camcorders

LAS VEGAS--It's been an exceptionally busy and newsworthy past 12 months for cameras -- budget full-frame models, 4K action cameras and cinema cameras, full-frame compacts. Unfortunately for CES 2013, most of that happened at Photokina this past fall. So while this show brought a few nice, potentially ownworthy updates to existing product lines, none of it really stands out as particularly whizzy.

In advanced cameras, the most common update has been to autofocus systems, with combo phase-detection/contrast AF starting to take over in camera lines that have traditionally had rather slow performance -- new models like the Fujifilm X100S … Read more

LAS VEGAS--If the company's CES announcements are anything to go by, Sony doesn't seem to have gotten the message that camcorders are dying. While Canon has cut back its consumer and midrange line to about four products, Sony has introduced 10 models at the show ranging from its $250 entry-level model to a $1,500 everything-but-the-kitchen-sink model. Sony's also expanded its projector-camcorder lineup to six models from five last year, and the 3D model has gotten cheaper, but with only one (and a half) feature exception I don't see anything here that merits waiting for a … Read more

LAS VEGAS--If the company's CES announcements are anything to go by, Sony doesn't seem to have gotten the message that camcorders are dying. While Canon has cut back its consumer and midrange line to about four products, Sony has introduced 10 models at the show ranging from its $250 entry-level model to a $1,500 everything-but-the-kitchen-sink model. Sony's also expanded its projector-camcorder lineup to six models from five last year, and the 3D model has gotten cheaper, but with only one (and a half) feature exception I don't see anything here that merits waiting for a … Read more

LAS VEGAS--For the past few years, Canon has been successively eliminating several camcorders from its annual lineup. This year, we're left with just three consumer models; really, though, just one model in three configurations. The surviving version is the still popular lowest-end HF R series -- specifically, the Vixia HF R40, R42 and R400.

The series gets a few hardware updates, including a bump to Digic DV IV, which enables several new video capabilities, including higher frame and bit rates -- MP4 1080/60p at 35 megabits per second and AVCHD 2.0 1080/30p at 28Mbps -- a … Read more

LAS VEGAS--The excellentCanon Vixia HF G10 gets a modest -- some might say disappointing -- upgrade for 2013. The most notable change is the price; the G20 will cost $1,099.99, a couple hundred lower than the current retail price.

On the upside, the camcorder incorporates a new version of the HD CMOS sensor, which Canon claims offers a better dynamic range. That's good, of course, but surprisingly it doesn't offer the increased bit rates or frame rates as the lower-end models. Instead, it gets prerecord capabilities, an improved eye cup for the EVF, and a … Read more

Though it's certainly not a dead category, the consumer camcorder market has dropped off considerably over the past few years. In fact, we haven't reviewed more than a handful of 2012 models because the interest hasn't been there from our readers.

The main reason for this is that while it was once necessary to have a camcorder to capture video, there are so many devices that do it now -- from smartphones and tablets to point-and-shoots and digital SLRs -- that for many it hardly seems necessary to have a standalone video camera. However, if you're … Read more

With Drift Innovations' Drift HD Ghost, you can add one more action cam to the increasingly crowded market. But at least this one's a little more than another "me too" model.

Not the wide blocky design of camcorders like the GoPro, the Drift HD Ghost has a slimmer and longer body, like the iON Air or Sony Action Cam. Though the shape makes it less ideal for chest mounting, it is better for POV mounting on the side of goggles, masks, and helmets. The shape also gives it room for a built-in Gorilla Glass-protected 2-inch LCD for … Read more

When Nathalie Rollandin visited the San Francisco Bay Area in late August, she got quite the tourist's welcome when her GoPro camera ended up being stolen -- by a devious avian thief -- with the heist recorded on video.

In the short clip below, a seagull clearly snatches the camera, then takes flight over the sunset-kissed blue waters near the Golden Gate Bridge. The bird emits a brief noise during the crime, indicating a successful capture or perhaps simply a "see ya sucker." After a short flight, the bird drops the camera dozens of feet away, perhaps realizing the prey wasn't that tasty after all. … Read more

Between Canon and Nikon's inexpensive full-frame bodies and Sony's full-frame press of a compact, pro body and camcorder, there are going to be a lot of photographers and videographers lining up to sit on Santa's lap this holiday season.

But if you prefer something smaller, there's plenty of that for you, too, in the form of new enthusiast compact cameras from almost every manufacturer and updates to interchangeable-lens models. Plus Panasonic gave its video-friendly GH2 a complete overhaul for the GH3.

Here's a guide to our complete Photokina coverage. Just because.… Read more