Last month I posted about Sanyo’s newly announced high-definition camcorder that records to flash-memory cards, instead of tape. I admit that the concept is very enticing, but that most attempts at a flash-memory consumer cam have been lackluster.
The Time’s David Pogue got his hands on one for one of the first reviews, and he finds that it’s not that bad, if not quite the revolution Sanyo would have you believe. It really does deliver high-definition 1280×720 (720p) video using MPEG-4, which I believe is superior to MPEG-2 for editing. (MPEG-2 is what’s used in satellite TV and DVDs, and was never meant to be edited. MPEG-4 is a much newer and more flexible codec).
However I’m not convinced yet that I should save up the 800 clams to rush out and buy one. It’s a small palm-sized cam, which means it’s easy to pocket, but also hard to hold steady. And Pogue observes that failure to hold it steady results in the picture breaking down. Further, its low light capabilities aren’t too hot either.
I’d still like to get my hands on one just to try out — maybe one will show up at a local electronics store so I can mess with it. But even if this particular first-gen model isn’t quite ready to be the Indymedia video activists’ favorite stealth-cam for protests, I think this is generally the direction the technology is moving in.
Panasonic has already debuted flash-memory recording in its professional HD camcorders, using its new P2 memory cards. But at about $1400 for 8 GB, they’re a bit more pricey than standard compact flash or secure digital.
Ah, but pricing always punishes the early adopters. Give it a year or two and flash-memory camcorders will be a more common and practical option for both amateurs and professionals. Until then, tape does still work fine.
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