Thursday, 26 July 2012

Canon's EOS M The First Mirrorless Camera

The new Canon EOS M is first mirrorless EOS camera. Combining the imaging quality of a DSLR with the convenience of a point and shoot, it features an 18 MP APS-C sensor, a DIGIC 5 image processor, and a 3.0" 1,040k-dot touch-screen LCD.

 The EOS M is quite the interesting beast, and sets itself apart from most of the other cameras of this type on the market. Developed concurrently with the EOS 650D, like best friends, the two cameras share almost everything. The 18-megapixel APS-C sensor is the same, so too is the Digic 5 image processor and the hybrid AF system. The 3-inch touchscreen is also identical.

The big difference is the exterior body design. It comes in three colour options (black, red or white), and is compact enough for comfortable one-handed shooting. The look-and-feel is pretty refined as well, with a smooth plastic exterior and the same sturdy buttons and dials as found on a range of Canon compacts. This camera is just 298 grams with a battery and memory card, and if you add on the 18-55mm lens, the total package is 508 grams.


Canon is targeting the EOS M towards photographers who want to be able to take high-quality images, but without the bulk and weight of an SLR. From the design of the EOS M, point and shooters will enjoy using the simple menu options. At the top of the camera is a mode switch to change between full automatic, a number of more manual modes and movie mode. The touchscreen LCD makes it easy to adjust exposure on the fly, as well.

All the additional shooting modes available in the 650D make their way over to the EOS M, including the handheld night scene mode and HDR backlight control. The EOS M can shoot at 4.3fps in continuous mode, or at 1.7fps with tracking focus using the 18-55mm lens, and 1.2fps with tracking focus and the 22mm lens.

It offers yet another lens mount (EF-M) to confuse the masses — no standardisation here — though there is an optional adapter available, which lets users mount existing EOS lenses on the camera. On the topic of lenses, the EOS M launches with two new models on its mount, the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM and 22mm f/2 STM pancake. Full HD video recording at 30, 25 and 24 frames per second (fps) is available, along with a built-in stereo microphone and 3.5mm jack. The EOS M is compatible with all regular EOS accessories, including Speedlites. There is a dedicated new flash unit for this camera to make the most of its small size, the 90 EX. Unfortunately, there's no way to attach an electronic viewfinder to the EOS M.

The EOS M will be available from October 2012.

Sony Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line

Sony is unveiling the newest addition to its industryleading XDCAM HD4:2:2 line – the PMW-200 camcorder. This new model is the only professional handheld camcorder in its class with three 1/2 -inch Exmor™ CMOS sensors and full HD 4:2:2 50 Mbps recording. The versatile new camcorder is designed for any type of professional shooting, from broadcast and newsgathering to education and corporate production. It inherits the performance, ease of use and accessories of Sony’s PMW-EX1R camcorder, which has become a de facto standard for professional video production.

“The new PMW-200 is one of the most versatile handheld camcorders we’ve ever developed,” said Tatsuro Kurachi, Director, Marketing and Product Management, at Sony Electronics. “Incredible flexibility and high-end recording capabilities like HD4:2:2 are becoming more important to pro shooters at every level of production in terms of workflow and picture quality. The PMW-200 camcorder demonstrates our commitment to developing the right tools that meet and exceed the needs of professionals.”

The new camcorder is the latest example of Sony’s continually expanding XDCAM HD 4:2:2 line-up both for optical disc and SxS memory card systems. Designed using Sony’s advanced sensor technology and building on decades of experience, the PMW-200 camcorder answers the industry’s desire for a 4:2:2 50Mbps camcorder that uses three 1/2 inch type sensors. With other handheld 50Mbps camcorders on the market featuring 1/3 inch sensors, the PMW-200 camcorder’s 1/2-inch sensors mean it’s designed to perform exceptionally well with excellent sensitivity and great detail even in challenging lighting conditions.

A variety of recording formats such as 50Mbps/35Mbps MXF, 35Mbps/25Mbps MP4 and DVCAM are available for a wide range of applications and workflows. The PMW-200 camcorder offers a powerful Slow & Quick motion function to capture footage at 1 fps to 60 fps in 720p mode, and from 1 fps to 30 fps in 1080p mode, giving users enhanced creative flexibility. An immediate playback function lets operators view their shots rapidly and easily, without the need for external converters or processing on nonlinear editing systems.

The PMW-200 camcorder is armed with a 14x zoom lens with auto focus and image stabilizing capabilities. The lens is also equipped with three independent rings for zoom, focus and iris adjustment, plus greater precision through indications of ring positions on the LCD screen to give users a high level of operational comfort and control. Focusing on subjects and reviewing recorded footage is made easy with the full-color 3.5-inch WVGA (852×480) LCD panel.

The PMW-200 camcorder also comes with an invaluable 15-second cache recording feature, a function unique among handheld camcorders. Its internal memory can capture images even before the recording button is pressed (maximum of 15 seconds), allowing users to record important moments that would have otherwise been missed. Genlock and timecode interfaces on the PMW-200 camcorder make it a breeze for use in multi-camera operations and entry-level HD studio applications. The camcorder also gives users greater flexibility in choosing recording media, operating with Sony’s professional SxS Pro™ and SxS-1 technology (two slots) as well as SD cards, Memory Stick media and XQD cards (adaptor required). A Wi-Fi remote control (adaptor required) for the PMW-200 camcorder enhances flexibility for studio or on-location use. This remote control function is scheduled to be available by December 2012 through a free firmware upgrade.

The PMW-200 camcorder is planned to be available in September 2012.
No Australian RRP has been set as yet.

See web link for more details:  http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/27714/sony-pwm-200-three-1-2-inch-exmor-cmos-hd-4-2-2-50-mbps-xdcam-camcorder-pmw-200.html