Beginning with their adoption of cellular phones back
in 2002, Sony’s CMOS sensors for megapixel class
camera cell phones, and digital high definition video
cameras have become widely used in commercial products.

The greatest strength of the CMOS sensors is that
by including both digital and analog circuits on
the same chip, their readout speed can be made much
faster than the CCD. Sony is now developing high
speed CMOS sensors for digital cameras that will
provide continuous imaging from all pixels at an
amazing frame rate of 60 frames.

Here recently, the trend towards higher pixel counts
in consumer digital cameras have continued, and now
it’s possible to take high resolution still images
conveniently. Until now, Sony focused efforts in
the image sensor area on increasing the pixel count
and improving the characteristics of the pixels to
achieve high resolution imaging that everyone
loves about high definition video cameras.

Sony is also aiming for an image sensor that will
be able to capture and express surprise and emotion,
and is now putting efforts into a CMOS sensor that
can do just that.

Even through image quality will improve as you
increase the amount of information you capture, until
now, the still image quality of pictures has been
improved by spatial resolution increases. The
amount of information however, can be increased
not only by spatial resolution increases, but also
by increasing the amount of information in the
time direction as well.

If anything can be said about Sony technology, it
would be to never doubt it. Sony creates very amazing
products, and are among the leaders in camera
technology today. The CMOS sensor is just another
step for Sony in the world of high definition video
cameras, making it something you can’t go wrong with.

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The Sony BRC-H700 high definition video camera is
designed for a variety of remote acquisition
applications, especially in television production
for recording programs and for use as a weather
or even traffic camera.

The PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) camera can display images
onto a large screen in auditoriums, teaching
hospitals, sporting events, trade shows, and even
concerts. This unit is also ideal for distance
learning applications in which clear high definition
images need to be projected onto electronic white
boards during a presentation or other function.

The Sony BRC-H700 also features three 1/3 inch HD
CCDs with 1.07 megapixels, delivers accurate color
reproduction, and is ideal for taking pictures or
videos in low light environments.

The BRC-H700 has a wide pan range of 340 degrees
and a tilt range of 120 degrees. Both the pan
and tilt speeds are variable within the range of
.25 to 60 degrees a second, so the camera can
capture both fast and slow moving objects with
minimal rocking vibration. The camera also
includes a 12X optical auto focus zooming lens,
which allows for a zoom capability of up to 48X
when used in combination with the 4X digital
zoom.

You can also control the BRC-H700 by external
devices which include the optional RM-BR300
remote control via Sony’s VISCA protocol. Local
controls such as PTZ settings and any of the 16
presets can easily be accessed.

The BRC-H700 has a card slot that accepts a
variety of optional interface cards, including
the HD-SDI, SD/SD, i.Link, and even connections
for use with computers.

Other features include an image flip function
for installation flexibility on ceilings or other
flat surfaces and up to 16 presets for operational
ease of use.

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This digital HD media camera is small, elegant, and
also lightweight. The Sanyo Xacti will beautifully
capture your memories in high definition. The
stylish vertical design offered by the camera will
make it easier for you to keep an arm steady while
you shoot.

2.2″ color OLED
The 2.2″ flip out organic light emmitting diode
screen will offer easier viewing of your recordings,
even in bright sunlight.

Video and pictures
The Xacti will simultaneously shoot 5.1 megapixel
still images and high definition video clips. The
HD1 can also record over 21 minutes of 720 pixel
HD video on a single 1 GB SD care, or well over 42
minutes on a 2 GB card.

MPEG 4 format
The HD1 utilizes the high quality MPEG 4 recording
format which will deliver amazing video clarity and
detail. With the files being conveniently small,
you have the ability to record long, high quality
video clips.

Start up
When you close the LCD screen, the camera will go
into standby mode. Open it back up, and you are
ready to shoot in as little as 2 seconds! The
camera also records straight to SD flash memory
cards, so it will skip the long process of getting
the tape deck started.

Image stabilizer
The image stabilizer will accurately distinguish
between the unintentional camera shake and
deliberate camera movement from pans or tilts. It
will then compensate for the camera shaking to
give you more natural results when you shoot.

Zoom lens
The highly effective and bright 10x optical zoom
lens witha maximum aperture of f/3.5 will allow you
to get up close to the action. Coupled with a 10X
digital zoom, it will give you up to 100X of zooming
capabilities.

Scene modes
You can create breathtaking pictures with the HD1
by selecting the best suited mode to the subject.
The scene selection mode will work for both still
images and video. The modes to choose from include
sports, portrait, landscape, fireworks, and even
night view.

Easy playback
You can share your pictures and video clips with
family and friends in a snap. Multiple connections
will allow for easy television playback, dubbing
to a VCR or DVD recorder, transfer to a PC for DVD
creation, editing, or just posting on the internet.

With everything the Sanya Xacti VPC HD1 has to
offer, it’s perfect for anyone looking for a HD
video camera. You can do many things with this
camera, other than taking pictures or making videos.
If you’ve never experienced a HD video camera, the
Sanya Xacti is certainly one of the first ones you
should check out.

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Sanyo has recently brought a new level of credability
to dual use, video and still image cameras with the
introduction of the new Xacti HD1. With measurements
of 3.1X4, 7X1.4 inches and 8.3 ounces, it is easily
the smallest camera to record 720p high definition
video. It will also capture 5.1 MP still images and
has a 10X optical zoom lens as well.

Just like other dual use cameras, it will record
both video and still images on a memory card, or
in this case an SD card instead of video tape.
According to Sanyo, a 1GB SD card can record up to
21 minutes of 720p 16:9 widescreen video. If you
prefer to record in standard definition, the HD1
can also record video at 640X480 pixel resolution
at either 30 or 60 frames per second. Everything
you record is with the popular MPEG 4 compression.

Just in case pocket sized HD recording isn’t enough
for you, Sanyo also put a 2.2 inch 210,000 pixel
OLED display in the HD1. The OLED is a display
technology that many thing will end up replacing
LCD very soon. The advantages offered include wider
viewing angles and faster response time.

As you probably already know, Sanyo isn’t new to
HD video cameras or digital cameras in general.
Sanyo has been around for years, proving that they
can compete with the bigger industry giants. The
small HD video cameras offered from Sanyo are
among the best as well.

If you’ve been looking for the best HD video cameras,
rest assured that anything you select from Sanyo
is going to be great. There are a few to choose
from, with the HD1 leading the pack. If you want
the best, the HD1 is everything you need – and
quite possibly a bit more.

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If you are new to HD video cameras, you’ve probably
found yourself wondering if you really need to have
one around. For a majority of people, a HD video
camera represents the best way to capture memories
and pictures with the best technology available today.

For producers or those looking to start their own
productions, HD video cameras may be easier to rent
than to buy. While most HD video cameras cost quite a
bit of money, they may be easier to rent than just to
go out and buy.

If you only plan to use your camera for a few days
or just a short period of time, then renting may be
your best option. Producers and professional
photographers looking to take things to the next
level, may choose rent a HD video camera to test the
waters before making the purchase. If you’ve never
experienced HD before, renting a camera may be the
best idea before you sink a ton of money into buying
one of your very own.

On the other hand, if you take a lot of pictures and
enjoy making videos, buying a camera may be the best
option for you. Even though they cost a lot of money,
these cameras are ideal for anyone who is seeking the
absolute best in technology. These cameras are
nothing like cameras of the past, as they can do so
much more – with a lot better quality.

For the average photographer, a HD video camera may
not be the best purchase. If you are on a budget or
don’t have a lot of money to spend, then this type of
camera is probably going to be out of your league. If
you have a lot of money on the other hand, this type
of camera is more than worth the purchase.

There are several companies that rent out HD cameras,
from many different manufacturers. Normally, those
that rent are looking to try the camera out, or just
needing it for a brief amount of time. Trying out
the camera is a good thing, although it normally leads
to buying it. It can be very difficult to try out
a camera that is this good then not buy it.

When the time comes to test out HD video cameras,
renting is sometimes the best way to go. If you’ve
used these types of cameras in the past, then you
may want to go ahead and buy one. There are several
to choose from, and you really can’t go wrong with
jumping on the band wagon and immersing yourself in
the amazing world of HD.

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With the growing popularity of the variable frame rate
VariCam HD Cinema cameras, HD production is on the
verge of changing HD video cameras as we know it. The
low cost 24p editing and finishing on the desktop, is
what Panasonic likes to call a VariDigm shift.

It all starts inside of the camera. The AJ-HDC27 from
Panasonic replicates several of the key features of
film based acquisition, which includes 24 frame
progressive scan images, time lapsed recording, and a
wide range of film rates for amazing camera effects.
The VariCam also comes with CineGamma software that
permits Panasonic’s HD Cinema camera systems to
match the latitude of film stocks and effects.

Even though it all starts inside of the camera, it
doesn’t stop there. HD has been showing up in many
more places besides HDTV. Panasonic is leading the
way with compact and affordable HD products. All
across the world, you’ll see Panasonic launching
HD products that are among the best and very affordable.

Broadcast
If your digital plans call for a transition to DTV
first then HDTV later on down the road, or if you plan
to take your station HD now, Panasonic has you
covered by making HD both flexible and affordable.

Commercials
Whether your next commercial is a 30 second spot for
TV or a two minute commercial, shoot it on DVCPRO HD
without having to sacrifice quality. The 24P at 720
progressive resolution from Panasonic makes this
very possible.

Corporate needs
The coporate level presentations demand the highest
level of image quality. Professional presentations
begin with 720p and 1080i cameras from Panasonic.
By starting with the highest image quality available,
Panasonic ensures that you’ll have everything you
need to exceed your corporate needs and demands.

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The Panasonic AG-HVX200 is a handheld HD p2 camera
recorder that’s designed to meet the emerging needs
needs in HD content production. The camera debuts
and remains Panasonic’s first HD video product to
use P2, the cutting edge memory recording device
that has the potential to revolutionize the entire
production paradigm.

The AG-HVX200 can record HD, in either 1080i or
720p video acquired by a new optical system and
high performance digital signal processor onto a P2
card using the broadcasting DVCPRO HD codec. This
very system achieves a level of image quality that
conventional handheld HD cameras simply can’t match,
while also supporting HD/SD multi-format and multi
codec recording capabilities.

The visual frame rate recording is just one of the
many features that makes this camera so very unique
in its class. By using technology that makes the
Panasonic VariCam camera a favorite in movie
production, this powerful function will allow the
overcranking techniques used with film cameras
to create fast motion and slow motion effects.

The P2 card offers you superb reliability, immediate
playback, and amazing cost performance. It will
also allow direct connection to other editing
systems and streamlines the production work flow,
by providing to the editing system data files
ready to be edited, rather than a video tape
that would require the tedious task of digitizing.

On top of all the advanced features and technology,
the Panasonic AG-HVX200 inherits the refined
design and easy operation that seperates it from
the rest. With the AG-HVX200 HD camera,
professionals of all kinds will find a powerful
tool to help them create and bring their creations
to life – helping them achieve things they may
have never thought to be possible.

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All video cameras contain 3 major components – the
lens, imager, and recorder. The lens gathers and
focuses the light on the imager, which is normally
a charge coupled device (CCD) or CMOS sensor IC.
Finally, the recorder will encode the video signal
into a form that can be stored. Commonly, the optics
and imager are known as the camera section.

The optic lens is the first component in the camera
section’s light path. The optics normally have one
or more the following adjustments:
1. aperture – controls the amount of light
2. zoom – controls the field of view
3. shutter speed – captures continuous motion
In most consumer units, these adjustments are
automatically controlled by the video camera’s
electronics, normally to maintain constant exposure
onto the imager.

The imager is the “eye” of the camera, housing a
photo sensitive device or devices. The imager works
to convert light into an electronic video signal
through an elaborate electronic process. The
camera lens projects an image to the imager surface,
exposing the photo sensitive array to the light.

The light exposure is then converted into an electrical
charge. Towards the end of the timed exposure, the
imager will convert the accumulated charge into a
continuous analog voltage at the imager’s output
terminals.

The third piece, the recorder, is responsible for
writing the video signal to a recording medium,
such as magnetic videotape. The recording function
involves many steps of signal processing, and
historically, the recording process introduced
some distortion and noise to the stored video,
such that the playback of stored signal may not
retain the same detail as the original live feed.

All but the most primitive of video cameras will
also need to have a recorder controlling section
which will allow you to control the camera. You
can also swich the recorder into playback mode
for reviewing your recorded footage.

The image you recorded doesn’t need to be limited
to what appeared in the view finder. For a
documentation of events such as those used by the
police, the fields of view will overlay such
things as the time and date of the recording along
the top and bottom of the image.

As you can probably tell now, a high definition
video camera is very complex indeed. There are
several other parts involved as well, although the
above are the most important. A HD video camera
is very complex in build, making it something
that is more than worth the time it takes to create.

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If you’ve been looking for a high definition video
camera, there are many out there for you to choose
from. In this article, we will take a look at
some of your options available in each of the
different formats.

HDV
JVC, Sony, and Canon all produce HDV cameras of
various stripes and abilities. The JVC HD100U
shoots 720p, offers a true 24p frame rate, and
provides a professional looking form factor, along
with sporting the ability to change out lenses.

The two popular HDV cameras from Sony include the
HDR-FX1 and the HVR-Z1U. Both of them shoot only
1080i and provide 24p. The XL h1 is Canon’s
entry to the HDV roundup. It provides HD SDI
output and gives you the option of interchanging
lenses. Like Sony, it shoots 1080i without true
24p capabilities.

All of these cameras are 3CCD models and all
sport level professional XLR audio inputs, with
the exception of the HDR-FX1. Sony also offers
single chip HDV cameras. The consumer HC1,
which is actually a miniature version of the FX1
is an excellent camera.

DVCPRO HD
on the budget end of the Panasonic spectrum is the
AG-HVX200. This widely hyped camera does away with
tape based HD recording and will instead record
HD to either memory cards or even an attached hard
drive. It also offers the ability to shoot all
the above mentioned HD resolutions along with 50
and DV25.

Another popular camera for Panasonic is the Varicam
which shoots at 720p. A great feature with this
camera is the ability to shoot at variable frame
rates, which range from 4 – 60fps at 1fps intervals.
These different frame rates will allow you to
achieve a look similar to that of over cranking a
film camera.

HDCAM
Sony couples their HDCAM cameras together under
the name CineAlta. They cover a broad range of
prices and features, ranging from the XDCAM HD
models and the F350 to the widely used and widely
popular F950.

The XDCAM HD cameras record directly to Sony’s
professional disc media, which is physically
similar to Blu-ray discs. These cameras can also
record various quality levels of 1080i and 1080p,
along with regular SD DVCAM. Unlike other HD
cameras from Sony, the XDCAM HD supports i-Link
for file access and DV output.

Near the high end of the Sony HD solutions is the
F900. It captures both 1080p and 1080i at
various frame rates, including 25p and 50i. This
is also the most expensive camera from Sony, as
it costs around 80,000$!

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At first look, the JVC HD100 looks like any other
high definition camera with a lot of switches, dials,
and places to plug in peripherals. In operation, it
functions like an old regular video camera. You
don’t really need to do anything special to make a
high definition recording, just press a button -
although there are differences.

One of the things that makes this camera so nice and
unique is the amount of control you have over pretty
much everything you record. JVC really outdone
themselves here, as you can record all of your settings
on a SD memory card and save them to move on to
another JCV camera, which will save you a lot of time.

Another amazing feature enables the video camera to
automatically record to a hard disk while at the same
time recording to a tape. Recording directly to a
hard drive will save you a lot of time in the editing
process, as you can immediately begin using your
video without having to capture tape to your computer,
which can only be done in real time.

Surprisingly enough, the camera is very easy to use
either mounted on a tripod or on your shoulder. The
shoulder pad is a nice addition, being thickly padded.
To make things even better, the camera is very light.

When it comes to the quality, the GY-HD100 needs to
be seen to be believed. HD video is intended to look
like real life. There is an extended gray scale, a
heightened sense of color – and the resulting detail
is simply incredible.

HD at this incredible level has 720 X 1028 lines of
progressive video, which means that the video is shot
in one entire frame at a time. Also, it can be
recorded at 24 or even 30 frames per second.

The 24 fps resembles film and if you plan to convert
to film, it’s a great way to shoot – as you can
quickly and easily go directly to film. The 30 fps
has more data per second, although it is not
appropriate for making a film project.

If you want to experience HD without spending over
70,000$, then the JCV GY-HD100 is more than worth
your time and money. Even though it doesn’t record
uncompressed HD video, it does record a picture
that is far superior to the standard picture you get
with an average everyday camera. HD is rapidly
becoming the future, and with the GY-HD100 – its here
and now.

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