Roberts Raw!

› archive for ‘Video’

Panasonic to Debut 3D Conversion Lens for G-Series Shooters

Not got quite enough scratch shoved under the mattress to buy one of those 3D-ready camcorders Panasonic’s talking up? We feel you. Did you purchase one of Panasonic’s very nifty Micro-Four Thirds G-series cameras with a good video mode, like the GH1 or G2? Yeah? Well, boy-howdy, you’re in luck! In addition to the camcorder, Panasonic is promising a 3D lens converter for its G-series mounts by the end of this year.

For those scratching their heads and looking blankly at their screen, the idea is the lens splits one image into two, the same way we’d see it with two eyes. So, the left- and right-halves of your sensor are recording slightly different versions of the same scene. You lose half your horizontal pixels, but you gain 3D. Ta-da!

Now, while any Micro Four Thirds shooter could mount this (Olympus’ Pen series uses the same mount), at this point a lot of the functionality will be in the firmware, so until we hear anything otherwise, we’ll assume this a Panasonic-only thing, k?



Panasonic’s New HDC-SDT750 Will Let You Record 3D Home Videos

Need a 3MOS HD cacorder with 5.1 channel audio recording? Did you just yawn? Fine! How about a 3MOS 1080p camcorder with 5.1 channel audio, 12x optical Leica zoom, and an included 3D conversion lens so you can record all your memories in 3D and play them back on your new-fangled 3D television? Happy now?

Good, because that’s exactly what Panasonic is announcing with the rolls-off-the-tongue HDC-SDT750. It’ll shoot split HD video (so, the final HD videos are 960×1080 pixels). Or take the conversion lens off and shoot boring old 1080p, see if we care.

The other features that make this a product and not just a gimmicky press release mention things like a 3 touchscreen, a manual control ring providing quick access to focus, zoo, iris, exposure, what-have-you, time lapse intervals of 1 second, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute, or two minutes, a Focus Microphone made from five ‘highly directional microphones’ to capture dare-we-say panoramic surround sound,and of course 3MOS recording with a total of over 7 million pixels recording your red, blue, and green channels independently.

Word is suggesting an October release date, and a street tag of about $1,400. Whether that’s stiff or a steal probably depends on how excited you got when I said “3D conversion lens included.”

And look, a press release after the jump, for those who thirst and yearn for the very details of the cosmos:

read more



Roberts Now Carries Kodak Pocket Camcorder

See this bit of sexiness right here? That’s the Kodak Zi8 (go ahead, click it and see it larger). To not dance delicately around the issue, it’s Kodak’s answer to the wildly popular Flip video camera. It’s got one-touch recording, full 1080p HD capture, a 2.5″ screen, flip-out USB plug, streamlined uploading to YouTube, you name it.

It’s also got 4x digital zoom, takes 5mp 16:9 still images, and records to SD/SDHC cards. And, in macro mode it has a minimum focusing distance of about 6″.

And, for right now, you can pick one up in a special Roberts kit with the wireless remote control and a free Tamrac ouch for, oh, $129.97. That’s 50 bucks less than Kodak’s MSRP for the camera by itself!

Seriously, this is a huge deal. If you need a quick, easy way to record videos for Facebook and YouTube, well, you’re looking at it. But, the kits are really, really limited, so, uh, act fast?



Engadget gets a hands-on with the NEX-VG10 interchangeable lens camcorder

In pretty much no time after the information came out, Engadget had the chance to fondle up Sony’s next NEX entry -the NEX-VG10 camcorder. While I think they whine a bit about having to rack the lens manually to zoom -it’s an 18-200mm objective lens, boys. I suppose it’d be nice to have a motor do it, but keeping it quiet for AF during video recording seems like it’d be a lot harder. Anyway, check ‘em out on the source link and clear your inter-tubes so you can watch their HD footage on youtube.



Canon Announces VIXIA HF M32

So, while maybe not quite as exciting as Sony’s NEX-VG10 announcement, Canon has also brought us a new camcorder today, the VIXIA HF M32. And, while it may not be as ground-breaking as Sony’s, Canon does bring significantly more toucan to the table. Which is all right by me, I rather like toucans.

An update to its solid VIXIA line, the M32 puts in a 64GB flash drive, straps on a 15x zoom, and has all the other usual things like a touchscreen, HD recording, etc. It is compatible with SDXC, and Eye-Fi, so, you have some card options there.

Price is being quoted at about a grand, also out September(ish). Engadget has the full press release, which is among the shorter I’ve seen lately.



Sony Announces NEX-VG10 Camcorder, Makes Derek Choke On Coffee

OK, so, make no mistake here, we’re all very interested in Sony’s kinda revolutionary new camcorder. It combines things we like, like big ol’ Sony Alpha sensors, BIONZ processors, and the ability to take those new E-Mount lenses that we’re coming to be duly impressed with on their NEX-3 and NEX-5 still shooters. So don’t get us wrong, this is cool.

But, it’s hard to read a statement like this one from the press release and not have a bit of a laugh:

“The NEX-VG10 takes Sony’s Handycam line to the next level by allowing unprecedented artistic expression that isn’t possible with conventional consumer video cameras,” said Andy Bubala, director of Sony’s camcorder business. “With this camcorder, video enthusiasts and photographers can now capture cinematic full HD movies and premium stereo sound.”

Yeee-up, way to call it Sony, tackling those impossible things like premium sound and HD. Certainly those were way more difficult to bring to a consumer level than say, insanely shallow depth of field relative to even most professional camcorders, or the comparatively affordable flexibility of the well-made, sharp, and reassuringly metal-clad E lenses. For reals, yo.

We jest. We do. Sony’s been cranking out nothing but stellar things for a bit now, and they were already one of the very best in consumer camcorders. This can only be a remarkable device once it finally gets here, and if the still equivalents are any indication, it’s performance will float somewhere around “magic-like.”

Oh, and it’ll take Memory stick or SDHC/SDXC. And did we mention full HD video and premium sound? Yeah?

Sony’s saying “September” and around “$2,000″ in their press release. We’ll see what happens.



Panasonic’s Micro-Four Thirds Camcorder A Little More Real

Last seen a while back as just a concept rendering, Panasonic’s Micro Four-Thirds camcorder the AG-AF100 has resurfaced today with a short PDF outlining the most general of planned features and including a new product shot with a bit more real-world detail worked in. What’s in there? Well, it’s going to have two SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots, which’ll let you hold up to 12 hours at the very highest quality setting. That highest quality setting will be AVHCD PH mode, if you’re interested.

It’ll record 1080:59.94i/50i/29.97p/23.98p r 720:29.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/23.98p. It’ll have HD-SDI out, and XLR 2 channel input. And yeah, it’ll have a 4/3 sensor, which while often criticized in the still sphere for being smaller than comparable APS-C sounterparts is down-right huge compared to video-standard 2/3″ sensors. It’ll accept any lens the rest of the Micro Four-Third family does (native M4/3 lenses, and basically anything else with some form of adapter.)

Apparently the Panny link for the PDF keeps going down. DPReview is hosting a copy, and we’ll host one here, too. Click the image below.



Looking For a Good Starter Kit?

So, we at Roberts know how hard it can be when you’re just getting going in DSLRs. You need a camera, and a bag, and an extra battery, and the kit lens usually isn’t enough, it all adds up quickly.

So, we’ve put together a special kit to help you out. We started out with the Canon EOS Rebel T2i, an 18 megapixel shooter with an impressive ISO range, high-rez LCD screen, and 1080p HD video recording. Instead of the usual Canon 18-55mm IS, we’ve paired it with a Sigma 18-250mm f3.5 – 5.6 DC OS HSM, which has over four times the reach of the kit lens and has built-in optical stabilization and hypersonic focus motors. Then, we’re throwing in a bag, extra battery, UV filter, and HDMI cable. Just add your own memory card (SD/SDHC, not included) and you’re ready to get shooting.

And there’s a video:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j2YI3B7LXQ



Panasonic Takes m4/3 To It’s Logical Video Conclusion

See that sexy beast there? That’s Panasonic’s new AF100 camcorder. It’s neat in that it uses the Micro Four Thirds sensor and mount, but, you know, dedicated for video. Now, given that the GH1 was a surprising success with videographers, and increasingly Panasonic’s m4/3 cameras have been getting a rep for being among the best designed hybrids for video usage, this really does seem like a logical growth of the system. And, one I did not expect to see years ago when I bought into the 4/3 DSLR platform, I gotta say.

Details are a bit sparse right now, but if you’re looking for a light, cheap way to get some apparently quite good video results, it’ll be worth waiting to see what this has to offer later this year.



Canon Brings Pro Services To The Videographer Masses

Spend more time behind a Canon camcorder than a Canon DSLR? Well, good news, yesterday Canon announced it would be expanding its pro services to “Pro Videographers, Cinematographers And Filmmakers.” Do you feel a warm swelling in the chest? Good.

So, they’re offering the same three tiers: silver, gold, and platinum. And you can qualify for a free silver membership, including a “welcome kit” of unspecified contents, access to the pro services hotline, and 20% off repairs. And a chance to meet Yukon Cornelius, but it’ll be better if you can find someone with a gold membership to go with you for that.

(That last part was a joke, by the way, claymation characters are not, to my knowledge, included at any service level.)

Back to seriousness, if you’re a working Canon video pro, it’s worth at least glancing over the three tiers and seeing if any of them are for you. Full details on them can be found in Canon’s press release, and for that I shuttle you off to Imaging Resource. Hit the link below.




Switch To Mobile Site