• Record crisp HD video directly to a removable SDHC memory card
• Genuine Canon 10x HD video lens; SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer
• 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording; 24p Cinema Mode, 30p Progressive Mode
• Built-in 8.0-megapixel digital camera delivers stunning quality photos
• HDMI terminal for easy, one-cable connectivity to your HDTV

Canon’s top-of-the-line, new VIXIA HF S100 Flash Memory
camcorder gives you everything you expect from Canon. It has a
powerful, new 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS Image sensor plus
Canon’s latest DIGIC DV III Image Processor. Add a Genuine Canon
10x HD Video Lens and the highest bit rate in AVCHD, and you’ve got
a camcorder that delivers spectacularly realistic HD video and photos.
You can record to removable SDHC memory cards for quick and easy
sharing, also enjoy fast, silent start-up and operation. The Canon
VIXIA HF S100 camcorder lets you shoot like a pro with assist
functions including new zebra patterns, color peaking, a Custom Key
and Dial, and shooting modes, including 24p Cinema Mode for video
that looks like a big-screen movie. The VIXIA HF S100 incorporates
some of Canon’s most exciting new functions, including Genuine
Canon Face Detection for perfect focus and exposure, even with faces
looking down or sideways, Pre-Record that captures video 3 seconds
before you press the re

Rating: (out of 77 reviews)

List Price: $ 1,099.00

Price: $ 690.00

Canon DC410 DVD Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom
Introducing the new Canon DC410 DVD camcorder that
makes every video you shoot great. With the new
Canon DC410 DVD camcorder, it’s…

Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder (Black) – 2010 MODEL
With the Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, you’ll find that high definition video has hit new levels of convenience,…

Canon BP-827 Lithium Ion Battery Pack for Vixia HG, HF S & HF M Camcorders
Canon Battery Pack BP-827 for the HG20 and HG21 Camcorder. Also works with VIXIA HF S10 Dual Flash Memory and the VIXIA HG20 Hard …

Canon BP-819 Lithium Ion Battery Pack for HF10, HF100 HF S & HF M Camcorders
Take advantage of uninterrupted power with the BP-819 power pack. Times vary depending on camcorder….

Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder (Red) – 2010 MODEL
With the Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, you’ll find that high definition video has hit new levels of convenience,…

Canon VIXIA HFS100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom – 2009 MODEL is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

Ten years ago the only video cameras that were available were the analog type that were so big and bulky that they had to be carted around on a trolley while professionals used them to shoot video for television. Camcorders have come a long way, they are smaller, slimmer, user-friendly and have tons of options that are available on many different models. Also with today’s digital technology comes the digital camcorder, which makes shooting and editing a movie a simple and fun activity for many people.

When buying a camcorder it is important to choose one that fits with you. Store counters are filled with a great variety of brands and models each with an array of features and formats. It is important to understand these features when buying a camcorder and buying the right camcorder which fits your purpose and budget.

The following guide to buying a camcorder details these features and will give you the guidance needed to buy the right camcorder the first time.

While analog camcorders still exist, digital camcorders are the camcorders of the day. Digital camcorders provide a superb recording quality by recording audio and video digitally without any loss in quality. In fact the quality far outweighs analog in yielding excellent color and clarity with 500 lines of resolution. And while digital camcorders are more expensive than analog, the price difference has shrunk enough in the past couple of years to make it very worthwhile to purchase the digital type.

Digital camcorders display recorded images by using the fantastic flat LCD screen feature. These screens can be rotated about 290 degrees along the vertical line, and horizontally about 90 degrees. These screens have made digital camcorders very popular with consumers since the recording process becomes so easy and fun when you are able to see what is being recorded on the LCD screen in real time. Also it is important to note that the DVD camcorders LCD displays a list of the recorded scenes for quick, easy searching.

When buying a camcorder you want to get an LCD screen that is as large as you can afford. The larger the screen the more you can see what you are recording in real time. One thing to keep in mind is the larger the screen the more battery power it will draw.

Another feature of LCD screens is the viewfinder, which is intended for shooting in bright sunlight and helps to save power. The panel size of LCD screens is presented in inches ranging from 1.8 to 3.5 inch screens

Camcorders have two types of zoom capabilities, digital and optical, and many camcorders come with both. The digital zoom enlarges images by magnifying the actual pixels. The finished image is thus affected and lacks clear definition. Pixilation is the term that defines this process of blurring. This option can be turned off on most models of camcorders and should be for optimal image quality.

The optical zoom feature actually utilizes the movement of the lens. The focal length is changed and image that passes through the lens is captured with optical zoom. Higher optical zoom ratings give better image quality.

Very often the audio that is recorded with your camcorder is just as important as the video. Mostly camcorders have the same audio quality. Some problems may occur, such as recording of tape motor noise, no sound at all, noise from hand movement and even times when the camcorder will record the wrong thing. The best thing you can do when buying a camcorder is to look for options, and make sure that the camcorder has a microphone jack to which you can attach an external microphone as opposed to relying on the camcorders internal microphone. An external microphone will be of great benefit at those times when you are recording something like a concert, wedding or graduation speech because the external microphone will allow you adjust the channels to fit with the sound levels you are recording.

There are several media formats available with digital camcorders. When buying a camcorder this feature is very important to look at and choose the right format that fits your needs and budget. This is the feature which determines how the video is recorded and what kind of storage device is used.

DVD Camcorders – Before discussing the actual DVD media camcorders, first let’s take a look at the different types of DVD formats of which there are three: DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM. DVD-R is a recordable DVD format with a write-once only capability. DVD-RW is a recordable DVD but it allows rewrites and so provides unlimited writing to same disk. DVD-RAM – DVD Random Access Memory is a DVD disc, which can be recorded with information, erased, and recorded again. DVD-RAM is considered a highly reliable format, as the discs have built-in error control and a defect management system. Therefore, DVD-RAM is perceived to be better than the other DVD technologies.

There are two versions of DVD camcorders. The first one works with rewritable DVD-RAM discs requiring a DVD player with RAM playback or a PC with a DVD-RAM drive. The second works by using the more popular DVD-RW and DVD-R discs that work with most ordinary DVD players and allow for actual recording of images to the DVD disk. A great feature of this recording format is the ability to edit in-camera and with repeated playbacks the disk does not degrade.

MiniDV Camcorders are types of camcorder that store recorded data to MiniDV cassettes. The video and sound quality is exceptionally good. The MiniDV camcorders are small, sleek and stylish because of the small size of MiniDV cassettes.

MicroMV digital camcorders use tapes that are much smaller than MiniDV tapes and also use more of compression technology. The MicroMV is compressed much more that the MiniDV and records very high quality video as well as possess the capability of full digital editing. The MicroMV is also very compact, lightweight and ultra small.

Flash Media Camcorders record images to an internal Flash drive and Flash Memory cards. Flash Memory cards include: SD, Compact Flash, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo.

HDD Camcorders, or hard disk drive camcorders are compact and record in MPEG-2 video as well as other encoded formats and recorded data is stored to an internal hard disk. The upside of this format is the ability to store huge amounts of video data by using compression. The video is saved to the internal hard disc within the camcorder and then downloaded to a computer and burnt onto to a DVD. The HDD camcorder has no moving parts and so there is less chance of mechanical breakdown.

Digital 8 Camcorders record digital video to Hi-8 videotapes. Digital 8 is a consumer digital videotape format developed by Sony, and introduced in 1999. Digital8 equipment uses the same videocassettes as analog Hi8 equipment, but differs in that the audio/video signal is encoded digitally. Picture quality is fairly good and this format allows playback of analog videotapes recorded on Hi-8 camcorders.

VHS Camcorders are types of camcorders that record video digitally to VHS videotapes. Picture quality is good and this format allows playback of analog videotapes.

HDV Camcorders, are the newest standard in high definition recording and viewing. High Definition Video camcorders usually utilize MiniDV tapes or Hard Disk Drives which yields a full high definition 1920 by 1080 resolution. This resolution provides a superb high-def video picture quality, which looks great on a high definition television. When buying a camcorder with this capability it is important to know that for editing high-def video a computer is required with a fast processor and lots of memory to meet the requirements of video editing software.

Hitachi has manufactured the world’s first full HD digital camcorder which both records and saves image data in the Full HD format on both the hard drive and on Blu-ray Discs, which are the next standard for recordable media.

When buying a camcorder a key feature to consider is built in stabilization. Unless you are shooting video with the camcorder sitting on a tripod, which most home users do not do for everyday shoots, the hand must be stable while holding the camera to avoid image distortion caused by unsteadiness or jerking of the hand. This feature helps to fix these errors caused by jerking of the camera in the hand while shooting.

The stabilization feature comes in two types, Optical and Electronic. Superior to the electronic technique, the Optical Image Stabilization technique is where a part of the lens is moved in the camcorder to compensate for the shake.

With the Electronic Image Stabilization technique the camcorders internal computer shifts the image electronically in the opposite direction of the shake. This is achieved by slightly zooming in on the image. Poor electronic techniques can cause loss of sharpness or resolution.

Controls and Camcorder Size. When buying a camcorder you do not want to compromise usability for size. While a small camcorder maybe cute and convenient to carry, it is important to make sure that it is also user-friendly. You want to be able to reach and use the controls of a camcorder with ease while recording, if the camcorder is so small that you cannot easily access the control buttons the recording experience will be hindered and it will also become a hassle.

The battery a digital camcorder uses is also a vital feature to consider when buying a camcorder. Does the camcorder come with a rechargeable battery? How long recording time is available on a fully charged battery? The best option is to purchase a camcorder which has a rechargeable battery. Generally different models of camcorders have different battery capacity which allow for varying amount of recording time on a fully charged battery.

The two most common rechargeable batteries are the NiCd and the Lithium Ion. The lithiums are usually preferred because they take a charge quicker, are lighter than others and have a longer life span. Most full charges give a battery 6 hours of life.

The brand of camcorder will of course play a role when buying a camcorder. There are plenty of manufacturers of digital camcorders including but not limited to Canon, Panasonic, Sony Hitachi, JVC and Sharp. Canon has some of the best high-def machines on that market today, JVC has a couple of great budget models and Sony is best known for their handycam, which provides superb picture quality in compact machine.

In the end, the most important factor to consider when buying a camcorder is your personal use, the features you desire and price. Ratings of brands are available and the list of key features and specifications should be looked at to determine if the brand and model fits your needs and budget.

Digital camcorders are not cheap, in fact they are often thought of as a hefty investment that could range anywhere between 0 to over 00 retail price. Something to consider is that in todays world with the Internet providing a stage where millions of sellers and merchants compete for your business it is easy to save significant amounts of money by avoiding retail merchants and purchasing discount digital camcorders.

Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 HD Camcorder (Silver)
The new Sony® Webbie HD™ camera is an ultra-portable camera that lets you capture brilliant high-definition MP4 video and crisp…

Sanyo VPC-FH1A Full HD Video and 8 MP Digital Photos (Black)
The Sanyo Xacti FH1 is truly the benchmark in high definition, offering 1920 x 1080 pixels, and 60 fields per second to record cry…

Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (Black)
Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera Black…

Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Pink)
Never leave home without a third-eye again! The Flip Ultra digital camcorder fits squarely in your hand, tucks behind your car’s v…

Canon VIXIA HF S200 Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
The Canon VIXIA HF S200 blurs the line between consumer and professional. It’s got pro features like native 24p Full HD recording,…

Samsung F40 Ultra Zoom Camcorder (Red)
With its incredible 65x intelli-Zoom (52x Optical Zoom), the Samsung SMX-F40 series give you the ability to bring distant images i…

Simple Guide to Buying a Camcorder is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

• Records up to 12 hours of crisp high definition video to a 32GB internal flash drive or directly to two removable SD memory cards
• Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
• Canon 1/2.6″ 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
• Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

Canon’s VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, with a 32GB internal flash drive and two SD memory card slots, offers Canon’s most sophisticated feature set to date – blurring the line between consumer and professional. Canon’s superlative proprietary imaging technologies help deliver video and 8.0 megapixel photos with incredible detail and lifelike color. Touch & Track allows you to achieve sharp focus and precise exposure for any subject, simply by touching the generous 3.5″ High Resolution (922,000 dot) Touch Panel LCD. Native 24p Mode perfectly matches the frame rate of film. And 5.1-Channel Surround Sound* ensures your audio complements the stunning realism of your video.

Rating: (out of 13 reviews)

List Price: $ 1,099.00

Price: Too low to display

Canon FS300 Flash Memory Camcorder (Silver) – 2010 MODEL
The Canon FS300 Flash Memory camcorder is among the most affordable ways to get stunning video in a light, compact, and very user-…

Canon VIXIA HF M30 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
The Canon VIXIA HF M30 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder features an 8GB internal flash drive and an SD memory card slot in an ultra-sle…

Canon VIXIA HF R100 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
With the Canon VIXIA HF R100 Flash Memory Camcorder, you’ll find that high definition video has hit new levels of convenience, eas…

Canon VIXIA HF M31 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
The Canon VIXIA HF M31 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder features a 32GB internal flash drive and an SD memory card slot in an ultra-sle…

Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

• Waterproof up to 10 ft. (3 m)
• Full 1080p HD video
• Electronic image stabilization
• Brilliant 2.0 in. color display
• Capture 5 megapixel HD stills (16:9)

Heads up, adrenaline junkies. The KODAK PLAYSPORT has as much appetite for adventure as you do. And it’s not afraid to get wet. This audacious little camera can plunge up to 10 ft under water and capture the entire experience in full 1080p HD. And you don’t need to worry about blurry footage when things get a little shaky. With built-in image stabilization, the KODAK PLAYSPORT will stay steady as a rock. From the waves, to the slopes, to the mud-soaked trails, this baby was made for the extremes. Show them what you’re made ofin HD
Take the plunge with the waterproof digital video camera capable of shooting up to 10 ft under water Go anywhere rugged design enables full 1080p HD video recording in just about any environment Start bragging with amazing 5 MP, 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures Make a colorful statement
The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera was designed with you in mind, right down to the colors it comes in. We took cues from the environment—from nature, to climat

Rating: (out of 391 reviews)

List Price: $ 149.00

Price: Too low to display

Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P High Definition Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Silver)
The Action HD GVS allows you to capture stunning HD 1080P (1440 x 1080 – 16:9 aspect ratio) video at 30 frames per second with adv…

Panasonic HDCTM15 16GB Full HD Camcorder
HD images contain 6x as much information as standard images. HDTV has 1,080 horizontal scan lines, SDTV has 480. That translates i…

Toshiba Camileo S20 Full-HD Pocket Camcorder (Silver/Black)
The S20 fits in every pocket! At 2/3 thin and 3.5 oz this tiny video camera is about the same size as a Smartphone and can go wher…

Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (Black)
Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera Black…

Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera (Black) NEWEST MODEL is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

• Records up to 10 hours of video to a 16GB internal flash drive or directly to removable SD memory cards
• Ultra-Sleek, Compact and Lightweight Design (7.9 oz)
• Genuine Canon 41x Advanced Zoom
• Canon DIGIC DV II Image Processor
• Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

The Canon FS31 Dual Flash Memory camcorder is lightweight, compact, and user-friendly. It records stunning video, and does it all at a very affordable price. With Canon-exclusive features such 41x Advanced Zoom, a DiGiC DV II image processor, Quick Charge, and Canon’s new Dynamic IS, you’ve got a flash memory camcorder that’s both hard to beat and unmistakably Canon.

Rating: (out of 2 reviews)

List Price: $ 349.00

Price: Too low to display

Canon has a well-known and highly-regarded reputation for optical excellence, advanced image processing, superb performance and technological innovation, built on our legendary photographic and broadcast television lenses. Based on that experience, we bring the latest in high definition camcorders. The Canon 3569B001 VIXIA HF S100 Flash Memory HD Digital Camcorder is one such example.

Canon DC410 DVD Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom
Introducing the new Canon DC410 DVD camcorder that
makes every video you shoot great. With the new
Canon DC410 DVD camcorder, it’s…

Canon XH-A1S 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III
For the professionals who require a smaller, lighter weight HD camcorder but who won’t give up capability and performance, Canon o…

Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
RE)CANON GL2 DIGITAL CAMCORDER KIT The Canon GL2 (like its predecessor, the GL1, and its big brother, the XL1) is helping to blur …

Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder (Black) – 2010 MODEL
With the Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, you’ll find that high definition video has hit new levels of convenience,…

Canon VIXIA FS31 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL Reviews is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

• Easy-to-use, pocket-sized camcorder featuring one-touch recording and digital zoom
• Captures 120 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
• Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch FlipShare software
• Built-in FlipShare software lets you easily email videos, edit individual clips, and upload video to sharing sites like YouTube and MySpace
• Large 2-inch color LCD screen to play back and delete videos

The Flip Ultra camcorder makes it easier than ever to shoot and share video. Ultra features Flip Video’s signature shoot-and-share simplicity: just power on and press record to start capturing high-quality video in seconds.

Rating: (out of 457 reviews)

List Price: $ 149.00

Price: Too low to display

Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Yellow)
Never leave home without a third-eye again! The Flip Ultra digital camcorder fits squarely in your hand, tucks behind your car’s v…

Flip SlideHD Camcorder, 4 Hours (White) NEWEST VERSION
Shoot and Share Video Camera with 3-inch High Resolution Touchscreen…

Flip Video Battery Pack for 2nd Generation Ultra & UltraHD
The Flip Video Battery Pack lets you keep your Flip Ultra (2nd Generation) or Flip UltraHD Camcorder charged and ready to shoot v…

Flip Video AWC2T Underwater Case for UltraHD and Ultra 2nd Generation camcorders (Clear)
The Flip Video Underwater Case lets you safely capture video of your underwater excursions and poolside adventures. This clear acr…

Flip Video HDMI Cables
The Flip Video HDMI Cables let you watch the vivid, vibrant HD video you-Feetve shot using your Flip UltraHD or MinoHD 2nd Gen Cam…

Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Black) is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

• Records up to 12 hours of crisp high definition video to a 32GB internal flash drive or directly to removable SD memory cards
• Genuine Canon 15x HD Video Lens delivers unsurpassed image quality
• Canon 3.89-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor provides the ultimate in color and imaging performance
• Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

The Canon VIXIA HF M31 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder features a 32GB internal flash drive and an SD memory card slot in an ultra-sleek, compact and lightweight body – it’s a brilliant blend of capability and convenience. Canon’s advanced imaging technologies, including a Genuine Canon 15x HD Video Lens and 3.89-megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, help to deliver high definition video and 3.3 megapixel photos with incredible detail and lifelike color. Sophisticated features such as Smart Auto “reads” the visual components of the scene you’re shooting and chooses the best settings. Touch & Track allows you to achieve sharp focus and precise exposure for any subject, simply by touching the 2.7″ Touch Panel LCD. And to complete the entertainment picture, 5.1-Channel Surround Sound ensures your audio is every bit as impressive as your video.

Rating: (out of 10 reviews)

List Price: $ 799.00

Price: Too low to display

Canon Vixia HF R10 (silver)
If you’re looking to shoot great HD video on the cheap, keep looking; the Canon Vixia HF R series delivers decent video at best, even for its modest price. But for a low-priced model with mic and headphone jacks, the HF R100 is a pretty good deal.
Read more on CNET

Canon FS300 Flash Memory Camcorder (Red) – 2010 MODEL
Canon FS300 Digital Flash Memory Camcorder FeaturesFlash MemoryUltra-Sleek, Compact and Lightweight DesignSuperb Image QualityDyna…

Canon XH-A1S 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III
For the professionals who require a smaller, lighter weight HD camcorder but who won’t give up capability and performance, Canon o…

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Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder (Black) – 2010 MODEL
With the Canon VIXIA HF R10 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, you’ll find that high definition video has hit new levels of convenience,…

Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder w/41x Advanced Zoom (Evening Blue) – 2009 MODEL
The Canon FS200 Flash Memory camcorder lets
you capture stunning video directly to SDHC memory
cards, and share memories quickly a…

Canon VIXIA HF M31 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

flip converter, camcorder converter, convert flip, convert flip video, convert flip HD, flip video converter, flip to iPhone, flip to iPod, flip to Windows Movie Maker, flip to iMovie, flip to iTunes, flip video software, flip video editing, flip video to MP4, Flip Ultra HD, Flip Mino HD.

Doremisoft Flip Converter is an excellent flip camcorder converter to convert flip to iPhone, iPad, iPod, PSP, Apple TV etc., convert flip HD and flip video to mp4, avi, 3gp, 3g2, mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4, mpg, flv, swf, wmv, dv, mov, m4v, mkv etc. with easy flip video editing functions and high output quality.

This flip converter is the perfect flip video software for all Flip series including Flip Ultra, Flip Ultra HD, Flip Mino, and Flip Mino HD. With this flip camcorder converter, you can even extract audio from Flip video and save the extracted audio as mp3, aac, ac3, wav, etc.

Doremisoft Flip converter is also an easy flip video editing software that offers flexible yet easy functions to edit flip videos. It can crop flip video, trim flip video, adjust video brightness, contract and saturation, merge flip videos into one file and capture snapshots from flip videos.

Note:

This version is for Windows™. If you are using Mac OS.

Convert flip to all popular players: Convert flip to to iPod touch/iPod classic/iPod nano, convert flip to iPhone, convert flip to Apple TV, convert flip to PSP, convert flip to Zune, BlackBerry, Gphone, Palm, iRiver, etc.

Convert flip video for importing to different applications: Convert flip to Windows Movie Maker, convert flip to iMovie, convert flip to iTunes and so on.

Convert flip to mainstream video and audio formats: Convert flip to HD video, convert flip video to MP4, convert flip to avi, convert flip video to mov, convert flip video to 3gp/3g2, convert flip video to mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4, flv, swf, mkv, dv, rm/rmvb, wmv, m4v and so on. And extract audio from flip video to wma, m4a, mp3, wav, aac, ac3, amr, mp2, flac, aiff, mka etc.

Support all flip camcorders: Support all flip camcorder series including Flip Ultra, Flip Ultra HD, Flip Mino, and Flip Mino HD and always keep up with the newest flip camera updates.

Set different video and audio parameters Allow you to select video encoder, set video resolution/frame rate/bitrate, select audio encoder, set audio sample rate/audio channel/audio bitrate to convert flip videos.

Easy yet powerful flip video editing: Trim video length: Capture video clips from flip video by specifying the start and end time or dragging the start slider bar and the end slider bar. You can get capture multiple clips from one flip video and insert other video clips or commercials in between.

Crop video: Crop the screen of your video to get rid of redundant parts such as the black sides around your video and any parts that you don’t want to be on your video. You can also set video aspect ratio to fit for your player.

Edit video effect: Edit flip video brightness, contrast and saturation, and set special video effects such as emboss, old film, gray etc.

Instant preview: Provide two preview windows to let you preview the editing results real time.

Take flip video snapshot: Allow you to take snapshots off flip videos and save the snapshots as JPG, PNG or BMP format so you won’t have to worry that you cannot take pictures with flip camcorders.

Batch conversion: Load multiple flip videos and convert multiple flip videos at one time.

Merge flip videos: Join and convert multiple separated flip videos to one single file.

Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Black)
The Flip Ultra camcorder makes it easier than ever to shoot and share video. Ultra features Flip Video’s signature shoot-and-share…

Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (White)
The Flip UltraHD Camcorder combines Flip Videos signature shoot-and-share simplicity with the power of vivid, vibrant HD video. Po…

Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (White)
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Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation, 2 Hours (Brushed Metal)
With the all-new Flip MinoHD, it-Feets now even easier to capture incredible HD video and share it with the world. MinoHD features…

Flip Video Power Adapter
The Flip Video Power Adapter helps you keep your Flip camcorder charged and ready to go at all times. The compact adapter plugs …

Flip Video Tripod
The Flip Video Tripod makes it even easier to shoot high-quality video with your Flip Video Camcorder. The Tripod screws into the …

Flip Converter ? Best Flip Camcorder Converter To Convert Flip Video To Iphone, Ipod, Windows Movie Maker is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

• Records crisp high definition video directly to removable SD memory cards
• Ultra-Sleek, Compact and Lightweight Design allows you to take your camcorder with you anywhere
• Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Lens delivers unsurpassed image quality
• Canon 2.39-Megapixel HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor provides the ultimate in color and imaging performance

With the Canon VIXIA HF R100 Flash Memory Camcorder, you’ll find that high definition video has hit new levels of convenience, ease, performance- and value. The VIXIA HF R100 records to SD memory cards and features Canon’s Smart Auto. A Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Lens and Dynamic IS works in combination with our sophisticated Canon HD image processing to deliver the sharp, vivid, lifelike video you want to see on your HDTV. Advanced Video Snapshot lets you create 2-, 4- or 8-second movie clips, with music, that are perfect for sharing. And advanced easy-to-operate control features of the VIXIA HF R100 help to make high-quality video that can turn the casual shooter into the family cinematographer, at our most affordable HD price.

Rating: (out of 12 reviews)

List Price: $ 499.00

Price: Too low to display

Canon VIXIA HF S21 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Canon’s flagship VIXIA HF S21 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, with a 64GB internal flash drive and two SD memory card slots, offers C…

Canon VIXIA HF20 HD Dual Flash Memory w/32GB Internal Memory & 15x Optical Zoom – 2009 MODEL
Canon’s new VIXIA HF20 Dual Flash Memory camcorder packs so
much excitement and high-quality imaging power into its small,
lightwe…

Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom – 2009 MODEL
When you take what you shoot seriously, you need a
serious camcorder that lives up to your demands. The
Canon VIXIA HV40 HD camcor…

Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Canon VIXIA HV30 High-Definition MiniDV Camcorder…

Canon VIXIA HF R100 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL is a post from: Canon GL2 Camcorders

To View all figures/charts/illustrations referenced in this article, click here.

 Abstract

 Looking for a digital camcorder for use in performing surveillance? Well, technology improvements in CCD and CMOS image sensors as well as the introduction of new high definition display and recording formats have certainly resulted in the introduction of lots of different digital camcorder models. Because of the wide variation in features and price points, it’s more difficult than ever to select the optimal digital camcorder. Certainly, some models will be better than others in consideration of the specific application for which the camcorder is intended and the features that are required. Because there are so many factors involved in making a selection and since new models are frequently introduced, it’s best to provide guidelines useful when evaluating models intended for a specific application. Then, as new models become available, they can be compared to existing models based on the same guidelines.

The goal of this paper is to provide guidelines that should be considered when evaluating camcorders for use in surveillance applications. These applications are those that would be used by military, law enforcement and special investigative personnel for gathering evidence or performing electronic news gathering and usually include viewing at a distance. While these are useful guidelines for understanding important camcorder specs, prior to making your own camcorder purchase decision, we suggest that you perform your own research of available models and, based on these guidelines, select those models that are expected to deliver the best performance and perform your own tests under real-life situations. You may learn that other factors may be important to your specific application and that your final decision is a compromise of those other factors.

For surveillance, optical image quality is of highest importance. Camcorder resolution and sensitivity are the primary factors to consider, with a variety of related factors such as image and pixel fields-of-view, the pixel size, as well as the frame rate, image stabilization, alternative lens options and lens interchangeability, integration mode, digital zoom and display resolution, user interface, video formats, recording media, manual gain, infrared mode, video compression, external audio inputs, viewfinder, robustness, and video compression.

 Camcorder Resolution

Video resolution is affected by a variety of different camcorder specifications. It is well known that high definition camcorders deliver higher resolution than standard definition formats. However, it is important to realize that if the camcorder is used to record image sequences that are later to be viewed (rather than using the camcorder just to view the video output in real time), both the optical resolution and the recording format must be considered in determining the ultimate video resolution. Considered separately, the optical resolution depends not only on the detector array size but also the image and pixel field-of-view. HD recording format also affects resolution. Finally, there are other resolution factors that may warrant consideration in order to determine the ultimate camcorder resolution.

 Detector Array Size:

It seems that every camcorder uses a slightly different imaging detector. While the HD recording format can be 1280×720, 1440×1080 or 1920×1080, the imaging detectors may vary quite a bit. As shown in the table, for a selection of mid-range camcorders, detector array sizes can vary from single chip cameras having arrays as large as 1920×1080 (Canon HF-10 and Sony HDRSR11) to three-chip blocks having detectors as large as 1440×1080. The physical size of the imaging detector also varies from camcorder to camcorder.

 Image and Pixel Field-of-View:

As shown in the accompanying chart (reference at above link) the combination of the physical size of the camcorder’s imaging detector (for example 1/3”) and the focal length of its objective lens (for example 50mm) result in an image field-of-view (FOV) that is defined as the angle of view from which image information is received. There are separate angles corresponding to the horizontal and vertical directions depending on the aspect ratio of the image. For wide screen video formats, the vertical FOV is 9/16 of the horizontal FOV. All camcorders have zoom lenses where the focal length varies from a wide angle position (with the largest angular FOV) to a telephoto position (with the smallest angular FOV). A smaller field-of-view results in a higher image magnification as would be required to view small objects at a distance.

Smaller imaging detectors create narrower angles of view when used on the same focal length lens. For example, a 50 mm lens delivers a horizontal FOV of 5.5° and 3.7° when used with a 1/2” and 1/3” format detector, respectively. Based on the variation of detector sizes and lens focal lengths, the angular field of view for different camcorders varies accordingly. The image FOV can be determined for any camcorder based on a simple formula.

The pixel FOV (also known as the instantaneous field of view, or IFOV) is a measure of the resolution of an imaging system. Though related, image FOV and pixel FOV are distinct and a camcorder having the narrow image FOV does not necessarily have a corresponding narrow pixel FOV. As shown in the table (reference at above link), while the Canon camcorders have the smallest image and pixel FOV values, the Sony HDR-SR11 has a small pixel FOV despite an image FOV that is nearly twice as wide as those for Canon.

A handy FOV calculator can be used to determine the FOV values for certain candidate camcorders. Pixel FOV is also calculated as are detection, identification and recognition range values for certain specified object sizes at a specified distance.

Recording Format:

The difference between the different HD recording formats is beyond the scope of this white paper. However, the impact of recording format on resolution is critical to imaging performance for surveillance applications and is described here.

As shown in the figure (referenced at the first link in article), standard definition camcorders (with a 4:3 aspect ratio) recorded video with 480 horizontal rows per frame giving a resolution of 640 x 480. (This is for NTSC formats. PAL formats recorded with 576 rows per frame giving a resolution of 640×576). Wide screen versions of these standard definition camcorders with a 16:9 aspect ratio were also available and recorded with slightly larger resolution of 720 x 480 (720×576 for PAL versions). Because of the limitations of the recording format, it would not have been useful to have a high resolution CCD/CMOS detector larger than 720×480 pixels in a standard definition NTSC camcorder except under certain circumstances (like zooming in to view central pixels). However, with the introduction of higher resolution recording formats, higher resolution detectors make sense.

Camcorder Sensitivity

High definition refers to video having higher resolution than standard definition and most commonly refers to resolutions based on either 720 rows/frame or 1080 rows/frame. Recording formats can either be 1920×1080, 1440×1080 and 1280×720. Consequently, are available with either 720 or 1080 rows per frame recording formats having a resolution of 1280×720 and 1920×1080 respectively. It is important to understand the recording format for any camcorder under consideration. If the full sensor resolution is necessary to perform the surveillance function, then make sure that the camcorder records in sufficient resolution.

Had this whitepaper been about digital still cameras, the above discussion of recording format would’ve been sufficient to describe the effects on image quality. However, since video incorporates motion, the fact that some camcorders record “interlaced” video while others record “progressive” video has some relevance, particularly when motion is important to the type of surveillance being performed. If not, then the relevance of interlace vs. progressive scan is less important.

Other Resolution Factors:

It’s worth mentioning that in those camcorders that utilize three sensors, pixel shift technology has been employed in the horizontal axis to make incremental improvements to the sensor resolution by using interpolation. This complicates the calculation of optical resolution somewhat, but may not be a primary factor.

Camcorder low-light sensitivity is usually of primary importance for surveillance applications, particularly when imaging at dusk or dawn, but also when attaching a night vision module that intensifies ambient light. The guidelines for camcorder evaluation are listed below. We recommend a review of the following factors: the Recommended Minimum Illumination Specification, Objective Lens F-number, Detector Pixel Size, Night Vision Module availability.

As such, but criteria enabling the comparison of these including: objective lens F-number, pixel size, electronic noise reduction, It is apparent that low-light performance as detailed on the list of the camcorders specifications because different cameras can produce varying results, even though the specifications may be similar.

Consequently, once you’ve identified a few different camcorders that have the features of interest and the performance that you require, it is important to test the camcorder’s low-light capabilities.

Recommended Minimum Illumination Specification:

Quite often, low-light performance specifications are provided on a camcorder’s specification sheet. These are usually described as either “low light sensitivity” or “minimum illumination” and the result is given in lux. The lower the lux rating, the better the camcorder performs in low light. However, because the details describing how these low-light measurements are made is not often provided, it is extremely difficult to compare these figures when comparing different camcorder models from different manufacturers. (What’s the assumed reflectivity of the objects being viewed? What’s the signal-to-noise ratio? Image brightness? etc.). As such, use of these specifications is complicated and not often satisfying. It is obviously best to test the camcorders yourself. Some websites (such as www.camcorderinfo.com) perform their own very rigorous tests.

Detector Pixel Size:

Not only is the detector array size important, but the physical size of the detector is also important for a number of reasons. Most often, small detector physical sizes (such as 1/6” format) are found in less expensive camcorders while larger detectors (e.g. 1/3” format) are found in higher performance camcorders. Physically small detectors require small, less expensive lenses and result in compact, lower cost camcorders. For surveillance applications, an important consideration is that light sensitivity decreases with pixel size. While larger pixels in general have more light sensitivity and are superior when imaging in low light or at night, larger pixels also result in a decrease in resolution (in consideration of a particular focal length lens). Also, larger pixels with large array sizes result in large arrays and large lenses. So, smaller pixels are often preferable. One should compare the sensitivity of camcorders with the smallest pixels with other camcorders being considered. Pixel sizes for a variety of digital camcorders are shown in the accompanying chart (referenced at the first link in the article).

Objective Lens F-Number:

As with SLR cameras, lens F-number is extremely important to a camcorder’s low light sensitivity. All other things being equal, a lens with a low f-number (such as F1.4) focuses much of the light from the scene onto the camcorder’s sensitive imaging detector. A lens with an F-number that is twice as high (F2.8) will pass only 25% of the light through it, making the camcorder 25% as sensitive. That’s a lot! For compact camcorders with integral lenses, sometimes the objective lens must be designed with a relatively high F-number in order to retain the compact design yet deliver the desirable zoom range. In particular, one finds that the F-number at the longer focal length values increases slightly. F-numbers at the maximum zoom setting for a variety of digital camcorders are shown in the accompanying chart.

Night Vision Module Availability:

For camcorders to be used for surveillance applications, the availability of a night vision module can be quite important, particularly for imaging at a distance and at night. Camcorders simply do not have sufficient light sensitivity to enable imaging in these environments. However, by attaching a night vision module such as those shown here, the light sensitivity of the camcorder can be increased by up to ten F-stops. As is well known, the resulting night vision images will be green, absent of all color. But, reasonable images can be produced in starlight and moonlight. Some of these night vision modules can be seen by clicking on the link above.

Other Factors To Consider

In evaluating camcorders for surveillance applications, resolution and sensitivity are usually the primary considerations, other factors may deserve attention. Some of these are listed below.

Media: “Media” refers to where the video will be stored. Many camcorders utilize several different media types. The following are the common types of media and some considerations for surveillance applications:

MiniDV Tape – These have been used for many years. The downside is the need to fast forward and rewind rather than direct access. However, they are known to be quite reliable, they are widely available and rugged. In addition, it is often convenient to have physical media with surveillance footage rather than a soft copy only which could more easily be misplaced or mislabeled.

MiniDVD – Though a familiar media, it may not be as convenient as one expects since the DVD often cannot be directly inserted into DVD players. Also, recording in the highest quality sometimes results in significantly lower capacity.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) – These are generally high capacity media (e.g. 120 gigabytes) with long record times. Backup is obviously important and necessary. Also note carefully if compressed video is being used for storage in order to increase the available capacity.

Flash Memory – Flash memory (such as solid state memory and memory cards) is very attractive since there are no moving parts resulting in a compact and efficient design. Capacities are increasing every year.

Image stabilization:

Image stabilization is a camcorder feature that helps improve image quality during hand-held video recordings, reducing blur due to camcorder motion. The stabilizer instantly corrects camcorder shake so that hand held shots at full telephoto (such as video taken from a moving car) are smooth and steady. These image stabilizers can be either optical or digital in design. Optical image stabilizers usually manipulate a prism in the lens to stabilize the image when projected on the camcorder detector. Digital image stabilizers usually sense the camcorder motion and, taking advantage of extra rows and columns on the perimeter of the detector, shift the image an appropriate amount to stabilize certain types of motion. Normally, the optical image stabilizers, though more expensive, are preferable since they better remove the blur component of the motion.

Lens interchangeability:

Many lower cost camcorders have non-removable objective lenses. These lenses are compact and highly integrated into the camcorder’s housing, have a very wide zoom range and even macro capability. Normally, the field-of-view of the integrated zoom lens is selected to achieve the FOV range desired for most applications. However, for increased versatility, higher-end camcorders offer a removable lens and a lens mount so that a series of lenses can be offered for a wider variation of applications, including wider angle and more telephoto viewing. (See a list of mid-range camcorders having removable lenses here). For non-removable lens camcorders, if wider angle or more telephoto FOV values are required, adapters are sometimes offered to change the magnification as desired. But the result is a reduction in optical quality. For the surveillance videographer, interchangeable lenses can be a great benefit if the magnification offered by fixed lens camcorders isn’t sufficient for the desired application. In addition, night vision modules that are designed for removable lens camcorders fit between the lens and camcorder and retain all that objective lens’ functions including motorized zoom, auto-iris and image stabilization.

Digital zoom:

Digital zoom is an important feature for any camcorder. Because it is not possible to appreciate all the imaging detector’s resolution on the camcorder’s viewfinder or display panel, digital zoom enables the operator to view details on the viewfinder that would otherwise go unnoticed until digital images were later analyzed. In addition, it’s useful to note that a detector having a larger pixel array enables the operator to perform more digital zoom than with a camcorder having a smaller detector without the effects of pixelization.

User interface:

Any camcorder operator will confirm that accessibility to features is of some importance. Drilling down through sub-menu after sub-menu to access routine functions is not a desirable thing to do while in the field.

Infrared mode:

Some camcorders feature a sensitivity to near infrared light permitting the use of an infrared illuminator to brighten scenes. For a variety of reasons, these illuminators are not applicable for many surveillance situations. For one thing, normally the illuminators included with the camcorders do not project sufficient illumination at the distances of interest. In addition, they can be detected by others with most camcorders and CCD cameras.

Manual Gain:

For low-light situations, some camcorders offer a manual gain mode that permits the user to manually adjust the gain in the video image, usually increases up to +18dB. Though grainy, for surveillance applications, the video images are normally a significant improvement over non-gained or even auto-gained versions.

Shutter Speed:

If maintaining the standard frame rate (for example 60Hz) is not necessary because the objects under observation are not moving quickly, the frame rate and detector shutter speed can be reduced (for example to 1/3 sec) so that each of the sensor’s pixels will integrate light over a longer time that they are exposed. In darkened environments, selecting the longest acceptable integration time may be sufficient to provide a usable image at dusk or dawn.

External Audio inputs:

In order to prevent the appearance of sounding like a pure optics geek, it is important to mention that audio quality and access to external audio inputs is important for the surveillance videographer. The built-in microphone doesn’t always work well when shooting images far away or when you need something more directional to filter out ambient noise.

Viewfinder:

When performing covert surveillance, having a viewfinder on the camcorder is sometimes important in order to prevent the illumination from the bright LCD panel.

Robustness:

Another serious compromise is the lack of robustness in camera hardware — the flimsy switches and controls that cause videographers stress. When you’re out in the field under possibly dangerous conditions, you don’t want to be playing around with little controls and LCD panels that easily come apart.

Price:

Of course, price is always a consideration when evaluating the many many camcorders models available today. But, what these guidelines should show is that very often, the most expensive camcorder may not be the best for a specifi c application. Understand what features are most beneficial for your application in consideration of camcorder price range.

Conclusion

Technology improvements in CCD and CMOS image sensors as well as the introduction of new high definition display and recording formats have resulted in the introduction of lots of different digital camcorder models. Guidelines have been provided when evaluating camcorders for use in surveillance applications.

For surveillance, optical image quality is of highest importance. Camcorder resolution and sensitivity are the primary factors to consider, with a variety of related factors such as image and pixel fields-of-view, the pixel size, as well as the frame rate, image stabilization, alternative lens options and lens interchangeability, integration mode, digital zoom and display resolution, user interface, video formats, recording media, manual gain, infrared mode, video compression, external audio inputs, viewfinder, robustness, and video compression.

While these are useful guidelines for understanding important camcorder specs, prior to making your own camcorder purchase decision, we suggest that you perform your own research of available models and, based on these guidelines, select those models that are expected to deliver the best performance and perform your own tests under real-life situations. You may learn that other factors may be important to your specific application and that your final decision is a compromise of those other factors.

DISCLAIMER: We have made every attempt to provide accurate information. However, we cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies. Should you identify errors or require assistance, please contact us directly. Thank you.

For more comprehensive White Papers visit our online Knowledge Center.

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