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You are here: Home / Archives for Video camera

Garmin VIRB Action Camera: Capture Your Action-Packed Life!

March 25, 2014 by Beeb 23 Comments

Garmin VIRB Camera

Garmin VIRB Camera provided for review.

We all know how much parents love capturing those precious photos and videos of their children. When I was a kid, my mom filled scrapbooks with prints from our 110 film camera and got an 8MM video taken of me as a toddler that I still have never seen because, well, who has an 8MM player these days? Fortunately, the digital age has made it a lot easier for today’s parents to record those special memories. And with so many families being involved in sports and other outdoor activities, what could make a better gift for Father’s Day/Mother’s Day than a camera designed specifically to keep up with your busy lifestyle?

VIRB

The Garmin VIRB Action Camera is a tough camera designed specifically for athletic endeavors, with the capacity to absorb drops and shocks from hiking, kayaking, or your kids dropping it on the floor. 😉 From your own weekend warrior activities to filming your child’s soccer game, this little HD 1080p camera helps stabilize those shaky action shots and has all kinds of interactive features for daredevils, such as the ability to pair with other Garmin products to record information like speed, heartrate, location and elevation. One of the features I found most compelling is that the Garmin VIRB is waterproof up to 1 meter. I’ve never used a camera that could shoot video underwater before, so I was really anxious to check it out!

Filming at the estuary

Since we live on the Oregon coast, we have lots of great photo opportunities. The first day of Spring was gorgeous, so we headed down to the estuary and shot some footage in the water.

Haystack Rock

The next day, we headed down to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach at low tide so that we could capture more underwater footage. The tidepools at Haystack Rock are home to a wealth of sea urchins, fish, crabs, and other creatures, so we thought this would make for a neat video.

VIRB Action Camera underwater

Once we had all the footage, I downloaded the VIRB Edit program, which is specifically designed to work with the VIRB to create fun videos that can utilize the optional information taken from other Garmin devices. Since we didn’t have this paired with another device, the video I created is very simple, compiling the test clips we shot of the camera filming underwater. The software is pretty basic, which makes it straightforward to use, but means that you won’t have elaborate transitions when stitching together clips. I didn’t see a way to save the project as I went, so I was a little nervous that I might lose my edits if something crashed before I was done. When I was finished, I could either save it to my computer or upload directly to YouTube, which was convenient! Here’s the finished product:

Another neat feature of the VIRB is that you can take videos in slow motion. Here’s one we shot of the family dog playing catch in slow-mo:

Of course, you can also use this camera to grab still images in addition to video:

Cherry blossoms

Click the image to view it full size

Other notable features of this video camera include:

  • 3 hour battery life
  • 1.4″ Chroma preview display
  • WideVĂź Lens
  • Large, easy-to-move recording switch (Perfect for turning on with ski gloves!)
  • Mount included to attach the VIRB to your bike/helmet/etc.

The VIRB Action Camera takes high-quality footage and is impressive in both what it can capture and withstand. The biggest downside to the VIRB is that the menu is not super intuitive, so it takes some figuring out to operate. There is also no memory card not included, so be sure you have one of your own to use. But overall, I think it’s a great little device and I’m excited to see what kind of footage I’ll be able to capture now that I couldn’t have before. I’m heading to Florida on Sunday for an action-packed vacation (Which you’ll be reading more about here on MomStart soon!), and I’m so happy that I’ll have a rugged camera that I can use to film my adventures without having to worry about getting it splashed with water or knocked around.

The VIRB Action Camera retails for $299.99 – learn more about this exciting gift idea at Garmin.com!

Filed Under: review, Tech Tagged With: Camera, camera review, Garmin, Underwater Video Camera, Video camera

16GB Sony Handycam PJ260V Projector Camcorder Capturing Great Video

April 5, 2012 by Momstart 15 Comments

While in Sedona with Sony, not only did I get to test out the entire family of Sony Cybershot cameras, I also had the opportunity to try out the 16GB Sony Handycam PJ260V projector from the Sony Handycam family.

Sony’s new line of Handycam® camcorders makes it very easy to capture precious memories in high-quality full HD video and still photography. I captured fairly good video on a helicopter through the glass of the red rocks in Sedona. I also captured some still photos with really great quality in the middle of taking video. How cool is that you don’t have to stop your video to take a picture.

Sony Handycam

Sony continues to impress me and has won me over as a consumer. We used to have a Sony camera and when we moved to HD I’m not sure why but we switched to a competitor, maybe my husband’s goal was to have all of the same brand, but after playing with the Sony Handycam, I’m ready to switch back to Sony. They  offer exceptional engineering in the HD models and this year they are adding a new Entry HD camcorder segment at an attractive price with four models, a Step-Up HD category with three models, Mid HD options with two models, four High End HD models, and a Double Full HD 3D camcorder. With sleek, compact designs and a refined level of optical performance, Handycam camcorders offer best-in-class features that set them apart from the competition.

16GB Sony Handycam PJ260V projector

One of the coolest features and I do have to say one because there are many is the  improved built-in projector for a brighter and larger projected picture (up to 100” diagonal). I used the projector in a car on the roof of it while sitting in the backseat in the Sedona sun. It was bright enough for everyone in the car to look up at the ceiling and see the video I took while we were in broad daylight. Hello! Awesome right?

Another amazing feature that I have to boast about on Sony’s behalf is the Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization which controls the entire optical path as one floating unit to improve image stabilization by up to 13 times better than its predecessor. My husband can not take video without a tripod, so I’d love to see how his video with this camcorder came out. It has to be much better right?

HD Sony Handycam

The Sony Handycam also has By Pixel Super Resolution to create higher pixel count in still images by referencing hundreds of samples in the database to generate pixels close to reality, and Closer Voice utilizing Face Detection and its advanced audio processing to suppress unwanted noise and capture human voices with maximum clarity. The new high-definition camcorders and their accessories are available, starting at about $300, at http://store.sony.com, Sony retail stores and other authorized retailers nationwide.

 

Sony paid for my trip and all expenses while letting me play with their cameras in Sedona.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: 16GB Sony Handycam PJ260V Projector Camcorder, projector camcorder, review, Sony, Sony Handycam, travel, video, Video camera

Zoe’s DXG 1080p Slim Camcorder Her Dream HD Video Camera Review

October 23, 2011 by Momstart 1,201 Comments

Zoe’s dream camera would be purple and the DXG Luxe 1080p Slim HD Camcorder comes in purple and in red. Of course they have much fancier names for purple and red, try violet riviera with Maui hibiscus patterns, Monaco funky polka dots, Ipanema flower designs, and Riviera quilted patterns. This camera pictured below has the quilted pattern.

 image

Zoe also loves a video camera that’s easy to use and great quality. The DXG Luxe 1080p Slim HD Camcorder creates high quality video with recording features, including full 1080p high definition and captures still pictures up to 12 megapixels AND has a 3-inch LCD touch screen display. Oh yeah,Zoe also loves a touch screen. So many screens are touch screens now that kids assume every screen should be a touch screen. So there is another plus.

image

Measuring less than 1-inch thick with a sleek pistol-grip design, the 2011 Luxe Collection easily slips right into a shirt pocket or purse to accessorize any adventure.  Each camcorder comes with a matching clutch case perfect for every little Zoe my mini  fashionista. Oh and the clutch, she’s taken that and put it somewhere in her room because she things it’s her new purse.

imageThis camcorder comes with everything you need to start recording your precious memories right away including an HDMI interface so it can easily be connected to your HDTV. This DXG Camcorder retails for 249.99.

image

The things I’m not so fond of:

It doesn’t have enough internal memory to record any video. Maybe you can record 2 seconds witch isn’t really much at all.

The door that you take off to insert the memory card doesn’t really go back on after you take it off. It’s connected by a ribbon and the ribbon is impossible to shove back into the camera. Maybe you will have more success than me.

Other than that I think it’s great.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winners: Debbie C, Geoff K and Eugenie.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway, review Tagged With: camcorder, Camera, DXG, DXG 1080p Slim Camcorder, giveaway, review, Slim Camcorder, Video camera

Field of Vision Video Camera

June 7, 2011 by Momstart 880 Comments

Have you ever seen the footage from the old Charlie Chaplin Movie where people speculate that the person in the background of the movie is a time traveler with a cell phone. It’s really creepy footage of someone walking behind the action and they look like they are talking on something up to their ear. The camera caught it….

That’s what Field of Vision reminds me of except it’s not creepy at all.

imageThrough mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School’s star quarterback, Tyler McFarland, learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker, a troubled new transfer student.  Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what’s more important: winning or doing what’s right. As these events unfold, the camera also reveals more surprising footage to Tyler’s kid sister Lucy, as she learns that Cory has a secret past, unknown even to him. Now Lucy must convince her mom (Faith Ford, Murphy Brown) and family that the camera’s revealing insight is not a product of her imagination as she enlists their help to find the answers Cory so desperately needs.

The newest installment from Procter & Gamble and Walmart’s Family Movie night initiative is bringing quality entertainment back to the television. Field of Vision is a teenage football movie safe for the whole family keeping out the locker room scenes and the focus of the movie is on Cory Walker and his needs and not all of the teenage angst that usually goes along with football movies. Blogger Giveaway Kit3

Be sure to watch Field of Vision on Saturday June 11th at 8/7c on NBC

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Tina M.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: Family movie night, Field of Vision, giveaway, P&G, Procter and Gamble, Video camera, Walmart

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