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Cruise to bowling alley (unedited) from Rodfather on Vimeo.

Unedited.

My first video with my new Canon TX1. Took a cruise to bowling alley.

It was around 5PM, overcast, and raining. Basically just stuck in traffic. Somewhat of a good test to see if the autofocus would search all over the place. It wasn’t too bad though.

I had the camera mounted on a GorillaPod SLR. The video was very shaky but didn’t go into a mess of blur. The OIS did its job I guess. The shakiness was just too much.

I encoded the raw MJPEG file (2.48 GB!!) to H.264 at 3.5 Mbps with VLC player. VLC player is a very fast encoder but probably not the best quality. Especially since it only did 1 pass.

I did a bit of handheld toward the end. Someone was pulled over so wanted to see what the cops were up to.

Download MP4 from Vimeo page – 1280×720 30FPS H.264 3.5Mbps (274MB)

It appears the hybrid cam movement is in full swing. Sony announced the HDR-TG1 high definition camera.

Weighing in at only 300g, it’s appears very pocketable with its 32x119x63mm dimensions. This is now the smallest Full HD camcorder.

You can expect to record 1 hour and 50 minutes of 1080i 30 FPS video at 16Mbps on an 8GB MemoryStick. You’ll be able to snap 4 megapixel photos in camera mode and 2.2 megapixel photos while recording video. I’ll assume the video is not interrupted while taking photos like the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000.

As for the lens..

“Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® 10x optical zoom lens and 2-megapixel ClearVid™ CMOS sensor with Exmor™-derived technology”

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The specs and functionality appear to be a combination of the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000 and the Canon TX1 which isn’t a bad thing at all.
Wish Sony would dump the MemoryStick and just go with SDHC cards though.

It has all the latest goodies such as an Easy mode and Face detection. I’m crossing my fingers for a 720P 60FPS video mode.

Using sizeasy.com, you can see it’s just a bit taller than the Canon TX1. This is most likely due to the Sony’s 2.7 inch LCD display.

Check out the video and gallery over at Akihabara news.

New Camera, originally uploaded by Rodfather.

I only checked the door two times after hearing a truck go by. Pretty good eh? Anyway, here’s what I received.

* Canon TX1
* A-Data 2GB SD card which came free with the camera
* A-Data 16GB SDHC card
* Dolica Canon Accessory pack. For only $15 it came with a mini-tripod, 2 screen protectors, case, and most importantly, a spare battery.
* Another Dolica spare battery

This should cover me for now. 3 batteries and a 16GB SDHC card.

Immediate impressions? A bit heavier than I thought. Very solid build. Trying to figure out how an AC adapter plugs into this.

I ended up choosing the Canon TX1 as my next hybrid cam. It should arrive in a few days and I’ll post my reasons and thoughts leading me to this camera hopefully later in the week.

I’m just relieved I don’t have to go through all the research anymore. I am giddy with excitement.

—–

Since the TX1 is so small, I tried to look up any discussion on stabilizing a small digicam for shooting video. The TX1 has Optical Image Stabilization but I’d imagine it’s still difficult to keep stable using such as small device in a non standard form factor. To achieve a nice floating-like motion, gained from using a stabilizer like a SteadiCam, would be awesome on a tiny hybrid cam.

So how about a Fig Rig? This is a wheel-like anti-shake device created by Director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Time Code) to gain stability with DV sized cams. There’s a bunch of DIY projects trying to emulate Manfrotto’s expensive version. Here you can build your own with only $10 in parts.

Of course this is way too big for a TX1. So.. what’s shaped like a wheel and small???

The UbiSoft Wii Steering Wheel! These are basically shells to stick a Wiimote in to try to simulate the feeling of a real racing wheel. Call it air steering.. whatever.

This one comes with GT Pro Series for the Wii but there’s a few shady looking sites selling it separate for $10. There are other cheap wheels available as well.

I don’t have either yet but it might be worth looking into. You can probably screw in a bolt to mount the TX1 in the middle. It might just work!

So ya, anyone want to try to mod that into a small DIY Fig Rig?

I doubt this is scaled right, but you get the point..

Taking a cruise from Rodfather on Vimeo.

Taking a cruise along San Andreas Rd. Shot at around 6:30PM with about an hour or so left until Sunset.

Using the Aiptek A-HD at 720P 30FPS ~4Mbps attached to a GorillaPod SLR which was clinging to the dash of my Subaru. It was very shaky but speeding it up somewhat helped.

Edited with Sony Vegas 7 and rendered to 720P WMVHD at 6Mbps.  Original footage was 30 minutes.  Sped it up to a little over 7 minutes.

The fixed lens helps out when shooting from a car. The Aiptek is not meant for motion though.

Looking into a Sanyo Xacti HD1000 with its 60FPS 720P mode.

Song is Master of Puppets by Metallica performed by Apocalyptica.

Download source 720P WMVHD video (328.66MB)

Sanyo has been leading the way producing flash based, compact hybrid photo/video cams.

Now, they are trying to focus on marketing to women with their new, easy to use, compact, and stylish Xacti CG9 hybrid cam.

It contains a whopping 9.12 MP CMOS sensor and encodes video to max 640×480 at 60 FPS using the H.264 codec. I don’t know about you but H.264 and ‘easy to use’ don’t exactly go hand in hand.

This should be a great alternative if you are looking into the Sanyo VPC-CG65 but want something slightly more bulky and the option to shoot at 60 FPS.

The CG9 will be aggressively priced as an entry level camera. I’m guessing around $300.

Specs from Sanyo’s site:

• MPEG-4, H.264 Digital Video
• 9.12 Megapixel Still Images, CMOS
• 2.5″ LCD Display
• 5.0x Optical Zoom
• Video and Still Image Stabilization
• Real-Time Interpolation (12MP)
• High Quality Audio Recording (AAC-LC)
• Wind Roar and Red Eye Reduction
• Web Cam Function
• PictBridge Compatible
• USB 2.0 and S-Video Output
• Built-in Flash
• SDHC Flash Memory, Compatible, 40 MB Internal Memory (approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes video recording per GB)

Check out the video and gallery over at Akihabara News.

UPDATE (3/26/08):
I guess I was right about the price. Just noticed this on Amazon. Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9 Retail $299.

Linux Devices posted info on a new rugged CarPC by Aaeon.  The  Boxer AEC-6905 is a rugged, vehicle mounted computer running an Intel Celeron M processor.  They were able to make it fanless by the use of the huge orange colored heat-sink which doubles as the case.

Features and specifications listed by Aaeon for the AEC-6095 include:

• Processor — Intel Celeron M from 600MHz to 1.5GHz
• Memory — up to 1GB of DDR RAM in single SODIMM slot
• Display — integrated VGA output; supported resolutions not specified
• Networking — 10/100 Ethernet port
• Other I/O:
  • 4 x USB 2.0
  • 3 x RS232
  • 1 x RS232/422/485
  • 1 x PS/2
  • 1 x VGA
  • audio mic-in, line-in, and line-out via DIN connector
• Expansion:
  • PCI slot (size not stated)
  • PC/104-Plus interface, accepts two-board stack
  • CompactFlash slot
• Operating temperatures:
  • From -20 to 60 deg. C (with SSD)
  • From -20 to 55 deg. C (with HDD)
• Dimensions — 13.3 x 11.6 x 10.3 inches
• Weight — 12.3 pounds
• Power requirements — 9VDC to 30VDC; external AC adapter is optional

 Link

I’m looking for a new cam.. Thinking of the Sanyo Xacti HD700 or the HD1000.

I’ve been playing around with the Aiptek A-HD and a bit with the Flip Video Ultra and I’m disappointed with the CMOS sensor. It creates the typical ‘wobble’ effect. characteristic of digicams. I know the higher end HD cams from the big 3 (Sony, Panasonic, Canon), don’t have that effect with their CMOS sensors, but we’re talking about cheap webcam parts strung together and hope the chip is smart enough to figure it all out.

What appeals me with the Aipteks are the technical features, solid yet cheap build, and price to go with them. For $130, I have a 720P cam that produces H.264 video at around 4Mbps. I won’t feel bad bring an Aiptek along while surf fishing. If I end up catching the big one and have to sacrifice a cam to the Ocean, then so be it, I could always grab another.

I will always strive to be at the place where I can have a nice balance of a solid build, high tech, and portability. So, now, I’m looking a step up. Sanyo’s.. Or perhaps a Panasonic HCD-HD9 (not very durable or portable). I’m leaning toward the Sanyo HD700 though. Pocketability (!) is fairly important.

The Sanyo E1 is very appealing as well. It’s freaking water proof. You can submerge the MoFo 5 feet deep and it’ll record all that in at 640×480 using the H.264 codec. It’s a bit bulky though. I cruised over to Fry’s and compared the E1 to the C6 , which has the same build as the CG65 and HD700; the E1 is pretty huge in comparison, but it does look durable.

What’s lacking for these cheaper hybrid cams.. are the essentials to compete as a heavyweight in the camcorder field.

Let’s see:

• Opitical Image Stabilization (OIS). Much better than EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization).
• Auto/Manual Focus. Fixed lens cams have their use. For day-to-day use, autofocus is convenient. The option for manual focus is gold.
• Optics. The big players (Sony, Panasonic, Canon) all focus on their optics #1 priority. They don’t bother with cheap webcam parts. I love the pistolgrip form-factor, but it’s tough to combine a huge lens and portability. The big 3′s solution for their flash based cams are bullet shaped. House the best optics and ergonomics goes out the window.
• Standard? This is one to argue about. Sony and Panasonic are going AVCHD which has caused a bit of trouble for those trying to edit video with both Mac and PC. Every format seems have trouble working with your favorite video editor though. Basically, most people have trouble even playing 1080p/720P H.264 footage since it’s so demanding. The thought of them even editing HD footage is a shiny new computer, long, far.. away.
  For me, Sony Vegas has worked well. For you videographers/vloggers using digicams, MP4Cam2AVI has been gold for converting video to an editable format.
  Installing ffdshow also helped in viewing/editing video with the preinstalled Windows Movie Maker.

Ok this is awesome.

I have Jam Sessions for the Nintendo DS which basically turns your DS into a guitar. It’s fairly realistic if all want to do is strum chords.

Soon you’ll be able to have synthesizer for your DS. AQ Interactive is releasing the KORG DS-10 synthesizer.

From the AQ Interactive site:

Description:

• World’s first music tool software created for the Nintendo DS
• Two patchable dual-oscillator analog synth simulators:
• Four-part drum machine that uses sounds created with the analog synth simulator
• Six-track (analog synth x 2, drum machine x 4) /16-step sequencer
• Delay, chorus, and flanger sound effects available from the mixing board
• Three note-entry modes: touch-control screen, keyboard screen, matrix screen
• Real-time sound control mode via touch-control screen
• Exchange sounds and songs and play multiple units simultaneously through a wireless communications link

Release date is July 2008 for 4800 YEN in Japan

KORG DS-10 synth turns Nintendo DS into instrument of awesomeness – Engadget

French site Archos Lounge announced the upcoming Archos 606 PMP/MID which will include 3G.  It appears to be an upgrade to the WiFi enabled Archos 605.  No word on availability but I’ll assume France only at this time.

A few details:

• Slightly bigger screen than 605
• All black
• 30GB drive
• Support for Opera widgets

Could be a great alternative to the iPhone/iPod Touch, Nokia Internet Tablets, and MID’s if you favor media playback and/or recording as a main feature.

Via Gizmodo