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Compact cameras with HD video recording

By Leonard Goh
April 1, 2009

In the past, the video quality and resolution from point-and-shoots were often considered inferior compared to dedicated camcorders, which were able to record up to full-HD movie clips. However, this perception changed last year after Kodak and Samsung introduced the EasyShare M1033 and the NV24HD, respectively. Both shooters were able to churn out 720p-quality recordings, and subsequently, other brands such as Sony and Panasonic followed suit. Canon started to offer this HD-video recording feature only late last year, but it rocked the industry then with the PowerShot SX1 IS which is capable of capturing movie clips in full-HD. Sony announced the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 last month and attempted to compete against the Canon by offering similar features such as 1080p video mode with stereo audio recording.

If you are looking to buy one of these snappers, here are some tips. HD-quality clips look gloriously detailed, but they take up a lot more space in your memory media. So, keep a few cards handy if you plan to record HD videos frequently. Also, a fast computer will be useful in playing or editing such large movie files.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10

The good: Great image quality; full HD video recording; 20x optical zoom; dSLR feature set.

The bad: No RAW image format capture; no external microphone input.

The bottom line: The SX1 IS is really the ultimate bridge between a digital still and digital video camera. If you can bear to part with the cash, you won't be disappointed with the superb HD-video and image quality.

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

First take
For Sony, most of its announcements for the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) tradeshow held in Las Vegas were made prior to the event. While its stylish Cyber-shot point-and-shoots were headturners, the spotlight was on the introduction of the company's latest superzoom camera, the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. Sony has blurred the line between its Alpha dSLRs and compact shooters by combining useful functions from both classes of snappers into the new HX1. So what caught our attention?

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900

The T900 succeeds the Cyber-shot DSC-T500, with the most noticeable change being its aesthetics. Sony has slimmed down the camera considerably, but at the same time retained useful features such as stereo audio recording and a 3.5-inch touchscreen. Like its predecessor, the T900 features an optical image stabilizer, though the zoom range has been reduced from 5x to 4x (on the T500).
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1

First take
When we talk about tough cameras, the first brand that usually comes to mind would be Olympus. After all, the Japanese company has been making robust point-and-shoots for several years and has a good track record. However, Panasonic has recently join the fray with its first rugged shooter, the Lumix DMC-FT1. At first glance, it looks similar to Olympus' latest Mju TOUGH lineup. But we think the FT1 is more stylish and seems to have the right features to compete with Olympus.

Although the Lumix DMC-FT has yet to retail in stores, we chose this model because it is the only rugged camera that can record 720p-quality videos.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10

The good: High-resolution multi aspect ratio image capture; F2.0 optics; highly customizable modes which can be saved; large sensor delivers impressive image quality.

The bad: Unable to capture full-resolution images in 16:9 format; use of lens cap may be an issue to some; bundled RAW image-processing software not up to the job.

The bottom line: The LX3 is a good camera with an excellent feature set that positions it way beyond any conventional point-and-shoot on the retail shelves today.

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