Every year, nearly 150,000 people from all around the world venture to Las Vegas to collectively peer into the technology crystal ball known as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Billed as one of the world's largest trade shows, CES seldom disappoints those scouring the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and the surrounding hotels for cutting edge technology. Whether you're on the hunt for camcorders or car accessories, manufacturers big and small use the 2012 International CES as not only a showplace for their existing products, but also as a launching pad for new ones.

Exhilarating Exhaustion

CES has always been an event that draws attendees of all types - retail buyers, factory representatives, industry analysts and journalists from every inch of the globe. Videomaker once again had a strong presence at CES, covering a huge patch of the 1.86-million square feet of trade show space.

For the first-timer, CES can truly be overwhelming. Without the basics like a backpack and a portable charger for your cell phone, there's a very good chance CES will have you scrambling after just a few hours.

If innovation is what you came to see, Tara Dunion says, "there was plenty of that this year at the show."

"The best part of CES for me and my team was seeing the some 20,000 new products on the CES show floor," said Dunion, Senior Director, CES Communications. "Sometimes it takes until the fourth day to truly see all that this show has to offer."

For seasoned vets like Jennifer O'Rourke, Managing Editor of Videomaker Magazine, having a game plan in place of what you want to see - and some comfy shoes - is the best approach before even setting foot inside the exhibit halls.

"Although the show runs a full week, we were onsite for only three days," said O'Rourke. "We hit the ground running as soon as we got off the plane. With sneakers and a pedometer, I personally logged 25.16 km, which is more than 15 miles!" Tabulate the footwork of seven total Videomaker staffers and three writers in attendance, this crew clocked more than 150 miles scouring the show floor to find the latest and greatest products for video producers of every skill set.

Notable Names Debut Promising Products

While the CES tends to feature all the major players in the electronics industry (a walk through the Central Hall of the LVCC alone is like a tech geek walking through Christmas morning gifts on steroids), the North and South Halls feature up and coming products that could be the next gadget that everyone wants to get.

On the video production front, CES tends to skew more towards the average consumer, so expansive professional gear options can be hard to find. However, several companies, like JVC and Sony, launched some very exciting products that stand to serve both pro and amateur video enthusiasts alike.

JVC, showcased the first-ever 4K compact camcorder. JVC's GY-HMQ10 takes high definition video to a whole new level, and even received a Videomaker Best of CES 2012 Award for Best Camcorder. Dave Walton, an Assistant Vice President at JVC, was honored by the nod and mentioned to Videomaker's Multi-Media Editor, Mike Wilhelm, that putting the power of 4K into the hands of video producers means the overall quality of video stands to raise the bar significantly higher.

"Dave told me this camera really has many possible uses outside the professional level," Wilhelm said. "It would make a great camera for shooting sports. And with a price just under $5,000, that's just remarkable given the camera's 4K capabilities."

Another camcorder caught the eye of Videomaker staffers. Sony's new Handycam HDR-PJ760V is a hybrid camcorder/projector which features a beefy 96GB internal memory, a remarkable 24.1MP photo option, and perhaps the coolest part, a high contrast projector that offers vast improvements over 2011's model.

"Not only will you be able to capture your family's memories to share as they get older," said Dan Bruns, a Videomaker Associate Multi-Media Editor. "you'll be able to show these memories anywhere you are."

Canon's been going strong with it's popular VIXIA HF lineup and this year's models M50 and R30 have improved CMOS sensor, a 3-inch touchscreen, MP4 recording, DLNA and a Wi-Fi module so producers can share content. They both record to 8GB flash memory and provide better low light capabilities. Throw in dual codec recording and several stabilization modes and the new VIXIA makes for a great consumer camera with some features that only pro cams carry.

Products Providing Productivity

Videomaker's goal is to tell you about equipment that not only makes your productions look good, but also seamlessly flows from start to finish. Our team of ten each had specific products they were looking for, and each company welcomed us into their booths to show what makes their products unique.

Buffalo's AirStation WZR-1750H

If wireless routing is something your business or production suite needs, Buffalo's blazing fast AirStation WZR-1750H allows you to transfer enormous files at blistering speeds. Jackson Wong, who serves as an associate editor for Videomaker, was taking in his first CES, met with the folks from Buffalo and was really impressed with this product.

"This technology allows for nearly 800 Mbps wireless data movement," said Wong, "Though their setup used a cable like an antenna, the speeds read greater than 750 Mbps while we were at their booth. Keep in mind, wireless signals at CES had a hard time getting anywhere near the show floor." Considering more than 150,000 people attended the show and nearly all of them had mobile devices drawing on limited bandwidth, for Buffalo to be able to demonstrate that kind of potential is a major coup - imagine what it can do in your office.