Tag: Optical

by David Burgess on November 4, 2022 0

The History Of 3D Art

In the early days of cinema, artists would often create short films that featured three-dimensional images, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that 3D art really began to take off.

The first 3D artworks were created using a technique known as anaglyph 3D, which involved using two different colors of film to create the illusion of depth. This technique was used in a number of early 3D films, such as “Bwana Devil” and “House of wax”.

However, anaglyph 3D had a number of drawbacks, such as the fact that it could only be viewed using special glasses. This meant that it was not suitable for use in mainstream cinema.

A breakthrough came in the early 1980s with the development of the polarized 3D system. This system used polarized lenses to filter out the different colors of light, meaning that viewers no longer needed to wear special glasses to see the 3D effect.

Polarized 3D quickly became the standard for 3D cinema, and is still in use today. It is also used in a number of 3D televisions and computer monitors.

3D art is not just limited to the world of film and television. A number of artists have also experiment with creating three-dimensional paintings and sculptures.

The Dutch artist MC Escher is one of the most famous creators of 3D art. His work often features optical illusions and impossible objects, such as his famous “Drawing Hands” painting.

More recently, a number of artists have been experimenting with creating 3D art using computers. This has led to the development of a new genre known as digital 3D art.

Digital 3D art is created using a variety of software programs that allow artists to create three-dimensional images on a computer. These images can then be printed out using a 3D printer.

3D art is a fascinating and ever-evolving field. As new technologies are developed, it is likely that we will see even more amazing and innovative 3D artworks being created in the future.

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by Leland Richardson on November 19, 2021 0

Panasonic HDC-TM41H Overview

The Panasonic HDC-TM41H is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format. It represents the entry-level of Panasonic’s high definition camcorder line-up with a retail price of $399.

Panasonic HDC-TM41 Video Features

Video is recorded at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 at a bit-rate of 17Mbps in the AVCHD format. It uses a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. Video can also be recorded at lower bit-rates (13Mbps, 9Mbps, 5Mbps) or in the iFrame format of 960 x 540 at 28Mbps. Still photos are recorded at 2-megapixels, which is fairly low-resolution as far as images go. It’s enough to email, but not to print.

The HDC-TM41H features Panasonic’s “Intelligent Auto” (iAuto) mode for automatically matching scene modes to shooting environments.

You’ll also have a choice of several scene modes including sports, portrait, low light, spot light, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, scenery, night scenery and night portrait (for still images only) and a “soft skin” mode for minimizing blemishes when filming people.

Audio is recorded through a 2-channel stereo microphone in Dolby Digital. Audio can also be recorded in the ACC format when filming in the aforementioned iFrame video format.

TM 41 Optical Features

You’ll find a 16.8x optical zoom lens (42.9 x 721mm, 35mm equivalent) on the Panasonic HDC-TM41H. It uses Panasonic’s Power Optical Image Stabilization for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. In “active mode” the image stabilization can compensate at wide-angles.

You have the option for both automatic and manual focus on the TM41H. There’s also a digital zoom to boost magnification out to 1200x – though a digital zoom should be used sparingly, if at all.

Memory and Display

Video footage is recorded directly to 16GB of internal flash memory.

There is also a slot for SDXC memory cards for adding additional recording capacity.

You’ll frame your recordings on a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no viewfinder.

Design

Thanks to its use of flash memory, the TM41 is very light weight (indeed, it’s the lightest model in the company’s lineup as of this writing). Without the battery it weighs just .37 pounds and measures in at 2.03 x 2.26 x 4.27 inches. It’s a traditional, barrel-style form factor with a zoom lever and shutter button on the top of the camcorder. Pop open the display and you’ll find buttons for switching between iAuto and manual shooting and activating image stabilization, among others.

Aesthetically, the TM41 isn’t much of a head-turner. It’s only available in black.

Shooting Features

You will have some degree of control over your video when shooting with the HDC-TM41. You’ll be able to automatically white balance the camcorder, in addition to manually adjusting the iris. The shutter is automatic. There is a tele-macro mode available too for focusing on objects up to 50cm away. When the lights go down, you can avail yourself to the built-in LED video light to give you some additional illumination. There is no flash, however, for aiding in still photography. Overall a fairly scant feature-set, but that’s to be expected given the price.

Connectivity

The Panasonic HDC-TM41 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

For those looking for a low-cost camcorder that delivers better video quality than a pocket camcorder with a few extra controls (manual focus, manual iris control and white balance) with a much better zoom lens, the Panasonic HDC-TM41 is definitely worth a look. It’s small design and light weight build ensure it can be carried anywhere without being a burden. It won’t pack the same kind of feature-punch as higher-end models, but if you need a basic, no frills camcorder, give the TM41H a closer look.

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by Leland Richardson on November 19, 2021 0

JVC Everio GZ-HM30 Overview

The JVC Everio GZ-HM30US is a high definition camcorder that records 1280 x 720 video in the AVCHD Lite format. It represents the entry-level of JVC’s Everio high definition camcorder line-up with a retail price of $199.

JVC Everio GZ-HM30US Video Features

The Everio GZ-HM30US uses a “lite” version of the AVCHD format for recording 1280 x 720p high definition video (the “full” version of the AVCHD format supports higher resolution 1920 x 1080p recording). The camcorder features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. Video can also be recorded in a widescreen, standard definition format (720 x 480) for viewing on older TVs and computers or for extending recording times.

The Everio GZ-HM30US can upconvert 720p video to 1080p when connected to an HDTV via an HDMI cable. It’s not on par with video captured natively at 1080, but it does provide an option for higher quality presentation. The camcorder uses JVC’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments.

Audio is recorded through a 2-channel stereo microphone.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 40x optical zoom Konica Minolta HD lens on the Everio GZ-HM30 – an excellent zoom range for the price. The optical zoom is joined by two digital zoom technologies: a dynamic zoom can boost magnification to 70x while a standard digital zoom increases magnification to 200x. The lens uses JVC’s “Advanced Image Stabilizer” for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. According to the company, the image stabilization technology can compensate for camera shake at wide-angles.

The lens is protected by a manual lens cap which is opened and closed via a tiny switch next to the lens barrel (far more convenient than the caps you need to clip on, although remembering to open and close the switch can be a challenge).

You do not have the option for manual focus on the GZ-HM30.

Memory and Display

Video footage is recorded directly to SDXC video cards. You can store up to 13 hours of the highest quality HD footage when using a 64GB SDXC card (not included). The camcorder is Eye-Fi ready, so it will automatically recognize when a wireless Eye-Fi memory card is in use.

You’ll frame your recordings on a 2.7-inch LCD display with a 230,000 pixel resolution. There is no viewfinder.

Design

Thanks to its use of flash memory, the GZ-HM30 is very light weight, weighing in at .48 pounds with battery. It and measures in at 2.1 x 2.3 x 4. inches. It’s a traditional, barrel-style form factor with a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Pop open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

The camcorder uses a two-way grip belt which lets you grip the camcorder or wear it around your wrist.

Aesthetically, the HM30 isn’t much of a head-turner, however it does come in four body colors: silver, black, blue and red.

Shooting Features

The Everio GZ-HM30 is geared to casual video takers, so the feature set isn’t all that robust. You will find face detection and a time-lapse recording function that lets you record one frame at a time for a selectable time interval (between one and 80 seconds). There’s also an Auto Record function which, when set, starts recording automatically whenever an object moves into the frame. The camcorder will also automatically end recording if motion stops after five seconds, so the camcorder can double as a motion-activated video camera (but the battery won’t last long enough for it to truly replace a security camera).

Connectivity

The Everio GZ-HM30 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

At $199, the competition in the camcorder market boils down to pocket camcorders and traditional models with a very limited feature set. One thing the GZ-HM30 has going for it is a very long optical zoom lens. While the AVCHD video quality is below what some other entry-level competitors from Panasonic and Sony offer, they’re not as inexpensive and don’t have the kind of lens that the HM30 delivers. It’s small design and light weight build ensure it can be carried anywhere without being a burden. It won’t pack the same kind of feature-punch as higher-end models, but if you need a basic, no frills camcorder, the Everio GZ-HM30 deserves a look.

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by Leland Richardson on November 16, 2021 0

Nikon Coolpix P900 Review

The Bottom Line

There’s no hiding the key feature that we’ll showcase in this Nikon Coolpix P900 review — an almost unbelievable 83X optical zoom lens. At the time of this writing, the 83X zoom lens is the largest one available in the fixed lens camera market, making the P900 a candidate for one of the best ultra zoom cameras.

And there’s no hiding this feature because it makes the Coolpix P900 a camera that’s larger than even some of the best DSLR cameras on the market. This model weighs almost 2 pounds and measures about 5x5x5 inches with the zoom lens retracted. When the optical zoom is fully extended, the camera measures about 8.5 inches in depth.

So if you need a huge zoom lens, Nikon definitely delivers with the P900. But as with many ultra zoom cameras, sometimes that huge zoom lens can be a detriment. You may have a tough time holding the Coolpix P900 steady when the zoom lens is extended, just because the camera is so heavy and awkward to hand hold with the large zoom lens.

And Nikon only gave this model a 1/2.3-inch image sensor and 16 megapixels of resolution, which will limit your ability to create photos that will result in large and sharp prints. Still, versus other large zoom cameras, the Nikon P900 is a decent performer.

Then there’s the $500-plus price point for the P900. You might be able to find an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless ILC at that price, which will result in far greater image quality. So only those who are sure they need the 83X optical zoom lens will be able to justify the high price tag for this model.

Specifications

Resolution: 16.0 megapixels
Optical zoom: 83X (24-2000mm equivalent)
LCD: 3.0-inch, 921,000 pixels (tiltable)
Maximum image size: 4608 x 3456 pixels
Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.1 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 1 pound, 15.8 ounces (with battery and memory card)
Image sensor: 1/2.3-inch
Movie mode: HD 1080p

Pros

Huge optical zoom lens at 83X
Reasonably good performance speeds even when optical zoom lens is fully extended
Offers electronic viewfinder
Articulated LCD screen
Numerous manual control features

Cons

Small image sensor limits image quality results
Images aren’t quite as sharp as they should be
Maximum ISO is limited to 6400
Extremely heavy and large camera
Price point is high, approaching that of entry-level mirrorless ILCs

Image Quality

When you think about spending more than $500 for a digital camera, you expect to receive very good image quality. Unfortunately, this is one area where the Nikon P900 lags behind its price point peers, which can include low-end DSLRs.

The 1/2.3-inch image sensor in the Coolpix P900 is as small in physical size as what you’ll find in a digital camera. Models that cost less than $200 or $150 often have 1/2.3-inch image sensors. Because the physical size of image sensors plays such a key role in determining image quality, having such a small sensor in the P900 makes it tough to justify its high price tag.

The image quality for the Coolpix P900 might be even worse, other than the fact Nikon gave the camera a very strong optical image stabilization system, which is an extremely important feature to find in an ultra zoom camera. It’s difficult to hand hold a heavy camera steady without a good image stabilization system. Even with such a good IS system, you’ll want to purchase a tripod with this model for best image quality.

Performance

Most ultra zoom cameras operate slower than other types of cameras, especially when the zoom lens is fully extended. You can expect to have problems with shutter lag and shot to shot delays, meaning such cameras don’t have great response times.

The Nikon Coolpix P900 isn’t a fast performer either, but it does offer faster response times that what you’ll find with most ultra zoom cameras. In fact, the P900 has very little shutter lag when the zoom lens is not extended, which is impressive for this type of fixed lens camera.

Start-up is very fast with this model too, as you should be able to record your first photo a little more than 1 second after pressing the power button. And you can move through the entire 83X zoom range of this camera in about 3.5 seconds, which is an impressive level of speed for the zoom motor.

Battery performance is good with the P900, offering 300 to 400 shots per charge. However, if you choose to use the camera’s built-in GPS or Wi-Fi connectivity, you will receive less battery life.

Design

Nikon gave the P900 quite a few desirable design elements. The inclusion of an electronic viewfinder is great to find in an ultra zoom camera, as it can be easier to hand hold the camera steady when it’s pressed against your face, versus trying to hold it and look at the LCD screen.

If you choose to frame photos using the LCD screen instead of the handy viewfinder, Nikon gave the Coolpix P900 a sharp and bright display screen. And the LCD is articulated, meaning it’s easy to use this model when attached to a tripod by tilting the LCD to match the angle you need. You can even swivel the display screen 180 degrees to allow for selfies.

A mode dial on the top of the camera allows you to work quickly to pick the shooting mode you want. The P900 offers a range of shooting modes, including full manual control, fully automatic, and everything in between.

There’s a popup flash unit, which is a key design feature for an ultra zoom camera, as it allows the flash unit to gain a good angle to the scene, even when the zoom lens is fully extended. However, Nikon didn’t give the Coolpix P900 a hot shoe to allow for adding an external flash unit.

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by Leland Richardson on November 16, 2021 0

Kodak Zi8 Camcorder Review

Kodak’s Zi8 is a high definition pocket camcorder that records 1920 x 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) in the H.264 format. The Zi8 competes with products such as Pure Digital’s Flip UltraHD and Sony’s Webbie HD. Kodak’s pocket camcorder has a few tricks that the others don’t – such as digital image stabilization, face detection, and an external microphone input.

Kodak Zi8 At a Glance

The Good:[ Excellent video quality, easy to use, strong feature set, large LCD screen.

The Bad: Slightly clumsy user interface, little internal memory.

Video & Photo Quality

Using a 1/2.5-inch, 5-megapixel CMOS sensor, the Zi8 records 1080p HD video.This is one of the first 1080p pocket camcorders on the market and the video quality is definitely impressive for a model in this class.

If you want to extend recording times, you can opt for one of three lower resolution settings: 720p/60fps mode (the faster frame rate is good for shooting motion), a 720p/30fps mode or a WVGA mode.

A nice addition to the Zi8 is face detection, which, when activated, can improve exposure around a face it detects in a frame. This function can be disabled as it will draw down the battery faster when it’s used.

The Zi8 also snaps 5-megapixel still photos when set to photo mode (it can’t snap them while you’re filming).

You shouldn’t expect much from these stills – with no flash and a fairly slow performance, it’s not going to wow you.

Design

Like other models in the pocket camcorder category, Kodak kept the functionality and buttons to a minumum. Four dedicated buttons on the back of the unit let you access menu settings, delete videos and still photos, return to filming and play back stored videos.

The menu, and quality settings, are navigated using a joystick at the center of the unit. All-in-all, a very intuitive design that just about anyone can figure out in short order, even if the buttons could stand to be a bit larger.

The Zi8 weighs in just shy of a svelte five ounces with battery. At 2.4 × 4.5 × 0.9 inches, it’s the size of a nice, lean point-and-shoot digital camera. You’ll have your choice of red, black and blue.

Removable Battery

Another nice design touch is a removable lithium ion batter (accessed by removing the unit’s faceplate). For longer trips where you can run low on battery, you have the option of swapping in a new one rather than finding a spot to recharge. You can charge the battery when the Zi8 is connected to a PC via its flip-out USB connector or by using the supplied AC adapter.

Menus

The menu in the Zi8 consists of nine icons for switching off image stabilization, engaging face detection and accessing other functions. Unfortunately, while Kodak had ample room to add some descriptive wording above each menu icon, in most cases they choose not to. None of the icons are that mysterious, but still, for a novice user it would be nice to use the generous LCD screen to its fullest potential.

Memory

The Zi8 comes with a meager 128MB worth of internal memory – barely enough to record a few seconds of HD video or a couple of still images. To enjoy recording of any length, you’ll need to use an SDHC memory card (not included). The Zi8 supports SDHC cards up to 32GB, which would give you close to five hours of recording at the highest quality setting.

The use of flash memory cards helps keep the price of the unit down, but that only helps if you already own a memory card.

Optics

Like all pocket camcorders, the Zi8 does not offer an optical zoom lens. Instead, it features a 4x digital zoom. The zoom itself is of limited utility and when it’s engaged, it isn’t terribly smooth.

The Zi8 also packs digital image stabilization. Again, it’s not as effective as the optical variety, but it’s also not as important a feature in a pocket camcorder because you don’t have an optical zoom lens. You can see it in action here. On the whole, it’s better to have some form of stabilization than none, so Kodak gets the thumbs up for adding it.

Kodak Zi8: A Powerful Pocket Camcorder

Kodak’s Zi8 manages to outdo most of its rivals in the pocket camcorder market by adding some feature-enhancements without burdening the camcorder with complexity. It could stand to tweak its interface, build bigger buttons and make the exterior more resistant to finger prints. If you have no interest in anything but the simplest pocket camcorder for creating Web-friendly videos, the Flip UltraHD would still give you the best bang for your buck. But if you’re thirsting for a pocket camcorder with equal (and in some cases, better) quality than the Flip with more features to boot, the Zi8 is the model for you.

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by Leland Richardson on November 15, 2021 0

DXG A80V Camcorder Review

DXG’s A80V is a low cost high definition camcorder capable of recording 1920 x 1080p video to SDHC memory cards. The $299 model features: a 10-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom lens, and a 3-inch touch-screen LCD.

DXG A80V at a Glance:

The Good: Inexpensive, decent HD video quality, lightweight, touch-screen.

The Bad: Bulkly, limited optics

1080P Video Recording on a Budget

The DXG A80V is one of the least expensive traditionally-styled camcorders to offer 1920 x 1080p HD video resolution. And unlike the even cheaper pocket camcorders that boast 1080p recording, the A80V has more features (although far less than comparably priced standard definition camcorders – more on that later).

The A80V’s video quality at 1080p is definitely on par with some more expensive HD camcorders (like the $499 Sanyo FH1) but you shouldn’t expect it to perform as well as the higher bit-rate AVCHD models from Sony, Panasonic and others. That said, colors reproduced accurately and crisply. The camera was a solid performer indoors as well, with less digital noise marring the video in lower light than you’d find in either FH1 and lower-cost pocket models like Pure Digital’s Flip UltraHD. Another nice bonus: it offers a built-in video light.

The A80V has several other recording modes beyond 1080p/30 frames per second (fps). You’ll also find a 1080i/60fps for shooting fast-moving subjects. (See a comparison between 1080p/30fps and 1080i/60fps – it’s modest, but nonetheless the motion is crisper at the faster frame rate). You can also bump the resolution down to 720p at either 30fps or 60fps.

There’s also a dual-record option, which records two versions of the same video: one in high definition (1080P) and the other in WVGA.

The thinking here, I guess, is that you can create a lower-resolution video file for easier uploading to the Web. Personally I found it extraneous – why clog up your memory card with an extra file when YouTube and other sites support HD uploads?

High Resolution Stills

The A80V can snap 10-megapixel still photos with a flash to aid in low-light photography. The camera itself isn’t super-responsive. You’ll have to wait a second or often two from when you press the shutter, but the photos it produced were serviceable.

Limited Zoom

The A80V offers a 5x optical zoom lens. That’s not a lot of optical punch in a $300 camcorder and a far cry from the 70x lens you can find on, say, a standard definition Panasonic. On top of that, it uses electronic image stabilization, which isn’t as effective as optical stabilization in curbing camera shake.

The camcorder does offer a manual focusing option (which you operate using the zoom lever). Another useful feature is the ability to set a focus point using the touch-screen LCD. While the overall performance of the touch-screen display was good (see below) I found it somewhat sluggish when it came to this touch-focus feature. It would take the camcorder a few seconds to relocate the focus box and lock-on to its target.

Modest Feature Set

To pack a 1080p camcorder into a $299 price you have to expect some trade-offs. Other than the lens, the other trade off you’ll make is with the feature-set. You’ll get more options than you would with a pocket camcorder, but you won’t enjoy the same breadth of features on similarly priced standard definition camcorders (for instance, no scene modes or shutter and aperture controls).

That said, it’s not totally bare-bones: you can adjust white balance and exposure, as well as choose to film in sepia or black and white.

Responsive Touch Screen

DXG packed the A80V with a 3-inch touch-screen LCD. That’s a larger screen than you’ll find on more expensive models (with or without touch-screen operation) and aside from the sluggish spot focusing, the overall touch-screen performance is very responsive. All the features you’ll need to access are represented as nice large icons on the screen.

When it comes to external, physical controls, you’ll find a small mode dial at the back of the camcorder for switching between video and photo mode. There’s also a small toggle joystick at the back for adjusting white balance and exposure. A small shutter button and zoom lever sit atop the camcorder while behind the LCD screen sit nicely-sized controls for the flash, video light, power and display buttons. All in all, the controls are well positioned, making the A80V quite easy to operate.

Since it’s a flash camcorder, the A80V is light weight at 10 ounces (without battery). It springs to life fairly quickly and can be powered up and down by opening the LCD or via a button behind the display. It is a tad bulkier than other flash camcorder at a little over 5-inches long, but it’s not very obtrusive.

The Bottom Line: The DXG A80V is a Good Budget Buy

At $299, the DXG A80V has very few competitors that can offer the same video resolution of 1920 x 1080p. You can spend about $70 less for a 1080p pocket camcorder, but you’ll lose out on a lot of the features the A80V has to offer. You could spend the same amount for a fuller-featured camcorder with a better zoom, but it would only offer standard definition resolution. So there’s your trade-off.

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by Leland Richardson on November 15, 2021 0

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Camcorder Review

The Panasonic HDC-TM90 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format. It offers 16GB of built-in flash memory, a 3-inch touch-screen display and a 26x zoom lens. It is also capable of 3D video recording with an optional 3D converter lens.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 at a Glance

The Good: Excellent video quality, solid feature set, light and compact design.

The Bad: Small external controls, clumsy menu interface.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Video Quality

The Panasonic TM90 records video at 1920 x 1080 at 60 progressive frames per second via a 3-megapixel CMOS sensor at a maximum bit rate of 28Mbps.

This high bit-rate setting is not actually supported by the AVCHD format that the TM90 records in, so your video editing options are fewer (at least for now) than they would be if you dialed back to the AVCHD-supported 24Mbps.

Nevertheless, the video quality on the Panasonic TM90 is very impressive. We’re talking about extremely crisp motion, well-saturated colors and nice even exposure. In low light, the results were equally impressive, with very little visible noise, especially vs. other camcorders in its price range. Panasonic said they revamped their noise reduction system for a number of 2011 camcorders and it definitely shows.

In addition to the high-quality 28Mbps mode, you can dial back to 17Mbps, 13Mbps, 9Mbps and 5Mbps. On the still photography side, you can snap 5-megapixel still photos. While it’s no replacement for a still camera, it has a flash and a dedicated photo shutter, so it delivers enough functionality to fill in on the fly.

Panasonic TM90 Optics

The TM90 packs a 26x optical zoom lens.

Your magnification can be boosted to 40x with Panasonic’s “Intelligent Zoom” which basically crops your video to produce a “zoom” look. The TM90 offers both optical and digital image stabilization to reduce jitters as you move about or use the zoom. I found it quite effective, particularly as you zoom out.

Another nice optical feature: the TM90 offers a 28mm wide angle lens for getting more of your scene in the frame.

Design

The design of the Panasonic HDC-TM90 is something of a mixed bag. On the plus side, it’s very light and compact at 1.99 x 2.48 x 4.67 inches and .54lbs without battery and memory card. It has a plastic exterior, which contributes to its light weight but also makes it feel a bit cheap. The overall design is sleek – with the battery lodged nearly flush with the back of the camcorder, so it’s quite easy to drop in purse or pocket.

The design negatives come when you flip open the camcorder’s LCD display to reveal a set of small buttons (Intelligent Auto/Manual, image stabilization, and 1080/60p mode) that are flush with the camcorder body and are difficult to engage.

Feature Set

The TM90 offers an “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically setting exposure settings to maximize video quality based on your shooting environment. Advanced users will like the automatic control over iris, focus and shutter speed. There’s also a pre-record function which will record up to three seconds of video before you actually press “record.”

The TM90 is also able to record 3D video with the use of an optional 3D converter lens ($350). After you attach the converter, the camcorder will automatically detect it and set you into 3D mode, along with instructions for properly adjusting the lens for the most accurate recording. The resulting 3D video won’t be high definition and can’t be viewed in 3D on the camcorder’s LCD display. If you own a 3D TV and glasses, however, you can enjoy the full 3D experience when connecting the camcorder via HDMI cable.

Menu & Display

With a 3-inch touch screen display, the Panasonic TM90 has a bit more room to navigate around on-screen menu items. Unfortunately, a lot of the on-screen menu icons are a bit vague. You can use an info button (marked as an ‘i’ on the bottom of the menu) to get a brief written description, but the info mode shuts off after one use – you’ll have to constantly hit it to learn about a particular function, which can be frustrating.

The touch screen itself is quite responsive and the display rotates around so you can alternate your viewing angles.

Memory

The Panasonic TM90 packs 16GB worth of internal flash memory alongside a slot for an optional SDXC card. It offers relay recording – a useful feature which automatically switches recording from internal memory to a card (if one’s inserted) when internal memory fills up.

You can store roughly two hours and 20 minutes worth of the highest quality HD footage on the TM90’s built-in memory and much more than that (up to six hours) if you dial back the quality.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Bottom Line

Some design quibbles aside, the TM90 is a terrific camcorder for the mid-range of the HD/AVCHD market. It delivers fantastic video quality with a well-rounded feature set and a terrific zoom lens. If you get the hankering to shoot 3D video, the TM90 can accommodate you, although we wouldn’t recommend it for its 3D features alone (better to buy a dedicated 3D camcorder with a pair of image sensors and lenses).

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by Leland Richardson on November 9, 2021 0

Samsung HMX-Q10 Camcorder Review

The Samsung HMX-Q10 is a high definition camcorder that captures 1920 x 1080 video in the H.264 to SDHC memory cards. It offers a 2.7-inch LCD display, 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization and a unique grip which lets you flip the camcorder to film with both the right and left hands.

The Samsung Q10 retails for $299. Full specifications can be found here.

Samsung Q10 at a Glance

The Good: Strong video quality, responsive touch-screen, nice design

The Bad: Awkward zoom lever, no automatic lens cover

Samsung HMX Q10 Video Quality

Samsung’s HMX Q10 records 1920 x 1080 video in the H.264 format. It’s also capable of recording at 720/60 frames per second for capturing fast-moving subjects and at VGA resolution.

Given its lower price tag, the Q10 is competing more with pocket camcorders and it clearly exceeds them in the quality department. While there were instances of over-exposure, with bright sunlight washing out highlights, the Q10 captured mostly crisp, color-accurate video. It did well indoors as well. I took it into a dimly lit aquarium and after a second or two of blur as it sought to establish focus, the Q10 was able to resolve the scene quite well considering the challenging environment.

You can also snap 4.9-megapixel still photos with the Q10, although you should steer clear of taking stills with the Q10 as the results were unimpressive.

Optics

The Q10 packs a 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization – a nice plus not usually found on lower-cost camcorders. There’s also a digital zoom, which, fortunately, can be deactivated. All-in-all, a nice optical package. The only draw back is that there’s no automatic lens cover. However, there is a built-in cover that flips open and closed using a switch on top of the lens barrel – that’s a far better option than a lens cap, but not as good as an automatic cover.

Samsung HMX Q10 Design

The design of the Q10 is pretty spartan, with few external controls outside of a zoom lever/shutter button on the back of the camcorder. Flip open the 2.7-inch display and you’ll see only a home button, which brings you into the camcorder’s internal memory.

With the Q10, Samsung introduced a design innovation called the “Swithgrip” – which essentially lets you film using either your right or left hand. When you switch from right to left, the menu items on the display will automatically orient themselves correctly. Since there are no external controls on the top of the camcorder to operate, the transition from right-handed to left-handed filming is seamless. Left-handed users, rejoice!

Thanks to the use of flash memory, the Q10 is quite light and compact, weighing in at .4lbs and sized at 4.7 x 2.1 x 1.7 inches. It certainly won’t be a drag to carry the Q10 around with you on long trips. Aesthetically it won’t turn many heads but is available in your choice of black and blue. The only real knock on the design is that wrist strap, which is kind of flimsy.

Q10 Features

You’ll find a nice selection of shooting options on the Q10, despite its budget price tag. You’ll have time lapse recording and a selection of digital effects to apply various filters to your video including black and white, sepia, negative, art, noir, western, dazzle, and ghost. You can switch between automatic and manual recording, where you’ll have the ability to focus manually, set white balance, adjust exposure, night mode, and backlit compensation. All in all a very strong feature set for a camcorder at this price.

The Q10 is loaded with Samsung’s Intelli-Studio software, which installs automatically whenever you connect the camcorder to a computer via USB.

Menu and Display

The Q10 offers a 2.7-inch touch screen LCD display. It’s quite responsive and it’s helped along with an icon-driven menu interface. Pop open the display and you’ll see a row of icons indicating your scene mode and then controls for switching between still and video capture, zoom and playback. It’s always better to have more real-estate on a display when working with a touch-screen, but Samsung keeps the number of icons on the display to a minimum so it’s easy to hit the ones you need with your finger. At any point you can hit the “home” key on the exterior of the display and get back into the main menu.

Samsung HMX-Q10 Memory

The Q10 records directly to SDHC memory cards, so you’ll need to factor in the cost of a memory card into your equation. The Q10 cannot record to newer, higher-capacity SDXC cards so you’re memory capacity is limited to 32GB (or eight hours of HD recording).

Bottom Line

If you’re in the market for a low-cost HD camcorder but are leery about the quality and limited feature-set of a pocket camcorder, the HMX-Q10 is definitely a solid choice. It’s slightly more expensive than most pocket models on the market at $300, but delivers a better zoom, better video quality and a more robust feature set. It’s unique “SwitchGrip” design gives both left and right-handed users the ability to hold the Q10 naturally and comfortably. All-in-all a good choice in the budget-end of the HD camcorder market.

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by Leland Richardson on November 9, 2021 0

Panasonic HC-V100 Camcorder Overview

The Panasonic HC-V100 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format.

The HC-V100carries a suggested retail price of $349. Full technical specifications for the HC-V100can be found here.

Panasonic HC-V100 Video Features

The HC-V100 uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080p high definition recording. It supports 17Mbps recording, not the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format (24Mbps).

The HC-V100 features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. The HC-V100 can also record in standard definition if you want to save space on your memory card. The camcorder also supports iFrame recording (at 960 x 540) for movies that can be easily edited on most computers.

The camcorder uses Panasonic’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments.

The mode employs various technologies – including image stabilization, face detection, an intelligent scene-selector and contrast control to optimize your exposure.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 34x optical zoom lens on the VC100. This optical zoom is joined by a 42x Intelligent zoom (iZoom), which can enhance the magnification of your footage by using a smaller portion of the sensor without losing image resolution. Finally, there’s a 2000xdigital zoom which will degrade resolution when in use.

The lens employs Panasonic’s Power Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. The image stabilization technology has an active mode which can be enabled when walking or when you’re otherwise in an unstable position to provide extra shake reduction.

The V100 lens is protected by a manual lens cover. It’s not as convenient as the automatic covers found on higher-end Panasonic models.

Memory and Display

The V100 records video to a single SDHX memory card slot. Using just internal memory, the HC-V100 can store approximately three hours and 45 minutes worth of the highest quality HD footage.

You can also record to SDXC cards, although there is no relay recording.

The HC-V100 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no optical or electronic viewfinder.

Design

Design-wise, the HC-V100 cuts a fairly conventional, if somewhat boxy, figure. Thanks to the use of flash memory you’ll still enjoy a light weight body at .4 pounds. The HC-V100 measures in at 2 x 2.3 x 4.4 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Panasonic camcorders, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

Aesthetically, the HC-V100 is available in a black.

Shooting Features

The HC-V100 is outfitted with a fairly minimalistic feature set. It offers face detection a pre-record function which records three seconds worth of video before you hit the shutter. The V100 also offers an auto ground-directional standby mode, which detects if the camcorder is being held in an unusual position (say, upside down) and automatically stops recording. A low light/color night recording mode preserves colors even in dim lighting.

As far as scene modes go, you’ll find sports, portrait, low light, spot light, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, night scenery, night portrait and soft skin mode. You can snap 2-megapixel photos while recording video on the V100. Still photos can also be isolated from video footage played back on the camcorder and saved as a separate file. There is a two channel stereo microphone.

Connectivity

The HC-V100 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

At $349, the HC-V100 is Panasonic’s bid for the budget dollar, and the feature set reflects that. You’ll get a high-powered lens for an entry-level high definition camcorder, but you won’t get the full 24Mbps HD recording available on higher-end models and you’ll sacrifice features like a touch-screen display, relay-recording and manual modes, increasingly making their way down the camcorder food chain. That said, it packs a more potent video punch than a pocket camcorder (or smartphone) and the retail price will undoubtedly be discounted to make it an even more attractive buy for the budget-minded.The Panasonic HC-V100 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format.

The HC-V100carries a suggested retail price of $349. It is a close cousin of the $449 GZ-HM320. Full technical specifications for the HC-V100can be found here.

Panasonic HC-V100 Video Features

The HC-V100 uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080p high definition recording. It supports 17Mbps recording, not the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format (24Mbps). The HC-V100 features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. The HC-V100 can also record in standard definition if you want to save space on your memory card. The camcorder also supports iFrame recording (at 960 x 540) for movies that can be easily edited on most computers.

The camcorder uses Panasonic’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments. The mode employs various technologies – including image stabilization, face detection, an intelligent scene-selector and contrast control to optimize your exposure.

Optical Features

The V100 lens is protected by a manual lens cover. It’s not as convenient as the automatic covers found on higher-end Panasonic models.

Memory and Display

The V100 packs 16GB of internal memory and a single SDHX memory card slot. Using just internal memory, the HC-V100 can store approximately three hours and 45 minutes worth of the highest quality HD footage. You can also record to SDXC cards, although there is no relay recording.

The HC-V100 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no optical or electronic viewfinder.

Design

Aesthetically, the HC-V100 is available in a black.

Shooting Features

Connectivity

The HC-V100 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

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by Leland Richardson on November 8, 2021 0

Panasonic HC-V10 Overview

The Panasonic HC-V10 is a high definition camcorder that records 1280 x 720p video in the MPEG-4/H.264 format.

When the HC-V10 first hit shelves, it carried a suggested retail price of $249. This camcorder has since been discontinued, but now it can still be found used from some online retailers. The HC-V10 It is a close cousin of the Panasonic HC-V100. Full technical specifications for the HC-V10 can be found on the Panasonic website.

Panasonic HC-V10 Video Features

The HC-V10 uses the MPEG-4 format for 1280 x 720p high definition recording. It supports 15Mbps recording. You can also drop the resolution to 840 x 480 resolution, 640 x 480 or iFrame recording (at 960 x 540) for movies that can be easily edited on most computers. The HC-V10 features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 63x optical zoom lens on the VC10. This optical zoom is joined by a 70x “enhanced optical zoom,” which can enhance the magnification of your footage by using a smaller portion of the sensor without losing image resolution.

Finally, there’s a 3500xdigital zoom which will degrade resolution when in use.

The V10 lens is protected by a manual lens cover. It’s not as convenient as the automatic covers found on higher-end Panasonic models.

Memory and Display

The V10 records directly to an SDHX memory card slot. There is no relay recording.

The HC-V10 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no optical or electronic viewfinder.

Design

Design-wise, the HC-V10 cuts a fairly conventional, if somewhat boxy, figure. Thanks to the use of flash memory you’ll still enjoy a lightweight body at 0.47 pounds. The HC-V10 measures in at 2.1 x 2.5 x 4.3 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Panasonic camcorders, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

The HC-V10 is available in a black, silver and red.

Shooting Features

The HC-V10 is outfitted with a fairly minimalistic feature set, which is not surprising given its price. It offers face detection a pre-record function which records three seconds worth of video before you hit the shutter. The V10 also offers an auto ground-directional standby mode, which detects if the camcorder is being held in an unusual position (say, upside down) and automatically stops recording.

A low light/color night recording mode preserves colors even in dim lighting.

As far as scene modes go, you’ll find sports, portrait, low light, spot light, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, night scenery, night portrait and soft skin mode. You can snap .9-megapixel photos while recording video on the V10 (not a great resolution). Still photos can also be isolated from video footage played back on the camcorder and saved as a separate file. There is a two channel stereo microphone.

Connectivity

The HC-V10 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

The Bottom Line

The HC-V10 compensates for the lower resolution specification with a super high-powered lens. If sharper video quality is more important to you than a long zoom, consider Panasonic’s slightly more expensive V100 which is the company’s least expensive model to feature 1920 x 1080 recording. It does, however, have a lower zoom lens at 32x.

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