Camcorder Reviews

Canon has been delighting you always with a wide range of cameras and that too, with excellent quality. All of its products are of stunning design and quality. Its camcorders have a great demand in the market and they have always remained on the top right from their advent into the camcorder market. All the camcorders that were released until now are a big hit. Meanwhile, Canon has released its new and once again a stunning camcorder, the Canon Legria HF200. It is embedded with the latest electronic technology and is expected to cross all roadblocks when it comes to the sales. Let us go through the different facets of this fabulous looking camcorder and see if we can afford to pick it as one of the best ever from Canon.

Design:

Sleek and comfy:
The Legria HF200 Digital Camcorder is quite small and comfortable to handle. Even though there are numerous camcorders in the market that are very small and cute, this should definitely be one of the best designs ever from Canon. The reason for that is the camcorder is so cute to look at and when you take it into your hands you will know that the cam can be perfectly held in one hand. Measuring just about 62 x 70 x 124mm and weighing 340g, this has to be pretty comfortable for you to hold in one hand. Normally with such small cams, there is no need to take the help of the second hand. Also at some times this may lead to shaking of the camera and you may get a blurred image. There is a big lens on the front side and the display is on the side of it. All the control buttons of great importance are also grouped together very well and they are hence easily accessible. Considering these and a few other sundry aspects, it can well be said that Canon has given its best in producing one of its finest designs ever.

Display:
This is also an integral part of the camcorder and more often than not, this aspect may well become the decision maker. The Legria HF200 has a 2.7 inch TFT LCD screen that enables viewing the subjects before they are actually filmed or captured. The screen is quite big for a small camcorder like the Legria HF200 itself. The screen can also be rotated on its axis so that it is comfortable to view the screen when filming in different angles. Particularly, like all camcorders, it is easy to film yourself of you can swivel the screen towards yourself. The screen has all the details of the video and it shows you things like time left, date and time and other information. The screen also can show the information in various languages so that it will be comfortable for local shooters. You can set the language for yourself or the default will be English.

Features:

One of the landmarks of Canon, of late, has been the features section.  Along with good looks, the Legria HF200 High Definition Camcorder also has a variety of features that are so cool and they also greatly improve the popularity of the camcorder.

Face Detection:
Although the Face Detection feature is pretty well known, it is also one of the very common features that are found on just about every camcorder. This is the new technology that allows the lens of the camera to focus more on the faces of the subjects in the picture and then alters the shooting or capturing conditions so as to optimise the quality and clarity of the faces. Even though the overall picture is of great quality, the faces are concentrated more. Hence this feature is one of the most important ones regarding the Legria HF200.

Memory Card Recording:
This is not something new, although it is very useful. You can shoot excellent and High Definition videos and then store them into SDHC type memory cards. These cards are sold separately in the stores. Even though few other cards may be compatible with the Legria HF200 HD Video Camcorder, only the SDHC is officially authenticated as compatible. To be more precise, you better buy that one or you may or may not face problems in the future. A piece of advice that can be given here is that the memory of the card should be at least 2 GB in order to store more HD videos. 4GB or higher are always welcome though.

Instant Shooting:
The Canon Legria HF200 is capable of starting within a second, when you just open the LCD screen. This is called the quick start option and is helpful when instant shooting is needed. Whenever you see something interesting, you can immediately open the lid and then shoot it almost immediately. With a second, you can switch the camcorder on and then shoot videos by just immediately pressing the record button. This feature is quite common nowadays but the Legria HF200 does it quicker than many. While even the best of the cameras nowadays are taking more than a few seconds to start, the Legria HF200 takes merely one second to open up and be ready for full range shooting. Everything happens in seconds.

Creative Options:
There are a few creative options that can creatively alter the settings and options in order to get the pictures that match your tastes and likings. The Legria HF200 has separate options that help you cope up with different conditions and ultimately get the best output. It automatically alters the video and picture modes when in dim light conditions and thus the image or video quality is not reduced very much. The 25 p video mode allows video shooting at 25 frames per second and thereby giving you pictures that match the cinemas. The colour contrast of the Legria HF200 is also quite good, in fact better than any of the other Canon camcorders. There is a special feature, known as the x.v.colour feature, which alters few settings and make the pictures look great on the HD TVs, when the videos are played on them.

Shooting Modes:
There are a few shooting modes so that you can choose the appropriate one depending upon the situation. The Video Snapshot option allows you to snapshot photos from the videos that were taken. Another option is the short record option. With this feature, a short recording of the videos is done every time the record button is presses. All such videos are stored in the memory and they all can be mixed later manually or automatically. You can also add different soundtracks to these videos and they are like the background music. So, you get a customised video mix and this will be a pretty interesting feature that you will ever see. With the music track utility that is provided, you can store music files on to the memory card so that they can be used as background scores for the videos. There is no need of a computer in order to edit all these videos. You can do it all on the camcorder itself.

Software:
A software bundle is provided by Canon, along with the Legria HF200 3.3 Mega Pixel Camcorder. This allows you install them on your computer and use them. The first one is the PIXELA edit software. With this special software, you can edit and crop your photos as you like, edit and provide some effects to your videos and then save them. Later on, you can connect to the internet from your computer and then upload these files on to the internet in order to shame them with the world. The second one is the DW 100 DVD burner that is presented by Canon itself. This one easily burns your DVDs and you can make your own collection of your pictures and videos and later watch on the HD television sets. Thus, both these features are pretty good and helpful. They enhance the utility of the Legria HF200.

These features are really helpful to you in shooting well. Some of them may seem pretty new to some of the novice users but nothing is very difficult. Once you start using the Legria HF200, it will be fun and you will also get used to it soon.

Performance:

Any camcorder has to score good marks in this area, the aspect of performance. Every camcorder has to pass the acid tests that are conducted by experts. Regarding this aspect, the Legria HF200 does not seem to have even the smallest of problems. All its parts are functioning very well and it will be one of the best camcorders that Canon has ever unleashed. Let us come to the point and discuss the various performance aspects of the camcorder.

Camera:
Stunning is the word that you can use to describe the camera of the Legria HF200. Make no mistake; this is one of the best cameras ever in the history of the digital era. It has in it everything that one would expect from a top quality camera. Going into the details of this camera, it has a 3.3 MP lens that gives you excellent pictures all the time. The combination of this lens and the CMOS sensor is just about perfect for any camera. Along with the Full HD CMOS sensor, the 15x optical zoom feature, the Canon HD video lens, 24 Mbps fast video recording, and also the super fast DIGIC DV III processor that gives you Full HD quality video output, leaving an impression of a HD movie. If the settings are set to high, the camera unleashes its full potential.
There is also face detection feature which is already discussed earlier. The camera has such a great ability to recognise up to 35 faces of people inside the photo frame so that you can tag almost everyone that is there in the picture. The super range optical image stabilisation has taken the camera to new heights and you will barely see the effects of shaking and blurring. Hence your shots are never ruined by the shaking of your hands. With such a good camera and its features, you can easily bet on the Legria HF200 to give you stunning HD pictures.

Video Technology:
This area of the camcorder has been improved so much by Canon. The latest of video technology is being used in all the camcorders of Canon and the Legria HF200 is not at all exception by any means. There are also multiple options that make the video shooting better. You can take still pictures of 3.3 MP. Along with this, you also have what is called the Dual Shot mode that allows you to take both pictures and videos at a time. While you are shooting videos of 2 MP, you can always almost readily take pictures at your will, without ever changing the mode. Just by switching between the shooting modes, you can almost instantaneously take quick pictures while the video is recorded in parallel. The photo burst mode allows you to shoot about 25 pictures per second. That is the reason it is called a burst of photos. You can select the best of the randomly clicked photos and save them. Added to all of these wonderful features, the performance part has been top notch. The overall video execution is almost stunning.

Audio Technology:
With the microphone input inside the camcorder, you can attach an external mic in order to record good sounds so as to complement the videos. The microphone input that is there inside allows you to attach an external mic in order to record the audio signals with more clarity. With this, the monitor-audio levels are perfectly maintained. This means that the sounds are produced as they were when the videos are played on the TVs. The direction and the intensity of the sounds are recorded with good accuracy. Hence you can notice the immense development in the audio technology of the camcorders from Canon. On the whole, you get good audio that complements the videos on the Legria HF200.

Thus, you can clearly see that Canon has focussed its attention primarily on the performance aspects of its camcorders. There is not at all a single problem regarding the performance of the Legria HF200 that bothers you. You can happily shoot either indoors or outdoors and almost in all conditions and then get great video output along with great audio.

Battery:

The Legria HF200 come with one of the latest battery technologies. It has the BP 827 type of lithium ion battery that offers you longer battery life. Remember that the more are the options and features switched on in the camcorder, the lesser is the battery life. Hence it is always better to leave the option to the cam itself to choose the shooting conditions and change the settings itself. If customisation is so needed, then it is better that there is a spare battery with you. Having a spare battery with you does you a world of good and especially when you plan to shoot outdoors. This is necessary for any camcorder, not just the Legria HF200.

Warranty:

Canon offers parts and labour warranty for a period of twelve months from the original date of purchase.

Verdict:

You have already made a very good decision if you have gone in favour of the Canon Legria HF200. If you still have not, then you can happily choose this one because you do not find a camcorder that is much better than the Legria HF200, that easily. It has everything in it to make it a five star rated camcorder. Great design, exciting features and wonderful performance, all of them are instrumental in making the camcorder a great hit. Except for the fact that the cam is costlier than normal, there has been no negative aspect regarding the Legria HF200. Even though this is one of the cheapest camcorders from Canon after it has revised its dimensions for the digital cameras, it is still considerably costly. Thus, if you think you do not need to pay too much for a camcorder, then you can look at other camcorders that are almost equivalent with this one, especially from Sony and Toshiba.

Check other Canon Camcorder Reviews, Ratings in this website.

Canon Legria HF200 Camcorder – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Canon
Model Name	Legria HF200
Camcorder type	HD Camcorder
Dimensions (W x H x D)	62 x 70 x 124 mm
Weight	340 grams
Display	2.7″ LCD Screen
VIDEO FEATURES
Formats Supported	Standard Definition
Still image resolution	3.3 mega pixels
Compression of still image	JPEG
Image Size	1488 x 1128
Instant Shooting	Yes
Minimum Luminosity	3 Lux
AUDIO FEATURES
Audio System	Stereo
Built in Microphone	Stereo, zoom microphone
Specific features	Built in Speaker
CAMERA FEATURES
Image Device: Size	1 / 4″ CCD
Snap Shot	Yes
Switching	Yes, picture to video and vice versa
Photo Burst Mode	25 pictures per frame
Digital Still Resolution	8 megapixels
Features
Specific features	Image Stabilisation, Shooting Modes, 2 Channel Audio Control
Others
Sensor	CMOS
Recording	24 Mbps
Face detection	Yes, up to 35 per frame
Zoom Ratio (Optical)	15 x
Processor	DIGIC DV III
PORTS AND CONNECTIVITY	Audio Output, Digital Video Output, S-Video Output, USB Output
Battery Life	One Hour
Warranty	One year

With a view of making camcorders available and reasonable to all, Panasonic has taken a great leap towards producing a new range of camcorders that are cheap and easy to use. In this process, after a few misfires in the past, Panasonic has recently introduced its new camcorder, the Panasonic HDC SD10. It was liked by many people and expert reviewers around the world, so much that they hailed the way it is designed and also the way it performs. People who did not own a camera before thought that this one would be ideal to them. But those who already have one under their belt, thought “Why didn’t I wait for this one?”  So, this gives you the gist of what is to come. Though it led to many surprises in the beginning, it still stands as one of the better cams produced by Panasonic. Let us begin the expedition as we start from the design part of the Panasonic HDC SD10.

Design:

The HDC SD10 Camcorder is almost half the size of your palm. So, you can imagine how sleek and small this one is and hence is very easy to hold on to. When the LCD screen is closed, it almost looks like a mobile phone. Its dimensions measuring 47.5 x 63.0 x 114.5 mm (H x W x D) prove this statement. It also weighs pretty less when compared to the normal cams in the market, measuring just about 227 grams. Hence you find it easy to hold it in one hand and you might think that statement no sense, but this means a lot as many users believe that if two hands come into play, then the cam starts shaking a bit and hence the image quality is lost in the end. Everything else is almost normal. All the things are the same and none of their positions are changed. But the only thing is that they are pretty neatly arranged and their sizes are also minimised. Hence the design part of the Panasonic HDC SD10 is absolutely fine and this is one of the sleeker and the smaller camcorders you will ever see.

Sleek Design with a great Display:

One of the things that have really transformed photography has been the display screen. This enables you to look at everything before it is actually filmed. The Panasonic HDC-SD10 has a 2.7 inch wide LCD screen that gives you an excellent preview of all the pictures beforehand. This screen has good contrast levels and also its range is pretty good, with 230,400 pixels. It also has the ability to rotate on its axis and hence giving the users more flexibility in shooting their videos. It also has a wide range of viewing, with a viewing angle of about 170 degrees. This display is particularly very good for self capturing. You can easily look at yourself before you click and hence the pictures look great. Therefore, it can be said that this is one of the best displays in the market and we are pleased with its performance.

Features:

This part of the camcorder is very vital. It is this section of the camcorder that often decides its quality and popularity. This is because all the camcorders in the world have almost everything in common except the features. The features of different cams are different and those that are featured on the Panasonic HDC SD10 Video Camcorder are unique as well as useful.  Hence it is always necessary to know well about all the features of any gadget for that matter, because every feature is pretty new and unforeseen on most occasions. Here is a deeper look at the different features and utilities of the camcorder.

Intelligent Auto Mode:
With the Intelligent Auto or the iA feature, you can automatically activate some important functions that let you shoot comfortably and easily. This option, when switched on, makes all kinds of adjustments in order to make the picture clear and the environment in which the picture is captured is also smoothly altered so that you get pictures that are very apposite to the situation. Subtle adjustments like sharp focussing on to the people in the picture and small changes in the brightness levels and the colour contrast of the images; these are the things that are taken care of by this Intelligent Auto mode. Intelligent scene selector is also one of the options that come in to play here. It selects the appropriate scene or background to the pictures. One important thing that needs to be noticed here is that there is an option called the Auto focus/ Auto exposure, which focuses on the required subject in the frame. All this can be done by just touching the subject with your finger. This virtual alteration of the conditions makes the Panasonic HDC a very interesting one. Hence, this can be considered as a mix bag of several vital functions that are really necessary.

Face Detection:
This feature is seen in almost every camcorder nowadays. Even though this is one of the most common ones, it is still very vital that any cam cannot survive the competition without this feature. The Face Detection feature is automatic and as the name itself suggests, it detects the faces of people in the picture frame very accurately and hence alter the picture options accordingly. This feature is responsible for the phenomenon that is, the faces of the people are more candid than the other parts of the picture. This feature also automatically sets the other conditions and the skin tone of the persons will look more natural as well. Hence there is nothing complex when it comes to the Face Detection feature.

Optical Image Stabilisation:
Also known as the Active Mode (only in the Panasonic HDC SD10), this feature is related to the camera part of the camcorder. As we all know, our hands shake a bit while using the camcorder and especially while capturing videos. This ultimately results in either reduction in the image quality or blurring of the videos. Hence, in order to minimise this loss in the image quality, a new technology, called the optical image stabilisation has been introduced in the recent past. The name itself explains everything. The shaking effect that is caused while shooting is minimised to the maximum extent possible and smoother pictures are produced so that there is nothing that is fuzzy. This has also been one of those features that is being used by most of the manufacturers in their camcorders. This has become so vital that it is recently being used in the cameras of the mobile phones.

Connectivity and Networking:
SD Networking is available on the Panasonic HDC SD10. All you need to do is just pull the SD type memory card out of the camcorder and then insert into the Panasonic Viera TV and play the videos. For that matter, you can play the videos on any HD TV by just connecting to the TV using an HDMI cable. But if you have the Viera TV, you can also control your camcorder with your TV remote. You can also place this memory card inside the slot of a Blu Ray Disc Player for the same purpose. Hence the process of networking is easier than ever before. There is also the facility of uploading your videos onto YouTube. For this you need to simply encode the media to mpeg-2 format and then upload it on YouTube. This procedure is not mandatory but doing this eases the process.

Highlight Playback:
This is one of the amusing features you will find on the Panasonic HDC SD10 High Definition Camcorder. By using this feature, you can select the most important videos and photos from all of them and then the camcorder plays them randomly in order to give you a highlights package of the video or picture content. You will feel like watching a trailer if a movie when you actually come across this feature. If none of them is selected, then the camera itself selects the more exciting and brighter scenes from the array and then compiles them as a special package of highlights in order to give you a glimpse of all the others as well. A few more things add to the beauty of this feature. The pictures that are played at random are provided with various effects like panning, zooming and swivelling. They are also backed up by lively music that is already installed in the camcorder. Hence, all these combine to provide a great feature called the Highlight Playback.
Hence, these are precisely the main features of the Panasonic HDC SD10. They are not only good in number but also very good in usability.

Performance:

Till now, we have discussed about all the features and the design and they have been very good. So, it is natural that we expect terrific performance from the Panasonic HDC SD10. Besides this, the aspect of performance is also the most important thing and the foremost thing that one wants to be very good. But Panasonic seems to have no problems at all in providing excellent performance from its HDC SD10. Let us see what we have in store for us, regarding its performance.

Camera and Sensor:
This one has got a very good camera and the lens can be ranked among the best. The camera is powered by the latest CMOS technology to give you great pictures. The very advanced 16x zoom is also one of the main features of the HDC SD10. Although normally you get distorted pictures when zoomed to this extent, this camera, as we already discussed above, has the OIS or the Optical Image Stabilisation feature that stabilises the pictures in order to reduce blurring and distortion to the maximum extent. The unique feature of this lens is that it can identify hand shaking about 4000 times a second and immediately minimises the effect. Hence, you almost get a continuous smooth picture with very slight blurring. It is also comfortable to record videos when you are in motion so that your movement is also minimised. Coming to the details of the camera, the luminosity levels are good, at 1400 lx. The focus is automatic although you can adjust it manually. There is an array of shutter speeds that alter the image quality and they can be set manually according to the shooting conditions. The HDC-SD10 Flash Memory Camcorder also features Backlight compensation so that your picture quality does not degrade much even in poor lighting conditions. This feature is also both automatic and manual.

Lens:
The lens is the next most important aspect of a camcorder, after the camera itself. Regarding the lens of the HDC SD10, it is one of the better ones you will find in the market. You see pretty good numbers and statistics when you look at this lens. The F value of the lens ranges from 1.8 (wide) to 2.8 (tele). The filter diameter is about 30.5 mm. The lens also allows digital zooming of the images up to 1000 x. The focal length of the lens ranges from 2.95 mm to 47.2 mm. You can film videos of 35mm camera equivalent with 16:9 ratios with the Panasonic HDC SD10. Coming to the image sensor that is featured here, there is a 1/6” MOS of 1.47 megapixels. Effective pixels are also featured in addition to this in order to enhance the quality of the camera. For still images and also for motion images, it is about 1.17 megapixels.

Video Performance:
With such a good camera, you would expect fine video performance from the Panasonic HDC SD10. Apart from the usual video recording technology that you will see everywhere, Panasonic tried some new features in order to make the videos look better on the HDC SD10. The most important of them is the HD Advanced Pure Colour Engine. This very new feature enables a wider tonal expression and also high speed video processing. This is possible due to the impression of advanced imaging and printing circuitry which you will normally find inside the professional cameras. This very advanced new imaging engine handles large volumes of data at a time and also prevents blown images and blocked shadows, which cause minor problems otherwise. Hence the images look so real and as they are in real life and therefore you have great video performance with the HDC SD 10.

Audio Performance:
In general, the audio recording performance of this cam is good. But an important feature here is the Stereo Zoom Microphone. This means that the microphone of the cam is linked to the lens action. This means that the sound effects are changes subject to the changes in the zoom level. If the picture zoom level is normal, then the sound is also normal and all the sounds that are emitted during capturing are recorded as they are. But if the camera is zoomed to a particular subject, then the sounds that are emitted from that particular subject are recorded in detail when compared to the other sounds. This is just like the 3D effect and it definitely looks great. The overall audio performance is good and one of the better ones we have tested.

System Requirements:
The system requirements for the compatibility of the HDC SD10 are: An operating system that is either of Microsoft Windows XP (service packs 2 and 3) and Microsoft Windows Vista (service pack 1). The Mac version is also available in selective regions. The CPU must be Intel Pentium III or higher, with 1.0 GHz.

Miscellaneous:

The miscellaneous performance aspects include the Digital Camera Mode that allows you to shoot pictures at 1080p and at 25 frames per second. Then there is the progressive scanning procedure that makes sure that you get movie like videos. The soft skin mode detects the skin tones of people to the most intricate detail and gives you pictures that are very natural. The Magic Pix and the Tele Macro options allow sharp focussing even in poor lighting conditions. Then there is the High Speed Burst shooting feature that allows you to split videos into fifty parts or frames per second. This is good splitting by any standards and is one of the add-ons to the HDC SD10 compact Video Camcorder. There are also different scene modes that make the scenes more natural. These are namely: Sports, Low, Portrait, Surf and Snow, Spot Light, Sunset, scenery, fireworks and beach. These will be selected by the camcorder automatically.

Package contents:

Along with the Panasonic camcorder, you are provided with other hardware that consists of an AC adaptor, an AC cable, a DC cable, a rechargeable battery pack, a video component cable, an AV cable, a USB cable, a stylus pen, and the included software (HD writer AE 1.5). These are only minimal accessories and if any others are needed, you need to buy them separately from the stores. But in most of the cases, these are more than enough.

Battery:

The 725 mAh Lithium ion battery gives you a very good battery life of about an hour and twenty minutes. This is also above the normal ratings for the battery life of such camcorders. This battery is rechargeable. There is also a rechargeable battery pack available in the kit along with the camcorder. Normally this suffices your needs but it is better if you have a reserve battery with you all the time.

Warranty:

There is a twelve month international warranty when it comes to the parts as well as the labour. You can get the repairs done in any of the Panasonic Help centres around the world. This helps you a lot if your cam does not work properly in your holiday as you can get it fixed anywhere in the world.

Verdict:

The Panasonic HDC SD10 Digital Camcorder has popped up suddenly into the camcorder market leading to the surprise of many. It has one of the better designs in the world and is certainly good for students as well as the novice users equally. The display screen is very big for such a camcorder and it is nice to see it work very well. The HDC SD10 also included some very unique and interesting features and will certainly be of very good use to all. The camcorder performed really well and it passed various tests quite comfortably. The flexibility and customisability are two of the very best features of the HDC SD10. The flexibility shown in the warranty service is commendable. The cost of this cam is also pretty reasonable to all. It is good to see such a fine camcorder for such a reasonable rate. All in all, this is a good choice for almost anyone, from students to the professionals.

Check other Latest Panasonic Camcorder Reviews, best High Definition Camcorders in this website.


Panasonic HDC-SD10 Camcorder – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model Name	Panasonic HDC SD10
Model Number	HDC SD10
Camcorder type	Mini, HD Camcorder
Dimensions (W x D x H)	47.5 x 63.0 x 114.5 mm
Weight	227 grams
Colour	Black and Maroon
Display	2.7-inch TFT LCD
Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Still Picture Mode	Yes
Still Recording format	JPEG
Video Recording Mode	HA (17Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080) / HG (13Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080) / HX (9Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080) / HE (6Mbps / VBR) and (1440 x 1080)
Image Sensor	CMOS
Lens (focusing)	Optical auto focus
Optical Zoom	Up to 16x
Digital Zoom	40x – 1000x
F Value	F1.8 (Wide) / 2.8(Tele)
Standard Illumination	1400 lx
Minimum Illumination	9lx (1/25 low light mode) 1lx (colour night view mode)
Exposure control	Auto
Focus	Auto and Manual
White Balance	Auto, Indoor 1, Indoor 2, Sunny, Cloudy and White set
Video compression format	MP4,avi
Face Detection	Yes
Shutter type	Electronic
Frame rate	25 fps
Media Card Slot available	Yes (SD Memory card)
Image stabilization	Optical Image Stabilization
Audio input	Microphone
AV out	HDMI component-out and normal
Speaker	Yes (Dolby Digital)
Digital voice recorder	Yes
MP3 player	No
TV playback	Yes
Self timer	Yes
Quick Start	Yes
PC interface	USB 2.0
Power adaptor	Yes
Accessories	USB Cable, software, Rechargeable battery pack, A/V connecting cable, component A/V cable.
Battery	Li-ion rechargeable battery
Warranty	One Year

Imagine you are on a picnic to the countryside along with your family or you are celebrating your birthday party with your family and friends. You have everything prepared for the well awaited occasion and you have not missed even a single friend or relative of yours and everything is going on very well. But for sure, you notice that you do not have the opportunity of capturing all your happy moments and the gorgeous times you have spent. You do feel like having a stunning camcorder with you in the same situation. Don’t you? If you feel the same, then this is the right place for you to check out all the latest camcorders in the market and select the one that suits you the best.

The camcorders are the most popular and the most ornamented electronic gadgets among the commons. Technology has been subservient in completely changing the prospect of everything that suffices your daily round. The camcorders are not an exception to this. With the daily advancements in electronic technology, everything is becoming slimmer and slimmer day by day. This particular aspect of miniaturization has made all the gadgets, including the camcorders, very portable and stylish. New models and features are being introduced every now and then and all the prime producers of electronic goods in the world have embarked on providing a variety of camcorders and each one of them is unique in its own terms. But out of all of them, Sony has the proud privilege of being right at the top. Its camcorders, just like its other products, have been of the finest quality. It has recently released a new series of its camcorders, which includes the Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 Camcorder. It has in it all the style in the world and also the features that will suit just about everyone. Here is a detailed analysis of this new cam from Sony.

Design:

Not Pocket Friendly:

When you look at the Bloggie MHS for the first time, you will be under the impression that it is quite large for a modern camcorder. It measures about (W x D x H)39 x 101 x 67 mm. This is enough to show that it is a tad bigger than normal. It weighs about 6.9 ounces. So, considering these measurements, it can easily be said that you cannot fit this camcorder into your pocket. Except this, the remaining part of the design is absolutely perfect for a camcorder. The candy bar style of the camcorder is very cute looking and it is also quite comfortable to hold in one hand. Its stylish looks add to its beauty. The very look of it is quite cool and at the same time it has a professional look too.

Buttons and Controls:

All the main controls are placed at a very intuitively, at the top of the cam so that you can approach them with your thumb. This arrangement reduces the need to use two hands while filming as that leads to the shaking of the camera. There is a slot for the tripod stand at the bottom. This stand comes in handy when you need to mount the camera somewhere. The USB arm is also well placed so that the connection of the camera to a computer becomes a lot easier and also by doing this, you can forget about using wires for connections. The screen is also perfectly placed and on the whole, the design of the Bloggie MHS-CM5 HD Camcorder is nearly perfect and stylish.

Display:

The Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 uses a 2.5 inch LCD screen. The screen is comparatively quite big and thus you can have a comfortable look at everything before you actually start filming. This 2.5 inch LCD screen can rotate up to angle of 270 degrees on its axis. This is of great help to you especially while you are filming yourself and also if you try new angles of filming in order to make your videos or pictures look somewhat special. The swiveling screens are quite common nowadays but there are few screens in the market that can rotate up to 270 degrees. You do not normally see that, do you?

Features:

Of late, there has been a great deal of features introduced by Sony. None of them were any inferior to the best features available out there. This time around, Sony has tried its luck by introducing some innovative features and tested if they could be of any help to the users. Although most of them were only add-ons to those of the previous camcorders, they came out to be good in the end.

Camera:

The Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 has got one of the best cameras in the market. Its 5 MP camera helps you in giving literally crystal clear pictures. The pictures and the videos look great on the camera of the Bloggie MHS. The camera has CMOS sensor that sharpens the pictures. It has also got a 5x zoom facility and the image quality does not degrade much even in the zoom position. You almost get wonderful pictures and videos on this camera except when the outside light conditions are too poor and also when the photographer’s hands are a bit shaky. These are the main drawbacks of this otherwise magnificent camera. There has been a hue and cry among the users of the Bloggie regarding the above two factors that hinder the performance of the camera a bit.

Flash:

On one hand, the Bloggie MHS-CM5 HD camcorder does not have a built-in flash light to support the light intensity during poor light conditions. Although the camcorder adjusts itself the brightness levels according to the conditions, you would always want a flash light option which brightens the images a lot. On the other hand, as most of the users of the camcorders are not professionals in photography, it is quite natural that their hands tend to shake a bit while shooting. This is the reason why the new cameras have come with a feature that nullifies the shaking effect to give a more qualitative output. But this does not seem to be the case with the Bloggie MHS. Hence Sony has provided a tripod stand at the bottom of the camera in order to make it stand upright and hence to get better pictures, sans any blur. Another thing to notice is that there is no picture stabilization at 1080p.

HD Recording:

If you have always wanted high definition video recording from your camcorder, then the Sony Bloggie MHS is one of the best findings for you. Sony has always been following the latest video technologies. The video technology has taken new turns as the High Definition Video output has come into picture. This High Definition Technology gives you ultra crisp pictures with the highest quality. The HD videos look like the movies you see in the theatres. Exactly in the same manner, Sony has implemented the HD recording feature in the Bloggie MHS. You get ultra high quality pictures with the Bloggie. The Bloggie takes pictures with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is the best one you can expect from a camcorder of this type. It allows you to record the best moments of your life in the latest mp4 format, also known as the H.264. This new format, the mp4, helps you compress the videos and pictures taken by you and hence makes it easy for you to upload the files into your computer. Mp4 also proudly claims its capacity to meet the compatibility needs of most of the websites on the internet such as YouTube and PhotoBucket.

Face Detection:

This has been one of the most common but very important features of all. With the help of this very special technology, the camera of the Bloggie MHS identifies the faces of the people in the picture and then alters and optimizes the settings and picture options accordingly. It helps in making the faces of the people in the picture clearer than the other parts of it. The faces are also made quite sharp with the face detection technology. Another thing with this feature is that it makes the skin tones of people in the picture more natural. So, this new technology only adds up the pluses list of the Bloggie MHS.

Media Card Slot:

You always need some memory in the cam in order to save all the pictures clicked by you. So, you need a memory card. The Sony Bloggie MHS has proved its flexibility when it comes to the compatibility with the memory cards. It accepts as many as five types of memory cards that are available in the market. Memory Cards like the SD, SDHC, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo and Memory Stick PRO HD Duo are accepted by the Bloggie MHS. You can choose any one of these cards, with good memory. Sony sells these cards along with the cams for a separate price but you can also buy them separately from the stores.

Connectivity:
With the Bloggie MHS, you can easily connect it to your PC and the net. It comes with an in-built USB arm and it makes your connection easier. You do not need to search for cables for the purpose of charging or syncing, but instead all you need to do is just plug in the camcorder to the USB port of your computer using the USB arm. So now you can easily share the media files to your computer and then you can also easily upload them to the internet. This special connectivity feature is often not associated with the camcorders. You normally see this feature in small music players and other USB enabled devices. But all in all, this is a bit of a unique feature introduced by Sony and it is fine.

Easier Share:

With the Picture Motion Browser or the PMB feature that is pre installed in the Bloggie MHS, you can easily share your videos with friends and family. For this, the only thing you need to do is just pre-select the pictures and videos that you want to show to the world and then you can simply upload them to a compatible PC and then to a website like YouTube, without the requirement of any new software. Even though there are many camcorders that allow sharing of the pictures and the videos taken by you, nothing is as easier as on the Sony Bloggie MHS.

Multi AV Terminal:

Any camcorder must come with a terminal that connects to the television because after all, you would want to view the pictures that are filmed by you in a bigger frame and Sony has always allowed you to do so by providing an external terminal. There is the Multi AV terminal that is featured in the Bloggie MHS that allows you to easily connect your camcorder to your TV. A separate cable is provided for this and it has to be purchased from the stores separately.

Tripod Mount:

This is one of the unique features of the Bloggie MHS. As we have seen already, the camera needs perfect stability for you to get optimum picture quality. But then you cannot stand the cam on any kind of surface. Hence a separate Tripod mount is provided. This is situated at the bottom of the camcorder. It consists of nothing but three interlinked plastic sticks that are designed to just about bear the weight of the camcorder. So, the camera can now be made to stand on its own feet and it does not need anyone to hold while shooting. Due to this reason, this feature is so well appreciated and also well received by the users of the Bloggie MHS.

Dual Capture:

This is again a pretty good feature implemented by Sony in the Bloggie MHS. With this you can capture videos as well as photos simultaneously. This can be done by switching between the video and still pictures modes of the camera. So, with the press of a single button, you are in a position of capturing both the videos and photos. It is like the screenshot mode you will see in movie editors. You can screenshot the photos you want from the videos taken. There is a button at the top that toggles the functioning from still image capturing to video capturing. Dual Capture is the order of the day when you have the Bloggie MHS in your hand.

Miscellaneous:

The MHS-CM5 Digital Video camcorder can be switched on instantly by just opening the LCD screen. There is no need of searching for a button to switch the cam on and also to wait for a while for the cam to start working. Immediately after you open the LCD screen, the cam starts working. There is also an option for the display of multiple languages on the screen. Regarding the photos, there is an auto white balance mode to automatically retouch the photos and the slide show mode allows you to watch all the pictures in the slide show mode. There is also the Steadyshot Image Stabilization feature that stabilizes the photos and videos and hence gets you very candid pictures. Great options for you to explore on!

These are precisely all the important features that you will see on the Bloggie MHS-CM5. They are not only unique in their own terms but they are also quite useful for daily usage. They are also so user friendly that even the novice users can get used to them very quickly. Altogether, they are very good, both in number and in terms of utility.

Performance:

This is considered as the most important facet of any electronic gadget. Particularly, when it comes to the camcorders, the first thing you will look for is the way the camcorder performs. You always tend to expect the best performance from Sony, owing to the reputation it has earned over the years. This time too, it has not disappointed in any aspect and it seems that Sony has not compromised at all in any aspect of the Bloggie MHS. Sony has also proved once again that you do not need to compromise on the aspect of the performance of the camcorder if there are many features and options. We have discussed all the features and options that you will see in the Sony Bloggie MHS camcorder and it certainly promises to give a good performance. Here is a glimpse of the performance details of the Bloggie MHS.

Video Performance:

As discussed earlier, the camera of the Bloggie MHS is pretty good and hence you get good videos off it. It has got some of the characteristics that are required to give meticulous pictures. A 35 mm equivalent lens that has a wide range of 41 – 205 mm at 16:9 and 38 – 190 mm at 4:3, an aperture of 3.3 f and a focal distance ranging from 6.3 mm to 31.5 mm, all of them are instrumental in producing quality videos. Although the optical focus is only 5x, the digital zoom allows zooming up to 20x times larger. Even these highly zoomed images do not considerably lose their quality. The Auto Focus option automatically focuses on to the objects and the focal length of the lens is automatically changed accordingly. The shutter speed ranges from 1/ 15 to 1/4000. Added to all of these, a resolution of 5038 K only makes the video output better.

Audio Performance:

The audio performance of camcorders from Sony is generally good. Same is the case with the Bloggie MHS. There is a built-in microphone inside the cam and this one is of good quality. The sounds are recorded very well with good precision. The recording format is mono. This is a bit of a concern as there is no stereo type of audio recording. Generally, the stereo type gives you better quality sound when compared to the mono type. But nevertheless the audio on the Bloggie MHS is good enough to complement its video.

Considering these two and also the other sundry aspects of performance, it is more than reasonable. Although there have been a few problems in the past regarding the performance of the camcorders from Sony, this time around the problems are few and far between.

Software:

The Bloggie MHS comes with some software that helps it function better. The PMB or the Picture Motion Browser is a tool to help you share your pictures with the world. There is an embedded version of this browser in the camcorder, but Sony also provides a CD ROM that contains this software of a different version that is compatible with the PC. You need to install this software in your computer if you want to transfer the media to the websites on the internet.

Even though Sony has been trying to provide software that do not pose any problems, there has always been some complaint or the other regarding the aspect of software. Even the Bloggie MHS is accused if these software problems and many users have expressed this already. Sony has noticed them and we hope that these minor problems will be corrected soon.

System Requirements:

To sync your camcorder with your PC, the system requirements are as follows: An operating system that is either of Microsoft Windows 7, Windows XP (service pack 3), Windows Vista (service pack 2) and Mac OS X (version 10.4 to version 10.6). Other operating systems are not supported. You must also be connected to the internet if you would like to upload your photos and videos to the websites on the internet like YouTube and PhotoBucket.

Battery:

The battery is lithium ion type as usual, but the thing is these batteries are of a new type and they stay for longer time. Sony has stated that it has integrated even its batteries in a view to enhance the battery life of its camcorders. These new batteries support uninterrupted video recording for a period of 105 minutes. This is comparatively very high for a battery life. When you see the other cams in the market that come with the conventional battery system, you will notice that they only stay for a period of sixty to seventy minutes. So, this is definitely going to be a plus to the Bloggie MHS-CM5.

But the major drawback of the Bloggie MHS regarding its battery and charging is that it can only be charged by connecting to the computer through the USB arm. There is no other alternative as Sony has not provided an external charger along with the device. This may cost a lot to the users and they will certainly be in straits if they are away from home and their battery is over. So, in that case, the users are advised to have at least one more fully charged reserve battery in order to comfortably record videos without ever being bothered of the battery life.

Warranty Details:

Sony offers warranty to the Bloggie MHS against any defects in the workmanship or the material. Consistent to the warranty details given below, Sony will either repair the product or replace it with a new piece. There are two warranties for the Bloggie MHS-CM5.

The first one is the parts warranty. This constitutes the hardware package included in the device. This is provided for a period of one year from the original date of purchase. This warranty does not cover the technical assistance for the repairing of the parts and there is also no warranty for the software contents whether or not included in the device. If at all the hardware components are damaged genuinely, then Sony will provide renovate the defected parts with new ones. The other one is the labor warranty. This is active for a period of ninety days. The same conditions explained above will be applicable here too.

To obtain warranty, you must either take it to the service center or send the whole device to the service centers with the same packaging conditions. A receipt is to be produced to avail the offer of warranty.

Verdict:

The Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 is a cool camcorder to have, particularly if you are a novice user and you do not use it too often. It is quite good and suitable for home video shooting. Its design is pretty good though it is a tad bigger in size for a pocket camcorder. The LCD screen is big enough for comfortable viewing. Its features are very interesting and are also quite good in number. The camera, in particular, is very impressive. The performance of the Bloggie MHS is good enough for novice users, although not that great for the professional photographers.

Coming to the negative aspects, the battery charging facility is a bit disappointing. The picture stabilization option is not that effective and even if this option is switched on, the pictures are blurred if there is movement while recording. There are also few complaints regarding the software compatibilities of the device and we expect Sony to correct them in the near future. But anyways, no camcorder is perfect and everything has some negative aspects. This camcorder looks good in the hands of novice users and particularly the young.

Check other Sony Camcorder Reviews, Ratings in this website.

Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Sony
Model Name	Bloggie MHS
Model Number	MHS-CM5/V
Camcorder type	Mini, HD Camcorder
Dimensions (W x D x H)	39 x 101 x 67 mm
Weight	6.9 ounces (196 grams)
Colour	Black
Monitor	2.5-inch TFT LCD
Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Still Picture Resolution	5038 K
Image Sensor	CMOS 5 MP
Lens (focusing)	Optical auto focus
Zoom	Yes, Up to 20x
Exposure control	Auto
Video compression format	MP4
Face Detection	Yes
Shutter type	Electronic
Frame rate	30 fps
Media Card Slot available	Yes (SD/SDHC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo)
Image stabilization	Steadyshot Image Stabilization
Audio input	Microphone
AV out	HDMI component-out and normal
Speaker	Yes (mono)
Digital voice recorder	Yes
MP3 player	No
TV playback	Yes
Self timer	Yes
Quick Start	Yes
PC interface	USB arm
Power adaptor	USB arm
Accessories	USB Cable, PMB software, Rechargeable battery pack, wrist strap, A/V connecting cable, component A/V cable
Battery	Li-ion rechargeable battery
Warranty	One Year

All these days, there was not even a single camcorder that suffices the needs of both the novice users and the professional photographers. Some of them had great features and design but at the same time they were too poor for professional works. The others were great performers but had very few features. This was the major problem regarding the camcorders. The main reason is the cost. The companies could not give everything because at the end of the day, they had to compromise some features in order to set a reasonable price.

To repair this situation, Canon, one of the prime producers of the camcorders, has released its new chef-d’oeuvre, the Canon DM-XM2 Professional Mini DV Camcorder. This camcorder is certainly the best product ever from Canon. Go through this to know more about one of the best camcorders ever.

Design:

It is a biggie:
When you look at the Canon DM-XM2 for the first time, you will be reminded of the TV camera. It is big in size, when compared to the normal camcorders. But it is quite sleek for a Mini DV camcorder. The conventional Mini DV camcorders are much bigger in size and hence are not so comfortable for home use or for students of media and films. This beauty from Canon is 11.8 cm wide, 13.6 cm high and30.6 cm deep. Normally, you do not find a camcorder of such dimensions but Canon is one of the very few manufacturers that have made it possible. It is also incredibly light in weight, weighing just 300 grams, slightly more than pocket camcorder or a mobile phone. This is the slimmest one that Canon has ever produced. Sony has been the only other company that has managed to produce such a comfortable and cute looking camcorder.

Display:
Like most of the camcorders, the canon XM2  3CCD Camcorder also has an LCD display. The 2.5 inch LCD panel is good enough for watching what you are capturing. This screen is flip type which means that it can be flipped out whenever necessary and can then be replaced after use by flipping it in. Another thing that is worth noticing here is that this screen can be twisted around to any angle, about its axis. So this makes it comfortable when the viewing angles are difficult; especially at times when you need different angles. For an example, it is very nice to have a look at the screen when you wish to film yourself so that you get a more accurate picture.

Interfaces:
The output interfaces offered by Canon DM-XM2 Video Camcorder includes S- Video, Composite video, RCA audio, Firewire, Digital Video, iLink, USB and a headphone jack and the input interfaces on offer are S- video, Composite video, RCA Audio, Firewire, Digital Video, iLink. To briefly detail about their uses, they are mainly used for linking the camcorder to video playing sources so that the media that has been captured can be played. The S- Video, composite video, RCA audio, Firewire, Digital Video and iLink, all come under the same type of interfaces. They can be used to connect to a DVD player, for an example, so that all the media files can be played. The USB interface is different and is of great aid to transfer the data from the camcorder to a PC or to a phone that is USB compatible.

Features:

Canon’s previous product, Canon XM1, was not a big hit because it lacked a lot of features and also was not so unique. It featured many options that were already there in the market and hence there was not that much of interest in it among the cam lovers. So, this time around, Canon has taken all possible measures not to repeat such mistakes and to make its new product more unique. So, it has provided more features in the DM-XM2 Flash Memory Camcorder. These revived features add to the camcorder’s grandeur and make it one of the main contenders for the best camcorder available out there.

Professional Lens:
The Canon XM2 is powered by the very professional L-series fluorite lens that gives you extremely candid pictures of 35 mm. This lens is very rare and you will not find in many other camcorders. This lens not only delivers great pictures but also captures the videos with great detail and the quality of them being almost equal to that of the broadcast TV. Its focus range is very good, grading from a minimum of 4.2 mm to a maximum of 84 mm and its maximum aperture is about 1.6 f and it can zoom up to 20x. The filter diameter is about 58 mm. With this lens, you can get very crisp images even at high magnifications. There is also little chromatic aberration and hence there are no coloured rings around the objects in the picture. Hence, you have no more worries about this issue. Another significant feature is that of the cam’s immense ability to capture good pictures even in dim light. Such a powerful lens is very vital for the success of a camcorder in the market, so the first thing anybody wants out of their camcorder is the picture delivery. The rest are, of course, only add-ons.

Shift the Range:
Canon has introduced the new feature, called the Super Pixel Shift, which helps you in altering the pixel range. You can get a wider dynamic range, especially for movies. It also reduces the vertical smear in order to give you a perfect pixel setting for the videos and hence giving you an excellent video output. The digital photos are also taken with a high resolution of 1.7 mega pixels. This is indeed a unique feature.

Image Stabilisation:
Image Stabilisation is a common but very important feature that reduces the effect of any shakes or movement of the images. It is one of the best technologies that have ever been evolved, when it comes to photography. It has completely transformed the state of photography. Many companies have used this technology to improve the performance of their cameras and to produce the best camcorders. In this case, it is a more advanced technology that is used, named as the Optical Image Stabilisation. With this special feature, the pictures and videos are captured with such great accuracy that even if the objects are fast moving or if the camcorder is a bit shaky, the objects are clear and crisp, without any trails or aberrations. Hence the images are perfectly stabilised.

Microphone:
The Canon XM2 has a very good built-in microphone that senses even minute sounds. There is also a very special mechanism built inside the microphone that makes it record speech sounds or voices with much more clarity than the other normal sounds. The background sounds and noise are also minimised to the maximum extent; giving you very clear and sharp sounds. There is a special addition called the Direction Accurate Microphone, that senses the direction from which the sound is recorded, and the reproduces it the same way and with the same effect and clarity.
There is an option for you to choose between three modes that match the recording conditions, namely normal, voice and windscreen. These options alter the microphone frequency accordingly to enable you optimum recording experience. The stereo ambience is very accurate and the sounds are recorded with good quality. Hence, the microphone will prove to be one of the pluses for Canon since not many camcorders in the market have such a good microphone with features that are as good as these.

Connectivity:
Connectivity is very vital as sharing the pictures and videos, with our friends and family, is as important as capturing them. The XM2 is equipt with a Digital Video (DV) terminal that is useful for non linear editing. To connect the XM2 to the PC, you need to simply use the USB cable. With this, you can synchronise your camcorder and then easily send videos and pictures to your PC and can be uploaded to the internet.

Performance:

The Canon XM2 Novice, Professional use Camcorder is backed by the latest technology available. As we have seen in the features, there is a lot of technology involved. Canon also tried to ameliorate the performance of the camcorder by making subtle changes in its hardware and mechanism. It has done so, in order to withstand the competition, especially from Sony.  So, expect the best performance from Canon.

The Canon DM XM2 has a few enhancements that ply an array of preferences and shooting situations. This enables the user either to choose the best of the options that suit the situation, or to set it to automatic and leave the option for the camcorder to choose for itself.

CCD Unit:
It has an extremely sensitive CCD unit that gets you 540 lines of horizontal resolution and this enhances the performance in dim light situations. CCD stands for Charge Coupled Device. There are 3 CCD units in total, each of ¼” size and 470K pixels. The CCD has an integrated internal sensor suchlike a photoelectric device, in view of producing the images that are being read by the lens, and thus allowing digital imaging process to give you an excellent image quality. This latest digital device technology gives you very clear and distinct images, which otherwise do not look that good. Normally, these CCDs are used in the fields of scientific, medical and professional applications, where there is no compromise of image quality.

Experience the Difference:
When it comes to Video recording, the Canon XM2 is inferior to none. There are two standard recording speeds, namely SP and LP. They help you set the pace of the video and the frame speed is changed when these options are toggled. There is this Image Stabiliser technology that brushes off the effects of blurring and trailing of the images. With this very new option, you are assured of excellent pictures and videos even if there is a relative motion between the camcorder and the objects. The recommended luminosity level is 100 Lux. But the cam works well efficiently even at low light conditions. Its minimum luminosity level is 3 Lux. So, even if the lighting is not up to the mark, the cam adjusts itself to the existing conditions to give you great pictures. You will definitely feel the difference when recording the videos in such conditions.

Memory Photography:
The camcorder has a built-in memory card slot for you. You need to buy an SD memory card only, since the cam is SD compatible. The camcorder is capable of taking digital still photography. When you insert a memory card, you will be provided with the option of Digital Still Shot. The memory still resolution of the cam is about 1.68 megapixels and the maximum memory still image resolution is 1488 x 1128. So, you will get pictures with high resolution and hence with high clarity. There is no MPEG movie mode. The memory cards are available in the market. You can buy the card that suits you the best.

Picture Adjustments:
This is one of the areas that have been modified and improved by Canon. The XM2 has more options in it to enhance the performance, when compared to the XM1. Mainly, the colour phase adjustments and colour gain adjustments have been improved a lot. These options can alter the properties of colour of the images. You are allowed to choose the colour settings yourself or you can set it to automatic. The manual adjustment facility in this camcorder is a great plus to it. Many camcorders are by default, set to automatic so that the cam chooses the colour settings itself according to the outside conditions. But in many cases, you want to select the settings of your choice. This is possible with the Canon XM2. Also, after you set the options yourself, you can save the settings as custom, just as in the case of a computer. These settings will be saved in the memory and they can be reloaded again whenever needed.

The Slow Shutter Speed feature helps you to set the XM2 to lower shutter speeds up to one sixths of a second. The Gain Control has also been upgraded so that now you can increase the gain to a maximum of 18 dB. The Frame Movie Mode option gives you a progressive shooting performance, at 25 frames per second. So you experience a movie like experience as the pictures blend with one another very smoothly, faster than the persistence of vision of the eye. The video footage also comes at 1/50 slower shutter speed, hence giving you a footage that is almost equal in quality to the HD movies. The 16:9 Guide is a feature that allows you to take accurate 16:9 pictures and then guides you in cropping them.

These picture adjustments make the Canon XM2 behave according to your tastes and desires. The customisation option is definitely going to attract many customers.

Amplified Audio Performance:
This is also one of the areas that Canon focussed on. A good quality video should always be complemented by good audio performance. Otherwise, the video would not look that effective. As we have already seen under Microphones, the sound signals are very efficiently captured by the microphones. Also, the audio is reproduced in stereo mode, while playing the recorded videos. The high definition audio performance is formidable and is almost of studio quality. In addition to this, you can manually control the audio level to a two channel audio, where the input levels can be set with the help of a special dial. Also, the left / right level can be adjusted for the two channels. There is an Audio level meter that has a left and right independent peak holder of 24 segments. This, along with the Audio level meter, is displayed on the LCD and the EVF.

The performance of the 12/16 Bit PCM Digital Stereo Audio is certainly a plus to the XM2. The MA – 300 type microphone adapter gives you the simultaneous recording of two independent channels from both the microphones with XLR connection. There is also the BNC Picture Out Terminal that receives and sends signals in the form of digital signals and hence increases the sound clarity.

These are precisely the performance details of the Canon XM2. In short, there is certainly an improvement in the performance of Canon’s camcorders. Particularly, when you compare the XM2 with its precursor, the Canon XM1, you will find that there is an increase in the number of enhancement options and few of the XM1’s features are modified and renovated.

Battery:

The battery is proprietary Lithium type and it has a life time of about one hour for video shooting and a little more for photo capturing. Since the Video quality is high, it consumes a lot of power. With so many features and enhancements discussed above, the battery life certainly decreases. Since the battery life is low, it is always advisable that you must at least have another spare battery that is fully charged, so that you can replace the older one when it is over.

Warranty and Service:

Canon offers its camcorder parts and labour warranty for a period of one year from the date of purchase and the company also has a central and multilingual helpdesk in Europe. There are toll free numbers for you to call the Canon helpdesk whenever you have a doubt or a problem regarding the functioning of the camcorder. The helpdesk gives you expert advice so that small problems can easily be solved by yourself without any delay. But if the experts find that the problem is not a small one and it needs attention, they will send a technician within a few days and the problem will be rectified.

Verdict:

The Canon XM2 is one of the most impressive camcorders in the market. It looks like a television camera, but is certainly very useful for home and outside shooting. It is so easy to use that even novice users get adapted to it easily. The new unique features and enhancement facilities, combined with excellent performance, make it a most wanted camcorder. It is also very durable, unlike many others which may malfunction over a period of use. But, the cost is very high for less frequent usage such as shooting at home. It is more suitable for students of photography and also for professional photographers, who regularly use it. So, novice users may first opt for smaller and cheaper camcorders, get used to photography, and then go for camcorders as good as this one.  An important advice is that it is better if you get this cam insured since it is very pricey and a small damage may cost you quite a lot especially when the warranty period is over.

Check other Canon Camcorder Reviews, Specs in this website.

Canon DM-XM2 Digital Camcorder – Technical Specification Details

Manufacturer	Canon
Model Name	Canon DM-XM2
Camcorder type	Mini DV Camcorder
DIMENSIONS AND DISPLAY
Dimensions (W x H x D)	11.8 x 13.6 x 30.6 cm
Weight	300 gm
Display	2.5” LCD Screen
Display Pixels	200,000
Multi image screen	No
Viewfinder screen size	0.44″
Viewfinder pixels	180000 colour
VIDEO FEATURES
Formats Supported	Standard Definition
Still image resolution	1.7 mega pixels
Compression of still image	JPEG
Image Size	1488 x 1128
Maximum Luminosity	100 Lux
Minimum Luminosity	3 Lux
AUDIO FEATURES
Audio System	Stereo
Built in Microphone	Stereo, zoom microphone
Specific features	Built in Speaker
CAMERA FEATURES
CCD Type	3 x 1 / 4? 3CCD pixel shift
Camera Range	35 mm
Filter Diameter	58 mm
CCD Quality	470,000x 3 / (1.7M Still)
Effective pixels	440,000 x 3
Filter diameter	58 mm
Memory Still Resolution	1.68 megapixels
CCD Filter	RGB independent primary colour
Specific features	Image Stabilisation, Pixel Shift, Shooting Modes, 2 Channel Audio Control
LENS AND ZOOM
Lens	L-Series fluorite
F	1.6
Focus Range	4.2 mm to 84 mm
Zoom Ratio (Optical)	20x
Zoom Ratio (Digital)	100x
Maximum aperture	f/1.6
Minimum focusing distance	10mm
Image Stabilizer	optical
PORTS AND CONNECTIVITY	Audio Output, Digital Video Output, S-Video Output, USB Output
Battery Life	One Hour
Warranty	One year

Panasonic is a very well reputed manufacturer of electronic appliances. It has been competing very hard with its counterparts in producing good quality goods over the years. One of the finest products from Panasonic has been their range of camcorders. A lot of revolutions have been taking place over the years in the production and the quality of the camcorders. And there have been a lot of miniaturisation has taken place even in the case of the camcorders. In order to keep with the developments in technology and also with a view to provide latest of technologies to the people, Panasonic has released a new cute looking camcorder, the Panasonic SDR-S15. Although there are many camcorders in the market, none of them is as cute as this one.

Design:

Built and Display:
The Panasonic SDR-S15 SD Camcorder looks as if it is a plaything. It is very cute and small in size, very comfortable to carry and to hold in the hands. Its dimensions are (W x H x D) 43 x 59 102 mm and it weighs just about 165 grams. So, by any standards, this is a very comfortable camcorder that is available out there. It is very easy to hold too, if you close your hands around it to make a fist, the camcorder itself would almost disappear. It feels a little bit plastic-y, but not so much as to upset you. Less noteworthy is the fact that the S15 is available in reddish brown, black, silver and pink.

The flip-out screen is nice and all the main control options are positioned at a comfortable place for operation with your thumb and fingers, so you do not need to reach out for those buttons with the second hand.

The SDR S15 Flash memory Camcorder has a very generous 2.7 inch wide LCD display with 123,200 pixels, gives you a very good picture of the images and the videos beforehand and during operation. But, there is no viewfinder to help you compose your shots. This means you have to rely on the LCD monitor, which can be difficult to see in bright sunlight.

Connectivity:
There is an interface for the AV out and another one for the USB 2.0 Hi-speed. These can be very useful when playing of the videos and pictures is needed. With these interfaces, the camcorder can be connected to a TV or a PC, to play and store videos and pictures. The SDR-S15 falls down in only offering standard-definition MPEG2 video capture and having a USB cable socket instead of an arm that plugs directly into a Mac. However, this pocket camcorder features a few neat image-enhancing tricks that the others do not.

Memory card slot:
With no internal memory to fall back on, there are optional yet essential SD/SDHC card slots in the camcorder’s base that provides you internal memory to store all the media. These cards may vary in their capacity and they can always be upgraded. You can also have a new card for your camcorder, but that should be an SD card too. This memory card compartment is shared with a rechargeable lithium ion battery, and there is a screw thread just in front for mounting the device on a tripod.

Features:
When it comes to the features, it is not a toy though. Everything works in perfect order and just considering the fact what it costs, there are some surprisingly very advanced features packed in it as well.

Intelligent Auto Mode:
There are lots of features to talk about when it comes to the Panasonic SDR. The best of them is the Intelligent Auto Mode, with which you can shoot amazing videos. This feature is a mix bag of several important functions that enhance the picture quality and automatically switch on the options that make your videos look better. One of such is the Face Detector, which automatically detects the faces of the people in the scene and hence adjusts the exposure settings in view of scanning the faces of people more effectively. Another one is the Intelligent Screen Selector option that, when switched on, automatically adjusts the shooting conditions and also accordingly selects the scene settings. The On- Screen display comes out in many languages such as English, French, German, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Swedish.

YouTube Uploader:
Another interesting feature is that of the YouTube Uploader. With this option, uploading of your videos on to YouTube becomes a lot easier. For this, you are required to only set the camera up to the Web mode, and then the cam records the videos and then converts automatically the videos into formats that are compatible with that of YouTube. This enables faster uploading and then sharing them with your dear and not necessarily near ones. The SDR-S15 ultra compact size camcorder has a feature that eases the process of copying recordings from either of a memory card and a hard disk drive to a DVD. By simply connecting the camcorder to a DVD burner and then pressing the burn button, you can burn the DVD out of an external memory device. This DVD can in turn be played on any DVD player.

Quick start option:
There is also a Quick start option that allows your cam to start the recording in just 0.6 seconds after opening the LCD screen. This is a near instantaneous start up and along with this, you are also allowed to have a shot composition and review. This is by far, the fastest. The PictBridge software is the one that allows easy copying of the pictures and printing them easily by directly connecting to a printer. It is also very fast in recording on to a DVD, within 2 seconds. You get all this in pretty good MPEG2 quality.

There is a built-in LED Video Light to compensate for any dullness in the light conditions. These features are indeed very useful and they add to the value of the camcorder.

Performance:

This is the most important area of any camcorder. The Panasonic SDR is a decent performer and the extra features and options on offer only enhance the same. With the stereo audio recording and zoom microphone features, it contributes to a much better audio performance than most of the cameras that you would get in this price category. And with the aid of the very effective electronic image stabiliser, you will be able to achieve reasonably steady shots all the way through its 10x optical range; about which we have discussed below. The latter is a yet another very grown-up feature they you do not get to see in cameras that are this cheap.

Zoom:
The camera is a pretty good one. The Panasonic lens is good and has up to 10x zoom. Also, there is an option for digital zoom, with which you can zoom up to 25x and then the Super Digital Zoom option zooms the pictures up to 700x. But this also effectively reduces the image quality significantly.

Lens:
The camera‘s focal length lies between 2.3 and 23.0 mm. The F value of the lens is about 1.8 for WIDE and 2.4 for TELE. With this camera, you can also capture 35mm films. There is a 35mm film camera equivalent with the specifications as 44.4-444 mm for motion images and about 43.4-434 mm for still images. It has an automatic focus option but you can always change it manually. The iris can also be set to automatic or it can be adjusted manually. The Electric Image Stabiliser can give you better pictures by stabilising the objects seen through the lens. The camera has a shutter, whose speed is about 1/25.

Lighting:
The camera has a standard illumination of 1440 lx. But the minimum illumination is about 6 lx for low light conditions and 2 lx for colour night view mode. White balance option is also available. With this you can change the colour balance of the images. This option is, by default, set as automatic but it can always be altered manually, if needed. There is also Backlight compensation facility that compensates the poor light conditions, and hence ensuring that the quality of the image is not damaged.

Imaging and Recording:
The camera is designed to capture images in JPEG format. The size of the image is about 0.30 megapixels (640 x 480). About 999 images can be stored in it. As discussed above, the PictBridge helps in printing these images easily. Talking about the recording section, motion pictures are recorded in MPEG2 format. The audio is recorded in MPEG1 AudioLayer 2 format. The recording modes are XP (10 Mbps), SP (5 Mbps), LP (2.5 Mbps). There are two types of microphones, the Stereo mic and the Zoom mic and the speakers are dynamic in type. There is an indication for the Media remaining in the memory.

Video Quality:
Dipping into the Panasonic SDR-S15’s basic on-screen menu options reveals five pre-optimised scene modes covering common subjects including sports and portraiture. However, it is very disappointing that the video quality of the camcorder is sadly lacking. While the camcorder shoots at 704 x 576 pixels resolution at 50 fields per second, which turns out to be 25fps once you see it onscreen, it is hardly surprising to find that the details captured lags behind 720p cameras, such as the Flip Mino HD and also the 1080p cameras like the Toshiba Camileo S10.

We had our test done with the Panasonic SDR S15 Camcorder with MPEG2 Recording both indoors and outdoors. We did our tests outside on a cloudy day and the indoor lighting were 100% artificial. The end result was dull and bereft of life. The focus seemed to be extremely soft and though the colour noise was not much of an issue in low light, there was noticeable distortion where straight edges looked bent and the chromatic aberrations in the form of purple fringing were rife.

Power Consumption:

The battery is Lithium-polymer type. The Panasonic SDR-S15 Mini HD Camcorder needs a supply of 5.0 V (for AC) and 3.6 V (for DC). On an average it consumes about 2.9 W of power for full charging.

Warranty:

Panasonic offers a warranty period of one year from the date of purchase.

Verdict:

The Panasonic SDR-S15 is a good camcorder to have. It is better than many when it comes to the design. It really is small and extremely portable. It has a lot of advanced features, which were discussed earlier. The performance is good, but not as good as the camcorders from the other brands. Particularly as the cost is a bit low, it is common that not a mind blowing performance is expected from it. This is the only minus in the video quality. Features wise, it is excellent. So, due to its performance issues, it is not suitable for the professional shooters or photographers. It may serve as a good one for the novice users. Overall, it is a very handy camcorder, if you are not a professional.

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Panasonic SDR-S15 Digital Video Camcorder – Specification Details

Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model Name	SDR-S15 SD Camcorder
Model Number	S15
Camcorder type	Mini, HD Camcorder
Dimensions (W x D x H)	43 x 59 102 mm
Weight	165 grams
Colours	Reddish brown (SDR-S15EB-T), black (SDR-S15EB-K), silver and pink (SDR-S15EB-P)
Monitor	2.7-inch TFT LCD
Video Resolution	640 x 480
Still Picture Resolution	640 x 480
Image Sensor	1/6″ CCD
Lens (focusing)	Optical auto focus
Zoom	Yes. Up to 25x
Exposure control	Auto
White balance	Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Tungsten
Motion Detection	Yes
Shutter type	Electronic
Frame rate	30 fps
Flash light control	Flash for still picture (Auto/On/Off) LED light for video recording (Auto/On/Off)
Video compression format	AVI
Audio input	Microphone
AV out/earphone phone jack	HDTV component-out and normal AV out + earphone-out
Speaker	Yes (stereo)
Digital voice recorder	Yes
MP3 player	No
TV playback	Yes
Self timer	10 sec delay
Auto power off	No
PC interface	Mini USB
Power adaptor	Mini USB
Accessories	AC Adaptor, AC Cable, DC Cable, Rechargeable battery pack, AV cable, USB Cable and VideoCam Suite V2.0 software
Battery	Li-ion rechargeable battery
Warranty	One Year