Reprinted from a Canon press release
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 19, 2009 – Canon U.SA., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, has introduced a new flagship model to its 2009 VIXIA high-definition camcorder line, the VIXIA HF S11 Dual Flash Memory camcorder. For those video enthusiasts looking to capture the moment in breathtaking HD quality, the VIXIA HF S11 provides advanced HD features and professional-level manual controls. Additionally, Canon announced a new camcorder accessory, the RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter for professional-level functionality when shooting from a tripod.
The VIXIA HF S11 retains Canon’s core imaging technologies, but adds several new features that enhance operability and deliver unsurpassed image quality. The VIXIA HF S11 offers the ability to record up to 24 hours of crisp high-definition video to a 64GB internal flash drive and the option of recording video directly to removable SDHC memory cards for fast and easy sharing of memories. Two new features that help enhance the video capture and viewing experience are Canon’s new Dynamic SuperRange OIS system, which delivers the ultimate in shake correction by providing continuous adjustment throughout the entire zoom range, and an Advanced Video Snapshot Mode which allows you to create the perfect highlight movie to share with family and friends by recording a series of four second clips when in shooting mode as well as in playback mode.
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Once again traveling the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, at NAB we made a bee line for the camcorder manufacturers to see what was available in the low end of the broadcast range.

JVC was showing off it’s new ProHD solid state GY HM-100 and GY HM-700 camcorders, that record to SDHC cards in native Quicktime format. Both models record in almost every flavor of HD video, 1080i, 1080p, 720p at various NTSC and PAL compatible frame rates. The codec used is 35Mbps MPEG-2

JVC promised to get us a review unit of the hand held GY-HM 100 as soon as they’re off the assembly lines in a few weeks. The GY HM-100 is available within a few weeks at a price point of $3,995, and the HM-700 is on sale now for $7,995.

Panansonic announced a hand-held pro model, the HMC 40. This new small format camcorder also records to SDHC cards, but belongs to the AVCCAM line, meaning it records in AVCHD. The camcorder comes with 3, 1/4 inch CMOS sensors, with a maximum bit rate of 24Mbps.

The HMC 40 will be released in August with a suggested price of $3,195. We’re also keen to take a look at it here in the offices, as we really liked their HMC-150 in the same AVCCAM family.

Canon was there showing off some new broadcast lenses, but no updates to their camcorder line were there, unless you include the Canon 5D mark II DSLR, which they showed tricked out in their booth alongside their camcorders.

There were a lot of accessories for this DLSR, including follow focus systems, rails, viewfinders and various audio attachments. There’s no doubt that the DSLR as video camera is here to stay as a category. We’ve got our Canon on 5D mark II on the test bench now.

Sony didn’t have much in the way of new announcements this year, but one thing that did catch our eye, was the HXRMC1, POV camera. It’s essentially an AVCHD camcorder with the lens detached and conntected to the camcorder by a 9 foot cable. There’s all sorts of uses as a second camera with such versatility.

The camera shoots 1080i AVCHD to Memory Stick, and includes a 10x zoom lens, and weighs only 1lb. 1oz, making it possible to stick anywhere. Uses include work as a helmet-cam, or mounted on a boom pole for some extreme POV shots.

I just returned from a whirlwind adventure in Disneyland, also known as the happiest place on earth.  It’s also one of the most photographed places on earth.

Disneyland Logo

But for me, for the first time in my life, I did not take a video camera on the trip.  Not because I didn’t want to lug the cam around, but because I forgot to grab it as I rushed out the door.  So, I was stuck watching other people shooting video, and in the three days there, I learned a few things about how the average person captures their vacation memories.

I wasn’t surprised to see that nearly every family there had at least one member shooting video. What I was surprised by, however, was the number of older Hi8 and Super8 video cameras still in use. There were also a lot of the very tiny camcorders like the Flip, which are easy to carry and flip out anytime. Most of the camcorders I saw, however, were the mid-sized cams like my son’s Canon Vixia HD cam. He daringly shot video onto this small palm-size camcorder while soaring down the Matterhorn. Something I’d never have attempted with my larger Sony VX2100.

The most amazing thing I saw, though, was even with all the knowledge about shooting techniques on the internet, in books, magazines, and DVDs, people still can’t compose interesting shots.

Fireworks over the Mark Twain Riverboat

I stood in line for a ride behind a woman trying to capture a shot of the Small World façade in the distance. Most of her video had the back of the heads of the people in front of her. While on a raft crossing the river to Tom Sawyer’s Island, one man kept panning from his kids to the left to the Island to the right; back and forth… back and forth… And another clueless guy was trying to shoot and walk down the middle of Mainstreet, narrating his footage as he stumbled and trip over pedestrians, baby strollers, and garbage cans.

It was hard not to tell these people, “here, let me help, I’m a pro.” Or hand out my business card telling them, “Subscribe to Videomaker… please”.

While trying to compose a night-time shot of my grand-daughter in front of Cinderella’s castle in Fantasyland, the brightness of the castle’s lights kept dimming the light level on the auto iris on my daughter-in-law’s point-n-shoot still camera, throwing my grand-daughter into darkness.

I told her to step back about twelve feet from the castle, bring my grand-daughter closer to the camera, which would allow more light on the child and more darkness around the castle to enter the camera’s iris. My daughter-in-law marveled at how well it worked.

As we were leaving, I saw another woman move into the same stance, and move her child into the spot my grand-daughter just vacated. Ah… teaching shooting techniques, one convert at a time.

Canon released the pricing and availability of their Camcorder line-up for 2009. Initially launched just before CES in January, this line up includes the new HFS-10/100 and the revamped HV-40.

Details are below:

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