Panasonic announced today the addition of the new LUMIX DMC-FX700 digital camera, which records 1080 full High Definition (HD) videos in the AVCHD format and features a 3-inch touch-screen LCD. The 14.1-megapixel digital camera features a 24mm ultra wide-angle F2.2 super bright LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens with a 5x optical zoom making the LUMIX FX700 extremely versatile in low-light conditions and when capturing moving subjects.

“The 24mm ultra wide-angle lens and 5x optical zoom on the LUMIX FX700 makes it a powerful and advanced addition to the FX-Series, known for being slim, sleek and high-performing,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The LUMIX FX700 offers a complete suite of creative ways to capture superior quality photos and full HD videos in all shooting situations.”

The LUMIX FX700 adopts full touch-screen operation, which allows for Auto Focus (AF) to be set by touching the 3.0-inch, 230,000-dot LCD screen. Once a subject is locked with a single touch, the AF tracking function will follow the subject while moving. With the Intelligent Scene Selector, the camera automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject selected. All menus settings are now available with one-touch control for shooting images and videos.

The LUMIX FX700’s advanced 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens, a rarity for a compact camera of this size, makes it easy to capture many subjects due to the great depth-of-field provided by the extra light. Additionally, photographers now have a wider range of composition possibilities with approximately 213% larger viewing space compared to that of a 35mm camera.

The LUMIX FX700 can also record HD video in the AVCHD format, which allows for almost double the recording time in HD quality compared to the conventional Motion JPEG format. The LUMIX FX700 records in 1920×1080 full HD with enhanced picture quality and Intelligent Resolution technology. Along with this high-quality HD video with a 5x optical zoom, the FX700 also features Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high-quality audio.

The LUMIX FX700 features the new Venus Engine FHD image processor which includes advanced signal processing capabilities. It also incorporates Intelligent Resolution technology, which examines three areas pixel-by-pixel, to automatically detect and enhance any degradation created during the digital zoom process.

Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX FX700 include:

• Handheld Night Shot: Using the high-speed MOS sensor, this new mode shoots 10 consecutive shots to simulate and detect the perfect shot of any subject while simultaneously fixing the subject’s position. Through the MOS sensor’s short shutter speed, exposure is increased while noise is reduced to create a blur-less, beautifully- illuminated night shot without the use of a tripod.
• Battery Life: The high-performance Venus Engine FHD is also highly energy efficient despite its high processing capabilities, extending the battery life up to 300 shots (CIPA) on a single charge.

The Panasonic LUMIX FX700 will be available in black in late-August for a suggested retail price of $399.95.

Canon recently introduced the new VIXIA HF M32 Dual Flash Memory camcorder. The VIXIA HF M32 is an easy-to-use, movie-making tool capable of hours upon hours of high-quality HD video recording, ideal for the aspiring family documentarian or social-networking fanatic. Equipped with 64GB of internal flash memory, the new camcorder can record up to 24 hours of HD video and also includes an SD memory card slot that is fully compatible with latest generation SDXC memory cards. The new SDXC memory card specification increases storage capacity from 32GB up to 2TB and enhances data transfer speeds.

Like it’s predecessors in the VIXIA HF M-series (VIXIA HF M31, HF M30, HF M300), the VIXIA HF M32 is compact and lightweight. The VIXIA HF M32 retains Canon’s proprietary imaging technologies – a Canon HD Video Lens, HD CMOS Image Sensor and DIGIC DV III Image Processor – and like other VIXIA HF M-series camcorders, features a Touch Panel LCD and a host of features that make capturing and sharing stunning HD video easier than ever before, including:

• Smart Auto: Makes shooting great video even easier by utilizing Canon’s DIGIC DV III Image Processor to intelligently detect and analyze brightness, color, distance and movement and automatically select the best setting for the scene being recorded.
• Touch & Track: Enables users to select a subject on the Touch Panel LCD which will then be recognized and tracked. This sophisticated technology recognizes faces, objects, and even animals, ensuring the subject will always be in focus and properly exposed.
• Relay Recording: Allows users to capture uninterrupted video when the primary recording media is full. The camcorder will continue to record a scene by switching from one memory source to the other as it fills up, so that a moment of action will not be missed.
• Powered IS: In addition to Canon’s Dynamic SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Powered IS provides an even higher level of compensation for subtle hand movement at the telephoto end of the zoom range. This new enhancement can be engaged by pressing the Powered IS button on the LCD panel.
• HD-to-SD Downconversion: Enables users to convert recorded HD video to standard-definition files while preserving the original HD video. These standard-definition files make it even more convenient to share video online or create a DVD.
• Advanced Video Snapshot: Provides the flexibility of capturing two, four, or eight second video clips while recording or during playback.

The VIXIA HF M32 is compatible with Eye-Fi SD memory cards, which makes it easy to wirelessly transfer video content and photos to a computer or sharing site. Eye-Fi SD memory cards feature a built-in Wi-Fi that uses your wireless network to effortlessly transfer photos and videos directly from the camcorder.

The VIXIA HF M32 Dual Flash Memory camcorder is scheduled to be available in September for an estimated retail price of $1000

Sony has announced the new NEX-VG10, the world’s first consumer camcorder with interchangeable lenses and the first Handycam camcorder to feature an extra-large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor.

Sony’s NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens HD Handycam Camcorder is equipped with the same Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor used in the “NEX-5” and “NEX-3” digital cameras and compatible with the high grade “E-mount” series of smaller, lighter lenses optimized for video shooting with silent operation and AF. It is also compatible with a wealth of “A-mount” interchangeable lenses used by Sony’s existing α DSLR camera lineup via a mount adapter, including Sony G Lenses and Carl Zeiss branded lenses.

The NEX-VG10 shoots high resolution video and 14 megapixel still images. Approximately 19.5 times bigger than the standard sensor found in conventional camcorders, the APS HD CMOS sensor enables an extremely shallow depth of field. This allows videographers to achieve cinematic results with stunning background defocus (bokeh). Users can also enjoy DSLR-quality photo capture with features like Auto HDR, Handheld Twilight, and Anti Motion Blur, as well as catch fast action sequences with a continuous burst rate of up to seven fps.

The NEX-VG10 can capture full 1920×1080 high definition video at up to 24Mbps for amazing clarity and detail, ideal for recording on to Blu-ray Disc media. It also comes with an E-mount 18-200mm lens optimized for video shooting that offers a powerful 11x optical zoom in addition to a silent auto-focus system and Optical Steadyshot image stabilization with Active Mode for superior versatility.

Satisfying the needs of serious videographers, sound quality matches the stellar imaging performance of the NEX-VG10. Its Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone uses advanced processing algorithms to combine signals from four individual microphone capsules. The result is exceptionally clear stereo audio with high directional response, allowing videographers to capture more sound from their subject and less background noise. The camcorder also features dedicated inputs for optional external microphones and headphones to monitor sound levels.

The NEX-VG10 accepts both Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD (including both SDHC and SDXC formats) media. Users can record up to four hours of high definition footage (1920×1080, FH mode) when using the 32GB memory card.

The NEX-VG10 will be available in September for about $2,000 and presales on www.sonystyle.com will begin July 14.

Netgear’s ReadyNAS is a new line of home storage devices that have a couple new features that could bring network storage to the masses. The ReadyNAS has the standard features you would expect from a network storage device, which includes redundancy and up to 12 terabytes of capacity. What separates ReadyNAS from all the other devices on the market is two different partnerships with Orb and TiVo plus new Intel Atom processors. The partnership with Orb allows files to be streamed to multiple mobile devices like iPads, Blackberry phones, and Android devices while TiVo’s partnership allows the user to store thousands of hours of television content. This is Netgears first system to include a PC chip inside it’s consumer products which allows the devices to run up to three times faster!

Netgear hopes these new features will make network attached devices something people will actually get excited about. Grab whatever content needed anytime, in or out of the house via the web or a mobile application whether it be music libraries, movie collections, home movies or thousands of hours of television.

Canon recently demonstrated a concept camera of the future at the World Expo in Shanghai. The Wonder Camera is packed full of futuristic features, one thing to note is the lens on the Wonder Camera is capable of shooting macro while also zooming up to 500mm, eliminating the need for interchangeable lenses. The Wonder Camera also sports an all-touch interface and more importantly only shoots video. Canon believes you won’t need to shoot stills when the video the camera shoots is capable of keeping everything in focus at all times, meaning you’ll be able to pull high resolution photos from the camera where ever you desire.

As a videographer we all know how hard it is to legally obtain music, especially for a Wedding video that the bride would actually enjoy. Let’s be honest when is the last time a bride agreed to use stock music for the reception montage or the first dance. It’s almost impossible without breaking the law, until now. Enter Songfreedom.com, a membership based site with a library of some of the most popular music tracks from record labels like Sony Music and EMI that offer their music for reproduction and streaming use, particularly for Wedding videographers.