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HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #305 - Digital Camera Quest | |
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By The HT Guys Braden Russell and Ara Derderian Posted on August 25, 2008 Category: General Interest |
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Today's Show:
On a recent family vacation to Sequoia National Park, Braden's trusty digital camera finally died. Sure losing an old gadget is great because you know you get to replace it with the latest and greatest, but it certainly isn't ideal when you're in one of the most scenic places on the planet and happen to be the only tourist with a circa 1990 disposable camera. Since the newest digital cameras also allow for HD video capture, we thought the quest for a new camera would make nice content for the show.
Digital Camera Quest
Requirements for the new camera:
- High Definition video capture
- Small
- SD memory card
"Nice to have" features for the new camera
- Low cost
- Durable
- Direct USB connection to computer
- Charge via USB
Options:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K, $276
- 9-megapixel resolution
- 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens; Face Detection
- Captures images to SD memory cards
- 720p high-definition motion pictures (1280 x 720 at 30 fps)
- Direct USB interface
- 4 1/2 stars at Amazon (160 reviews)
- Uses QuickTime Motion JPEG for video capture rather than MPEG4
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35K, $280
- 10-megapixel resolution
- 4x wide-angle optical zoom; Mega Optical Image Stabilize
- Captures images to SD memory cards
- 720p high-definition motion pictures (1280 x 720 at 30 fps)
- Direct USB interface
- 4 1/2 stars at Amazon (12 reviews)
- Uses QuickTime Motion JPEG for video capture rather than MPEG4
Samsung NV24HD, $271
- 10-megapixel resolution for high-quality prints;
- 3.6x optical zoom; ultra-wide angle 24mm Schneider lens
- Capture high-definition 720p video (1280 x 720 at 30 fps)
- Capture images to SD cards
- Videos recorded to mpeg4 (H.264)
- Direct USB interface
- 3 1/2 stars at Amazon (16 reviews)
- Lower user rating at Amazon
Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD, $299 (pre-order until Sep. 20)
- 10-megapixel resolution
- 15x optical zoom; wide-angle lens
- 720p HD compatible video (1280 x 720 at 30 fps)
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards
- Direct USB interface
- Records movies in MPEG4 (ISO standard)
- Larger form factor
- Not out yet, so no user feedback
Sanyo Xacti HD700, $389
- Records high-definition digital video and 7 MP digital still images
- 5x HD zoom lens; 2.7-inch widescreen LCD
- In-camera editing; compatible with iMovie '08
- HDMI high-definition output; compatible with SD/SDHC memory cards
- 2 hour and 46 minutes of 720p high-definition video on a single 8GB card
- Expensive
- More of a video camera than a still camera
- USB via docking station
Know of a good option for a digital camera that records HD video? Let us know!
Posted by The HT Guys, August 25, 2008 10:58 PM
More from The HT Guys
About The HT GuysThe HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios.Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater. |
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