This little Canon 720p camcorder looks nice!

[Hulk]

For some reason I'm really excited about this camcorder. I would be a snap to carry this along with a laptop. Shoot some video, quick edit, and pop out a DVD on the spot.

I really hope the reviews show some good video quality.

[Jerry Jones]

Yep.

I like the metal exterior.

Cool.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

This camera might support very large capacity memory cards, if you read the releases very carefully.

The DPReview.Com review of this model says it's "now compatible with new, high-capacity (2GB and up) SD cards which comply with new SDHC industry standard."

"...2gb and up..."

This might mean that this camera supports the 8gb cards, which would make shooting high definition video more practical.

In addition, there is a mention of a "4gb limitation" for recording a single high definition video file, which -- possibly -- is only a reference to the limitation of the MJPEG .AVI file format under the formatting provisions of the memory card.

In other words, they might be making reference to the old 4GB limitation that we saw under FAT32 when we were working with those older MJPEG capture boards a few years ago.

If so, then I see no reason why this camera couldn't simply start a new file that could be seamlessly edited.

Shouldn't be a huge problem, if this is what they mean.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Hulk]

I doubt I'd be running for more than 13 minutes continuous shooting anyway. I'd probably be shooting 15 seconds clips with a cam like this, not shooting a school play or anything like that.

[Jerry Jones]

Yep and even if I were shooting a school play, I would still be getting multiple angles and so forth and so I wouldn't need a single continuous shot.

On the other hand, this camcorder might simply start a new file as soon as the first file hits the 4gb limit... which would render the issue moot anyway.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Hulk]

I shot a couple of school events a years ago when I first got into digital video editing. I remember I set up 1 camera wide and had someone move around with another camera. Man it was some work to sync everything.

But you're right having another camera or two rolling provides some "go to" shots from the main cam.

[Jerry Jones]

AkihabaraNews.Com got a Canon TX1 for testing and the results will be posted soon:

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-13404-The+Canon+PowerShot+TX1+at+Akihabara+News.html

It will be interesting to find out if it's a serious camcorder or not.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Hulk]

Nice find Jerry.

I hope they post some video samples at low compression, or even native.

[Jerry Jones]

Gizmodo.Com beat Akihabara News to the punch.

There's a sample HD 720p clip available for download here:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/digital-cameras/pma-07-first-footage-from-the-canon-powershot-tx1-720p-shooter-242966.php

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

Some observations concerning the clip posted by Gizmodo.

1. It's amazing that such a tiny and inexpensive camera can shoot MJPEG HD 720p clips and record them onto SD memory cards.

2. The opening shot of the lights on the exhibition hall ceiling looks surprisingly good.

3. When the camcorder tilts down to reveal the exhibition hall's guests, the video becomes quite grainy... however... I don't know if this is due to a weakness in the camera's imaging system or if it is due to improper adjustment of the camera's controls.

4. I am able to play the clip using both WinDVD 8 and Apple QuickTime 7.1.3.

5. I am able to import the MJPEG clip into Ulead MediaStudio Pro 8 and edit it as I would edit a typical DV clip.

6. Resolution looks pretty good... as one would expect for decent 720p HD video.

7. The properties of the MJPEG clip is as follows:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 30 fps
Frame-based
MJPEG Compressor
Interleave audio for every 1 frames
PCM, 44.100 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

This warrants further testing to find out if the severe grainy images described previously can be tweaked and improved using the camera's internal controls.

I can't wait to see more samples.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Jerry Jones]

In addition to the problem of too much grain, the fellow who operated the camera possibly failed to get a decent white balance.

More testing is needed.

However, one has to wonder how this would compare to just a decent standard definition 3CCD Panasonic MiniDV standard definition camcorder.

Is it possible the MiniDV standard definition camcorder would look just as good?



Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Hulk]

I have to say I am disappointed. Hopefully that was a dark room AND the camera was not set up properly.

That video is really noisy. Especially the chroma noise seems to be through the roof.

It looks to me like what happens when the ISO is cranked up too high. Either the camera was not set up properly, the room was dark, or this is the limit of this camera due to the tiny sensor size. I have a feeling it's the latter.

[Jerry Jones]

Well, we knew there was a chance this would be junk when we saw the $499 price tag.

It's hard to believe CANON, however, would allow their name to be put on a camera that produces such awful noise.

Hopefully, it was a poorly adjusted camera.

If not, I'll just wait until the prices fall for the other stuff on the market.

I saw a Panasonic SDR-SR1 high definition SD memory card camcorder in Circuit City the other day.

It looked pretty good, but the price is too high.

You just had the feeling that "this thing's price is going to be half what they're asking now in just a year or two."

I can wait.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Hulk]

It is hard to believe Canon would sell a poor performer. They really have the digital thing down now. Then again perhaps their marketing this as a still camera with HD video capability. Most all of their point and shoot digital cams have video capability but we don't worry about it because that's an after thought.

When they advertise "HD 720p" video we stand up and take notice so it really should deliver. If the sensor it too tiny it's actually better to have less photosites so that each photosite is larger.

I was bored last night and popped in "Lord of the Rings." Wow talk about SD looking good. Amazing.

[Jerry Jones]

Here is the review from AkihabaraNews.Com:

http://www.akihabaranews.com/review-75-X.html

There's another video sample.

I'm downloading it now.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net