Tags: camcorder, diy, front, light

Home cinema systems: Are kits or components right for you?

Whether you want to buy a home theatre in a box or go the components route, you'll need to decide which way is best for you right from the start.

A budget camcorder is not without its compromises, but these three camcorders should satisfy most casual videographers out there.

JVC Everio GZ-HD5

The HD5 features a 60GB hard disk, high-def 1920x1080 recording and a 10x optical zoom lens. Unfortunately, it records in JVC's MPEG2-TS format, rather than the more popular AVCHD format.
JVC Everio GZ-HM200B

There's no built-in memory or hard disk capacity with the HM200, just two SD/SDHC card slots. You do get a 20x optical zoom lens and AVCHD recording, though.
JVC Everio GZ-MG630

Recording on to a 60GB hard disk, the standard-def MG630 features a 35x optical zoom lens.
JVC Everio GZ-MG680

A standard-def hard disk-based camcorder, the MG680 features 120GB of storage and a 35x optical zoom lens.
Canon Legria HF21

Sporting 64GB of on-board flash memory, the HF21 should have plentiful space for its 24Mbps high-def footage. It also features headphone and microphone jacks, as well as 15x optical zoom lens.
Canon Legria HFS11

With its 64GB of built-in flash memory, the HF S11 has plenty of space for recording 24Mbps 1920x1080 high-def footage. It also features a 10x zoom lens, microphone and headphone jacks, and stereo sound recording.
Kodak Zx1

Kodak's rugged portable video camera will appeal to outdoor shooters, once they get over the unit's strange controls.
Olympus E-620

If you've been hankering after an Olympus E-30 but baulked at the price, don't despair ... just get the E-620 instead. It's a competent, capable digital SLR in the vein of its older sibling, but a lot smaller and cheaper.

Camcorder basics

Thinking of buying a camcorder? Just got one? Let's take a look behind the specs and see what you've got in your hands.
Getting to know your camcorder
What storage should I get in my camcorder?

There are many types of camcorders on the market, and all take different types of storage. We look into what's available, so you can decide what's best for you.
Cameras and camcorders for Mother's Day

Why give mum a bunch of flowers that will wilt, when you can give her one of these cameras or camcorders for memories that she can cherish for years to come.

Pentax K-m: White hot or white out?

If you're the sort of person who accessorises your tech to the nth degree, Pentax has the camera for you: a limited edition white dSLR.
Samsung's 'world's first' camcorder not exactly a breakthrough

Samsung is always good for at least one "world's first" product at CES, but we have to say the recent camcorder announcement is a bit of a "meh".
Oregon Scientific's thrill-seeking camcorder

Action lovers need not worry about capturing their high jinx anymore with the ATC3K.
Hitachi to pull out of consumer market

Hitachi Australia has announced it is pulling out of the consumer market in Australia in a letter distributed to retailers on Friday night.

DIY home surveillance with a webcam

Too cheap to buy a real home security system? A webcam gets you part of the way there. We examine a few inexpensive ways to do it with an old computer and some home security software.
How to take video in total darkness

All sorts of interesting things happen in the dark, but how do you take a video of them? These tips will help you shoot video in even the darkest places.
Print, save and organise your digital photos

Learn how to organise your images so that they're easy to find, safely backed up, optimised for printing and much more. Once your digital photographs are transferred to your PC, learn how to "process" them for the best possible results.
Scanning photo basics

Learn the best methods for scanning a photo into your PC. This guide will get you up and running with your scanner and show you how to get the best-quality results for scanning and sharing your photos online.

Perfect Keyboard Lite

Create shortcuts for Windows-based applications.
G-Force

Dynamic, hypnotic iTunes visual plugin.
LXFree

Design light plots and create the associated paperwork.
Super 2d/3d Graph Library

Draw and export charts into various graphical file formats.

Get (laptop) smart before you buy

Win the numbers game and get the laptop that's perfect your needs as well as your budget!
Microsoft Windows® 7. Your PC, simplified.

Windows® 7 has been designed to be more reliable, more responsive, and to make the things you do every day easier.
Whereis® maps

If you’d like to get to know more of Australia, and do it safely, then check out Whereis® maps.