Compact cameras with HD video

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Lexy spent her formative years taking a lot of photos and dreaming in technicolour. Nothing much has changed now she's covering all things photography related for CNET. You can find her hosting the weekly Pulse podcast.

It was only a few years ago that you had to tote around a separate camcorder alongside your still camera to capture those home movies in their full HD glory. Now, you can do it all with your compact.

The trend to put HD video recording capabilities in cameras really took off when Canon's EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR was unveiled with its full 1080p (1920x1080-pixel) clips. Cameras like Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX3 were also in the fray before this, and led the way for other manufacturers to put this feature in smaller cameras.

All the models listed here are capable of recording at least 720p quality clips. None of these cameras here have an external microphone input so you will have to make do with the in-built (usually stereo) microphone. Also note that on some of these cameras, like the Canon IXUS 120 IS, you cannot use the optical zoom whilst filming.


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Subbu posted a comment   

I missed to mention: I also took few Videos (HD Mode) and all them came out very impressive. The quality of Video is nice and movement is smooth (30 fps). So is the reason why I feel that the hardware is good but not fully tested software.

 

Panaman posted a comment   

"Bad: Unable to capture full-resolution images in 16:9 format"

Thats a bit of a redundant point, isnt it?
Unless the manufacturer makes a "cross" style sensonr (would love to see the size of the lens for that!) or uses pixel interpolation (why?!!?) it seems impossible.

Reducing the 4:3/1:1 resolutions so they all have the same res as 16:9 also seems a little backwards, dont you think??

Now im no techy, but i cant see how it would be possible/plausable for Panasonic to want either a cross style sensor, or to fake pixels for the sake of a number?? (these days, anyway)

I could be wrong, but didnt the GH1 first introduce 1920x1080p to still cameras? Well before the 5D?

 

Philscbx posted a comment   

Well, if they really knew what they talking about, this guy has plenty of manual controls for exposure to spot metering.

If you use Mac, you already have iMovie, and this works perfect with the HD AVCHD files.

I studied this camera for months, watched all the real HD content, then waited for my order of 6 of them from National Camera.

For those of you in the US, this is the ZS3, and only 2 stores offer it as a walk in customer, National Camera, and Cosco.

I have over 10K in Pro Canon gear, and it now sits idle while the ZS3 is with on tour everyday. Case Closed.

 

Dave posted a reply   

Can I have your pro Canon gear? Or is it morally wrong to take from the mentally disabled?

 

Subbu posted a reply   

I picked a Panasonic ZR1 and struggled to get even on good shot. I dont know photograpy but wanted to take fast pictures of my son in action (7 months old). Unfortunately the Panasonic ZR1 sucks big time. I later switched back to my old 5MP Nikon Point and Shoot camera.

All(I really mean it) shots were bad. Day light, flash, close-up, night, auto, i-auto , etc etc... Tried all modes and none were worth looking at.

Being an engineer, I feel the camera hardware is good but the software is not fully tested. In the pressure to release more models they have invested no time to test it ! Poor customers like me have to painfully test it and pay the price.

 

Subbu posted a reply   

I picked a Panasonic ZR1 and struggled to get even on good shot. I dont know photograpy but wanted to take fast pictures of my son in action (7 months old). Unfortunately the Panasonic ZR1 sucks big time. I later switched back to my old 5MP Nikon Point and Shoot camera.

All(I really mean it) shots were bad. Day light, flash, close-up, night, auto, i-auto , etc etc... Tried all modes and none were worth looking at.

Being an engineer, I feel the camera hardware is good but the software is not fully tested. In the pressure to release more models they have invested no time to test it ! Poor customers like me have to painfully test it and pay the price.




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