Archive for the ‘Gear’ Category
The just announced Canon T2i is on paper, the perfect “goldilocks” camera, borrowing the cutting edge technology from its much more expensive siblings the Canon 7D and Canon 5D Mark II in a ultra affordable package for aspiring photographers and filmmakers. How affordable? How about half the price of a 7D and a third of the price of a 5D Mark II?
What can this puppy do you ask? Try 1080 24/25/30P, 18 megapixels, 50 and 60 fps in 720P mode, +5/-5 in HDR (high dynamic range), HDMI out and SDXC memory card compatibility? Imagine getting a 7D for $799 body only, ignore a few high-end features they’ve stripped away like the 7D’s weather sealing, and you can appreciate what a gift from the Canon gods this announcement is for shutterbugs and even aspiring filmmakers. Not surprisingly, much of the buzz has been from 7D owners wondering why Canon gave away the farm. If you’ve been waiting on the sidelines for the perfect “sweet spot” DSLR that shoots fantastic photos and film-like video, wait no longer.
Behold the P.U.M.A., or the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project. Laughably ridiculous, GM and Segway has just announced their collaboration of a souped-up wheelchair that can go 35 MPH, pumped by a lithium battery.
Yes, folks, this is their idea of innovation. We’d rather have an electric tuk tuk any day. No word on whether this will make it into production, but sadly we’re pretty sure some of that federal bail out money (from you and I) is going into this thing. We knew the people at Segway were a little odd, but GM, how did you get us involved in this mess? Either way, we can confidently say its dead on arrival.
802.11n and FM Radio. Speculation is building about features that may make it onto the third iteration of the iPhone. According to 9to5mac.com, the third iPhone will not only feature 802.11n support, but the new Broadcom BCM4329 wireless chip could also theoretically receive and send information through FM radio signals – without external adaptors. Apple could still keep this feature dormant however.
3.2 megapixel camera. According to InformationWeek.com and DigiTimes.com, Apple is buying not one but two camera sensors, one 3.2 megapixel CMOS and a 5-megapixel NOT for the iPhone but a soon to be introduced new product launched later in the year.
Unfortunately no word on whether they are going to add a flash, which is sorely missing in our opinion. Imagine yourself at a dark bar with a few friends – try to snap that pic without a flash and see how good it looks on Facebook. A little light goes along away. We love our iPhone, but the camera is one of its weakest features – especially compared to overachievers like the Samsung Omnia HD.
Sure the newly unveiled HDR-TG5V is a svelt looking number, with a decent feature set including built in GPS, NAVTEQ maps (for geo-tagging), 10X optical zoom and a 2.7″ LCD, but give us a break, the suggested $1,000 price tag is far too high considering its 1080p is running off tiny little sensors. This thing might as well be a $500 point and shooter or a hybrid DSLR like Sony’s much better valued DSC-HX1.
The 1080p and schwaggy feature set just isn’t good enough to command that kind of price. Unless of course you fancy yourself a James Bond who likes his toys small and overpriced. Our advice, buy a $300 point and shoot that does 720P HD video, like the excellent Canon SD970.
File this under gadget rumors, but it does make perfect sense and merges nicely with our own secret fantasies of a DSLR-based camcorder. Now that the Canon 5D Mark II and even the new Rebel T1i can shoot 1080P video, buddying filmmakers have been clamoring for Canon to pump out the specs (24 fps is missing on both Canons). Using the DSLR’s sensors and time tested lenses, filmmakers are able to get depth of field and of all that extra mojo that makes an image “film-like”.
According to CanonRumors.com, this new HD camcorder will take the shape of Canon’s flagship XL H1 (pictured) and is reportedly spec’d to the gills, with 1080/24/30/60 as well as 720p/30/60 and 56Mbit/s to MPEG-4. There’s also auto-focus and creative manual focus alongside the usual prosumer camcorder goodies. This is looking good, and if Canon can keep the price near Sony’s XDCAM EX-1 or bigger brother EX-3’s territory, they’ll have the sweetest new HD Camcorder short of a non-vaporized Red Scarlet.
Available April 2nd, Dell is already taking orders for the update to the popular Mini 9. HDMI, 16:9 aspect ratio, generous 10.1″ display (largest ‘netbook’ size), fun colors, American company. At dell.com
Rejoice camera geeks – the days of a DSLR for your still photos and a camcorder for your video, are nearly over. Introducing three superb cameras ready to handle both tasks with equal aplomb.
Price Range: $500 MSRP
Model: Sony DSC-HX1
Highlights: 1080 30 fps, 1-button panoramic mode, excellent reviews on the blogosphere of both picture and video quality. Missing mic input, not Full HD, no 24 fps, but sweet $500 pricepoint seems like quite a bargain to our video loving eyes.
Arriving: April, 2009
Sony DSC-HX1
Price Range: $1,500 MSRP
Model: Lumix DMG-GH1
Highlights: 1080 24p or 720P at 30, mic input, interchangeable lenses, Canon 5D Mark II-like features at half the price.
Arriving: June, 2009
Lumix DMG-GH1: 1080/24p, interchangeable lenses.
Price Range: $3,500 MSRP
Model: Canon 5D Mark II
Highlights: The real deal, game changer, with full-frame 21 megapixel still camera and innovative video recording at 1080 30 fps, mic input and best-of-class footage.
Arriving: Already Available
Honorable Mentions:
Nikon D90 DSLR – the first DSLR to offer 720/ 24P HD video recording, which is quite beautiful paired with Nikon lenses.
Canon SD970 – the $350 point and shoot features 720 HD video recording and 12 megapixels of Canon goodness.
Before you run off and buy that next point and shoot, make sure it has HD video. By HD we mean at least 720P, which the likes of Youtube and Facebook now support. Canon’s latest announcements, which also include a hybrid super point and shoot called the SX1 IS even features 1080P video recording. Not quite the Canon 5D Mark II, which is a full-on 21 megapixel full-frame DSLR that also shoots 1080P, the SX1 IS is also a fraction of the cost, at around $599.
For those on more of a point and shoot budget, Canon is offering three new flavors, based on price point. There’s the Canon SX200, Canon SD970 and lower-priced Canon SD960, which despite varying specs, like zoom power and LCD screen size, all produce 720P HD video. Like Goldilocks, we like the middle of the road Canon SD970 (pictured), with its 2.8″ LCD, 720P and pretty colors. It should be available for around $280. Sony and everyone else is headed this way, and even some cellphones are starting to offer this 720P video (Samsung Omnia), so don’t spend the dough unless the HD flows.
While we readily conclude that the new LG 3G watch phone isn’t quite ready for prime time, it is perhaps the most promising version to date. The LG-GD910 “wrist-phone” supports both 3G and HSDPA which means its capable of fast downloads (up to 7.2 Mbps claimed via HSDPA). The 1.43-inch color LCD is a touchscreen, with a video camera integrated for video recording or conferencing. Other fancy features include Bluetooth, MP3 playback and voice dialing/speech recognition. Still you may not actually plunk down hard-earned cash for this latest Dick Tracey phone because the styling is well, so janky. What about some leather, chrome and styling beyond Casio-style calculator phone?
We also suggest filling the entire frame with the screen so that touching buttons can actually be done with human adult fingers instead of a pinky or stylus. There’s also no mention of whether it has a speakerphone and no word yet on pricing. Still, with Bluetooth and a Jawbone-type ear piece, you’ll be able to remove an entire gadget from your slim-fit Levis, and for some of us, that’s a plus. Here’s to hoping LG and others keep working on it. The idea hasn’t been around for over 50 years for nothing. For now, it’s strictly for gadget geeks but perhaps form will eventually meet function sometime in the new year.
The LG-GD910 is set to debut at CES in January and will go on sale firstin Europe and Korea.
iLuv i9500 iPod/iPhone Sound System has high end looks for a sound dock. The vertical design allows for 4 CDs, and the i9500 can also handle SD cards and USB cards. There’s alarm clock functionality, AM/FM radio and 45 watts of power pumping into two tallish speakers and a sizable subwoofer. Most of all, we were taken with the high-end fit and finish of the design, which will debut along with pricing, at CES.
