CES2005

by CNET Staff |
You want to know what is coming down at the Consumer Electronics Show 2005 (Jan 6 to 9) in downtown Las Vegas? We bring you and your armchair along for a ride down the aisle of gadgetry nirvana.


Canon Elura series


Canon Elura series

The product: Canon's Elura camcorders get a series-wide face-lift, in the form of the Elura 80, the Elura 85, and the Elura 90. All three MiniDV camcorders boast 1.33-megapixel CCDs, as well as 2.5-inch LCD screens and 16:9 wide-screen shooting modes. The top-of-the-line Elura 90 offers 20x optical zoom, compared to 18x in the Elura 80 and 85. On the lower end, the Elura 80 lacks the Super NightShot mode found in the 85 and 90. Series-wide specs include:

  • MiniDV recording format
  • 1.33-megapixel CCD for video and still photos
  • 18X optical zoom (80, 85); 20X optical zoom (90)
  • 2.5-inch LCD screen
  • Super NightShot mode (85, 90)
  • Built-in video light (90)
  • FireWire output

The prospects: We've come to expect this sort of regular overhaul from Canon, given last year's unveiling of the Elura 60, 65, and 70. This year's improvements seem limited to modest bumps in CCD resolution and optical zoom range, so while not exactly revolutionary, they'll make a nice bonus for anyone considering an Elura.


Canon ZR series


Canon ZR series

The product: Canon announces the ZR100, the ZR200, and the ZR300, which use 680,000-pixel sensors to record their moving pictures; and the ZR200 and ZR300 are capable of snapping still photos at XGA resolutions. Optical zoom ranges vary from 20x in the ZR100 and ZR200 to 22x in the ZR300. Only the ZR200 and ZR300 support Canon's Super NightShot mode. Complete series-wide specs include:

  • MiniDV recording format
  • 680,000-pixel CCD for video and still photos
  • 20x optical zoom (100, 200); 22x optical zoom (300)
  • 2.4-inch LCD screen
  • 16:9 wide-screen mode
  • Super NightShot mode (200, 300)

The prospects: The ZR series makes slight gains with these latest upgrades, which mostly boil down to marginally increased optical zoom ranges and a more compact design. It's unclear whether the newer ZR camcorders' 680,000-pixel CCDs will trump their predecessors' average to mediocre video quality.


JVC GR-D295


JVC GR-D295

The product: JVC has reduced the size of its compact MiniDV camcorders by 30 percent this year while endowing them with versatile 25x zoom lenses. At the top of the compact line, the GR-D295 offers a built-in video light, megapixel still-image capture, and a new Live Slow feature that captures slow-motion footage with real-time sound. Two step-down models, the GR-D250 and the GR-D270, knock off a few features to reach lower price points. Other features of all three models include:

  • 2.5-inch flip-out LCD
  • Data Battery meter, which shows minutes remaining

The prospects: JVC faces stiff competition from brands such as Canon and Sony in the mainstream consumer-camcorder area, but the competitive prices and the big zoom ranges of these models should make them attractive options for home-video makers.


Panasonic DVD camcorders


Panasonic DVD camcordersr

The product: Panasonic hasn't made any major changes to its DVD camcorder line for 2005. Like their predecessors, the three new models record MPEG-2 footage onto mini DVD-R and DVD-RAM media and offer a decent feature set for home-video makers. The top-of-the-line VDR-M95 offers a 2-megapixel sensor for improved still capture, and the VDR-M75 takes 1.3-megapixel photos. The more budget-oriented VDR-M54 uses a VGA sensor and provides a stripped-down feature set, but it improves on the higher-end models' 10x zoom ranges with an 18x lens.

The prospects: Home-video makers should find these models' very compact designs attractive, although aesthetes may be lured away by Sony's more stylish DCR-DVD7. Panasonic has convinced HP to integrate DVD-RAM drives into the latter company's desktop PCs, which should help alleviate the compatibility problems that plague DVD camcorders--at least for consumers in the market for both a new PC and a camcorder.


Sanyo Fisher VPC-C4 CameraCorder


Sanyo Fisher VPC-C4 CameraCorder

The product: Sanyo gains some momentum in the multifunction photography race with its VPC-C4 CameraCorder, a stylishly shaped device capable of taking both 4-megapixel still photos and full-motion MPEG-4 video. The VPC-C4 supports simultaneous capture of movies and stills, so particularly interesting video moments may be photographed individually. A small unit, the Sanyo VPC-C4 CameraCorder is designed around its ergonomic-looking handgrip and weighs a comfy 184g. Full specs include:

  • 4-megapixel CCD
  • 1.8-inch LCD
  • 3x optical zoom
  • Captures MPEG-4 video (640x480, no limit)
  • SD card slot for photo and video storage
  • PictBridge compatible

The prospects: It's nice to see a multifunction device that doesn't skimp on important features such as an optical zoom lens on the camera and 640 x 480 video resolution. But the predecessor to the VPC-C4 (Sanyo's FVD-C1) had a retail price of nearly S$1,114, which we consider a bit high for a camcorder that records to SD media. A more aggressive price may help the VPC-C4 catch on.


Sony DCR-TRV280 and DCR-TRV480


Sony DCR-TRV280 and DCR-TRV480

The product: Thanks to low, low prices, Digital8-based camcorders remain a strong player in the market. Sony has considerably pared back on its Digital8 line, but the two new models, the DCR-TRV280 and TRV480, continue the tradition of bare-bones video for a rock-bottom price. They both use 480,000-pixel CCDs and sport on-camera night lights and 20X optical zoom lens. The TRV480 provides the step-up capabilities of still photo capture and a touch screen.

The prospects: They're really cheap with mass-market appeal. That should be enough to guarantee Digital8's lingering on for yet another year.


Panasonic PV-GS series


Panasonic PV-GS series

The product: Panasonic's updated PV-GS series of digital camcorders includes the entry-level PV-GS19, the midrange PV-GS31, and the high-end PV-GS35. All three share the same design, though the PV-GS19 lacks a color viewfinder and an LED light, and the PV-GS35 includes a higher-capacity 3-hour battery. The principal difference between the three camcorders is their optical-zoom capability: the PV-GS19 has a 24x zoom lens, the PV-GS31 has a 26x zoom lens, and the PV-GS35 goes the distance with a 30x zoom lens. Full series specs include:

  • MiniDV camcorders
  • 24x optical zoom (PV-GS19), 26x optical zoom (PV-GS31), 30x optical zoom (PV-GS35)
  • Still-shot capability; SD card slot included
  • Color viewfinder (PV-GS31, PV-GS35)
  • LED light for low-light shooting (PV-GS31, PV-GS35)
  • High-capacity 3-hour battery (PV-GS35)

The prospects: The zoom ranges on these Panasonic camcorders trump those on Canon's competing Elura and ZR series. Then again, optical zoom isn't the be-all and end-all of digital video, so it remains to be seen how the picture quality of the camcorders compares.


Panasonic PV-GS250


Panasonic PV-GS250

The product: When Panasonic introduced the PV-GS200 at last year's CES, it--along with the step-down PV-GS120--broke new ground by putting three-CCD video capture in an extremely compact, consumer-priced MiniDV camcorder. But that otherwise excellent model turned out to have an unfortunate flaw: its electronic image stabilization didn’t work very well, resulting in shaky footage. The PV-GS250 promises to solve that problem with optical image stabilization. It’s slightly larger than its predecessor but still extremely compact for a three-chip camera. Other notable features and key specs include:

  • 10x Leica Dicomar zoom lens
  • 2.5-inch flip-out LCD
  • Manual focus ring
  • Flash for low-light stills
  • Accessory shoe
  • SD media slot for saving stills
  • MPEG-4 streaming via USB

The prospects: If the optical image stabilization works well, the PV-GS250 could end up being the model of choice for video enthusiasts who want an extremely portable camera. Consumers looking for the best combination of video and still capture are likely to be disappointed, though; that 3.1-megapixel photo resolution Panasonic advertises on the side of the camera is interpolated.


Samsung DuoCam SC-D6550


Samsung DuoCam SC-D6550

The product: Itching for some double-barreled photography? Samsung's SC-D6550 offers separate, dedicated lenses for digital video and digital stills, with a 680,000-pixel CCD backing up the 10x optical zoom on the former and a 5-megapixel CCD grabbing images from the 3x optical zoom on the latter. As the third generation of Samsung's DuoCam line, it offers a smaller, less clunky design than its predecessors. The spec rundown:

  • 680,000-pixel CCD, 10x optical zoom for video
  • 5-megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom for stills
  • Captures MPEG-4 movies (VGA, 30fps)
  • USB 2.0 and PictBridge compatible

The prospects: We've seen enough combo device failures to appreciate Samsung's admission that video and still photography require different sorts of lenses to work well. The dual-lens design also adds a bit to this camera's wow factor; if the SC-D6550 can overcome the image quality issues of previous models, it may become the all-in-one solution that many amateur photographers crave.


Samsung SC-X105L


Samsung SC-X105L

The product: It's time to take digital video to the extreme! Well, sort of. The Samsung SC-X105L's sports camera module allows you to hook it to your helmet or harness for hands-free recording, giving it instant cachet among extreme sports enthusiasts who long for an unobtrusive way to capture their gallivanting and roughhousing. With its water-resistant, rubberized body and tapeless recording system, this camcorder looks like it can take a pounding. Its vital statistics include:

  • 680,000-pixel CCD for capturing MPEG-4 video
  • 10x optical zoom
  • 2-inch LCD screen
  • Electronic image stabilizer
  • Still image capture at 640 x 480, 800 x 600
  • Water-resistant, rubberized design
  • Sports camera module for hands-free shooting
  • 512MB of internal memory, plus Memory Stick slot

The prospects: Somebody who'll pay US$3,000 to jump out of an airplane won't bat an eye at this camera's sticker price, but for the rest of us, US$650 looks like an awful lot for a camcorder whose recording capacity will be limited by its tapeless design. The SC-X105L's still-image-capture resolutions also look paltry; they'll be suitable for e-mail and for posting to the Web but not for printing. But if you're into the sort of filming that requires resistance to water, this may be the camcorder for you.


Sony DCR-DVD7


Sony DCR-DVD7

The product: One of the drawbacks of many DVD camcorders is their size; an 8-cm DVD disc necessarily imposes a limit on how compact the design can get. Sony's approach: shave around the edges. As a result, its DVD camcorder redesign looks remarkably like a CD Walkman.

  • 680,000-pixel CCD
  • 10x optical zoom
  • DVD-RW/+RW media
  • USB 2.0

The prospects: It's funky-looking, but does it have a usable design? That is the question. The innards are fairly low end, so we don't hold out much hope for the video quality.


Sony DCR-DVD92 and DCR-DVD103


Sony DCR-DVD92 and DCR-DVD103

The product: In addition to having a new, more compact and streamlined design, all the new models now support DVD-RW and DVD+RW media. These low-end models both incorporate 680,000-pixel CCDs, 20x optical zoom, and 2.5-inch LCDs. They differ, however, in a few nontrivial ways. The DVD92 has a black-and-white viewfinder, while the DVD103 has a color EVF. The DVD103 also adds support for USB 2.0 and optional surround-sound recording.

The prospects: We haven't been very impressed with DVD camcorders in general, and even less so with the low-end models. Nothing gives us a reason to hope for better results from these.


Sony DCR-DVD403


Sony DCR-DVD403

The product: Sony goes after the HD wannabes with its new top-of-the-line DVD camcorder. In addition to being able to capture and display true HD-aspect video (and potentially snap decent-quality still photos), the DVD403 has a built-in mike capable of recording Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. The camcorder's specs include:

  • DVD+RW/-RW media
  • 3.3-megapixel CCD
  • 10x optical zoom
  • 2.7-inch, 16:9-aspect display
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 audio recording

The prospects: The significant enhancements--a higher-resolution CCD, true wide-aspect recording and display, and built-in surround sound--make the relatively high price you pay for a DVD model seem more tolerable. And we hold out hope that the higher-resolution sensor will contribute to better-quality video.


Sony DCR-PC55


Sony DCR-PC55

The product: On the inside, the PC55 is nothing special: it's a basic 680,000-pixel MiniDV camcorder with a 10x optical zoom. On the outside, however, it features a slim, stylish design in a choice of silver, red, black, or white, with a 3-inch swivel display that serves as a digital frame when the unit is perched in its dock. And despite its diminutive size, the PC55 still provides an accessory shoe and a Memory Stick Duo slot.

The prospects: This model looks like the final nail in MicroMV's coffin. As long as the video quality doesn't suck, this is likely to be a must-have gadget for well-heeled technorati.

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