Sony Launch New Camcorders at CES 2016

Life’s defining moments can happen so fast, we often fail to fully appreciate the essence of the experience. Whether it’s a child’s first steps, a school play, graduation or a wedding day – having a video to re-live your happiest times with friends and family can become one of your greatest treasures. Sony’s newest Handycam camcorders allow you to perpetuate those moments in vibrant 4K detail.

FDR-AX53 – Breath-taking picture quality with 4K Handycam

The patriarch of this year’s camcorder family takes form in Sony’s newest 4K Handycam, the FDR-AX53, combining enhanced image quality and incredible sound performance.

The FDR-AX53 features a new Exmor R CMOS sensor, providing exceptionally detailed 4K movies. Due to the new sensor’s approximately 1.6x larger pixel sizeii, the FDR-AX53 enjoys a much greater sensitivity level than its predecessorand allows for fantastically clear content with outstanding resolution even when shooting in low light conditions.

The FDR-AX53 features a newly developed ZEISS lens that extends to a wide angle of 26.8mmiii, accurately capturing the scene from wide angle through to telephoto. The lens empowers the camcorder with a remarkable range of 20x optical and 30x (4K)/ 40x (FHD) Clear Image Zoom, for beautiful close-up footage you don’t want to miss.

Due to its Advanced Aspherical (AA) and Extra-low Dispersion(ED) lens elements, colour fringing is highly reduced allowing the lens to produce incredibly accurate colours for beautifully precise footage. The multi-layer film ZEISS T* coating reduces unwanted reflections like ghosting and flare which delivers a crisper, clearer image even when shooting on bright days outside.

The FDR-AX53 is the first Handycam with an enhanced version of Sony’s own Balance Optical SteadyShot; a 5-axis image stabilisation system that brings you blur-free footage when shooting handheld and thanks to its new Intelligent Active modeiv, also ensures crisp footage whilst running. This incredibly powerful image stabilisation system allows for exceptionally smooth and clear video footage from all angles, even when on the move or whilst using the telephoto end of the 20x optical zoom when aiming for close-ups shots. The new Intelligent Active mode takes it a step further and even allows for incredibly clear HD footage when running.

The FDR-AX53 records at an incredible high bit-rate of 4K 100Mbps, using the high-performing XAVC S™ recording format[vi], allowing each frame to be filled with astonishing 4K detail so you can relive everything from splashing waves to colourful confetti.

The camcorder comes with a newly adapted AF algorithm, Fast Intelligent AF, also featuring in Sony’s α7S II, which optimises communication between the lens and processor to achieve speeds up to approximately 40% fasterii than previous models and more precise subject capture.

Advanced sound quality

The FDR-AX53’s new microphone structure collects sound from five directions, thereby capturing real-life sounds and delivering a more realistic sense of ambience. Due to the enhanced microphone structure, noise levels have been reduced by approximately 40%ii, and stereo performance is approximately twice as high as previous modelsii, allowing for clear recordings in a greater range of environments. Its 5.1ch microphone records high stereo sound in 2ch in XAVC S 4K/HD and high surround sound in 5.1ch in AVCHD. In addition, the My Voice Canceling function reduces the user’s own voice whilst recording.

Full HD 100fps recording for slow-mo movies[vii]

As a first for the Handycam series, the FDR-AX53 can record at 100fps in Full HD meaning that footage can be edited into breath-taking slow motion footage with the free PC software, PlayMemories Home™, to add a whole new dimension to home movies.

It boasts many pro-style refinements for greater shooting flexibility, including a manual ring and button that can be allocated to functions like zoom, focus and exposure and electronic viewfinder (EVF), allowing the user to easily compose scenes even when recording on sun-filled holidays. For greater control of the edit, advanced users can benefit from Time Code and User Bit options.

To enjoy recorded footage at home, 4K content can be played back on a compatible 4K TV through a supplied HDMI cable or by automatic down conversion of 4K frames in Full HD playback on an HD TV. For beautiful framing, this Handycam also allows you to playback trimmed 4K images from selected video frames, enlarging or cropping[viii] selected parts of the frame in Full HD quality.

More new ways to capture and share the memories

Sony’s Full HD camcorder range welcomes two new members, HDR-CX625 and HDR-CX450. As with their elder siblings, they extend to a generous wide angle of 26.8mmiii, meaning beautiful family moments can be captured in any situation. Both new models benefit from image stabilisation technologies including advanced 5-axis Balanced Optical SteadyShot with Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-CX625, and Optical SteadyShot with Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-CX450–ensuring highly detailed, blur-free footage.

The Handycam camcorders allow for XAVC S 50Mbps high-bitrate recordingv and also feature Fast Intelligent AF. With 5.1ch surround microphone performance[ix] and My Voice Canceling, superb sound quality is also guaranteed.

Using Sony’s free PlayMemories Home™PC software, you can organise and edit your footage and also create your personal high-quality time-lapse moviesvi with Time-lapse Capture for powerful, impactful scenes in 4K using the FDR-AX53 and HD with the HDR-CX625 and HDR-CX450.

Live Broadcasts

To get others involved in the action, all new Handycam models allowLive Streamingvia USTREAMTM[x], enabling you to stream HD video footage and sound from Handycam camcorders through a wireless access point. You can now ensure that no one, no matter how far away, will miss out on those defining moments, no matter where in the world they may be.

Like all of Sony’s Handycam line up, the new models feature the automatic in-cam movie editing function, Highlight Movie Maker[xi], which picks key moments in your footage like laughter or zoomed in moments and assembles them into short-clips without any need for post-production editing. You can customise with transition effects and soundtrack music and once completed, easily share your MP4 movie on social media sites.

Sony’s new 4K Handycam will be available in Europe from March 2016; the Full HD camcorders will be available from mid-February, 2016.

• Today’s special moments are tomorrow’s greatest memories with new Handycam range featuring new 4K[i] and two new HD models
  • FDR-AX53 4K Handycam with new Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with approx. 1.6x bigger pixel size[ii] for unrivalled sensitivity, particularly in low light conditions
  • New ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* lens for astounding resolution up to a wide angle of 26.8mm[iii] and 20x optical zoom and 30x Clear Image Zoom[iv]
  • Featuring 5-axis image stabilisation enabled by Sony’s Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ enhanced with NEW Intelligent Active mode[v], compensating for camera shake even whilst running
  • New microphone structure which collects sound from five directions for advanced sound quality
  • Full HD 100fps high speed recording for post-production editing of incredible slow-mo moviesvi
  • Pro-style features including manual ring, EVF, Time Code recording and User Bit for increased shooting flexibility
  • HDR-CX625 and HDR-CX450 HD camcorders with enhanced camera functions including 5-axis image stabilisation (only on CX625), Fast Intelligent AF, and Time-lapse Capture

Aputure Launch two "Fine" Field Monitors

Pretty much every serious video shooter, using either a DLSR, ILC or video camera, does not rely solely on the built in monitor. The size that many manufacturers give us seems to top out at around three inches. Getting creative framing and critical focus has had me researching options for an external monitor for some time now. 

For those of you who follow me on YouTube and whom have asked me for lighting recommendations, you will know that I always recommend the Aputure Amaran LED lights that I use. Well, it just so turns out that Aputure have just launched two new field monitors. Both coming with 7 inch displays, the VS-1 FineHD and VS-2 FineHD have a 1920x1200 resolution, which exceeds most of the competition. The VS-2 adds a histogram feature, peaking, zebra, false colour and volume monitoring too, yet both come in at an amazing price. On paper they look very promising. Keep an eye on the Geekanoids channel as I will be reviewing the VS-2 FineHD soon.

Sony RX10 ii Unboxing Reveals new 4K Powerhouse

The Sony RX10 Mark 2 just hit the Geekanoids studio and thanks to Park Cameras we have one of the first unboxing videos on YouTube. Check out the video below to see what you get inside the box and for a look around this powerful piece of kit.

I really want to make sure that you do not overlook this camera. Many advise the purchase on a DSLR or Interchangeable Lens Camera, only to find that you just use one lens, more often than not, the kit lens. What you get with the Sony RX10ii is a bridge camera, with a fixed lens. However, this is an impressive piece of glass and has a constant f2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. Sony also included a stacked image sensor on this second gen RX10. This equates to DRAM being stacked on the sensor, resulting is a 5x faster readout than conventional models. 

OK, enough of the tech talk. This new beast of a camera delivers 4K internal video recording, a gorgeous lens, microphone input and headphone monitoring output too. Everything you need to capture extremely high quality video. The lens resolves a lot of detail too, so your videos have the potential to exceed the quality of a DSLR with a larger sensor costing twice the price. Add to this high speed frame rate capture (so you can do those crazy slo-mo videos), plus a decent 20-megapixel camera and it is a very compelling proposition. Stay locked to The Geekanoids Channel for indoor & outdoor 4K video tests soon.

Why Wouldn't You Share Your Own Videos?

Technology changes very quickly and I remember back to when I published that first video on my YouTube channel recorded with my 4 megapixel Canon PowerShot camera. The video quality in comparison to what is possible nowadays was very poor, but the content was more than acceptable. 

My first YouTube camera … the Canon PowerShot A80

That was over eight years ago and the advancements in technology, during such a short time, is simply quite amazing. I experienced compact cameras that gave us 720P video, soon followed by the same small photo snappers delivering 1080P video. Conventional camcorders giving up the ability to not only record in full HD, but also in 3D. Tiny little action cameras, that one could mount to a car, surf board, your body or even your pet dog. If we fast forward to the current day, all of these wonders of technology can now dazzle our visual senses with even more detail in 4K resolution. 

Throughout my journey of creating visual content to share online, I have helped many others with questions and product recommendations. One of the most common questions, or for want of a better term, "excuses" is that many people want to create videos, but use their lack of "expensive" camera as an excuse.
Emails I receive are often like this (what follows is part of an actual email I received)… "Hello Dave, I really want to start my YouTube Channel but need an amazing camera and microphone setup. Can you suggest something around the £1,000 to £1,500 mark. Once I have saved enough money I can then start producing videos like you". 
The perceived need for the so-called "best camera" could not be further from the truth. Look at how I started … with just the family point & shoot compact camera. Also, consider how smartphone technology has also evolved, with many capturing awesome 1080P and some even managing to deliver a crisp 4K experience too. So why wouldn't you share your own videos. Now is the time to use the technology you already have in your pocket or bag and share your story. We can no longer make the excuse that we do not have a great camera, 

Throughout December, Intellicig are running a competition to give away a £200 Red Letter Day experience for two. Check out their #WhyWouldntYou campaign here.

Written in collaboration with Intellicig.

CES 2013: Panasonic HC-X920 Hands on

Panasonic's new flagship consumer camcorder for 2013 looks very much like Panasonic flagship consumer camcorder for 2012. Don't be fooled by its appearance though as the Panasonic HC-X920 has three major upgrades over last year's Panasonic HC-X900.

First and foremost are the upgrades to the 3MOS sensor array. This now uses BSI (backside illuminated) sensors with superior low-light performance. The raw resolution of the sensors has also increased from 6.57 megapixels in total to 8.49 megapixels. We were shown some examples of footage shot with the camcorder, and it looked more composed with less glare at 100 lux (bright conditions) and had far less noise at 10 lux (low light) - that's compared to last years model. Of course we'll have to see what Sony has up its sleeve for 2013 before making any final conclusions though.

The lens looks to be identical to last year's at first glance, but it has a new nano surface coasting apparently, but we're not clear on what benefits this provides.

Another major upgrade to this year's model is Wi-Fi support. This allows for real-time broadcast of events via the popular Ustream service. It can even send email out to preregistered addresses to inform them the live broadcast is beginning. Great for sharing event footage with family and friends in distant locations. A smartphone app is also available for Android and iOS, which lets you see the footage from the camcorder and control the zoom and other functions.

[Source: Expert Reviews - Click here to read the full story]

GoPro app reaches Android, captures reckless Nexus adventures

GoPro left its Android-using audience hanging (from a paraglider) when it posted an iOS app for remote controlling its cameras, but the group won't have been in suspense for long. The action video camera maker has posted a Google-native version that covers roughly the same feature spread as its Apple-oriented counterpart, including remote control, video previewing and daily highlight clips. Any aspiring movie makers will have to fit a narrow set of criteria to start shooting, however -- on top of an HD Hero 2and a WiFi BacPac, Android 4.0 is a minimum requirement to start shooting without hiccups. Hero 3 support won't be coming until later this month. Despite the limitations, it's nice to know that we won't need an elaborate Google Glass setup to record our next skydive in a Mountain View-approved fashion.

[Source: Engadget]

10 Amazing Pet Gadgets that will Blow you Away

Here is a list of the top 10 gadgets for pet owners.

1. Global pet monitor

This device is a small collar-mounted piece of technology that utilises GPS software that not only keeps track of your pet’s whereabouts from your mobile phone, but also helps to deliver information such as health monitoring, activity level and external temperature.

2. Cat DJ scratching deck

Yes, you read correctly. This hilarious cat ‘scratching pad’ designed by Suck UK is a novelty item DJ turntable deck that comes with a carpet textured record that spins as your cat paws at it – ingenious.

3. Frobo pet bowl

Another great gadget, this bowl is specially designed to give your pet access to chilled water for up to eight hours. This product is great for long car journeys or if you’re used to preparing ice cubes to melt in your dog’s water bowl whilst you’re at work.

4. Electronic Nail file

Few dogs enjoy their nails being trimmed. This gadget is a lightweight, hand-held battery operated nail file for pets with long claws. It works by removing the thinner layers of your pet’s nails to leave a smooth and nicely finished result. Be careful with Frodo’s nails or you may need to consider some cheap RSPCA pet insurance as well.

5. Pawz dog boots

Reusable, waterproof and disposable, this range of dog boots are every dog owner’s must have item. Think of all the times you’ve walked your dog after it’s rained and the mud gets right into your dog’s paws and pads? These dog boots are your answer.

6. Video camera for pets

It’s a simple small camera device that attaches to your dog or cat’s neck so that as they wander around the house while you’re at work, you’re able to log online and see what they’re up to (or what they’re seeing).

7. Frolicat Bolt

This amusing gadget is an interactive toy for your cat or small dog. It’s a small tower device that shines a laser that moves randomly in many different directions, so that your cat or dog can chase it for hours and exercise while it plays.

8. A dog treadmill

Treadmills are proving very popular in the world of dog exercise. Think of all the time you’ll save being able to exercise your dog at home (but you’d better join a gym yourself to compensate). A treadmill will be easier on your dog’s joints instead of the hard tread of the streets.  It’s a known fact that well exercised dogs have less behaviour problems.

9. Glofish

Glofish are a novelty themselves. Bred originally to help scientists detect environmental pollutants, these little fish are fluorescent and retain their glow all times of the day. Imagine how cool they’d look in a tank with a black backdrop?

10. A laminating dog leash

While retractable dog leashes are great for allowing your dog a controlled amount of freedom to roam as they’re walked, imagine a retractable lead with a built-in torch for those long walks at night? At least you can see where Rover’s wandered off to.

[Sponsored Article]