The Handycam HDR-GW66VE is waterproof to depths of up to 10 meters/33 feet, as well as being resistant to a variety of conditions, such as dust, freezing temperatures -10C/14F), and drops from a height of about 1.5 meters, although its durability partially depends on the substance upon which it is dropped. The outdoorsy features aside, this Handycam also offers a variety of other features tailored towards higher-end video quality.

Because the HDR-GW66VE is small enough to fit in a pocket, it is prone to the same issues of shaky and wobbly video as other cameras that aren’t heavy enough to neutralize small jostles and hand movements. To rectify this, Sony tossed SteadyShot Active Mode into the Handycam’s roster alongside an Exmor R CMOS sensor and G Lens. SteadyShot works when zoom is being used, as well.

Videos are recorded in full HD 50p in AVCHD format, which is ideal for those who are as interested in quality as they are portability, keeping compression artifacts and other issues to a minimum. There’s also an MP4 recording mode for smaller (and lower quality) videos. Those with BRAVIA TVs will be interested to know this Handycam supports Triluminous Color.

Available in June. Price yet unspecified.

[via Sony]

Up front is an f1.2 lens and a 10x optical zoom, while the 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor has BSI and optical image stabilization. 60fps still burst shooting is possible, along with time-lapse photos, and the Procision camera can be set to flick between three zoom levels – full wide, full tele, and a user-assignable mid-point – for easier frame composition.

Inside, there’s WiFi for remotely reviewing or transferring content on a smartphone or tablet, and JVC has a sports-centric app – JVC CAM Coach – for iOS and Android which allows notations for form and other commentary. The 3-inch 460k pixel LCD can tilt for easier viewing, and JVC throws in a monitor hood; a color viewfinder is an option.

Storage is courtesy of an SDXC/SDHC/SD memory card, with the PX100 capable of storing over 10hrs of 1080/60p AVCHD footage on a 128GB card. Ports include mini HDMI out, AV/headphone out, USB 2.0, and a microphone input, and there’s an accessory shoe as well as a powered socket for the viewfinder. The GC-PX100 is available now, priced at $999.95.

Both of the camcorders feature a 1/2.84-inch CMOS imaging sensor and a RGB primary color filter. Both of the camcorders feature approximately 3.09-megapixel resolution total with 2.91-megapixels effective. Both units also feature 20 X optical zoom with a focal length of 3.67-73.4 mm.

The camcorders also feature a hybrid autofocus system supporting face priority autofocus, face only autofocus, and complete manual focus. The cameras both support full 1080p HD resolution recording in AVCHD and MP4 format with multiple frame rates. The camcorders also have special low light modes needing only 0.1 lux.

Other common features for the cameras include integrated dynamic Super Range optical image stabilization using lens shift technology. The cameras have an integrated optical viewfinder and 3.5-inch OLED displays. Dual memory card slots support SDXC cards. The only difference between the two cameras appears to be that the XA25 has a HD/SD-SDI connector to feed video directly to a microwave van, satellite uplink, or other TV transmission system. The XA25 will sell for $3199 with the XA20 selling for $2699. Both cameras are expected to be available at the end of June.

UPDATE from Canon: “The correct estimated list prices for the Canon XA25 HD ENG camcorder and XA20 HD professional camcorder are $2,999.00 and $2,499.00, respectively.”

[via Canon]

Panasonic’s system was exhibited at the Digital Content Expo 2012 in a display called Dive into World Heritage 3-D. The system works by shooting an image with five 3-D cameras at the same time. The system then shows the images using five high-definition plasma display panels.

The Panasonic 3-D cameras used for the system are AG-3DA1 3-D camcorders and are available to purchase right now. The 3-D panoramic camera system Panasonic created also has small high-performance video recorders tethered to the cameras. It seems that this would be a more interesting system if all the images were pieced together in one continuous shot rather than being viewed on individual displays.

Panasonic thinks that this imaging system would be appropriate for producing images of artworks housed in museums around the world. Panasonic also notes that it is an Olympic sponsor and is considering using this system for future Olympic Games. Check out the video below to see the 3-D camera system.

[via Diginfo.tv]

The camcorder uses a F1.2 lens and has a 1/2.3″ 12.8-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. JVC also fits the camera with an optical image stabilizer and integrated Wi-Fi connectivity. The integrated Wi-Fi allows images to be viewed on smartphones and other devices. Apps that go along with the camera are available for both the iPhone and Android devices.

Some the apps will allow the user to watch a video stream on the tablet while writing notes on the playback image and more. The clear slow-motion images will help athletes learn, allowing the camera to be a sort of assistant coach, improving the game according to JVC. The camera has five shooting modes ranging from 100 frames per second to 500 frames per second.

The shooting modes are selectable by turning a single dial located above the lens. The camera also has a function that grabs a burst of nine still images from the video at the touch of a button. The camera supports recording video in AVCHD, MP4, and MOV formats. The camera can also record in iFrame format at 720p resolution. Pricing and availability information are unknown, but this won’t be a cheap camera.

The camera can also be mounted to a helmet or to a backpack. The camera is designed to be waterproof with an IPX8 waterproof design allowing the camera to shoot in water up to 5 feet deep for 30 minutes. The camera is also dustproof to protect sensitive electronics from sand. The camera has integrated Wi-Fi connectivity making it easy to live broadcast streaming video using Ustream in full HD resolution.

The A100 is designed to interface with a smartphone or tablet for watching video and users can start or stop recording using the smartphone as well. Panasonic equips the camera with a F2.5 lens for performance in low light situations and the camera features Level Shot to automatically correct tilted images. The camera also features image stabilizer technology to help prevent blurring.

Other features include the ability to playback slow motion HD video. The camera supports multiple recording resolutions including 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 at 120 fps, and 640 x 360 at 240 fps. Wind Noise Cut functionality inside the camera also helps reduce excessive wind noise when used outside. The camera promises up to 140 minute of recording per charge. Panasonic is taking pre-orders on the A100 now for $299.99.

The app pairs with the Drift Datalink system found in the Drift HD Ghost action camera, and it provides remote control capabilities, allowing users to use their mobile device to set up camera angles, stream video playback, and share content instantly on different social media platforms.

The HD Ghost camera can communicate with mobile devices to a distance of up to 295 feet (90m) using its built-in WiFi network. When the app is paired to the camera’s Drift Datalink system, users have the ability to control their Drift HD Ghost remotely and set up and different types of shots within the view screen.

Users can also monitor the camera’s battery life, and the app filters content by media type for playback in the gallery, which makes it easy to find the videos you want to watch and share. The app is currently only available for iOS devices, with Android compatibility coming soon.

The camera has a 128° viewing angle allowing drivers to capture the entire road and the lens allows rotation through 180°. The 180° rotation of the lens allows drivers to record traffic on either side of the vehicle. The camera uses a low light enhancement sensor for recording in the dark.

The camera also features a 2.4-inch LCD screen for viewing video in real time or playing back later. That screen rotates 270° allowing drivers to see the video from almost any angle. The camera mounts to the windshield with an included adjustable mounting unit and the camera can be removed from the windshield mount.

When removed from the windshield mount, the digital video recorder section can be used as a typical camcorder. The camera stores video to SD or SDHC cards of 32 GB in capacity and it has an HDMI output. An internal rechargeable battery allows the camera to record with no power available and the camera ships with a DC adapter to power the car. The camera is available right now for $149.

Alternatively, there’s support for uploading videos shot with other apps, whether that be the official iOS camera app, or another video tool from the App Store. Clips can then be shared, either via Facebook, Twitter, email, or iMessage, or by simply copying the URL to the app of your choice.

However, existing users may find one of the previous features they were used to has disappeared in this new version. The iPhone editor has been deleted, though it’s possible to download and save active projects to the Camera Roll and edit them with third-party apps.

You can find Vimeo for iPhone in the App Store [iTunes link] where it’s a free download. Vimeo also has a (slightly creepy) launch video, which you can see below:

Samsung’s decision to shoot at lower resolutions isn’t particularly explained by the company – there are 480/60p modes too, with files grabbed in MP4/AAC format – with an emphasis on ease of use pushed instead. So, there’s onboard video editing that allows multiple clips to be joined together simply by tapping on them, and Smart Background Music to automatically add audio.

Once you’ve finished editing up your simplistic masterpiece, there’s a “One Touch” share button. Unfortunately, the HMX-F90 lacks any sort of wireless connectivity, unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Camera, and so pressing that button basically just adds the clip to a queue of priority uploads that are automatically pulled off the camcorder when you next plug it into your PC via USB.

5-megapixel stills are also supported, and there’s a compact 2.7-inch TFT LCD display and digital image stabilization, along with an HDMI output. Storage is courtesy of an SDHC/SDXC memory card. Samsung isn’t saying how much the F90 will be, but it’s worth noting that its F80 predecessor has a street price of around $140.

Both the F5 and the F55 offer HD recording, while the F5 offers 2k and the F55 offers 4k. These CineAlto 4k camcorders support recording in XAVC MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format, MPEG-4 SStP, and industry standard XDCAM 50mbps 4:2:2. Both camcorders can be used with the AXS-R5 RAW recorder, with the F5 recording up to 120fps and the F55 recording up to 240fps as 4k RAW data.

The F55 supports connection to the PVM-X300 30-inch 4k monitor and the 84-inch BRAVIA 4k LED television. Both camcorders feature a PL-mount for use with a wide variety of lenses. The viewfinders are digital, comprised of OLED and LCD options. The OLED viewfinder has a resolution of 1280×720, and is 0.7-inches in size, while the LCD viewfinder “offers 10 time the contrast of previous Sony LCD viewfinders…”

Both the F5 and F55 utilize Sony’s SxS PRO memory cards, available in 64GB and 128GB capacities, which support high frame rate recording. In terms of batteries, both devices use Olivine-Lithium Iron Phosphate battery packs, offering double-rate speed charging and 150 minutes of consecutive filming. The camreas are slated for release in February.

Come October 30, we should be getting some more information about this new addition to Sony’s CineAlta range of professional camcorders that will be called “TheNewF” according to the teaser. It also gives away some features of the upcoming camcorder like 4K shooting capability, high frame rates, 4:2:2 color space, and a 50Mbps data rate.

4K also goes by “Ultra HD” and boasts a resolution of 4000×3000, which is the typical resolution of photos from most point-and-shoot cameras. The technology is gaining ground, but it still has a long way to go before it becomes practical. The resolution is still way too powerful for general broadcasting, and it requires specialized cameras that are just beginning to find their way into the marketplace.

However, depending on what the final product ends up being, “TheNewF” may just be a camcorder that takes a big step forward with 4K, and hopefully Sony’s commitment to 4K will result in more practical applications for the technology in the not-so-distant future. However, we’ll have to wait and see what the company has in store at the end of the month before jumping to conclusions.

[via Engadget]

According to Petty’s lengthy explanation over at the Blackmagic forums, the issue was a combination of blemished glass – which is fused to the sensors as a protective layer, before they’re shipped to Blackmagic for inclusion into the Cinema Camera as a whole – and bugs in testing software designed to check quality. The flaws in the glass itself was apparently traced to contaminated packing materials used by the original glass supplier:

“Over a month ago now, we completed the testing of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and started production. Very quickly we started to see cameras failing our production testing as they suffered from blemishes on the sensor. These are high end cameras so need to be built to a very high specification.

We started testing to discover the cause of the problem and discovered that the problems were from our second shipment of sensors. The first shipment of sensors were fine. All the cameras you currently see people using had been built from this first batch of sensors and that is why we did not see any issues until we started to build cameras in volume.

While investigating the problem our engineers found the blemishes were in the glass that covers the sensor, and not the sensor itself. This is good because the glass might just be dirty so we saw this as a quick fix, but wondered how a supplier could deliver us sensors that had blemishes, as they are supposed to pre test them … When talking with the supplier, it turned out they had a bug in their test software that tested sensors after the glass had been applied. That’s why they shipped us bad sensors and did not notice. They fixed that problem and could then see the problems we saw and stopped production as about 95% of sensors were suffering this problem with the glass” Blackmagic Design

The end result is that Blackmagic must rework its existing stock – which it has been sitting on for a month – with new sensors. They won’t begin production until later this week, however, when the sensor manufacturer receives new, hopefully problem-free glass; Petty says that Blackmagic will be able to ship out cameras the day the company gets new sensors in.

Meanwhile, there’s a new software update for the Cinema Camera, v1.1, which will arrive in a few days time. It adds DNxHD support, as well as support for lens stabilizers  and a number of other minor tweaks.

The Cinema Camera is a $3,000 re-visioning of the professional video camera, offering 13 stops of dynamic range and a high-resolution 2.5K sensor that records directly to an internal SSD. The difference from existing video cameras, Blackmagic says, is that the broadened dynamic range preserves more highlight and shadow detail, resulting in a film-like picture despite the convenience of digital.

[via DSLR News Shooter]

The idea behind the cameras to allow the user to create their own broadcast station offering direct-to-Facebook live streaming at with the ability to start a public broadcast or a private stream for invited friends only. Once the live streaming video is over, the system automatically saves the video to the cloud. The camera also has an Instant Clip button allowing users to capture a video of what just happened to share later.

Clips recorded with the Instant Clip button can be viewed immediately, edited, and shared using the Looxcie companion app. The camera can connect wirelessly to the smartphones or tablets running iOS 5.0 and higher or Android 2.3.3 and higher. The camera is designed to be water-resistant and to function in low light situations. It also has a removable and rechargeable battery.

The camera will come in several configurations, including the Explore that features a mounting option for hats, helmets, or bikes allowing for hands-free streaming right out-of-the-box. The new Looxcie HD will be available for pre-order starting September 21, which is today. The camera will cost $279.99 up to $349.99 depending on the configuration purchased.

The new line of Polaroid camcorders includes the iD820, iD879, iD450, and the iD640. The first camcorder is the iD820 being called one of the world’s thinnest and lightest true 1080p HD camcorders. The body of the camcorders only a half-inch thick and features a three-inch touchscreen that supports gestures. The camera has 12-megapixel resolution and weighs less than 4 ounces.

The camcorder features dual stream recording allowing you to record two sets of video on the memory card at one time. The dual videos give you one full HD stream and one stream at less resolution for uploading the YouTube. The camera will sell for $179.99. The iD879 is a camcorder that also features a three-inch touchscreen supporting gestures and it has five times optical zoom. The camera has dual memory card slot supporting both microSD and SD cards for storage. The camera is also a dual streaming unit recording full HD and YouTube quality at the same time. This camera will also sell for $179.99.

The iD450 has integrated Wi-Fi and allows users to stream live video to the Internet using the integrated Ustream app. The camera also works with apps for Android or Apple devices allowing you to view live video on those platforms from the camera. The camera records full HD and has the same three-inch touchscreen. This camera also sells for $179.99. The final camera is the Polaroid iD640, which is waterproof, shock proof, dustproof, and freeze proof. It has a two-inch LCD and can record 720p HD video. This camera sells for $99.99 with all four of the new Polaroid camcorders launching in mid-September.

There’s also a Quad Capsule Spatial Array Microphone – made up of four omnidirectional capsules that can be flipped between 5.1-channel and stereo recording – with adjustable levels, and the optional XLR-K1M adaptor kit that throws in a mono shotgun microphone and XLR ports for external mics. A “seesaw” zoom lever promises smoother control over power-zoom lenses, and there’s a bundled adapter for slapping on A-mount DSLR lenses and getting the right focal width. The NEG-VG900 also switches automatically to APS-C mode when either an E-mount or A-mount DT lens is fitted.

Sony has included both manual and autofocus modes, with the latter offering both contrast AF and focal plane phase detection AF during 24p mode standby and still image modes (as long as you’re using the LA-EA3 mount adapter); phase detection AF is also available using the LA-EA2 mount adapter, while Contrast AF is provided when using E-mount lenses. For exposure, there’s 99-segment metering.

As for the NEX-VG30, that has a 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor and uses E-mount lenses, delivering Full HD video in 24p, 25p and 50p modes. Both camcorders have an XGA OLED viewfinder with 100-percent field of view, and a 3-inch touchscreen LCD with swivel-mount. Connectivity includes component/composite/S-Video/HDMI outputs, USB, headphones, a mini-jack stereo mic input, Multi Interface Show, and a combo remote terminal and A/V remote terminal port.

The Sony NEX-VG900 Handycam will drop in late October, priced at $3,299.95 body-only, while the Sony NEX-VG30 will follow in November, priced at $1,799.95 body-only or $2,699.95 paired with the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 power zoom with optical image stabilization.

Damian Dinning, lead program manager of Imaging Experience at the Finnish firm, revealed the odd decision on Twitter, saying that “in terms of audio recording, the difference is mono in the [Lumia] 920 vs 808 [PureView] which is stereo.” Questioned about the disparity, Dinning revealed that “the mic and HAAC and hi-fi quality is the same as the 808, but limited to mono.”

It’s unclear at this stage whether that means a new, mono-breed of Nokia’s Rich Recording technology, or if the company is skipping that branding altogether for the Lumia 920. Either way, it’s an unusual decision given the photography credentials Nokia is attempting to push with the new flagship phone, which uses a special “floating lens” system to deliver optical image stabilization, among other things.

The one saving grace could be the fact that software, not hardware, looks to be the reason for the mono recordings, and that means Nokia could potentially address that with new firmware. Dinning himself points out that his comments on the Lumia are “based on launch SW and are intended as a general summary” though he insists that “audio will most probably sound better than anything else” even in mono.

We’ve got a request in with Nokia for more details, and will update if we hear more. Meanwhile, check out our extended PureView play on the Lumia 920.

Otherwise the specifications are the same, so you get a 2.5K sensor, integrated SSD recorder for grabbing footage in CinemaDNG RAW, Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD formats, and a Thunderbolt connection for offloading clips. Control is via a capacitive touchscreen, and there’s a full 13 stops of dynamic range to play with.

Most importantly for the target audience, the same 2.5K and 1080HD resolution capture in 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps is present. Thanks to the SSD storage, uncompressed 2.5K footage can be stored in-camera, and then quickly shuttled off via the Thunderbolt connection or the SDI 3Gb/s port.

Like the original model, the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT doesn’t come cheap: you’re looking at $2,995 when it hits shelves in December 2012. However the asking price also includes full copies of DaVinci Resolve for color correction and Blackmagic UltraScope software for waveform monitoring.

The camera weighs 0.28 pounds and is waterproof to a depth of 16.4 feet, shockproof with the ability to survive a drop from 6.5 feet up, and it’s dustproof and freeze proof as well. The outside of the camera is covered with a scratch resistant rubber texture and the rear LCD is a 1.5-inch unit. The camera also has dual standard tripod holes for mounting the camera on a tripod.

Integrated Wi-Fi functionality allows the camera to sync with a smartphone wirelessly to frame a shot and check recording even when the camera is mounted in a spot that you can’t reach easily. Video can be recorded in multiple resolutions including full HD down to WVGA. The camera has a five-megapixel CMOS sensor and five times digital zoom. It also has digital image stabilization and can shoot five-megapixel still shots. Video is saved to SD cards and the camera has a mini HDMI output. Power comes from a rechargeable battery. Pricing and availability are unknown at this time.

That LCD screen also supports touch interaction and remains fully operational when submerged. The camera also supports Underwater Mode to adjust the white balance for underwater conditions so color still appears normal. The camera is also ruggedized with shock resistance and dust resistance to make it durable and able to survive drops from about 5 feet up.

The camera uses a back illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor to improve clarity and to reduce grain and noise in low-light conditions. The camcorder also has an integrated flash and supports Sony’s Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode. Other features include face detection and motion detection. The camera has 10 times optical zoom and records video to 16 GB of integrated flash storage. That is enough storage for four hours of HD video content in HD LP mode. Sony also integrates Optical SteadyShot and the camera has integrated GPS for image tagging. The camera will launch later this month for around $700.

There’s a 1.22-megapixel color viewfinder and a 3.5-inch LCD for framing shots, while JVC is targeting both handheld and tripod users with a second set of recording trigger and zoom controls on the integrated handle. A full three 1/3-inch 12-bit CMOS sensors – each recording at 1920 x 1080 – are onboard, with a Fujinon HD lens offering a 29mm-667mm focal range, three ND filters, and manual zoom/focus/iris rings.

Pre Rec automatically caches five seconds of footage before you hit the record button, and there’s an integrated stereo microphone along with twin XLR inputs with phantom power. A separate wireless microphone input and headphone jack are offered, along with LANC support, HD-SDI and HDMI.

As for the JVC GY-MHQ10, the 4k camcorder was announced back in January with a predicted ship time of March. That’s fallen by the wayside somewhat, with JVC confirming at NAB 2012 this week that units are only now shipping. The GY-MHQ10 has a 1/2-inch 8.3-megapixel CMOS for capturing video at four times the resolution of 1080p and allows for Full HD stills to be grabbed, mid-recording or during playback.

The GY-MHQ10 has a price tag of $5,550, while the GY-HM600 will be $4,695 when it drops in fall 2012.

The camera has integrated ND filters including clear, 1/4, 1/16, and 1/64. The super slow-motion capability allows the camera to record at 120-240 frames per second in full HD resolution. If even slower recording is desired the camera will do 480-960 frames per second at reduced resolution. Video is recorded to MemoryStick or SDXC cards.

The camera will also connect to an external HXR-FMU128 recorder. An adapter is available that will allow A-mount lenses to be used on the camera. In addition to the 3G-SDI interface, HDMI is also included. The camera also allows up to 99 camera profile settings to be stored on the memory card. The camera is expected to launch in June at an unannounced price. It won’t be cheap though, the camera is high-end.

[via Sony Alpha Rumors]

The CamOne Infinity features 170-degree wide-angle filming in WVGA, 720p, and 960p modes, and 127-degree filming in 1080p mode. With a 5-megapixel sensor, it can shoot still images and offers several multi-burst settings. It has an integrated LCD screen and two microSD slots each capable of supporting up to 32GB of storage.

The camera has a durable alloy housing and can take crystal clear underwater video with a 90-degree twist of the lens. An LED flash helps with dim lighting conditions. CamOneTec is still working on its North American distribution and pricing is only listed as “250″ without a reference to currency at the moment. For more details on the camera, you can watch the video below or check out the product page.

[via GizMag]

The camcorder has five times optical zoom along with four times digital zoom. The camcorder has a three-inch LT PS touchscreen display that folds and rotates. Brightness adjustments and auto exposure settings can be made directly from the screen and the camera ships with Arcsoft Total Media Extreme software. The camera features a motion activated recording setting that will turn the camera on and off when it senses someone in front of it.

Video is recorded to 32 MB of internal memory and it has dual SP slots supporting microSD and HCSD cards. The camera also includes an HDMI cable for watching videos directly on the TV. For better lighting on still images, the camera has integrated flash. Videos recorded in H.264 MOV format and images are stored in JPEG format. Pricing is unannounced.

The Bloggie Sport HD is shock proof, dirt resistant, and waterproof down to 16 feet. Its shock resistance is rated for drops up to 5 feet off the ground and its dust resistant seal makes it impervious to mud, snow, rain, and grime. An Underwater Mode automatically adjusts white balance and contrast to even out blue color cast for more natural and vibrant looking underwater photos.

It has a candy bar form factor with the camera lens on one side and a 2.7-inch touchscreen display on the other. A flip-out USB arm makes it easy to connect the camera to a computer for uploading video and charging its battery. It also features Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor, 4x digital zoom with auto macro, SteadyShot image stabilization, LED low-light shooting, Face Detection, Share tags, and HDMI output.

The pocket camcorder begins shipping today, priced at $179.99. It is available in blue, black, and red. For more information, visit the product page.

[via Engadget]

The camera has 16 GB of integrated memory, and offers advanced image stabilization to remove shake from videos and still images. The camera has a 40 times optical zoom lens and sports super LoLux recording with a 1.5 M back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The camera has a 3-inch touch panel LCD and multiple intelligent auto modes.

Those modes include smile shot, face detection, and high-speed video recording modes for slow-motion playback, and time-lapse recording. The camera also features an integrated zoom mic and has a memory card slot that supports SD cards. Availability and pricing on the camera are unannounced at this time.

There’s also a new Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode, allowing you to create large photos by holding down the button and panning the Handycam around. Sony uses face and motion detection to avoid moving people and objects from showing up blurred or doubled in the final frame. The same face detection is used for self-portraits.

There are a frankly ridiculous 99 scene presets, happily selected between via an intelligent auto mode, and an Underwater mode for more natural colors when you’re splashing around. Storage is courtesy of either Memory Stick Micro or, happily, MicroSD/SDHC card.

Meanwhile, you can drop the camcorder from up to 1.5m and it’s resilient against dust, too. Sony says the Handycam HDR-GW55VE will go on sale in Europe come April, pricing tbc.

In fact, the lenses are actually more expensive than the C300 itself, each carrying a sticker in excess of $40k. The Canon CN-E 14.5-60mm T2.6 L S Cinema Zoom Lens with EF Mount comes in at $42,750, as does the Canon CN-E 14.5-60mm T2.6 L SP Cinema Zoom Lens with PL Mount. $44,650 gets you the Canon CN-E 30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L S EF Mount Cinema Zoom Lens or the Canon CN-E 30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L SP PL Mount Cinema Zoom Lens.

Inside the C300 there’s an 8.29-megapixel Super 35mm CMOS sensor, while on the outside there’s a 4-inch rotating 1.23-megapixel LCD preview display and dual-CompactFlash memory card slots. Recording is in Canon’s 4:2:2 50 Mb/s MPEG-2 XF codec, and if the Cine lenses are looking too rich for your blood then you’ll be pleased to hear that the company’s existing DSLR lenses are supported too.

Sample clips from the EOS C300 can be found here.

[via CanonRumors - thanks Paul!]

The built-in WiFi allows you to share your images and videos in several ways and also adds other functionality. With a free app for your Android or iOS device, you can wirelessly transfer videos and still directly from your camcorder to your smartphone. This also lets the phone to be used as a remote control and have its GPS data used for geotagging. You can also email your images directly from the camcorder and there’s a function called Video Email that lets you send 15-second video clips to up to eight email addresses.

The WiFi-enabled Everio also has additional capabilities like a Live Monitoring feature that lets you see in real-time on your smartphone or computer any images or videos taken with the camcorder. An Auto Photo Email feature automatically takes a still photo and emails it to you when it detects movement.

There are three main series in the lineup that breaks down into the E/EX series, the V/VX series, and the GX series. The E/EX models offer simple point-and-shoot functionality great for beginners. The V/VX models steps it up with a sleeker design and higher grade materials such as an aluminum panel LCD door and front panel. It also adds more features like Hi-Speed Recording, Super Slow, and Motor Drive for rapid-fire stills. The top of line Everio is the GX model that records in 1920×1080 Full HD at 60P and shoots 11-megapixel stills.

Inside there’s JVC’s own Falconbrid LSI processing engine – last seen at CES 2011 in the JVC GS-TD1 3D camcorder, when the company promised us a 4k model was in the pipeline - which saves variable bit rate H.264 codec clips to SDHC or SDXC memory cards. Up to 144Mbps bitrate is supported, and the GY-HMQ10 can record up to two hours of 4k video to a card.

Using the touchscreen, users can crop an HD image from a 4k frame, or alternatively the camcorder can be used to capture 8.3-megapixel stills. Obviously 1080i or 1080/60p recording is also possible. There are manual level controls for audio – with both the LCD and viewfinder showing levels – and a microphone holder and two balanced XLR connectors with phantom power up on the handle. Even if you don’t hook up your own microphones, the GY-HMQ10 has an integrated stereo mic of its own.

JVC has added its own Focus Assist technology, as well as manual and auto focus, iris, gain, shutter, gamma, color matrix and white balance control. There are a full four HDMI ports, each capable of pumping out 4k footage in real-time.

The JVC GY-HMQ10 goes up for pre-order today, priced at $4,995, with deliveries expected to kick off in March.

The Q20 and the QF20 are similar in form factor with the QF20 having the advantage of being WiFi-enabled. They both features a new Switch Grip II that includes Vertical Recording with three recording angles. However you hold the camera, the G-magnetic sensor can recognize the angle and adjust the LCD display accordingly for easy viewing. The Q20 supports 1080i Full HD recording, 20x optical zoom, and touchscreen LCD.

The F80 also has a compact portable form factor similar to the Q20 and QF20, but features 1280 x 720 30p recording with a 1/3.2″ 5-megapixel CMOS sensor and 1080i video upscaling via HDMI. It offers 52x optical zoom and 65x intelli-zoom.

The W300 is a rugged camcorder for sports and outdoor enthusiasts that can capture 1080/30p Full HD video with great low-light shooting thanks to its 5M BSI CMOS sensor and F/2.2 Bright Lens. It is waterproof for up to five meters, shock-proof from a height of up to two meters, and dust-proof.

The WB850F (pictured above) is a world-class travel camera boasting a 16.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, 21x zoom, and Full HD 1080p video capture, while the WB150F features a 14.1-megapixel sensor and 18x zoom. The ST200F has a 16-megapixel sensor, 10x zoom, and is extremely compact and pocketable.

The DV300F is Samsung’s new DualView offering that features a 1.5-inch front-facing LCD viewer, perfect for self-portraits. And for the line-up’s camcorders, there’s the compact QF20 that features a swivel viewer and Full HD 1080p video recording.

Images and video captured can be directly uploaded from the cameras to Facebook, Picasa, or Photobucket through Samsung’s Social Sharing feature. The images can also be saved to Samsung’s free AllShare Play cloud storage or Microsoft’s SkyDrive as well as emailed to family and friends using the camera’s onscreen keyboard to type in messages.

Additional features include Samsung’s Remote Viewfinder that lets your remotely compose a shot via a connected smartphone. Photos on the cameras can also be automatically backed up directly to your home PC. Pricing and availability for the new lineup have not been announced yet.

The biggest change for usability is a new menu system that makes the settings plain language rather than numerical. That means you can change settings on the fly much more easily. The new camera gets an 11MP image sensor, 2x sharper glass lens, a 3.5mm stereo external mic input, and a mini HDMI port. The image processor inside the camera is also 2x faster and it has an integrated battery warmer for longer life in cold temperatures. The camera also has improved professional level low light performance and can take 10 11MP images in a burst with a photo ever 0.5 seconds in timelapse mode.

The cam has more modes with Full 170-degree, Medium 127-degree, Narrow 90-degree FOV in 1080p and 720p Video. That means you can take video in more resolutions without the fisheye effect many find annoying. The camera also offers 120 fps recording in WVGA, 60 fps in 720p, and 48fps in 960p, with 1080p only getting 30fps. The camera is compatible with all existing accessories and supports Wi-Fi video and photo preview via the GoPro app. The camera comes in HD Hero2 Outdoor edition, HD Hero2 Motorsports Edition, and HD Hero2 Surf edition versions at $299.99 each. The original camera now sells for $199.99 to $239.99 depending on the version.

The effects company is called OMStudios and the thing is an octocopter with eight little motors and propellers to fly it around. I guess the idea is that a filmmaker can use the flying drone rather than renting a crane to shoot from the air. The drone can climb to 150 meters making it good for some shots at impressive altitudes.

I don’t know how much this thing would cost to rent, but buy the insurance policy. A dead battery in this flying machine would be bad news indeed. The camera under the drone can shoot film at 5K resolution and costs more than a nice new car. Check out the video below to see the rig in action.

[via Engadget]

There’s also a microphone input, HDMI output and a remote control. Both the X400 and X416 also get a “Pause” video recording function which allows users to temporarily cease filming and then resume later on, saving footage the same file rather than starting a new clip.

As for the Toshiba Camileo X200, that has a 12x optical zoom and also gets an HDMI port and remote control. The Camileo X400 is available now, priced at $249.99, while the Camileo X200 is also on sale now, priced at $199.99. The X416 will arrive later this month, for $319.99 (though that’s likely to come down with an instant rebate).

If that wasn’t enough, there’s ISO6400 support and the ability to fire off 8.3-megapixel (3840 x 2160) stills images at a ridiculous 60 shots-per-second – up to a maximum of 130 shots total per burst – or 12-megapixel stills at 30 frames-per-second. Super-slow-motion video, meanwhile, can be recorded for two full hours, though only at VGA resolution.

Optical image stabilization, a 10x optical zoom and white balance, aperture and shutter controls for manual use round out the main specs, while there’s a 3-inch posable touchscreen for control and SDXC/SDHC memory card support. An HDMI port and 32GB of internal storage are also present. Interesting stuff, and JVC is likely to find a few buyers when the GC-PX10 goes on sale sometime in October, even with that $899.95 price tag.

The memory card slot holds up to 32GB cards and you can get the camera with a SD card or without. The camera has a small LCD on the rear and controls for settings, playing video, deleting files and changing from still photo to camcorder mode and vice versa. Power comes for an internal lithium polymer battery.

The camera has 18MB of internal storage in addition to that SD card slot. The camera is also dust and drop proof. The battery is charged and the camera content can be transferred via an integrated USB connector to your computer. Still shots are only 1MP and it will record 720p HD at up to 30 fps. The rear LCD is 2-inches wide and it has 2x digital zoom. The camera with a 4GB SDHC card is $119.95 or $99.95 for the camera alone and it will launch this fall.

The lenses are f3.2 and there’s 5-megapixel still capture alongside the Full HD video recording. An LED flash light is mounted underneath the lens array, too, there’s an optical zoom, and recording is supported in either 2D or 3D, as you’d expect.

Storage is via SD card, and while there’s no touchscreen there’s a reasonably straightforward little joystick on the back which falls neatly under your thumb. No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

Toshiba also unveiled the X200 and X400 camcorders. All three of the new camcorders can record in 1080p video resolution and use only SD cards to store the video. The X200 has 12x optical zoom and the X400 has 23x zoom. Price details are not offered right now, but the cameras are expected to land in Q4 for Europe. I would expect to see them in the US as well. The cameras record in 1920 x 1080 format at 30 fps in H.264 HD format.

The three cameras all have a 1.5-inch LCD and electronic image stabilization. The sensors are 5MP units and they can shoot still photos at up to 16MP resolution. The Clip has 10x optical zoom and all come with software for editing and uploading video. I suspect these will all be relatively cheap offerings.

[via NexGadget]

The 3D LCD on the side is 3.5-inches and has a high 1,152,000-dot resolution and uses parallax barrier tech to provide the glasses-free 3D love. The camera has a double 3MOS system inside for superb color and detail reproduction. Each of the sensors has an effective pixel count of 6.57 MP and are mounted independently right and left inside the camera. This is what gives the 3D capability. The images recorded are full HD. The viewfinder for the camera is a 0.45-inch LVF.

The lenses on the camera are f1.5 and are ideal for shooting in low light conditions. The lenses also include a Nano Surface Coating, which is a first on a Panasonic camcorder. The coating reduces glare for better image quality. The lens is a 10x optical zoom unit in 3D and has 12x optical zoom in 2D mode. In 2D mode, the camera also offers HYBRID OIS to correct handshake and in 3D mode it has POWER OIS. The camera also features integrated mics for recording Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. There are also a pair of XLR inputs with 48-V phantom power for external mics. Video storage is to a SD card with dual slots available for longer recording times. Pricing and availability are unknown at this time.