Cameras

JVC Announces Rugged Line of Everything-Proof Everio Camcorders

Events, Gear Bits

JVC Announces Rugged Line of Everything-Proof Everio Camcorders

JVC announced a couple new Everio camcorders that combine the features of GoPro-type action cameras with full-featured camcorders.  The GZ-R70 and GZ-R10 both feature JVC’s “Quad-Proof” structure which is water resistance to a depth of 5m, has the ability to withstand a drop from 1.5m, is dust proof, and freeze proof to 14°F. These action cam’s on steroids go beyond your typical smartphone or action camera by including 40x optical zoom, 2.5 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, audio that zooms with the image, and compatibility with third party editing software.  The GX-R70 and the GZ-R10 are differentiated by internal memory…

Iron X Action Camera Review

Reviews

Iron X Action Camera Review

The Iron X Action Cam (A.K.A. DXG 5G9V) is a small, lightweight action camera that’s got a lot going for it.  It records video in 1080p at 30 fps and takes 5 megapixel photos.  It also has an OLED screen on top and comes with a remote control wrist strap and waterproof case.  The Iron X retails for $249.99.

SJ2000 Outdoor Sports HD Digital Video Camera Review

Reviews

SJ2000 Outdoor Sports HD Digital Video Camera Review

The SJ2000 Outdoor Sports HD Digital Video Camera is a budget entry into the action camera market.  It has a 12MP sensor for digital photos and it records digital video in 1080p with its 170-degree lens.  It comes with many Velcro and pressure mounting options and does not have any built-in memory.  You can purchase the SJ2000 for $64.95.

MeCam Wearable HD Camera Review

Reviews

MeCam Wearable HD Camera Review

MeCam is a wearable 720p video camera that can also record video and has Infrared LED lights to be able to shoot in low light and dark conditions.  The small camera comes with a pin and a lanyard so it can be pinned to fabric or worn as a necklace.  The MeCam starts at $49.99 with 4GB of memory.

TACTACAM Bow Stabilizer Brings HD Video To Your Bow

Gear Bits

TACTACAM Bow Stabilizer Brings HD Video To Your Bow

With bow hunting season in full swing, many hunters like to share their hunts as well as review shot placements. I try to use a regular video camera on my hunts, but that is not always easy when sitting in a tripod or tree. TACTACAM has brought HD video to the bow stabilizer turning the bow into the camera for $229.00. The TACTACAM attaches to any compound bow not only as a camera, but also as stabilizer. Basically, the HD camera becomes part of the hunt rather than a difficult extra piece of equipment needing to be concealed. The camera…

Record It All With Sony's HDR-AS30V Action Cam

Gear Bits

Record It All With Sony’s HDR-AS30V Action Cam

Sony’s Action Cam HDR-AS30V weighs just three ounces and is ruggedized and waterproof. 35% lighter and 25% smaller than its predecessor, it has GPS, captures 11.9MP images and records full HD. Wi-Fi connects to mobile devices with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile App and it works with Sony’s new Live-View Remote. It will be available this month for $299.99.

Sony Handycam FDR-AX1 4K Camcorder Packs a Punch

Gear Bits

Sony Handycam FDR-AX1 4K Camcorder Packs a Punch

The new Sony FDR-AX1 4K Handycam is the first 4K consumer camcorder on the market. The FDR-AX1 camcorder records 4K and HD movies in the XAVC S format. Featuring a 1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS sensor, it captures 3840×2160 images with four times the detail of Full HD. It will be available in October for $4,499.99.

Musician? Check Out Sony's New HDR-MV1 Music Camcorder

Gear Bits

Musician? Check Out Sony’s New HDR-MV1 Music Camcorder

Sony’s new HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder is designed and engineered specifically for musicians. The camcorder records CD-quality audio in uncompressed Linear PCM or internet-ready AAC thanks to a 120-degree X-Y stereo microphone. It also captures full 1920×1080/30p HD video and a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor records in lowlight settings. It will be available in December for $299.99.

Zetta Z12 Camcorder Review- Somebody's Watching Me…

Reviews

Zetta Z12 Camcorder Review- Somebody’s Watching Me…

The Zetta Intelligent Security Z12 Camcorder is a small, relatively inexpensive, simple to use spy camera. There’s no WiFi onboard which means you have to pull the microSD card to review the video. Still, it is relatively inexpensive to keep an eye on things at home, in the car and on the go. Check it out. In the Box: Zetta Z12 Camcorder Mini USB Wall Adapter Mini USB Car Charger Mini USB Cable 4GB MicroSD Card Suction Cup Car Mount The Zetta website describes the Z12 as a “Car Security Cam, Dash Cam, Home Surveillance, Shop and Booth Security, Meeting…

TheQ Camera Creates Instantly Shareable Photos

Gear Bits

TheQ Camera Creates Instantly Shareable Photos

It’s nearly impossible to take a picture any more without immediately thinking, “this needs to go on Facebook (or Tumblr, Twitter), so why not just get a camera that can take a great photo and immediately post it for you to the social network of your choice? Say “Cheese”, and preorder the $199 socially acceptable theQ Camera.   Every aspect of the pocket-sized camera can be controlled, from the social media settings through to the built-in photo filters. In addition to the one-button upload for social sharing, theQ users receive unlimited storage on their theQ LAB personal photo archive page. TheQ camera…

Nokia Lumia 1020 5MP

Gear Bits

Photos Taken with the Nokia Lumia 1020 Are Amazing!

Gear Diary reader, David Min, recently purchased the brand new super camera smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 1020. Because I haven’t yet got mine (yes, I am planning on buying one, too), he sent in some comparison photos so we could see the difference between the Lumia 1020 on High Resolution, the Nokia Lumia at 5MP, and the iPhone 5. All I can tell you is that after seeing these photos, I have no doubt that I will be buying this phone! All photos are thumbnails; if you click on them they will open and enlarge in a new window. Of…

Traveling with the Nokia Lumia 928 - Good Enough to Be My Only Camera?

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Traveling with the Nokia Lumia 928 – Good Enough to Be My Only Camera?

Before leaving on our recent trip to NYC, I was given the opportunity to try out a Nokia Lumia 928. I wasn’t expected to review the phone — Carly had already thoroughly done that. Rather, the idea was that I see how well the Lumia 928 could do as my primary camera while traveling, and to see whether I liked it better than some of the other phones I had also brought along on the trip. Ordinarily when traveling I’ll bring either my Canon G11 or 5D; on this trip I brought nothing but a bag-full of phones. Although I…

ContourRoam2 Action Cam - Reviewed and Still Used

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ContourRoam2 Action Cam – Reviewed and Still Used

We’ve reviewed a number of action cameras here on the site over the past year or so, and the one that rose to the top for me was the ContourRoam2 Action Camera. The Roam2 is simple to use. In fact, it is so simple that I actually had to read the manual to figure out just how to start the recording process. It turns out simply powering it on is all you need to do. (Read the original review.) Add in the fact that the ContourRoam2 is waterproof and is less than $200, and you have an action camera that…

Sony NEX-6 Smart Remote Control in 90 Seconds

Gear Bits

Sony NEX-6 Smart Remote Control in 90 Seconds

I upgraded my camera to the Sony NEX-6 today, and I am already loving it. At $899 for the body and lens kit, the NEX-6 is pricey. But for the size, speed, and image quality — it really can’t be beat. One of the new features on both the NEX-5r and the NEX-6 is built-in WiFi. This lets you add apps to your camera and do such things as send images from the camera directly to your smartphone or tablet. Another app-powered feature is the Smart Remote Control. This feature allows you to use your smartphone or tablet as a…

Brick and Mortar Stores Aren't Enough, You Also Need Customer Service

Editorials

Brick and Mortar Stores Aren’t Enough, You Also Need Customer Service

This morning on the news, I heard a report of a retailer who has thus far been an online presence only. Now they are opening a brick and mortar store because they understand that customers like to see, touch and compare the actual products. Fortuitously, an experience I just had at Best Buy served as a reminder that bricks and mortar are just the beginning. What really makes the difference is… customer service. That was what was lacking during my recent shopping experience at Best Buy, and it is why Amazon.com got the sale. I went into Best Buy to…

The ContourRoam2 HD Action Video Camera Lets You Capture Life On the Go

Reviews

The ContourRoam2 HD Action Video Camera Lets You Capture Life On the Go

When it comes to HD action cameras there are a few key “musts” the device needs to have if you are going to take it seriously. It has to be tough. After all, action cameras need to endure bumps, bruises, vibration and moisture. It has to be mountable, since an action camera that can only sit on a tripod is called… a camera. It has to be simple to use, since having to stop in the middle of an activity to turn the camera on or off defeats the purpose. And, of course, it needs to take good quality video…

Oregon Scientific Launches ATC Chameleon Dual Lens Action Camera

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Oregon Scientific Launches ATC Chameleon Dual Lens Action Camera

Remember that awesome review I wrote about the ATC Chameleon dual lens action camera?  🙂 Well, the ATC Chameleon dual lens action camera finally being launched at several major national retailers, including Target, Best Buy, and Costco.  Now is your chance to grab this adaptable action camera that can capture two videos at one time.  Whether you’re hitting the slopes (like I did), kayaking, mountain biking, or just fooling around with the family in the backyard, the ATC Chameleon is a great way to capture the action in your life. The two wide-angle lenses each capture video in a resolution of 1280…

ContourROAM2 Action Camera Is Built for Life in Motion

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ContourROAM2 Action Camera Is Built for Life in Motion

Perry recently wrote up an awesome action camera that allows you to shoot video in two different directions at once. The Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon is a neat idea that lets, for example, not only see where you are going but also shows you the slow-pokes behind you on the ski slope or in the bike race. (Check out the review here.) The camera Perry wrote about is only one of a growing number of action cameras that offer quality, durability and great features. We received word of another one yesterday and it looks quite interesting. The ContourROAM2 action camera gives you…

Sony's Cyber-shot HX50V: A 30x Optical Zoom in a Small and Light Camera

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Sony’s Cyber-shot HX50V: A 30x Optical Zoom in a Small and Light Camera

When the smartphone market exploded the point and shoot camera market went into a nosedive. That's not a surprise since, for many of us, our iPhones or Galaxy 3 does a perfectly good job of letting us grab shots on the go. In addition, thanks to powerful applications and ubiquitous connectivity we are now able to play with our pictures on the go and then share them… In seconds. Still, there is a market for cameras that are small and powerful and sit somewhere between a smartphone camera and a big, bulky DSLR. Songs been doing some nice things in…