Canon has released the 18 Megapixel EOS 60D DSLR Camera. For the first time on an EOS camera, the EOS 60D DSLR boasts a three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, EOS Full HD video recording with manual overrides including audio level control, and in-camera functionality for RAW image processing plus Creative Filters to manipulate images after taking them.

Designed primarily for advanced amateurs, the EOS 60D replaces the EOS 50D and boasts a broad array of new features that make it easier for photographers to add personal creativity to their images. Whether it’s capturing an overhead shot on the Vari-Angle screen at a graduation ceremony, or converting a color image to black and white for a nostalgic look, Canon is delivering in-camera features and functions that empower advanced photographers to capture, display and print the images they want.

The new 60D camera features a large Vari-Angle 3-inch Clear View LCD screen with 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings for bright clear viewing from any angle. The new LCD screen is ideal for composing low-angle or overhead shots whether capturing still images or Full HD video clips.

Another first for the EOS system is the EOS 60D camera’s new Multi-Control Dial, which places a Multi-Controller and Set button inside the Quick Control Dial. This new control layout streamlines camera navigation for vertical as well as horizontal shooting and enables a cleaner camera design. Responding to customer requests, the EOS 60D also features a locking mode dial, which makes camera operation more secure by preventing inadvertent changes to the photographer’s selected shooting mode.

In addition to its new still capture capabilities, the EOS 60D features Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p. Native 24p recording helps videographers achieve a more cinema-style look for their footage without the need for post-processing. The EOS 60D builds upon the great video capabilities Canon has introduced in recent DSLR cameras and packs them into a camera photo enthusiasts will love. Full HD video capture, along with selectable cinematic frame rates for both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards, will help the EOS 60D to be the camera of choice among film students and photography students alike.

The new EOS 60D camera’s movie mode also includes manual controls for exposure as well as manual audio levels in 64 steps, much like the latest firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II HDSLR. Users can set audio levels on the rear menu screen before shooting begins; once recording is initialized, audio adjustments are not possible. In addition, Canon has added an electronic Wind Filter to the audio controls within the movie shooting menu.

Canon has also included an in-camera movie editing feature, allowing users to shorten a video file by clipping segments from the beginning or the end, removing unwanted portions without outside software. This feature can dramatically accelerate workflow by reducing the time needed to upload video clips to a computer for further editing and assembly. The EOS 60D also includes Canon’s Movie Crop mode, which allows users to achieve 7x magnification when shooting SD video. Unlike the digital zoom feature found in many compact digital cameras, Canon’s Movie Crop mode crops the image directly from the CMOS sensor at full SD resolution to preserve image quality and still provide additional telephoto power.

The Canon EOS 60D allows for three video recording modes – Full HD and HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio and Standard Definition (SD) in a 4:3 aspect ratio, all at selectable frame rates. The EOS 60D Digital SLR camera will record Full HD at 1920 x 1080 pixels in selectable frame rates of 24p (23.976), 25p, or 30p (29.97); 720p HD recording at 50p or 60p (59.94) and SD video at frame rates of 50p or 60p (59.94). The EOS 60D features a dedicated button to initiate live view for both video and still shooting. Once engaged, the same dedicated button will start and stop video recording.

The Canon EOS 60D DSLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers toward the end of September, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $1,099.00. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $1,399.00.

Canon EOS 60D Sample Video

Product Walk Through

Sony is developing a new AVCHD high-definition camcorder featuring an interchangeable lens system.

The camcorder, which will be available this fall, will be compatible with “E Mount” interchangeable lenses developed for Sony’s newest digital still cameras (model NEX-5, NEX-3), as well as many  “A Mount” interchangeable lenses used by the existing “α” DSLR camera lineup via a mount adapter.

We don’t have many details in yet but we will keep you posted with all the latest!

Canon announced two professional camcorders to their line up. Both new models employ an MPEG-2 4:2:2 50Mbps codec – Canon XF Codec – for capturing and recording native 1920 x 1080 video onto affordable, universally available Compact Flash (CF) cards. Uniting video, audio and metadata into a single file, the Canon XF305 and XF300 use an MXF (Material eXchange Format) File Wrapper, a widely supported open-source format, to maximize compatibility with existing industry infrastructure and non-linear editing (NLE) systems. The XF305 and XF300 are engineered for multiple production applications including broadcast news, documentary and independent filmmaking and event videography.

The Canon XF305 and XF300 Professional Camcorders include a Canon 18x HD L-series lens providing documentary filmmakers and news camera operators with the focal-range versatility required in the field. Designed with input from professional users, each model includes three Canon developed and designed native 1920 x 1080 CMOS image sensors, and the new Canon XF Codec for extreme color detail required for accurate chroma-keying, color-grading and compositing for digital filmmaking.  For finer transitions in tone and color, 4:2:2 color sampling offers twice the color resolution of HDV and other 4:2:0 formats. Canon’s XF305 model features industry-standard HD-SDI output, genlock, and SMPTE time code (in/out) terminals for multi-camera or 3-D productions.

In addition to 4:2:2 50Mbps recording, the XF camcorders also offer 4:2:0 35Mbps and 4:2:0 25Mbps modes for seamless compatibility with existing workflows (e.g. HDV). Of these options the 50Mbps and 35Mbps modes both support Slow and Fast Motion – 20-step variable frame rate recording ranging from half-speed slow motion to 4x fast motion. Frame rates from 12 to 25 frames per second are available in 1080/25p mode, and from 12 to 50fps in 720/50p or 720/25p modes. Other shooting modes include interval (time lapse) recording, frame recording and the Pre-Rec function. Pre-Rec mode continually buffers a three second video cache, which is appended to the start of recorded footage so that any of the crucial moments aren’t missed.

To support the swift adoption of the Canon XF Codec, Canon has worked in cooperation with major editing and post-production software developers, including Adobe, Apple, Avid, and Grass Valley, to ensure compatibility with leading software programs widely used within the video production and broadcast industries.

The Canon XF305 and XF300 are designed to maximize shooting comfort and usability. Each camcorder features a convenient, freely rotating 4.0-inch, 1.23-megapixel LCD monitor that can be positioned at either the right or left side of the camcorder body, allowing for easy viewing even in the most difficult shooting positions.

The LCD monitor also provides a display of the camcorders’ built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope to aid in achieving accurate exposure and color levels while shooting. Additionally, the LCD can show peaking, edge-monitor-focus and magnify the image, enabling users to confirm critical focus, an essential objective in all HD production.

Canon’s XF305 Professional Camcorder is scheduled to be available in late June for an estimated retail price of $7,999. Canon’s XF300 Professional Camcorder is scheduled to be available in late June for an estimated retail price of $6,799. We will bring you more details from NAB.

Sony announced today it’s consumer camcorder line-up for 2009, here is a listing of what to look for.

SONY HDR-XR520V 240GB HIGH-DEFINITION HARD DISK DRIVE HANDYCAM® CAMCORDER

Available in March for about $1500
Full 1920×1080 high-definition video recording and 12-megapixel still image capture
Large capacity 240GB hard drive holds up to 92 hours of video
New back-illuminated “Exmor-R” CMOS sensor improves sensitivity in low light conditions
Photo and video geo-tagging using built-in GPS receiver and Navteq maps
Improved Optical Steady Shot with Active Mode stabilization for smooth video and photos
Smile Shutter™ automatically takes photos when subject smiles, even while shooting HD video
Face detection technology recognizes up to eight faces and automatically corrects focus, exposure and color control

Read the rest of this entry »