Tag Archives: HD

Canon’s new Vixia HD camcorders for podcasting and home production



VIXIA_HF_R52_main_LCD_bkFor many years, Canon has been a household name when it comes to high quality cameras, camcorders, printers, scanners, and copiers, to name a few. Recently, Canon introduces a new line of camcorders that are perfect not just for hobbyist, but also for podcasters that are looking for a new camcorder that has excellent features but affordable at the same time.

Canon introduces a new completely different reimagined line of camera of their Vixi mini camcorder that is perfect for producing a podcast or any kind of media at all. Introducing the VIXIA mini X, not only can this new mini camcorder take images at 12.8 Megapixels, it can also capture full HD video recordings up to 1920 x 1080p (30p/24p) to a removable SD memory card.

Unlike its predecessor, the Vixia mini X has two large stereo microphones that are two and a half times larger than Vixia mini, enabling it to pick up great audio in wide dynamic range. It also has a two-stage system, which can eliminate unwanted noises. Aside from the built-in stereo microphone, it also has a microphone input on the side, which is great for podcasters who want to use their own microphones quite often, especially when podcasting from a noisy environment. In addition, the Vixia mini X also has a headphone terminal, allowing you to adjust the audio whenever necessary using the volume dial.

When it comes to it’s screen, Canon’s Vixia mini X can be flipped in multiple angles. So whether you’re setting it up to interview someone or doing a separate podcast where you have to do the video work and be in the shot as well, you can simply reach, angle it, and make adjustments according to your needs. It also has a close-up mode, where you can crop unnecessary backgrounds and just focus on you and what you want to show. Even if you’re shooting at a low-light setting, the Vixia mini X has the Canon DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor, which provides excellent performance in a low-light situation. It also has an aperture of f/2.8, which also works great on low-light environment. What is great with this latest addition to the Canon camcorders is that it has no limit as to how long you can record; it only lies on the memory space of the SD memory card you are using.

VIXIA_mini_X_02If you want to step up your game when it comes to your podcasting, however, there are three newest lines of the Vixia HF R camcorders you can choose from, one of which is the VIXIA HF R500. Although it has no Wi-Fi and internal memory, it has 57x advanced zoom and an SD memory card slot, as well as the other advanced features the Vixia HF R camcorders have. The VIXIA HF R50 and VIXIA HF R52, however, both have built-in Wi-Fi and an internal memory of 8GB and 32GB. Using the built-in Wi-Fi, you can take control as to what images are coming up on the internet using their Media Controller App, whether it’s on an IOS or an Android smartphone system.

Canon also recently introduces the Pan Table, which is a base accessory that can be attached to the bottom of your Vixia mini X or the Vixia HF R camcorders. With this, you will have the option to oscillate the camcorder from left to right up to 200 degrees. It can also be manually adjusted for a tilt up to 20 degrees. Plus, using the Canon CameraAccess plus app, you can use the Wi-Fi to manage your files, as well as the camcorder’s stop-start and zoom option, making it more convenient when shooting your podcast.

At $399.00, you can already have the Vixia mini X and if you want to get the Pan Table, simply add $100.00 and it can be yours as well, which includes the battery pack and compact power adapter, to name a few. The Vixia HF R500, however, is at $299.99, whereas the Vixia HF R50 is being sold at $399.99 and the Vixia HF R52 is only $449.99.

One of the great things that Canon’s new line of camcorders bring to podcasters is that with its built-in Wi-Fi, you can be creative as you can be and share your video instantly. Learn more about VIXIA mini XVIXIA HF R500,Vixia HF R50, and VIXIA HF R52 by visiting Canon’s website.

Interview by Daniel J. Lewis from The Audacity to Podcast.

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HD HomeRun for All Your Screens in the Home



HDHomeRunLogoThe distribution of HD content within the home has been a problem – if you want to preserve video quality. HD Home Run is an established product that permits you to have the output of up to three tuners converted to broadcast quality MPEG-2, and then distributing it through the wired home network. However, as soon as you add a device like a smartphone or tablet, you will find that the on-board devices are just not able to keep up with the decoding task. Plus, the bandwidth on the home WiFi network is not going to be able to keep up. Networking of video in the home, using Conditional Access you are able to stream video to any connected device – wired, or wireless Android or iOs.  The new HD Home Run system takes up to four separate video streams and does a real time transcode of the MPEG-2 to H.264 that can be carried over WiFi, and easily decoded by the processor in the tablet or smartphone. The new system is fully compatible with Windows8. TPN Interview by Andy McCaskey, SDRNews .

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Contour: Action Video for Extreme Sports



More Affordable Version of Contour Sports Camera

Contour has long been known for high performance sports and adventure video – but they were concentrated at the premium end of the marketplace. Not any longer ! The new ContourROAM has an MSRP under $200 ! And, they’ve paid attention to ease of use, introducing one-step recording. Just slide the record switch, and you’re instantly filming. Easy as that. It’s the ideal camera for a fun, stress-free experience capturing your adventures anywhere life takes you.

 

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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