full speed video recording, direct video editing using various software and direct upload to YouTube without altering its native format. In addition to being a nifty camcorder, the DXG-569v also doubles up as a decent photo snapper able to capture still images at a 5-megapixel resolution. It can even record voice memos, which allows users to annotate their photos. The camcorder comes packed with 32MB of internal memory with support for expansion via an SDHC memory card slot that can accommodate up to 8GB of additional storage.

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Sanyo has upgraded their Xacti CA-65 waterproof camcorder with the new Xacti DMX-CA8. The DMX-CA8 retains much of the same features as its predecessor except for the addition of an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor and a “Face Chaser” function.

The DMX-CA8 is JIS IPX5 and IPX8 certified, which means that it can withstand one hour of being submerged into water up to 1.5 meters (just under 5-foot) deep. The DMX-CA8 can record video at 60fps with MPEG-4 AVCH/H.264 compression. Like its predecessor, the DMX-CA8 also sports a 5x optical zoom lens. To make the camcorder special, Sanyo threw in a “Face Chaser” function which can track six faces when filming a video or twelve faces when the camcorder is used for still images.

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Canon has announced the XL H1S and XL H1A shoulder mount camcorders designed for video professionals and documentary film makers. Boasting of a 20x HD video lens, both camcorders feature manual focus, zoom and iris adjustment rings.

The XL H1S and XL H1A camcorders also feature various controls for customizing images, displays and operations to match the users individual needs. The camcorders use HDV tapes for recording and can deliver HD image quality. Additionally, both camcorders have interchangeable lens systems, the camcorders also connects robustly to external hardware using a durable six-pin IEEE 1394 terminal. Bearing the XL branding, the H1S and H1A come equipped with Canon’s XL lens mount that allows multiple lens mounting. For instance, users can mount Canon’s optional 6x wide-angle lens, EF photographic lenses and many more.

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AgfaPhoto has announced its newest camcorder product, the tiny DV5000Z. Measuring only 4.7 inches x 2.75 inches and weighing only about 0.44-pounds, the DV 5000Z is loaded with big features despite its small size.

The DV5000Z record videos in 16:9 format with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. The camcorder supports MPEG-4 recording with H.264 compression. It can record up to 4 hours and 20 minutes of high-definition video on an 8GB SDHC memory card. The DV5000Z also features other goodies such as 16-bit stereo sound, 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch rotating LCD, built-in video lamp that serves as a flash, and a carry pouch. For live voice-over, the DV5000Z is compatible with external mic as well.

The Agfa DV-5000Z will be available by end of April in Russia for around $393. No word yet on a possible U.S. release though.

Via [I4U]

Do people still buy standard definition video cameras? Panasonic seems to think so. The company has announced that its pocket-sized SDR-S7 will be arriving in Japan later this month. Weighing only 182grams with its battery and SD card, the camera can record 16:9 or 4:3 video at VGA (640 x 480) resolution in MPEG-2 format. The camcorder can shoot in three video modes: XP (10 Mbps), SP (5 Mbps), and LP (2.5 Mbps). Video recordings are stored via SD cards, with up to 16GB support—allowing up to 13 hours of recorded video in LP mode.  The featherweight SDR-S7 is equipped with a 2.7-inch widescreen display, 10x optical zoom, stereo microphone, 0.6 seconds Quick Start, and USB 2.0 for fast file transferring. Panasonic is touting the camcorder’s 3.8 seconds boot up time and battery life of 70 minutes. Unfortunately, no HD capability is included, which is a bummer. However, if you’re in the market for something entry-level, ultra portable, and compact the SDR-S7 should fit the bill. It even comes conveniently bundled with Panasonic’s MotionSD STUDIO 1.3 video editing software.

The Panasonic SDR-S7 measures 1.61 x 2.32 x 4.01-inches and will come in black or silver. The release date is April 25th in Japan for 44,800 Yen ($440). A US release is expected to follow in May.

Via [Electronista]

Sony may have scored a winner once again in the handycam department with their latest model – the HDR-TG3E.  The Sony HDR-TG3E has several features that are setting a record in the digital handycam history. For one, the HDR-TG3E is the world’s lightest and smallest full HD camcorder in the 1920x1080 handycam series. It also boasts of being the first handycam to utilize pure titanium for its body with scratch-resistant premium hard coating.

The HDR-TG3E is equipped with ClearVid CMOS sensor with Exmor technology and BIONZ image processor to produce high-definition picture quality. It also utilizes face detection technology which automatically adjusts focus, exposure, color balance and skin tone. For recording sound, the HDR-TG3E is packed with a built-in zoom microphone with Dolby Digital sound. And lastly, the HDR-TG3E synchronizes well with BRAVIA to control playback functions using TV remote.

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If the Sanyo Xacti CG9 was just not right for you, check out the Vivitar DVR565HD—the company’s first camcorder to venture into the HD realm. Rocking a rather slim and compact form factor, the DVR565HD uses SD cards as its recording medium, capable of recording video in H.264/MPEG-4 in full 720p glory at 30 fps. Interestingly, the camera can “upscale” the video playback to 1080i if connected to a TV via an HDMI cable. Little else is known, but the camcorder will feature a 3-inch flip-out LCD display, digital still functionality, and a maximum SD card capacity of 4GB.

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Sanyo has released a new model for their Xacti handheld camcorder series, the Xacti CG9. Boasting of a 9.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, 40MB of internal memory, a 5x optical zoom and H.264 video codec. Sanyo is touting the Xacti CG9 as an entry level video camcorder. Hence the move from the usual Xacti CCD to CMOS, probably to enable Sanyo to put a competitive price to the Xacti CG9 since they are targeting the entry-level video camcorder users. But still, the CMOS sensor will produce decent quality videos and high quality still images as well. The Xacti CG9 also boast of 60/fps video recording capability.

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